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From his home on the Neal Ranch, 14 miles west of Philipsburg, David Riggs is a short off-road drive from a favorite fishing spot on Rock Creek. The bank is flat. The trout are plentiful. Moose, deer and bighorns occasional wander across the secluded backdrop. Riggs, 43, came to realize the picturesque potential for anglers — in wheelchairs. He recently installed a handicap access gate that opens to 60 feet of creek frontage about a mile west of the Kyle G. Bohrnsen Memorial Bridge.

A New Approach to Early Intervention: Virtual Home Visits Some bicoastal residents call it “flyover country.” Earlier generations called the huge expanses of America’s West “the Great American Desert.” But for the families of infants and toddlers with disabilities who reside there, often in remote and sometimes harsh circumstances far from the care their children require, it is home. Reaching those families for regular required home visits is often a monumental or downright impossible task for administrators of early intervention programs and their service providers who must drive for hours each way in weather conditions that are often severe and dangerous in an era in which fuel prices promise to remain prohibitively high. Until now, hard choices had to be made. Home visits to families in remote areas had to be postponed or canceled due to weather or cost. For families, their children’s needs went unmet. For federally funded statewide programs charged with seeking out and serving all infants and toddlers needing early intervention services, charters went unfulfilled. Today, however, technology provides the hope that virtual home visits can effectively and efficiently supplement, but not replace, traditional in-person visits.

What: This is an informational conference for parents and professionals that live or work with individuals with disabilities. When: Thursday, March 25th, 2010 Where: Kiamichi Technology Center McAlester Campus 301 Kiamichi Drive McAlester, Oklahoma 74501

The $250-dollar scholarship will be given out for the Fall semester to a Montana resident majoring in education with at least a 3.0 grade point average. Anyone wanting to support the cause can send tax-deductible donations to the "Merry Jane Trewhella Memorial Scholarship Endowment" to the MSU Billings Foundation, 1500 University Drive, Billings, MT 59101.

Forget driving to the office and milling about in the waiting room. Increasingly psychiatrists are ready to meet you face-to-face — no matter where you are — using computers and the power of the internet to make mental health care far more accessible than ever before. So-called telepsychiatry is on the rise and it couldn’t come soon enough. It’s estimated that more than 7 million kids have a need for mental health services due to a mental disorder, behavioral issue or developmental disability. Many of these children go without mental health services, according to a recent government survey.

SAN FRANCISCO — Even as audio versions of best-sellers fill store shelves and new technology fuels the popularity of digitized books, the number of titles accessible to people who are blind or dyslexic is minuscule.A new service being announced Thursday by the nonprofit Internet Archive in San Francisco is trying to change that. The group has hired hundreds of people to scan thousands of books into its digital database — more than doubling the titles available to people who aren't able to read a hard copy.Brewster Kahle, the organization's founder, says the project will initially make 1 million books available to the visually impaired, using money from foundations, libraries, corporations and the government. He's hoping a subsequent book drive will add even more titles to the collection.

What:A group of moms of children with special needs of all types that meets monthly in Great Falls to share friendship, support, encouragement and ideas in dealing with their special needs families. Next event for Montana Special Moms-Great Falls group is on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 6pm. We’ll meet at Mac Kenzie River Pizza, 500 River Drive S in Great Falls, Montana. Group is open to Moms of kids with any type of disability or delay. Contact Jana at 406-727-2704 or jnjloo@yahoo.com for more information and to reserve your seat!

Click here to download the flyer (PDF) What: Bal-A-Vis-X is a series of more than 200 Balance/Auditory/Vision exercises, of varied complexity, most of which are deeply rooted in rhythm.  These exercises require full-body coordination and focused attention.  The program utilizes beanbags, racquetballs, balance boards, and multiple principles and activities from Educational Kinesiology for crossing midline.  It demands cooperation, promotes self-challenge and fosters self-esteem….and it is FUN! Who Should Attend: Administrators, Principals, Regular and Special Educators, School Psychologists, Teachers, Social Workers, Therapists – OT/PT/SLP, Paraprofessionals, and Parents When:  August 11-12, 2011 Day 1 & 2:  8:00 – 5:00 pm Lunch Provided – 30 minute break Location:   Ridge View Elementary School 117 Green Belt Drive Belgrade, Montana Cost:  Registration Cost - $150 17 hours of instruction Full Two-day attendance required Registration limited to 60 Participants must be over age 18 Contact for More Information:  Denielle Miller 3929 Baxter Bozeman, MT  59718 (406) 587-4970

Click here to download the full flyer (PDF) What: Wraparound Overview: Why High Fidelity Wraparound and Why Now? Who: State Agencies, Providers, Family Organizations, Interested Stakeholders Where:      Billings, MT 2121 Rosebud Drive, Conference Rm. C-28 When: August 31, 2011 2pm - 5pm Mountain To register or if you have questions: Contact Nancy Whitbeck-Nicholson at NWhitbeck-Nicholson@mt.gov or (406)444-4545 and provide your name, agency, email and phone number. Register early; space is limited. No cost for the training. For questions about the PRTF Waiver: Contact Laura Taffs at ltaffs@mt.gov or (406)444-1460.

