Americans with Disabilities Act Turns 33 | |
MPACT is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 33rd Anniversary. On July 26th we celebrate this important civil rights law that works to ensure all people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Celebrate with us by visiting: www.adaanniversary.org/ | |
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Are you ready to be part of something GREAT?
The Missouri Early Childhood State Advisory Council (ECSAC) is looking for volunteers!
ECSAC is looking for individuals who are passionate about:
- Improving the lives of Missouri’s youngest citizens;
- Partnering with the Office of Childhood to Expand Access to High-Quality Programs and Services, Improve the Quality of Programs and Services, Strengthen Community Leadership, Modernize Systems, Improve Operations; and
- Recruiting, retaining, and supporting an effective childhood workforce
Current vacancies on the ECSAC include:
- Four parents of children with disabilities age twelve or younger, with knowledge of, or experience with, programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities. One of those parents must be a parent of a child with a disability age six or younger
- One representative of a local educational agency in Missouri.
- One early care and education provider.
If this describes you and your role, Apply Now to serve on the ECSAC
Visit these resources for more information about the ECSAC:
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Students with disabilities stand out Statistically on Discipline
Students with disabilities experience disproportionately high rates of expulsion and suspension, the most-recent data from the department’s office for civil rights show. In the 2017-18 school year, students with disabilities represented 13 percent of the total student enrollment but experienced 23 percent of all expulsions with educational services and 15 percent of all expulsions without educational services. Read more HERE.
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Advanced Enrollment for Military Children | |
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If your child is one of the 185,000 military children changing schools annually due to a PCS move, you may know about bumpy transitions between school systems. Military families face PCS challenges such as:
- Transferring records
- Learning the differences in education and graduation requirements for the current versus the new state
- Finding ways around the enrollment barriers in electives, sports and other extracurricular activities
- Ensuring children can get the same individualized education program services at their new school
Click HERE to learn more about PCS moves.
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Purple Out! Register Now for MCEC Global Training Summit | |
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Ready for the 2023 MCEC Global Training Summit?
Join us July 24-26, 2023!
Military-connected children are not immune to the nation's mental health crisis for kids and it's no secret to parents and youth-serving professionals that mental health and academic performance are clearly intertwined. Join us at MCEC's GTS to navigate the nuances of connectedness, well-being, resilience, belonging, and mental health challenges while also learning strategies to provide growth skills, support, and opportunities to the military-connected children in your lives!
The 2023 GTS will be a hybrid event. We are excited to once again be convening in DC, but will provide a virtual component for folks unable to join us in person! Click HERE to learn more and register virtually for free.
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Tools to help manage daily college life for students | |
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Presented by PACER Center Heading off to college brings excitement as well as new challenges for students and their families. In this webinar PACER's Simon Technology Center specialists discuss technology tools to support students with intellectual disabilities as they learn to navigate the college campus and college life. Demonstrations will include mobile apps to help students manage their time, schedule, money, and social connections. Click HERE to watch the webinar.
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Become an Educational Surrogate | |
What is an educational surrogate? An educational surrogate is an impartial individual who fills the role of parent for a student with a disability whenever decisions are being made about the student’s educational placement and individualized education program (IEP) when there is no natural parent or other adult authorized to make educational decisions on behalf of the student. Click HERE to be directed to DESE's website to learn more. You can also watch a video about the program. | |
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Disability is when someone has a condition that makes them different in some way, like how they move or think. It's something that can happen to anyone, and it's a big part of who they are. But sometimes, people with disabilities have been treated unfairly and not understood by others for a long time.
That's why we have Disability Pride Month, which happens in July. It's a special time to celebrate and show respect for people with disabilities. We do this because we want to recognize their history, the things they have achieved, and the challenges they face.
July was chosen because it's the month when an important law called the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed. This law helped to make society more inclusive for people with disabilities, but there are still some things that need to be improved.
So during Disability Pride Month, we want to honor all kinds of disabilities, the people who have them, and the different kinds of support they need to do well in life.
What do the colors on the disability flag represent?
- Green is for sensory disabilities.
- Blue represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities.
- White stands for non-visible and undiagnosed disabilities.
- Gold is for neurodiversity.
- Red represents physical disabilities.
