Click here to download the full flyer (PDF)

When: Monday June 21, 2010 · 1:00-2:30pm Mountain What: This webinar will provide an in-depth presentation of the five-year postsecondary education experience of Micah Fialka-Feldman, a 25 year old student with an intellectual disability, at Oakland University, through the OPTIONS Program. Micah, along with Dr. Shea Howell, one of Micah's college professors, his mother Janice Fialka, and one of Micah's friends and peer tutors will discuss this journey through postsecondary education from each of their unique perspectives. The webinar will present and discuss a range of practical strategies and supports used to enhance Micah's active participation in the classroom, course work, student activities, and dorm living. Critical components which contributed to a successful experience will be shared, such as: the immediate and inclusive participation of Micah on the campus in all domains of student life and learning, the intentional engagement of other students in planning with and supporting Micah, the creation of opportunities for Micah to participate in student activities, and others.

Click here to download the Region IV 2010 Summer Scholarship form (PDF)

APPLICATION—Montana Youth Leadership & Advocacy Summer Training - Anaconda - June 11 & 12, 2010 Click here to download the application (PDF) What: Training/workshop to develop leadership and advocacy skills in the system of care (SOC) for Mental Illness and in the community. Who: Youth (grades 8-12; ages 13-17) diagnosed with mental illness

Click here to download the application (PDF) What: Training to develop leadership and advocacy skills Who: For parents/caregivers of youth diagnosed with mental illness willing to use their new skills to advocate for children with mental health needs beyond the needs of their own child.

Click here to download the full flyer (PDF) What: Presentations focus on effective communication training for students with autism, Asperger's Syndrome, other autism spectrum disorders, nonverbal learning disabilities or other communication, learning or behavior challenges. Programs are designed to provide a framework for understanding the unique communication needs of targeted students.Presentations are packed with lots of examples of practical intervention strategies that have been used successfully to improve communication, behavior, and participation in school and home routines. When: August 16, 2010 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Where: Front Street Learning Center 815 Front Street Helena, MT 59601

Click here to download the full flyer (PDF) What: Presentations focus on effective communication training for students with autism, Asperger's Syndrome, other autism spectrum disorders, nonverbal learning disabilities or other communication, learning or behavior challenges. Programs are designed to provide a framework for understanding the unique communication needs of targeted students.Presentations are packed with lots of examples of practical intervention strategies that have been used successfully to improve communication, behavior, and participation in school and home routines. When: August 16-17, 2010 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Where: Front Street Learning Center 815 Front Street Helena, MT 59601

What: This intensive two-day training is designed to teach participants the theory behind the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and the protocols for how to appropriately implement the six phases of PECS. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is used to rapidly teach communication skills to those with limited functional speech.  PECS promotes communication within a social context, without lengthy prerequisite training.  Training in PECS begins by teaching a spontaneous request and goes on to teach additional communicative functions such as responding to questions and commenting.  When: August 3-4, 2010 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Where: Armed Services Reserve Center 350 Airport Road Belgrade, MT  59714

Click here to download the flyer (pdf) When: June 4, 2010 5:00pm – 8:00pm Where: Missoula Children’s Museum 225 West Front Street

Montana CAAN meets the third Thursday of the month at the Missoula YMCA.

Join us for the premiere regional conference on special education and the law to: Stay current on recent decisions and interpretations of special education law and litigation Learn from special education law experts from around the country Build professional relationships and network with colleagues Expand your knowledge on emerging legal issues and trends Earn professional credits — CLE or clock hours

Wondering or concerned about your Child's: Development? Speech? Hearing/Vision? Social Skills? Free Child Development Clinic for Children Birth to Six Years of Age, provided by Yellowstone-West/Carbon County Cooperative in conjunction with STEP and in cooperation with your local public school. Purpose: Screen children birth to 6 for a wide range of developmental areas Provide information to parents about their child's development Screenings provided by trained professionals including: speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapist, public nurse, audiologist, special education teachers.

In accordance with the requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),  the state must report annually to the public on the performance of each local educational agency located in the state on the targets in the State's Performance Plan. Because baseline data and/or performance targets have not been established for all of the performance indicators, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), has informed states that they are only required to report district performance for students with disabilities on indicators 1-5 and 8-12 this year. These performance indicators address the following: Graduation, Dropout, Assessment, Suspension/Expulsion, Least Restrictive Environment (ages 6-21), Parent Involvement, Disproportionality As A Result Of Inappropriate Identification, Child Find Timelines, and Early Childhood Transition (transition from Part C to Part B). The district's performance data is 2008-2009 data that was submitted by the district to the OPI as a part of its child count, exiting, student discipline collections and/or collected during a compliance monitoring record review. Performance data for performance indicator #8, Parent Involvement, is based on parent survey data. The Parent Involvement Survey was distributed to districts that were compliance monitored in school year 2008-2009. Districts were asked to provide a copy of the survey to all parents of IDEA-eligible students receiving special education and related services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The District Public Reports can be found on the OPI Web site at:  http://data.opi.mt.gov/SPEDReporting/ .

Summer is always an exciting time to kick back, have fun, and spend quality time with the family. In between family vacations, trips to the zoo, playing video games, and sitting around the house bored, many parents are also searching for activities that are not only fun, but also constructive. Look no further.

From Michigan State University http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3disable.htm

Disaboom recently launched a scholarship directory for students with disabilities. The directory includes over 125 scholarships. The list can be found at http://www.disaboom.com/scholarships/

From Disability.gov, this fact sheet provides an overview of the major federal student aid grant programs. The federal government provides grant funds for students attending colleges, including career colleges and universities. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. To access the fact sheet in English go to http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/Grant_Programs_Fact_Sheet_04_2009.pdf A Spanish version is available at: http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/spanish/Grant_Programs_Fact_Sheet_04_2009%28es%29.pdf

From DOIT,  this guide to funding a college education includes a list of disability-related scholarships and awards. http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/financial-aid.html

The World Institute on Disability (WID) has a five-year grant to establish the National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities living in the United States, through Proyecto Vision.  Proyecto Vision's website has a list of scholarship opportunities for college students who are Latino and who are living with disability,  http://www.proyectovision.net/english/opportunities/scholarships.html

This fund offers financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome who want to enroll in postsecondary programs or take classes that will help them with employment, independent living and life skills. To date, over thirty students have received grants from the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to help cover the costs of pursuing their postsecondary education and enrichment goals.  More information is available at http://www.ndss.org/

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 16, 2010

May May 15: Great Falls Club of the Deaf meeting May 22: Missoula Club of the Deaf annual picnic - Southside Lions Park June June 5: Gallatin Association of the Deaf Spring Crafts & Yard Sale June 17-19: Big Sky Recreation Association of the Deaf - 23rd annual campout @ Kim's Marina & R.V. Resort in Helena, MT July No scheduled social evenst during the month of July Visit http://mtdeaf.org for more information on these events on the new MAD website.