E-News

Register Now for Sixth Annual Mann Foundation Symposium

Minnesota teachers, parents and administrators are invited to attend the Sixth Annual National Ted and Dr. Roberta Mann Foundation Symposium about Children’s Mental Health and Learning Disabilities on Aug. 9 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Speakers at the symposium, co-sponsored by PACER Center and the American Dairy Queen Corporation, will address many issues regarding children’s mental health and learning disabilities, including proactive, positive teaching strategies and interventions. “Motivating, encouraging and enlightening,” said a past symposium attendee about the event. “In all the symposiums, meetings and seminars I’ve been to in 14 years, this was the most useful to working every day.” Cost is $15. Register now to reserve your spot!

Department of Education Issues Guidance on Technology and Students with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights recently issued a Dear Colleague letter to schools on their legal obligation to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of technology. The letter highlights what schools need to know to ensure that students with disabilities have access to information and resources provided through technology. More

Save the Date!

PACER’s Second Annual Run/Walk/Roll Against Bullying is Oct. 1
Mark your calendars for PACER’s second annual Run/Walk/Roll Against Bullying on Saturday, Oct. 1, part of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Month of October. The four-mile run or 1.5-mile walk or roll will take place at Mt. Normandale Lake in Bloomington, Minn. The entry fee is $20 per person, and each participant will receive a complimentary T-shirt. Participants are also encouraged to gather pledges from friends and family. Those forms will be available online soon. All proceeds from the event will go toward PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, which educates communities nationwide to prevent bullying through creative and interactive resources. Register now!

Children with Disabilities Face Greatest Risk for Obesity

A new fact sheet from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) highlights the importance of regular physical activity and proper nutrition for children and youth with disabilities. According to the PCFSN, obesity rates for children with disabilities are 38 percent higher than for children without disabilities. More

CDC Finds One in Six Children Has a Developmental Disability

A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that one in six U.S. children are diagnosed with a developmental disability, an increase of 17 percent in the last decade. Researchers from the study, published online in the journal Pediatrics, attribute some of that rise to the growth in cases of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. More

New NCWD/Youth Resource Taps into the Power of Families

A new brief from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) explores the important role families play in the career planning, job search and job retention of youth with disabilities. The brief, “Tapping into the Power of Families: How Families of Youth with Disabilities Can Assist in Job Search and Retention,” was written by Sean Roy of PACER. More

National Institute on Mental Health Releases New Resources

The National Institute on Mental Health has released new fact sheets on several mental illnesses that affect children, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder. The fact sheets describe the development in the Institute’s understanding of how these mental illnesses affect children and the direction of future research. More

National Center on Accessibility Publishes Findings on Playground Accessibility

A research team at the National Center on Accessibility at Indiana University has published first-year findings from a study about the accessibility of playground surfaces. The findings show that each type of surface examined, including poured-in-place rubber, engineered wood fiber, rubber tiles and hybrid surface systems, presents accessibility, safety or maintenance issues. The study, titled “A Longitudinal Study of Playground Surfaces to Evaluate Accessibility,” will continue to assess whether these surfaces meet accessibility requirements over a total of three years. Read the full report here.

PACER Publications

Parents Can Be the Key Handbook Explains Special Education
The PACER handbook “Parents Can Be the Key” describes special education laws and procedures. Free to Minnesota families of children with disabilities. Order PHP-a1. More

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Defines Related Services
This new PACER handout answers frequently asked questions about related services, such as transportation, therapy and medical services, that children with disabilities need to help them meet their goals in the Individualized Education Program (IEP). A single download for personal use is free. Order PHP-c181 for multiple copies. More

Physical Education and Children with Disabilities and Developmental Adaptive Physical Education
This new PACER handout highlights the benefits of physical activities for students with disabilities and explains how these students can participate in physical education. A single download for personal use is free. Order PHP-c182 for multiple copies. More

Great Opportunities

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Programs and Resources

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