05-08-08

Breaking News » I Know What You Did Last Math Class - On school days at 2 p.m., Nicole Dobbins walks into her home office in Alpharetta, Ga., logs on to ParentConnect, and reads updated reports on her three children. Then she rushes up the block to meet the fourth and sixth graders’ buses.

05-03-08

Book, Video and Product Reviews » How to Submit Your Book or Product for Review

Breaking News » Student with Marfan Syndrome Defies Medical Expectations - Nurses thought Mathew Rudes might die before his mother could even take him home after his birth due to severe Marfan syndrome, but Rudes, 21, will graduate with honors this spring from the University of California Los Angeles and begin law school in the fall. "I have survived my disabilities, I have survived my pain syndrome and I have survived the burning gaze of people who assume that I must be mentally retarded because I am in a wheelchair," Rudes said. "You cannot let disability, pain or worse -- people's assumptions -- rule your life; this is my life mantra. I live or die by these words."

Upcoming Events » MI Out & About Autism Walk-Run will take place on June 21, 2008 at 8:00 at Stony Creek MetroPark, Shelby Rd & 26 Mile Rd, Shelby Twp. Macomb/ St. Clair Chapter of the ASA, c/o Anne Gacki, 49180 Clinton Terrace, Macomb, MI, 48044 or call Anne Gacki at 586-447-2235 or visit http://www.macombasa.org.

04-28-08

Food Allergies » Peanut Butter and Deadly Taunts - A Combination of Bullying and Peanut Allergies May Put Some Kids in the ER. Late last spring, 14-year-old Sarah VanEssendelft of Mastic, N.Y., experienced bullying worthy of a teen movie. "There was a group of five girls ... and they decided they didn't want me sitting at their lunch table anymore," said VanEssendelft. To get her to leave, they all brought in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

04-27-08

04-19-08

Bridges4Kids NewsDigest » New edition published April 19, 2008 - click here.

04-18-08

General Ed Reform » 55 Teaching Dilemmas - This book gives teachers specific, practical ideas for conquering a variety of common challenges: managing classroom time, supporting struggling students, preventing burnout, communicating with parents, motivating students, leading effectively inside and outside the classroom, and much more.

04-17-08

Lead Poisoning » MI Local Churches Lead Charge Against Lead Poisoning (PDF) - Cleansing Saginaw area homes of their lead poisoning potential sits atop the agenda for some local religious leaders. The Faith Based Lead Poisoning Prevention Project stemmed from these individuals’ desire to improve public health, said the Rev. Marvin Smith, pastor of Mount Olive Institutional Baptist Church.

Breaking News » MI Bills Make Transition Easier For Military Children - The children of those serving in the military would have an easier time transferring to another school under legislation sponsored today by a pair of Democrats and Republicans in the House.

Breaking News » MI DHS Settlement in the Works - A lawsuit filed by the Children's Rights advocacy organization against Michigan's foster care system could cost the state $400 million per year, new Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Ismael Ahmed said.

Autism » Legos Can be Building Block to Teach Children with Autism - The Lego raft carrying the Lego castaways approached the Lego island, ''chased by raptors.'' Lewis Roberts, a 12-year-old from Medford, N.J., moved the raft an inch, then another young filmmaker snapped a digital camera. A third boy consulted their script. ''Quiet on the set!'' In the sudden silence, the boys let out a raptor-like ''ROAR.''

Medicaid, Medicare, SSI » Proposed Medicaid Rule Would Allow Thousands To Choose Community Supports Instead of Institutional Care - A proposal by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would allow thousands of Americans, who previously could only receive Medicaid-funded services in nursing homes and other institutions, to be given the choice to receive them in their homes.

Upcoming Events » NY YAI/NIPD's 29th Annual International Conference "Visions of Hope and Opportunity" will take place on May 5-9, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Manhattan, 1605 Broadway New York, NY 10019. This year’s conference is designed for professionals at all levels, family members and individuals with developmental and learning disabilities. For more information or to register, contact Abbe Wittenberg at 212-273-6193, abbe.wittenberg@yai.org.
 

04-16-08

Breaking News and No Child Left Behind » MI Dismantling Failing Schools Right Way to Stem Dropouts - The devastating news that three-quarters of students who enter freshmen classes in Detroit Public Schools aren't around on graduation day would be even more horrific had it fallen on deaf ears, as have past reports on the performance of Detroit schools. But new school Superintendent Connie Calloway got out in front of the report from America's Promise Alliance with a surprise announcement that the district will dismantle five of the city's worst performing schools and replace them with smaller, innovative programs.

Breaking News » MI Study: Detroit Schools Rank Last in Graduation Rate - Detroit has the worst graduation rate among principal school districts serving the country's 50 largest cities, according to a national study released this morning by a coalition of education policy makers.

