The National Center on Response to Intervention (NCRTI) has developed a new resource, Essential Components of RTI – A Closer Look at Response to Intervention. This document provides a definition of RTI, reviews essential RTI components, and responds to frequently asked questions.

What: Dating and Healthy Relationships - Youth Track Web Conference When: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 1:00 - 2:00 Mountain Time Join us for the fourth and final session in our 2009/2010 Youth Track Web Conference series! During this web conference, you will learn about: Friendships, dating, and marriage How to meet other young people How parents can help us make safe and healthy choices What resources are available to learn more about this topic And much more! Youth Track sessions are geared toward young adults (13-30) with developmental disabilities. We encourage teachers to allow their students to participate in these sessions as a class activity. Family members, educators, service providers, and other interested individuals are always welcome to attend the Youth Track web conferences.

What: Dyslexia: A New Understanding - Why some of the smartest people struggle with reading, spelling, writing, math, organization and attentionWhere:Pilgrim Congregational Church2118 S. 3rd Avenue by M.O.R., Bozeman

TOPIC: This webinar provides IEP team members—educators and families—with a process for decision-making about accessible instructional materials, including identification of need, selection of formats, and sources for obtaining materials. Free decision-guiding tools available on the AIM Center web site will also be highlighted. SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: SEAs, LEAs, educators and families who are members of IEP teams and other decision-making teams

TOPIC: This webinar, especially designed for leaders in state and local education agencies, is an introduction to the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials. The session includes an overview of technical assistance and services available to SEAs and LEAs, a guided tour of the Center’s web site, and information about the process for obtaining services from the Center. SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: SEAs, LEAs

TOPIC: This webinar provides an overview of collaborative perspectives and actions needed to develop and sustain an effective, efficient system for the provision of accessible instructional materials in timely manner. SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: SEA and LEA leaders

TOPIC: The AIM Basics webinar provides general information about the provision of accessible instructional materials, legal mandates, an overview of the responsibilities of various stakeholders, and information about additional resources. Participation in this webinar is a strongly suggested as a prerequisite for other webinars. SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: General

SHARE's next meeting is Saturday 5/1, at 11 a.m. at the Family Outreach offices, located at 1315 E. Main St., Bozeman, MT. This is the large white building with with green trim at the intersection of Main and Highland. We will discuss "Toxic Psychiatry" by Peter Breggin.

The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is a group of programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine the number of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the United States. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities characterized by atypical development in socialization, communication, and behavior. In 2006, on average, approximately 1% or one child in every 110 in the 11 ADDM sites was classified as having an ASD. These results indicate an increased prevalence of identified ASDs among U.S. children aged 8 years and underscore the need to regard ASDs as an urgent public health concern. This presentation will review the most recent published ADDM data.

Register for Conference Each National Conference brings together the OI community to share, earn and enjoy life. Attendees are as diverse as OI itself – parents, grandparents, kids with OI, siblings, teens, adults of every age, spouses, people with a new diagnosis and people who are conference veterans. Planning is well underway for the 2010 Conference scheduled for July 8-10, in Portland, OR. The theme will be: Living Well with an Unbreakable Spirit!  

The goal of the Optimist Special Children's Camp is to give the children a week of summer camp where they can forget about their disabilities and have fun while giving their caregivers some free time. During the week of camp, the children will play games, do crafts, swim and enjoy a special activity each night (movie, dance, carnival).Click here to download the Camper Enrollment Application (PDF)Click here to download the Counselor Application (PDF)

The third annual Transitions Conference was created for students in Springfield Public Schools' Business Associated Student Education program. BASE helps high school special education students gain employable skills by, among other things, job shadowing employees.

Let’s get reconnected and renew our support for each other and other area families. What better time than Autism Awareness month to come and say hello and check out the YMCA facilities where we will be having our monthly meeting. You’ll also get to see the preschool room where we will be providing childcare (This won’t exclude older children. We will have activities for them as well!). Plus, we can talk about our plans for summer activities as well as get ideas from you for additional activities.

Achieving Excellence and Innovation in Family, School, and Community Engagement is a series of free webinars that aim to provide opportunities for stakeholders representing national, regional, and local organizations to learn about family, school, and community engagement research and innovations, as well as best practices from the field. The first installment of the webinar series addresses the question, How can stakeholders build the capacity to transform schools through effective family, school, and community engagement? This webinar will include real-life examples of innovative family and community engagement efforts, as well as discussing how to successfully integrate family engagement systems into student learning and how to sustain engagement efforts across the cradle-to-career pathway.

Visit the Mason's Mountain Run websiteThis race is being started to celebrate the life of a very special boy, Mason Bailey Shuck. Mason died in August 2009 after living with mitochondrial disease for 11 years. His spirit and sense of humor lives on with us today. He enjoyed many days in the mountains, hiking and camping. This race/walk is to enjoy a day in the beautiful mountains and to encourage anyone who is capable to run for those who can’t.

Click here to download the full brochure (PDF) Topic: In this engaging workshop, national expert Dr. Douglas Gentile will discuss the scientific research on many of the ways in which the media can affect children, adolescents, and adults. Topics covered will include brain development and the media, the psychology of advertising and what educators should learn from advertisers, the multiple effects of media violence, the positive and negative effects of  video games, how the media fit into the larger picture of risk and protective factors, and how the media can influence school readiness and school success.

Who Should Attend: • School Based Personnel • Physical Therapists • Psychologists • Occupational Therapists • Marriage & Family Therapists • Nurses • Educators • Counselors • Teacher Assistants • Speech Language Pathologists • Special Education Teachers • Social Workers This program is appropriate for all levels of knowledge regarding Asperger’s Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, and High-Functioning Autism. 

Early Childhood Intervention is having an open house at their new location.When: Wednesday, April 28 from 3:00pm - 5:00pm.Where: 2016 Grand Ave - Billings, Montana 59102For more information, call 406-281-6180

I have started a new ning group for the Missoula Autism Support group. I think the format will be easier to maintain and use. Please join in an effort to better support autism in Missoula. Click to Join

Topic: Senior Care ProgramWho: Guest Speaker - Diann Spear, MSW. LCSW Social Worker Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)Where: Yellowstone County Council on Aging1505 Avenue D. Billings, MTWhen: 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.