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PLUK eNews September
6, 2004
http://www.pluk.org/eNews/Sep_06_04.htm
Volume 3 Issue 3
Welcome to PLUK's electronic
newsletter!
(Download the printable pdf version at: http://www.pluk.org/eNews/Sep_06_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.
I've Lost My Mind! Please Let Me Know if You Find It!,
Teleconference, September 8
How to CARE for Yourself While CARING about Others
Topics to be covered:
When: September 8, 2:30-3:00pm
Who Should Attend:
Presenters: Sandy Taylor and Bobbie Thurston
How this Conference Call Works:
1. By September 7, call PLUK's main office to register @ 1-800-222-7585 or
255-0540. Or Email plukinfo@pluk.org with your name, address, and phone number.
2. You will be given a toll free number and an access code for the conference
call. Any materials you need will be accessible via the Internet or mailed to
you before the conference call.
3. Space is limited to 11 lines. However, you can have groups of people on one
line if you have a conference phone.
Founders Day Celebration, September 8, Billings
The Board of Directors, volunteers and staff invite you to attend PLUK's
annual Founders Day Celebration at the Mansfield Center, September 8 at 6pm.
Julie Beckett, the National Policy Director of Family Voices will be the keynote
speaker. Call Sheryl at the PLUK office, 406/255-0540, to reserve a spot for our
20th anniversary!
Free Children's Tickets Available to the NILE Rodeo,
October 13, Billings
PLUK has a limited number of children's tickets for the NILE Rodeo on
October 13. Call Bernice at the PLUK office 255-0540 if you are interested.
Parent Scholarships available to BJ Wise workshop on
"Closing the Achievement Gap In Reading- A Step by Step Process" at
the MCASE Fall Conference, September 28, Helena
This one-day workshop reviews current reading research and best practices
which lead to significant improvement in reading achievement. It covers the
issues of forming a school reading leadership team, increasing communication
about reading, the importance of fidelity of implementation of the core reading
program, providing in-class and out of class interventions, increasing parent
involvement, grouping for instruction and creating a positive school climate.
B.J. Wise, M. Ed, is currently Director of Professional Development for the
Western District of Sopris West Educational Services. B.J. has been a teacher,
special education coordinator, principal and Assistant Superintendent for the
state of Washington. She works with schools throughout the country on raising
reading achievement and creating positive school climates. She was a National
Distinguished Principal and has received the Washington State Award for
Excellence in Education.
Parents may register through the PLUK office for a limited number of
scholarships. Call Sheryl at 800-222-7585.
Contact Julie Sykes at samjs@sammt.org for
registration information.
Download brochure at: http://www.sammt.org/04fallmcasebrochure.pdf
"Blue Coupon Book" Now on Sale in Billings
PLUK is selling the Billings Area Preferred Savings Guide commonly call the
"blue coupon book." The books sell for $20.00 each and contain 285
coupons for fast food, area restaurants, stores, hotels, car washes, oil
changes, etc. Buy one for yourself and extras for gifts.
If you are interested in purchasing a coupon book please contact Bernice at
255-0540.
New Support Group Starting in Missoula September 28
Missoula HOPE ABC is a support group for parents which will be starting this
fall. If you would be interested in helping plan the initial meetings, or if you
want to be notified of the first meeting, please contact Melanie Martin-Dent, mmartindent@yahoo.com
or 406/546-7006.
The name stands for "Helping Other Parents of Emotionally and Behaviorally
Challenged Children". We are beginning with our first support group meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 28, from 6:30-8:30 pm at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, at the
corner of Reserve and Sunset Lane.
Brain Injury Association Conference, September 24-25,
Butte
BIAM cordially invites you to attend this year's state conference. We are
very fortunate to have several well-regarded professionals presenting a wide
variety of topics this year.
For information, visit: http://www.biamt.org/conference/conferenceInfo.html.
"Freedom Machines" to air on Montana PBS
September 14 at 9:00 PM
Freedom Machines takes a look at the concept of disability through the
enabling lens of technology. The hour-long documentary weaves together stories
of a group of unforgettable people, whose talents are made visible in part by
their use of assistive technologies. In showing what is possible when people
have access to life enhancing tools, Freedom Machines challenges viewers to
question and redefine traditional assumptions of the very meaning of disability.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2004/freedommachines/resources_guide.php
http://www.freedommachines.com/
SEPTEMBER 7 MARKS NATIONAL AD/HD AWARENESS DAY
U.S. SENATE RECOGNIZES AD/HD AS A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN
Tuesday, September 7, will mark the inaugural AD/HD Awareness Day,
highlighting the significant impact of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
on millions of American children, families and adults.
