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10-28-04
Breaking News and
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) »
Stop Discipline Problems that Stem from Fear of Academic Failure -
Positive behavioral support can do more than prevent discipline problems. It can
also help minimize students' resistance to academic instruction. Plus, it can be
used without disrupting classroom routines. Read about this and other effective
discipline and social skill techniques in the Sept./Oct. issue of TEC.
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
CANADA
Dropouts Face Bleak Job
Future - Christopher Hayes reaches into the back pocket of his blue jeans
and pulls out a crumpled piece of paper. It's his pay stub from the previous two
weeks' work. His net take-home pay after working 84 hours is $547.98. That's a
meager $7.75 an hour, the dejected 20-year old points out. For Hayes, who has
only a Grade 10 education, the prospects of finding a well-paying job are slim.
Breaking News and
Home
Schooling »
Election Co-nection Project - The Election Co-nection Project is a free,
online curriculum and interactive learning experience that focuses on the
process that a candidate must follow to run for president of the U.S. and how
citizens participate in the electoral process. The project has two main online
activities. The first activity, Vote for President is open to all K-12 students.
In this activity, students are able to vote, from October 18–22, for the
presidential candidate they want to win the 2004 election. Includes teacher
guide.
Breaking News and Juvenile Justice
»
"Get Tough" Youth Programs are Ineffective, Panel Says - Boot camps and
other get-tough programs for adolescents do not prevent criminal behavior, as
intended, and may make the problem even worse, a new study has found. Further,
laws transferring juveniles into the adult court system lead these teenagers to
commit more violence, the study said. More promising, reports Laura Meckler, are
programs that offer intensive counseling for families and young people at risk.
Breaking News and Juvenile Justice
»
MI
Fund Cuts Imperil Youths - Through treatment and counseling at a Growth Works program Chris Allen has been sober for more
than year and enrolled at Schoolcraft College, with dreams of becoming a drug counselor. Now he's worried others may not have that same opportunity. As part
of a 15 percent cut in the juvenile justice system budget, Growth Works today faces funding losses from Wayne County that have leaders scrambling to figure
out how they will offer high-level service to adjudicated youth from 17 western Wayne communities with limited resources.
Breaking News and Literacy
»
Writing Wrongs - Problem starts at home and in class. Every week, the
average American child plunks down in front of the television for about 20
hours.
Breaking News »
Commentary: States Must
Fix School Drug Rules - There is good news on the zero tolerance front.
Back in the late 1980s, when public hysteria about day-care abuse and satanic
cults was beginning to subside, its successor doctrine captured the imagination
of school administrators. This was the notion that a "drug-free school zone" did
not just mean the absence of marijuana and heroin, but any pharmaceutical
product.
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
Schools
Lay Tender Trap for Truants -
The goal of boosting school attendance, by finding truants and getting
them back in class, seems as virtuous as mom and apple pie. But even as many
school districts take a more aggressive stance against truancy, a debate has
ensued over whether new state and federal policies will eventually sully
their efforts to address the problem. In dispute: policies that give
monetary rewards to districts which manage to improve attendance rates.
Breaking News and School Climate »
Evaluating School Climate and School Culture (PDF) - When do trends in
student behaviors demand school-wide policies and plans? What tools are best
suited to assessing how students and teachers view their school's climate or
context for learning?
Breaking News and School Climate »
Waging Peace In Our Schools - Based On the Work of the Resolving Conflict
Creatively Program. From the largest and most successful school initiatives in
social and emotional learning in the country–the Resolving Conflict Creatively
Program, now active in more that 350 schools nationwide–comes a powerful,
practical guide for teaching young people to empathize, mediate, negotiate, and
create peace. The authors address everything from minor schoolyard conflicts to
violent outbursts, and offer educators and parents proven strategies for
enhancing children’s emotional, social, and conflict resolution skills. [$16.00
from The Peace Company]
Breaking News and School Climate »
MI
Parents Use Courts to Battle Bullies - The bullying escalated so much
that Christine DeLorme wouldn't let her 10-year-old son walk to a friend's house
without a walkie-talkie in hand -- her voice echoing through the speaker, "Are
you there yet?"
Breaking News and
Inclusion »
CA
Acceptance Reigns Along
With a King - David Mason crossed his fingers and squeezed his eyes shut
as he listened to the announcement that confirmed his dream: This Culver City
High School senior, an autistic youth enrolled in the campus' special education
program, was named homecoming king after a landslide vote.
