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In This Issue

May 2009

Upcoming Events

1. ALLIANCE Institutes

Parent Center Updates

1. New Hampshire Parent Information Center Receives First TATRA Award
2. WI FACETS Co-Publishes Seclusion and Restraints Report
3. Advocates for Children Receives Top Nonprofit Ranking

Announcements & News

1. TA&D Project of the Month: National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
2. Measuring Early Childhood Outcomes for Young Children with Special Needs Webinar
3. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter!

Resources

1. Parent Involvement Archived Webinar
2. A Guide to Social Security Benefits and Employment for Young People with Disabilities
3. Alternate Assessment-Modified Academic Achievement Standards Selection Tool
4. Response to Intervention for Elementary and Middle School Math Students
5. American Indian Culture Card
6. Parent Information Needs Assessment Study

Technology

1. Online Training Resources
2. Web Traffic Data

Nonprofit Management

1. CVS Caremark Grant
2. Summary of ARRA Funding Opportunities for Nonprofits

Upcoming Events

ALLIANCE Institutes

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

Parent Center Updates

New Hampshire Parent Information Center Receives First TATRA Award

The New Hampshire Parent Information Center (PIC) recently received an Award for Excellence in Transition-focused Parent Training. Presented for the first-time this year, the award will be given annually by the Technical Assistance on Transition and the Rehabilitation Act (TATRA) project to a PTI, CPRC, or RSA parent training project to highlight high quality promising transition tools. New Hampshire PIC was honored for their Life After High School Transition Toolkit, developed in collaboration with their state department of education. Congratulations to New Hampshire PIC and executive director Heather Thalheimer on receiving this award!

WI FACETS Co-Publishes Seclusion and Restraints Report

Wisconsin FACETS, the WI PTI and Region 4 Parent Technical Assistance Center, along with Disability Rights Wisconsin and Wisconsin Family Ties, published a report on the use of seclusion and restraints in Wisconsin schools. Out of Darkness . . . Into the Light describes the harmful effects of these practices and suggests legislative action and steps other states have taken to reduce the use of seclusion and restraints. Federal legislation addressing this issue has been drafted and may be introduced soon. A hearing was held May 19.

Wisconsin FACETS is co-directed by Jan Serak and Courtney Salzer.

Advocates for Children Receives Top Nonprofit Ranking

Advocates for Children, a PTI in New York City, was listed in the April 19 edition of the Daily News as a New York charity receiving a 4-star ranking from the Charity Navigator. Congratulations to executive director Kim Sweet and PTI directors Ana Espada and Joanne Bucellato.

View the Daily News article
Learn more about Advocates for Children

Announcements & News

TA&D Project of the Month: National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)

The National Dissemination Center is a central source of information for families, schools, and state agencies on disabilities, related laws, and educational best practices. Their Web site contains disability- and state-specific resources, evidence-based research, and links to their publications and monthly newsletters. They have recently updated several handouts and launched a new series: Questions and Answers on IDEA.

Measuring Early Childhood Outcomes for Young Children with Special Needs Webinar

The Early Childhood Outcomes Center and the ALLIANCE National Parent Technical Assistance Center are co-sponsoring a webinar for PTIs and CPRCs on June 2, 2009 2:00-3:00 EDT to share the latest information about how Part C and Section 619 programs are developing and implementing systems for measuring child and family outcomes to meet the federal requirement. Michelle Lewis, PTI staff in New Hampshire and parent of a child with a disability, will also share information about her involvement in the development of the system in New Hampshire. To register for the webcast, email gretchen.godfrey@pacer.org.

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!

Resources

Parent Involvement Archived Webinar

The Regional Educational Library Northeast and Islands (REL-NEI) recently presented a webinar on parent involvement strategies in urban middle and high schools. REL-NEI researchers presented findings from a recent study examining practices used in nine urban school districts and the challenges involved in evaluating them. The PowerPoint as well as a full recording of the training are available online.

A Guide to Social Security Benefits and Employment for Young People with Disabilities

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI), a collaboration of the University of Massachusetts Boston and the Children’s Hospital of Boston has published an updated 2009 version of Going to Work: A Guide to Social Security Benefits and Employment for Young People with Disabilities. The booklet provides an overview of Social Security and explains how earned income can impact Social Security benefits.

Alternate Assessment-Modified Academic Achievement Standards Selection Tool

Thinking about the Students who May Qualify to Participate in an Alternate Assessment Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards (AA-MAS): A Tool for Study Groups was published by the National Center on Educational Outcomes. The document is a case study of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and an activity they used to learn more about which students qualify to participate in an AA-MAS.

Response to Intervention for Elementary and Middle School Math Students

The What Works Clearinghouse, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, recently released this guide to help teachers, principals, and administrators use Response to Intervention to assist students struggling with mathematics.

American Indian Culture Card

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has developed a brief guide to enhance cultural competencies when working with American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The “culture card” provides information such as cultural customs and myths and facts. This publication can be ordered for free from http://www.samhsa.gov/shin/.

Parent Information Needs Assessment Study

SRI International, a nonprofit research institute, conducted surveys and focus groups with parents in Washington state to determine their preferences for early learning services and information. The results demonstrate that preferences for sources of information vary based on the primary language and income level of the family.

Technology

Online Training Resources

As part of their month-long focus on “green technology,” TechSoup.org created a web page devoted to articles and forums discussing online trainings. Compare web conferencing tools and learn tips for presenting successful webinars.

Web Traffic Data

This article from the Nonprofit Times defines various Web statistics terms and provides tips for how to drive more visitors to nonprofit organizations’ Web sites.

Nonprofit Management

CVS Caremark Grant

The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust is currently accepting grant applications for programs that serve children with disabilities and address accessibility to physical activity, early intervention, and health and rehabilitative services. Applications are due June 15.

Summary of ARRA Funding Opportunities for Nonprofits

The Center on Philanthropy in conjunction with the Giving USA Foundation has published a summary of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds potentially accessible to nonprofit organizations.

Featured ALLIANCE Publications

Serving on Local Special Education Committees

This curriculum provides information for parents who may be new to participating on special education stakeholder or advisory committees.

Resolution Meetings: A Guide for Parents

This booklet, developed in collaboration with the Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE), is a guide for families that will help readers to have a better understanding of resolution meetings, one of the ways in which special education disputes can be resolved.

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