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In This Issue

July 2009

Upcoming Events

1. ALLIANCE Institutes
2. OSEP Leadership Conference

Parent Center Updates

1. DREDF 30th Anniversary Celebration
2. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter!

Announcements & News

1. TA&D Center of the Month: Data Accountability Center
2. President Obama Sings U.N. Disability Rights Convention
3. Leadership for Excellence and Equity Call for Proposals
4. Bookshare News
5. ODEP Secretary Confirmed

Resources

1. The State of Learning Disabilities 2009
2. ADA Anniversary Toolkit
3. Fulbright Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
4. Talking with Your Doctor
5. Archived Webinar: Accessible Playgrounds

Technology

1. Microsoft Software Donation Program

Nonprofit Management

1. IRS Governance Training Materials
2. Interns: Volunteers or Employees?
3. Build-A-Bear Grant Programs

Upcoming Events

ALLIANCE Institutes

September 14-16, 2009: Technology Institute in Minneapolis, MN
September 21-23, 2009: Management Institute in Minneapolis, MN

We look forward to seeing you in Minnesota!

OSEP Leadership Conference

The OSEP Leadership Conference will take place in Washington, DC August 17-19, 2009. Registration is open until August 3. More>>>

Parent Center Updates

DREDF 30th Anniversary Celebration

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) in Berkeley, CA is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in August. The event will honor their history of disability rights advocacy and include a special tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy with special guest Congressman Patrick Kennedy. Congratulations! DREDF has a PTI and CPRC project and is directed by Susan Henderson. More>>

Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter!

Don’t forget that you can now connect with your Parent Center colleagues through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Check out the new videos that have been posted, start a discussion, or receive updates on the latest ALLIANCE news. If you have questions, contact kerryjo.johnson@pacer.org.

Become a fan of the Parent Center Facebook page!

View the Parent Center YouTube channel!

Follow the ALLIANCE on Twitter!

Announcements & News

TA&D Project of the Month: Data Accountability Center

The Data Accountability Center (DAC) is operated by Westat in collaboration with Louisiana State University’s Health Sciences Center – Human Development Center. DAC provides technical assistance to States to help them meet their data collection and reporting requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). DAC also maintains the IDEAdata.org Web site, which provides data on national and state levels. Parent Centers may be interested in viewing data for their state in areas such as child count, educational environment, personnel, and dispute resolution. More>>>

President Obama Sings U.N. Disability Rights Convention

On July 24, 2009 President Obama signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Read his remarks from the event. More>>>

Leadership for Excellence and Equity Call for Proposals

The Leadership for Excellence and Equity Forum conducted by the Equity Alliance at Arizona State University will be held February 16-17, 2010 in Phoenix, AZ. Proposals are being accepted for presentations, workshops, roundtables, and panels on topics including civil and educational rights, disproportionality in special education, school-family partnerships, organizing schools for inclusive education, and more. Application deadline is November 15, 2009. More>>>

Bookshare News

Bookshare is an OSEP-funded project that maintains a library of digital books and provides free memberships for qualified individuals with print disabilities. They have recently formed a partnership with Code Factory to allow users to more easily access Bookshare books on their mobile phones and devices. Bookshare has also partnered with another company to make Bookshare texts available on the new PLEXTALK Pocket assistive technology device. Read more about these new partnerships and other Bookshare events on their Web site. More>>>

ODEP Secretary Confirmed

Kathy Martinez, former executive director of the World Institute on Disability (WID), was confirmed as the U.S. Department of Labor’s Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) on July 25, 2009. More>>>

Resources

The State of Learning Disabilities 2009

The National Center for Learning Disabilities recently published its annual report, The State of Learning Disabilities 2009. The document provides background information as well as current demographic data on children and adults with learning disabilities. More>>>

ADA Anniversary Toolkit

In honor of the 19th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, the National Network of ADA Centers (Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers) developed a toolkit with helpful resources. Items include disability statistics, ADA history, and the White House disability agenda. More>>>

CELL Practice Guides

The Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) has developed dozens of practice guides for parents on promoting early literacy with their young children. Fun and Games with Sounds helps toddlers learn how sounds are joined together to form words. More>>>

Fulbright Opportunities for Students with Disabilities

Mobility International USA (MIUSA) has collected resources on the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Scholarship program. Fulbright programs exist in over 150 countries, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. More>>>

Talking with Your Doctor

“Talking with Your Doctor and Other Medical Professionals” is a Web site developed by Florida’s Children’s Medical Services to assist youth and young adults to communicate more effectively with their health care providers. Videos present effective strategies for youth to provide information on how they’re feeling, listen and ask questions about medical conditions, and be involved in decisions about their health. More>>>

Archived Webinar: Accessible Playgrounds

From 2006-2009, the Kellogg Foundation providing funding to Midwestern states to build accessible playgrounds and support other accessible recreation activities. The Michigan Recreation and Parks Association Foundation funded a webinar series discussing the project process. Access the archived webinar and transcript to learn more. More>>>

Technology

Microsoft Software Donation Program

The Microsoft Software Donation Program through TechSoup allows nonprofits to request up to six software titles with up to 50 licenses each for every 2-year cycle. Available titles include commonly used programs such as Microsoft Office and Windows upgrades. This article helps nonprofits maximize their selection of software programs over the two-year cycle. More>>>

Nonprofit Management

IRS Governance Training Materials

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has developed a continuing professional education program for nonprofit organizations on governance issues included in the new 990 form. More>>>

Interns: Volunteers or Employees?

Read this article from the Nonprofit Risk Management Center on the Department of Labor’s requirements to meet the “intern” classification. More>>>

Build-A-Bear Grant Programs

The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation gives small grants ($1,000-$10,000) of unrestricted funds to nonprofit programs supporting children and families. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation funds specific projects with measurable outcomes, including in the areas of “children’s health and wellness” and “literacy and education.” Check out the Build-A-Bear Web site for details on the application process. More>>>

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