Quick Poll: Child with an IEP Sent Home From School
About Bridges4Kids.org
A non-profit parent organization
providing a comprehensive system of information and referral for
parents and professionals working with children from birth through transition to adult life.
Bridges4Kids also supports non-profits that share our mission with web
design, data collection, telephone referral services and technical
assistance.
Find help for a child in Michigan at
all ages and stages, including websites, hotlines,
disability organizations and more.
Who We Are
Bridges4Kids is a statewide, non-profit parent organization dedicated
to building partnerships between families, schools and communities to
help promote developmental and educational success for all children. Visit Our Websites
Bridges4Kids operates Michigan’s most comprehensive website
providing parents, educators, and others the information they need to
help children who might be at-risk or have special needs. It is
updated daily and includes information on child development, education
issues and opportunities, and extensive disability, gifted, at-risk,
parenting, and teaching resources. Choose the "search" function on our
menu to search the entire site for the information you need. Visit
www.bridges4kids.org.
Early Childhood
Michigan is a comprehensive
early childhood information website. For more information, visit
www.EarlyChildhoodMichigan.org.
Where To Find Help For A Child is a comprehensive listing of
contacts, resources, and programs available in each county, state,
and province. Click on "Michigan", "Anywhere in the U.S." or
"Canada" in the main menu.
Breaking News, on the Bridges4Kids home page, provides daily
updates of local, state and national news on all topics related to
children that might interest parents and educators.
Sign up to receive the free, online, weekly Bridges4Kids NewsDigest
that has been called “the best source of education news in Michigan”.
The Digest includes all information posted to our various websites
during the past week.
Michigan Lead Safe Partnership—Signs of lead poisoning include
headaches, irritability, abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss, poor
attention span, hyperactivity, learning difficulties, and slowed
speech development. Visit
www.GetTheLeadOut.org.
Michigan Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Network—PBS has been
shown to reduce school violence, suspensions, and “trips to the
office”. Visit
www.bridges4kids.org/PBS.
Bridges4Kids
answers a toll-free help line with experienced information and referral
specialists dedicated to connecting callers with the help they need. 1-877-HELP 4 KIDS (435-7454). Help 4 Kids provides information
and support for infants, toddlers, children, and youth at all ages and
stages. Bridges4Kids staff and partner agencies provide personal
assistance.
Mission Statement
"We
are a community of equal partners coming together to provide a
circleof
support for ALL children frombirth to
adult life with a special focus onthose
who have disabilities, special needs, or who are at-risk."
To provide parents with the knowledge and supports they need as theirchildren's most important teachers and caregivers.
To respect the diversity of
all families with regard to race, ethnicity,
religious beliefs, philosophy, disabilities, and income.
To promote high
expectations for all children from birth to adult life.
To form meaningful and
effective partnerships between families, schoolsand communities because we know that positive
inter-relationships are key tosuccess for
children.
To utilize and contribute
to best practice models.
To collect data, interpret
data, and let data direct our actions.
To
value the free exchange of ideas and to embrace thoughtful, carefullyconsidered change.
To love, care for, and
cherish all children by remembering that what isright for each of them is our primary focus.
To uphold our mission and
carry out our goals in an environment of mutualrespect and collaboration.
A Brief History of Bridges4Kids & Who is Behind Bridges4Kids?
Bridges4Kids was founded in 2002 by
Deborah K. Canja and Jackie D. Igafo-Te'o after realizing the need
for a comprehensive system of support on the
web for ALL children.
"We know first-hand the struggles that parents face.
We've been there." By using
personal experiences and the experiences of others,
Bridges4Kids developed a system of support and information & referral that is
used worldwide by millions who are interested in the
education, health and
the overall well-being of children.
"We would not be able to
realize this dream without the loving
support and steadfast dedication ofBernard
Travnikar, Brunhilde Merk-Adam, John Brower, Kim Murphy, Bella Djordjevski,
our families, and countless
others. The support that we've received
has been phenomenal. As long as there's a need, we'll be
here."
Deborah Canja
currently serves as the CEO of Bridges4Kids, a non-profit
organization serving the needs of parents and professionals
working with children with special needs or who are at risk.
Bridges4Kids answers toll-free help lines and connects callers to
agencies and organizations throughout Michigan.
Before becoming CEO of Bridges4Kids, Ms. Canja was the executive
director of CAUSE, Michigan’s federally funded Parent Training and
Information Center for children with disabilities. Prior to that
she practiced law for 12 years as a Michigan assistant attorney
general. Ms. Canja has also been a hearing officer and management
consultant and a trained facilitator for the national parenting
program “Parent to Parent.”
