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PLUK eNews May
17, 2005
http://www.pluk.org/eNews/May_17_05.htm
Volume 3 Issue 22
Welcome to PLUK's electronic
newsletter!
(Download the printable pdf version at: http://www.pluk.org/eNews/May_17_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.
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Jack Gladstone and Rob Quist bring the West to life with the rich historical
content of their original songs and narratives, presented with dramatic live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
TRAINING Update: May 19 teleconference on Financial
Issues has been postponed
For additional information, visit the PLUK home page at http://www.pluk.org
Impact of Childhood Disability: Understanding the
Parents' Journey from Grief to Growth,
June 10-11, Billings
In a long-awaited conference opportunity, parents and caregivers are invited to
join national presenter and author, psychologist Ken Moses, PhD, for a two-day
conference exploring childhood disability and its impact on families and
caregivers. The conference-sponsored by St. Vincent's Healthcare (and in
cooperation with Billings Public Schools, STEP, and ECI)-will be held at the
Mansfield Health Education Center. CEUs are available and free childcare will be
offered during the Saturday session. Space is limited please register early.
Call Health Access, St. Vincent Healthcare, at 406-657-8792 to register.
Cost: $50-$100. A limited number of scholarships, courtesy of the Children's
Clinic, are available to parents of children with special needs. Financially
strapped, need to attend, and can't swing full registration? Call Health Access,
St. Vincent Healthcare, at 406-657-8792 and ask about the "$10 dollar
option."
Report notes problems, potential in state's rural
schools
Associated Press
HELENA - Montana's rural schools are doing better than those in other states,
but some still need help overcoming student poverty, inadequate funding and
lagging test scores, a national report released Wednesday concludes.
The Rural School and Community Trust, a West Virginia nonprofit group that
studies rural issues, called Montana a "golden egg" in rural
education. Its 80 percent rural graduation rate is one of the highest in the
country, and students generally benefit from the state's small classrooms and
low student-teacher ratios, the report states.
But Montana's test scores are average compared to other states and increasing
pressure to close or consolidate schools threatens to thwart progress there and
in bordering Great Plains states, lead study author Jerry Johnson said.
Read the article at: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/05/12/build/state/70-schools.inc
State seeks more NCLB flexibility
Associated Press
HELENA - Citing Montana's sparse population and small schools, state
Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch said Monday she's asked the
federal government for more flexibility in measuring student progress under the
No Child Left Behind Act.
McCulloch, an outspoken critic of the 2002 education reforms, wants the U.S.
Department of Education to let Montana use more data in determining whether its
schools are meeting the law's yearly progress requirements.
Read the article at: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/05/10/build/state/20-nclb.inc
Billings Gazette-Medicaid Proposals Worry State
Officials: Program Helps 84,000 Poor Montanans
(Courtesy of the Billings Gazette)
Medicaid proposals worry state officials: Program helps 84,000 poor Montanans
By ALLISON FARRELL
Gazette State Bureau
May 11, 2005
HELENA - Talk in Washington, D.C., of cutting $10 billion to $14.7 billion out
of Medicaid spending over the next five years has some Montana public health
officials worried over the fate of the program.
Some of President Bush's proposed changes could cripple Montana's mom and pop
pharmacies and limit the access Medicaid clients have to prescription drugs, as
well as drive up state costs for the joint federal-state program that covers
84,000 poor Montanans, officials said.
"It all makes me a little bit nervous," said John Chappuis, Montana's
Medicaid director. "Who knows what they'll choose to do."
President Bush recommended that Congress axe $60 billion from the $300 billion
annual program over the next decade, a number Congress has scaled back to
between $10 billion and $14.7 billion over the next five years.
Congress is still debating ways to rein in the increasing expenses of Medicaid,
but some worry that one of the most discussed spending reductions could hurt
Montana's small, independent pharmacies and their clients.
Joy Wilson, health policy director for the nonpartisan National Conference of
State Legislatures in Washington, D.C., said the proposed change for
prescription-drug benefits would essentially let the government pay pharmacies
less for drugs under Medicaid.
This change would save the state and federal governments money but could force
pharmacies to turn Medicaid clients away.
