Current Trainings
Taking Charge of My Health
Virtual Webinar Series
All sessions will be held from 12:00 to 1:00 PM
Presented by the University of Iowa Health Care Center for Disabilities and Development and University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
The sessions are designed to improve self-advocates’ knowledge and ability to participate in their healthcare. Self-advocates, family members, and direct care providers are welcome to attend.
My Voice, My Care | November 13, 2024
Topics: Self-advocacy, finding a doctor, making an appointment, talking with your doctor, and requesting accommodations. Register.
Healthy Choices | November 20, 2024
Topics: Ways to stay healthy between doctor visits and mental health. Register.
Going to the Doctor | December 4, 2024
Topics: Understanding symptoms, types of health care settings and providers, examples of when you need to see a doctor, and the urgency of care. Register.
The Care You Need | December 11, 2024
Topics: Medications, medication safety, deciding on surgery or treatment, and what to expect. Register.
You are welcome to attend all four sessions, but each session can stand alone. PLEASE NOTE: You must register for each session separately using the provided links.
Digital Access for Everyone
Provided by Easterseals Iowa Assistive Technology Program
Easterseals is offering a free online course:
- Learn the top five steps you can take today to create content that is accessible to a broader audience.
- The course comprises six short modules.
- Each module is about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Take modules in any order at your convenience.
- Take optional final quiz to earn a certificate of attendance.
Also, in 2025, they are offering a limited number of two-hour in-person training sessions.
Link to more information and to enroll for both online and in-person courses.
Mindspring Hosts Webinars & Events
Free Training Opportunities
November 2024 dates
Webinar Series
Mindspring provides free mental health education opportunities to the public through webinars on a wide variety of mental health topics. Webinars are hosted every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00pm-1:00pm, and Wednesday from 10:00-11:00pm and 12:00pm-1:00pm CST.
All webinars are free and open to the public. Webinars are recorded and emailed to all registrants. Certificates of attendance are administered to anyone who participates in the live webinar and completes the survey at the end.
Learn more from Mindspring Webinar & Events.
Upcoming Events
ASK an Expert - Components of an IEP
3-part webinar series provided by ASK Resource Center
Please bring a copy of your child's IEP and join Susie Lund and Kelli Carnahan, ASK's Training Coordinators. They will help you prepare to be an active member of your child's IEP team by walking you through the different sections of an IEP, defining terms, and providing examples of information included in each section.
All sessions will be from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Part 1 - Monday, November 18, 2024
The first session is to learn about the demographics, IEP team members, and Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) sections. More information and registration.
Part 2 - Monday, November 25, 2024
The second session will cover the goals and progress monitoring sections. More information and registration
Part 3 - Monday, December 9, 2024
The third session will cover the services, activities, supports, and accommodations sections. More information and registration.
Addressing the Needs of Older Adults and People with Disabilities During Extreme Winter Weather
Presented by the Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 - 1:00 to 2:30 PM
This webinar is focused on the significant impact of extreme winter weather on older adults and people with disabilities and the need for inclusive preparedness, response, and recovery measures.
During this webinar, attendees will hear from an expert panel including representatives from the disability and aging networks at the national, state, and regional levels.
The webinar discussion will highlight the importance of accessible resources, evacuation planning, and strategies to ensure critical services are available and inclusive before, during, and after extreme winter events.
A Q&A session will follow the panelists' presentations.
Link for more information and to register.
Call for Presenters: 33rd Annual Best Practices in Brain Injury Services Conference
Weathering the Storm Together: Collaborative Case in Brain Injury Services
March 6-7, 2025
Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel
1800 50th St. West., Des Moines, 50266
This conference will provide emerging, evidence-based, best and promising practices for: medical treatment, rehabilitation, adaptation, and accommodations after brain injury, responding to the bio-psychosocial and financial impact of the injury on individuals and caregivers, policy and practice change, mild brain injury/concussion, and prevention of and/or navigating secondary outcomes (i.e. mental health, unemployment, substance abuse).
Interested in speaking at the upcoming conference? Submit your proposal by November 30, 2024.
Training Sources
Health Care Provider Training
Free suite of videos
Assuring Access to Quality Health Care for Persons with Disabilities is a free suite of videos aimed at educating current and future health care professionals on strategies to effectively communicate with and accommodate patients with a variety of disabilities.
Taking Charge of My Healthcare
Fact Sheet Series
#1: The ADA and Accommodations
#2: Supporting Self Advocacy
#3: Supporting Someone Who is Going to the Doctor
#4: Helping with Communication with the Doctor
#5: Supporting Healthy Sexuality
Disability Exchange Podcast
The Disability Exchange (DX) podcast is produced and presented by the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Iowa’s UCEDD, at the Center for Disabilities and Development. Join UCEDD staff and podcast co-hosts, Mike Hoenig, Laury Scheidler and Judy Warth, for this engaging series.
All episodes of the DX podcast are available on the Anchor by Spotify platform.
Or search for “Disability Exchange” wherever you get your podcasts. And find links to a variety of other platforms on the DX Anchor by Spotify page. DX is not yet available on Apple podcasts.
Joanna Sabha produces the DX podcast for the UCEDD. Get in touch with her if you have questions or would like to learn more about it at Joanna-sabha@uiowa.edu or 319-356-1347.
Download transcripts of new podcast episodes, below, or catch up with episodes from previous seasons.
Access to Training
Our Training Sources page provides links to a variety of training resources that are available on an ongoing basis. Most of these resources are online, available any day, any time. Check websites for fees associated with the trainings.
The Conner Training Connection makes every effort to assure these listings are up-to-date. Visit our Training Sources page.
Training Calendar
Please visit our interactive calendar to find trainings on disability-related topics, including autism, brain injury, mental health, self-advocacy and transition. We invite you to share trainings with us and others using the "Add Event" button on this calendar.
Please visit our Contact Us page on this website for more information or support.