What is Veterans Day and How Do We Celebrate? |
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Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect for you, our veterans.
What do you need to know about celebrating Veterans Day? Here’s some more information in this article featured on military.com titled Veterans Day 2021
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Fun Activities to Teach Kids about Veterans Day |
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In a featured fantasticfunandlearning.com article written by Shaunna Evans, Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor and give thanks to those who have served or are serving in the military. Click HERE for some Veterans Day activities, teaching resources, and even some free printables.
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Great Reading Resources & Activities for Military Families |
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Check out these great reading resources and activities from the Center for Parent Information Services, also known as CPIR
Little Listeners in an Uncertain World
Moving to a New Location
Relocation for Military Families
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RAISE Center and MPACT Survey:
Transition Resources and Preparation of Young Adults with Disabilities
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The RAISE Center and Missouri Parents Act (MPACT) seek to gather information from post-high school youth with disabilities, aged 18 - 26, on their experiences in the adult world, asking them questions like:
- Would you wish you had known more about navigating systems, organizations, or experiences?
- What kinds of things were unexpected in your daily life?
- Have you experienced any big surprises?
- If you could go back to high school, what questions would you want to know?
- And much, much more...
Please share this information widely and encourage youth participation. The first 100 youth respondents receive a $10 gift card.
Thank you for supporting RAISE and MPACT as we listen to what our youth has to say.
Questions about the survey can be directed to Missouri Parents Act 800-743-7634.
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Request for Stakeholder Engagement |
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First Steps Annual Performance Report
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) established the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) which is a series of “indicators” designed to measure results for children and families served in Missouri’s Part C early intervention program known as First Steps. The Office of Childhood is engaging with Missouri stakeholders to set annual targets or goals for these indicators, to analyze data, develop improvement strategies, and evaluate the progress. A series of focus groups will be conducted to share information with stakeholders and gather feedback.
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Click HERE and register to attend a virtual focus group by November 30th.
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Special Education Stakeholder Feedback Needed! |
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As someone with an interest in the education of students, particularly students with disabilities, your feedback is needed. All states are required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to have special education performance indicators that become part of the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance (SPP/APR) Report. There are seventeen different indicators that the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education uses in setting annual targets and offering ideas to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Your feedback is needed, and your voice can contribute to setting targets and provide suggestions based on your lived experiences.
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Here’s how to have your voice be heard:
Go to the MO DESE SPP/APR Stakeholder Information page HERE
Review each indicator, expanding the view by changing the “ꓦ” to “ꓥ” or clicking on the underlined Indicator Number and Title. You will see the indicator description, view a brief video, examine the presentation with notes, and participate in the survey for the specific indicator.
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View the program overview video: |
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There is a separate program overview and survey for each of the indicators or indicator pairs. Click on the links below to view the videos and participate in the surveys. |
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1 & 2 Graduation and Dropout |
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5 School-age Least Restrictive Environments |
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6 Early Childhood Special Education Environments |
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Functional Behavior Assessment
in a Manifestation Determination
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Why conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)?
Within 10 school days of any decision to change the placement of a child with a disability because of a violation of a code of student conduct, the IEP team must review all relevant information in the student’s file to determine—
(i) If the conduct in question was caused by, or had a direct and substantial relationship to, the child’s disability;
Behavior is often a child’s way of communicating needs that he or she is not able to verbally express. A Functional Behavioral Assessment, also known as an FBA, can determine the reasons why a student’s behavior is affecting his or her education. Different students can display behaviors that look similar, such as throwing a book, but the reason for or the cause of the behavior may be very different for each child.
Check out MPACT's website on FBA HERE
Read more about FBA HERE.
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Did You Know?
Students with disabilities do not lose their right to FAPE just because they become involved with the justice system. The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that ensures that all children with disabilities, including justice-involved youth, have available to them a free appropriate public education (FAPE) that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.
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The VR Self-Employment Guide is a multimedia website designed to help people with disabilities, and vocational rehabilitation counselors understand the self-employment process, developed through the work of RTC: Rural.
Click HERE to access the VR Self-Employment Guide
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MPACT Webinars in November
Click on the links below to register
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Understanding ADHD
Special Education Mediation
Special Education: What I Need to Know
The Art of Effective Advocacy
Disagreement Resolution*
Steps to Success: Parental Rights
Graduation Requirements for Students in Missouri Public and Charter Schools:
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Parents Facilitate, Youth Take Action
Section 504 and Students with Disabilities
Steps to Success: Family Record-Keeping
Steps to Success: Effectively
Communicating Your Child’s Needs
Special Education Law: A Brief Overview
Understanding the IEP Process
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*Featured Training of the Month |
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View all upcoming MPACT trainings HERE.
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All MPACT trainings are free of charge! If you would like to schedule any MPACT training in your area or for your organization
please click on the link HERE.
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Make a Difference in the Lives of
Missouri Families, Join MPACT Today!
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What is an MPACT Mentor Volunteer?
Mentors are trained volunteers who, upon request, provide support to families of children with disabilities throughout the special education process. A mentor does not represent or speak for a parent or family member, but a mentor does help empower an individual to become a strong educational advocate for his or her child. MPACT mentors are screened and receive training and supervision from MPACT staff.
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MPACT (Missouri Parents Act) is looking for enthusiastic individuals to help develop a diverse community-based board of directors. We seek members with a broad variety of backgrounds, ethnicities and experience, people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, people with experience with other children’s issues, people simply interested in child education, people with fundraising expertise, business professionals, and educators.
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Shop with MPACT on Amazon Smile :) |
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Your holiday shopping can help make a difference, at no additional cost to you!
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, or in the Amazon app with AmazonSmile turned on within Settings, you'll find the same products and same low prices as the Amazon you already know - plus, they donate a portion of your purchases to your chosen charity.
#amazonsmilecharity #amazonsmiledonates
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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 © 2021 MPACT. All rights reserved
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