Read the rest of this Billings Gazette article online at http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?ts=1&display=rednews/2005/05/11/build/state/30-medicaid-proposal.inc.
Missoulian-Opportunity Resources Celebrates 50 Years of
Service
(Courtesy of the Missoulian)
Opportunity Resources thrives in middle age
By MICHAEL MOORE of the Missoulian
When Jack Chambers took the helm of Opportunity Resources in 1985, the program
had 60 clients, 26 staff workers and an annual budget of $600,000.
Twenty years later, on the 50th anniversary of the nonprofit organization that
helps people with disabilities, there are 350 clients, 250 staff workers and a
budget of $9 million.
"There's just been such a recognition of the ways that people with
disabilities can really be part of the community," said Chambers. "The
world has changed in a lot of ways for the good for our clients, and that's
something we all feel very good about."
Chambers had been involved with similar organizations in Oregon and Wyoming
before coming to Montana, at a time when disability programs were starting to
step out of the shadows.
"What happened is sort of what happened in schools, as we started to
mainstream some students instead of just sticking them in classes by
themselves," Chambers said. "For us, that meant moving beyond solely
providing sheltered work."
Opportunity still provides sheltered work - where people with disabilities work
together under close supervision - but the organization has made significant
progress in putting its clients to work all around the community.
Read the entire article at http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/05/08/news/local/news05.txt.
Updated Forms on OPI Web Site
Forms marked "NEW July 1, 2005" reflect changes to IDEA and are
not to be used prior to July 1, 2005. Training in IDEA 2004 and form changes
will be provided in the fall of 2005.
Visit http://www.opi.state.mt.us/speced/
U.S. Flexibility for States Raising Achievement for
Students With Disabilities
(Courtesy of the U.S. Dept. of Education)
Secretary Spellings held a press conference May 10 to announce policy guidelines
following her April 7, 2005, announcement for a new, commonsense approach to
implementing the NCLB, "Raising Achievement: A New Path for NCLB."
No Child Left Behind
President George W. Bush and Secretary Margaret Spellings believe that no
child should be left behind in our efforts to ensure that our nation's
elementary and secondary schoolchildren receive an education that fully prepares
them for college and the workforce. The Department of Education will extend
flexibility to those States that are raising achievement and are continuing to
implement the requirements that are the cornerstone of the No Child Left Behind
Act: that all students, including students with disabilities, be held to
challenging content and achievement standards; that their progress be measured
annually by high-quality assessments aligned with those high standards; and that
schools and school districts be held accountable for achieving results.
A New Path: Commonsense Approach to Raising Achievement
In addition to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities
(the 1% already covered under Title I), research indicates that there is another
group of students with disabilities, approximately 2 percent of the school-aged
population, in need of modified standards and assessments who can make progress
toward but also may not reach grade-level achievement standards in the same time
frame as other students. Secretary Spellings and the U.S. Department of
Education will work with States in both the short term and the long term to
ensure they will have the flexibility needed to raise achievement for ALL
students.
The May 10 press release can be found at http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/05/05102005.html.
Learn more about the state eligibility requirements for adjusted AYP, including
short-term options, and proposed rulemaking for long-term modified achievement
standards and assesments, online at the ED website http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/raising/disab-factsheet.html.
The factsheet is also available as a PDF http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/raising/disab-factsheet.pdf
and as a Word document http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/raising/disab-factsheet.doc.
Educators ask U.S. for break on No Child
By Stephanie Banchero, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune reporter Darnell
Little contributed to this report
Published May 16, 2005
Education officials in three dozen states, including Illinois, are proposing
substantial changes to their No Child Left Behind requirements--alterations that
would relax standards and make it easier for schools to show improvement under
the tough federal law.
Read the complete article at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0505160168may16,1,605879.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
NFB, NASA Partner for "Excellence through
Challenging Exploration and Leadership (EXCEL)" Internship
(From National Federation of the Blind)
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute's National Youth
Center for Blind Youth in Science and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) bring you a new internship program for the blind. The
Excellence through Challenging Exploration and Leadership (EXCEL) program will
provide an employment experience like no other, combining NASA's ambitious
mission of exploration with the successful mentoring and empowerment model
demonstrated by the NFB.