About Jackie D. Igafo-Te'o
Jackie Igafo-Te'o
currently serves as Director of Information
Technology & Information Systems for Bridges4Kids, and as an
Independent Consultant working with many disability-related
organizations in the U.S. She recently accepted an appointed
seat on Michigan's Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC,
2008-2011) and served an elected term as Treasurer for the
Autism Society of Michigan (2007-2008)).
Jackie currently resides in
Michigan with her husband (a soldier in the Michigan Army National
Guard) and their three children. Their oldest child,
currently age 16, won Pro-Solv math trophies
several years in a row. He also happens to have ADHD.
He
wrote a book about his life
and how he deals with ADHD. Their middle
child, currently age 15, is an artist and animator. He dreams of one day
moving to Hollywood to work at Universal
Studios or to animate for Disney. He was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3, Impulse
Control Disorder at age 9 and bipolar disorder at age 11, after being
misdiagnosed several times from birth through 2 years. He
illustrated both of his sibling's books. Their
youngest child, currently age 13, is doing well in school and is
her brother's best friend. It is
both rewarding and difficult for her being the sibling of two
children with disabilities. She
wrote a book, along with her mom's help, to express her
feelings on being a sibling. In November 2009, Michael
and Melody starred in an interstitial called "The Time I
Realized My Brother was Different (Autism)" on Disney Channel.
Her prior volunteer work on TroopUpdate earned military honors two years in a
row. "Behind our mobilization there stands a person that went out of
her way to ensure our soldiers were looked after and for that we
wish to publicly acknowledge our sincere gratitude for her
outstanding support by acknowledging her as an 'Outstanding Center
of Influence'. Mrs. Jackie Igafo -Te'o developed and maintained a
website specifically for our deployed soldiers in GTMO. At any
given time, families could access the internet and see up to date
information regarding their loved ones, to include pictures and
comments." [Lt. Yordy, MiARNG]
Before
co-founding Bridges4Kids, Mrs. Igafo-Te'o was employed as a
Systems Analyst for an organization that works
for the betterment of children, teens and families in Michigan and
Ohio. She has also served as Director of IT for Michigan’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center
for children with disabilities, and as Evaluation Assistant for
the Early On Personnel Development System.
Our visitors' legal questions are answered by
John Brower. John is a
Professor ofEducation Law and managing
partner ofthe Education Law Center who
alsoregularly
represents parents of disabled children via the Law Office of JohnBrower - Brighton, MI.
For more information about John,
click here.
Here
are just a few of the great things that people are saying about
Bridges4Kids:
"I would just like
to express my thanks for this wonderful website! We are a military
family overseas, about to move back to the states with a child
with an ASD. This website has helped us so much in determining the
right state to chose for our next duty station!!!!!!!" Casey P.,
Okinawa, Japan [02-07]
"I would simply
like to thank you for being the finest website for professionals &
families in existence! I am a Director of an agency that supports
children with disabilities & families, as well as the father of a
son with Asperger Syndrome. Keep up the great work!" Brendan
M. [4-05]
"A wonderful
website and resource, right here in Michigan, for families of kids
with all kinds of disabilities, is
www.bridges4kids.org.
Sign up for the weekly e-newsletter with articles from across the
state and the nation. The website has many many links, and
resources for public and charter school families, as well as
homeschool families. It would be a good place to visit before your
IEP." Lydia S., President, Parents of Blind Children of
Michigan [4-05]
"I wanted to say to you how great I think the Bridges4kids site
is. Thanks for all the hard work you do on it." Signe R. [4-05]
"I found your
Website today and found it to be...a robust source of
information..." - Linda M., Life Planners Newsletter [1-05]
"Thank you so much
for e-mailing a list of some schools in the area that I may have
my son attend for special ed. Right now my son is at a crossroad.
Glad to know there IS another option: a school for children with
behavior disabilities. I contacted several organizations in
Michigan [names removed] before contacting you...including a few
disability-related organizations [names removed]...even the
statewide parent hotline [name removed]. Finally, Senator Kuipers
office suggested I call the Michigan Dept of Education...which
suggested I e-mail Bridges4Kids. Thanks again, Ms. Igafo-Te'o...I
WAS frustrated - but not anymore." - R. Burke, Jenison, MI [1-05]
"Their website if
full of very helpful and timely information about many topics of
interest to parents and those working with children. Visiting
their website is time well spent." - Jeffery L., MA, LLP,
Orchards
Children’s Services, Inc.
