Unite and Be Aware this Month in October!
Register Now for the Tools for Life Summit
Click on the flyer below or HERE to be immediately directed to the Eventbrite registration
Unity Day 10.20.21

Wear and share ORANGE on Unity Day, Wed., Oct. 20, 2021 to show your support of bullying prevention. For ideas to get involved, click HERE!

Check out Pacer's Unity Guide HERE!

Usa y comparte anaranjado en apoyo de prevención del bullying en Unity Day, miércoles 20 de octubre de 2021. Para más ideas para involucrarse, visita: Haga clic aquí
Student YouTuber “LifeWithRainbow” creates
“Unity Day” Video


An animated video created by Medha, a 7th grader with the YouTube channel LifeWithRainbows, describing Unity Day from a student perspective.
Bullying Prevention Awareness Month Resources
Check out MPACT's Bully Prevention Resources: Including Bullying/ Violence Prevention, Talking with Your Child About Bullying, What if Your Child is the Bully? Missouri State Laws that Cover Bullying and Notifying School Administrators of Bullying and Harassment!

Click the link to review available resources: Bullying Prevention Resources
Attend the Bullying Prevention- What Parents Can Do Webinar with MPACT. This training contains an overview of the dynamics of bullying, including what bullying is, what the types of bullying are, who is bullied, and why children are bullied. Other topics include steps to intervene in bullying behavior, how to encourage students who witness bullying to take action, the role of the school, and laws and policies. Click the below links to register:

*Bullying Prevention: What Parents Can Do

*Bullying Prevention-What Parents Can Do 
Dyslexia Awareness Month Resources

Check out MPACT's Dyslexia Resources: Including information about what dyslexia is, its effects, how it is diagnosed, treatment, and individual rights!

Click the link to review available resources: Dyslexia Resources
Check out this video about Dyslexia Treatment and Student Rights
Disability Employment Awareness
In May 2011, the Missouri legislature passed House Bill 555, which authorizes school boards to require the provision of disability history and awareness instruction in public schools during the month of October of each year. House Bill 555 further designated the month of October to be “Disability History and Awareness Month”.
To learn more about disability history and find great resources on how to promote and celebrate Disability History Month, click HERE or download the Disability History and Awareness: A Resource Guide for Missouri or visit disability.mo.gov and click on Educational Resources.
The theme for NDEAM 2021, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. NDEAM is held each October to commemorate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. Browse the DOL website to learn more, HERE.
National Youth Justice Awareness
"Youth Justice Action Month, 2021 (YJAM) is now hosted by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) and the National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN).

Since 2008, youth justice advocates around the country have come together each October for YJAM to organize events and online activities to raise awareness and inspire action on behalf of young people impacted by our criminal justice system.

This October is a time for advocates across the spectrum of our community to connect virtually with each other while taking steps more locally and beyond to fight for the issues that matter most to youth." Click HERE to learn how to take action!
SIDS Awareness Month Resources
The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Program focuses on providing education to reduce the risk of SIDS, along with providing support to certified child death pathologists who investigate Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID).
Click HERE for SIDS resources
5 Tips for Military Families Living with ADHD

According to military.com author, Heather Sweeney, Military families who have children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face unique challenges. But knowing a few simple tips can help make those challenges a little bit easier. Click HERE to read the 5 Tips for MilFams Living with ADHD article.
STL Youth Interagency Fall Workshops
The St. Louis Youth Interagency is offering a “Transition Tuesdays” Series for their Fall Workshops. Learn about the different resources and ask questions of the experts. Sessions will be recorded and added to the YouTube Page for those who cannot attend in person.

Oct 19th: Mental Health and Drop-In Centers
Oct 26th: Employment and Education
Nov 2nd: Navigating Social and Legal Services
Nov 9th: Let’s Hear from You!
Click HERE to Register!
The 2022-23 FAFSA is Now Available!
Use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for financial aid for college or graduate school. New and returning students who plan to attend college between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. To assist students and parents in the process, the Department’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) office has been sharing tips @FAFSA, including “7 Things You Need Before Filling Out the FAFSA Form” and “8 Steps to Completing the FAFSA Form.”
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.
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.
View the program overview video:
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.
1 & 2 Graduation and Dropout
5 School-age Least Restrictive Environments
6 Early Childhood Special Education Environments
8 Parent Involvement
14 Post School Outcomes
For further information, contact the Office of Special Education at speddata@dese.mo.gov or https://dese.mo.gov/spp-apr-stakeholder-information
MPACT Webinars in
October and November
Click on the links below to register
Disagreement Resolution 

Understanding ADHD

What is MPACT  

IDEA Part C to B 

Understanding the IEP 

*Bullying Prevention: What Parents Can Do

*Bullying Prevention-What Parents Can Do 

Positive Behavior Interventions 

Understanding the IEP for Autism Spectrum Disorder 

Disagreement Resolution 

Writing Post Secondary Goals for Students with ASD @ Webinar 

Steps to Success: Understanding the IFSP @ Webinar

*Featured training of the month
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 in the Lives of
Missouri Families, Join MPACT Today!

MPACT (Missouri Parents Act) is looking for a Full-TIme Regional Coordinator to help families in the St. Louis, MO community. The goal of the position is to assist parents in the region to advocate for their children with disabilities and become effective participants in the planning of their children’s education by providing training, information, and resources.

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.
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.
Shop with MPACT on Amazon Smile :)

Help bring smiles to families all over Missouri by shopping on Amazon Smile! All you have to do is click the link below and shop:
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.
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