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PLUK eNews for April 10, 2006
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Dismissal of claims against defendants, a state department of education, a school district, and individuals, involving claims of violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act is affirmed in a case involving the allegedly inadequate education of plaintiffs' autistic child.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/8th/043520p.pdf| Permalink
FDA's Advisory for Users of Diastat AcuDial Delivery Systems
The Food and Drug Administration is advising patients with epilepsy and their care givers of a potential hazard caused by cracks in the applicator tips of Diastat AcuDial (diazepam rectal gel) delivery systems. These cracks can result in the leakage of gel during its application, which results in the patient not getting enough of the medicine to control seizures. Caregivers for these patients are advised to call their local emergency response center or 911 for help in any seizure emergency.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01348.html| Permalink
HELPING PERSONS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION NAVIGATE THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM
Texas Appleseed’s extensive fair defense research alerted us to the
special challenges facing individuals with mental retardation in the criminal
justice system. Individuals with mental retardation are often unable to
understand their legal situation or to know what to do to ensure that their best
interests are represented. They and their families may not recognize the
importance of hiring or requesting a court-appointed attorney with experience in
working with persons with mental disabilities.
Continue reading "New criminal justice publications available for families and attorneys" » -| Permalink
The FDA on Thursday approved the first skin patch to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. -| Permalink
The Alliance for Technology Access and Mayer-Johnson
are pleased to announce the next phase of "Operation Communication
Donation"
25 copies of the new BoardMaker Plus will be given out nationwide to individuals
and families who might not be able to afford it.
Continue reading "Mayer-Johnson donating 25 copies of BoardMaker to needy families" » -| Permalink
The Jan. 19 obituary in The Billings Gazette for 15-year-old Austin Jay Hammer refers to his life as a "constant adventure" filled with miracles. But there weren't enough miracles to convince him not to kill himself two days earlier after a particularly bad day at school.- | Permalink
Between 20 and 25 children ages 5 to 18 are enrolled at any one time in the Billings Clinic school, called the Youth Partial Hospitalization Program.-| Permalink
Bob Runkel, special education administrator at the Montana Office of Public Instruction in Helena, said he's seen the number of children classified as emotionally disturbed double during his 19 years at the OPI. There are now at least 162 students classified as emotionally disturbed in Billings School District 2 and as many as 1,008 in the state, according to OPI.- | Permalink
The Yellow Ribbon program will provide School District 2 counselors, teachers and administrators with guidelines for helping students who are struggling emotionally or who may be contemplating suicide.-| Permalink
HELENA -- A state plan offering free health insurance to low-income kids still has plenty of open slots -- so the Schweitzer administration may propose expanding its eligibility.
HELENA -- State health officials said Friday that they plan to revise a public health insurance plan for thousands of low-income kids, switching to a self-insured plan designed to cover more children.
The Schweitzer administration hopes to have a new contract in place by October for the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, said Joan Miles, director of the state Department of Public Health and Human Services.
It is estimated that Down syndrome affects one in every 733 live births in the United States, according to new statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Previous data showed that one in every 800-1,000 births resulted in Down syndrome. This statistic is a part of the first undertaking by the CDC to record the prevalence of 18 birth defects, including Down syndrome, Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18, and cleft palate in the United States from 1990-2001. Prior to this, national birth defect estimates were only available for Neural Tube Defects. Down syndrome is a major cause of mental retardation. Read the report at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5451a2.htm
Link: BillingsGazette.com
:: High school teacher earns highest honor.
Senior High teacher Shirley Knopp is in the classroom long before her students even wake up. A reading specialist, she's there almost every day by 5:30 a.m. preparing specialized lesson plans for each of her students, who are in her class because they need help to strengthen their reading skills. Most days, she doesn't leave until after 5 p.m. She's there because she loves what she does.
