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PLUK eNews April 26-30, 2004
http://www.pluk.org/eNews/Apr_26_04.htm 
Volume 2 Issue 42

Welcome to the weekly PLUK eNews! 
(Download the printable pdf version at: http://www.pluk.org/eNews/Apr_26_04.pdf )

We are proud to present news of interest for Montana families of children with disabilities and special health care needs, and for the professionals and educators who serve them; however, it does not constitute an endorsement.

 

You cannot be responsible for your own family without being responsible for the society and the environment in which they live.

 --Justin Dart, disability rights leader, 1930-2002

 

Highlights:

IDEA Reauthorization Update. 1

NPR: Brown v. Board: Disabled Children. 2

Parents of Children with Spectrum Disorders Support Group, May 14, Billings 2

AIMSweb Training Seminar, August 19-20, Billings 2

EASI Sponsored Special 3-part Series: Low Tech Computer Applications For Learners With Disabilities 2

Understanding the Health-Care Needs and Experiences of People with Disabilities: Findings from a 2003 Survey. 3

A Family’s Guide to the Child Welfare System. 3

CEC Policy Update, April 23, 2004. 3

Amy's Hearing Depot: technology for Hearing Impairments 4

End of Life Care Conference for persons with Developmental Disabilities, May 21, Great Falls 4

The Toolbox CD: Agricultural Tools, Equipment, Machinery, and Buildings for Farmers and Ranchers with Physical Disabilities 4

Montana: Unlimited Dial-up internet for under $9/month. 5

Training/Workshops/Meetings/Conferences in Montana:: 2

Training/Workshops/Conferences outside Montana::

Fun Events:: 5

Art Workshop May 5 in Billings 5

How you can help!:: 5

Birthday Time? 5

Get your Albertson Community Partners card! 5

Selected Sources:: 6

1.      Monday Morning in Washington, DC, http://www.inclusionresearch.org. 6

2.      Rocky Mountain DBTAC, http://www.adainformation.org. 6

3.      Transition Newsflash, Montana Center on Disabilities, http://www.msubillings.edu/transition  6

4.      PEN Weekly NewsBlast http://www.publiceducation.org. 6

5.      Reference Points: Transition updates from the TATRA Project, http://www.pacer.org/tatra/tatra.htm. 6

6.      The American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center Training Calendar http://aidtac.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/TrainingCalendar.htm. 6

PLUK eNews is published by: 6

 

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IDEA Reauthorization Update

According to the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, the current schedule calls for S 1248, the Senate IDEA reauthorization bill, to go to the floor in the first week of May. To get an update on the action you may take, visit http://www.dredf.org/rrn/ActionAlert11.html

 

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NPR: Brown v. Board: Disabled Children

Prior to the 1970s, children with disabilities seeking education could not attend public schools and were either sent to private schools or state institutions and lived there under horrible conditions. Lawyers went to court using the Supreme Court's Brown v. the Board of Education decision, and argued that disabled children deserved the same equal education that black children won years earlier. NPR's Joseph Shapiro reports.

Listen to this radio piece at: http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgDate=25-Apr-2004&prgId=10

 

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Parents of Children with Spectrum Disorders Support Group, May 14, Billings

Autism, Asperger Syndrome, & AD/HD.

Where: 934 Bench Blvd

Call Jaime & Nicholas Moran at 256-8007 if able to attend.

 

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AIMSweb Training Seminar, August 19-20, Billings

AIMSweb® is a formative assessment system that ‘informs’ the teaching and learning process by providing continuous student performance data and reporting improvement to students, parents, teachers, and administrators to enable evidence-based evaluation and data-driven instruction.

Based on over 25 years of scientific research, the AIMSweb system consists of Standard Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) testing materials and web-based data management and reporting applications.

Combined, these components provide schools a pro-active and preventative solution for documenting student achievement, identifying students at risk, demonstrating adequate yearly progress, and establishing and ensuring accountability.

Visit https://aimsweb.edformation.com/training/TrainWrapper.cfm?inc=TrainList.cfm&step=1 for information.

 

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EASI Sponsored Special 3-part Series: Low Tech Computer Applications For Learners With Disabilities 

These hour-long, interactive, online Web conferences present information about free or low cost computer software to help learners with disabilities take part in the information age.