Bullying in Schools » MI AFAM Trades on Anti-Homosexual Sentiment to Oppose Anti-Bullying Legislation - The American Family Association of Michigan (AFAM) is crowing that two GOP senators have yanked their sponsorship of anti-bullying legislation, issuing joint press releases with Sens. Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) and Valde Garcia (R-Howell). HB 4162 and HB 4091 passed the lower chamber last year (2007) and have been sitting in the Senate Education Committee ever since, but a Capitol rally last week brought the bills back to the forefront. There's also SB 0107 sponsored by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-Westland), but proponents say they're focused on the House bills.

04-15-08

Upcoming Events » MI William Beaumont Hospital, Center for Human Development FREE Workshop!! Relationship Enhancement for Parents of Children with Special Needs will take place on Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm, April 22, April 29, May 6, May 13, May 20. "Relationship Enhancement for Parents of Special Needs Children" is a 90 minute, five week workshop designed to address these specific stressors. To register or for more information, please call 248-691-4766.

Upcoming Events » MI AUTISM UNRAVELED a FREE symposium with Taylor Cross and Keri Bowers will take place on Sat., May 10, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Bridgman High School Performing Arts Center. Download the informational flyer, along with additional events. To register, Send your name, address, phone number, email address, and box lunch order to Maria Rosner at mjhdrosner@comcast.net or call 269.465.6711. You can also complete the registration form (in the flyer) and mail it to P.O. Box 898, Bridgman, MI 49106.

04-14-08

Breaking News » Broad Foundation Announces Finalists for Urban Education Prize - The Los Angeles-based Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has announced the finalists for this year's Broad Prize for Urban Education, a $1 million award given annually to the nation's outstanding urban public school district.

Breaking News » MI MDE Rolls Out Teaching Standards Draft - Teachers wanting to know what the state expects from them will be able refer to a 62-page document if it's approved by the state Board of Education.

General Ed Reform » WA WA to Pay for Free College of Low Income Middle-schoolers - Teresa Jackson is raising three grandchildren by herself on a fixed income, and saving money for their college education is nearly impossible. But now Washington state is stepping in to help low-income students like Jackson's grandchildren go to college.

General Ed Reform » OH Early-college Plan Details Scant - High schools across the state can begin applying this week for the first funds available to start “Seniors to Sophomores” early college programs. But it is unclear how many of those high schools – and their college partners – will be in the Cincinnati region. Some school officials here are just beginning to talk about how to launch the initiative in the fall. Proposed by Gov. Ted Strickland, Seniors to Sophomores would allow seniors to spend their fourth year of high school taking courses on college campuses in Ohio. They’d earn college credit and a high school diploma at the same time.

General Ed Reform » High School Seniors Get 'F' in Finance - Young people's financial know-how has gone from bad to worse. High school seniors, on average, answered correctly only 48.3 percent of questions about personal finance and economics, according to a nationwide survey released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve. That was even lower than the 52.4 percent in the previous survey in 2006 and marked the worst score out of the six surveys conducted so far.

04-13-08

Legal Research » Parent Representation - The American Bar Association has launched a new website dedicated to attorneys representing parents in child protective proceedings. The site contains resources, information about upcoming trainings and other materials. Parents' attorneys can also sign up for a listserve where they can share resources, ask questions, etc. This is part of a new initiative launched by the Bar to strengthen the representation parents receive.

04-12-08

Breaking News » MI QuickRamps for Kids - The QuickRamps for Kids program provides portable wheelchair ramps to families with children who experience Cerebral Palsy and other paralysis-causing conditions. QuickRamps are a fast and inexpensive alternative to permanent ramps. Best of all, they give a child immediate access to their community. All applicants must be under age 18 and must have Cerebral Palsy or a paralysis-causing condition. A doctor’s script or medical documentation is necessary as well as a signed photo release. For more information, please call 248-557-5070.

04-11-08

Breaking News » Parent Participation Needed for Autism Research Study - Parents of a child ages 6 to 18 with an Autism Spectrum Disorder are asked to participate in an online survey looking at their child’s behaviors and routines, as well as the family interactions, parenting practices, and stress. (It takes less than an hour to complete!) $5 for every completed survey will be donated by the research team to fund further Autism research! The study is being conducted by Stephanie Bader, a Clinical Psychology graduate student at the University of Southern Mississippi, as her Master's Thesis. It has been approved by the IRB, protocol number 27111205. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Stephanie Bader at stephanie.bader@usm.edu.

Breaking News » Global Youth Service Day - Save the Date! The Ninth Annual Global Youth Service Day will be held April 25-27, 2008. Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is the largest annual celebration of young volunteers, where millions of young people in countries everywhere highlight and carry out thousands of community improvement projects.

