PACER is here to help!
Dear PACER Community,
We know these are challenging times for everyone. As we all navigate this public health crisis, PACER is committed to being a valuable resource for families of children with disabilities and students who are bullied, as well as the professionals who serve them.
Call or email us! PACER’s parent advocates, assistive technology specialists, bullying prevention associates, and all staff are available to assist families and professionals. Call 952-838-9000 or email [email protected] for assistance.
View All PACER COVID-19 Resources for Families
You can continue to access PACER services in the following ways:
- Check out our websites - PACER has a wide variety of tip sheets, videos, and other useful information.
- Watch archived trainings - PACER has numerous recorded trainings on topics such as mental health, assistive technology, early childhood, and more.
PACER’s Annual Benefit has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2020. The event will still take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center and feature a performance by Smokey Robinson.
We will continue to keep you updated in the weeks ahead. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for information and resources. Take care and be safe.
Sincerely,
 |
| Paula F. Goldberg Executive Director |
Features
Family Engagement Week, June 1-5, 2020
The Minnesota Department of Education will be hosting a Family Engagement Week from June 1-5, 2020. Throughout the week, education experts will be hosting series of online events and promoting resources to help support families over the summer months during these unprecedented times.
- Tuesday, June 2 at 1 p.m. families can learn more about summer learning activities hosted by public libraries and community locations during a webinar with State Library Services. Registration is available here.
- Tuesday, June 2 at 4 p.m. parenting educator and 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Katy Smith will provide tools for Parenting in Uncertain Times. Registration is available here.
- Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. families can learn more about engaging early learners in literacy and math with activities for the whole family. Registration for the June 3 webinar is available here.
- This webinar will be repeated on Thursday, June 4 at 5 p.m. Registration for the June 4 webinar is available here.
- Thursday, June 4 at 10 a.m. families can learn about MDE’s Summer Food Service Program including how they can access free meals in their community. Registration is available here.
Learn more about MDE’s Family Engagement Week here.
Checkout PACER's Family Engagment Information in the Learning Center
Distance Learning Information for Parents
Distance learning is a new reality for families across the United States. PACER Center is diligently working on providing information for parents of school-age children — both regular education and special education — who have questions about data privacy, virtual Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 Plan meetings, and more. We will be adding more information, so check back regularly.
Unity Awards
Do you know an individual or group who took action to make our communities, schools and the web kinder, more accepting and inclusive? If yes, nominate them for a Unity Award! This spring we will then celebrate those who have made outstanding contributions to help create a world without bullying.
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.
New Covid-19 Resources
Mental health and wellness is more important now than ever! Connect with PACER Center for resources to support your child or youth with mental health needs during this pandemic.
See Our Latest Distance Learning and Emotional Wellness Resources
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
2
Life Planning for People with Disabilities : Guardianships (Webinar)
Tuesday, June 2, 2020 from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM CST
Location: Online Web Streaming
6
Tech for Girls Club : Code a Story (Zoom Meeting)
Saturday, June 6, 2020 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CST
Location: Online Web Streaming
9
Life Planning for People with Disabilities : Special & Supplemental Needs Trusts (Webinar)
Tuesday, June 9, 2020 from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM CST
Location: Online Web Streaming
11
Executive Function Tools and Strategies for K-12 Students (Live Stream)
Thursday, June 11, 2020 from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM CST
Location: Online Web Streaming
13
Tech for Teens Club : 3D Printing Online (Live Stream)
Saturday, June 13, 2020 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST
Location: Online Web Streaming
22
Educational Apps for Young Children (Live Stream)
Monday, June 22, 2020 from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CST
Location: Online Web Streaming
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
So Your Kid Bullied Someone. Now What?
Posted: 8/23/2019
No parent likes to think their child could exhibit bullying behaviors toward a peer. Unfortunately, social pressures and the desire to be noticed and admired can lead some children to act in ways that are out of character and could have harmful consequences.
The important thing for parents who are dealing with a child who has displayed bullying behavior to remember is that they have the power to take action and try to stop the behavior from being repeated.
Bailey Huston, the coordinator of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center spoke with the Huffington Post for the article titled, So Your Kid Bullied Someone. Now What?, about practical steps that parents can take to talk about the seriousness of bullying with their child and help them understand that behavior is unacceptable.
With empathy and patience, parents can help their child develop an action plan and set consequences that encourage them to act with kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Huston explains that even when working toward these goals, it’s important to accept that there might be setbacks as your child modifies their behavior and learns new ways to handle feelings and conflicts. Addressing these matters with patience, love, and support is the best way to ensure long-term success.
What NOT To Say When Your Child Is Being Bullied
Posted: 8/23/2019
Knowing the right way to respond when your child says that they’ve been experiencing bullying can be difficult for any parent. In the past, conventional wisdom has led some parents to give their children advice that can cause more problems in the future. Responses like “just ignore it” or “toughen up” can lead to lasting negative effects for children.
In an article for the Huffington Post, Bailey Huston—the coordinator of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center—walks through what parents should avoid saying to a child who is experiencing bullying. Rather than focus on the child’s need to overpower bullying behavior on their own, Huston recommends that parents take a more supportive and proactive approach.
Children often experience negative emotions like insecurity, fear, and helplessness when they are subjected to bullying. When parents tell a child to buck up and face the bullying on their own, or that the child is being too sensitive about bullying behavior, these isolating feelings can be become overwhelming.
Huston says that the best thing parents can do for a child going through a bullying situation is assure them that they are not alone. Working with your child to develop an action plan to prevent the bullying from happening again is a concrete way to show that support and helps the child gain confidence.
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.