E-News

Support PACER at Participating SUPERVALU-supplied Retailers with Your Purchase of P&G Products May 30 – July 31

This summer, people nationwide can support PACER and children with disabilities at participating SUPERVALU-supplied retailers through a unique promotion with Procter & Gamble (P&G). With the purchase of $25 in P&G products in one transaction, shoppers can choose to receive a $7 store gift check by mail and have $3 sent to PACER, or they can choose to donate the full $10 directly to PACER. Shoppers who make qualifying purchases at participating stores from May 30 through July 31 simply mail in their store receipt and a form obtained from the store or printed from ChampionForAChild.com.

This special promotion includes all the most popular P&G products, such as Tide, Charmin, Crest, and Bounty. It is available at SUPERVALU-supplied independent stores in the following states: AK, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SD, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY. To find a participating store and complete details visit ChampionForAChild.com. The SUPERVALU donation is based on shoppers’ participation in the event, so please ask friends and family nationwide to join in, too.

If you don’t see the promotional display at a participating store, just print off the official offer form at ChampionForAChild.com and submit it and your store receipt according to the instructions. In Minnesota, chains such as Coborn’s and Kowalski’s as well as many independent stores are participating. Thank you!

Parents, Primary Caregivers are Invited to Participate in a National Survey on Family Supports

Parents and primary caregivers of youth with disabilities between the ages of 12 and 22 are encouraged to participate in a national research study conducted by the Family Advocacy and Support Training (FAST) Project. The National Family Support Survey is available at fastfamilysupport.org through Aug. 13, 2010. All answers are confidential. Survey results will help the federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities, parent centers, and researchers understand the information and supports families need to prepare for moving into adulthood. They also may help to inform program development for youth with disabilities in the future. The FAST Project is funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) as a Project of National Significance. FAST is a project of PACER Center in Minnesota in collaboration with parent centers throughout the United States and territories and with the help of the University of Minnesota.

20th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act is July 26

The 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be celebrated Monday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St., Minneapolis, MN. Speakers and entertainers include comedian Josh Blue, former U.S. Sen. David Durenberger, ADA expert Peter Berg, and others. The free event includes box lunches, vendor booths and exhibits, accommodations (ASL interpreters, CART services, limited PCA assistance, and audio descriptors), and more. The event is sponsored by ADA Minnesota, Courage Center, DBTAC-Great Lakes ADA Center, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Pathways to Employment, and Statewide Independent Living Council. For more information, send an email to cindyt@mcil-mn.org or call 651-603-2015 (Twin Cities), 888-630-9793 (toll free), 1-888-206-6513 (TTY), 1-866-635-0082 (VP).

C.R.A.M. Conference is Aug. 23; Register by Aug. 1

The Children Reaching Academic Milestones (C.R.A.M) Conference is for parents of children with mild to moderate brain injuries who are in grades K-12 (public and private) in Minnesota. This conference is hosted by the Minnesota Low Incidence Projects in partnership with PACER Center and Hennepin County Medical Center. Its purpose is to help parents understand how their child’s injury may effect their school day and how they can help their child improve academic success throughout the school years. The conference is on Aug. 23, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. at PACER Center. The cost is $15 per person. Registration by Aug. 1 is required. Register

Purchase Lunch with Gardy and Support PACER!

Eight lucky fans still have a chance to lunch with Ron Gardenhire, manager extraordinaire of the Minnesota Twins, and help support PACER. You’ll meet in a beautiful loft condominium in downtown Minneapolis on Friday, Aug. 20 at 11:30 a.m. and enjoy a fabulous meal provided by Nate Lane of Thyme to Entertain. It gives “home plate” a whole new meaning! Get in the batting order for $150/person. Sign up here.

OSERS Issues Revised Q&A on IEPs

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), has issued a revised Q&A document to provide states, state educational agencies, local educational agencies, parents, and other stakeholders with information regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requirements relating to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), evaluations, and reevaluations. Read it here.

White House Launches New Website for All Health Care Consumers

The federal government recently launched HealthCare.gov to connect all types of health care consumers with information and resources to help them find care. The site allows users to tailor their search by state, age, and other factors to find information specific to their needs. It also contains information on the new health reform laws and implementation dates, patients’ rights, tips for preventative health, and quality of care comparisons for hospitals. The site is scheduled to be translated into Spanish by Aug. 1. For more information about the health care reforms, contact PACER’s Family-to-Family Health Information Center.

United Way and CFC Can Support PACER

PACER Center is eligible for donations made through United Way campaigns and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the workplace charity campaign for federal civilian, military, and postal employees. PACER is a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

United Way
The United Way accommodates employees wanting to support PACER. United Way pledge cards have a Donor Choice location in which to write PACER’s name and address (PACER Center, Inc., 8161 Normandale Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55437).

CFC
Look for PACER in your local campaign booklet under the Children’s Charities of America (CCA) heading or alphabetically. You also can see a video about a PACER program by visiting cfcvideospeakersbureau.org and entering PACER as the keyword. To designate your gift to PACER, use code 12272. This code is unique to PACER and should be used under any heading where you see PACER’s name listed.

For information on how to support PACER through the United Way, CFC, or other workplace charity campaigns, call PACER’s development office at 952-838-9000 or visit PACER.org and click on Donate.

Report: More Information and Guidance Could Improve Opportunities in Physical Education and Athletics for Students with Disabilities:

Physical activity and participation in athletics provide important health and social benefits for all children. The Government Accounting Office (GAO) recently conducted a study of physical education (PE) opportunities that schools provide to students with disabilities. It reports that schools provide students with and without disabilities similar opportunities to participate in PE but face challenges when serving students with disabilities. A summary of the GAO report and its recommendations is available online. More

Tots ’n Tech Research Institute Offers Tips for Using Assistive Technology with Young Children

The appropriate use of simple adaptations and assistive technology (AT) can support inclusion and natural learning opportunities for young children with disabilities. The Tots ’n Tech Research Institute publishes an online newsletter that provides many useful tips on how to adapt everyday materials to enhance the participation of infants and toddlers in a variety of daily activities and routines. The feature article of the latest issue is, “Using Assistive Technology to Support Socialization.” Past issues also are available. More

The National Center for Education Statistics has Released “The Condition of Education 2010” Report

“The Condition of Education 2010” summarizes developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 49 indicators on the status and condition of education, in addition to a special section on high-poverty schools. Among the data relating to students with disabilities: 95 percent of the children and youth who received special education services in 2007–08 were enrolled in regular schools, and 6.6 million children and youth, representing 13 percent of public school enrollment, received special education services. Of those who received these services, 39 percent did so for a specific learning disability. More

PACER Publications

Now available in Spanish! PACER’s Who We Are Brochure
Learn more about PACER Center! Order the free Who We Are brochure that outlines the projects, services, and resources of PACER Center. 2010. Order item PHP-c37s.

Programs and Resources
PACER Center is a Minnesota nonprofit organization that provides services to families of children and young adults with any disability. More