STAY CONNECTED!
     Like us on Facebook    Follow us on Twitter    View our videos on YouTube  

Support ASK and the families we serve
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
August 22, 2016
g
In This Issue...
NEWS & INFORMATION

Back-To-School Tips and Free Downloads for Parents
From various sources

Understood.org: Start School Strong

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/choosing-starting-school/back-to-school

 

Reading Rockets: Back-to-School: Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs

http://www.readingrockets.org/content/pdfs/BTS_Parents_RR.pdf

 

Wrightslaw: Ten Tips for a Successful School Year 

http://www.wrightslaw.com/howey/10tips.sch.yr.htm

 

Be A Learning Hero: The Super 5: Back-to-School Power Moves

http://bealearninghero.org/super5/ 

What To Do When Your Insurance Will Not Pay A Claim
Resources from Family Voices & the Iowa Managed Care Ombudsman

Family Voices has new resources and a toolkit about insurance complaints (sometimes called grievances). This tip sheet focuses specifically on health insurance policies through the Affordable Care Act; however, the  information is helpful guidance for anyone, regardless of their coverage.

Iowans insured under Medicaid Managed Care should direct concerns to their assigned managed care organization (MCO), and the Iowa Managed Care Ombudsman program is also available for advocacy and assistance. To speak to a Managed Care Ombudsman, call (866) 236-1430 or email [email protected].
Regulations Broaden Who's Covered Under ADA
From Disability Scoop

The U.S. Department of Justice is issuing new regulations significantly expanding who's covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In a final rule published this month in the Federal Register, the agency is clarifying that those with everything from cancer to diabetes, epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities and other conditions should be protected under the ADA.

The regulations cement changes that Congress made when it passed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, the Justice Department said. Click here for the full story: 
IDEA Applies To Online Schools Too
From Disability Scoop

Students with disabilities are entitled to special education services and supports even if they attend school online, the U.S. Department of Education says.
 
As public virtual schools - those that have no physical campus and rely on computers and other telecommunications - proliferate, federal officials say they're increasingly fielding questions about how the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act applies.  Click here for the full story:  https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/08/12/idea-applies-online-schools-too/22618/.
Zika Virus Updates and Information
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a wide variety of web and print resources, educational videos, and toolkits about the Zika virus. These materials are available for various age groups, audiences, and languages.

Find the Zika Virus homepage at  http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html.
TRAINING & EDUCATION

Mental Health First Aid Training in Coralville
Pre-enrollment required

September 13 & 16, 2016
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Coralville Public Library
1401 5th St, Coralville, IA 52241

Both classes are required to earn certification and CEUs (see flyer for details). Course in structed by Peggy Loveless, Ph.D. of Mental Health Education Specialists.  $35 materials fee and pre-enrollment is required; contact Peggy Loveless at (319) 530-9837 or  [email protected].
Free Training for Parents and Caregivers of Kids with Mental Illness
Every Tuesday, September 13 through October 25
 
NAMI Basics is a free, six-session course for parents and primary caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness.

Tuesdays
September 13 - October 25, 2016
6:00 - 8:00 pm
ASK Resource Center
5665 Greendale Rd, Suite D, Johnston, IA 50131
 
NAMI Basics is free, but registration is required. Dinner provided at each class. Register now at www.askresource.org/calendar.
Fourth Annual Iowa School Mental Health Conference
Presented by Please Pass The Love

Thursday, October 13, 2016
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Holiday Inn - Airport
6111 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321
 
$75 for professionals,  $20 for students 8th grade to college with student ID. Registration and other details available at www.regonline.com/iowasmhc.
Free Webinar: Options for Work Experience for Students with Disabilities
Register at 

"Developing Options for Student Work Experience:  Valley High School's Program"
Thursday, September 22, 2016
7:00 pm

This free training, presented by administrators and educators from the West Des Moines Community School District, will share information about Tiger Perk , Valley High School's school-based coffee shop providing actual job experience, and Career Academy , a program for students that provides learning supports to complete career certifications in different fields of study such as food service, retail, or as a care provider for agencies in Iowa.

Families, students, educators, administrators, and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend this free webinar to explore ideas that are  working ! Registration link available at www.askresource.org/calendar.
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

5K RUN WALK ROLL to Benefit Walk the Talk Iowa
Race course map now available

Click image for details
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Pleasant Hill, IA

Click here to register

$20 registration fee includes 2016 race t-shirt; children ages 3 and under are free but won't receive a t-shirt. 

All of the proceeds from this event will benefit Walk the Talk Iowa, a donation-funded project of ASK Resource Center that provides bullying prevention training and resources for youth, families, and professionals. walkthetalkiowa.org .
The Arc of East Central Iowa's Annual Sunday Fun Day
Free family event held September 18
 
The Arc of East Central Iowa's Sunday Fun Day
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Clark Park
1198 N 18th Ave, Hiawatha, IA 52233

Friends and family of The Arc are invited for a fun filled day that will include face painting, balloon twisting from Living Characters , a special treat from Kona Ice of Cedar Rapids,  and much more! 

RSVP before September 12 by contacting Lexi Coberly at [email protected] or (319) 365-0487 ext. 1024.
ASK Resource Center Fundraising Event Postponed
 
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the ASK Resource Center fundraising event, "An Intimate Night With the Nadas" scheduled for Saturday, August 27 has been postponed.  We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.  Details regarding rescheduling the event will be released at a later date.
MISCELLANEOUS

Free Download: Sample Picture Schedules and Visual Planners
From Understood.org

Picture schedules and visual planners can help kids who have trouble with organization stay on top of routines and feel more confident. For many kids, picture schedules are easier to follow and less overwhelming than written schedules.

Here are a few examples of different picture schedules. Use them as is, or customize them to match your own routines. To customize, just print them out, cut out the images and paste or attach them in the order you want.
Copyright © ASK Resource Center, 2016. All rights reserved.
 
You're among 4,733 others who received this email because you wanted us to keep you informed of the latest disability-related news, educational opportunities, events, and more from in and around the state of Iowa.

The contents of this listserv blast were partially funded under grants from the US Department of Education, #H328M140017, Project Officer, David Emenhesier, and a grant from the US Department of Health & Human Services, #H84MC24065, Project Officer, LaQuanta Smalley. The contents of this listserv blast do  not necessarily represent the policy of those Departments, and the reader should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. ASK's Family to Family Iowa Project serves as Iowa's Family
Voic es State Affiliate Organization. ASK is also Iowa's Parent to Parent USA Alliance Member.