Access for Special Kids Resource

“The 990 will be prepared by an externally contracted cpa firm, tdt who will perform both ask's external, financial review and the 990 tax preparation. Upon completion of the draft form, the external, subcontracted cpa utilized as asks accountant, the bookkeeper, the executive director and the finance committee will review the 990. Any recommended changes will be directed back to the cpa firm. The final draft will then be recommended for approval by the treasurer, on behalf of the finance committee, for full board approval. The board president will sign the form upon board approval. Tdt will then file the 990 on behalf of ask.”

“All policies and procedures, including the conflict of interest policy and procedure are reviewed/edited/updated by the executive committee annually, and brought to the full board membership, via quorum, for a 2/3 majority vote for approval. The conflict of interest policy and procedure include annual board training regarding what a potential conflict of interest is, and how to report one to the organization if one arises. The training is followed by an annual board member filing of a conflict of interest form during the annual meeting. The form requires the board members to list any potential conflicts or state that none exist. The board members then sign and date the form. While the form is filled out annually by all members, it is available to be updated by any member at any time that a member's circumstances change. All forms are compiled by the executive director and held in the master files. If any potential conflicts exist, they are reviewed by the governance committee for recommendation and action by the board. Recommendations from the committee to the board may include items such as requiring a member to refrain from vote or comment on certain items, projects or financials, or asking a member to resign from the board. Recommendations and actions regarding conflicts of interest depend on the nature and comprehensiveness of the conflict and are considered on a case- by-case basis.”

“There are not currently any officers being compensated beyond reimbursed travel expenses for meetings attended. The executive director and key employees are market studied every three years, or more often as needed, through human resource consulting services, 990 search, and review of similar services in other, like-funded organizations. This process is completed by the executive director with oversight and validation by board executive officers. Salaries for key staff are recommended to the full board for final approval by vote by the executive director after first receiving review by the board finance committee to ensure budget and contract alignment. Generally, approved changes take effect the next fiscal year. However, extenuating circumstances may prompt a change at a different time during the fiscal year. The same process occurs for the executive director compensation, but is carried out by the executive committee, led by the board president, and approved through a 2/3 vote from the full board.”

“These documents are available to the public upon request and to the board and organizational leadership via dropbox.”

“Ask resource center, inc.”

“The mission of access for special kids resource center, inc. Is to provide innovative and collaborative information, training, resources and support to individuals with disabilities, their family members and the people who serve them.”

“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 professionals 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 2023-2024, ask resource center provided over 52,000 instances of training and individualized assistance to our customers, offered more than 700,000 instances of information dissemination and referrals to our customers, trained 8 new volunteer mentors across iowa, facilitated 24 matches for trained mentors to families in need of assistance, and facilitated 18 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.”