Windmill Project Parent Retreat features bullying prevention expert Lynn Miland

Dream—Believe—Achieve, the 2012 Windmill Project Parent Retreat for parents and adult family caregivers of children with special needs and disabilities, is set for Friday and Saturday, October 12-13.

Lynn Miland, parent advocate for PACER Center and the parent of a child who was the target of bullying, is presenting a breakout session on Saturday, October 13 at Holiday Inn of Alexandria. Miland works closely with PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, which provides expert advice on bullying prevention for children, teens, schools and communities.

Miland was chosen as a panelist on U.S. Senator Klobuchar's public forum "Protecting Children and Youth in an Online World" at Augsburg College. She has also been featured as a guest expert on bullying prevention for KDWB's Dave Ryan in the Morning Show, Fox 9 News, Minnesota Public Radio and Showcase Minnesota.

Passionate about this cause, Miland believes that educating youth, parents, schools and communities is the key to ending bullying. Her message, Bullying Prevention: Everyone's Responsibility, will encourage conversations that explore the dynamics of bullying, ways to address it and prevention strategies.

Mark Coppin, department head of Assistive Technology at Anne Carlsen Center, Jamestown, North Dakota, will lead three assistive technology breakouts. This is his third appearance at the Windmill Retreat and Conference.

Coppin has presented at state, regional, and national conferences on such topics as assistive technology, iPad and iPod touch, autism, technology and teaching, special education and video production. He holds two bachelor's degrees from Moorhead (MN) State University in speech communications and in special education and has a master's in educational media design and technology. A certified assistive technology practitioner (ATP), in 2009 Coppin was chosen as an Apple Distinguished educator.

Other workshops on October 13 include guardianship/conservatorship and wills, trusts, financial planning with Thomas Kelcker of Thornton, Reif, Dolan, Bowen and Klecker, P.A.; the importance and purpose of play with Bob Slaybaugh; and when stickers don't stick with Carolyn Strnad, family resource coordinator for the Minnesota Alcohol Syndrome and parent teaming trainer for the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Advance registration for the retreat is required. Download registration at WindmillProject.org/events.

For more information, call (320) 763-9228 or email windmill2004@gmail.com.

Tags: windmill project, bullying prevention, life, retreat, bullying