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Every day individuals advocate on behalf of themselves or others to communicate needs, share experiences, and take steps to get what they want and need. The online Advocacy ATLAS is a toolkit created by Genetic Alliance, Parent to Parent USA, and Family Voices that provides individuals with special healthcare needs and their families with tools and strategies to advocate for whatever they may need. Resources are grouped by category on the Advocacy ATLAS landing page. Simply click one of the ten topic areas to get started browsing accessible tools!

Brown, 44, of Billings, is a paraplegic, substitute teacher and example for disabled people in the workforce. On this Tuesday, he’s headed to class to read to students about dragonflies and metamorphosis.

The Advocacy Institute is pleased to offer unlimited access to a selection of our Advocate Academy Webinar archives during Summer 2010. Each archive will be available for 2 weeks. Archives are 90 minutes in length. You can start, stop, pause, fast forward or rewind the recording using the controls on the ReadyTalk player. Be sure to have Adobe FLASH Player installed on your computer to view the archives!

The health care bill emerging from a key Senate committee now includes expanded independent living options and autism insurance coverage, both of which are good news for people with disabilities, advocates say. The Senate finance committee agreed last week to include an amendment mandating insurance coverage for behavior treatments used with those who have autism. Similar legislation has passed in many states, but advocates say a federal mandate is key.

In a series of policy recommendations, advocates from a consortium made up of a dozen organizations including Autism Speaks and Easter Seals highlighted the needs of adults with autism when it comes to learning life skills, accessing qualified support providers and obtaining funding that’s flexible. Organizers of the advocacy effort known as Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism estimate that more than 500,000 individuals with the disorder will enter adulthood in the next 10 years. They are urging Congress to pass reforms within the next year to meet the needs they’ve identified.

Click here to register for this webinar What: This presentation examines how students who are at greater risk for suspension, expulsion and referral to the juvenile justice system because of behaviors associated with their disabilities, are targeted by school push-out policies and practices that systemically exclude these most vulnerable students from school and deny them their education. Our presenters will describe the array of such policies and practices - retention, academic sanctions, ineffective interventions, including those used for bullying and harassment, abusive use of zero tolerance, criminalization of disability related behavior and referral to law enforcement. Presenters will also identify and discuss concrete strategies for parents and advocates to use to help students protect their rights to remain in school and receive a high quality education. Time is provided for questions from participants. When: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm MT

What: This presentation examines how students who are at greater risk for suspension, expulsion and referral to the juvenile justice system because of behaviors associated with their disabilities, are targeted by school push-out policies and practices that systemically exclude these most vulnerable students from school and deny them their education. Our presenters will describe the array of such policies and practices - retention, academic sanctions, ineffective interventions, including those used for bullying and harassment, abusive use of zero tolerance, criminalization of disability related behavior and referral to law enforcement. Presenters will also identify and discuss concrete strategies for parents and advocates to use to help students protect their rights to remain in school and receive a high quality education. Time is provided for questions from participants. When: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm MT

Quality special education services are intensive, individualized and expensive. Because parents want quality services for their children, parent-school conflict is normal, predictable . . . and inevitable.

Educators believe they are “the experts” in educating children. Some educators and service providers feel threatened by strong, articulate parents who are active advocates for their children. How do schools deal with perceived threats? Some schools try to limit parents’ ability to advocate for their children.

In this article, you will learn how to manage a crisis with the school. We describe typical parent-school crises that cause parents to seek outside help. You will learn that a crisis has two sides: danger and opportunity. We will describe how to avoid common pitfalls and provide strategies you can use to weather a crisis.

Easter Seals is excited to share these findings from our national study about the challenges facing families affected by disability -- needs for employment, housing, transportation, social interactions, recreation, healthcare and financial security -- the basics of daily life. We hope you find this compelling information helpful. These findings will be used to raise awareness of and advocate for the life-long services families desperately need -- working to lessen these disparities and bridge the gap for the many people living with developmental disabilities.

aster Seals is excited to share these findings from our national study about the challenges facing families affected by disability -- needs for employment, housing, transportation, social interactions, recreation, healthcare and financial security -- the basics of daily life. We hope you find this compelling information helpful. These findings will be used to raise awareness of and advocate for the life-long services families desperately need -- working to lessen these disparities and bridge the gap for the many people living with developmental disabilities.

