Empowering families to advocate for themselves so that children with special educational needs can reach their full potential in education and life - through support, training, and education. 
Young autistic person holding a sign that says _Listen to me_ I have autism._

April is Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.

A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder ( CDC website, April 2018).

What autism is:
  • A developmental disability
  • A neurological disorder
  • Behaviorally defined
  • A communication, sensory, and interactional disability
  • Treated through good educational programs
  • Variable in its severity across individuals
What autism is not:
  • A mental or emotional illness
  • Curable
  • Diagnosable by any type of medical procedure
  • Simply a behavior
  • The same set of behaviors in all individuals
This month, learn more about autism in a way that supports autistic individuals and their families.
Blonde boy with plaid shirt looking at book
Positive Behavior Supports

In late 2016, OSEP released a  Dear Colleague letter  spelling out the functions of Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams in addressing Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions (PBIS). The letter is organized into five areas that outline what teams must consider to make certain all students are receiving a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), even when behavioral issues are present.
 
Parent/teacher conferences and IEP meetings are on the horizon. There are very few resources and supports for behavioral interventions, and not many people know much about positive behavior supports. This letter helps make certain the families we serve know exactly what they are entitled to, what they are not entitled to, and what should be happening among their IEP teams to address behavior.

Behavior-Specific Online Resources
MPACT Trainings and  Workshops
MPACT offers parents and professionals a variety of online and in-person trainings. All trainings are FREE of charge. Please  contact us if you would like to schedule a training for your area or organization.

Please register for any of the workshops you would like to attend so we can send you electronic copies of the materials and notify you of any changes in the schedule. You can register  here or by clicking the button below.

Notice: If there is inclement weather and the school district located in the area where the training is being held cancels school, the MPACT training will also be cancelled. Participants who have registered online will be notified via email.
Kansas City Missouri Region

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Overview
April 25 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Children's Division of Clay County
7000 Liberty Drive
Liberty, MO 64068

Understanding the IEP Process for Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
May 10 @ 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Eitas Training Center
8508 Hillcrest Road
Kansas City, MO 64138

IDEA Part C to Part B
May 26 @ 10:30 am - 12:45 pm
Kansas City Public Library: Southeast Branch
6242 Swope Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64130

Parental Rights
May 26 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Kansas City Public Library: Southeast Branch
6242 Swope Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64130

Special Education: What I Need to Know
June 14 @ 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Eitas Training Center
8508 Hillcrest Road
Kansas City, MO 64138

Understanding the IEP Process for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
June 18 @ 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Eitas Training Center
8508 Hillcrest Road
Kansas City, MO 64138

Central Missouri Region

Art of Effective Advocacy
May 2 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Missouri River Regional Library
214 Adams Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Understanding the IEP Process
May 2 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Missouri River Regional Library
214 Adams Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Art of Effective Advocacy
May 5 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Polk County Library: Bolivar Branch
1690 West Broadway Street
Boliver, MO 65613

Special Education: What I Need to Know
May 5 @ 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Polk County Library: Bolivar Branch
1690 West Broadway Street
Boliver, MO 65613

Special Education Law
May 8 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Camden County Library: Camdenton Branch
89 Rodeo Road 
Camdenton, MO 65020

Disagreement Resolution Processes
May 8 @ 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Camden County Library: Camdenton Branch
89 Rodeo Road 
Camdenton, MO 65020

St. Louis Missouri Region

Art of Effective Advocacy
April 28 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am
MPACT State Office
7421 Mexico Road
Suite 200
St. Peters, MO 63376

Disagreement Resolution Processes
April 28 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
MPACT State Office
7421 Mexico Road
Suite 200
St. Peters, MO 63376

Disagreement Resolution Processes
April 30 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Special School District, Rm 61
2110 Clayton Road
St. Louis, MO 63131

Understanding the IEP Process
May 12 @ 9:00 am - 10:30 am
MPACT State Office
7421 Mexico Road
Suite 200
St. Peters, MO 63376

Special Education Law
May 12 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am
MPACT State Office
7421 Mexico Road
Suite 200
St. Peters, MO 63376

Effectively Communicating Your Child's Needs
"A Break to Educate" Series
May 14 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
St. Louis Public Library: Central Library
1301 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63103

Southwest Missouri Region

Special Education: What I Need to Know
May 3 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Springfield-Greene County Library: The Library Center
4653 South Campbell Avenue
Springfield, MO 65810

Art of Effective Advocacy
May 19 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Springfield-Greene County Library: The Library Center
4653 South Campbell Avenue
Springfield, MO 65810

IDEA Part C to Part B
June 18 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Springfield-Greene County Library: The Library Center
4653 South Campbell Avenue
Springfield, MO 65810

Southeast Missouri Region

Transition from Early Childhood to Elementary
May 10 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Caruthersville Head Start Center
710 East 18th Street
Caruthersville, MO 63830


MPACT Employment Opportunities
Do you have the desire and skill to support families in advocating for their children with disabilities throughout the special education process? Do you demonstrate the following unique and comprehensive abilities? If so, please apply for one of  MPACT's open positions !

Open Positions:
  • Regional Coordinator (Northeast/Columbia, MO)
  • Regional Coordinator (Southwest/Springfield, MO)

Job Responsibilities:
  • Provide individual assistance and technical support for families that have children with disabilities in the form of phone, emails, material distribution, and education meeting attendance,
  • Provide assistance to individuals regarding educational and disability-related issues of preschool age children, school age children, and young adults with disabilities,
  • Set up, market, and perform training workshops in conjunction with project and contract requirements, including registering and following up with participants, and
  • Develop and maintain relationships with contract and project collaborating partners as well as agencies, organizations, schools, and groups located within position's assigned area and that focus on serving under-served communities, families of children with disabilities, and youth with disabilities.
 
MPACT is funded in part or whole by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs Grant No. H328M090020-10. The contents of the website, however, and any documents cited herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S Department of Education.
Copyright © 2018 MPACT. All rights reserved.
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