Current Trainings
Research Implications of Character Strengths and Abilities Within Disabilities
National Research Consortium on Mental Health in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Monday, June 23, 2025 - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Based on Niemiec and Tomasulo's Character Strengths and Abilities Within Disabilities, this presentation will explore the transformative power of character strengths when working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. It will advocate for a paradigm shift from deficit-based approaches to a strengths-based perspective, emphasizing core identity and potential.
Love and Autism – Building Connections in Affirming Ways
Provided by SPARK
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Ah, to be in love! Or the despair of an unrequited crush… pursuing romantic relationships is full of emotional highs and lows. In order for families, educators, and service providers to best support autistic youth and adults, we need to understand how to comfortably talk about sexuality and relationships in ways that are useful and meaningful.
Supporting Caregivers in Preparing Their Homes for Emergency Situations and Natural Disasters
Brain Injury Association of Iowa
July 15, 2025 – 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Presented by Tiffany Ballantyne, Office Coordinator – Morningside University and Team Lead/Outreach Counselor – Project Recovery Iowa
*IBC approved for 1.0 hour Generic
Mindspring Hosts Webinars & Events
Free Training Opportunities
June 2025 dates
Webinar Series
Mindspring provides free mental health education opportunities to the public through webinars on a wide variety of mental health topics. Webinars are hosted every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00pm-1:00pm, and Wednesday from 10:00-11:00pm and 12:00pm-1:00pm CST.
All webinars are free and open to the public. Webinars are recorded and emailed to all registrants. Certificates of attendance are administered to anyone who participates in the live webinar and completes the survey at the end.
Upcoming Events
A Training to Assist You in Communicating with Individuals with Limited Speech
Essential Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Sponsored by Brain Injury Alliance Iowa and presented by Krista Davidson, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist, Clinical Professor, Dept. of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa, Inventor – RescueVoice.
*IBC approved for 1.0 hour Generic.
Shared Learning Groups on Systems Change and the Importance of Partnerships
The Link Center – Bridging I/DD and Mental Health Systems
July 22 & 23, 2025
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injuries, and other disabilities, and co-occurring mental health conditions need support for their whole well-being. These sessions will explore how each of us has a part to play in changing the way these support systems work. The sessions will focus on partnering with others to influence these systems as a community of people with lived experience, families, professionals, and systems advocates.
Registration
There are four sessions on the same topic, each for a different target audience. Registration is required and is limited to 200 participants per session.
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
- Direct Support Professionals: 12:00-:30 p.m. CT - Register Here
- Clinical Professionals: 2:00-3:30 p.m. CT - Register Here
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
- Families: 12:00-1:30 p.m. CT - Register Here
- Individuals: 2:00-3:30 p.m. CT - Register Here
Live captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided.
Registration is Now Open for the 2025 SOAR Conference
Seeking Opportunities for an Advocacy Revolution
October 3-5, 2025
Embassy Suites by Hilton – Omaha Downtown
Old Market, 555 S. 10th St., Omaha, NE 68102
This event brings together self-advocates with disabilities from around the Midwest to exchange ideas and learn from each other about advocacy.
Participating States: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming
Training Sources
Health Care Provider Training
Free suite of videos
Assuring Access to Quality Health Care for Persons with Disabilities is a free suite of videos aimed at educating current and future health care professionals on strategies to effectively communicate with and accommodate patients with a variety of disabilities.
Empowering Families in Special Education: Navigating Resources for Your Student
The Iowa DD Council hosted a discussion with the Iowa Department of Education, ASK Resource Center, Disability Rights Iowa, and Health and Human Services. They discussed resources and tools available for your family and how to advocate for the services your child needs.
Disability Exchange Podcast
The Disability Exchange (DX) podcast is produced and presented by the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Iowa’s UCEDD, at the Center for Disabilities and Development. Join UCEDD staff and podcast co-hosts, Mike Hoenig, Laury Scheidler and Judy Warth, for this engaging series.
All episodes of the DX podcast are available on the Anchor by Spotify platform.
Or search for “Disability Exchange” wherever you get your podcasts. And find links to a variety of other platforms on the DX Anchor by Spotify page. DX is not yet available on Apple podcasts.
Joanna Sabha produces the DX podcast for the UCEDD. Get in touch with her if you have questions or would like to learn more about it at Joanna-sabha@uiowa.edu or 319-356-1347.
Download transcripts of new podcast episodes, below, or catch up with episodes from previous seasons.
Access to Training
Our Training Sources page provides links to a variety of training resources that are available on an ongoing basis. Most of these resources are online, available any day, any time. Check websites for fees associated with the trainings.
The Conner Training Connection makes every effort to assure these listings are up-to-date. Visit our Training Sources page.
Training Calendar
Please visit our interactive calendar to find trainings on disability-related topics, including autism, brain injury, mental health, self-advocacy and transition. We invite you to share trainings with us and others using the "Add Event" button on this calendar.
Please visit our Contact Us page on this website for more information or support.