This event features more than 200 educational sessions spanning the breadth and depth of assistive technology and an exhibition hall where you can see the power of assistive technology in action. Professionals, teachers, users and parents will all benefit from this empowering new conference. For full details on Conference Packages, Early Bird options and group discount program. ONLINE REGISTRATION

Click here to download the application (PDF) (Applications due by December 31, 2010) What are the eligibility requirements? The individual you are applying for must have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum (as identified in diagnosis report). Reside in the United States of America . Be non-verbal or minimally verbal (as identified in speech pathology report). Be in financial need: Gross income not to exceed $35,000 single income family or $50,000 two-income family (as identified by documentation). Have access to a computer and an iTunes account (some programs must be downloaded on a computer and transferred to the iPad due to size). A professional on your team (i.e., speech pathologist, doctor, teacher) must be willing to take responsibility of the gift card that downloads the applications. For more information, please visit the foundation's website: www.hollyrod.org

The Special Education Division is pleased to announce that Tim Harris, our State Director of Special Education, is the recipient of the Glenn I. Latham award.  Please join in our congratulations to Tim for this well deserved recognition. Tim Harris, State Director of Special Education in Montana recently received the Glenn I. Latham award from the Center for Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE) at the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. Before his passing in 2001, Dr. Glenn Latham was internationally known for his research and technical assistance in the areas of behavior management and parenting.  Dr. Latham was highly respected throughout the country.   Each year, the award is presented to an individual working at the state level that has the following attributes: Has made contributions to improving services for children with disabilities at the local, state, and regional levels. Shows ongoing compassion and dedication in the area of special education. Has demonstrated leadership-leading with heart and mind. Promotes results for children with disabilities. Keeps the main thing the main thing for children with disabilities. Possesses similar characteristics and philosophy of special education as Dr. Latham.

The National Alliance for Care giving is conducting a survey on technology and its impact on family caregivers. The objectives of this survey include: Understanding the frequency of both Internet and device technology being used by caregivers; Understanding the impact of technology on both the caregiver and the care recipient; and Determining the unmet technological needs of the caregiver If you are a family caregiver or know of one, please visit http://www.caregivi ng.org and take part in this important survey.

Register Here to Receive Updates for this Event What: Rural Dynamics INC. is proud to announce the date for the 2011 Mobilizing Rural Communities Conference. National and regional speakers will share ways to build strong communities through innovative approaches and best practices. The Mobilizing Rural Communities conference is for community businesses, organizations, leaders, policy makers, and funders who are intent on building thriving and sustainable rural communities. Mark your calendar and watch for more to come. When: September 13-15, 2011 Where: Great Falls, Montana

Click here to download the brochure with registration information (PDF) What: Language for Learning (2008 Edition) is a language program designed to teach young pre-readers language, concepts, information, and knowledge that will be beneficial to them in a classroom setting as they are learning to read. It was written to teach oral language skills to five and six-year-old children whose language is inadequately developed, to four-year-old preschoolers, to primary students for whom English is their second language, to Title 1 and special education students, and to children in speech/language classes. The program uses an explicit instructional approach, entailing scripted lessons, signaled responses, immediate error correction, cumulative review, and mastery learning. Initial and ongoing assessments are used to determine where to begin the instruction and learning over time as an excellent progress monitoring tool used in an Response to Intervention (RtI) process. When: January 12, 2011 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Where: First Presbyterian Church 535 N. Ewing Street Helena, MT 59601

The NJ legislature has passed the nation's strongest anti-bullying bill of rights for students. The bill now goes to the Governor for his signature.

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights protects all students bullied for any reason.  The legislation maintains the language of New Jersey's existing anti-bullying law, enacted in 2002, which enumerates protection of students based on their actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and has clear language protecting students bullied for any other reason.  The law will continue to apply to students bullied for any reason.

upcoming training series by Parents Helping Parents (PHP) in 2011. If you would like to register or request any access accommodations for the training series, please contact LaCandice McCray (LaCandice@cfilc.org) 10 business days prior to the webinar. Webinars are open to all AT Network members. These webinars will be archived and posted to the AT Network website.

The Governor’s State Workforce Investment Board Youth Council is supporting a statewide GED Initiative. You have been identified as a person who clearly understands the economic needs of our state, and the importance of a competitive workforce. Prior to launching the Initiative, two regional promotional sessions have been scheduled to discuss the economic impact of high school dropouts and the importance of statewide support for the GED Initiative. At each meeting, we will discuss how every community can play an active role in reaching out to local youth to bring them back into the education pipeline and open the doors to further education and career opportunities. The first session is: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 Hampton Inn – 5110 Southgate Billings, MT 8:30 am – 4:00 pm AGENDA | FACT SHEET The second session is: Thursday, December 16, 2010 War Bonnet Inn – 2100 Cornell Ave Butte, MT8:30 am – 4:00 pm AGENDA | FACT SHEET Bringing representatives from various agencies together to prepare for the Initiative launch will ensure that we have a successful campaign and Montana has the credentialed workforce necessary to move our state forward. A recent study showed Montana’s dropout rate among students 16 to 19 years old was 9% - the sixth highest rate in the nation. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Carol Flynn at cflynn@mt.gov. Additionally, please feel free to forward this invite to anyone you feel would be interested and can assist with the Initiative.