In a resolution (S.370), introduced by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and
co-sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), the U.S. Senate recognized
AD/HD as a major public health concern and encouraged the federal government to
raise public awareness about AD/HD and to improve access to mental health
services for children and adults with the illness.
AD/HD is a neurobiological disorder that affects an estimated 3 to 7 percent of
school-age children and an estimated 4 percent of adults across racial, ethnic
and socioeconomic groups. While the exact cause of the disorder is unknown,
studies indicate that AD/HD runs in families and suggest that genetic
inheritance is an important risk factor. AD/HD is characterized by impulsivity,
inattention, and in some cases, hyperactivity.
Steps to Success: Communicating with Your Child's
School
Developed by the 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. A Spanish language version of the document will be
available soon.
Click here to read or print the English version of the document: http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/success.cfm.
Travel Web sites agree to be more accessible to blind
By Michael Gormley / Associated Press
ALBANY, N.Y. -- In one of the first enforcement actions of the Americans
with Disabilities Act on the Internet, two major travel services have agreed to
make sites more accessible to the blind and visually impaired.
Priceline.com and Ramada.com have agreed to changes that will allow users with
"screen reader software" and other technology to navigate and listen
to the text throughout their Web sites, according to New York Attorney General
Eliot Spitzer.
Although the software and other devices, including a vibrating mouse that lets
the blind "feel" boxes and images on the computer screen, have been
available for years, Web sites must have specific coding that allows the
equipment to operate, Spitzer said.
"This is a precedent-setting decision," said Carl Augusto, president
and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. "We hope it's going to be
influencing other companies throughout the United States so that the 10 million
blind and visually impaired people can fully participate in our society at all
levels."
"It's the right thing to do, and it's good business," said Augusto,
who is visually impaired.
Spitzer's settlement follows investigations over the last two years to determine
if Web sites conform to the federal act and state law that require all
"places of public accommodation" and all "goods, services,
facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations" be accessible to the
disabled.
Read the complete article at: http://www.detnews.com/2004/technology/0408/22/technology-247803.htm.
The Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health,
and Society Hearing on Genetic Discrimination, October 18, 2004
The issue of genetic discrimination is a high priority for the Secretary's
Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS). In an effort to
raise awareness about the problem, the Committee is seeking public comments from
individuals who:
Are health care providers and have had patients experience genetic
discrimination; express concern about genetic discrimination; or taken steps to
avoid genetic discrimination (for example, not undergoing genetic testing or
keeping the results out of a medical record).
SACGHS will be holding a hearing on October 18, 2004, to gather information from
members of the public about the scope and nature of genetic discrimination. The
Committee is particularly interested in learning about cases of genetic
discrimination that are based on predictive genetic information, pre-symptomatic
genetic disease, or carrier status.
President Bush has called for Federal legislation to prohibit genetic
discrimination in health insurance and employment. In October 2003, the Senate
unanimously passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and advocates
are pressing for action in the House of Representatives. In July 2004, the House
Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations of the Committee on Education and
the Workforce held a hearing on the issue of genetic discrimination. In spite of
broad bipartisan support for the legislation, there is opposition and it appears
to be preventing further progress in the House. The fear of genetic
discrimination and its adverse consequences is well-documented and regarded by
many as sufficient justification for Federal legislation. However, opponents
argue that there is insufficient evidence that genetic discrimination is
occurring and thus legislation is not warranted at this time. SACGHS hopes that
the information gathered during the hearing will help address the concerns of
the bill's opponents.
SACGHS was established to serve as a forum for deliberation on the ethical,
legal and social issues at the intersection of genetics, health and society and
to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services about these issues. For
more information about the Committee and its meetings, as well as copies of the
Committee's correspondence with the Secretary on this issue, please visit http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/SACGHS.HTM.
Please send your written comments to SACGHS by September 17, 2004, in care of
Amanda Sarata at sarataa@od.nih.gov or
by fax to 301-496-9839.
EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK
MSU-Billings 2 credit course, SPED 493-593
Instructor: Ms. Terry Lankutis LankutisT@aol.com (406) 388-7831
Location: MSU-Billings Campus, Billings, MT
Dates: October 8-9, November 5-6, November 12-13
Registration Information: cpsinfo@msubillings.edu
(406) 896-5890
Prerequisites: none
Course description:
This course introduces IEP Team members to a student centered decision-making
process used to identify individual student need for assistive technology. Many
IEP teams are unsure how to address the issue of assistive technology in an IEP.
