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PLUK eNews May
06, 2005
http://www.pluk.org/eNews/May_06_05.htm
Volume 3 Issue 21
Welcome to PLUK's electronic
newsletter!
(Download the printable pdf version at: http://www.pluk.org/eNews/May_06_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.
Kids at Heart Gala, May 13
The event will be held again at Sheraton Hotel in Billings and is set for
Friday May 13th. The 2005 Kids at Heart Gala features the band The Midlife
Chryslers (Billings' area doctors who participate in 4 or 5 performances a year
for local nonprofits). The Committee is excited about this notable band's
involvement and everyone is looking forward to the Gala. In addition to the
Chrysler's performance, the event will include heavy hors d'oeuvres, a silent
auction, a live auction (featuring auctioneer Bill Holt), and much more. For
information on sponsorships or tickets, call PLUK's office at 406 255-0540 or
800 222-7585. Visit the PLUK web site to see a list of auction items, http://www.pluk.org.
Benefit Concert for PLUK-May 20, Kalispell
Flathead Valley PLUK presents:
Rob Quist and the Great Northern Band with Jack Gladstone in concert, present
their newest collaboration May 20th at 7pm at the Kalispell Christian Center.
Quist and Gladstone, two of the West's most celebrated entertainers and
songwriters, have united in an unforgettable new show, Odyssey West,
commemorating Lewis and Clark's epic journey into the western frontier.
Jack Gladstone and Rob Quist bring the West to life with the rich historical
content of their original songs and narratives, presented with dramatic live
footage, as well as haunting photographic and artistic images of the Old and New
West.
Celebrate Our Heritage while supporting local children and adults with
disabilities. Proceeds also benefit Special Friends Advocacy. Ticket purchases
call 406 756-6159.
http://www.robquist.com/promopage.htm
Schweitzer signs Braille bill
By ROB CHANEY, Missoulian
MISSOULA - Kayla Legare's fingers could read what Gov. Brian Schweitzer's eyes
couldn't see when he signed the Braille version of House Bill 438 into law
Monday morning at Hellgate Elementary School.
The 17-year-old Helena student and business owner zipped through the legalese in
the bill's introduction as quickly as any lawyer, feeling the bumps on the page
just as a sighted person scans the ink on this page.
The new law will make it easier for students coming after her to reach the same
proficiency in Braille reading through the public school system.
Read the article at: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/05/03/build/state/65-braille-bill.inc
OPI, MSDB, and MSDB-Foundation Team Up for Summer
Programs
(Courtesy of MSDB)
The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), Montana School for the Deaf and
the Blind (MSDB), and the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind Foundation
will co-sponsor summer programs at MSDB.
The programs will target: communication, social interaction, independent living
skills, and use of technology for students between the ages of 9-14 (7 and 8
year olds will be considered on a case-by-case basis for the deaf camp only) who
have hearing impairments or deafness, and the ages of 9-16 who have blindness or
visual impairments. The weeklong programs are provided at no cost to the student
for room, board and transportation. Transportation to and from the program will
be reimbursed at state rates.
CRITERIA FOR PRIORITIZED SELECTION
1. Student identified as having blindness, deafness, visual or hearing
impairments,
2. Student enrolled full time in a Montana public school,
3. Student has a current IEP that identifies skill development in one of the
areas identified above.
If you have questions regarding summer programs, please call MSDB at 771-6000
and ask for information concerning the summer skills program.
Utah snubs 'No Child' act
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY - Gov. Jon Huntsman signed a measure Monday defying the Bush
administration's No Child Left Behind Act despite a warning from the federal
education secretary that it could cost $76 million in federal aid.
The bill represents the strongest stand against the federal law among 15 states
considering anti-No Child Left Behind legislation. Utah is an overwhelmingly
Republican state that strongly supported President Bush.
The legislation, passed during a special session of the Legislature last month,
gives Utah's education standards priority over federal requirements of the No
Child Left Behind Act. It lets education officials ignore provisions of federal
law that conflict with the state's program.
Read the complete article at: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/05/03/build/nation/80-utah-nochild.inc
National Council on Disability Seeks Americans with
Disabilities Act Impact Testimony By May 15, 2005
(From NCD)
WASHINGTON The National Council on Disability (NCD) is collecting written
testimony from people with disabilities, their families, and their advocates on
the impact the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 has had on their
lives.
