E-News

PACER Benefit Is May 2! Buy Tickets Now!

Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, the inspiration for the smash hit Broadway show “Jersey Boys,” headline PACER Center’s 27th Annual Benefit on Saturday, May 2, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Don’t miss this American pop icon! That’s not all you’ll find at this amazing event. Click here for a sneak preview of the unique items and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities at the live and silent auctions! Reserve your spot in advance for a bike tour with Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, and an exclusive evening with Grammy Award–winning singer songwriter Dan Wilson from Semisonic. Buy your Benefit tickets now!

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EX.I.T.E. Camp Application Deadline Is May 1

Middle-school girls with disabilities have until May 1 to submit their applications for the free EX.I.T.E. (EXploring Interests in Technology and Engineering) Camp, a unique opportunity to discover their talents in science, technology, engineering, and math. It’s one of three IBM EX.I.T.E. camps in the world. (See photos of last year’s camp at PACER.org/stc/exite/campphotogallery.asp.) For more information or to request an application, contact Meghan Kunz at 952-838-9000.

Learn How Stimulus Package May Help Students with Disabilities

The federal economic stimulus package, the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is providing more than $12 billion in additional funding for special education. Learn more about how the ARRA funds can be used to help students with disabilities by reading the U.S. Department of Education guidance on Parts B and C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

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Online Assistive Technology (AT) Forum Runs through May 8

National expert Gayl Bowser will lead a forum on technology and transition, April 13 through May 8. Topics include both basic and advanced AT concepts, the functional use of AT in everyday routines and environments, and the skills required for moving to a new environment. Bowser also will address the transition planning process rules in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and discuss ways to help youth develop skills that will ensure continued use of technology after transition. The forum is sponsored by the Family Center on Technology and Disability. To participate, visit fctd.info/webboard/index.php.

Two May Workshops Address Legal Planning for People with Disabilities

PACER Center is offering "Life Planning for Persons with Disabilities," two free workshops for people with disabilities and their families. The topic on May 7 is guardianship. The topics for May 19 are health care power of attorney, health care living wills, long-term-care issues, probate, revocable living trusts, supplemental needs trusts, and wills The sessions are 7 to 9 p.m. at PACER. Participants may attend one or both. Advanced registration is requested. Families attending are invited to receive a free, two-hour consultation from Life Planning for Persons with Disabilities to discuss how a comprehensive life plan could work in their situation.

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Web Site Offers Leadership Training for Parents

A new leadership training curriculum helps empower parents of children with disabilities to advocate for change in their communities. The Parents as Collaborative Leaders curriculum, a project of the University of Vermont and PACER, is now available as 10 PowerPoint modules on the Parents as Collaborative Leaders Web site at uvm.edu/~pcl/modules.php and on PACER’s site at PACER.org.

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Parent Training Modules Help Families Promote Children’s Social and Emotional Skills

The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning has developed parent training modules that help families promote children’s social and emotional skills, understand children’s problem behaviors, and use positive approaches to help them learn appropriate behaviors. The modules are available at vanderbilt.edu/csefel/parent.html.

New Document Addresses Screening Instruments for Social Emotional Concerns

“Emotional Concerns: Considerations in the Selection of Instruments” provides a brief overview of the use of screening instruments to help identify children and families who would benefit from early and targeted intervention strategies. This new document is meant to help administrators and teachers choose appropriate instruments for implementing a screening program. It’s available from the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children.

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May 3 – 9 Is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week increases the public awareness of the well-being and human development of our nation’s children and youth. Sponsored by the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, the week is intended to overcome the stigma of mental health issues and draw attention to the promotion of positive mental health, well-being, and social development for all children and youth.

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Join IBM's World Community Grid

The World Community Grid is an IBM effort to link computers worldwide and put idle computer time to use in aiding projects that benefit humanity. The grid is built upon an IBM infrastructure and includes IBM support. To become part of the grid, members install a small, free software program on their computers. When their computers are on but not being used, the program connects to the World Community Grid’s server, performs computations, and sends the results back to the server. Members’ donated resources help increase the pace of research. Visit worldcommunitygrid.org, click “find a team,” and select “PACER Center.” Join the team! It’s safe and easy.

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