Breaking News and
Inclusion »
Featured
Website:
Inclusion -
"Children who learn together, learn to live together." - This web site is
designed for general education teachers, special education teachers, parents,
and school staff to help provide some answers about how inclusive education can
be accomplished. Resources for making accommodations are included as well as
links to other web sites and resource lists for learning more about inclusive
education.
Breaking News and IEP Issues - Testing »
MI
Spring High School MEAP Test
Dates Set for Academic Year 2004-2005 - MEAP has identified the
testing dates for this year that are consistent with the new state law and
NCLB. Spring high school testing dates for the current academic year are
broken into three cycles in order to give schools more flexibility for test
administration.
Breaking News and Child Care »
Everyone Wins - Everyone Wins! Is packed with over 150 cooperative games and activities selected to help
children in your care: Resolve conflict, enhance communication, build self-esteem, appreciate nature, laugh with each other, be creative,
and have fun together! These cooperative games and activities have been used successfully in playgrounds, public and private schools,
families, differently-abled groups, camps, church groups, home schooling, community gatherings, multicultural settings, counseling
and nature walks. [$8.95 from The Peace Company]
Breaking News and
Inspiration »
A High School Class Project Evolves Into an Outpouring of Love -
Marketing students at Lake Region High School are finding out how far a rubber band can be stretched. It can be stretched around a wrist. It can be stretched
around a heart.
Breaking News and Parenting »
Dads Take a Role in Their Kids' Schools - Armed with a telephone, Jay
Kaliski managed to start a small revolution at Birmingham's Covington 3-8 School
five years ago. "Ways for parents to support the school were already there. I
could tell dads wanted to participate, but didn't know how," he said. So with a
list of parents' names and phone numbers, Kaliski called all 450 households to
invite fathers to help create a support and fund-raising group composed solely
of men.
Breaking News and IEP
Issues - Gifted Learners »
MI
Bright Students Leap From Middle School to Classes at WMU -
Eamonn Shirey is a busy eighth-grader. He plays hockey,
runs cross country, goes to school and does homework -- about 16 hours'
worth every week. He's a typical 13-year-old, but not a typical student. He
wears braces, loves video games and jokes around with friends.
Parenting »
Peaceful Parents, Peaceful Kids - Practical Ways to Create a Calm and
Happy Home. What can you do to help your children cope with stress? How can you
give them the skills for talking over problems, instead of fighting about them?
Where can you find time to help your kids be less volatile, more cooperative,
and happier? In Peaceful Parents, Peaceful Kids, Naomi Drew brings the same
revolutionary action plan she developed for the classroom to parents everywhere.
Illustrated by concrete situations, hands-on examples, and testimonials from
real-life parents. [$14.00 from The Peace Company]
Summer Camp »
Building Bridges
Camp and Training Institute - Provides a summer camp experience for
Augmentative & Alternative Communication users 5 -17 years of age, offers
training opportunities for individuals who work with AAC users, and supports
siblings as they connect with others.
IEP Issues - Overview
»
Why Methodology Belongs in your Child's IEP - "This article
outlines the regulations which permit parents to discuss
methodology at an IEP meeting. Although originally directed to
Illinois law, this article can apply in any State covered by
IDEA."
IEP Issues - Extra Curricular Activities
»
MI
Homebound Student Wins Fight to Attend Dance - Kayla Swan, a
15-year-old sophomore, has taken her classes at home since she was
stricken with a rare blood disorder last year, but she was bound for
homecoming a few weeks ago at Lapeer West High School. She had the
dress, shoes and a date, but her principal said no way. If she was not
in class the day of the dance, she could not be at homecoming, the
principal told her family.
Fragile X Syndrome »
X-tra Special Advice:
Cooking for a Cause - Shortly after
Andrew’s diagnosis, our free time began shifting focus. Slowly, it was
spent less on leisure and more in the “special needs” world, such as
writing this column. National Fragile X Research Day was celebrated on
October 5. In honor of the day, there are many Fall Fling fundraisers
being held all around the country with one thing in common – proceeds
going to FRAXA Research Foundation to help find a cure for Fragile X
Syndrome.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) »
What is
Conductive Education? - Developed in 1945 in Hungary by Dr.