NCD is an independent federal agency charged with making recommendations to the
President and Congress to enhance the quality of life for all Americans with
disabilities and their families. In 1986, NCD first proposed and then drafted
the original Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA was hailed as a major
civil rights law guaranteeing equal opportunity for Americans with disabilities
to participate more fully in their communities, to have greater access to goods
and services, and to enjoy more employment opportunities. Testimony is sought
regarding the extent to which the ADA has achieved its goals of equality of
opportunity, full participation, independent living,and economic
self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.
The information received will be added to a body of data currently being
assembled from a variety of sources to be analyzed and transmitted to the
President and Congress in a report to be published in fall 2005.
Testimony is needed regarding:
ˇ Telecommunications: Has the ADA had an impact on the ability of people who
have hearing and/or speech impairments to communicate by telephone?
ˇ Employment: Has the ADA improved employment opportunities and job retention
for people with disabilities?
ˇ Public Services: Are goods and services provided by local and state agencies
more accessible to people with disabilities because of the ADA?
ˇ Public Accommodations Operated by Private Entities: Are goods and services
provided by businesses more accessible to people with disabilities because of
the ADA?
ˇ General comments on the ADA
Please send written comments on or before May 15, 2005, to Julie Carroll,
National Council on Disability, 1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850, Washington, DC
20004 or jcarroll@ncd.gov. For more information, contact Mark Quigley or Julie
Carroll at 202-272-2004.
Adaptive Art Tools From Dick Blick Art Materials
(Courtesy of Dick Blick Art Materials)
Since 1911, Dick Blick has been the premier art supply company for millions of
professionals, teachers, and students. Visit the website and check out some of
the best adaptive art supplies for artists with disabilities at http://www.dickblick.com/categories/specialneeds/.
True Accessibility: Ubuntu Linux Open Source Software
Shatters Preconceived Notions
(Courtesy of Canonical Ltd.)
"Ubuntu" is an ancient African word, meaning "humanity to
others." Ubuntu also means "I am what I am because of who we all
are." The Ubuntu Linux distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the
software world.
Ubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both
community and professional support.
The Ubuntu community is built on the ideas enshrined in the Ubuntu Manifesto:
that software should be available free of charge, that software tools should be
usable by people in their local language and despite any disabilities, and that
people should have the freedom to customise and alter their software in whatever
way they see fit.
These freedoms make Ubuntu fundamentally different from traditional proprietary
software: not only are the tools you need available free of charge, you have the
right to modify your software until it works the way you want it to.
The team behind Ubuntu makes the following public commitment to its users:
ˇ Ubuntu will always be free of charge, and there is no extra fee for the
"enterprise edition," we make our very best work available to everyone
on the same Free terms.
ˇ Ubuntu includes the very best in translations and accessibility
infrastructure that the Free Software community has to offer, to make Ubuntu
usable by as many people as possible.
ˇ Ubuntu is released regularly and predictably; a new release is made every six
months. You can use the current stable release or the current development
release. Each release is supported with security updates for at least 18 months.
ˇ Ubuntu is entirely committed to the principles of free and open source
software development; we encourage people to use free and open source software,
improve it and pass it on.
Ubuntu is suitable for both desktop and server use. The current Ubuntu release
supports Intel x86 (IBM-compatible PC), AMD64 (Hammer) and PowerPC (Apple iBook
and Powerbook, G4 and G5) architectures.
Ubuntu includes more than 1,000 pieces of software, starting with the Linux
kernel version 2.6 and Gnome 2.10, and covering every standard desktop
application from word processing and spreadsheet applications to internet access
applications, web server software, email software, programming languages and
tools and of course several games.
Learn more about the revolutionary Unbunto Linux software at http://www.ubuntulinux.org/.
Specific Behaviors Seen In Infants Can Predict Autism,
New Research Shows
(From Pregnancy & Baby Magazine)
Canadian researchers have become the first to pinpoint specific behavioral signs
in infants as young as 12 months that can predict, with remarkable accuracy,
whether a child will develop autism.
The preliminary findings, published this month in the International Journal of
Developmental Neuroscience, were taken from an ongoing study of 200 Canadian
infants, the largest study of its kind in the world. The infants, many of whom
have been followed from birth to 24 months, are younger siblings of children who
have been diagnosed with autism.
Read about the study at http://pregnancyandbaby.com/read/articles/5443.htm.
