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Missouri Eligibility Criteria for Autism Fact Sheet Click HERE
Early Signs of Autism Fact Sheet Click HERE
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MPACT provides tools that help parents understand what autism is and is not, identify the early signs, navigate the process of requesting an educational evaluation, understand how the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act impacts educational and related services, and assure access to free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment in becoming the best advocate for their child.
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Join us for the Tools for Life Opportunities One-day event empowering students with unique abilities. Youth, parents, educators, and professionals will come together to collaborate and explore essential topics like education, employment, independent living, and community involvement.
- Parents: Discover resources, and strategies to support your child’s transition to adulthood.
- Youth: Engage in sessions to build skills and confidence for success in education, work, and independent living.
- Educators & Professionals: Gain strategies to guide students and families, while networking with experts and organizations dedicated to youth development.
| | | Supported Decision Making | | Supported Decision-Making is just a fancy way of describing how we all make choices. We all need help making decisions, every single day. The National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making (NRC-SDM) helps people with disabilities find information on Supported Decision-Making, connects them with people and organizations that may be able to help, and answers their questions. Check out resources from the NRC-SDM . | | |
Be a Voice for a Child – Become an Educational Surrogate!
Help make a difference in a child’s life by becoming an Educational Surrogate for Missouri's First Steps Early Intervention program or for school age children.
If a child is a ward of the State or doesn’t have a parent or guardian to make educational decisions, they need someone to advocate for their needs. That’s where you come in!
Educational Surrogates step in to represent the child in all educational matters.
It’s easy to get started!
For the Missouri First Steps Program click HERE to learn how.
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If you are interested in becoming an Educational Surrogate for school age children, click the video or the links to learn more.
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Parents or school staff may agree to hold a Facilitated Special Education Meeting when both sides feel a neutral facilitator would help the IEP team effectively address concerns.
IEP Facilitation is free for IDEA-related cases and can be requested through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Special Education.
Click HERE to learn more.
| | Sesame Street for Militiary Families | | Sesame Street for Military Families is a free website where families can find information and multimedia resources on the topics of military deployments, multiple deployments, homecomings, injuries, grief, and self-expression. Click Supporting Military Families page here. | | Month of the Military Child | | | | Celebrate the resilience and courage of our military-connected children during April, the Month of the Military Child (MOMC). Their journey is filled with unique adventures and challenges, reminding us of their invaluable role in serving our country and their families in April and every day of the year. The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) Toolkit of resources to celebrate Click HERE | | The Art of the Military Child | | |
The MCEC call for the Arts is open! Invite military-connected students worldwide — from every branch of the military and all grades (PreK–12) — to share their unique perspectives through diverse forms of creativity, including photography, music, writing, video, and more.
Why Enter?
- Inspire the World: Illuminate what it means to be a military-connected child through art.
- Win Prizes: Gift card awards and national recognition await our winners.
- Shine Brightly: Selected artists will be honored at the MCEC Global Training Summit in Washington, DC this July!
How to Enter: Submissions are open now through April 30, 2025. Encourage your students or children to dream big and create boldly! Enter HERE
| | McKinney-Vento Homeless Act | |
The McKinney-Vento Act ensures that children and youth experiencing homelessness can enroll in and attend school without barriers.
MPACT offers FREE training on the McKinney Vento Act.
To schedule a training opportunity click HERE
| | Early Childhood Resources | | Responding to Challenging Behavior in Caring Ways | | |
Erica Key, Founder and Chief Learning Officer of Learning Seeds, shares in an in-depth conversation with friends at Sesame Street on how to explore effective strategies to support young children facing emotional challenges.
Click on the VIDEO to watch.
| | | MO Youth Leadership Forum | | |
The Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is a FREE five-day, four-night leadership training and career awareness program for high school students with disabilities.
It provides training in leadership, self-advocacy skills, and career awareness
Download 2025 MO-YLF Flyer
Download 2025 MO-YLF FAQ Sheet
| | | Check out MPACT's resources for families and professionals. | | |
Upcoming MPACT Webinars
click on the links below to register
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The Art of Effective Advocacy
Wednesday, April 9, 2025, @ 4pm-6 pm
Disagreement Resolution
Thursday, April 10, 2025, 10am-12pm
Kansas City Public Library: Waldo Branch
201 East 75th St Room B
Kansas City, MO 64114
| | View all upcoming MPACT trainings HERE. | | |
All MPACT trainings are free of charge! If you would like to schedule any MPACT training in your area or for your organization
please click on the link HERE.
| | Share Your Feedback with Missouri First Steps! | | Make A Difference, Join MPACT Today! | | |
MPACT is funded in part or whole by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs Grant No. H328M090020-10. The contents of the website, however, and any documents cited herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S Department of Education.
Copyright © 2023 MPACT. All rights reserved
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