02-05-10

Breaking News » Administration Outlines Proposed Changes to ‘No Child’ Law - The Obama administration said on Monday that it would ask Congress to raise education spending by about $3.5 billion, a 7.5 percent increase, for the 2011 fiscal year, even as it sought to limit other categories of domestic spending.

Future Planning » A Practical Guide to Estate Planning for a Family with a Special Needs Child - Based in Troy, MI, Sebastian V. Grassi, Jr. is a nationally recognized tax and estate-planning practitioner and author of several tax and estate planning guides. He and his wife, Elizabeth, a special-education teacher, are the parents of three children; one of them, Laura, is an adult special-needs child with severe cerebral palsy. The book is divided into two parts: 17 chapters that present a clear and comprehensive overview of the essential elements of special-needs planning and five appendices that provide special-needs trust forms and practical, detailed commentary by Mr. Grassi and other noted lawyers on technical aspects of planning for a special-needs child.

02-03-10

Autism » Map of Michigan Parent Support Options: Autism Spectrum Disorders updated.

Autism » The Center for Autism provides the most comprehensive outpatient services to families struggling with autism across West Michigan. The Center focuses on treating autism spectrum disorders from a multi-disciplinary approach that includes psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, behavior analysts, speech and occupational therapists. Our highly specialized clinicians assess and treat autism and other neuro-developmental disabilities, as well as learning disabilities, ADHD, and social/emotional disorders. By providing all of our services in one location, it reduces the stress of multiple locations for the individual and their family. In addition, all the specialists are in one location so we can work together to treat symptoms and behaviors to maximize the individuals potential.

Autism » A Fascinating Compilation of Savant History and News

01-31-10

Breaking News » CPS Tactics Found To Violate Civil Rights: Ruling from 9th Circuit - This is a new published 9th Circuit civil rights case from Oregon holding common CPS investigation tactics to be unconstitutional under either the 4th or 14th Amendment despite evidence that the child they sought to protect was at risk.

01-29-10

Legal Resources » Bridges4kids Featured Resource: LawSchool.org

01-25-10

Upcoming Events » MI Autism Society of Michigan's spring conference, Annual 5K Walk/Run for Autism Acceptance, and Spring Focus Workshop Series are now available for registration at http://www.autism-mi.org (click on events and calendar).

Upcoming Events » MI Autism in the Classroom: Simple & Effective Strategies to Learn Today and Use Tomorrow will take place on March 12, 2010 from 9am-5pm at Hyatt Place, 2150 Metro Ln, Wyoming, MI 49519. Discover the 10 Concepts That Will Transform the Way You Understand and Teach Students with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. For more information, visit http://www.horizonsdrcworkshops.com or info@horizonsdrc.com.

Upcoming Events » MI Day of Change: A Groundbreaking Workshop for Parents of Children with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders will take place on March 13, 2010 from 9am-5pm at Hyatt Place, 2150 Metro Ln, Wyoming, MI 49519. During this Day of Change we will show you five simple but powerful concepts to help you permanently impact your child’s communication, behavior, and relationships for the better. For more information, visit http://www.horizonsdrcworkshops.com or info@horizonsdrc.com.

01-11-10

Breaking News » WI State Rejects Seclusion Rooms for Students with Disabilities - The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has rejected the Greenfield School District's plan to use federal stimulus dollars to construct seclusion areas for students with disabilities and informed districts statewide that federal special-education funds should not be used for such purposes.

01-09-10

01-07-10

Autism » Map of Michigan Parent Support Options: Autism Spectrum Disorders updated.

12-22-09

Breaking News » Free e-Book My Brother Has Autism (2009) - This book was written by an 8 year old girl whose brother has Autism. It describes her feelings and what life is like for her and her family. The entire book is illustrated by her brother, Michael. The book is dedicated to all of the boys and girls out there who have autism and the siblings who love them.

