Pathfinder Journeys - The Pathfinder Newsletter
News & Resources for North Dakota Parents & Professionals | About Us
Pathfinder News
Pathfinder Services of ND logo
We Are Hiring!

Pathfinder Services of ND is looking for an Executive Director. The Executive Director will be responsible for the professional leadership and management of Pathfinder Services of North Dakota, working with Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers in the pursuit of Pathfinder's mission and attainment of its strategic goals.

Visit our website to download the Job Description and Announcement if you are interested: Executive Director Job Opening

The Top 10 Basics of the Special Education Process - Pathfinder Webinar
Webinar - The Top 10 Basics of the Special Education Process

By request, we will be offering our webinar 'The Top 10 Basics of the Special Education Process' again to those who missed it in January.

The webinar will be presented again on February 13 at 3:30pm.

For more information and to register, please refer to our website.
News from the Department of Education
Center on Technology and Disability logo
Center on Technology and Disability

The Center on Technology and Disability (CTD) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

Assistive and instructional technology (AT/IT) allows children across the ability spectrum to participate fully at home, in school, and in the community. The Center on Technology and Disability provides a wealth of free resources - personal and professional development (PPD) webinars, articles, guides, training materials and more. Whether you're brand new to assistive technology or an experienced user wanting to remain on the leading edge, CTD has high-quality, research-based materials and events for you!

Visit their site: https://www.ctdinstitute.org/

March 
2018
In This Issue
Quick Links
Library Spotlight
The First IEP - Parent Perspectives cover
The First IEP: Parent Perspectives
DVD (30 minutes)

This informative DVD answers common questions about IEPs and helps parents and new professionals come together to ensure children's smooth transition from early intervention to preschool.
Pathfinder presents Experienced Parent Program
Interested in Becoming an Experienced Parent?

To learn more about the Program or to fill out a form to become an Experienced Parent, visit our website:

Getting Them Off to a Good Start
Early Childhood Education From Birth to Age 7
Read Aloud 15 Minutes - Every child. Every parent. Every day.
Read Aloud 15 MINUTES

Read Aloud 15 MINUTES is a non-profit organization that is bringing together partners nationwide to make 15 minutes of daily reading aloud the new parenting standard. When every child is read aloud to for 15 minutes every day from birth, more children will be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten, more children will have the literacy skills needed to succeed in school, and more children will become lifelong readers. Reading aloud, starting at birth, is the single most important thing a parent or caregiver can do to improve a child's readiness to learn. Visit the site here: http://www.readaloud.org

This site offers several colorful parent handouts with tips and milestones for communication with children from birth to age 5, as well as activities to help parents build their children become readers, downloadable bookmarks and posters, and printable reading trackers. Handouts & Activities

Raising Elementary Students
How to Organize Your Child_s IEP Binder - Understood
How to Organize Your Child's IEP Binder

Making an IEP binder is a great way to keep information organized and at the ready when you need it. An IEP binder can help you prepare for IEP meetings and stay up to date on your child's progress. This powerful tool can also help you communicate and collaborate with teachers and your child's IEP team. Organizing an IEP binder with your child's evaluation reports, IEP, report cards and other paperwork may sound like a lot of work, but this guide walks you through what to gather and where to put it.


Life With Teens
Transition ND logo
Transition ND

Did you know there is a FREE app to help teachers, parents, and IEP team members engage students in the post-secondary transition planning process? It's called Transition-ND. It was developed to ask simple questions of students so that they can provide more detailed input regarding their IEP transition plan. This app is intended to serve as a guide to North Dakota students, parents and educators on transition planning, based upon requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and North Dakota state law. This app was designed by North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project (NDP&A).

The app only takes around 15 minutes. The app produces an individualized draft transition plan. You can even email it to yourself.

Download the FREE app from the Google Play or the iTunes App Store. It's also available as a web-based app, using any internet-connected device.

Web-based Version:



Agency Spotlight
Centers for Independent Living (CIL) in North Dakota

The purpose of Independent Living (IL) services is to eliminate barriers and provide assistance to individuals with disabilities so they can live and work more independently in their homes and communities. IL Principles include Consumer Control, Consumer Needs-Based, Individualized Services, Community Based Services and Equal Opportunity. 

A Center for Independent Living (CIL) provides the following Core Services:
  • independent living skills training
  • peer support
  • individual and systems advocacy
  • information and referral
  • youth and institutional transition
North Dakota has 4 Centers for Independent Living that provide IL services to individuals with disabilities of all ages. 

Dakota Center for Independent Living (Southwest North Dakota) 
Serving the following counties: Adams, Billings, Bowman, Burleigh, Dunn, Emmons, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Kidder, Mclean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark

Freedom Resource Center For Independent Living, Inc. (Southeast North Dakota)
Serving the following counties: Barnes, Cass, Dickey, Lamoure, Logan, Mcintosh, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Stutsman 

Independence, Inc. (Northwest North Dakota)
Serving the following counties: Bottineau, Burke, Divide, Mchenry, Mckenzie, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Williams

Options: Interstate Resource Center for Independent Living (Northeast North Dakota)
Serving the following counties: Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Steele, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Wells

Training Opportunities & Upcoming Events

TrainingWhenWhereCostLink
Introduction to Proloquo2Go (6-week course from Anne Carlsen Center)
February 1
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
TNT Fitness
2800 Main Ave 
Fargo, ND
$29More Info
Free Early Development Screenings from Anne Carlsen CenterFebruary 2
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
TNT Fitness
2800 Main Ave
Fargo, ND
FreeMore Info
Night to Shine - Minot
February 9
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Magic City Campus
1100 11th Ave SW
Minot, ND 58701
Free*


More Info
The Top 10 Basics of the Special Education Process (Pathfinder Webinar)
February 13
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Online

FreeMore Info
The Role of Interests, Questions, and Listening (PEAK Webinar)
February 20
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Online

FreeMore Info
Free Early Development Screenings from Anne Carlsen Center
March 2
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
TNT Fitness
2800 Main Ave 
Fargo, ND
FreeMore Info
Supporting Kids with Autism and Other Developmental Challenges (MCEC Webinar)
NowOnline
FreeMore Info

All listed times are in Central Time.
Pathfinder Services of ND | 701-837-7500 | info@psnd.co | http://pathfinder-nd.org
Town & Country Center, 1015 S. Broadway, Suite 42
Minot, ND 58701