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Learn How Stimulus Package May Help Students with DisabilitiesThe federal economic stimulus package, known as 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). Office for Civil Rights Looks at Impact of ADA Amendments Act on Section 504When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act took effect Jan. 1, 2009, it amended the meaning of “disability” in the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973—including Section 504. In March, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued a revised FAQ document that looks at the impact of those changes. OCR also is evaluating the impact of the Amendments Act on OCR's enforcement responsibilities under Section 504 and under Title II of the ADA, including whether any changes in regulations, guidance, or other publications are appropriate. PACER Now Offers Starter Puppet PackagePACER now offers a starter puppet package as a cost-effective way for schools and organizations to acquire its popular COUNT ME IN® disability awareness puppets and scripts. Additional puppets and scripts to supplement the starter package include options such as autism, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, and, beginning in 2010, bullying prevention. For more information on purchasing the puppets and scripts for your school or organization, visit PACER.org/puppets, call PACER at 952-838-9000, or e-mail puppets@PACER.org. PACER Webinar Explores Digital Books“All About Digital Books” is designed to help parents and professionals sort through an increasing number of options for accessing digital books for students with print-related disabilities. It’s Thursday, July 16, 2 to 4 p.m. (central time). Space is limited. Register. PACER Grandparent Support Group to Meet Aug. 17PACER’s Grandparent to Grandparent Program will kick off its summer season with a potluck picnic for grandparents and grandchildren on Monday, Aug. 17, at an accessible park in Richfield. Gather at 4:30 p.m. and plan to eat about 5:30 p.m. Call 952-838-9000 to RSVP and for further information. Beginning in September, meetings will be at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at PACER. People with grandchildren of any age and any disability are invited to meet others; share concerns, joys, and interests; discover resources; and learn how they can provide support to their children and grandchildren. New ALLIANCE Materials Support Parent-Professional Collaboration“Fostering Parent and Professional Collaboration” is a new set of materials published by the ALLIANCE National Parent Technical Assistance Center at PACER. The research brief ($3), curriculum ($15), and list of activities (free) highlight effective models and strategies for parents and professionals to work together to improve results for children on individual and systems levels. Register Now for the Summer Institute on Assistive Technology (AT)The free 2009 Online Summer Institute on Assistive & Instructional Technology takes place July 20–31. Educators, parents, and AT professionals are invited to learn about “Use of Social Media Tools” and “Accessible Instructional Materials: National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) and Beyond.” Post your questions and comments throughout the institute; AT experts will moderate. Check in from your home or office computer at least once a day to stay current with the information, discover successful strategies, and learn about useful resources. Continuing education credits are available. This annual event is part of a partnership between PACER and the Family Center on Technology and Disability. Register. HEATH Resource Center Offers Transition ResourcesThe HEATH Resource Center is an online clearinghouse with information on educational disability support services, policies, procedures, adaptations, financial assistance, scholarships, and materials that help students with disabilities transition into college, university, career-technical schools, or other postsecondary programs. It offers 16 training modules for high school students with disabilities as they prepare for transition from high school to college. Modules for parents and education professionals also are available. Project Expands Resources for Special Education CouncilsMembership in a local Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is one way parents can be involved in their child’s education and ensure academic success for their child and others. This one-stop Web site, MnSEACInfo.org, was developed by PACER and provides information and resources so local SEACs can form more effective organizations. Funded in part by a Minnesota Department of Education grant, the site provides strategies and hands-on tools that are helpful to parents and schools as they work together on behalf of students receiving special education services. Check Out the Simon Technology Center LibraryThe Simon Technology Center Library offers an inexpensive way to preview software and assistive technology (AT) devices for children and young adults with disabilities. Containing more than 2,500 items, the library has some of the newest software and devices on the market. Anyone can visit and view the materials; Minnesota parents, individuals, and professionals who are members may borrow them. For hours or more information, please contact Tara Bakken at 952-838-9000 or visit PACER.org/stc/library. Web Site Offers Leadership Training for ParentsA 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. Parent Training Modules Help Families Promote Children’s Social and Emotional SkillsThe 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. Join IBM's World Community GridThe 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. New Ideas for Promoting Early Literacy Available OnlineInterested in learning infant sign language, finding new finger plays for your toddler, or ideas to encourage your preschooler to talk or learn letters? Parents can find practical ideas online for providing young children with the building blocks for learning to read, write and talk, thanks to the Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL). CELL has 70 guides to help parents and practitioners promote early literacy skills of children with disabilities or delays. The 31 infant, 22 toddler, and 17 preschool guides, organized by child age and type of literacy skills, can be printed and used by parents or practitioners. CELL is a research-to-practice technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Research to Practice Division. Its goal is to promote the adoption and sustained use of evidence-based early literacy learning practices by early childhood intervention practitioners, parents, and other caregivers of young children, birth to five years of age, with identified disabilities, developmental delays, and those at-risk for poor outcomes. CELL is a major initiative of the Center for Evidence-Based Practices at the Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute. |
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PACER's site offers many PDF files for download, which require 