These are aimed at those who may not know about such technologies teachers, parents, school administrators and school counselors. While most special software to assist users with disabilities are expensive, these tools can be useful for beginners, for those with temporary disabilities or to plug specific technology gaps. The presentations are May 6, May 20 and June 3:

·         Low Tech Clinic 1 The Operating System and Accessibility

·         Low Tech Clinic 2 Applications for Learners with Low Vision and Learning Disabilities

·         Low Tech Clinic 3 Applications for Learners with Mobility Impairments

To read more details or to register online, go to: http://easi.cc/clinic.htm

 

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Understanding the Health-Care Needs and Experiences of People with Disabilities: Findings from a 2003 Survey

People with disabilities were profiled in "My Name Is..." a video produced by Kaiser Family Foundation Senior Visiting Fellow and former ABC News Correspondent, Jackie Judd, and shown at a December 12 briefing to release the survey findings. It is available at http://www.kff.org/medicare/121203package.cfm

A quote from the video: Jessica, age 20, was diagnosed with dystonia - a progressive neuro-muscular disease - at age 12. Out-of-pocket expenses with Medicaid are several thousand dollars a year - and could increase when she turns 21 and is no longer a minor. "We're barely holding together, and there's like a thin layer of glue that's keeping everyone together. There's a bunch of cracks everywhere and they're all going to fall apart at some point."

 

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A Family’s Guide to the Child Welfare System

Source: Child Welfare Resources - Retrieved April 21, 2004 A Family Guide to the Child Welfare System is a new comprehensive resource that answers many of the questions families face when they become involved with the child welfare system. The guide was developed collaboratively by Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, American Institutes for Research, Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Child Welfare League of America, and National Indian Child Welfare Association. To learn more about the guide and to download it in PDF format go to http://www.air.org/tapartnership/advisors/ChildWelfare/resources/Family_Guide.asp

 

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CEC Policy Update, April 23, 2004

·         FY 2005 Budget Update

·         House Holds Hearing on Highly Qualified Teachers

·         Harkin Urges Reversal of Captioning Decision

·         Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative

·         Federal Register Notices

·         ED Seeks Contractor to Conduct IDEA Monitoring Study

http://www.cec.sped.org/pp/legislative_update/modules/news/article.php?storyid=58

 

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Amy's Hearing Depot: technology for Hearing Impairments

We are a company dedicated to providing you with an array of assistive listening devices (ALD’s), amplification and notification systems representing the finest quality, for the best value in order to serve the hearing impaired community.

As parents of a hearing impaired child, we too have struggled at times to find the right items to improve the quality of sounds for our daughter in a hearing world. We have learned a lot over the last several years, through both product research and trial and error.

The results, we hope, will allow us to provide you with the best choices of ALD’s, amplification, notification systems and accessories.

Please take a moment to check out Amy’s Kid’s Corner to see items specifically geared to the younger set.

http://www.amyshearingdepot.com/

 

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End of Life Care Conference for persons with Developmental Disabilities, May 21, Great Falls

Angela King, MSW will be presenting.  The manual, End of Life Care, A guide for supporting people with intellectual disabilities and their families, will be supplied and utilized at the conference.  There will also have presentations on using alternative care such as music and art therapy with the DD population in end of life care.

The Conference is being held on Friday, May 21 at the Benefis Healthcare East Campus (Dufresne Room) in Great Falls. 

Cost is $50/person and registration begins at 7;30 am and the conference will end approximately 4:00pm. 

Space is limited to 75 participants, so please contact Jeanne Dussault or Kelly Keilman at Peace Hospice of Montana in Great Falls.  Phone: 406-455-3040  Address: 1101 26th St. South, Great Falls MT 59405.

 

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The Toolbox CD: Agricultural Tools, Equipment, Machinery, and Buildings for Farmers and Ranchers with Physical Disabilities

Based on the print version of The Toolbox, this new CD includes revised and updated fact sheets, plus added features, such as video clips, hyperlinks to web sites and email addresses of product suppliers, full-color photographs, and more than 75 new products. In all, more than 600 products are represented in The Toolbox CD. Bonus features include the Barn Builders Peer Support Network Directory, Breaking New Ground’s Worksite Assessment Tool, and a 10-Year, award-winning summary of the USDA AgrAbility Program. The main categories cover such topics as:

•Tractors and Self-Propelled Equipment •Livestock Handling/Housing •Crops and Materials Handling/Storage •Agriculture-Related Enterprises •Shops & Shop Tools •Trucks/Off-Road Vehicles •Outdoor Mobility •Lawn & Garden •Outdoor Recreation •Safety & Health •Plowshares Technical Reports •Case Studies

Navigation of The Toolbox CD is made easy through its system of interlinked fact sheets, bookmarks, and indexes.

