Current Trainings
ASK Each Other - Virtual Support Group
Facilitated by mentors from ASK Each Other Mentor Network
Monday, August 4, 2025 - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Join parent mentors along with other parents and family members to share your lived experiences and collaborate with each other. You are an expert on your child! Bring your resources, questions, and possible solutions to share with the group.
Any professionals that are not a family member of a person with a disability are encouraged to join with an attitude of respectful listening and learning as the parent experts share their opinions and solutions.
Iowa DD Council and IAble Webinar
It’s a (lunch) date!
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 - 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
State Treasurer Roby Smith’s IAble team and the Iowa DD Council are partnering again to offer a webinar to learn more about IAble – most notably, the expanded eligibility for opening an account.
Sidewalk Accessibility Challenges and Promising Practices
Accessible Transportation Resource Center Office Hours
Tuesday, July 15, 2025 - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Sidewalk inaccessibility is a significant hurdle in first mile/last mile transit connections and navigating pedestrian infrastructure. This ATRC Office Hours will feature Eric Sinagra, CEO of pathVu. Eric will present on challenges in creating accessible pedestrian infrastructure, pathVu's research into sidewalk accessibility, and effective strategies for multimodal transportation.
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
July 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
Positive Behavioral Supports
1-day, Regional Training Program
Wed., August 27 2025 - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Training Location: Luana Savings Bank,
855 W. Bridge, Rd., Polk City, IA 50226
Positive Behavioral Supports is a 1-day, regional training program open to all providers of home- and community-based services interested in helping individuals transition to homes in community settings through Iowa’s Money Follows the Person grant.
This training will focus on the foundation and skills of how to provide positive behavioral supports to individuals you are providing services to.
There is no charge to attend the training, and training materials will be provided by the Money Follows the Person grant.
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.
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.