Click here to register for this webinar Why Neurodiversity and Inclusion? A vital discussion about youth and adults living with autism, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), or related disabilities--particularly for direct support professionals, service providers, special educators, parents, advocates and self-advocates. What: Ari Ne'eman is the Founding President of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN), a national advocacy organization run by and for Autistic adults and youth. Ne'eman was recently appointed by President Obama as the first Autistic person to serve on the National Council on Disability. This webinar will focus on the topic of "Neurodiversity and Inclusion", discussing the growing "neurological diversity" movement, its perspectives and relationship with the broader disability rights movement and its implications on inclusive educational practice. Topics covered will include: the impact of passing demands the appropriate and inappropriate identification of "problem behaviors" other aspects of neurodiversity's implications for inclusive education." When: January 7, 2011 11am-1pm MT

President Barack Obama’s heath care reform proposal released Monday includes many of the provisions disability advocates have been pushing for. The $950 billion proposal comes ahead of a bipartisan health care summit planned for Thursday and retains many elements advocates consider favorable for people with disabilities. Notably, the plan would prevent coverage denials based on a preexisting condition and allocate additional federal funds to expand Medicaid.

For complete information on the Call for Proposal requirements and submission process, click here: 2010 Call for Proposals This year's conference will highlight the elements of the first TASH National Agenda: Inclusive Education Community Living Employment Human Rights People of Color The 2010 conference will focus on innovative practices to promote inclusion and reduce the disparities experienced by individuals with significant disabilities in schools, community living, and employment. The conference will also address human rights concerns and issues often faced by people of color. All people have the right to lead dignified lives where personal choices are honored and cherished. Who Should Attend? Adult Service Providers  Advocates/Self-Advocates Early Interventionists Educators/Special Educators Family Support Professionals Legal/Public Policy Parents/Family Members Professors/Researchers

Whether you are a parent of a child with LD, an adult with LD, an educator, or an LD professional, there's a place for you in the world of LD advocacy. Now more than ever, it is imperative that the voices of children and adults with learning disabilities are heard in Washington, D.C. and at the state and local level.

What: School districts nationwide are challenged to keep pace with the complex needs of a growing autism population. This webinar will define 7 Key Components that research and practitioners have identified as necessary to effectively support students with autism.    It will provide a framework for district leaders to allocate resources, for teachers to coordinate direct services, and for parents to advocate, all in an effort to improve supports for students on the autism spectrum. When: Join Jamie Pagliaro Co-Creator of Rethink Autism & Former Executive Director, NY Center for Autism Charter School on one of the dates below: Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 11am Mountain Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 1pm Mountain

Click here to download the flyer for the Youth M.O.V.E Montana (PDF) We the members of Youth Motivating Others through Voices of Experience’ (M.O.V.E.) National envision systems in which every youth person that enters a youth serving system is being prepared for life through genuine opportunities and authentic youth involvement throughout all systems levels. We help guide the redevelopment of the systems so that no youth falls through the cracks. We advocate for youth to utilize their power and expertise to foster change in their communities and in their own lives. Youth M.O.V.E. National works toward the day when all people will recognize and accept the culture of youth, their families, and the communities that serve them in order to be truly culturally-competent. Youth M.O.V.E. National looks forward to the day when youth are no longer treated as numbers, problems or caseloads, but as individuals and humans. We will all stand as partners: youth, youth advocates, supporters, parents, and professionals to see our youth become successful.

Click here to register for this event What: Telling Our Stories is a monthly webinar series that hosts people with disabilities sharing their stories of success and challenge. This month our guest speaker is Anthony Tusler, author and disability advocate. Guest Speaker: Anthony Tusler is a writer, consultant, trainer, and advocate on disability issues related to technology access and policy, alcohol and other drug policy and training, and disability culture. He was the Coordinator of the Technology Policy Division at the World Institute on Disability for three years and the founding Director of the Disability Resource Center at Sonoma State University. He helped to start the Institute on Alcohol, Drugs, and Disability and Community Resources for Independence ILC in Northern California. He has taught at Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College.He is the author of the book, How to Create Disability Access to Technology: Best Practices in  Electronic and Information Companies. His web site AboutDisability.com is the home for The New Paradigm of Disability Bibliography. When: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 12:30 PM –  1:30 PM MST

Raising a child with autism is as challenging as it is rewarding.  Depending on the degree of autism, the types of challenges vary but parenting these exceptional children is highly rewarding.  Autistic children are unique from the rest of the population and perceive their world in a unique way.  Being an effective parent to an autistic child requires patience, creativity, and resourcefulness.