Ordering Information: call Breaking New Ground toll free at 800-825-4264, or visit http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/ABEN/Extension/BNG/Resource%20Center/resourcecenter.html

 

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Montana: Unlimited Dial-up internet for under $9/month

http://www.isp.com/ (and no setup fee)

Also includes:

·         Nationwide access: over 12,500 POPs in all 50 states and Canada

·         Up to five (5) Free email addresses (ie. user@isp.com)

·         free spam & virus protection with each email account.

·         Free 24x7 toll free technical support

·         10 MB of personal webspace.

We receive many calls about inexpensive internet access in Montana. This seems to be the best service for the money with the widest coverage in the state. Check their access numbers to see if they serve your community.

 

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Fun Events::

 

Art Workshop May 5 in Billings

Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids (PLUK) is sponsoring an Art Workshop on May 5th for young people at the Yellowstone Art Museum.   The workshop is being co-sponsored by PLUK and the Yellowstone Art Museum in an effort to introduce the world of art to children and teens.   It’s not necessary that participants have any previous experience, but those with experience are invited to attend too.  It is necessary that parents call PLUK’s Office and pre-register their child to attend, as space is limited and there are a fixed number of slots for participants.   The workshop is open for children from age 6 through the teen years.   It should be great fun and an interesting and artistic experience!    The workshop begins at 3:30pm and lasts until 5.    Participants should wear casual clothing.    To register or for more information, call PLUK’s Office at 255-0540.   It is necessary to be registered to attend the session.

 

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How you can help!::

 

Birthday Time?

Does your child have a birthday coming up?  Are you dreading the decorating, food preparation and cleanup?  If so, Contact Bill at Montana Candy Bar & Deli at 294-2327.  Montana Candy Bar & Deli offers birthday parties at their store located at 111South 24th Street West in the Rimrock Mini Mall. 

They will do the decorating, provide lunch, ice cream and activities for the kids giving you an opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the party for a change.  Be sure to take your camera for great photo of all the activities.

AND PLUK will receive a portion of the proceeds!

 

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Get your Albertson Community Partners card!

PLUK has joined Albertsons’ Community Partners Card Program. This program is designed to help non-profit organizations raise funds needed for their programs. A percentage of your grocery total will be donated to PLUK. All that is needed is to show your Community Partners card each time you make a purchase at Albertsons. It does not cost you anything.

If you are interested in assisting PLUK in raising funds this way, please contact Bernice at 255-0540 to get a Community Partners card.

 

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Selected Sources::

 

1.      Monday Morning in Washington, DC, http://www.inclusionresearch.org

2.      Rocky Mountain DBTAC, http://www.adainformation.org 

3.      Transition Newsflash, Montana Center on Disabilities, http://www.msubillings.edu/transition

4.      PEN Weekly NewsBlast http://www.publiceducation.org

5.      Reference Points: Transition updates from the TATRA Project, http://www.pacer.org/tatra/tatra.htm

6.      The American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center Training Calendar http://aidtac.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/TrainingCalendar.htm

  1. Rural Policy Matters, http://www.ruraledu.org/rpm/rpm.htm
  2. Technology for Nonprofits: http://www.techsoup.org

 

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PLUK eNews is published by:

 

Parent's, Let's Unite for Kids – PLUK

516 N 32nd St

Billings MT 59101-6003

800-222-7585; 406-255-0540; 406-255-0523 (fax)

plukinfo@pluk.org

http://www.pluk.org

 

Edited by: Roger Holt rholt@pluk.org

Proofed & condensed by: Elisabeth Mills scribe@pluk.org

Assisted by: Katie Bonnell bonnell32@msn.com

 

Feel free to reprint and pass on to others.

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If you have activities, events, trainings, news or information you would like to share, send it to plukinfo@pluk.org.

·         Please be aware that some links provided are time sensitive. Contact us if you have difficulty accessing any of the information.

·         View an archive of all Weekly eNews at http://www.pluk.org/eNews.htm

 

Mission Statement: Parent’s Let’s Unite for Kids unites parents, professionals, families and friends of children with special needs to support one another, and share information for the benefit of their children.

 

Vision Statement: Given information and support, individuals with disabilities and their families will feel empowered to advocate for themselves and participate fully in educational and community opportunities.

 

Statement on accessibility: Today, we endeavor to be conscious of the need for making all electronic information accessible, as we are aware of physical accessibility issues in our community. For design guidelines visit http://ncam.wgbh.org/cdrom/guideline/.

 

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