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July 2007

National Technical Assistance Center:
PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN 55437 (888) 248-0822, www.taalliance.org

In This Issue:

Upcoming Events

  1. ALLIANCE Institutes
  2. ALLIANCE Regional Conferences
  3. ALLIANCE New Directors Meeting
  4. ALLIANCE 11th Annual National Conference

Parent Center Update

  1. Parent to Parent of Miami to Hold 3rd Annual Fundraiser
  2. Delaware Newsletter Highlights Sibling’s Story
  3. SPAN Staff Member Receives Award

Announcements

  1. 2007 Disability Employment Awareness Month
  2. Kennedy Public Policy Fellowship Program
  3. What Works Clearinghouse to Add New Focus on Programs for Students with Disabilities
  4. HEATH Resource Center – Call for Articles
  5. TATRA Reference Points
  6. Save the Date! National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week 2007

Resources

  1. Special Education Guide for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
  2. Disability-Related Vocabulary for Traveling Abroad
  3. New Parent Brief: Post-School Outcomes Surveys: Coming Soon to a Student Near You!
  4. Misunderstood Minds Documentary
  5. New Resources from Project ACTION
  6. Rise Magazine
  7. New National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness Publication

Technology

  1. Media Literacy Toolkit

Fundraising Opportunities

  1. Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities
  2. Citigroup Foundation

To find the Technical Assistance Center in your Region please visit www.taalliance.org/centers/

Upcoming Events

ALLIANCE Institutes

Leadership Institutes:

Sustaining Projects and Personnel & Building Relationships to Create Change
August 20-22, 2007 in San Francisco, CA

ALLIANCE Regional Conferences

Region 6: August 13-16, 2007, San Diego, CA

ALLIANCE New Directors Meeting

November 7-9, 2007
Embassy Suites, Old Town Alexandria

ALLIANCE 11th Annual National Conference

January 30-February 1, 2008
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Washington DC

Parent Center Updates

Parent to Parent of Miami to Hold 3rd Annual Fundraiser

Parent to Parent of Miami, a Community Parent Resource Center, will hold its 3rd Annual “Journey of Dreams” Benefit on November 17, 2007. The event will celebrate the community’s commitment and support for the organization and honor individuals and companies that are dedicated to improving outcomes for children and adults with disabilities. The fundraiser includes a dinner and silent auction. For more information on the event, go to: www.journeyofdreams.info. For more information on Parent to Parent of Miami, visit their Web site at: www.ptopmiami.org.

Delaware Newsletter Highlights Sibling’s Story

The winter 06-07 edition of The Link, the Parent Information Center of Delaware’s newsletter, features an article by Megan Aghazadian on her relationship with her brother who has autism. Read the full story and more news from the Delaware PTI at: www.taalliance.org/Link06-07.pdf. The Parent Information Center of Delaware’s Web site is: http://www.picofdel.org/.

SPAN Staff Member Receives Award

Carolyn Hayer, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) and ALLIANCE Region 1 Technical Assistance staff member, was recently presented with the “Professional of the Year” award by the Arc of Bergen Passaix. Carolyn was chosen for her dedication to the education of children with disabilities and her work providing empowering parents. Carolyn also recently received the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. - Delta Nu Chapter Community Service Recognition Award. Congratulations to Carolyn on these accomplishments! More information about SPAN is available online at: http://www.spannj.org/.

Announcements

2007 Disability Employment Awareness Month

The theme for Disability Employment Awareness Month 2007 is “Workers with Disabilities: Talent for a Winning Team.” Disability Employment Awareness Month, which takes place every October, increases public awareness of the skills and abilities of people with disabilities and highlights inclusion of people with disabilities in the American workforce. For more information, visit: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/odep20070555.htm.

Kennedy Public Policy Fellowship Program

The Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Professional and Parent Public Policy Fellowship Programs. The programs provide participants the opportunity to participate in a one-year fellowship in Washington, DC to learn about the legislative process and participate in advocacy and disability policy trainings. Applications are due September 14, 2007 and are available online at: http://www.jpkf.org/.

What Works Clearinghouse to Add New Focus on Programs for Students with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is broadening its focus to include Research on students with disabilities. Mathematica Policy Research was awarded a five-year contract by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the contract is expanded to include the review of Research on special education interventions and programs. For more information go to http://www.whatworks.ed.gov/.

