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PLUK eNews February
11, 2005
http://www.pluk.org/eNews/Feb_11_05.htm
Volume 3 Issue 11
Welcome to PLUK's electronic
newsletter!
(Download the printable pdf version at: http://www.pluk.org/eNews/Feb_11_05.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.
PLUK to hold 4th Annual Sports Festival in Billings
February 18-19
Parents, Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) is holding its 4th annual Sports and
Recreation Festival on February 18th and 19th in Billings. The festivities start
with a unique Sports Celebrity Dinner on the night of February 18th at 6pm in
the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The dinner features Sports Celebrities
Chris Horn, Jeff Ballard, Casey Fitzsimmons and Mike Curtis. Tickets to the
celebrity dinner are $25/each or $250/table of ten.
The festival continues the following day, February 19, at the Rocky Mountain
College Fortin Center and admission is free (donations are appreciated). The
second day provides activities, games, Sports Clinics, autograph signing
sessions with Sports Celebrities, fun events, concessions, Little League
Baseball and Softball Sign-ups and much more. PLUK will also hold silent and
live auctions (featuring Sports Memorabilia and other items) during the two day
event.
For more information on the Festival, or to purchase dinner tickets, call the
PLUK office at (406) 255-0540.
Montana Senate Bill 291 Raising Red Flags for Home
Schools in Montana
Sponsored by Senator Don Ryan, SB 291 is raising red flags and generating
concerned calls from home schools throughout Montana. The reason, Section 8 (3.
(a) (i)) reads "If the assessment team determines that the child is in need
of specially designed instruction that can be provided only through special
education and related services, the parent may continue to supervise the home
school if: (i) the child does not have a developmental disability . . ."
People are concerned that this clause represents direct discrimination against
the parents' rights to educate their children, whether the home-schooled
students are developmentally disabled or not. The next hearing date for this
bill is scheduled for February 14, 2005, at 3 PM in room 303 of the Capitol
building. To voice your concerns please call or email your Senator (see http://leg.state.mt.us/css/senate/default.asp
for contact information). To read the text of Senate Bill 291 (SB 291) go to http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2005/billhtml/SB0291.htm.
Public Comment Meetings Scheduled for IDEA 2004
John H. Hager, assistant secretary of the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Education, announced a
series of public meetings to seek input and suggestions for developing
regulations based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
of 2004. A schedule has been provided in an effort to keep you informed about
the remaining meetings:
- The fifth public meeting will be held Tuesday, February 15, 2005,
from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM and from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Frederick Douglass High
School in Atlanta, Georgia.
- The sixth public meeting will be held Friday, February 18, 2005, from
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM and from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the University of Wyoming.
- The last public meeting will be held Thursday, February 24, 2005, from
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Academy for Educational
Development.
Individuals can register to comment at the door on a first-come first-served
basis. Registered individuals will have two to five minutes to comment,
depending upon the number of individuals registered. Our intent is to ensure
that all who wish to provide public comment have the opportunity to do so.
Individuals can provide oral and written comments at the meetings; written
comments that accompany oral remarks are optional. Written comments or
suggestions can also be submitted electronically (by February 28) to comments@ed.gov.
Questions can be directed to OSERS' main number, 202-245-7468, or, if a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) is needed, individuals may call the
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339. There will be a
second series of meetings in the spring and summer of 2005 to provide the public
an opportunity to comment on proposed regulations developed to implement the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). Exact cities and
locations will be announced as that information becomes available.
For a copy of the law, please visit the Office of Special Education Programs
(OSEP) website, < http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html
>, and go to The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of
2004.
On a Roll Documentary: Family, Disability and the
American Dream, February 15
(From Monday Morning in Washington, D.C. and PACER Center)
Airing on PBS on February 15, 2005
To check your local listings for stations and broadcast times, go to http://www.thestrengthcoach.com/oar_pbs_stationlistings2.html
On Tuesday, February 15th, Joanne Caputo's award-winning film, "On a Roll:
Family, Disability and The American Dream" will debut nationally on PBS! In
this film, Greg Smith and his family bare all in this unflinching portrait of a
65-pound man striving for the American Dream. Fueled by discrimination, Smith
created "On A Roll Talk Radio on Life and Disabilities" from his power
wheelchair in 1992, the father of three travels the globe in a new civil rights
movement, but finds his own nation's capital inaccessible - a minor challenge
compared to living independently. Dozens of disability rights advocates are
shown in the one hour movie, including Kyle Glozier, Judy Heumann, Becky Ogle,
Heidi Van Arnem, Justin Dart, Mitch Tepper and many others.