By implementing this process, teams find they reach consensus, save money and
struggling students find more success in the general education classes. Using
case studies from their own situation, participants will:
1) Learn the difference between assistive technology and instructional
technology
2) Be introduced to the student centered decision-making process
3) Define assistive technology and IEP requirements
4) Identify local and national resources
5) Match individual student need to appropriate technology
6) Identify different types of non-tech, low tech and high tech as possible
solutions for a target student
Groups of IEP team members and general educators are encouraged to attend. OPI
renewal units are also available.
DEMAND ON SPECIAL EDUCATION IS GROWING
In an era when special education is one of the fastest-growing areas in
school budgets nationwide, new questions arise about the responsibilities of
classroom teachers: To what extent should schools take steps to help children
with social and emotional disabilities, particularly when children demonstrate
strong academic capacities? Which of these kids belong in special ed and which
just need extra help -- from counseling to greater supervision on the
playground? These have become important questions as budgets tighten in schools
across the country and the diagnosis of learning disabilities soars in both
number and variety, reports Sara Miller. "Special education is making us
rethink what education is," says Perry Zirkel, an education law specialist
at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Many educators agree that education
expands beyond books, he says, but opinions differ across districts on where the
line should be drawn. "Is it just reading, writing, and arithmetic? Or
[should education be] interpreted more broadly to include interaction with
others and social skills?" One thing is clear: The number of children in
the United States who qualify for special education is up nearly 40 percent in
the past decade: Some 6.5 million children between ages 3 and 21 have been
diagnosed with special needs - and cost at least twice as much as other kids to
educate. Of some $50 billion (and rising) spent on special ed annually, the
federal government contributes only about 18 percent. Although national numbers
haven't been tallied, special education spending is the fastest growing
expenditure for schools, says Bruce Hunter of the American Association of School
Administrators. When special education laws were created in the 1970s, "we
had no idea what we were getting into," he says. Some experts, indeed,
worry about "mission creep," with an ever-expanding list of mental
impairments.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0824/p01s03-ussc.html
TEEN THRILLER TAKES STANDARDIZED TESTING TO THE LIMITS
When novelist Edward Bloor set out to write a chiller for young adults, he
decided to include a murderous poltergeist. Then he added a really scary touch.
The poltergeist lives in a magnet school where the only thing the students do,
day after day, class after class, is take standardized tests. It's the spookiest
fictional school setting since Carrie made a mess out of the prom. Bloor sees
his third novel, "Story Time," as not just a traditional teen thriller
but also a social satire, targeting the fixation of politicians, educators,
parents and students on standardized test scores. "I just thought it would
be humorous to take things to the nth degree -- but then, I have an extreme
sense of humor," he says. Perhaps. But he's not alone. The hopes and fears
of many students, from grade-schoolers on up, are so intertwined with
standardized testing that references to it have crept out of headlines and PTA
meetings and into the province of popular culture. Novels, movies and television
shows are full of young characters grappling with issues related to test scores,
writes Michael McLeod.
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/entertainment/books/9428737.htm
UPDATE ON NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
As educators prepare for the 2004-05 school year, states are releasing
report cards, as required by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), that list
schools meeting (or failing to meet) Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
requirements. The report cards -- which are causing celebration in some
localities and consternation in others -- are bringing to the forefront some of
the ongoing issues inherent in creating a nationwide high-stakes accountability
system.
http://www.ascd.org/cms/index.cfm?TheViewID=2599&reid=sb
New Decision! Parents Reimbursed for ABA & Private
Preschool
http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/04/10th.kb.nebo.htm
K. B. is a young child with autism. Nebo School District (UT) offered to place
K. B. in a "hybrid" program at Park View Special Education Preschool.
The district also agreed to provide speech and occupational therapy and pay for
8-15 hours of ABA therapy a week.
The parents argued that K.B. required at least 40 hours of ABA therapy a week.
The parents provided ABA therapy, an aide, and placed their child in a
mainstream private preschool where she made good progress. The parents requested
a special education due process hearing, seeking reimbursement for the costs of
her special education program.
Another issue in K. B. v. Nebo School District involved the impartiality of
hearing officers. At that time, hearing officers in Utah could be retired school
district employees, current school district employees, and school board
attorneys. In K.B.s case, the hearing officer was employed by another school
district.