12-03-09

Breaking News » MI Anti-Restraint Bill Introduced in Michigan - Schools could no longer use restraints or a locked, secluded room to punish children under legislation introduced today by Rep. Deb Kennedy (D-Brownstown Twp.). According to a new report by the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, restraint and seclusion practices in Michigan's schools are unregulated, underreported and potentially fatal. In 2003, two Michigan students died while being physically restrained by school officials. "This is a widespread problem that affects students with disabilities and their families across the country, including many who live right here in Michigan," said Elmer Cerano, executive director of the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service. [MIRS 12-2-09]

11-18-09

Community Living » Miracle League of Plymouth "because every child deserves a chance to play baseball."

11-05-09 

Upcoming Events » MI Family to Family Health Information & Education Center has many trainings scheduled around the state of Michigan. For more information, Download the training brochure.

11-01-09

Autism » Map of Michigan Parent Support Options: Autism Spectrum Disorders updated

10-16-09

09-28-09

F2FHIEC » MI Over 40 trainings just announced from the Family to Family Health Information and Education Center. Trainings are being held across Michigan on many topics. Register Online for a training or Download the training brochure.

09-18-09

Breaking News » Drew's Moving Out - Drew, our 25 year old son with Asperger Syndrome, is moving out. It’s such a major event in our lives; it triggers a cascade of thoughts and memories.

09-08-09

Breaking News » MI Michigan House Moves Flexible Curriculum Bill - Legislation that adds flexibility to the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) by providing for ways to obtain a diploma without taking traditional algebra II passed the House.

Upcoming Events » MI LDA of Michigan's Learning in the 21st Century Classroom will take place on November 16 and 17, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kellogg Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. Monday's Keynote: Lynell Burmark, Ph.D., author of: Visual Literacy: Learn to See, See to Learn; Tuesday's Keynote: Christopher M. Lee, Ph.D., on learning disabilities and adaptive technology. Go to http://www.ldaofmichigan.org/calendar.htm for more information.
 

08-25-09

Breaking News » MI Deaf Students Tackle Gridiron Dreams in Flint - Brandon Locke sprinted down field along a line of orange cones, cut sharply to his left, looked over his shoulder and squinted into the August sun. The football arrived, but not with the intended accuracy. Locke stretched out his arms and leaned. He narrowly avoided stumbling and, hair flying, deftly hauled in the ball. Locke smiled broadly and trotted back to his coaches.

08-10-09

College & Financial Aid » bridges4kids Featured Resource: Virtual campus tours available online through YOUniversityTV.com -This is an awesome website offering virtual campus tours and giving high-school students the chance to see colleges without leaving home. www.YOUniversityTV.com has video tours of more than 400 four-year institutions in the U.S. Colleges do not provide or pay for the online tours, which are produced by the Web site with more in production.

Upcoming Events » MI Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC) 5th Annual Infant Toddler Conference will take place on September 17, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel Dearborn, Detroit, MI. Keynote: What You Teach Me Birth to Three Dr. Pam Schiller, Schiller Educational Resources, LLC. Visit www.miaeyc.org for registration information, registration, and preliminary program Register online at  https://www.miaeyc2.org/ITReg09/ITReg09.lasso.

07-30-09

06-03-09

Upcoming Events » MI Updated list of dates for Teens Using Drugs: What to Know and What to Do

05-25-09

Upcoming Events » MI Response to Intervention: Building a Collaborative Culture to Assist the Struggling Reader will take place on October 10, 2009 from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at Wayne County Community College District Western Campus, 9555 Haggerty Road, Belleville, MI 48111. For more information, visit http://idamich.org.

05-17-09

05-16-09

Breaking News » Bridges4kids Featured Resource: Michigan Law School Program

04-25-09

Breaking News » MI Mercury Bills Pass House - On April 22nd, the Michigan House of Representatives passed a five-bill package that would put further restrictions on the use and presence of mercury. The package includes HB 4277 (prohibits placement of mercury in landfills or incinerators except for under limited circumstance and require labeling of mercury-added products), HB 4278 (requires manufacturers to paste a mercury warning label on their products), HB 4280 (requires mercury distributors to give a safety sheet to everybody to whom they sell their product), HB 4281 (bans mercury from thermometers and other products), and HB 4279 (would ban mercury from button cell batteries). Despite this passage in the House, it's unclear whether the Senate will change the legislation or simply push it aside in favor of budget issues.