Disability News and Views Radio Show, WXRL 1300 AM,
Sundays 3-4 pm MST
Monica Moshenko hosts the only live radio show in the US that focuses
exclusively on disabilities issues and related news. Based in western New York,
Moshenko founded the news program in late 2004 and Disability News Radio became
a subsidiary of Power Advocates. The February 6 show highlighted All Purpose
Canines, an Aberdeen, SD, service-dog center. Upcoming topics include Cerebral
Palsy, Dyslexia, Non-verbal Learning Disabilities, Bipolar Disorder, and
Alzheimer's disease. Listen online at http://www.disabilitynewsradio.com
and call your local talk radio station to request syndication for Disability
News and Views Radio.
NBC Series on Autism Airs February 21, 2005
NBC's Today show is preparing a 10-part series that will run the week of
February 21 airing at 8:10 AM and 9:10 AM. The series will look at autism from a
variety of angles, with segments exploring topics such as etiology, diagnosis,
treatment, educational programs, affect on siblings, and how to be an advocate
for your autistic child. Be sure to tune in for the "How to be the Best
Advocate For Your Child" segment airing on February 24 featuring Autism
Coalition board member, Gary Mayerson. He will be interviewed on his new book,
"How To Compromise With Your School District Without Compromising Your
Child."
In conjunction with the Today show series, CNBC is airing a four-part series
from Tuesday through Friday, Feb. 22-25. Segments will air at 12:30 PM and 1:30
PM during CNBC's Power Lunch program. Titled "Autism: Paying the
Price," the CNBC series will focus on the financial implications of the
disorder, with segments on the financial impact on families, the roles of
government and private funding for research, the opportunities in healthcare and
pharmaceuticals and autism in the workplace. Both the NBC and CNBC series will
feature interviews with leading members of the autism community, from
researchers and physicians to activists, educators and parents.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/?ta=y
Family Support Network Focus Groups in Billings,
Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell and Miles City
The Missoula Focus Group will be Tuesday, Feb. 22 6:30-8:30 pm at Prince of
Peace Lutheran Church, 2512 Sunset Lane (corner of Reserve & Sunset, between
3rd & Mount). Childcare is available for no charge at The Parenting Place.
Call 546-7006 to reserve child care or to arrange a ride to the meeting. A
strong presence of families at these meetings will help shape the future
development of a comprehensive mental health system in Montana. Contact Family
Support Network at fsntoo@aol.com.
Region III CSPD Nomination Deadlines
- Yes I Can! Montana Awards Program
February 14 is the deadline for nomination forms for the 2005 Yes I Can
Award
Completed forms must be typewritten and mailed to Region III CSPD, any
supplementary material will not be returned. Categories:
Academics/Arts/Athletics/Community Service/Employment/Extracurricular
Activities/Independent Living Skills/Technology/Self-Advocacy. To Nominate:
Nominee must be 2-21 years old. Nominees are only eligible for one category and
both nominators must select the same category.
- Montana Paraprofessional/Paraprofessional and Teacher Team of the
Year
February 14 is the deadline for nomination forms for the 2005 Awards
Nominate an outstanding Paraprofessional or a Paraprofessional/Teacher team and
mail the completed form to the Region III CSPD office.
Contact Debra Miller, dmiller@msubillings.edu
or fax (406) 2313, for the Yes I Can or Paraprofessional Award nomination forms.
Newsletters Available from Montana Center on
Disabilities
The Montana Center on Disabilities publishes the Equity Outreach for Young
Women with Disabilities project newsletter, "New View." Check out the
current issue at http://www.msubillings.edu/equityoutreach/newsletters.htm.
Focus on Bullying and Harassment Concerns, Unique
Giftedness, from the Special Ed Advocate (Wrightslaw)
The February 1, 2005 issue of Wrightslaw's "Special Ed Advocate"
is devoted to resources on harassment and bullying prevention, and offers free
publications, websites, and essential facts. The issue also features resources
and information for "twice-exceptional" children who have special
education needs and are also gifted, including the websites http://uniquelygifted.org
and the 2e Newsletter online, http://2enewsletter.com.
To view this issue, go to http://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/05/nl.0209.htm.
