JUNE/JULY 2007 • Contents 2 What Is PLUK? the End Is Here (The School Year) 3 Montana Training by Roger Holt, Co-Director the School Year Is Over
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JUNE/JULY 2007 • www.pluk.org Contents 2 What is PLUK? The End is Here (the school year) 3 Montana Training By Roger Holt, Co-director The school year is over. Now we will wrap up our year with 5 Other Training reports and analysis as we look back. The board, staff, and 8 By the Numbers volunteers will immediately begin work on the plan for next 10 News Wire year. We will be asking for input from parents, kids, teachers, and 11 Quality Matters everyone who has used any of the services PLUK offers. We need 13 PLUK Wants You! to know what is working and how we might improve the services we offer. You may send your comments directly to me at rholt@ 14 Ideas & Answers pluk.org or wait for surveys that will be going out this summer. 15 Directory We also have some exciting news! Our Representative in 16 Kids at Heart Congress, Denny Rehberg, and Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus called us with great news in mid-May, the renewal of our grant to work with families and children in Montana. We wish to thank them all for their help in securing this grant that will support PLUK’s work for another five years. With their assistance PLUK will begin its 23rd year of service this fall. Letters of thanks would be appropriate. They like to hear about things that are working. Below is the press release from Senator’s Baucus & Tester. Senators announce nearly $228K to fund PLUK to assist families and children in Montana May 16, 2007 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – A Montana organization that serves families and individuals with special needs will receive $227,965 from the U.S. Department of Education to continue their work providing training to parents of children with disabilities, Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced today. Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids (PLUK) will receive this award under the Parent Training and Information Center Program. The funds will be used to assist families statewide and help them best understand their children’s disabilities and their educational and developmental needs. “Part of what makes us Montanans is working together, and helping out when we can,” Baucus said. “Whether it’s sound medical advice, or practical advice on day to day activities, these funds will help folks across Big Sky country.” “Montanans lend a helping hand to friends and neighbors in need. That’s exactly what PLUK does,” Tester said. “These dollars are going to be put to good work helping out folks in our cities and in our rural areas, which don’t always have the assistance and expertise they need.” Founded in 1984, PLUK serves more than 20,000 families in Montana and has sister organizations in all fifty states. PLUK News Update What Is PLUK? Media Director: Roger Holt Story Editor: Elisabeth Mills, PLUK is a Montana nonprofit dedicated to providing Emerald Scribe Proofreading, individuals with special needs, families, educators, and www.emeraldscribe.com, professionals with: 406-252-1593 • Information — Special Needs Library (5,000+ volumes Circulation: 10,000 including books, DVD/Video, software, curricula) Subscriptions: Call, write, fax, Accessible and Adapted Computer Lab, a variety of or email the PLUK office with your request. Subscriptions PLUK publications including the PLUK News, the Update, are free to Montana families. the E-News, topic-specific PLUK Notes, and several Bundles of 10 are available to handbooks. PLUK Website (www.pluk.org) physicians, therapists, schools • Training — Workshops on specific topics ranging from and others. A donation of $25/ disabilities to medical, educational, financial, and year is suggested. Reprinting: We encourage the human service issues. Other training opportunities to reprinting of any information. learn parenting, communication, and advocacy skills. Please cite the source and Conference listings in the PLUK E-News and the Update. send us a copy. • Support — Family Support Consultants offer support Privacy: We never share our and assistance with information, conflict resolution, and mailing list; however, we will send information and surveys essential services. Consultants also provide referrals to for other select organizations. other professionals and community support groups. To be removed from this list Parent-to-Parent volunteers offer moral support and contact the PLUK office. encouragement to other parents. Publisher: PLUK, a private nonprofit organization founded in 1984 by a group PLUK services are available throughout Montana and are of parents of children free to individuals with special needs and their families. with special needs. Read about the founding of the VALUES WE SHARE organization at http:// • Full integration and participation of children and adults yellowstonevalleywoman. com/Kelker.htm. with special needs at school, work, and in the community. Accessibility: PLUK News • Support for families so that they can nurture their children is available in alternate in the home. formats by