The substantive IDEA claim was that K.B. was denied a Free Appropriate Public
Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The procedural IDEA
claim was that K.B. was denied an impartial due process hearing because the
hearing officer was biased.
In addition to ruling on the parents' reimbursement requests and procedural
issues, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit includes a detailed
discussion of LRE requirements. Read L.B. and J.B. ex rel. K.B. v. Nebo School
District.
Intensive Early Intervention & Autism
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the child's ability to
communicate ideas and feelings, use imagination, and establish relationships
with others. No single behavior characterizes autism and no single known cause
is responsible for its onset. Currently there is no cure.
All available research strongly suggests that intensive early intervention makes
a critical difference to children with autistic spectrum disorders. Without
early identification and diagnosis, children with autism are unlikely to learn
the skills they need to benefit from education.
The award-winning "I Can Soar" video
available on NCTI web site
I Can Soar is a 26-minute video that showcases how assistive technology has
been integrated successfully into the lives of four children with disabilities.
Learn more about Angie, Aaron, Stacey, and Sean by visiting http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/resources/I_Can_Soar/default.asp.
"Get Educated about the Presidential Candidates
and Vote!"
Get EDUCATED on disability issues and policies of Republican President Bush
and Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry. What will they do for us in the
four years ahead?
1. Go to Republican President Bush's official web site
http://www.georgewbush.com or by typing
Bush & Cheney 2004 in your search engine.
a) Click on health care at top of page
b) Read the section titled Created a Prescription Drug Benefit under Medicare
c) Read the section titled Strengthened Medicaid and SCHIP
2. Go to Democratic Presidential Nominee Kerry's official web site http://www.johnkerry.com/index.html
or by typing in John Kerry and John Edwards in your search engine.
a) Under Get Informed on the left side, Click on Communities
b) Click on American's With Disabilities for Kerry/Edwards
c) Under Plan for America on the left side, Click on Health Care. Review Health
Care For All.
d) Under Plan for America click on Education. Scroll down to Meet Our
Responsibilities To Our Schools and review "ensure that No Child Left
Behind works (etc.)"
e) Under Plan For America click on Civil Rights. Scroll down to "Ensure
Equality For Americans With Disabilities"
PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE SURVEY ON TECHNOLOGY USE FOR
PERSONS WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES
The Beach Center on Disability in Kansas has developed an online survey at https://www.psychdata.com/surveys.asp?SID=6813
to find out how people with developmental disabilities use technology, including
computers, cell phones, and other information technology. The survey also asks
direct support professionals about the training they currently receive or may
need to support technology use. The survey is funded by the National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the American Association on Mental
Retardation is a partner on this initiative. For more information, contact Susan
Palmer at (785) 864-0270 or spalmer@ku.edu.
SPECIAL ISSUE OF THE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON MENTAL
RETARDATION EXAMINES IMPACT OF AGING ON FAMILY CAREGIVERS
Throughout the world, families are the major providers of care for adults
with developmental disabilities and statistics show that with growing life
expectancy, many of these adults are either living with elderly family members
or are outliving their parents. The latest issue of the American Journal on
Mental Retardation (AJMR) examines major issues in how the aging process affects
families and the health and social service system in Australia, the United
States, Israel, and Ireland.
To read a list of articles appearing in the special issue, visit http://aamr.allenpress.com/aamronline/?request=get-toc&issn=0895-8017&volume=109&issue=5.
To read an introduction by Dr. Tamar Heller, editor of the special issue of AJMR,
visit http://www.aamr.org/Reading_Room/pdf/HellerintroAug04AJMR.pdf.
In other family news, November has been designated as the National Family
Caregivers month. Read how you can get involved at http://www.nfcacares.org/.
PLUK trainings and activities planned for 2004-05
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.
Statewide Interactive Videoconferences
Other Training Activities
Other Community Activities
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
Mission Statement: Parent's Let's Unite for Kids unites parents, professionals, families and friends of children with special needs to support one another, and share information for the benefit of their children.
Vision Statement: Given information and support, individuals with disabilities and their families will feel empowered to advocate for themselves and participate fully in educational and community opportunities.
Statement on accessibility: Today, we endeavor to be conscious of the need for making all electronic information accessible, as we are aware of physical accessibility issues in our community. For design guidelines visit http://ncam.wgbh.org/cdrom/guideline/
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