"Bridges4Kids
provides a glossary of special education terms to help patients
and families." - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
"A comprehensive
site providing health and education information and links for
parents and professionals on a variety of topics including
specific disabilities and disorders, programs for children from
birth to 3, special education, gifted education, substance abuse,
bullying, suicide, Medicaid and insurance."
- OnlineHealthResources.org
"Bridges4Kids NewsDigest...full of
information related to Parenting Concerns, Child Development
issues, Special Education and Disabilities." - Detroit Public
Television
"This site contains information on a very large variety of topics
covering everything from health to education. The site also
provides links to other information sources which can be a great
aid in locating information." - Nevada's Children With Special
Health Care Needs Website
"This useful site has information on School issues, IEP’s, IDEA,
Section 504, Parenting/Adoption, SSI, FSS, Insurance, Positive
Behavior Support, Cultural Issues, Children At-Risk, College
Financial Aid, and more." - Kentucky's Commission for Children
with Special Health Care Needs
"This website includes a wealth of information on Positive
Behavioral Support on a variety of topics." - Family NET Works
"The following
materials have stood the test of time and are as relevant today as
the day they were published:
Positive
Behavioral Support [contains] Research Briefs [that] inform
families about positive behavioral support (PBS) and how they can
use PBS with their children with developmental disabilities. The
bridges4kids Web site, at
http://www.bridges4kids.org, offers a vast amount of
information geared toward building partnerships between families,
schools, and communities." - (NICHCY)
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
[4-03]
"A great resource,
incredibly well organized and easy to use!"
disAbility Connections, Summer 2004 Newsletter
"Dear Bridges, I
didn't realize what a great site this is until I got on the web
looking for information. Keep up the good work...Thanks" - Cindy
R., Early On Coordinator, Manistee County Michigan
[12-04]
"This is indeed an
AWESOME site. Please keep up the good work!" Judy H.,
President NAMI NE Michigan, NE Michigan Community Mental Health
Board Member and Michigan Association for Children's Mental Health
[11-04]
"I was referred to
your website from the department of education of Michigan. Wow.
What a huge amount of useful information! I am overwhelmed, and
will be visiting often, as my brain permits! Thank you!" - M. J.
Westbrook [11-04]
"I happened upon
your website and just wanted to tell you what a great job you are
doing with it! I am not from Michigan but I can tell that Michigan
cares about it's special needs kids just from the resources
listed! Thanks for making information available on the internet in
such a good way for the parents in your state and others who
happen upon it!" K. McBride, Hancock, Maryland [10-04]
"This is a wonderful site!" - K. Levine, New Jersey[10-04]
"As both a parent
of a child with Autism and a Director of a program that assists
children with developmental disabilities I would like to thank you
for the great information that your newsletter provides. As a
great fan of your newsletter I inform many [people] of its useful articles
and encourage them to sign up to receive it..." Sincerely, B.
McCormick [10-04]
"Just wanted to
say what a wonderful website Bridges4Kids is! I work at MDCH as
follow-up coordinator of the Michigan Birth Defects Registry and
added a description of your site to our family resource pamphlet.
We will also be sure to add a link to your site on our Genetics
website at
www.migeneticsconnection.org. Nancy Peeler shared information
with me about Bridges4Kids--I am so glad she did and am really
impressed with the wealth of information available!! I have
already added it to my favorites list! Thanks again for your
devotion to families and children, especially those with special
care needs." - Jane S., RN, MPH, Michigan Birth Defects
Registry, Follow-up Coordinator
"Your newsletters are so full of useful information
for everyone that I had to devote a page on my website just for your
news...so at least my readers will have access to everything you post plus
they can subscribe to you as well. Keep up the great work and keep on
keeping us informed." - Keith K., Founder of
DAC
(Disabled Action Committee), Dale City, VA [9-04]
A StumbleUpon.com
reviewer from Houston, Texas says "Great information and insight
for parents. I have no children, but even so, it is a great site
to let your friends know about if they are in need of assistance."
A to Z Teacher's Stuff says "This site has a WONDERFUL newsletter
with up to date topics in special ed. They send links to articles
online from other magazines and journals and such."
