Access for Special Kids Resource Center Inc

ACCESS FOR SPECIAL KIDS RESOURCE CENTER, INC., ASK RESOURCE CENTER, EXISTS TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE INFORMATION, EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH BASED FAMILY TO FAMILY MENTORING SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE THEM. THROUGH VARIOUS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, ASK RESOURCE CENTER HELPS TO ENSURE THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES BY OFFERING ASSISTANCE IN NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX EDUCATION, COMMUNITY LIVING AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS THAT BECOME A PART OF LIFE WHEN LIFE IS TOUCHED BY DISABILITY. ASK RESOURCE CENTER SERVES THE ENTIRE STATE OF IOWA UTILIZING A BOARD, STAFF AND VOLUNTEER NETWORK -- ALL OF WHOM ARE PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE IN DISABILITY ISSUES, CIVIL RIGHTS AND DISABILITY ADVOCACY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020, ASK RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDED OVER 60,000 INSTANCES OF TRAINING AND INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE TO OUR CUSTOMERS, OFFERED MORE THAN 315,000 INSTANCES OF INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AND REFERRALS TO OUR CUSTOMERS, TRAINED 21 NEW VOLUNTEER MENTORS ACROSS IOWA INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT OF MENTORS IN IOWAS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITIES, AND FACILITATED 11 MATCHES FOR TRAINED MENTORS TO FAMILIES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE AND OF TRAINED FAMILY LEADERS TO LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.