ACCESS FOR ALL KIDS

5665 Greendale Road, Suite D

Johnston, IA 50131

Telephone: (515) 243-1713 or (800) 450-8667

Susan Myers, Executive Director Kathy Specketer, Learning Disabilities Coordinator

Ruo Qi Wright, Grant & Office Mgr.

Amanda Harris, Administrative Assistant

Paula Connolly, Family Support Coordinator

Mari Reynolds, Family Support Coordinator

Susan Gill, Transition Training Coordinator

Gretchen Woods, Transition Training Coordinator

ASK Resource Center

ASK’s Mission:All Iowans with special needs will have access

to the support and services they require

ASK’s Vision:Access for All

ASK’s Purpose:ASK provides opportunities for collaboration

and coordination among visionary organizationsand projects dedicated to Excellence

ARE YOU THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY?

• Looking for information on educational rights? . . . JUST ASK!

• Looking for IDEA training resources? . . . JUST ASK!

• Looking for parent-to-parent advice and support? . . . JUST ASK!

• Looking for information on transition to adult services? . . . JUST ASK!

• Looking for help in resolving educational conflicts? . . . JUST ASK!

• Looking for legal consultation? . . . JUST ASK!

• Needing a referral for. . . JUST ASK!

• Looking for resources to care for your child at home?. . JUST ASK!

• Looking for information on mental health issues? . . . JUST ASK!

ARE YOU THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN

OF A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY?

ASK RESOURCE CENTER

• Parent Information and Training Center• Learning Disability Association of Iowa• Latino Institute for Education (LIFE)• Family Voices• Families of Iowa Network for Disabilities• Engaging Communities~ Improving Outcomes• Planning for Success: Iowa Secondary

Transition

The Parent Training and Information Center of Iowa

• Collaborates

• Provides information and training to families

• Focuses on under-served families

THE PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION CENTER OF IOWA

• Assists parents to better understand their child’s disability • Provides information and training on the Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act and other disability rights • Promotes the development of skills to enable parents to effectively

participate in the IEP process and in school reform activities

• Provides family support information

• Assists in the development of IEPs

• Provides one-on-one parent and family support

• Offers workshops, training, and technical assistance throughout the State of Iowa

For the year ending September 30, 2008, the Parent Training and Information Center of Iowa reported the following:

• 3,398 phone calls and letters from families were received by PTI Iowa Family Support Coordinators

• 778 of the phone calls and letters resulted in intakes and one-on-one problem-solving assistance

• PTI Iowa staff attended 70 IEP meetings with families • 12,801 contacts were made to the PTI Iowa by parents and professionals, through

telephone calls, one-to-one consultation or support, trainings, meetings, and letters

• 39 presentations and workshops were given by PTI Iowa staff

• 3,415 PTI Press newsletters were published and distributed to families and professionals

• About 517 of those served by PTI were from culturally diverse families

A follow-up telephone survey of parents served by PTI Iowa found:

• 96% of the parents said the individual assistance they received from PTI Iowa was helpful.

• 92% of the families stated PTI provided me with the information needed to make decisions about my child’s education.

• 87% of the parents stated my child has received more appropriate services because they had put the use the information they have learned from PTI.

• 96% of the families stated that because of the information they received from PTI they were more knowledgeable about how to work with schools.

• 88% of the parents stated that the information provided to them by the PTI helped address a critical need related to their child’s education.

THE LEARNING DISABILITIESASSOCIATION OF IOWA

• A voluntary, non-profit organization of parents, professionals and other interested persons formed to advance the cause of children, youth and adults with learning disabilities.

• An affiliate of the Learning Disabilities Association of America.

LDA-I’s GOALS ARE TO:

• encourage an understanding of learning disabled children, youth and adults-that they possess great potential to learn, but have unique and individual learning styles

• provide information about learning disabilities to parents, teachers, administrators and other interested individuals

• encourage further development of available and appropriate educational programs for all LD students

• encourage development of comprehensive college and university programs for teacher education in learning disabilities

• promote vocational and career education

• develop local affiliate chapters throughout the state to provide support and assistance to LD students and their parents

• serve as an advocate for the rights of LD children, youth and adults

Empowering families through networking

The Families of Iowa Network for Disabilities grant has been developed to create a database and directory

accessible exclusively to families. Families will be able to FIND other families who share similar experiences and interests, and access information to expand their

knowledge and leadership abilities.

F.I.N.D.The Families of Iowa Network for Disabilities

• The purpose of our grant is to create a sustainable database and directory for families

• Families will be able to FIND other families who share similar experiences and interests

• Families will be able to access information and to expand their knowledge about their child’s disability or a related interest

• Families will have access to workshops and trainings to acquire skills to becomeeffective advocates and to enhance their qualities as leaders in the disability community

Family-to-Family Networking

• Become part of our growing network of family-to-family mentors

• Fill out a Parent Information Form

• Join us in our goal to build a statewide network of families supporting each other

• Call ASK to speak to a FIND

Representative for additional

information

Latino Institute for Education (LIFE)

Assisting and advocating for Latino families in navigating the educational systems in the U.S. and Mexico, including ESL issues and issues affecting students in migrant families. Helping to encourage and support community involvement, stronger family unions, and constructive cultural exchange.

ENGAGING COMMUNITIES~ IMPROVING OUTCOMES

Get ConnectedStay Connected

Encouraging parent engagement in the

educational process to improve academic

success

Trainings for parents about:

• Special Education (IEPs)

• Disproportionality related to special education:– Discipline (suspension and expulsion)– Identification and Placement

• Parent Engagement

Planning for Success: Iowa Secondary Transition Project

The purpose of the Secondary Transition

Project is to:

1.) build a collaborative relationship between the DE

and community agencies that provide adult services to student’s with disabilities

in the areas of living, learning and working and

2.) deliver quality profession development to the people

who provide direct services, including parents who

provide support to students with disabilities.

LOOKING FOR ONE PLACE THAT HAS IT ALL? Just ASK!

ASK Family Resource CenterTHE ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR PARENTS

OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

5665 Greendale Road, Suite D

Johnston, IA 50131

Telephone: (515) 243-1713

Toll Free: (800) 450-8667

TDD: (800) 732-2942 (Relay Iowa)

Email: info@askresource.org

Website : www.askresource.org