New Inclusive Education Book from TASH
TASH has published a second edition of the book "The Foundations of
Inclusive Education: A Compendium of Articles on Effective Strategies to Achieve
Inclusive Education." The book presents the latest research on inclusion
including the theory behind it and effective inclusion strategies that have been
used across the county.
The book can be purchased at: http://www.tash.org/publications/foundations_for_inclusion.htm
Guide on IEP Facilitation Available
Developed by CADRE and its partner the Technical Assistance Alliance for
Parent Centers, Facilitated IEP Meetings: An Emerging Practice provides an
introduction to IEP facilitation for parents and other family members to help
orient them to this emerging practice. To read or print the document, go to http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/facilitatediep.cfm
Spanish Version of Steps to Success: Communicating with
Your Child's School Available~Los Pasos hacia el Éxito: Cómo Comunicarse con
la Escuela de su Hijo
Developed by CADRE and its partner the National Dissemination Center for
Children with Disabilities (NICHCY), this resource offers specific communication
skills that may be helpful to parents as they develop and maintain partnerships
with their child's school. To read or print the Spanish version of the document:
http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/successesp.cfm.
To read or print the English version of the document: http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/success.cfm
Touch a New Frontier at ThinkCollege.Net
Youth with intellectual disabilities have not had many chances to go to
college. This is changing as individuals across the country begin to create
opportunities for these youth to reap the benefits of postsecondary education.
This website will provide information and links to anyone interested in finding
out more about the possibilities. The site is divided into sections for
students, family members, and professionals and features the following:
Abuse and Neglect of Children and Adults with
Developmental Disabilities: A Problem of National Significance
The Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth
University announces the new Web course, Abuse and Neglect of Children and
Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Problem of National Significance.
Registration begins February 1, 2005. Funded by the ADD as a Project of National
Significance, the course was written for health and other professionals and
students serving people with developmental disabilities (see flyer http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/maltreatment/flyer.pdf
). For Annotated Outline and Sample Module, go to: http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/maltreatment/.
Contact Peggy O'Neill at 804-827-0194, mailto:poneill@vcu.edu.
2005 EXITE Camp
It's time to start thinking about your summer activities, and PACER has a
great offer!
The EXITE (Exploring Interests in Technology and Engineering) Camp, hosted by
IBM, will be held at PACER Center July 21, 25, 27, 29, August 2, and 4. The camp
is a free opportunity open to any middle school girl with a disability.
To learn more about the camp or to acquire an application, visit http://www.pacer.org/stc/exite.htm
or call 952-838-9000. An information session for parents will be held on Monday,
March 7, 2005 and Monday, April 18, 2005 from 7 to 8 p.m. at PACER. Applications
are due on May 2, 2005.
U.S./Japan Cross-Cultural Exchange Opportunity
Mobility International USA (MIUSA) is accepting applications for a summer
leadership and disability exchange program in Tokyo, Japan. They are looking for
young people with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 24 to take part in
this exciting international exchange experience. The tentative dates are July
31-August 15 2005, and the application deadline is May 15, 2005. The program fee
is $850 and scholarships are available. More information can be found on MIUSA's
Web site at: http://www.miusa.org/exchange/japan_summer_2005.
Learn The Signs-Act Early, Health Care Provider
Resource Kit
A national campaign to increase awareness and action in the early
identification of children with autism or other developmental disorders
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched an awareness
campaign to educate parents about childhood development, including early warning
signs of autism and other developmental disorders. The earlier a child with a
developmental delay receives appropriate assessment and intervention, the better
the developmental outcome can be. To help prepare the health care community for
the anticipated increase in questions and requests for information from parents,
CDC has developed a Provider Resource Kit. This kit contains materials designed
to help health care professionals communicate with parents about childhood
development, what parents should be concerned about, and the warning signs of
autism and other delays.
Please visit the campaign Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/actearly
to view the campaign resources designed for health care professionals - download
them from the website or order materials to be mailed to your office at no
charge to you.
LD Resources.org "Officially" Relaunched
The LD Resources web site has been providing information for people with
learning disabilities and people who work with people with learning disabilities
since 1995. It started as a place to share handouts with people in digital form
and since then has grown to include hundreds of articles by dozens of authors on
all aspects of learning disabilities. The site now contains lists of tools,
schools, organizations and professionals and other resources for the LD
community as well as new articles and commentaries. This new version of LD
Resources is technically a weblog (blog) and as such provides RSS feeds,
commenting, and all of the things you expect from a weblog. Visit LD Resources
at http://www.ldresources.org.
