Conference Outcomes: Region 5 Parent Technical Assistance Conference May 30-June 1, 2012 Santo Domingo Pueblo and Santa

Fe, New Mexico

Region 5 Conference participants will:

1. Network with staff and Board from other Region 5 Parent Centers to share knowledge, resources, and expertise. 2. Communicate with OSEP, NPTAC, and RPTAC leadership regarding information and current parent center issues (Directors Session). 3. Discover effective strategies to increase a Parent Centers capacity for outreach to diverse populations, with an emphasis on Native American families. 4. Increase Parent Centers capacity for the design and implementation of an effective Language Access Plan. 5. Understand the role of Protection and Advocacy organizations (P&As), the importance of collaboration between Parent Centers and P&As, and new, related initiatives from Washington D.C. 6. Examine how managing negotiation and conflict relates to effective collaboration for Parent Centers in the following arenas: non-profit management, relationships with state and local systems, relationships with disability and advocacy groups, the development of curriculum, and providing parent advising to families. 7. Increase an understanding of dominant power as a source of unevenness, and learn strategies to maneuver manipulative situations to create a more even table for negotiations. 8. Learn about Knowledge Translation and ways to apply it to Parent Centers product and publication development and selection. 9. Gain strategies for fund generation for the sustainability of Parent Centers. 10. Connect with Technical Assistance and Dissemination Centers to learn about services, initiatives, and available resources.

11. Learn about creative, individualized supports which promote success and effectiveness in education and human services for all people. 12. Increase understanding of the importance of and distinctions between Universal Design for Learning, Differentiated Instruction, and Curricular Adaptations in both home and classroom settings. 13. Gain knowledge and breadth about the roles and responsibilities of a Parent Centers Board of Directors. 14. Discover effective, practical, and innovative strategies to support students transitioning to adulthood through creative, individualized, customized supports.