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The follwing information is provided by parents regarding public funding to attend a NODCC conference. If you know of resources in your local area, please email the information to the Central Office to post in this section.
Information from a Texas parent...
In Texas, you can apply for conference funds under the heading of "In home and family support" that will provide parent training (e.g. conference) funded at the county level. You must meet some criteria:
- be a resident of the county in which you're applying
- meet the financial eligibility requirement
- have a diagnosis of autism, PDD or mental retardation
- diagnosis must be in a written report (must say mental retardation) and done by a MD, psychologist or educational diagnostician
Go to www.dads.state.tx.us, click on "Resources for DADS service providers," click on "In home and family support services." To apply, call your county mental retardation authority (MRA) and tell them you want to use In home and family support services for parent training. I was told by my county MRA that you don't have to be currently receiving services to take advantage of this as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.
Information from an Ohio parent...
Conference funding is through the Disabilities Council of Ohio www.ddc.ohio.gov. I have corresponded with Gary Groom and he is very helpful.
On the home page, click on "Site Map" and scroll down to "ODDC Empowerment Fund," click on the link and at the bottom of the page click on "Application Form for Conference Attendance." You will directed to the application to print, complete and fax to the department.
The staff is very helpful and we have been approved for funding this year...but they warn that the sooner you apply, the better your chance in getting funded.
Information from a New Jersey parent...
In 2005 I attended the conference completely free of charge thanks to the New Jersey Dept. of Developmental Disabilities. Someone posted on the ListServ that most states have these agencies and that they have money set aside for people to attend conferences that usually goes unused. I wrote to them and all I had to do was fill out a form and we were granted approval. We did have to pay up front for the airfare and registration, but they reimbursed us fairly quickly.
Here is a link to various state developmental disability agencies for you to investigate: http://www.ddrcco.com/states.htm
Information from a Maryland parent...
Here in Maryland we have the DDA Developmental Disabilities Administration.
It does not go by income and anyone determined to have a developmental
disability is entitled to $2,000 (I think it's $2,000) a year. They won't give you
money, but they will reimburse for things like conferences, fences, equipment,
etc. I used them to get boardmaker (PECs software). Most people are unaware
of these funds.
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