The EXCEL program not only provides blind youth with early employment experience
but also provides support and mentoring from successful blind adults. If you are
a blind youth interested in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM)
career, then this program is for you!
Six EXCEL interns will be chosen from a nationwide search, with two additional
students chosen as alternates. Two interns will be placed at each of three NASA
centers-Goddard (Maryland), Johnson (Texas), and the Jet Propulsion Lab
(California)-for an intensive six-week program that will begin at the NFB
National Convention. During the Convention, EXCEL interns will serve as NASA
ambassadors as well as attend seminars and meetings to learn more about how to
succeed in the workplace as a blind adult. From there, the interns will travel
to their work sites for five weeks of work experience under NASA supervisors.
The interns will stay with carefully selected host families who can assist the
youth in preparing to live independently.
Applicants must:
· Be legally blind
· Be at least 18 years old
· Be going into their first or second year of college
· Have an interest in pursuing STEM careers
· Have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale
Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity!!! To learn more about the program
or to apply, read the EXCEL Cover Page and fill out the Application at http://nfb.org/nfbrti/excel-app.doc.
Questions? Contact Mark A. Riccobono, Manager, Education Programs, Jernigan
Institute at (410) 659-9314, ext. 2368, mriccobono@nfb.org.
CNN Presents Oscar-Nominated Film "Autism Is A
World, " May 22, 8PM ET
(From State of the Art, Inc.)
State of the Art Inc. & CNN Productions Present "Autism Is A
World" a 40 minute documentary produced and directed by Gerardine Wurzburg,
Academy Award winner for "Educating Peter," and narrated by actress
Julianna Margulies (E.R. and The Grid).
The documentary looks at autism through the words of Sue, a young woman who was
diagnosed and treated as mentally retarded until the age of 13 when she began to
communicate using a keyboard. When you meet her, she does not make eye contact.
She obsessively attacks your buttons, endlessly stands at the faucet and watches
water pour over her hand. You would not approach this person. But the
documentary takes the viewer on a journey into her mind, into her world and her
obsessions. "Autism Is A World" explores Sue's world, her writings,
and the remarkable friendships she has created while in college.
Filmed in and around Whittier, CA where Sue makes her home, "Autism Is A
World" was produced by State of the Art, Inc. and Producer/Director
Gerardine Wurzburg, Co-Producer Douglas Biklen, Associate Producer Elissa Ewalt,
Supervising Producer Jennifer Hyde, Executive Director Jody Gottlieb, Managing
Editor Kathy Slobogin and Executive Producer Sid Bedingfield.
Special Thanks to the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.
http://www.stateart.com/productions/disabilities/autismisaworld/
Documentary "Song of Our Children" Available
on DVD, VHS
(From Landlocked Films)
How do schools successfully include children with disabilities in classrooms
with non-disabled peers? In SONG OF OUR CHILDREN, we meet teachers, parents, and
students whose daily routines exemplify what "educational inclusion"
means and what it takes to make it work. This moving portrayal of four memorable
children -- preschool through high school -- reveals the challenges, strategies,
and benefits of inclusion for all.
The "Songs of our Children" documentary is available directly from
Landlocked Films at http://www.landlockedfilms.com/Order%20a%20Video.htm
for $34 dollars (DVD or VHS). Cost includes media mail shipping.
Learn more about the Boulder, Colorado, production company Landlocked Films, at http://www.landlockedfilms.com/index.htm.
MEDICARE IMPROVES ACCESS TO POWER WHEELCHAIRS AND
SCOOTERS
(Courtesy of Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS))
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced new
national coverage criteria for mobility assistive equipment (MAE) including
power wheelchairs and scooters. The new criteria, which are effective
immediately, adopt a function-based determination of medical necessity. This
determination looks at the ability of the beneficiary to safely accomplish
mobility-related activities of daily living, such as toileting, grooming, and
eating, with and without the use of mobility equipment such as a wheelchair. The
national coverage determination (NCD) addresses the full range of MAE from
simple canes and walkers to sophisticated power wheelchairs.
Read the rest of the CMS press release at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/media/press/release.asp?Counter=1446.