Colorado-Blind Mom Sues Over Legal Roadblock
(From Rocky Mountain News)
Blind mom sues over legal roadblock
Daughter, 15, stuck in neutral due to law in driving case
By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News, May 3, 2005
A 15-year-old girl who got her minor's instruction permit in October has yet to
take to the road.
Juliana Barber's mother is blind and doesn't qualify to supervise her daughter
when she drives because of her disability.
Marcia Barber, Juliana's mom, thought she had found a solution by asking her
80-year-old grandfather, who has a valid driver's license, to be in the car when
her daughter drives.
The problem, Colorado motor vehicle officials told the Colorado Springs family,
is that Juliana's grandfather is not a legal guardian, and state statute
requires that a 15-year-old student with a permit be supervised by a licensed
parent, stepparent or guardian.
Juliana's mother says she is being discriminated against because of her
disability and has sued the Colorado Department of Revenue in U.S. District
Court. The revenue department oversees the motor vehicles division.
Marcia Barber's 13-year-old daughter, Madeline, is named as a plaintiff because
the family fears that when she turns 15 and obtains her minor's permit, she also
will be restricted from driving.
Read the entire article at
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3747279,00.html.
Illness, disability affects entire family
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2005, By Linda May
Things can be tough for siblings of disabled children. In our mother's last
days, my sister and I had a chance to have heart-to-heart talks, and she
confessed how she felt about the issue of Mother and I always doing things
together.
"Things?"
I remember getting polio, going to hospitals -- mostly with Mother -- having
surgeries, getting casts cut off, getting fitted with braces, shopping for ugly
high-top brown shoes and having them fitted with hardware for the braces, having
x-rays and getting blood drawn.
Read the entire article at: http://www.macombdaily.com/stories/042405/loc_lindamay001.shtml.
Breakthrough For Kids With Epilepsy: Surgery Reduces
Seizures And Increases IQ
A study on 50 preschool-aged children with epilepsy who underwent surgical
treatment showed significant improvements on overall cognitive development and
left many seizure-free. The article is published in the journal Epilepsia.
Read the article at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/04/050423190852.htm.
No Child Left Behind brings more testing, but not more
money to Bozeman schools
By GAIL SCHONTZLER Chronicle Staff Writer
The joke used to be that Bozeman was like Lake Woebegone.
When school test scores came out each year, the former school superintendent
liked to say that all the children were above average.
Times have changed. Since Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,
above average isn't good enough.
Read the entire article at: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2005/04/24/news/01impact.txt
Promise of lowering costs for treating autism - Case
Western Reserve University study
12 Apr 2005
Parents of autistic children can spend as much as $50,000 a year on therapies
for their children. But a new research study from Case Western Reserve
University's Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences shows promise of providing
effective treatment for autism and other developmental disorders at a far lower
cost.
Read the entire article at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=22709
Mediated Learning Curriculum for children 2-7 years old
The Mediated Learning Curriculum is a developmentally appropriate model
designed specifically to support inclusive programs serving children with
disabilities together with their typically developing peers.
o For children ages 2 years to 7 years-old
o 200 full days of activities
o Over 980 pages of ideas and activities on one CD
Visit their web site at: http://www.walearning.com/mediated.htm.
Schools To Appeal Autism Case To Supreme Court, But
Also Work Toward Settlement
posted April 26, 2005
The County School Board voted Tuesday morning to appeals an autism lawsuit that
has cost the schools some $2.3 million thus far on to the United States Supreme
Court.
Read the entire article at: http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_66001.asp
Parent Advocacy: What You Should Do . . . and Not Do ,
by Leslie Seid Margolis, Esq.
What Parents Should Do
1. Prepare for Meetings
You should treat the IEP meeting as if it is the first step towards a due
process hearing by preparing for the meeting and building a record. If you do
this, you make it less likely that you will end up at a due process hearing. If
you do end up at a hearing, you will be in a stronger position.
To read the rest of Leslie's suggestions, go to: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.do.dont.margolis.htm
When Parents & Schools Disagree , by Ruth Heitin
I often tell my clients that if my own parents were alive, they would never
understand what I do for a living.
I am an independent educational consultant, and as a private professional I work
for parents in seeking appropriate educational services for their children. Far
more often than I prefer, I disagree with the schools - something my parents and
their generation saw as heresy.