request. The • Empowerment of families and individuals with special electronic version is on the needs to make decisions about their lives. web at http://www.pluk. org. All electronic information • Individualization of services to meet the unique needs of is provided in accessible individuals with special needs. formats. • Access for persons with special needs to education and Printed by: Midland Printing, technology needed to participate fully in community life. 406-259-0438 • Age appropriate activities for children and adults with special needs. MISSION: Parent’s Let’s Unite for • High expectations for individuals who are challenged by disability or illness. Kids unites parents, professionals, • Collaborative efforts among parents, professionals and families and friends of children people with special needs. • Use of language about people with special needs which with special needs to support one is respectful and recognizes their dignity and rights as full another, and share information for citizens. the benefit of their children. PLUK Offices Our offices are in Billings (Main Office) and Missoula (Satellite Office). The main office in Billings is home to the TRIC/PLUK VISION: Given information Library and the PLUK Computer Lab and is open 8:00 a.m. to and support, individuals with 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact the Billings main office at: disabilities and their families will 406-255-0540 1-800-222-PLUK (7585) Toll Free feel empowered to advocate for 406-255-0523 Fax Call the Missoula office at 406.327.4645. themselves and participate fully Visit PLUK on the Internet at www.pluk.org, in educational and community or send an email to [email protected] opportunities. 2 PLUK News Update | www.PLUK.org Montana Training & Event Calendar The following is a selection of training activities/events happening around Montana, nationally, and online. Parents who need financial assistance in order to attend trainings may apply for parent training grants through the PLUK office. For the most complete information, visit the PLUK Training & Conferences Calendar link at http://www.pluk.org. If you do not have access to the internet, just phone the PLUK office at 800-222-7585. Send us your training event information at [email protected] or 516 N 32nd St, Billings MT 59101. 2007 MBI Summer Institute in the classroom. Participants will receive hands Jun 18-22, Bozeman on experience with the tango!, overview of http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/speced/link/ language structure, implementation strategies, 07MBISTD.pdf and key features that provide users with greater A week of Professional Development—provides communication potential, while providing necessary skills to manage, motivate, discipline, therapists with a better understanding of who can and teach our youth. truly benefit from the next generation of high-end AAC. Montana Institute on Educational Technology Seminar For more information contact Joelene Young at Jun 18-22, Great Falls AugCom Solutions http://outreach.msugf.edu/MIET/index.htm Phone and fax: 800-853-0310 This event combines seminars on classroom E-mail: [email protected] technologies, best practices, applications and more. Summer MSU conferences support grandparents raising For more information call 406-771-4303 or 800- grandchildren 446-2698. Jun 23 - Great Falls Email: [email protected] http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview. php?article=4862 Lifespan Respite Training This conference will offer support and Jun 19 - Billings ideas to grandparents who are raising their Tuesday, noon - 1PM grandchildren. The Extension’s Grandparents STEP office, 1501 14th St West Raising Grandchildren Project is designed to help Topic: Emotional Boundaries grandparents in any situation better understand Speaker: Margaret English the resources that are available and the issues that RSVP to Tami by Jun 15 at 406-869-3031 are particular to their parenting situation. To request a brochure or to register, call MSU Special Needs Training for Community Emergency Response Extended University at 406-994-6683 or e-mail Teams [email protected]. Jun 19-20, Polson Sponsored by Salish-Kootenai Community College MT Trauma, PTSD & Traumatic Grief: Practical Assessments & For more information, contact: Jolene Jacobson at Interventions [email protected] or 406-883-2888, ext.7221. Jun 28 – Billings Jun 29 - Missoula Transition Seminar for students with disabilities: Get ready http://www.pesi.com for college Presented by Duane T. Bowers, a grief therapist Jun 20-22, Missoula and educator in private practice, and author of http://www.umt.edu/dss/new%5Fstudents/ Guiding Your Family Through Loss and Grief. transition_seminar.htm Phone 800-843-7763. This seminar is a three-day workshop program developed specifically for students with Montana foster care youth college preparatory camp disabilities who are considering postsecondary Jul 10-12, Helena education. http://www.safmt.org For more information about the Transition The program — coordinated by Student Seminar, contact Mika Watanabe-Taylor, at 406- Assistance Foundation (SAF) and the Montana 243-6535 (voice), 406-243-2243 (text) or mika.