2007-2008 Training Workshops
Developmental Disabilities

What is a Phone Conference / Webinar?

This type of distance education is a cost effective way to deliver training to geographically dispersed participants. The format combines a telephone conference call with a web-based PowerPoint presentation. After registering, each site will receive one set of the handouts for photocopying, the  telephone number to use for the presentation, and directions on how to “Join the web-based meeting”. Participants will be able to hear the presentation during the conference call while they view the presenters’ PowerPoint slides online. The presenters have allowed time for questions during the presentation.

Technical Requirements:

Participating sites need a speaker phone with a mute button and a computer with access to the Internet.

Compassion Fatigue
By:      Karen Edens

Date:   Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Time:  2:00-4:00 PM

Fee:     $30.00 per site

Human service professionals perform their job duties in extremely difficult environments.  Not only is there the stress and dissatisfaction that may emerge from one’s work or work environment, compassion fatigue may surface as a result of being an empathetic care-giver.  Repeated exposure to unresolved stress and compassion fatigue can be considered secondary post-traumatic stress.  This training provides an overview of compassion fatigue; its causes, manifestations and strategies for resolution. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Define compassion fatigue; its causes and its correlation to stress.
• Identify the physical and emotional manifestation of compassion fatigue.
• Develop strategies for addressing compassion fatigue.

Promoting Wellness and Healthy Lifestyles for Adults with DD
By:      James Rimmer

Date:   Friday, October 25, 2007
Time:  1:00-4:00 PM

Fee:     $30.00 per site

People with DD as a group are facing a health crisis. They experience a higher rate of obesity and related health problems, have sedentary lifestyles, and are at increased risk of premature death. Learn how to assist people to adopt healthy lifestyles and wellness routines.

Age Appropriate Transition Assessment
By:      Gerry Teevens

Date:   Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Time:  2:00-4:00 PM

Fee:     $30.00 per site

According to IDEA 2004, decisions about secondary transition services must be based on the student’s strengths, preferences, and interests. It is therefore necessary that an effective assessment process be in place that will provide the information crucial to identifying the appropriate transition services that match the student’s postsecondary goals.  This presentation will highlight the purpose of transition assessments, the process involved in using transition assessments, and the types of age-appropriate transition assessments that can be used.  The presentation will also include discussion on how the transition assessment information may be used and portrayed in the IEP planning process. 

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with DD.
By:      Rich Berg and Gwen Beckler

Date:   Thursday, December 13, 2007
Time:  1:30-3:30 PM

Fee:     $30.00 per site

What will the students and adults you support do if there is a disaster or emergency that requires evacuation and/or other significant alterations in their current living situation? This training will prepare emergency agencies and DD service providers in North Dakota to meet the special needs of persons with DD living in the community during disaster and emergency situations. Presenters will provide information on statewide activities and how to link with county planners to become involved in local planning efforts.

Age Appropriate and Meaningful
 Social, Recreational, and Leisure Activities for Adults with DD
By:      Cathy Haarstad

Date:   Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Time: 2:00-4:00 PM

Fee:     $30.00 per site
 
Have you struggled to create meaningful, community-based vocational or recreational opportunities for adults with significant support needs? Are you looking for practical strategies that you can use NOW to offer appropriate services through a day activity program? Do you struggle to provide individualized supports while working with group ratios? This workshop teaches you how to implement a program of volunteer and recreational activities that may be used whenever work activities are not available.  The presenter will discuss how to modify activities for individuals who may not speak, sometimes actively resist work tasks, have limited awareness of community expectations and cannot always tell us what their goals or even preferences may be.

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS)
By:      Teresa Monicken

Date:   Monday, February 11, 2008
Time:  2:00-3:30 PM

Fee:     20.00 per site

A persistent problem for many students with disabilities is that textbooks have not been available in accessible formats at the same time as their non-disabled peers. IDEA 2004 requires states to address this issue by adopting a new file format, the National Instructional Accessibility Standard (NIMAS). The file sets will be deposited by K-12 publishers into a central national repository called The National Instructional Accessibility Center (NIMAC), established at the American Printing House for the Blind (APH).  The desired outcome is to have consistent, high-quality source files available from a central repository in order to improve the quality and timely delivery of these materials to qualified students. This webcast will explore the specific requirements of NIMAS and its implications at the school district level. 

Anger Management
By:      Karen Edens

Date:   Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Time: 1:30-3:30pm

Fee:     $30.00 per site

As episodes of life-threatening violence increase in our workplaces, it is critical that human service professionals are able to assist clients in being more effective in managing anger.  Providers working with high-risk profile clients need to be able to help people deal with their own anger or the anger of others.  An effective anger management model uses a multifaceted approach to increase awareness of the sources of anger while developing and implementing protocols needed to deal with conflict situations more effectively. As a result of this training participants will be able to: 1) Identify factors contributing to escalating workplace violence. 2) Understand the need for effective anger management strategies to be implemented in a variety of work settings. 3) Conduct anger management needs assessments for respective worksites. 4) Develop protocols and procedures appropriate to participating agencies for client and/or staff workplace violence.