Andras Peto, conductive education is based on the theory that the
central nervous system has the capacity to form new neural
connections, despite neurological damage. By repeating tasks and
integrating intentional movement with learning, the brain creates
alternate paths to send messages to muscle groups, creating the
desired movements. Through this, a child can gain movement and skills,
and achieve greater levels of independence.
10-27-04
Breaking News and School Climate »
School Violence Toleration - Then there's Carmen Santana's grandson,
Abraham. After two boys hit him in the face, broke his nose and chipped his
teeth, Abraham was afraid to go to school. Guess what. His grandmother was
charged with allowing truancy when she kept him home while she tried to get
permission for him to finish his senior-year studies at home.
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
TX
HISD Taps $435,000 For Dropout Prevention - Money will go to hire 10
specialists; officials laud effort at college prep. In approving the plan
Thursday, Houston Independent School District trustees said they want the money
to make a difference in a district where as many as 30 percent to 40 percent of
all students drop out.
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
AZ
Scottsdale Heroin Case Hits Schools - An August heroin bust involving a
handful of Scottsdale students has broadened to 150 teenagers, some of who
bought drugs on campus.
Breaking News and General
Ed Reform »
MN
Minnesota Governor Unveils School Improvement Plan - Gov. Tim
Pawlenty unveiled a sweeping education agenda for Minnesota on Wednesday
before hundreds of educators, business leaders and politicians. That agenda
includes higher pay for teachers who work in tough schools. The plan also
gives more power to schools so they can pick their own teachers and set
their own budgets. Pawlenty was joined at his talk by Louis V. Gerstner Jr.,
chairman of the Teaching Commission, a nationwide policy consortium of
business leaders, educators and political figures dedicated to, among other
things, changing the way teachers are paid and improving teacher training.
Gerstner said Minnesota will be the first of four to six states the
commission wants to work with to implement its agenda for education change.
Breaking News and Assistive
Technology (AT) »
Interesting Innovation:
iAbida
- iAbida is a company specializing in individual communication management, was founded in 2004 by a team of software veterans and the parents of an autistic son. They have developed a
web-based service that lets parents, caregivers, teachers, and medical/service professionals, communicate with each other regarding a
child’s care and needs. The service costs $9.95 per month. For a demonstration of how it works, visit
http://www.iabida.com/ourdemo.aspx.
Positive Behavior
Support (PBS) » Study:
Aggressive Discipline Can Backfire - An Australian study of 4,000
students and 600 teachers found that the best-behaved classes had teachers who
used positive rewards and inclusive decision-making, rather than yelling and
punishment. Researchers warn that difficult students often discern that teachers
don't like them, which only leads them to misbehave more.
Breaking News and
Home
Schooling »
Rural Schools Turn to E-learning - Across the country, E-learning has
changed from a technological curiosity to an integral part of rural public
school education, offering more class options to students and even educating
teachers. Forty-three percent of the nation's public schools-and nearly one
third of the country's 48 million public school students-are in rural
communities. Now, with the spread of advanced technology that aims to close the
"digital divide" and make public education more equitable, groups of isolated
schools in more than a dozen states--including Minnesota, North Carolina, and
Oklahoma--can share qualified teachers in subjects like physics, advanced math,
and foreign languages.
Breaking News »
National Governors Association To
Host Education Summit to Improve High Schools - The 2005 summit (held
Feb. 26-27 in Washington) will address the urgent need to improve America's high
schools, specifically the imperative to increase graduation rates and ensure
that a high school diploma truly prepares students to succeed in higher
education and the workplace.
Breaking News and IDEA
Reauthorization »
CEC’s Summary of Selected IDEA Reauthorization Issues (PDF)
-
Read the Top 10 Recommendations for IDEA Reauthorization from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), a private, non-profit membership organization for
teachers and other professionals who work with special education students. Contains a good summary of various provisions. Outlines the differences between
House and Senate versions. Congress is expected to take up, and likely decide, the issues involved in the reauthorization of IDEA in November.
Breaking News and IDEA
Reauthorization »
Disability Groups to Converge
on D.C. over IDEA - A number of national
groups concerned about the education of children with disabilities and the
current efforts to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA), will come together on October 28, 2004 in Washington D.C. to lobby
Congressional members and ask them to reconsider proposed changes to the Act.