Our Mission: To provide high school and college students with the best chemistry software, physics software, and biology software available anywhere, at an affordable price, and in an easy-to-use, interactive tutorial format that is designed and written by some of the top science educators in the United States.
Link: Wrightslaw
- Autism - Analysis of Zachary Deal v. Hamilton County Department of Education.
Using excoriating language such as "appalling," "evasive," "closed mind," "combative," and "untruthful," Administrative Law Judge A. James Andrews has held in a 45-page decision that the Hamilton County (Tennessee) Department of Education (HCDE) repeatedly violated federal law in failing to provide an appropriate education to Zachary Deal, a seven-year-old Chattanooga boy with autism.
Link: CNN.com
- Study: Autism rise from labeling, not epidemic - Apr 3, 2006.
CHICAGO, Illinois (Reuters) -- A rise in autism cases is not evidence of a feared epidemic but reflects that schools are diagnosing autism more frequently, a study said Monday.
Link: JS
Online:Autism epidemic doubted.
Despite warnings of a national autism epidemic, there's little data to substantiate such a claim, according to new research compiled by a University of Wisconsin-Madison scientist.
Link: Bright,
but Falls Asleep in Class.
Parents of children with learning disabilities all have complicated stories to tell, but Paula Lazor may have set some kind of record for twists and turns, victories and defeats. Her most frustrating moment came two years ago when she found the perfect program for her son John, a special education student, only to be told by her school district that he could not enroll because he was a special education student.
Link: MiamiHerald.com
| 03/26/2006 | Schools offer tools for success.
South Florida colleges and universities are providing students with disabilities the necessary support and technology to help them learn.
Link: Law
School Tests Accessibility Technology .
Courtrooms across the globe may one day overcome all sorts of obstructive limitations, from the physical barriers posed to disabled people to the language barrier, as the Marshall-Wythe School of Law and National Center for State Court’s Courtroom 21 Project attempted to make evident Saturday in the McGlothlin Courtroom.
Link: Social
Security Online - A New Approach to Disability Determination.
For years, disability applicants, their families, advocates, and state and federal employees have done their very best in an outdated disability system with ever growing backlogs, processing problems and lengthy time delays in decisions. I'm proud to say that with the issuance of our final rule on Disability Service Improvement (DSI), we are taking another significant step forward in providing the quality service that the American public expects and deserves from our disability programs.
On March 28, 2006, CEP released its fourth annual report on the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. From the Capital to the Classroom: Year 4 of the No Child Left Behind Act, is a comprehensive analysis of how the law is being implemented by the federal government, states, and school districts. Based on survey information from 50 states and 299 school districts, as well as 38 case studies of school districts, the report provides the most up-to-date information about the law's implementation and shares the opportunities and challenges that it has presented for states and districts. The press release, report, and case study reports are posted on the Center's web site at http://www.cep-dc.org/nclb/Year4/Press/
Link: News
- Year 2005 Tax Benefits for Parents of Children with Disabilities - Wrightslaw.
If you have a child with a severe disability - a learning disability (SLD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), AD/HD, or other physical, mental or emotional impairment - you may qualify for valuable tax benefits. Because tax laws are complex, and many tax preparers often do not have occasion to use these unique tax benefits, families are at risk of losing refunds worth many thousands of dollars.
It’s likely that 15-30 percent of families with a disabled child have one or more unclaimed tax benefits.
This guide provides a brief summary of the most significant federal income tax benefits and should not be considered legal advice. Tax decisions should not be made simply on the basis of the information provided here. You are advised to print out this guide and provide your tax adviser with a copy. You should also explore potential state income tax benefits, which are too numerous for review in this guide.
The National Center on Low-Incidence Disabilities NCLID announces its self-directed online course designed specifically for general educators. Learn how accommodations for students who are deaf or hard of hearing can improve your teaching for ALL students.
Link: Determination
paves difficult path to college - The Boston Globe.
