Pathways Volume 11 | June2023

MSU ACCESS Program Enriches Lives of Youth with Disabilities

MSU ACCESS is a 4-year, residential post-secondary college program dedicated to ensuring students with intellectual or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) receive a quality postsecondary education through inclusive experiences in academics, socialization, career development, and independent living. ACCESS students have a goal of becoming gainfully employed and living as independently as possible in their communities. Upon completion of ACCESS, students will graduate with a Mississippi State University Certification of Completion with an Area of Focus.


With the establishment of ACCESS in 2010, MSU placed itself among a select group of institutions nationally that are working to overcome one of the last remaining hurdles in education and civil rights – the transition of students with ID/DD into post-secondary institutions. In 2017, ACCESS became Mississippi's only federally approved Comprehensive Transition Post-Secondary (CTP) program.


MSU ACCESS is very fortunate to collaborate with over fifty employment partners to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities including job shadow experiences, internships, and job interview experiences. Students develop both soft and hard career skills through integrated work-based experiences in natural environments that enhance opportunities for gainful employment.



Learn more about MSU ACCESS Program here.

Watch ACCESS Interview Series Here!

Supporting Families to Focus on Student Self-Determination


Self-determination is the ability for an individual to make their own decisions and guide the path of their lives. Youth and young adults with disabilities often lack opportunities to develop and practice being self-determined.


This pre-recorded session provides family training and advocacy professionals with strategies and tools that assist parents and caregivers in building key self-determination skills in their youth. The Essential Elements of Self Determination will be highlighted and useful goal setting and supported decision making tools shared. Family involvement and student self-determination can coexist. By helping families see the value in self-determination we can support students to build confidence and take charge of their futures.


(This session is available in English and Spanish)


Access Session Here

Click here to register!

Event Recap

2023 Mississippi disAbility MegaConference

Born to be WILD Family and Friends Picnic

Play. Learn. Grow


These are the words that come to mind when I think about preschool and our youngest learners. But the reality is far different for many children and their families: suspensions, expulsions and other forms of exclusionary discipline remove children from their preschool environment and create stressful and isolating experiences.


What message are we sending to our 3 through 5-year-old children if one of their first educational experiences involves a disciplinary removal? How does this experience shape their perspective, engagement, sense of belonging and future approach to school?


Read More

Both Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans can offer formal help for K–12 students who are struggling in school. They’re similar in some ways but very different in others. This graphic compares them side by side to help you understand the differences.



Click here to download the graphic.

July


Navigating the IEP

Tuesday, July 11

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM


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Importance of the Family Voice

Monday, July 17

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM


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Communication Tips for Parents: Making Sure Professionals Hear You

Monday, July 17

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM


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Power of a Personal Story

Tuesday, July 18

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM


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Transition 101: What Parents Need to Know

Thursday, July 20

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM


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Records: What to Keep and How to Organize

Thursday, July 27

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM


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August


First Steps to Next Steps: Transition from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Special Education and/or Community Supports     

Thursday, August 17

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM


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Lead Poisoning Program    

Tuesday, August 22

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM


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Transition: Making the Move to High School (Tips for Parents)   

Tuesday, August 22

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM


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Independent Living: Here We Come!    

Tuesday, August 22

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM


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Getting and Keeping the First Job

Tuesday, August 29

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM


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Steps for Success: Making IEP Meetings Work

Tuesday, August 29

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM


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What Is SEL (Social Emotional Learning)? An Introduction for Families

Tuesday, August 29

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM


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Navigating the IEP

Thursday, August 31

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM


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September


Early Intervention: Written State Complaints

Tuesday, September 5

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM


Click here to register


Conflict Resolution: What is it?

Tuesday, September 5

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM


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Early Intervention: Mediation

Tuesday, September 12

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM


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Transition Exit Summary of Performance: What is it?

Tuesday, September 12

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM


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Mapping Dreams: Transition to Adulthood

Thursday, September 14

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM


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Early Intervention: Due Process

Thursday, September 14

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM


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Bullying Prevention: How Parents and Families Can Help

Tuesday, September 26

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM


Click here to register

IDD Medicaid Waiver Fair

The Mississippi Association of IDD Providers in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health will host an IDD Medicaid Waiver Provider Fair in July at six different locations across the state (Tupelo, Brandon, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Oxford, and Meridian). You will have the chance to talk to the providers in your area and learn more about the services that are available. All events will be held from 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at each location on the dates on the flyer. Please email questions to steven.allen68@aol.com or feel free to call Steven Allen at (601) 906-3871.

MSCCD's Families LEAD Trainings

Pre-selected parents that successfully completed the Families LEAD Advocacy Academy participated in the next round of trainings: Serving on Groups in March and Leading by Convening in April. These parents are moving one step closer to becoming the first group of peer-to-peer mentors for Families LEAD.


Families LEAD is a collaborative project of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disables (MSCCD), MS Parent Training & Information (MSPTI) Center, Mississippi Center for Advanced Medicine (MCAM) with Dr. Victoria Kivlan, Pediatric Audiologist, and Toni Hollingsworth, Project Director of the Mississippi Hearing-Vision Project (MH-VP). The project is funded by a sub-grant from the Mississippi State Department of Health.


Families LEAD has three goals:

• Recruit and train family members of children/youth with disabilities and special healthcare needs as Positive Advocates, Peer-to-Peer Mentors, Family Trainers, and/or Family Leaders across the state.

• Provide technical assistance to ten trained Peer-to-Peer Mentors who provide support to matched families across the state.

• Support Family Leaders, Family Trainers, and Peer-to-Peer Mentors to engage in leadership positions locally, regionally, and/or at the state level.

Families LEAD will achieve its goals by using a three-tier process that trains families to become effective advocates, serve on groups, and become leaders.


For more information about Families LEAD, call (601) 969-0601 or email Brittany Greer, MSCCD Project Support Coordinator, at brittany@msccd.org.

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Inspire Others


Do you have a personal story that would inspire and encourage others?

 

Are you a young adult with a disability that has grown into a strong self-advocate?

 

Please reach out to MSPTI to share your experience and be a guest on our video series Journey of a Disability Warrior: The Road's We've Traveled. We would love to hear from you and help speak your message of hope and perseverance!

 

If you would like to be a guest, please email brittany@mspti.org. 

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