Breaking News and IDEA
Reauthorization »
OCLB Special Education Primer:
Discipline - The Data - Why amend IDEA ’97 disciplinary provisions now? The data that does exist suggests that students who have disabilities are
treated similarly to general education students. The data also suggests that IDEA 97’ has not become an obstacle or barrier to schools’ disciplinary
practices.
Gifted Learners »
Wise Beyond Her Years - Monica Jain started college this fall at age
15, making her the youngest of Boston University's 29,000 students. The
Arizona native rocketed through her school years, skipping kindergarten and
the 6th grade, then finishing 11th and 12th grades at the same time.
College »
bridges4kids
Featured Website:
Under Grad Zone -
For whichever reason you are deciding to go back to school or continue with your
education, this step must be taken carefully and be well planned. Going to
undergraduate school is a tremendous investment of time and financial resources,
and you must make sure that investment will advance your career in the desired
direction. Preparing yourself to make this decision is a two step process.
Parental Rights
& Involvement » Free Resources from The Parent Institute:
10 Things Any School Can Do to Build Parent Involvement... Plus Five Great Ways
to Fail!,
Sixty-Eight Parent Involvement Ideas That Really Work,
Seventy-Five Ideas to Build Parent Involvement and Support,
Selected Parent Involvement Research,
Ten Questions About Parent Involvement,
Forty-Four Proven Ideas Parents Can Use to Help Their Children Do Better in
School,
What Principals Would Tell Parents to Help Parents Help Their Children, and
Tips Parents Can Use to Help Their Children.
Breaking News and
Autism » Parents
Work to Acclimate Autistic Children to Normal Routines - It is
a relentless, labor-intensive and harrowing task, overwhelmingly
performed by mothers, that tests the strength of marriages, the
resilience of siblings and the endurance of the women themselves.
Deafness or Hearing Loss »
Deaf Students Struggle With English Exams - Most deaf students
don't grow up hearing English spoken, and thus they often have
significant vocabulary gaps that prevent them for scoring well on
state English tests, experts say. To combat this, the Mississippi
School for the Blind and Deaf is asking state officials to allow deaf
students to use a thesaurus during exams, an initiative being watched
closely nationwide.
Asperger Syndrome »
Discovering Asperger
Syndrome - Getting a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome for your
child is sort of like getting hit by a slow freight train. Usually,
you know something's wrong. Maybe you got worried. Maybe teachers or
others urged you to get your child checked out. Maybe, like my wife
and I, you went through several other diagnoses first. But even though
you knew something was coming, you still feel the impact when you get
the official word.
Down Syndrome »
Researchers Find New
Evidence Against Common Down Syndrome Theory - Researchers at
Johns Hopkins University say they have found evidence to disprove the
commonly held notion that Down syndrome is caused by abnormalities in
the so-called Critical Down Syndrome Region of the brain. The
researchers say they now believe Down syndrome is caused by a
combination of genetic and developmental factors, and that
understanding these is crucial to treating people with the disorder.
Learning Disabilities (LD) »
Fewer
Students Classified as Learning Disabled in Wisconsin - The
number of Wisconsin children diagnosed with learning disabilities has
shrunk over the past four years, a trend that can be attributed to
numerous factors, including efforts to change the way schools classify
students. Still, the number of students classified as needing
special-education services has gone up, mirroring a nationwide trend.
Job Opportunities »
MI
Program Assistant - Michigan Head Start-State Collaboration Program:
Full-time in Lansing, housed at the Michigan Head Start Association.
Responsibilities include: Conducting research and analysis,
Preparation of reports, publications and other materials; Meeting
planning; General office and administrative support. BA degree
required. Knowledge of Head Start and other early childhood programs
preferred. Ability to travel. Starting salary: $32-$34K with benefits
EOE. Submit resume & references by October 30, 2004 to: MHSA, 115 W.