Medicare Policy on Coverage of Power Wheelchairs,
Scooters, Draws Fire
(From Senior Journal)
Medicare Policy on Coverage of Power Wheelchairs, Scooters, Draws Fire
Advocate says it is antiquated and illegal; industry sees problems but says it's
step in right direction
May 7, 2005 - Medicare announced the final criteria for coverage of mobility
assistive equipment (MAE), which includes wheelchairs and scooters, this week
and the reactions, as expected, were not all favorable. The primary objections
were about requirements that the devices must be necessary in the home. Robert
M. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center said it is an "antiquated
and illegal policy that will keep tens of thousands of Americans in cruel and
unnecessary isolation."
The Restore Access to Mobility Partnership (RAMP), an industry group, said,
"Our initial response is to express some disappointment in several
areas." In general, however, they concluded, "Clearly, this is a step
in the right direction. However, we fear that some beneficiaries in need of
mobility equipment may still fail to receive it under this new coverage policy.
Read more about this controversial policy at http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Medicare/5-05-07Wheelchairs.htm.
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Parent Public
Policy Fellowship Program 2006
(From The Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation)
The Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation is seeking parents of persons with
intellectual disabilities for an intensive, one-year Public Policy Fellowship in
Washington, DC. During this one year Fellowship, the successful applicant will
learn how legislation is initiated, developed, and passed by Congress, or how
programs are administered and regulations promulgated by federal agencies.
Each year the Foundation brings a parent or close family member of a child with
a disability to Washington, DC for a full year, where they actively participate
in public policy development through work on the staff of a member of Congress,
congressional committee, or federal agency. Former Parent Fellows describe the
Fellowship as a major turning point in their lives. The year offers exciting
opportunities to be involved in policy and legislative development in key areas
such as special education, health and mental health care for persons with
intellectual disabilities, child care, housing, justice, child welfare,
employment and other areas related to improving the quality of life for
individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Since its founding in 1946, the Foundation has supported the creation of
programs of national significance for persons with intellectual disabilities,
their families and their communities. In carrying out its mission, the
Foundation has consistently worked with national leaders who understand the
realities of government. The Foundation appreciates the infinite need for
leadership on disability issues in the government and public policy arenas.
In response to this need, the Foundation initiated the Public Policy Fellowship
Program in 1980 and the Parent Public Policy Fellowship Program in 1995. Kennedy
Fellows receive first-hand knowledge and experience in the development of public
policy and the opportunity to hone their skills in challenging new environments.
Former Kennedy fellows have gone on to pursue careers as leaders in university
centers, non-profit advocacy and service organizations, Congressional staff and
Federal political appointments.
The successful applicant's background will include distinguished involvement in
efforts to improve the lives of persons with intellectual and other disabilities
at the regional, state or national level. Salaried experience in the field is
not required. The expectation is that fellows will become leaders in the field
of disabilities and will return home after their year in Washington to make
significant contributions to policy and program development in their home state.
Completed applications must be e-mailed or postmarked by September 1, 2005.
For more details on the Parent Public Policy Fellowship Program 2006, go to http://www.jpkf.org/fellow.html.
Incight™ Fellow Scholarships for students with
disabilities
Our Incight™ Fellow Scholarship Program is a long-term commitment to
students entering and attending college.
Requirements are as follows:
o Physical disability, including sight, hearing and learning disabilities
o 2.5 GPA (minimum)
o Essay of 250 word max (please see application for subject matter)
For more information, visit: http://www.incight.com/incight/edu1.html
BullyOnLine-Resources for Information on Bullying and
Prevention Strategies
(From Bully OnLine)
Based in the UK, and founded by Tim Field, a bully survivor, Bully OnLine is the
world's largest resource on workplace bullying and related issues including
stress, trauma, PTSD and bullying-related suicide. Vist the website to learn
more about bullying and harrassment prevention, and find advice, resources, and
support. Bully OnLine is a project of the Field Foundation.
Check out Bully OnLine at http://www.bullyonline.org/.
JUDGE ALLOWS LEARNING DISABILITIES CASE TO GO TO TRIAL
05/13/05 7:20 PDT, OAKLAND (BCN)
A lawsuit seeking special accommodations for students with learning disabilities
when they take medical school admission tests will proceed to trial after an
Alameda County Superior Court judge denied a motion that sought to dismiss the
case.
