MPACT Offices are closed from December 24th through January 3rd
Help make the sensory snowstorm easier around the holidays

The holidays can be difficult for children with sensory processing needs. Understood.org has some wonderful resources to make this holiday season easier. Click HERE to be directed to the article!
The Importance of Parent Participation

At MPACT, we believe that a child's best advocate is their parent and that is why is so important for parents to be able to participate in their child's IEP meeting. Even IDEA outlines that schools, "...shall take steps to ensure that one or both of the parents of a child with a disability are present at each IEP meeting..." To learn more about parent participation at IEP meetings, click HERE
The Differences Between Homeschooling
and Virtual Learning

Recently, families have been faced with making a decision many have never had to make before, how and where their child would receive their education. Many families chose to homeschool assuming that homeschooling would carry the same rights and opportunities as choosing their school district's virtual learning option. Although homeschooling and virtual learning share common factors, there are some major differences that affect your child receiving a free appropriate public education (FAPE).  
Watch this video to learn the differences between homeschooling and virtual learning.
MID-YEAR GRADUATES?
Students with IEPs graduating in December 2021?
If you are or have a student who is graduating high school this December that has an Individual Education Program, keep in mind that it is required for you to receive certain documents that you will want to keep with the student’s records. Documentation will include Prior Written Notice/Notice of Action because graduation is a change of placement and is covered by procedural safeguards, including mediation and due process.

Additionally, you will receive a Summary of Performance, which is the summary of the student's academic achievement and functional performance and includes recommendations to assist the student in their post-secondary goals.

Remember, in Missouri, students covered by IDEA who have completed four years of high school may participate in graduation ceremonies and related activities covered by Kaitlyn’s Law, Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo Section 162.1125

For additional information or questions, contact MPACT at info@missouriparentsact.org
For the Holiday Season Ahead
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.

(Also available in Spanish)
For parents, prioritizing your own well-being benefits your whole family.

(Also available in Spanish)
Tips for reducing stress, helping kids cope, and making new traditions.
The 18th Annual Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) will be held July 12-16, 2022
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 1-day Virtual Leadership Forum, click HERE.


To apply for the 2022 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum, click HERE.
Missouri Special Education Advisory Panel - SEAP

The purpose of the Missouri Special Education Advisory Panel is to provide policy guidance on special education and related services. The panel shall:

  1. Advise the State Education Agency (SEA) of unmet needs within the State in the education of children with disabilities.
  2. Comment publicly on any rules or regulations proposed by the state regarding the education of children with disabilities.
  3. Advise the SEA in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the US Office of Education under Section 618 of the Act.
  4. Advise the SEA in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in Federal monitoring reports under Part B of the Act; and
  5. Advise the SEA in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities.
  6. 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
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  

MPACT Webinars in December and January
Click on the links below to register
Art of Effective Advocacy 

Bullying Prevention- What Parents Can Do 

Solving the Employment Puzzle 

Disagreement Resolution 

McKinney-Vento
Special Education Mediation

How to Write Measurable Annual Goals 

Steps to Success: Effectively Communicating Your Child’s Needs

Positive Behavior Interventions


*Featured Training of the Month
MPACT One Step at a Time Webinar Series
Monday- Effectively Communicating Your Child's Needs
Tuesday-Understanding the IFSP
Wednesday-First steps parental rights
Thursday- Idea Part C to B
Friday-Family Record Keeping

MPACT In-Person Training in January
Click on the blue link below to register
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Understanding the IEP Process
Monday, January 10, 2022
5:00-7:00 PM

Location: United Methodist Church,
500 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

Click HERE to Register!
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!
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 :)
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.

You can select us as your AmazonSmile charity by visiting: smile.amazon.com/ch/43-1460328

#amazonsmilecharity #amazonsmiledonates
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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