04-23-09

Autism » Map of Michigan Parent Support Options: Autism Spectrum Disorders updated

04-15-09

Breaking News » MI Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education Supplemented With IDEA Federal Regulations (4/09)

04-11-09

Breaking News » MI Gubernatorial Appointments to Statewide Independent Living Council Announced

Summer Camp » MI Registration Going on Now for 2009 A+ Summer College Youth Program - Kids in grades 2-8 can take summer fun classes at Lansing Community College! Classes will be held July 13th – August 7th at LCC East in East Lansing off of Hagadorn Road. Additional classes will be held August 3rd – August 7th at the Livingston Center in Howell for students entering grades 6-8. These week-long, half-day classes provide hands-on learning opportunities in the visual and performing arts, technology, language and science. For a list of classes visit http://lcc.edu/ece/aplus.

Upcoming Events » MI Literacy Symposium: Motivating Adolescents to Read and Write will take place on May 7, 2009 from 4:30-8:00 pm at WISD, 1819 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor MI 48103. Michael W. Smith from Temple University will discuss motivating adolescents to read, both in and out of school. Smith is the author of "Reading Don't Fix no Chevies" and "Going with the Flow: How to Engage Boys (and Girls) in their Literacy Learning". There will be a panel discussion at the conclusion of the evening featuring Dr. Smith and a couple of local experts working in these areas. To register, call (734) 369-3366 or visit http://www.aabookfestival.org.

Upcoming Events » MI Special Author Appearance - Dr. Perri Klass will take place on May 16, 2009 at 6:30 pm at the Chemistry Auditorium #1800 in Chemistry Building, Univ. of Michigan 930 N. University Ave. Ann Arbor MI 48109. Dr. Perri Klass, author of "Quirky Kids" and "Treatment Kind and Fair" and other books, will be interviewed by Ann Arbor pediatrician Chris Elkins, in a conversation about family, medicine, and writing. Dr. Klass is also the President of Reach Out and Read, a national program that works with pediatricians and nurses to help parents read to their children. For more information or to register, call (734) 369-3366 or www.aabookfestival.org.

04-02-09

Breaking News and Bullying » 'Square Peg' Students More Often Targets of Bullies - Studies show students with learning disorders or attention problems are especially vulnerable to bullying. These are the students who, when bullies "shop around" for their targets, provide that satisfying reaction to make the aggressors keep coming back for more, experts say. And while their more street-wise aggressors may be adept at flying under the school staff's radar, those with learning differences never quite figure it out. It may be what leads some teachers to tell targeted students that their own behavior has led to the bullying. "It sounds extreme, I know, but it's like when a woman is raped and they say she asked for it.”

Breaking News » Bridges4kids Featured Product: SPIO Orthotic Garment - SPIO is a snug orthotic garment that surrounds the body with pressure-touch and mild proprioceptive input, which promotes body awareness and the release of calming/modulating chemistry. SPIO’s are useful for decreasing sensory seeking behaviors (such as excessive touching, crashing and banging) which leads to improved safely and stability for the child. SPIO’s patented material is breathable and can be worn alone or under regular clothing during waking hours.

04-01-09

03-30-09

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders » page updated.

Upcoming Events » MI Parent Education Day will take place on April 22, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, Lansing, MI 48933. Join us for the 7th Annual Parent Education Day at the Capitol! Parents of children in early education will learn how to make their voice heard in local government. Activities include workshops and panel discussions on effective advocacy, tours of the capitol and meetings with legislators from their district. Fee includes breakfast, lunch, program materials and free T-shirt! For more information, contact laura@mhsa.ws or 517-374-6472.

Upcoming Events » MI MHSA Spring Assembly Meeting will take place on April 21, 2009 from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the Radisson Hotel, Lansing, MI 48933. MHSA holds quarterly meetings intended to cover business of the association and to provide networking and education opportunities for parents, staff and directors of Head Start and other early education programs. $125 Fee includes breakfast and lunch, all program materials, and additional access to MHSA resources. Registration form and additional information available at http://www.mhsa.ws.
 