Read the article at: http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2005/05/13/n/HeadlineNews/DISABILITY-RULING/resources_bcn_html
MEDSCAPE Safety Alerts 2005
MRL Inc. AED20 Automatic External Defibrillators
Audience: Emergency healthcare professionals and Cardiologists
MRL Inc. and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a voluntary worldwide
recall of 597 AED20 Automatic External Defibrillators manufactured between
February and July of 2004. The AED20 may display a "Defib Comm" error
message during use resulting in a failure of the device to analyze the patient's
ECG and deliver the appropriate therapy which prevents the defibrillator from
resuscitating a patient. The company has received 12 related complaints with
this specific group of AED20's, including one instance which may have prevented
patient resuscitation.
LifeScan, Inc. OneTouch Ultra, InDuo and OneTouch FastTake Blood Glucose
Meters
Audience: Healthcare professionals and consumers
LifeScan, Inc, initiated a worldwide notification to all users of its OneTouch
Ultra, InDuo and OneTouch FastTake Meters. LifeScan found that it was possible
for consumers, in the course of setting their meter's date and time, to
accidentally change the unit of measure and thereby misinterpret their blood
glucose results. The notification program includes letters to registered users
and health care professionals, and also special instructions inserted in each
package of test strips. The products are distributed worldwide primarily through
retail pharmacy and mail order channels.
Reviewed by Gary D. Vogin, MD
For additional information, visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2005/safety05.htm#MRL
Advocacy Articles - Tactics & Strategies: How to
Disagree with the IEP Team Without Starting WW III
Many parents have questions about what to do when they are presented with an
IEP that is not appropriate for their child.
You should advise the IEP team that you don't think the IEP is appropriate, that
it does not provide your child with enough help or the right kind of help. You
should use facts to support your position (i.e., facts from an evaluation of
your child from a private sector evaluator, graphs of your child's test scores).
Be polite but firm.
Read the complete article at: http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/strategy.disagree.htm
Advocacy - How to Solve Parent-School Problems &
Protect Relationships
"View your relationship with the school as a marriage without the
possibility of divorce." - Pam Wright
"Our seven-year old child has autism. After his aide told us that he has
not received all the speech language and OT services called for in his IEP, we
wrote letters demanding that the school make up the missing sessions."
"Now the teacher and special ed supervisor are angry with the aide. They
told her that she cannot tell us anything that goes on at school. Doesn't the
aide have a right to communicate with us? Is there any law we can refer
to?"
Read the complete article at: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.probs.protect.htm
Learning to Negotiate is Part of the Advocacy Process
by Brice Palmer, Advocate
Negotiating solutions to disputes and/or claims saves time and money. Most of
our experience is in the civil area, but the techniques and skills in special
education cases are the same. By using these techniques, we rarely are forced to
take a special ed case all the way to a hearing.
Here are a few techniques that have worked for us. Perhaps they will be helpful
for you.
Read the tips at: http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/tips/palmer_negotiation_process.htm
It's My Life: Employment, A Guide for Transition
Services From the Casey Family Foundation
(From The Casey Foundation)
Career and employment success for young people from foster care is rooted in an
ongoing journey connecting parents, caregivers, friends, mentors, advocates,
communities, schools, and employers. Specific tools and strategies can help in
this process. Expanding on the It's My Life transition framework, this
practical, concise handbook is intended for child welfare professionals and
others responsible for helping young people prepare for transition to adulthood
and the workplace.
This guide provides the following recommendations to help prepare young people
for employment:
· Start early to develop employability
· Cultivate interests and skills, and relate them to future employment
· Promote activities that help young people explore careers
· Build job-readiness skills
· Help young people get and keep jobs
· Promote work-related education and training after high school
It's My Life: Employment provides benchmarks for career exploration and
techniques for job seeking. It breaks out the benchmarks by age group and lets
young people describe their successes in their own words. It also provides a
wealth of links to online tools and assessments and many suggestions for taking
advantage of community resources. It's My Life: Employment was published in 2004
by Casey Family Programs.
It is available in printed form, and for download in PDF format at
http://www.casey.org/NR/rdonlyres/36883AA6-AFE7-49CD-830D9DA455740657/278/ItsMyLifeEmploymentGuide1.pdf.