Click Here to Register for this Webinar What: Having Trouble Navigating through all of those apps? Over 250,000 app have been developed for the iPad, iTouch, and iPhone. This webinar will discuss fun and interactive apps that can be used by kids who experience various disabilities. When: Thursday, December 9, 2010                              11:00am-12:00 p.m. (MT) Cost: Free for Lekotek Affiliates $30 General Public $200 for groups over 10 people Continuing Education: 1 IACET CEU

Click Here to Participate in the Survey As the federal Statewide Family Network Agency under the Child, Adolescent and Services Systems Program (CASSP), Family Support Network’s mission is to establish a child and family focus in all programs serving children and adolescents with mental health issues in Montana. Our goal is to strengthen families through advocacy and education by partnering with local agencies and the federal Center for Mental Health Services. With this mission in mind, we want to alert you on a survey developed to help assess mental health systems development.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services invites you to be part of the launch of Healthy People 2020. The event will take place on December 2, 2010 from 9:00 to 11:00 am MT. Please attend either in person or participate via Web streaming.

To attend the launch or participate via Web streaming, register by visiting: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020_reg/register.aspx

Register for the event at http://www.mchcom.com Please join us for a webinar on Wednesday, December 1st, from 11:00 – 12:15 pm MT   This webcast will provide information and examples regarding innovative partnerships to improve state systems for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Other Developmental Disabilities. These partnerships within states allow for engaging key stakeholders in addition to leveraging resources and improving sustainability of services and coordination of care.  The webinar will consist of a panel representing several states and organizations across the country engaging in unique public/private partnerships that can help advance important projects, programs, and policies to support children, youth, and families affected by autism spectrum disorders.

Click here to download the brochure and learn more information about sessions, speakers, the hotel, tentative schedules, and ideas about funding! We can’t wait to see you in February! Click here to register online. We've made your best value even better with REDUCED early rates! Rates haven't been this good since 2007! Register before January 14, 2011 and SAVE with early registration rates! Inclusive education is a process of school reform that creates equality in education and increases achievement for ALL students, including students with disabilities. PEAK Parent Center’s Conference on Inclusive Education holds the tools you need to reinvent schools to be places where all students can achieve success! With the most POWERFUL line up of speakers you’ll find at one conference, PEAK’s 2011 Conference on Inclusive Education is the place to be!

When: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 12:00 to 1:30 PM MT ABOUT THE WEBINAR: Marking the 35th anniversary of the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), this presentation will review the six pillars of IDEA that support children, parents and teachers in educational settings. How these important precepts have changed through the years will be reviewed. The role parents and advocates have played in IDEA and how they must prepare to again impact the upcoming reauthorization of IDEA are covered. Time is provided for questions from participants. COST:  $35.00 (regularly $50.00) Price includes toll-free phone and web access to the 90 minute presentation, presentation handout and unlimited access to the event archive in both web and audio formats. Secure online purchasing >>>

When: November 29, 2010 12:00 - 1 p.m. MT What: Join NCLD’s Parent Leader, Nancy Ventrudo, as she answers your questions and gives her insider advice. Whether you’re a parent who is raising a child with LD or an adult with LD who needs additional support, where do you begin to look for the information sources or services you need? Nancy will help you learn how to: Make the most of your (free!) Parent Training and Information Center Find other information sources and services in your area Locate free or low-cost resources Determine whether a resource or service is trustworthy

Click here to download the Brochure with Registration Information (PDF) Vision Net training is for kids 0-6 with sensory losses and other disabilities. It will start Jan. 13 -- instructors need advanced registrations to get materials assembled and vision net sites. Please fill out the attached registration form if interested.  Topics will include brain development, sensory processing, family centered practices, use of touch, hearing, vision system, CVI, communication, motor development and more. What: INSITE Basic Training prepares early intervention professional to work with families in acquiring information, skills and support to facilitate the development of their young children who have sensory impairments combined with other disabilities. It includes a comprehensive overview of the rationale and organization of the INSITE Model, including early identification, administration and supportive service components. The majority of the training time is devoted to training in the direct services to families. Participants become familiar with the INSITE resource manual (purchased separately by participants)  which contains information and learning activities for families on early communication, audition, vision, cognition, motor impairments, and the development of auditory and visual skills. They learn about the INSITE approach to information gathering, child assessment and program planning needed for developing the IFSP.

What: Are you concerned about your insurance rates?  MT Insurance Commissioner Monica J. Lindeen will be in your town to help Commissioner Lindeen and her staff will be hosting a public meeting about the benefits of insurance rate regulation and additional information about health insurance rates and options that could be available through proposed 2011 legislation.  Consumer protection education materials will be available and consumer advocacy groups such as SEIU, AARP, ACS-CAN will be on site offering other assistance. The Montana Insurance Department’s Policyholder Services Division will be on site to file your insurance complaints. When: Public Meeting and Staff Services - Wednesday, December 8th at 5:30pm Staff Services - Thursday, December 9th from 10am to 5pm Where: December 8th – Billings Clinic Lower Level, Conference Rooms 1 & 2 December 9th – Billings Clinic Lower Level, Conference Room 5

Joanna Dumas is a graduate student at MSU and is asking for your participation in a survey titled “The Utilization and Satisfaction Rates of Community Services Available to Children with Disabilities as Reported by Parents in Bozeman, Montana.”  This is part of her thesis project.  The purpose of this survey is to gain a better understanding of the knowledge of community services available to children with disabilities and the satisfaction with those services and stress related to those experiences.  The final project may result in a resource guide for parents or a report to service providers to suggest ways in which their services may become more widely utilized. 

The survey can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q95JXQ3 .  If you prefer a hard copy of the survey, please contact Joanna Dumas dumas@montana.edu or 994-4832.  The survey is open until Friday, December 10.

Click here to download the flyer (PDF) When: November 24, 2010 7:30am-9:00am MT Where: Bozeman, MT What: You are invited to join with legislators, community groups, and others interested in the health & well-being of our children to discuss a children’s legislative agenda for the 2011 Montana Legislature. RSVP by Monday, November 22Toni at 582-3144 or toni.lucker@gallatin.mt.gov