New Product Helps Web Managers with Web Accessibility
HiSoftware, Inc. recently announced the new integration between AccMonitor
Compliance Server 2005 and Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server version 2.0. The
solution provides website managers with an automatic way to manage Web
accessibility, site testing, content maintenance, and management of corporate
standards. HiSoftware has also worked with Microsoft to provide new templates
that enable Web site managers who use SharePoint to extend and enhance their
accessibility efforts. Read more at http://www.hisoftware.com/press/mssp2005.html.
NCBDDD: Developmental Screening for Health Care
Providers
A new web page for pediatric health care providers has been added to the CDC
Child Development Web site. The new page provides tips for primary care
practitioners on integrating developmental screening into their practices
efficiently, at low cost, and while ensuring coordination of care. A sample
flowchart of clinical screening activities and an example of how physician and
non-physician staff roles may be delineated to make routine screening feasible
are provided as well (these can be printed from the web site). The web page can
be found at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/child/screen_provider.htm.
Peer-Reviewed Journal on Nursing Care for Persons with
Intellectual Disabilities Launched
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center in Massachusetts has launched a free,
online journal titled International Journal of Nursing in Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities for professionals and families interested in
promoting optimal health and nursing supports for individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities. Access the journal online at http://journal.hsmc.org/ijnidd/index.asp.
AlphaGrant Program 2005
Schools will have an opportunity to participate in the AlphaGrant Program
for 2005. Program information and application materials for 2005 will be
available online by February 15, 2005. The deadline for submitting your
AlphaGrant application is April 29 and awards will be announced at NECC on June
28. We look forward to collaborating with schools as they identify effective
uses of technology to improve instruction and ultimately student achievement.
To learn more about AlphaGrants, visit http://www.alphasmart.com/k12/solutions/alphagrants.html.
"Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes"
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2005
awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18, who have shown
leadership and courage in public service to people and our planet. Each year,
ten national winners each receive $2,000 to support their service work or higher
education. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to
nominate, visit: http://www.barronprize.org/.
Online Advocacy Course: Making Your Case
Making Your Case is a three-hour online course that focuses on how to
communicate with public officials by telling your personal story, writing
letters, providing testimony, and communicating in positive ways. Check out http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/makingyourcase
for more details.
Easter Seals Project ACTION: Information Needed on
Accessibility and Safety of Bus Stops
Nelson Nygaard Consulting Associates under contract with Easter Seals
Project ACTION is assembling a toolkit for bus stop accessibility and safety
assessment. The toolkit will be available to transit and public works agencies,
as well as disability advocates, providing methods on evaluating bus stop
accessibility and designing accessible stops. The toolkit will address a broad
range of issues, including usage by people with a variety of disabilities,
optimal bus stop design and bus stop environments.
In order to assemble the toolkit, a literature search will be conducted to
gather as much information as possible on the subject of accessible bus stops.
Information may include architectural access, accessible ergonomics, safety
regulations, ADA regulations and bus service plans. If you are aware of
documents or information on the subjects mentioned above, or can give us good
examples of bus stops in your area that are fully accessible, please let us
know, either by calling Krute Singa at 415-281-6927 (we'll call you back if this
is long-distance), sending the information via e-mail to Krute Singa at ksinga@nelsonnygaard.com.
For more information on Easter Seals Project ACTION visit http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ESPA_homepage.
Upcoming PLUK trainings and activities planned for
Winter/Spring 2005
PLUK associate boards around the state are sponsoring a number of trainings
and activities this coming year. Mark your calendar if you are interested in
participating.
Go to http://www.pluk.org/training
for more detailed information and registration.
March 2005
Title: Bullying: an Introduction to What we can do
Date: Tuesday, March 8, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Where: Interactive video conference airing statewide from Kalispell
Presenters: Stephanie Luehr
Title: ADHD: Where We Stand Today
Date: March 9, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Kalispell
Presenter: Stephanie Luehr
Title: Staying Cool When Our Buttons are Pushed: Part 2
Date: March 21, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Kalispell, The SUMMIT
Presenter: Doug Cochran-Roberts
Other Community Activities
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
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/
Privacy Policy: We do not sell, rent, or lend the e-mail addresses of our subscribers.