For free on-line educational opportunities from the PACER Center
                                                    please visit http://www.pacer.org/workshops/  

                        Just look for the live streaming symbol below, to find classes offered on the web.  
 

                                                                          

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 Dynamic Online Resources for Students

Does your student have an endangered species project to complete, need to make a poster about a country, need photos for a presentation on the Civil War, or just want a good book to read? Great Prairie Area Education Agency provides over 20 dynamic online resources for students in grades PreK-12 enrolled in an accredited Iowa school. Iowa students have access at school and at home (Internet access required), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. These online resources give your child access to a wealth of information for assignments, classroom projects, and personal interest.

When accessing these online resources, students use information skills of finding, evaluating and using information; technology skills; and literacy skills in reading, analysis, and problem solving. The online resources are important tools for students to use and understand and will provide them with lifelong skills.  Here’s a picture of the resources available:

As you can see, there is a lot to explore. Here are just a few highlights:

• BookFLIX (PreK-3) - An online literacy resource that pairs fictional video storybooks with related nonfiction books. Read-aloud feature provides accessibility to all readers. Vocabulary feature and interactive games extend student learning.
• Britannica Digital Learning (PreK-12) - A suite of products designed to support student research and classroom instruction, Britannica Digital Learning offers an extensive collection of reference and learning materials that are curriculum aligned and age-appropriate. When in need of a general encyclopedia, Britannica is a good choice.
• Learn360 – (PreK-12) - Educational streaming media offering thousands of full-length digital videos, video clips, images, audio files, newsreels, speeches and a comprehensive library of teaching resources from educational publishers.
• MackinVIA - (PreK-12)  A portal for hundreds of titles in eBook and audiobook formats. There are titles for all grade levels, both fiction and nonfiction. A MackinVIA app is available so these books can be used on devices such as cell phones and tablets.
• Teen Health & Wellness (7-12) - Provides students with nonjudgmental, straightforward, standards-aligned, curricular and self-help support. Topics include diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, green living, online safety, financial literacy, and more.

Students may access these online resources through GPAEA’s SNAP online catalog.  Students will need their building login to sign in to SNAP. Once logged in, scroll towards the bottom of the page and there are links for all of the different online resources. If you don’t know your building’s login, please contact your school’s teacher librarian or Jane Frizzell, GPAEA Media Integration Specialist at jane.frizzell@gpaea.org or 641-682-8591 ext 5265.

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Join a Discussion

Do you have a child who’s struggling to learn and want to discuss this with other parents or experts? Understood.org offers a secure place for parents to connect with other families of children with learning and attention issues. Click here to see the full list of discussion topics.    

 

 

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The Transition Toolkit provides valuable information on the transition to adulthood. Topics include, self-advocacy, independent living skills, legal matters, and many other important topics. The transition page includes state specific transition timelines and can be found at https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/transition-tool-kit 

 

Family members of adolescents and young adults with autism between the ages of 13 and 22 in the United States may request a complimentary hard copy of the Transition Tool Kit by filling out the Transition Tool Kit order form. Transition Tool Kit Hardcopy Request

For professionals, service providers, and family members of individuals with autism outside the U.S. and those who do not fall in the age range, we encourage you to download the kit free of charge. Transition Toolkit Download Form
 

 

A link to our housing and community living portal can be found at https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/housing-and-community-living.
A pdf of the Housing and Residential Supports Toolkit can be found at  https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/housing_tool_kit_web2.pdf

 

In addition, we have a job portal for individuals with autism https://www.thespectrumcareers.com. It is a free site for employers, service providers and job seekers.

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Pacer Center- Transitioning to Life After High School

Pacer Center is a great place for students or young adults with a disability, to explore options for their future.   Pacer Center offers student led videos and other resources to help with decisions about life after high school in the areas of; living, learning, working, transportation, health, finances and recreation.  For more information please visit https://www.pacer.org/students/transition-to-life/ . 

Parents have rights, known as procedural safeguards, which apply to every aspect of the special education process. State and federal laws and regulations outline what needs to happen to ensure that children with identified disabilities and on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

• Procedural Safeguards for Early ACCESS Parents (0-3 yrs Part C)
• Procedural Safeguards for Parents (3-21 yrs Part B)