Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities

The ms Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities (msccd) touches the lives of approximately 37,000 clients, including approximately 27,000 parents, through activities conducted statewide by the ms parent training and information center (mspti) project which serves families of children 0-26 receiving special education services.the mspti project provided information, referrals, education law training, mentoring services, iep assistance and leadership training for parents and professionals. Information and referral services were provided to parents and families during trainings and via telephone, email social media, print/electronic resources, and community event exhibits. One-on-one assistance was provided by attending iep meetings and through intensive technical assistance with one-on-one contacts. The project website provides current information to the public about upcoming training and events as well as downloadable resources and a consumer directory to the other state and national agencies and organizations that provide services to familiies of children with Disabilities. Newsletters are distributed in print and electronic formats. The project operates a facebook page and also utilizes other social media outlets to distribute information. Mspti staff collaborated with the Mississippi state personnel development grant (spdg), reach ms, to develop and distribute positive behavioral intervention and supports (pbis) toolkits to 200 parents and professionals during a statewide special education conference. The project also provided brochures and information at conferences and events and collaborated with project prepare (preschool personnel assistance, resources and education), a project of mississippis university center of excellence, to provide folders of information at trainings conducted for preschool childcare providers. The mspti program also conducted face-to-face trainings and online trainings with parents and professionals. Topics included basic idea rights, researched based practices such as pbis, secondary transition, transition from part b to part c, and topical/informational trainings on current disability related issues. A regional conference was held. A statewide special education conference was held in collaboration with the Mississippi department of education and disability rights Mississippi. Through collaboration with the ms dept. Of human services (dhs), mspti trained social works statewide on basic education rights under idea.the msccd took calls from consumers and provided information on disability services and referrals. We provided 22 trainings and assisted consumer/family members with referrals for home modifications, receiving accessible equipment, accessible housing, personal care attendants and waiver services, benefits counseling, prescription assistance and healthcare assistance. We conducted disability awareness and etiquette trainings and at-risk emergency preparedness trainings and presentations across the state. We also provided ada site survey and displayed at numerous conerences and awareness events. Msccd exeuctive director served on the ms department of education special education advisory panel, state rehabilition council, ms department of education speech language task force, ms autism advisory committee, ids community partnership advisory council, ids education for all advisory commitee, ms expanding opportunities work group, deaf-blind task force, autism training curriculum task force, institute for disability studies-employment first advisory council. Msccd executive director also makes public appearances in the media and at local and state meetings and support groups.