As the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) comes and goes, please take a moment to remind everyone what a monumental change the ADA has made to the lives of individuals with disabilities:

1) Prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in employment and public accommodations, including a range of privately-owned entities
2) Required employers to make reasonable accommodations
3) Required that telephone companies provide non-voice device telecommunications options
4) Required closed captioning for all television public service announcement produced by or funded in part by the federal government
5) Required that Federal and non-Federal government agencies' services and programs be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.

We celebrate this anniversary with great hopes that the next 20 years will bring even greater accomplishments for individuals with disabilities!

National Family Support Survey

Family Advocacy and Support Training (FAST) A Project of PACER Center funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities as a Project of National Significance National Family Support Survey Consent Information

You are invited to be in a national research study of supports for families of youth with disabilities. You were selected as a possible participant because you are a parent or primary caregiver of a young person with disabilities between 12 and 22 years old. Please read this form and ask any questions you have before agreeing to be in the study.

The Family Advocacy and Support Training (FAST) Project is funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) as a Project of National Significance (Grant number 90DN0269). 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.

This survey is being conducted by: Sheryl A. Larson, Ph.D., and K. Charlie Lakin, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living. The FAST Project is coordinated by Shauna McDonald and Paula Goldberg, Executive Director, PACER Center.

Background Information

The purpose of this study is to learn about the information and supports young adults with disabilities and their families need to prepare for moving into adulthood.

Procedures:

If you agree to be in this study, we will ask you to complete the National Family Support Survey. You can complete and submit the survey on-line or you can provide your answers on paper and return it to Sheryl Larson, ICI @ University of Minnesota, 214 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Larso072@umn.edu.

Risks and Benefits of being in the Study

Risks:

We do not anticipate there being any risks involved in completing this confidential survey.

Benefits:

You will receive no direct benefit from completing the survey. Your answers to the questions will help the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, parent centers, and researchers to understand the information and supports families need to plan for the transition of youth with disabilities into adult role. You may find that the questions cause you to think about topics you haven’t considered before, or to seek more information from your local Parent Center.

Compensation:

No compensation will be provided for completing the survey.

Confidentiality:

Your answers to the survey questions will be kept private. Reports describing the results of the survey will not identify specific individuals. Research records will be stored securely and only researchers will have access to the records.

Voluntary Nature of the Study:

Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision whether or not to participate will not affect your current or future relations with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the University of Minnesota, PACER Center or your local Parent Center. If you do participate, you can leave questions blank or decide not to submit your answers without affecting those relationships.

Contacts and Questions:

The researchers conducting this study are: Sheryl Larson and Charlie Lakin. You may ask any questions you have now. If you have questions later, please contact Sherri Larson at the Research and Training Center on Community Living, 612-624-6024, larso072@umn.edu.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher(s), you are encouraged to contact the Research Subjects’ Advocate Line, D528 Mayo, 420 Delaware St. Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455; (612) 625-1650.

You may keep this form for your records if you wish.

When you submit your responses to the survey you are saying you choose to participate in this study.

For more information about the Family Advocacy and Support Training Project, Contact:
Shauna McDonald at
PACER Center, Inc.
8161 Normandale Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55437-1044
952-838-9000 voice
952-838-0190 TTY
888-248-0822
Fax: 952-838-0199
eMail: pacer@pacer.org
www.pacer.org

If you would like to participate in this study, click the button below to begin the survey.

New SpecialQuest Preschool Inclusion Series

SpecialQuest Birth–Five has released new materials supporting high quality inclusion of preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) in early care and education settings. The new Preschool Inclusion Series highlights children with disabilities participating in inclusive environments. Classroom staff, administrators, specialists, and families share their perspectives on what makes inclusion work.
The new Preschool Inclusion Series contains four video programs with training scripts, and handouts and is available in English and Spanish.

click here

U.S. Department of Education Makes Public State-by-State Restraint & Seclusion Information

The U.S. Department of Education has released a summary of state laws, regulations, policies and guidelines regarding the use of restraint and seclusion techniques in schools. This state-by-state summary is a result of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's letter issued to Chief State School Officers on July 31, 2009, urging a review of current state policies and guidelines regarding the use of restraint and seclusion in schools.

To view the document click here

ATTENTION YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, PARENTS, TEACHERS, ADVOCATES, AND PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH YOUTH AND FAMILY MEMBERS:

You are invited to attend the National Youth Leadership Network's

Reap What You Sow: Harvesting Support Systems Institute

What: Introduction of a new, hands-on curriculum

• Designed for transitioning young adults with disabilities (ages 14-25) and family members
• Teaches youth with disabilities how to work with their families to maximize community-based support to reach their goals and enhance their self-determination
• Created by youth with disabilities with input from family members.
• Includes 100% fun, interactive, and hands-on activities and tools

When: July 29 – 31, 2010

Where: Raleigh, North Carolina

Registration: Go to www.nyln.org/upcoming-conference/registration/ to register online. Scholarships are also available for young people. See the Financial Aid form on the website.

BONUS! Register three people and get one registrations free!

Information Tables: We will also have opportunities for organizations to display information to Institute participants. We will be having an info table walk-about session on Friday, July 30th and organizations can leave their tables up throughout the conference. For a limited time, informational tables are available for only $50. Go to our website to download and submit a form.

For more information, visit www.nyln.org or call Betsy Valnes, NYLN Executive Director, at1-866-480-6565, or e-mail her at betsy@nylin.org

The Reap What You Sow project is funded by a grant through the Administration on Developmental Disabilities

Meg Grigal, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate
TransCen Inc.
451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 700
Rockville, MD 20850
301-424-2002 ext. 221
www.transitiontocollege.net
www.thinkcollege.net

Flyer/Registration

The Building Foundations for Advocacy Conference Brochure is ready to be shared. Please feel free to forward or print for others who may be interested in attending. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, at the information below.
Thank you.

Theresa Hamrick, Program Manager
Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council
3535 NW 58th St, Suite 500
Oklahoma City, OK 73112-4824
Phone: (405) 951-3579 or 800-569-7974
Fax: (405) 951-3532
thamrick@okdrs.gov
www.okrehabcouncil.org Brochure

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights law designed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Section 504 guarantees certain rights to individuals with disabilities, including the right to full participation and access to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to all children regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.

To recieve more information or print out a flyer about Section 504 in English or Spanish, click below.

English Spanish

Take a look at the "CHECK IT OUT" page for "President Obama's Disability Agenda" and the "Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act"