03-23-09

Upcoming Events » NY Building on Abilities: Promoting Person-Centered Programs and Policies will take place on May 4-8, 2009 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at Crowne Plaza Manhattan Hotel, 1605 Broadway, New York, NY. This year’s conference is designed for professionals, family members and individuals with developmental and learning disabilities. Cost is $595.00 per person. To register or for more information, contact Abe Wittenberg at 212-273-6193 or abbe.wittenberg@yai.org.

03-21-09

Summer Camp » MI St. Francis Camp is a non-profit organization dedicated to the belief that cognitively impaired children and adults should have the right to experience life to its fullest. "I find so many things impressive about this camp, like their 3 to 1 ratio, medical accommodations, dietary accommodations with also gluten free diets, and so much more."

03-18-09

Autism » Map of Michigan Parent Support Options: Autism Spectrum Disorders updated

03-01-09

Autism » New Michigan Resource: Autism Hope - "We are a group of parents and professionals whose lives have been impacted by a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. We have gathered together to offer HOPE. We feel autism is treatable and will provide resources and programs to help with your child's progress and development. Autism is thought of as a life long sentence. Many parents are told their children will never talk or live a "self-sufficient" life. We don't believe that! Early Intervention is so important! You are not alone! You must have HOPE!"

02-26-09

Upcoming Events » MI Breaking Down the Walls: Working with Oppositional and Defiant Students - Highlighting Prevention and Therapeutic Situational Management Strategies will take place on Thursday, March 19, 2009 from 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. (registration begins at 8 a.m.) at the MAISD Conference Center, 630 Harvey Street, Muskegon, Michigan. This day long presentation will focus on evidenced based strategies for working with students who present oppositional and defiant behavior. While considering the needs of students with social maladjustment (Attachment Disorder, Oppositional Defiant and Conduct Disorder) and students with disabilities that manifest in anger management challenges and defiance, strategies will be presented for preventing and diffusing outbursts and developing long term coping strategies and replacement skills. Each participant will receive a handout and a CD containing a toolbox of strategies for oppositional and defiant students. Each participant will have an opportunity to perform a competing pathways planning exercise on a defiant student. Register online at http://www.muskegonisd.org;  Registration Deadline: Monday, March 9, 2009; For more information contact Latesha Johnson at (231) 767-7277 or ljohnson@muskegonisd.org.

02-24-09

College & Financial Aid » bridges4kids Featured Free Publication: Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid: 2009-10 (Download the PDF file or order for free from http://edpubs.ed.gov)

Advocacy/Self-Advocacy » Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) Seeks Board/Task Force Applicants - Calling All Youth with Disabilities! Are you interested in getting involved with the national disability youth movement? Are you between the ages of 12 and 24? Are you interested in learning how to inform youth about their rights, give peer-support, training and to change systems to include youth? If you answered "YES" to these questions, Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) wants YOU! National Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) has positions open on our Advisory Board and Task Force. We are looking for youth with disabilities, between the ages of 12 and 24, to serve on the national KASA Advisory Board or our national Task Force.

02-20-09

Breaking News » Check out the latest edition of the LDA of Michigan's Healthy Children Project e-Newsletter

Autism » Map of Michigan Parent Support Options: Autism Spectrum Disorders updated

01-27-09

Upcoming Events » MI Only God is Able; Disability, Community and the Church will take place on March 9-10, 2009 at Journey at Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI. This conference features Brett Webb-Mitchell. Mr. Webb-Mitchell has a special interest in the place and presence of people with disabilities in church and community. He has served as a pastor, a chaplain, and as a seminary professor. Currently he directs the School of the Pilgrim, a ministry that facilitates the spiritual journeys of Christians to holy sites around the world, which Dr. Webb-Mitchell sees as an expansion of his ministry of Christian education. He is the author of many books, including three on people with disabilities: God Plays Piano Too; Unexpected Guests at God’s Banquet: Welcoming People with Disabilities in the Church; and Dancing with Disabilities: Opening the Church to All God’s Children. Visit http://journey.westernsem.edu/seminars/disability or send an email to journey@westernsem.edu for more details.

01-26-09

No Child Left Behind » New Rules Give Credit to Underachieving Students for Making Progress - More Pennsylvania schools this year are likely to make adequate yearly progress on state tests because the federal government has approved a measure that considers student growth, not just whether students are proficient.