To read the rest of Ruth's article, go to: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.disagree.heiten.htm.
Advocate Pat Howey Talks about Reasonable Expectations,
Power Struggles, and Perspectives
Why Can't We Trust the System To Do "What's Right"?
Parent: "We should be able to trust the system to do what's right for our
kids."
Pat: In theory, this sounds good. But when you are dealing with a child with
disabilities, there will always be disagreements. You simply will not get
agreement from the number of participants who are required to be in these team
meetings.
Schools are in the decision-making process for the short-term. As a parent, you
are in it for the long-term.
TO read the rest of Pat's article, go to: http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/tips/howey_advice.htm
What You Need to Know Before Filing a Complaint , by
Pat Howey, Advocate
I rarely file complaints and even more rarely advise parents to file
complaints. Why?
Because in most cases, there is no real legitimate remedy, even when the school
is found to be in violation.
Countless excited parents and advocates have called to tell me that they
"won" a complaint. My usual response is, "What did you
'get'"?
After a few seconds of silence, they explain that the school was ordered to
change what they were doing and must provide documentation to the state that
they have completed the required changes.
Read the rest of Pat's article at: http://wrightslaw.com/info/advo.complaint.howey.htm
What is the Children's Legal Advocacy Program? of the
AG Bell Foundation
The Children's Legal Advocacy Program (CLA Program) provides legal
representation and technical assistance to families of children who are deaf and
hard of hearing seeking early intervention services and appropriate educational
placements. Launched in 2001, the CLA Program focuses on preserving the rights
of children with hearing loss who use oral communication and auditory learning
in their educational environment.
For more information, visit http://www.agbell.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?p=CLA_Program
"We're Going to Teach 'Em All", by Dr. Julie
Elliot
Framed by federal disabilities legislation and thrust ahead by the
imperatives of high stakes testing and No Child Left Behind, testing
accommodations, including the use of assistive technology, have become an uneasy
part of the American educational landscape. Recently the Department of Education
increased to 3%, the percentage of special education students in a district who
may be tested using alternate assessments, and have their scores counted toward
meeting the federal mandate of showing "adequate yearly progress
(AYP)."
Yet, a schism in approach exists among practitioners, between those who believe
in a liberal granting of accommodations to parents who request them and others
who grant them only after sound, research-based instructional alternatives have
been adequately explored. This schism reflects an overarching philosophical
conflict that strongly impacts special education students in an era when the
achievement of AYP is the focus of general education strategy, a strategy that
can frequently consign special education students to near invisibility when high
stakes test scores are computed.
For more information, visit http://www.fctd.info/resources/newsletters/displayNewsletter.php?newsletterID=10019
Hearing disability no longer carries the stigma
Progress: A Utahn serves a role model for beating the handicap
By Julie DeHerrera, The Salt Lake Tribune
Jennifer Steiner can now add "communication ambassador" to a résumé
that includes Miss Washington ('88-89), piano teacher, wife and mother.
Steiner, 35, was honored by the Utah Speech-Language-Hearing Association (USHA)
for her perseverance in battling a progressive hearing loss, a condition that
stems from her premature birth.
With that honor, she acted as a witness as Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. signed a
proclamation Thursday declaring May as "Better Speech and Hearing
Month" and told her that he was "inspired by her story."
Read the entire article at: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2695100?rss
Meddling parents ruin own health
By Sue Shellenbarger, Wall Street Journal
The fact that overinvolved parents can cause problems for their kids is
well-known. Now, new research shows they can drive themselves nuts, too.
In one of the first studies of this mental-health issue among parents,
researchers found that parents who base their own self-worth on their children's
accomplishments - as measured by their answers to such questions as, "My
daughter's failure can make me feel ashamed" - have worse mental health
than those who base their self-worth on other factors. Often called
"helicopter parents" (they hover), these overinvolved moms and dads
reported more sadness, crying and negative beliefs about themselves and less
joy, contentment and life satisfaction, says the study of 408 parents, released
April 7 at a conference of the Society for Research in Child Development in
Atlanta.
Read the entire article at: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/11423870.htm
Study: Negativity Often Tied to Down Syndrome Diagnoses
By Jonathan Finer, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, April 29, 2005;
Page A03
BOSTON -- When the technician examining an ultrasound image of her belly
abruptly got up and walked out of the room during a prenatal appointment six
years ago, Beth Allard told her husband she knew something was wrong.