HEATH Resource Center - Call for Articles

The HEATH Resource Center is seeking original articles (Research papers and fact sheets) to be published in their newsletter and other publications. They are specifically looking for submissions on strategies and models that promote access and success in postsecondary education and employment of students with disabilities. Papers and questions can be sent to Donna Martinez, HEATH Resource Center Director, dmartine@gwu.edu. HEATH’s Web site is located at: http://www.heath.gwu.edu/.

TATRA Reference Points

The TATRA (Technical Assistance on Transition and the Rehabilitation Act) National Project provides technical assistance to the 7 parent centers funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration. TATRA, a project of PACER Center, maintains a “Reference Points” distribution list to send transition-related resources and announcements. If your center or transition staff person is not currently receiving this publication, please sign-up today at http://www.pacer.org/tatra/list/signup.asp. For more information on the TATRA Project, contact Deborah Leuchovius at 952-838-9000.

Save the Date! National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week 2007

The 2nd Annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week will take place October 21-27, 2007. Exciting new activities, information, and contests will engage youth, educators, and parents in creating a safer world for children with and without disabilities. Watch for more information to be coming soon at http://www.PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org/.

Resources

Special Education Guide for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments

“A Parents’ Guide to Special Education for Children with Visual Impairments” was recently published by AFB (American Foundation for the Blind) Press. The book was edited by Susan LaVenture, executive director of the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) and written by professionals and parents. The book is available for purchase at www.afb.org/store.

Disability-Related Vocabulary for Traveling Abroad

A new article from the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange provides lists of phrases and vocabulary for people with disabilities to learn before traveling abroad. The list includes common words that people with disabilities may need to use but are not often included in basic foreign language classes such as “accessible,” “elevator,” and “TTY.” Find this new resource at: http://www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/keyphrases.

NEW PARENT BRIEF: Post-School Outcomes Surveys: Coming Soon to a Student Near You!

In 2007, states began surveying former special education students—high school graduates, recent dropouts, and young adults reaching the state’s maximum age to receive special education services—to find out whether they have pursued further education or found competitive employment. Prepared by Deborah Leuchovius, PACER Center, in collaboration with the National Post-School Outcomes Center, the purpose of this brief is to help families learn what to expect if they are contacted and asked to participate. It provides examples of survey questions and describes how information from the survey can be used to improve secondary education and transition programs. On the web at http://www.psocenter.org/Docs/ParentBriefJune07FINAL.pdf.

Misunderstood Minds Documentary

"Misunderstood Minds," a PBS documentary originally aired in 2002, highlights the stories of five children with learning disabilities. The documentary and companion Web site discuss the families’ journeys as they learned of the children’s diagnosis and discovered ways to help them succeed in school. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/index.html

New Resource from Project ACTION

Buses and Trains for Everyone
This interactive curriculum includes Web sites for students and teachers and uses interactive activities and games to teach 4th-8th graders how to use accessible public transportation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals
Available as a PDF or text only file, this fact sheet includes revised information for riders and transit providers on the Americans with Disabilities Act’s regulations on service animals and ground transportation.

Rise Magazine

Rise Magazine is an online resource by and for parents in the child welfare system. The journal features articles written by parents on subjects such as domestic violence, reunification, and support resources. http://www.risemagazine.org/

New National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness Publication

Harmonious Interactions, a new publication from the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB), is the first in the “Practice Perspective” series from NCDB highlighting best practices in the field of deaf-blindness. Harmonious Interactions features information on how families and teachers can develop connections with children who are deaf-blind and help them learn, gain confidence, and feel safe in the world. This new resource is available to download from NCDB’s publication page at: http://www.dblink.org/pdf/harmonious-interaction.pdf

Technology

Media Literacy Toolkit

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) recently developed a toolkit on media literacy called “The Changing Media Landscape: Promoting a Systemic Approach to ICT and Media Fluency.” The toolkit contains resources and strategies that schools, families, and other stakeholders can use to learn about internet safety and thinking critically about the media. The toolkit is available online at http://www.setda.org/web/guest/toolkit2007/medialiteracy.

Fundraising Opportunities

Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities

The Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities manages a “Bridges from School to Work” program to help youth with disabilities transition to employment. The project helps match and support job placements primarily in areas where Marriott hotels are located, but the foundation is open to applications from anywhere in the U.S. This is not a direct grantmaking program, but interested individuals can contact the regional Bridges office in their area for more information. http://www.marriott.com/bridges/default.mi

Citigroup Foundation

The Citigroup foundation gives small grants to applicants in all regions of the United States in 3 areas including “Educating the Next Generation.” For details on grant guidelines and the application process, visit: http://www.citigroupfoundation.org.

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This project is supported by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education. 		©2008 PACER Center, Inc.