"I can not find
the words to thank you enough! God bless you! What an
extraordinary group of people we have in the disability
community...I don't know what I would do without the Bridges4Kids
newsletter. I forward it to other parents all over the country who
are dealing with special education issues for their kids with
psychiatric disabilities." - Dorothea B.,
Schizophrenia.com [8-04]
"Congratulations on providing such a nice and
informative Bridge4Kids website! With the disabled populations growing it's
important for everyone to know where to find this helpful, accessible
information." - Matt W., Viewpoint Mobility, Kalamazoo, MI
[7-04]
"You have a great web site...I hope that one
day we'll have a website as good as Bridges4Kids in Ohio." Mike N., Akron,
OH [7-04]
WrightsLaw gives
the Bridges4Kids News Digest 5 Stars! "If you want to stay current
on special education news and issues - but also want to keep your
email box from overflowing - we recommend that you subscribe to
Bridges4Kids News Digest." [7-04]
I am placing your
wonderful website on our front page...which will list resources
that cover special education nationally. - Betsy C.,
ParentAdvocates.org [6-04]
You do a masterful
job on Bridges4Kids. - Pam W.,
Wrightslaw.com [6-04]
Your website is the best that I have
found. I love it. I live in Macon, Georgia and have an 11 yr old
with Autism. You have so much info that helps parents. Thanks and
don't ever go away. Holly M. [5/04]
Thanks for putting such a useful site
on the Web! Sincerely, Matthew B., MSW, LSW, Hanover, PA
www.enterthefreudianslip.com [5/04]
Thank you for your latest e-mail.
Your information is so important. I am a paraprofessional...have
been working in the school system for 19 years and have been
with the special education field for seven years. Theresa G.
[4/04]
I will be sure to recommend your site
to many others. I am amazed at the amount of information
Bridges4Kids provides about anything and everything a parent would
need to know to help their child. Sincerely, Sherry H., SMG-CAN
Parent Advisor,
www.selectivemutism.org [3/04]
Wow! Thanks for all the very quick info! I work with a little boy
with this syndrome. Thanks, E. M. Clarke [3/04]
Thank you so much! You were a big help! Your information and
advice were very useful to me. I truly appreciate your time and
consideration. Jearelly [3/04]
Just a quick note to thank you and all of your staff. I am a
parent of a child with a disability (now an adult) and have worked
professionally as a disability advocate for many years. I
subscribe to many newsletters and journals but am always pleased
to see Bridges on my e-mail. Your newsletter encompasses such a
variety of issues that I always spend time checking it all out.
Again, Thank You. Laurie D. [3/04]
Thanks for all the wonderful information...Mary Ellen S.,
Madison, WI [3/04]
Wow, you guys cover so much in your news letters on line. I get a
better update on education matters on your site than any other,
including staff in Lansing, as you cover the Senate also. Thanks!
Michigan State Representative Ruth Johnson [3/04]
Congratulations on your web site! I
found your web site quite by accident and I APPLAUD THE GREAT WORK
YOU HAVE DONE. Jane T., Co-founder, Greater New Haven
Connecticut Celiac Group [1/04]
Congratulations on both an excellent Web site and a great resource
for families and professionals. Sincerely, Judy W.
www.JudyWinter.com
[1/04]
I love your
newsletter! I am impressed with the amount of information made
available and how it is displayed. You (and your staff) do a
fabulous job. I refer to your newsletter often and I share it with
the members of my Special Education Parent Teacher Organization
(SEPTA) among others - even though we live in New York. Nassau
county Long Island to be exact. I enjoy your 'national' coverage
as well as the 'local' Michigan stories, as we seem to all be
confronted with the same issues. Seeing how you and your state are
approaching the issues provides me with insight as to how we may
approach and resolve our issues. I love the upgrades with the
graphics - the newsletter is really beautiful and easy to
navigate. Keep up the GREAT WORK! Thanks for your time and
consideration, Sincerely, Suzanne L.
I looked at your site and was very intrigued - so much useful
information! Narmina O., Tiny Ears [12/03]
Thank you for responding so promptly! Your information was very
helpful. Have a great day. Theresa S. [11/03]
Thank you so very much for replying so quickly. The information
you sent me is WONDERFUL!!! I can't thank you enough for the link
to this valuable resource. I have added your email address to my
list of very important and helpful resources. Thank you again!
Julie B. [11/03]
Thanks for the helpful information you sent a few weeks back. We
appreciated it. Dan Z.
[11/03]
I would like to ask your permission to share this information with
all of my email contacts who could benefit from these stories.
