Happy Holidays from the MPACT Family |
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For the Holiday Season Ahead |
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Do you or does your child have a disability that affects mobility? The Transportation Security Administration shares some important tips to help families better prepare for security screening at airport screening checkpoints for the 2018 holiday traveling season.
The holiday season can be an extremely stressful time of year for children with autism and other forms of learning disability. The disruption to their routine, unfamiliar sights and smells, the house full of noise and people – it can all prove too much. These tips for surviving the holiday season come from parents of children and adults with special needs.
Holidays are a time for family, friends, and endless eating. That can be tough for kids with sensory processing issues who are sensitive to the tastes, smells, and textures of foods. Here are 8 tips to help reduce food battles—and let you and your child enjoy the holidays. (Also available in Spanish) .
Flashing lights. Crowded stores. Loud family gatherings. The holiday season should be joyful, but it can often be overwhelming to someone who is living with a brain injury. Here are tips to help you make the holiday season happier and more relaxed for all of your friends and family.
(Available in English and Spanish) | The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project offers creative tip sheets for parents looking for fun activities to do with their children during the pandemic. Tip Sheets 1-4 are available in English. Tip Sheets 5 and 6 are available in both English and Spanish. There are also fun videos for children on the project’s YouTube channel.
For parents, prioritizing your own well-being benefits your whole family.
Tips for reducing stress, helping kids cope, and making new traditions.
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December is Universal Human Rights Month |
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The holiday season is fast upon us. December is typically a month you celebrate your families, express your gratitude, and give to others in association with cultural and religious beliefs. However, regardless of what religion you practice or belief you hold, December is also recognized as the Universal Month for Human Rights. Click HERE for more information about Universal Human Rights Month
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Holiday Cultural Competence |
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"The holiday season is a great time for educators and students to explore how different cultures express their values, beliefs, and customs. Celebrating classroom diversity, especially around the holidays, helps students to build an understanding and awareness of other cultural practices and to reflect on their own." Click HERE for a list of 10 ways to embrace this time of the year in a culturally responsive manner.
Stinchcomb, Samantha. “Ten Ways to Celebrate Diversity During the Holidays.” International Literacy Association, 14 Dec. 2017, https://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-now/2017/12/14/ten-ways-to-celebrate-diversity-during-the-holidays.
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It’s Never too Early to Think about
Extended School Year (ESY)
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You might be telling yourself it’s way too early to think about summer, but not in the case of ESY. Your school district is required to have a district policy regarding ESY and a decision about ESY must be made for each child who receives services under an Individual Education Program (IEP). On Section 2 of the IEP, Special Considerations, the IEP team must select one of the following options:
Extended School Year:
No. The student is not eligible for ESY services.
Yes. The student is eligible for ESY services. Complete Form B of the IEP.
The need for ESY services will be addressed later. Will be addressed by month/year. Attach the IEP Amendment page and Form B of the IEP.
The IEP team uses information based on losing skills (regression) and the time needed to relearn skills (recoupment). Teams look at whether the student would lose skills without support or teaching; would it take an excessive amount of time to regain the skill or more time than a child without a disability? A student’s past experiences are considered. If no information is available, the team may have to predict and use the student’s history over other breaks, difficulty with working memory, and progress on IEP goals.
Keep informed about Extended School Year and find out more from MPACT HERE and the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education HERE.
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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. Register HERE to attend a virtual focus group on December 8th and 10th.
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Missouri Special Education Advisory Panel - SEAP |
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The purpose of the Missouri Special Education Advisory Panel is to provide policy guidance on special education and related services. The panel shall:
- Advise the State Education Agency (SEA) of unmet needs within the State in the education of children with disabilities.
- Comment publicly on any rules or regulations proposed by the state regarding the education of children with disabilities.
- Advise the SEA in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the US Office of Education under Section 618 of the Act.
- Advise the SEA in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in Federal monitoring reports under Part B of the Act; and
- Advise the SEA in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities.
- Advise on the education of eligible students with disabilities who have been convicted as adults and incarcerated in adult prisons.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the SEAP or want more information click HERE to be directed to the website
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Communicating About Accessibility and Accommodations |
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Did you know that it is not just employees with disabilities who have a responsibility to communicate? Employers have to communicate about accessibility and accommodations too! The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) recently published a new guide. It was written to help companies highlight their efforts to increase information and technology accessibility. Click HERE to read PEAT’s guide called “Communicating Your Commitment to Accessibility: Tips for Employers.”
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Emergency Broadband Benefit Program |
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Home internet access is important for student success, whether learning in-person or at home. To provide all families with the opportunity to access the internet, the FCC has launched a temporary program, Emergency Broadband Benefit, to help families struggling to afford internet service. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible families and households who are struggling to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible households can also receive a discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. For more info, please visit: fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit
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December Mentor Spotlight |
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At an early age and after watching her mother struggle through the special education process with one of her own siblings, mentor Carla Keirns would soon learn that the hurdles she would jump would be the hurdles she would one day help others walk around.
Having a son with acute visual impairment, Carla has gained a wealth of knowledge in navigating medical, disability, and educational services for children who are visually impaired. She works locally, regionally, and nationally with parents, disability advocates, blind and visually impaired adults, and professionals to support students and their families with the unique needs of children with visual impairments.
Carla joined MPACT as a volunteer parent mentor the summer of 2021. She has specific expertise in supporting families with visual impairment. Carla has been on her journey through the special education process since her son received his diagnosis at 14 weeks old. He is currently an elementary school student in Kansas City, Missouri and has been instrumental in helping bring reform to the VI community in his area. We certainly appreciate Carla for all that she brings to our MPACT family and we applaud her son as well! Happy Holidays!
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MPACT Webinars in December
Click on the links below to register
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Transitions: ECSE to Elementary
Special Education: What I Need to Know
Understanding the IEP Process
Steps to Success: Family Record Keeping
Understanding the IEP Process
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Special Education Laws: A Brief Overview
McKinney Vento
Understanding the Evaluation Process
Understanding the Evaluation Process
Art of Effective Advocacy
Bullying Prevention- What Parents Can Do
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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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