With more disabled students choosing higher education, educators and advocates say they are increasingly facing questions from families about the very different services and sets of rules students face when they enter college. While federal law entitles children with disabilities to a publicly financed education through high school -- complete with tutors, evaluations, and additional supports -- the laws do not require colleges and other post-secondary schools to provide the same services.
Link: NICHCY Research.
NICHCY's announces the launch of their new Research Center, designed to connect visitors with the research evidence on a wide range of education practices. Visitors can also try out the brand-new Research-to-Practice database, where studies are placed in context and practical examples of the research in action are given. The collection of summaries and analyses will be growing all the time. Visitors can also sign up to be notified when new research analyses are added.
Link: Technology
For Housing .
The purpose of this site is to increase awareness of the role assistive technology can play in improving the home life of seniors, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. We are particularly interested in assistive technology that meets the needs of individuals living in affordable housing for Medicaid recipients.
Link: AAPD-Education.
Amendment to the Higher Education Act Passed by the U.S. House of Representatives
WASHINGTON, DC - March 30, 2006 – An amendment introduced by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) to HR 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005, will allow students with intellectual disabilities to obtain valuable, paid work experience in college work study jobs while pursuing postsecondary studies. The amendment, which passed on a voice vote on March 29, is a real breakthrough for the growing number of students with intellectual disabilities who participate in postsecondary programs at two and four-year colleges and universities. HR 609 is the bill that will reauthorize the Higher Education Act.
With every Dynavox DV4 or MT4 purchased and shipped by June 30, 2006, Dynavox is offering FREE Companion Software ($995 value); FREE Carrying Case; FREE BoardMaker SummerWare; 10% off Mayer-Johnson Catalog Orders, DYNALESSONS curriculum/page sets with complimentary WEBEX training. Companion Software is full Dynavox Speaking Software for your PC. Use it as a backup for a student’s device. Use it as a resource for other student’s in the classroom. This offer is available only to schools, however, it includes devices funded through Medicaid or private insurance when the school initiates the referral. I’ve attached the details on this promotion. Feel free to contact me for more information. Tanya Curtis AugCom Solutions (800) 853-0310 www.augcomsol.com
Link: Tango:
the next generation of Augmentative Communication.
The tango! is the first speech generating device to bring the power of mass communications and consumer electronics to the world of AAC. It combines a broad array of communication methods, such as an intuitive language hierarchy, ingenious new icons, and easy-to-access pop-ups, with the vast power of consumer electronics - like a built-in camera and voice morphing, so individuals can better match their specific communication needs with the best features to achieve them.
Try a "virtual" device right online at the link above.
Link: States
Have More Schools Falling Behind.
More than a quarter of U.S. schools are failing under terms of President Bush's No Child Left Behind law, according to preliminary state-by-state statistics reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Link: Untitled Document.
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 29 (AScribe Newswire) -- For the print-disabled, a copy of the local newspaper delivered to one's doorstep is not accessible. Fortunately, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the nation's largest organization of blind people, and Bookshare.org, the largest online digital library specifically for the print-disabled, have teamed up to make local and national newspapers and magazines available and accessible online to this underserved community.
Link: FCTD | Online Discussions.
We're pleased to announce the start of our next month-long discussion, beginning on Monday, April 3rd. Led by Dr. Mary Morningstar and Dr. Sean Smith, of the University of Kansas, we'll look at assistive technology issues that become critical during periods of transition in a student's life. What do families and the organizations that serve them need to do when a student makes the transition from elementary school to middle school, from there to high school, and then, to college, work, and/or independent living? How do AT issues change with each transition and how do we ensure that a student continues to receive the services and devices he or she needs to succeed? Please join us for this important discussion.
All FCTD online conferences are free, having been made possible by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
Robert Deese is blind. But he's still tougher than you. Deese earned his black belt in judo last week. "I always wanted to go for my black belt," Deese said. "Then it wasn't so important. It was a big surprise."