Thank you so much and GOD will always bless you. I have cried so
hard with some of these stories that need to be shared as well as
guiding people to your web site. I have them ready to click on
send to dozens of people who COULD benefit. Sincerely, Linda
J. [10/03]
News
Bridges4Kids Advisory Council Member
Lee Porter:
Principal Committed to 'Better' Kids - Renaissance
Alternative School Principal Lee Porter awakens early every
morning to exercise and drive from his rural home south of Lansing
to Howell. The drive to school is one of his most creative times,
he says, while the drive home is when he considers what he should
have done differently.
Bridges4Kids Staff Jackie Igafo-Te'o:
MI
A Flood of
Support - Sgt. Billy Igafo-Te'o and his wife, Jackie, had
hoped use the $5,000 they had saved up to treat their family to a
nice vacation when he comes home in July on a two-week leave from
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he is stationed for the National
Guard. But the money is going to be needed to repair flooding,
caused when a baby-sitter left the outside spigot on for hours and
worsened by this spring's storms. (Jackie Igafo-Te'o is the
Bridges4Kids Director of Information Technology & Information
Systems.)
MI Michigan
Child Welfare:
Serving Special Kids - For the
first time, report includes disabled children; parents say it's
difficult to get them the help they need. One in eight Michigan
youths has a disability that interferes with their ability to
learn, go outside the home alone, see, hear or move about,
according to the Kids Count in Michigan Data Book released today.
Bridges4Kids Staff Jackie Igafo-Te'o:
MI
Bridges4Kids
Family Members Called to Active Duty: Albion Guard Unit Deployed
- It was hard for Bridges4Kids Technology Directory and webmaster,
Jackie Igafo-Te'o, to say goodbye to her husband Billy as he left for at least
six months of active duty. She is losing more than a spouse. Billy is her
day-to-day partner as they struggle to raise their nine-year-old son, Michael,
who has autism, as well as their two other children, Melody and Sebastian.
"Michael can be difficult to handle," Jackie explained, "but he responds to his
dad. I don't know how I will manage without Billy."
Bridges4Kids
Celebrates the Life of Advisory Council Member, Dorothy
Beardmore - Bridges4Kids, along with Michigan’s education and
religious communities, mourns the passing of Dorothy Beardmore, Bridges4Kids
Advisory Council member, former Michigan State Board of Education Member, and
newly-elected President of the Board of Neighborhood House in Rochester,
Michigan.
Bridges4Kids
Advisory Council Member Dorothy Beardmore: Beardmore Award
Honors Public Education Advocate
- The State Board of Education will annually
recognize an individual who significantly advances education
reform in Michigan with the Dorothy Beardmore Service to
Education Award.
Bridges4Kids Advisory Council Member
Lee Porter: School
Reinvents Learning -
For Howell alternative class at Renaissance Alternative School,
science can be fun.
Ask the Attorney with John
Brower, J.D. - Our visitors' legal questions are answered by
John Brower. John is a
Professor ofEducation Law and managing
partner ofthe Education Law Center who
alsoregularly
represents parents of disabled children via the Law Office of JohnBrower - Brighton, MI.
For more information about John,
click here.
As an attorney, Calvin Luker comes across many issues pertaining to
special education. He and Tricia Bacchus-Luker are long-time child advocates
and experts in many fields related to disabilities and special
education.
Their combined knowledge is a virtual powerhouse of information
for parents and professionals alike. They have created many works that are available on this website.
Modules, articles, and book reviews are just a few of the
treasures you'll find here from Calvin and Tricia. As
parents of Jessica, a child with disabilities and special needs,
these two wonderful people have experienced the struggle
first-hand. We trust that you'll find their contributions
as valuable as we have.
We have created banners that you can download for your
website or you can choose to link directly to our picture located on
our server. For more information on linking to Bridges4Kids,
click here for banner choices and other
options.
Do you want to advertise our NewsDigest
on your website?
Click here for a banner and code options.
The documents posted on this site contain hyperlinks to
information created and maintained by other public and private
organizations. These links are provided for the user's
convenience. Bridges4Kids does not
control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or
completeness of this outside information. Further, the
inclusion of links to particular items is not intended to reflect
their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views
expressed, or products or services offered, on these outside
sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites. Bridges4Kids does not recommend or
endorse specific diagnostic or therapeutic regimens, whether
educational, psychological, or medical. Parents and caretakers
should consult with experienced professionals to determine the
best course of treatment for their child, or for themselves. All
information provided by Bridges4Kids is for informational and
educational purposes only.