Allegan, Suite 520, Lansing, MI 48933
Upcoming Events »
MI
Michigan Child Care Task Force Meeting Notice:
December 1, 2004 at the State of Michigan Library, Lake Ontario Room, 3rd floor, 717 West Allegan, Lansing, MI 48909-7507. Speaker will be
Marianne Udow, Director, FIA. Public Hearing, held by Michigan Department of Education, on revised Early Childhood Standards of Quality. For more
information contact MCCTF Co-Chair Lisa Brewer, Michigan 4C Association T.E.A.C.H. Director, 866-648-3224, ext.27 or
brewer@mi4c.org or contact Richard Lower, Michigan Head Start Association, Executive Director, 517-374-MHSA or
Richard@mhsa.ws.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Early Childhood Public Policy Forum:
December 7, 2004 from 10:00am - 1:30pm at Transformations Spirituality Center, 3427 Gull Road, Nazareth, Michigan (near Kalamazoo). The forum is
jointly sponsored by United Way of America and the Greater Kalamazoo United Way.
Seating is limited. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to
Elaine Griffin at
egriffin@kalamazoounitedway.org or fax 269-344-7250 before November 15,
2004. For more information contact Ronda Cunningham, Greater Kalamazoo United
Way at rcunningham@gkuw.org or
269-343-2524.
Upcoming Events »
U.S.
30th Annual LDA of Indiana State LD & ADHD Conference
will take place on December 2 & 3, 2004 at the Indianapolis Marriott East
Conference Center. Dr. Hallowell is a nationally recognized child & adult
psychiatrist on learning, attention, focus, stress & worry. He is best known for
his National Bestsellers: "Driven to Distraction" & "Answers to Distraction."
His newest book "Directions to Distraction" will be out December 28th! Dr.
Hallowell has appeared on "The Today Show," "20/20," "Dateline," "Good Morning
America," and numerous times on "Oprah." Other Conference Highlights: Thursday
Dessert Reception & Keynote with Dr. Hallowell, Friday All Day Conference with 2
Keynotes by Dr. Hallowell, Continental Breakfast, 21 Additional LD & ADHD
Workshops, Conference Materials in a Binder, Awards Luncheon Honoring Indiana
Students, Parents & Professionals, Large Bookstore Selection, Exhibits Featuring
Products & Materials, and Door Prizes. Cost will be as follows: Thursday Evening
$15.00 per person; Friday $100.00 per person; Discounts for High School Students
& Full Time College Students with School ID's. Limited Parent Scholarships
Available. Discounts for Volunteers. To Get A Conference Program visit the LDA
of Indiana Website at
www.LDA-IN.org or contact Kathy at (574) 272-3058.
Upcoming Events »
U.S.
Council for Exceptional Children's (CEC) Annual Convention & Expo
will take place on April 6-9, 2005 at the Baltimore Convention Center,
Baltimore, MD. The 2005 Strands Address the Hottest Topics in Special Education
Today - Reading and Writing Instruction, Autism, NCLB and Accountability, and
Transition are just a few of the strands to be presented at the CEC 2005 Annual
Convention & Expo. Leading experts in each area will present in-depth and
up-to-date information as well as practical strategies teachers can use in their
classrooms. For more information visit
http://www.cec.sped.org/conventions/maryland_2005/.
10-26-04
Breaking News and Parenting »
Program Profile: Woodley Hills
Elementary School Makes the Most of All Resources - Parents and community
members are an important part of the mix at Woodley Hills Elementary School.
Located in Alexandria, Virginia, Woodley Hills is a culturally diverse school
where more than 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or
reduced-price lunches.
Breaking News and Parenting »
Weekly Time Focusing on Family Brings Hard-to-Reach Parents to School - Today’s busy lifestyles can make
getting even some of the most highly educated parents involved with their children’s education a challenge. The problems are compounded when parents lack
formal education and confidence that they have the knowledge and skills to help their child.
Breaking News and Literacy »
'Hamlet' Too Hard? Try a Comic Book - At a high school in New York state,
Diane Roy teaches the students who failed ninth-grade English the first time
around. Last year, on the heels of "Hamlet," she presented her class with a
graphic novel--essentially a variety of comic book. Such books are turning up on
classroom bookshelves--especially in classes where teachers are desperate to
engage struggling and reluctant adolescent readers.
Breaking News and
Food Allergies »
Featured Website:
Food Allergy Network
for Kids and Teens
Breaking News »
TN
Tennessee Considers Uniform Grading Policy - The state is considering a
switch to uniform grading policies in all state high schools. The move that
would force about 75 percent of schools to change their definition of an A or B.
Breaking News »
Halloween
Costumes For Children That Use Wheelchairs -
They are SOooooo Cute!! With instructions.
