Features
Event Date: Monday, August 12, 2019
The symposium is designed to enhance awareness and identify strategies for responding to mental health and learning disabilities in children and young adults from the perspective of teachers and parents.
The symposium will provide high quality professional and parent development for Minnesota educators and parents regarding:
- children's mental health and learning disabilities
- effective treatment planning
- proactive, positive teaching strategies and interventions
Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
From high-tech gadgets to technology that supports everything from play to learning to employment, there will be plenty to explore and try at the Simon Technology Center Family Fun Day and Tech Expo. Come explore the possibilities of assistive technology and enjoy interacting with a variety of devices for children, teens, and adults. Explore our Innovation Lab, learn to code robots, attend story time, and get creative with accessible art and do-it-yourself activities. This event is free but advance registration is encouraged.
UNITY Awards held May 22
Congratulations to our 2019 national and local Unity Award recipients.
College Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Explore helpful information from PACER Center and Think College about inclusive, postsecondary education programs for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Does My Child Have an Emotional or Behavioral Disorder?
What to Look for: Among all the dilemmas facing a parent of a child with emotional or behavioral problems, the first question-whether the child's behavior is sufficiently different to require a comprehensive evaluation by professionals-may be the most troublesome of all. Even when a child exhibits negative behaviors, members of a family may not all agree on whether the behaviors are serious.
Categories / Programs
Workshops / Live Stream Events
19
Incorporating Home Living Skills Into Daily Life for Your Middle School Youth
Monday, August 19, 2019 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST
Location: PACER Center
21
Math Tools: Technology to Support Diverse Learners
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 from 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM CST
Location: PACER Center
10
Getting Ready for My Child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST
Location: PACER Center
12
Tips and Tools for Talking with School Staff
Thursday, September 12, 2019 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST
Location: Crystal
21
Special Events : Simon Technology Center Family Fun Day and Tech Expo
Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST
Location: PACER Center
23
The ABCs of the IEP: Making the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Work for Your Child
Monday, September 23, 2019 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST
Location: Brainerd
Help Support PACER & Others
Facebook Buy & Sell Group - MN Special Needs Equipment for Sale
Find equipment and assistive technology after its initial use. Items such as, communication devices, walkers, adaptive switches and toys, motorized cars (that can be adapted), adapted keyboards, etc. Join Today!
Join Survey Monkey Contribute today!
PACER is excited to announce our partnership with SurveyMonkey Contribute and a new way for anyone to support PACER programs! Sign up and you will receive surveys by e-mail from SurveyMonkey customers who need your opinion. For every survey you take, SurveyMonkey will donate $0.50 to PACER, and you'll get a chance to win $100 in an instant-win game.
In The News
The Beach Boys Make a Splash at PACER’s 37th Annual Benefit
Posted: 5/30/2019
On Saturday, May 11, PACER Center hosted its Annual Benefit featuring an iconic live performance from The Beach Boys. Guests were on their feet and tossing beach balls for one of the most exciting Benefit performances yet!
Before the performance, guests perused and bid on around 2,000 items in PACER’s legendary silent auction. For the first time ever, the silent auction featured mobile bidding, allowing guests to easily find, track, and bid on their favorite items from the convenience of a smartphone.
WCCO-TV’s Frank Vascellaro was back again to act as auctioneer for the live auction in the concert hall. Audience members leapt to place bids on spectacular packages, including a VIP trip for four to Disneyworld and a week-long stay at a secluded villa in idyllic Bucerias, Mexico.
The Benefit’s emcee was none other than Andrew Zimmern, celebrity chef, TV personality, writer, and a dear friend of PACER. Zimmern introduced an inspiring video for PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, announced the winner of this year’s Otto Bremer Award, honored PACER’s executive director, Paula Goldberg, and the hardworking staff and volunteers who made the night possible, and readied the crowd for The Beach Boys.
Check out the Star Tribune’s coverage of this year’s PACER Annual Benefit in Scene + Heard.
The National Bullying Prevention Center’s 5th Annual Unity Awards is May 22
Posted: 5/14/2019
Bullying is an issue that no child should ever have to endure. Fortunately, there are people who care and are work toward making our schools, communities, and the web kinder, more accepting places. PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center is proud to host the 5th Annual Unity Awards on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at PACER Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, to recognize those who do this important work.
The Unity Awards ceremony, first held in 2015, is an evening of celebration to gather and recognize those who are helping to create a world without bullying—whether it’s building awareness of bullying prevention, inspiring and empowering others to take positive action, or advocating for those who need support.
Nominations come in from around the country and have included teachers who have touched the lives of students, individuals or groups who have been active in their communities, and those who simply made someone feel that they were not alone.
The Unity Awards are presented by The Faces of Change, the Youth Advisory Boards of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. These inspiring young people are encouraging their generation to increase kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Their goal is to promote bullying prevention and inspire students to support one another. Their work exemplifies how student involvement can create positive change that results in stronger relationships, safer schools, and more supportive communities.
‘I Feel Amazing’: Teen Touts Transformative Help from PACER
Posted: 4/24/2019
Recently, 16-year-old Darcey Hayes joined PACER staff and supporters at PACER’s Day at the Capitol. When she arrived at the Minnesota State Capitol, she marched in to meet her state representative, Ron Kresha.
The sophomore from Upsala is the president of the PACER Youth Advisory Board. Though not able to lobby or talk about legislation, she can share how special education works and her experience with it.
Hayes feels like a totally different person thanks to PACER.
“I feel amazing. I mean, I have friends, which I never really thought I would have,” Hayes said. “I’m doing really good in school. I’m able to do extracurricular things. I’m in my robotics team, I’m in knowledge bowl, I’m in FFA. I mean, I do so many things that I never thought I would be able to do.”
“When we can find groups like PACER that really get to those child issues and help them with their potential and really being who they can be, that’s something we need to keep pushing for in St. Paul,” Representative Kresha said.
Students organizing to create a world without bullying
Posted: 4/18/2019
On March 26, 315 students packed Elkins Auditorium at Pepperdine University to hear the Pepperdine Waves Debate Team and students from the Woodlake Elementary “Let’s Argue” class debate the question, “Can we create a world without bullying?”
Every attendee at the debate reported that they “learned something new” about bullying prevention, and 77.8% said that the event “expanded my understanding of what bullying can look like.”
Congratulations and many thanks to Dr. Abi Smith, debate professor, coach of the Waves, and creator of the Woodlake “Let’s Argue” class, as well as Juan Carlos Hugues, Tiffany Hall, and the Waves team for organizing the event. Special thanks to Dr. Luisa Raynal and Andres Phillips from the School of Public Policy for their participation.
Read more about PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in Los Angeles.