If you're wondering how to celebrate Disability Pride Month, click HERE to learn more.
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Look for an MPACT Coordinator or Mentor at these events! *
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Back to School Fairs Near You | |
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Back-to-school fairs in Missouri provide a valuable opportunity for students and families to gather information, access resources, and prepare for the upcoming school year.
It's important to note that specific details and offerings can vary from one back-to-school fair to another in Missouri. To gather accurate and up-to-date information about back-to-school fairs in your local area, you should check with your school district, community organizations, or local government offices for announcements and event details.
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Foster Adopt Connect Back to School Fair
August 5, 2023; 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Located at Independence Center in the old Lens Crafters space next to Jared. We will give backpacks, hygiene items, and more to children in foster care.
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*Urban League Back to School Fair
The Urban League (ULSTL) in conjunction with the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) hosts the Urban Expo Back to School & Community Empowerment Festival every summer that thousands of residents in the metropolitan area attend at America's Center in Downtown St. Louis. The Expo offers book bags, shoes and school supplies to youth and SLPS officials assist with transportation, enrollment, and other school related questions and concerns. The Festival is a multi-focused community fair comprised of over hundreds of partners. Nonprofit and civic organization provide information about topics such as housing, jobs, public safety and education; as well as social services including health screenings, utility assistance and financial literacy. All attendees are required to visit all of the resource booths before receiving free items.
Back 2 School Bash
Join us on August 12, 2023, from 9 am - 12 pm for FREE School Supplies to celebrate the start of the school year! 852 Booneslick Rd. High Hill, MO 63350
You can pre-register your child for a backpack that will be pre-packed and available for pickup at the pre-registered table on the event day. To be eligible for your backpack of supplies, you will need to complete this form in its entirety. This process only guarantees one bag of supplies for each individual child registered. Pre-register HERE.
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Lebanon Back to School Fair
We are SO excited to announce the 2023 Back to School Fair! This year's event will be a full, in person event at the Lebanon Middle School cafeteria. We loved how well the event went last year at this location and are hoping this year will be even better!! It was so amazing to see all the community participation. We love our little town!
We will be offering school supplies, hygiene items, haircuts, and more.
Registration will be at the event. No preregistration required.
For more information call 417-664-2290 or feel free to message.
Benton County Smart Start Fair and Health Fair
The Benton County Smart Start Back to School Fair will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at the John Boise Middle School Cafeteria from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. You do not need to pre-register! If you live in Benton County, you qualify!
Crocker R-II School District Back 2 School Fair
Free school supplies, gifts, coupons, and information from community organizations and local businesses. This event will occur on August 10, 2023, from 6:00-8:00.
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*Springfield Public Schools Back to School Bash
Springfield Public Schools Back to School Bash is an event for students and families to get resources and information to start a successful 2023-2024 school year. This event will offer backpacks, hygiene kits, groceries, immunizations, connections to community resources, and more! SPS is dedicated to providing district families with the support they need. The event is open to all SPS students and families. This event will be held on July 29, 2023 from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm.
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Back to School Sales Tax Holiday
By state law, the sales tax holiday begins on the first Friday in August and continues through the following Sunday. Certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items as defined by the statute, are exempt from sales tax for this time period only.
The 2023 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 4, and runs through Sunday, August 6.
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Please note that the events listed here are not endorsed by MPACT and may not include all available opportunities. These links are provided solely for informational purposes. | |
Disability Employment Awareness Month Poster Contest | |
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All Missouri residents are invited to showcase their artistic talents by submitting original artwork. The winning poster will be featured on the GCD’s 2023 poster
celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
National Disability Employment Awareness Month is celebrated nationwide each October to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and raise awareness about the value of an inclusive workforce.
Find out how you can participate at disability.mo.gov/gcd/PosterContest
Posters must be submitted by September 15. The contest is open to all Missourians. Poster themes for your artwork should be Inclusion, Employment and/or Community. Questions? Call 573.751.2600
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Upcoming MPACT Webinars
Click on the links below to register
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In Person MPACT Training
Click on the links below to register
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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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We're Looking For You; Apply Now! | |
Make A Difference, Join MPACT Today! | |
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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 © 2023 MPACT. All rights reserved
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