March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month

Register Now and Thrive Through Transitions to Graduation with MPACT's March Webinar Series

First Steps Family Survey

First Steps Focus-Share Your Story

MPACT First Steps Resources

First Steps is Missouri’s Early Intervention system for infants and toddlers, birth to age 3, who have delayed development or diagnosed conditions that are associated with developmental disabilities.

First Steps works with families by ensuring that coordinated services are provided as conveniently as possible. Participation in First Steps is voluntary and is intended to help families of children with disabilities:

• Understand their child’s special needs
• Obtain the help they desire to deal with situations that could interfere with their child’s growth and development.
• Provide the best conditions for their child’s growth and development.

Click HERE to learn more about First Steps.

Tools That Challenge the School-to-Prison Pipeline

OSEP Discipline & Behavior Guidance 

Webinar 2022: Part 2

The video below is a presentation and discussion regarding the Department’s recently released, Guidance to Help Schools Support Students with Disabilities and Avoid Disparities In the Use of Discipline. A general overview of the guidance package was presented, and key topics were discussed, including informal removals and longstanding practices that have resulted in high rates of exclusionary discipline for children with disabilities, particularly children with disabilities of color. Additionally, technical assistance resources were shared to support OSEP’s goal of shifting from an overreliance on exclusionary discipline to prevention and proactive attention to address the behavioral needs of children with disabilities.

Listen to the full webinar in English



Download PDF of the presentation slides

Spring Cleaning EFMP Files

Spring cleaning is a great time also to clean out your records! This is a great time for military members to clean their EFMP files. For tips, read this article HERE.

Helping your Child become an Assessment Capable Learner

Are you looking for ways to help your child become an Assessment Capable Learning?

Here are some of the big ideas you can use every day!

Ask your child:

Where Am I Going?

• Provide students with a clear and understandable vision of what they need to learn (the target).
• Find some samples or models of strong and weak work.

Where Am I Now?

• Offer feedback consistently and frequently.
• Teach students to self-assess and set goals.

How Can I Close the Gap?

• Use ideas that have worked in the past to determine the next steps. (Break to smaller parts, expand ideas, etc.)
• Show strong work samples, offer the chance to practice, and give feedback.
• Have samples of the child’s work from the start through the process of making it better to show them their learning progress.

Developmental Dis Ability Awareness Month

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. To raise awareness about the abilities of people with developmental disabilities (DD), a group of disability organizations in Missouri launched the #MOAbility campaign! For more resources, check out MoDDC HERE.

Power Up 2023 - Registration Now Open

On April 3 & 4, 2023, the Midwest Assistive Technology Community will come together to network, learn, and share at the Power Up AT Conference.

Assistive technology practitioners, teachers, parents, caregivers, and persons with disabilities have gathered at Power Up over the last 25 years to learn, network, and share best practices in assistive technology. In April of 2023, we will gather together in Columbia, MO, for Power Up!

Power Up 2023's Conference Guide provides more information. More information about the sessions and presenters will be available in the coming month.

The 19th Annual Missouri Youth Leadership Forum

(MO-YLF) will be held July 18-22, 2023

The Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is a unique career leadership-training program for high school students with disabilities, ages 16 – 21. Youth delegates are selected from their local communities to cultivate leadership, citizenship, social, and career development skills at this summer program.

For information and application for the Virtual Leadership Forum, click HERE.

Upcoming MPACT Webinars

Click on the links below to register

Graduation Requirements for Students in Missouri Public Schools

Mar 8 @ 12:00 - 1:00PM

Transitions Middle to High School

Mar 15 @ 12:00 - 1:00PM

Solving the Employment Puzzle

Mar 22 @ 12:00 - 1:00PM

Section 504 and Students with Disabilities

Mar 29 @ 12:00 - 1:00PM

Understanding the IEP Process and Behavior Interventions In-Person Training Series

Understanding the IEP Process

Mar 7 @ 6:00 - 7:00 PM

and

Bullying Prevention

Mar 7 @ 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Positive Behavior Interventions

Mar 21 @ 6:00 - 7:00 PM

and

Understanding the Evaluation Process

Mar 21 @ 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Location: Mid-Continent Public Library - Lee's Summit Branch 150 Northwest Oldham Parkway Lee's Summit, MO 64081

In-Person Training

Art of Effective Advocacy

Mar 7 @ 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Location: Foster Adopt Connect 1802 W. 32nd Street Ste F Joplin, MO 64804

Understanding the IEP Process

Mar 21 @ 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Location: Foster Adopt Connect 1802 W. 32nd Street Ste F Joplin, MO 64804

View all upcoming MPACT trainings HERE.

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.

Make A Difference, Join MPACT Today!