Link: NCLD - Fact Sheets.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities created the following fact sheets in cooperation with its distinguished Professional Advisory Board . Based on reliable information and research, these fact sheets offer a quick introduction to different learning disabilities and related topics.
Link: Cystic
Fibrosis Advance Shows Promise.
The treatment is called inhaled hypertonic saline. It's nothing fancy -- just a concentrated salt solution inhaled through a nebulizer. New clinical trials in Australia and in the U.S. show that the treatment works -- in a totally different way than previously expected.
Link: Online
courses aren't just for home-schoolers anymore | csmonitor.com.
Once considered the domain of home-schooled students, K-12 online learning is a fast-growing option for public school students in rural, urban, and suburban areas. Michigan lawmakers are likely to pass legislation soon that will require high school students to take one course online before they graduate.
Link: BloomingKids.com.
Blooming Kids Software is a unique teaching tool offering teachers and parents 29 individualized (and growing) educational programs to help children with Autism or PDD; slow learners; and others who require early intervention. Experts in the educational field in conjunction with parents of children who have special needs combined forces and knowledge to develop Blooming Kids Software.
A summer Natural History Camp for Children with Visual Impairments
June 18th - 23rd, 2006 For Children 8-13 years old
Children 8-13 years old who are blind or have severe visual impairments are invited to explore western Montana’s wetlands and forests under the guidance of mentors who are blind, and with expert educators and naturalists specially trained to work with children who have visual impairments
Contact Information: Beth Underwood Email: underhogg@montana.comMOCSI office: 406-251-5069 Home office: 406-642-3035
Link: The Bell: July 2005.
One-half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and despite effective treatments for the disorders, there are long delays between the onset of symptoms and seeking treatment, according to the largest survey ever of the nation’s mental health,published in the June 6 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Link: bullying
prevention tips, mental health information center.
Every day in our schools and communities, children are teased, threatened, or tormented by bullies. About Bullying, part of the 15 Make Time to Listen… Take Time to Talk initiative, provides parents and caregivers with information about bullying and methods for communicating with children about the climate of fear created by bullying. The messages exchanged between children and their caregivers in just 15 minutes or more a day can be instrumental in building a healthier and safer environment for children. Safe schools are everyone's responsibility and everyone can help keep our schools safe.
Link: The Elimination of Barriers Initiative: Businesses.
Companies that proactively address overall mental health in the workplace can realize significant benefits. Mental health friendly practices can bring greater productivity, reduced insurance costs, and improved retention. They can, in fact, affect the entire culture of the company.
Link: Disclosing
Bipolar Disorder - Forbes.com.
Those with a bipolar disorder face a basic decision: Tell the boss about the condition or remain silent.
Link: T-TAP:
Strategies: Fact Sheet: Employment Supports for Individuals with Severe Mental
Illness.
Effective employment programs targeting individuals with severe mental illness emphasize encouraging interest and building confidence in working, getting a job consistent with individual work goals, and retaining employment. Employment services that follow seven evidenced-based practices have proven successful in assisting people with severe mental illness in achieving and sustaining employment outcomes. The following information summarizes these seven key practices and provides additional resources on effective employment supports for individuals experiencing severe mental illness.
Link: Family Guide: About A Family Guide.
A Family Guide To Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy & Drug Free is a public education Web site developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to communicate to parents and other caring adults about how they can help promote their child's mental health and reduce his or her risk for becoming involved with alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.
Link: ParentsMedGuide.org.
The American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have prepared these Guides to help patients, families, and physicians make informed decisions about obtaining and administering the most appropriate care for a child with depression. These Guides have been endorsed by many national medical, family and patient advocacy organizations, listed below.
Link: ArtsPass.
ArtsPass Video Library
Our original streaming videos spanning everything arts: music, theater, dance,
literature, film, photography, visual arts, and arts education. Content, with
accompanying Teacher Guides and Lesson Plans, features well-known and new
artists, arts institutions, and educators.
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