Resource Links From Freedom Scientific
(Courtesy of Freedom Scientific Inc.)
Freedom Scientific, Inc. was created in 2000, by combining three companies in
the assistive technology arena. The company is divided into two groups: the
Learning Systems Group and the Blind/Low Vision Group. The company's mission is
to develop, manufacture and market innovative technology-based products and
services that those with vision impairments and learning disabilities use to
change their world.
In addition to information about the company's trademark WYNN and TestTalker
software, Freedom Scientific offers a variety of useful links for teachers, AT
professionals and others, on the Freedom Scientific website at http://www.freedomscientific.com/LSG/resources/industry_links.asp.
Medication Combined With Behavior Therapy Works Best
For ADHD Children, Study Finds
(Courtesy of Science Daily)
Source: University at Buffalo
In fact, when the two are combined, the study showed, the amount of medication
required to achieve the same results as use of medication alone can be reduced
by two-thirds.
"One of the major findings of the study is that when using behavior
modification, you can get away with tiny, tiny doses of medication, much lower
than previously thought," said ADHD researcher William E. Pelham, Jr.,
University at Buffalo Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology,
UB College of Arts and Sciences and UB School of Medicine and Biomedical
Sciences.
The study is the first to test the effectiveness of a new drug treatment, a
methylphenidate (MPH) patch. Methylphenidate is the stimulant used in pill form
by ADHD drugs Concerta and Ritalin.
The study is published in the May issue of Experimental and Clinical
Psychopharmacology. It was funded by a grant from Noven Pharmaceuticals. Shire
Pharmaceuticals Group, which purchased the rights to the MPH patch from Noven,
will seek FDA approval for the MPH patch in 2006.
Read more of this article at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050506155008.htm.
Study Finds ADHD Improves With Sensory Intervention
Preliminary findings from a study of children with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show that sensory intervention -- for example,
deep pressure and strenuous exercise -- can significantly improve problem
behaviors such as restlessness, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Of the children
receiving occupational therapy, 95 percent improved. This is the first study of
this size on sensory intervention for ADHD.
The Temple University researchers, Kristie Koenig, Ph.D., OTR/L, and Moya
Kinnealey, Ph.D., OTR/L, wanted to determine whether ADHD problem behaviors
would decrease if underlying sensory and neurological issues were addressed with
occupational therapy. Their study, "Comparative Outcomes of Children with
ADHD: Treatment Versus Delayed Treatment Control Condition," will be
presented Friday, May 13, at the American Occupational Therapy Association
meeting in Long Beach, Calif.
Read the article at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050513103548.htm
A Little Luxury Goes a Long Way--Best Bath, Luxurious
Bathing Units for People of All Abilities
(From Best Bath)
Boise, Idaho's Best Bath Systems (a division of Fiberglass Systems) proudly
offers Access products. The fiberglass shower units, soaking tubs, and jetted
tubs are classified according to access level, ADA, Barrier-free, and
Assisted-Living. The Best Bath website provides lists of product reference
codes, dimensional drawings, and a product gallery.
Check out the Access line at http://www.best-bath.com/products/access/access.htm.
Browse the entire Best Bath site at http://www.best-bath.com/index.htm.
CSU gets an 'A' for access
Disabled cite few problems getting around
By NIKOLAUS OLSEN
To be an institution that welcomes all, Colorado State University must first
make sure that its 30,000 students, faculty and staff can access all buildings
on campus.
Read the article at: http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050516/NEWS01/505160323/1002
Free Online Graph Paper / Grid Paper PDFs
Downloadable and very printable, these PDFs are extremely useful.
· Lined Paper
Lined Paper PDF Generator - Just horizontal lines. I needed this a while back,
so I figured other people might also need it.
· Graph Paper
Graph Generator Lite - Specify the number of squares you want - and the size of
them.
· Plain Graph Paper PDF Generator - Set your border and grid spacing (i.e. 4
lines per cemtimemter) to get as much graph as possible on your paper.
And many, many more at: http://www.incompetech.com/beta/plainGraphPaper/
Virtual Drum Kit can be played by mouse or keyboard
Visit http://www.kenbrashear.com/
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.