04-08-08

Breaking News » A Good Grade for Teach for America - What makes a good teacher? Experience helps. But a new study of Teach for America (TFA) – education's version of the Peace Corps – shows that their students do better on end-of-course exams than those of other teachers. TFA teachers' impact is even greater than that of teachers with three or more years of experience relative to new teachers.

04-07-08

Autism » CA Sacramento Doctor Takes Unconventional Approach to Autism - In the controversial world of autism treatment, mainstream medical doctors are increasingly pitted against alternative providers in the quest to figure out causes and develop treatments.
 
Autism » SC Mom Wins Fight for Autism Insurance - Ryan Unumb just turned 7 years old. He has about 100 words in his vocabulary, even if they are difficult to understand. He's potty trained. He loves playing with water. He follows instructions, he asks for food when he's hungry, and he gives lots of kisses. The law named for Lorri Unumb's son, Ryan, doesn't apply to him. Their family is self-insured. He's not where a 7-year-old should be developmentally, but for a child with severe autism, his parents are thrilled with his progress.
 
Autism » A New 'World' for Autistic Children - Deanna Ballard developed educational DVDs for her son, Zachary. He now talks, and parents around the country are trying the program.
 
Autism » MMR-autism Link Doctor Andrew Wakefield Defends Conduct at GMC Hearing - The doctor at the centre of the controversy over the MMR vaccine has denied committing serious professional misconduct, saying it had been his "duty as a physician and a human being" to investigate potential links between the jab and autism in children.
 
Autism » Gov. Charlie Crist, Dan Marino Back Mandatory Insurance for Autism - "They're making record profits," Crist said of insurance companies at a press conference. "If they can't suck it up a little bit to help some kids, there's something really wrong with that corporate ethic."

04-03-08

Breaking News » Bridges4kids Featured Book: Please Don't Label My Child: Break the Doctor-Diagnosis-Drug Cycle and Discover Safe, Effective Choices for Your Child's Emotional Health - In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Scott Shannon, a renowned child psychiatrist, sounds the clarion call on a raging epidemic: the over-labeling and overmedicating of our kids today. Learn more, order a copy, listen to the podcast, ror read an excerpt online at http://www.writtenvoices.com/titlepage.asp?ISBN=157954682X.

04-01-08

Breaking News and Autism » Getting Help For a Child with Autism - Here, from mothers of children with autism, are ways parents should fight for their children with autism, from babyhood through the school years.

03-31-08

Upcoming Events » MI Going to the Heart of Autism will take place on June 13-14, 2008 from 9:00am-4:30pm at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, 55 S Harrison Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824. Dr. Steve Gutstein Dramatically illustrates the Relationship Development Intervention Program (RDI) via audience participation and hours of video taken from actual intervention sessions. Cost per person is: Early Registration $250, Registration $275, Late Registration $300. For more information or to register, contact Shaunna Villareal at villareal@rdiconnect.com.

03-30-08

Respite » MI LAP Respite Center is a nonprofit agency in Lansing, MI providing lifespan respite services for families who care for children or adults with disabilities, chronic illness, or age-related conditions.

03-29-08

Breaking News » America’s Promise: 100 Best Communities for Young People - The America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) and Capital One announced in January the winners of the 2008 100 Best Communities for Young People (100 Best) competition which identifies cities and towns nationwide that have made the well-being of children and youth a top priority. In its third year, 100 Best spotlights those communities that find unique and effective ways to ensure their young people receive the resources necessary to stay in school and succeed.

Upcoming Events » MI Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention 5K Run/Walk will take place on April 13, 2008 at the State Capitol Building in Lansing, MI. The Children’s Trust Fund, in conjunction with Child Abuse Prevention Month, will host its first annual 5K Run/Walk for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Registration begins at 11:00 am. The Run/Walk will begin at 1:00pm. Registration forms and full details are available at www.michigan.gov/ctf.
 

03-27-08

Breaking News » MI Michigan Coalition Rallies For Anti-Bullying Legislation - The Safe Schools Coalition jammed the rotunda today to demand action on anti-bullying bills that passed the Michigan House last year.

Breaking News and Recent Court Cases » FL Low Graduation Rate Draws Florida Lawsuit - Amid mounting national frustration over high school graduation rates, the School District of Palm Beach County in Florida has been thrust onto center stage. In a class-action lawsuit, the American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that the district boost its graduation rates and reduce the gaps in those rates between racial and socioeconomic groups. "If the ACLU is successful, this is going to shake everything up, because it will be a whole different set of expectations about who is supposed to solve the problems," says Paul Houston, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators in Arlington, Va.

03-25-08

Bridges4Kids NewsDigest » New edition published March 25, 2008 - click here.