Breaking News and Assistive Technology » Creature Comforts: Assistance Animals Now Come in All Shapes and Species - What’s most striking about Ann Edie and her miniature guide horse, Panda, is that after the initial shock of seeing a horse walk into a cafe, or ride in a car, watching them work together makes the idea of guide miniature horses seem utterly logical. Even normal. So normal, in fact, that people often find it hard to believe that the United States government is considering a proposal that would force Edie and many others like her to stop using their service animals.

Breaking News and Recent Court Cases » OR Court Grants Cert in Private Placement Case - The Supreme Court has granted certiorari in a private placement case from Oregon, giving it a new opportunity to decide under what circumstances families of students with disabilities can be reimbursed for the cost of private tuition. Forest Grove Sch. Dist. v. T.A., 50 IDELR 1 (9th Cir. 2008), petition for cert. filed (U.S. 09/03/08) (No. 08-305). The court announced its decision Jan. 16, after first discussing it Jan. 9. Briefs by the district are due Feb. 25, and briefs by the family of T.A. are due March 25. The Oregon case is important because it gives the Court another chance to decide what Congress meant in 1997 when it amended the IDEA and described at least one scenario under which parents could be reimbursed for the private education of a student with disabilities. Under that scenario, a court or hearing officer may award tuition reimbursement to the parents of a child who has previously received special education services under public auspices if the district failed to offer FAPE. (From Special Ed News, Jan 22, 2009)

01-20-09

01-19-09

Breaking News » SketchUp: Kids With Autism Love This Software - A program from Google, created for architects, is an unexpected hit with children on the autism spectrum.

Upcoming Events » MI Life After High School will take place on January 28, 2009 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Eton Academy, 1755 Melton, Birmingham, MI 48009. Free and open to all high school students and parents. Meet with counselors and recruiters from schools and organizations that offer resources for students with learning disabilities. Learn more by visiting http://www.etonacademy.org.

01-14-09

Just for Teens - Featured Website » Red Flags - Red Flags is a project of the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) especially designed to help young adults form healthy relationships by learning to spot and deal with the warning signs of dating violence.

Just for Teens - Featured Website » Heather’s Voice - Heather had dated her boyfriend off and on for two years, and all along she thought she could change him. She died - stabbed, dismembered and discarded in trash bags. This website was created by her mother to help other young women who might be struggling with a relationship that is not right for them.

Just for Teens - Featured Website » Love is Not Abuse - A website supported by Liz Claiborne, Inc. that includes quizzes, information, a special section for teens, and the Love Is Not Abuse Curriculum, a step-by step guide to teaching high school students about the issue of dating violence. Using literature and poetry, this program provides teachers with the tools to teach about this sensitive subject and is intended to be taught in either Health or English/Language Arts classes.

Just for Teens - Featured Website » National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

01-09-09

01-08-09

Blind/Visually Impaired » For the Blind, Technology Does What a Guide Dog Can’t - T. V. Raman was a bookish child who developed a love of math and puzzles at an early age. That passion didn’t change after glaucoma took his eyesight at the age of 14. Now a highly respected computer scientist and an engineer at Google, he has built a series of tools to help him take advantage of objects or technologies that were not designed with blind users in mind and is now focusing on touch screen cell phones. “How much of a leap of faith does it take for you to realize that your phone could say, ‘Walk straight and within 200 feet you’ll get to the intersection of X and Y,’ ” Mr. Raman said. “This is entirely doable.” “What Raman does is amazing,” said Paul Schroeder, vice president for programs and policy at the American Foundation for the Blind. “He is a leading thinker on accessibility issues, and his capacity to design and alter technology to meet his needs is unique.”

01-07-09

ADD/ADHD » Study Suggests Meditation May Ease ADHD; Researchers Call Technique Effective - Transcendental meditation may be an effective way to treat ADHD symptoms without using medication, according to a new study published in the journal Current Issues in Education.

01-05-09

Breaking News » MI Michigan State Board of Education Member Liz Bauer Makes World of Difference - The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, wrote to me asking for help in supporting her work for Mental Disabilities Rights International (MDRI). Oh my! OK, she wrote to perhaps thousands of others with the same appeal. So, I am not special, but if you decide to help you will be.