What: Fred Fay's life proves that one man can change the world, even though he has to lie flat on his back just to stay alive. LIVES WORTH LIVING looks at Fay's struggle to survive after a spinal cord injury and the small group of dedicated activists who formed the Disability Rights Movement to drive the nation towards equal rights. When: Thursday, October 27, 2011 10:00pm on local PBS affiliate

Click here to register for this event What: The M-Enabling Summit, Global Summit and Showcase for Mobile Applications and Services for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities, is the first global program solely dedicated to participants in the emerging ecosystem for mobile accessible and assistive technologies, applications and services. Unlike any other conference or exposition, the M-Enabling Summit brings together all facets of the industry. Key stakeholders from across the globe that develop, market, create policy, and deploy the initiatives that are setting new frontiers for Mobile Accessible and Assistive Solutions will be in attendance. Participants at M-Enabling Summit will be able to: Network and exchange ideas with peers and experts from industry, service providers, and organizations of seniors and persons with disabilities Learn about the latest developments, innovations, market drivers and emerging opportunities Share perspectives with global policy makers and regulators See the latest products, services and applications in a showcase featuring companies and organizations driving innovation with accessible and assistive mobile technologies solutions Gain new insights from case studies by service providers, and public and private sector organizations experienced in marketing and services for seniors and persons with disabilities Who Should Attend: Mobile service providers Accessibility experts Organizations of seniors and persons with disabilities Application developers Telecom regulators Emergency response officials IT professionals Corporations using mobile communications with their customers Federal agencies and local government Academia and research centers When: December 5-6, 2011 Where: The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center Washington, D.C.

Click here to download the flyer for this event (PDF) What: Each session will include an interactive opportunity as well as an opportunity for questions and answers with open table discussions. This training provides a time for you to learn and ask your questions about: Working, job choices Driving Going to college Friends When: September 13, 2011 7:00pm - 8:00pm Mountain Where: Mansfield Health Education Center 1145 North 30th | Billings MT Located in the Lower Level of the Yellowstone Medical Building West To reserve your spot or find the videoconferencing location in your area, contact: St. Vincent University at 406-237-ED4U (406-237-3348) or email svhu@svh-mt.org

Click here to download full flyer with registration information (PDF) What: The Northern Rockies Association for the Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind & Visually Impaired is holding its annual conference. Presentations include: Teaching Braille though Arts and Games ~ Jan Zollinger, Distinguished Educators of Blind Children Award, 2004 Stress and the Deaf-Blind Student: Enhancing the Work Environment ~ Robin Greenfield, Coordinator of the Idaho DeafBlind Project Using the Low Vision Assessment Effectively ~ a panel (O&M Specialist; Teacher of the Visually Impaired; etc.) Options for Driving with Optical Devices ~ Dr. Dwight Hansen, Low Vision Specialist Transition and Beyond ~ Dana Ard, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Blind Assistive Technology for Students with Multiply Impairments-Visual Impairments ~ Nora Jehn, Director of the Idaho Center for Assistive Technology Update on Accessible Technology for the Consumer (IPAD, Magnifiers, Notetaking Devices, Auditory Readers, etc.) Low Vision and Low Vision Devices American Printing House: new math and tactual graphics products Dog Guide Issues Where: Sun Valley Inn Ketchum, Idaho When: October 19-21, 2011

Click Here to Download Flyer for this Event (pdf file) What:Two day conference focused on improving student development and involvement in the transition process through innovative program structures. Participants will share ideas, plan for future OTIs, increase knowledge of effective secondary transition practices, learn how to enhance effectiveness of current transition education practices, and learn about new transition education instructional materials.  Click Here to Register Now When:November 2nd- 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)November 3rd- 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Where:Metro Technology Centers1900 Springlake DriveOklahoma City, OK 73111

Click here to register for this event What: Thousands of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries have learned how to stay in control of their benefits while enriching their lives through employment. You can too. Work Incentive Seminar Events (WISE) provide you and your family the opportunity to learn how to take advantage of Social Security Work Incentives, including Ticket to Work. When: April 7, 2011 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MDT MSU Billings/College of Education Building, Training Room #122 1500 University Drive Billings, MT  59101 April 14, 2011 9 :00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. MDT Best Western KwaTaqNuk Resort 49708 US Highway 93 East Polson, MT  59860 Register: Online or by calling 1-877-743-8237 (V/TTY).  Space is limited, so please register today! 

Hopefully this web site will  help you  to quickly grasp the basics of the law, explain my understanding of the philosophy driving that law, and help you attain basic skills that will enable you to be an equal member of the team directing your child's education. From my experience as a parent of children with disabilities, from many years of working with educators, and from experience as a volunteer parent advocate, I have  a fair amount of insight into the education process, and the advocacy tools that work. 

We are a nonprofit foundation created to help families acquire items beneficial to their children that insurance companies don't cover. We also provide educational items such as sensory friendly school supplies to families and emergency kits with sensory items for evacuations to schools. Each family can fill out one application per calendar year and can request up to $500 (including shipping costs) worth of materials. All items will be ordered directly from the vendor and no funds will be sent to the families. Please see our family application for guidelines.