Feature Organization
ASK Resource Center
From time to time, disabilitytraining.org features organizations which are reaching out to Iowans with disabilities, family members, and service providers through training events. If you are interested in becoming a feature organization or would like to call our attention to an organization interested in promoting its training activities, contact us online or call 319-353-6448.
Our current Feature Organization is the ASK Resource Center. ASK began informally in 1992 when two parents of children with disabilities decided to act upon their desire to fill service and information gaps for families across the state. ASK's role expanded significantly in the late 1990's when it was selected as Iowa's Parent Training and Information Center.
Today, ASK engages in a wide variety of activities and outreach efforts to all parts of the state of Iowa. Through various projects and partnerships, ASK provides a broad range of information and referral, training, advocacy, support, and service coordination related to the needs of persons with all types of disabilities and their families. Services are provided on a 1-to-1, small support group, and/or large workshop/conference scale depending on the needs of the families involved. A single contact to ASK provides individuals and families with a direct link to the most appropriate services and supports to meet their needs regarding legal matters, special education, health care coordination, mentoring opportunities, and more.
Below is a sampling of training opportunities available from ASK during 2012. For a comprehensive list, visit http://disabilitytraining.mhsoftware.com/. To learn more about or to register for training, call Pam Meeker at 515-243-1713 or email info@askresource.org.
Upcoming Face to Face Workshops
Exploring and Preparing for Work as an Adult
April 12th, 2012, Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa. Time and specific building to be determined.
Parents who are informed about strategies to help youth prepare for employment can help their son or daughter attain an adult life filled with continued learning and meaningful employment. The goal of this workshop is to help families understand and explore work as an adult and what they can do to help their son or daughter prepare for life after high school.
Parents as Presenters
September 21-22, 2012, Country Inn and Suites Hotel, Clive, Iowa.
This two-day workshop allows parents to learn and practice skills to effectively share their stories when speaking to others. At the end of the workshop, participants are able to:
- Understand the multiple purposes of being able to tell their family story to an audience in a positive way
- Understand presentation strategies and formulate creative ideas for their personal presentation
- Demonstrate and receive feedback from other participants as they present a sample "Telling Their Story" presentation
- Develop a network among them to support "Telling Your Story" around the state.
ASK is happy to accommodate requests for in-person workshops in your area! Our training staff will travel throughout the state of Iowa and provide workshops at no cost. A minimum of 12 participants is required. Call or email today to request a workshop. Offerings include:
- The Six Principles of IDEA
- What is Special Education?
- An IEP on IEP's
- Top Ten Tips for an IEP
- An Introduction to Section 504
- Methods of Conflict Resolution
- The Road to Discovery: Transitioning to Adult Living, Learning and Working
- From Disability to Possibility: The Power of High Expectations in Transition Planning
- Exploring and Preparing for Work as an Adult
- Coming Soon: Exploring and Preparing for Education after High School
Upcoming Teleconference Workshops
Sometimes schedules can get in the way of attending a workshop in person. To make sure that as many families and professionals as possible, from all across Iowa, can learn from the experts, ASK offers FREE evening teleconference trainings. Each teleconference begins at 7:00 p.m., and lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Check the disabilitytraining.org calendar at http://disabilitytraining.mhsoftware.com to learn about upcoming teleconferences. Call Pam Meeker at 515-243-1713 or email info@askresource.org to register for upcoming teleconference trainings, suggest a teleconference topic, and to receive updates to the training schedule. Can't make a teleconference that you REALLY wanted to hear? Watch for recordings of future teleconference trainings on the new and improved ASK website,
www.askresource.org.