PLUK eNews May
3-7, 2004
http://www.pluk.org/eNews/May_03_04.htm
Volume 2 Issue 43
Welcome to the weekly PLUK eNews!
(Download the printable pdf version at: http://www.pluk.org/eNews/May_03_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.
The end of all education should surely be service to others. We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sake and for our own. --Cesar Chavez
Family in Miles City looking for Video Monitoring
System for Lovaas Training
If you have a video monitoring system available, please call Jack or Karen
Austin at 406/234-7465.
Signing increases deafness rates
A mutation in one gene causes 50% of inherited deafness
Sign language may be behind rising rates of inherited deafness, according to
researchers.
The proportion of people who are born with profound hearing loss has doubled
over the past 200 years.
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States have traced
the increase back to the introduction of sign language in the early 1800s.
They say the introduction of sign language allowed people who are deaf to
communicate with each other more easily.
Read more at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3665939.stm
Free Publications from WrightsLaw!
http://www.wrightslaw.com/links/free_pubs.htm
Senate to Vote on IDEA; Call-In Day
From: The Special Ed Advocate Newsletter, April 30, 2004
Our sources in Washington, DC say that Senate Bill 1248 to Reauthorize IDEA
may come to the Senate floor for a vote on Wednesday, May 5, 2004.
This Alert includes requests for action from two special ed advocacy groups.
While different groups have different views on Senate Bill 1248 (see below),
most agree that the current IDEA is a good law that is often not enforced.
(Note: The voting date may change, depending on events)
If you are the parent of a child with a disability, you represent your child's interests. You need to stay informed about changes to the law that will affect your child. If you are a teacher or special education service provider, the reauthorized law will affect you and your job.
1. May Day! National Call-in Day is Monday, May 3, 2004
Several groups, including TASH, the League of SpecialEd Voters, and Our
Children Left Behind have organized a national "May Day! Save Our
Students" call-in day, Monday, May 3, 2004. The purpose of the national
call-in day is to refresh Senators' memories about objections to this bill.
When you call your Senators, tell them that S.1248 will hurt our children by:
* removing short-term objectives from IEPs
* allowing children with disabilities to be removed from classrooms for
non-disruptive, non-dangerous behaviors
* restricting the due process rights of families
To get the names and contact information of your Senators, go to http://www.senate.gov
or call the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or 800-839-5276.
Call President Bush 202-456-1111
Call Senator Frist 202-224-3344
Call Senator Kerry 202-224-2742
Sample Call-In Script
These groups suggest that you use a script to help you remember what you want to
say. First, say your child's name (or the name of the child about whom you are
calling) early and often in the conversation. The Senate aide needs to know that
she/he is talking to a family member, not an organizational lobbyist or
representative.
When you speak to the Senator's office, say that you need to speak with someone
about your Senate Bill 1248 concerns (instead of just saying you oppose S.
1248). Your Senators need to know why you oppose S.1248.
If the aide asks about your ideal resolution of the issue, tell her/him that the
current IDEA (IDEA 97) should remain in effect but should be enforced. If S.
1248 is introduced, the Senator should vote NO. Before you hang up, ask the aide
to call you or send you an email and let you know how your Senator voted.
Please email spedvoters@optonline.net or parentvolunteer@ourchildrenleftbehind.com
and let us know how your conversations went and what responses you received from
the Senate aides.
For more information about the May 1 call-in day, visit http://www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com
and/or http://www.spedvoters.org/ Please forward this call to action to friends
and family.
Take 5 minutes to help our kids!Call your Senators on Monday, May 1, 2004.
2. States Ask to be Relieved of IDEA Compliance Obligations
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) reports that The
National Governors Association is lobbying on Capitol Hill, telling members of
Congress that IDEA enforcement provisions should be eliminated or watered down.
The Governors' message is that there should be no enforcement until there is
full funding. Their policy position states: "if the federal government does
not fully fund its 40 percent share of Part B services, states should be
relieved from any obligation to meet any new performance measures and implement
compliance plans."
Congress passed the special education law (Public Law 94-142) in 1975. After
nearly 30 years, the law has never been fully funded. We do not expect this to
change in the near future.
However, the failure to fully fund the IDEA should not relieve states and school
districts of their responsibility to enforce and comply with the law.
Read the full text of the National Governors Association policy statement at
http://www.nga.org/nga/legislativeUpdate/1,1169,C_POLICY_POSITION^D_542,00.html
ACTION NEEDED: Get the message out to members of Congress that enforcement of
IDEA is abysmal and that this lack of enforcement HURTS OUR KIDS.
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) will carry this message. He needs to hear from
parents. Please help Senator Kennedy by sending him your stories about how the
failure to comply with the law HURT YOUR CHILD. We need to let Senators know
that it is an outrage to strip parents of the help they need to advocate for
their children.
Write a letter to say that if S. 1248 goes to the floor, THERE MUST BE STRONG
MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT OF IDEA BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Each story should
start with "WHY ENFORCEMENT OF THE IDEA IS NECESSARY."
Tell your child's story. If you had to use an attorney, describe how your case
evolved, how your concerns were resolved and through what means, and why it is
important to keep the attorney fees provisions.
Please email or fax your stories to:
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
Email: connie_garner@labor.senate.gov
Fax: 202-224-2417
Please send a copy of your letter to preserveIDEA@dredf.org or fax it to
510-841-8645. You may also want to send copies to the Senators from your state -
they are supposed to represent your interests.
To receive "alerts" about IDEA from the Disabilities Rights group,
visit http://www.dredf.org and complete the online subscription form. You can
read earlier Briefings on their website.
3. Learn More About IDEA Reauthorization
To learn why S. 1248 is a bad IDEA, read Parents Urge Senate to Vote "No" and Advocacy Groups Speak Out, Organize.
Read IDEA Talking Points.
Visit Our Children Left Behind for materials you can use when you contact your Senators.
For news, progress reports, and other important information about the IDEA Reauthorization, please go to the IDEA Reauthorization News Page.
To learn more about the issues, including reports, surveys and recommendations about how the law may be changed, please visit the IDEA Resources page.
The National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc. (NAPAS) published a side-by-side comparison of H.R.1350, S.1248, and IDEA '97. You can download this publication from their homepage or click to download the side-by-side comparison in PDF (Note: This is a large file so be patient when you download)
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.
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!
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.
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
7. Rural Policy Matters, http://www.ruraledu.org/rpm/rpm.htm
8. Technology for Nonprofits: http://www.techsoup.org
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
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