Minutes later, an obstetrician at the Boston hospital confirmed the first-time
mother's fears, explaining that the pictures showed signs of Down syndrome.
Then, Allard recalled, the doctor began to describe what to expect.
"It could just be hanging off of you, drooling," the physician said,
contorting her face into a saggy, expressionless imitation of what a child might
look like with the constellation of physical and mental symptoms that
characterize the syndrome, which occurs in about one in 1,000 newborns.
"We felt hopeless and incredibly scared," Allard, 42, said in an
interview. "We didn't know what this was or what to do. They told us we had
a few weeks to decide whether to keep the baby."
Such negative depictions of Down syndrome by health professionals who do
prenatal screening are common, according to a survey of nearly 3,000 parents of
children with the condition, published last month in the American Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology. A majority reported that the obstetricians who gave
them the diagnosis had focused on the hardships ahead and ignored "the
positive potential of people with Down syndrome."
Read the entire article at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/28/AR2005042801437.html
Educational Graphic Novels for all abilities
Gossamer Books develops educational graphic novels that help make learning
history fun for all ages.
Gossamer Books' novels are written in an exciting graphic novel format helping
students to learn about historical figures and events.
Each book has been carefully designed to meet the standards of the US Department
of Education and makes for exceptional teaching aids for learners of all
abilities.
This delightful series is written in a unique graphic book format that can be
appreciated by people of all reading levels, ages and cultures.
For more information, visit: http://www.gossamerbooks.com/index.aspx
Gateway to Educational Materials
The Gateway to Educational Materials is a Consortium effort sponsored by the
US Department of Educationto provide educators with quick and easy access to
thousands of educational resources found on various federal, state, university,
non-profit, and commercial Internet sites.
Visit the site at: http://thegateway.org/
Presidential Freedom Scholarships
The Presidential Freedom Scholarships promote student service and civic
engagement. These scholarships, funded in part by the Corporation for National
and Community Service, a federal agency, recognize high school students for
outstanding leadership in service to their community and neighbors.
High school students across the nation are solving the problems in their
communities, demonstrating compassion for others, and servicing those who need
support. The President has called upon Americans to serve their communities and
the nation. Many students have answered that call to service. Outstanding high
school students are eligible for recognition through a Presidential Freedom
Scholarship.
http://www.cns.gov/scholarships/
The blind leading the blind
With pressure and guidance from the visually impaired, web designers are
slowly improving internet access, writes Alex James
Friday April 22, 2005
Next time you sit in front of a computer, think of all the things you can use it
for: surfing the net, writing documents, finding information, chatting to people
... everything short of washing up. When you switch it on, try doing all this
with your eyes shut.
Read the complete article at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/news/0,12597,1466742,00.html
Tutoring Aid Is of Concern at Hearing
By SUSAN SAULNY, Published: April 27, 2005
WASHINGTON, April 26 - Lawmakers expressed concern on Tuesday over the lack of
information by which to judge the effectiveness of a federally financed tutoring
program that is experiencing explosive growth under the No Child Left Behind
law.
At the first Congressional hearing on the three-year-old tutoring program,
members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce peppered witnesses
with questions about the program, known as supplemental educational services.
But there is little data on the new industry.
Read the complete article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/27/politics/27tutor.html?ex=1272254400&en=10206e7e910d46e3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Brain Implant Offers Hope for Severely Depressed
by Michelle Trudeau
All Things Considered, May 2, 2005 ˇ For about 10 percent of people with severe
depression, no available treatments work -- not anti-depressant medicines, not
psychotherapy, not even electroshock therapy. But now a revolutionary treatment
that entails brain surgery shows preliminary promise in treating intractable
depression.
Read the complete article at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4627438&sourceCode=RSS
Foundation helps fund hearing care
AUDIENT is a new program of Northwest Hearing care, an affiliate of the
Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing, (NLFSH). The AUDIENT program
was established as a hearing care alliance bringing together suppliers, hearing
health care professionals, and related groups with the common goal of providing
access to quality hearing health care for persons currently without adequate
financial resources.
http://www.audientalliance.org/index.htm
Summer Camp Funding for children with hearing
impairments
Summer camp experiences rival school experiences for children who are deaf
or hard of hearing. Camps can encourage friendships, as well as self-discovery
for children with hearing loss. Day or residential summer camps can provide
children who are deaf and hard of hearing (ages 8 - 12) with new and exciting
opportunities to socialize and learn new skills through interaction with other
peers and mentors who are deaf and hard of hearing. AG Bell believes that the
summer camp experience is important for the social and educational development
of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Through this belief, AG Bell is
pleased to award opportunities for parents/guardians who are AG Bell members to
apply for camp funding in the amount of $500.00 per child.
Find out more at: http://www.agbell.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?p=Parents_SC
The NWEA Research Report on NCLB
The Impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on Student Achievement and
Growth: 2005 Edition is now ready for your review.
A national research project recently released by the Northwest Evaluation
Association indicates that student achievement has improved since No Child Left
Behind (NCLB) was implemented, but student growth has declined slightly. If
change in achievement of the magnitude seen so far continues, it won't bring
schools close to the requirement of 100 percent proficiency by 2014. The study
also evaluated achievement gaps among ethnic groups.
Access the report and executive summary at: http://www.nwea.org/research/nclbstudy.asp
Genetic counselor helps expectant parents face the
unexpected
By: Linda Halstead-Acharya, Billings Gazette, Mont.
Feb. 27--Susan Landgren's job can be a roller coaster ride. On any given day,
she could face tears of grief or tears of relief.
Landgren is a genetic counselor at the Fetal Diagnostic Center in the
Yellowstone Medical Center. She's the person expectant parents turn to when
abnormal test results threaten to turn their once-perfect pregnancy into any
parent's nightmare.
"That's when I get them, in between, in a kind of shock," she said.
"You've not only lost what until today has been an easygoing pregnancy, but
the whole future has suddenly changed. You can't go back. It's a kind of loss of
innocence."
The low points in Landgren's day come when she has to tell a couple that their
unborn child carries a genetic abnormality. The high points come when further
testing disproves the first results or when a fetus thrives in spite of
problems.
Read the article at: http://www.ndss.org/content.cfm?fuseaction=NwsEvt.Article&article=1143
Information from the National Mental Health Association
on Children's Mental Health Issues
o Antidepressant Medication and Children: Tips for Parents
o Anxiety Disorders
o Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
o Autism
o Back to School
- Tips for Parents
- Tips for Kids
- Tips for Teens
- Is Your Child Ready
o Bipolar Disorder in Children
o Bullying & What To Do About It
o Bullying and Gay Youth
o Conduct Disorder
o Depression and Children
o Learning Disabilities
o Schizophrenia in Children
o Talking to Kids about Fear and Violence
o Talking to Kids about School Safety
o What Every Child Needs for Good Mental Health
View their fact sheets at: http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/index.cfm#top
Immune system, blood altered in autism -studies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Children with autism show different immune system
responses from children without the condition, and these might be measured in
the blood for a possible screening test, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.
Two studies presented to a conference on autism help support other research that
suggests subtle differences in the immune function of children with autism.
Read the article at: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050505/hl_nm/autism_dc
Newly Discovered Genetic Disease Sheds Light On Body's
Water Balance
Two infant boys whose bodies were overloaded with excess fluid have led UCSF
pediatricians to the discovery of a new genetic disease. In the process, they
have discovered a rare type of mutation where different substitutions in a
single amino acid cause two different, opposite genetic disorders.
The new disorder, called Nephrogenic Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuresis (NSIAD),
is described in the May 5 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
"This discovery gives better insights into treating these patients and
potentially many others," said Stephen Gitelman, MD, principal author of
the study and professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of California,
San Francisco. "It sheds new light on the mechanisms that the body uses to
maintain fluid homeostasis -- the correct balance of fluids needed for health
and life."
Read the article at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050504225354.htm
Jeepers Creepers, Bionic Peepers
By Cyrus Farivar
Scientists are helping blind people see again, one pixel at a time. If all goes
well, an artificial retina could be commercially available within three years.
Artificial retinas have been successfully implanted in six patients, allowing
them to see light and detect motion, researchers announced at the 2005 annual
meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida.
Read the article at: http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,67429,00.html?tw=rss.TOP
Vacations for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
For 25 years, Sprout has provided adults with special needs exciting
vacation opportunities throughout the world. From relaxing weekend escapes to
week-long adventures of travel and discovery, Sprout has a vacation to please
everyone.
For information, visit http://gosprout.org/001.html
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.