Breaking News »
MA
Parents in Boston-area District Seek to Eliminate the Term "SPED" -
Parents with children in Brookline (Mass.) Public Schools are working to end the
use of the acronym "SPED" to describe special-education students because it has
taken on a negative connotation. As part of the effort, the Brookline Special
Education Parent Advisory Council has said it no longer will use the acronym in
its names or materials.
Breaking News »
Special Education at a Crossroads - With the many changes engendered by
No Child Left Behind, state standards, and inclusion, special educators say we
need to examine current special-education practices.
IEP Issues
- Overview »
Short Version of IEP Process,
IEP Checklist,
and COACH
training site, University of Vermont Affiliated Programs - Choosing
Outcomes and Accommodations for Children, a step-by-step IEP process starting
with parents' vision for their child.
Inclusion and
Legal Research »
Legal Requirements and Court Cases in Support of Inclusion - The most
current language of the federal mandate concerning inclusive education comes
from the 1997 Amendments to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA). These federal regulations include rulings that guide the regulation. The
IDEA requires that children with disabilities be educated in regular education
classrooms unless "the nature and severity of the disability is such that
education in the regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services
cannot be achieved satisfactorily." This means that schools have a duty to try
to include students with disabilities in the regular general education classes.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Neighborhood Schools are for Everyone: Including Students with Disabilities Featuring Elizabeth Bauer,
Michigan State Board of Education Trustee and sponsored by
Everyone Together Macomb will take place on
November 15, 2004 from 7-9 p.m. at
Macomb Intermediate School District, 44001 Garfield, Clinton Twp MI 48038, Room
103 B.
Please join us to listen and engage in lively discussion on why our neighborhood
schools should work for all students, and how Universal Education is the key to
get us there! Light refreshments will be served. No charge to attend. Elizabeth
Bauer has advocated the legal and human rights of all persons. She has
championed enlightened public policy and the development of inclusive services
for people with disabilities. She has served as a speech pathologist; special
educator and school administrator; director of staff development and later
director of community placement in Michigan's public mental health system; and
for twenty years, executive director of Michigan Protection and Advocacy
Service, Inc. Currently, she is an elected member of the State Board of
Education in Michigan. Space is
limited. Register with Laura Krausman at (586) 756-2590, or Monique Bonifas
(586) 997-3720 to attend, or email us at
everyonetogethermacomb@yahoo.com.
Upcoming Events »
U.S.
Nonverbal Learning Disorders Association's 9th Annual NLDA Symposium "Making the
Most of NLD: Research and Interventions" will take place at the South San
Francisco Conference Center, San Francisco, CA on March 11-12, 2005. Over 20
nationally- and internationally-known speakers will present on the many
interrelated aspects of Nonverbal Learning Disorders, March 11-12, 2005, at the
South San Francisco Conference Center near the San Francisco International
Airport. Various professionals (MD, RN, SLP, OT, MFT, LCSW, psychologists, and
educators), as well as parents will receive vital information on NLD, with
special emphasis on the latest research and effective interventions to help
individuals of all ages with NLD. For more information on registration,
schedule, speakers, and program, visit
www.NLDline.com, email
NLDAsymposium2005@excite.com,
or call 831-624-3542.
10-23-04
Breaking News and No Child Left Behind » New
Parent Guide: No Child Left Behind -
The National Center for Learning Disabilities and Schwab Learning have
developed a handbook to help parents navigate and coordinate the federal No
Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education acts. No
Child Left Behind requires schools to have a plan to help low-achieving
children, including the almost 3 million children with learning
disabilities, meet higher academic standards. The new 22-page guide
addresses the law's emphasis on accountability, an explanation of the
requirement of schools to improve test scores in math, science and reading
over the next decade, and what happens if a school doesn't meet its goals.
"Making the No Child Left Behind Act Work For Children Who Struggle to
Learn: A Parent's Guide" is available free of charge at
www.LD.org/NCLB and
www.SchwabLearning.org/NCLB.
10-22-04
Down Syndrome »
Nutritional Supplements for Down Syndrome: A Highly Questionable
Approach - This 1998 article gives a comprehensive overview of
the debate over the impact diet has on the development of children
with Down Syndrome.
Down Syndrome »
Targeted Nutritional Intervention - The Ketogenic Resource -
This article presents a balanced examination of TNI - a nutritional
therapy for children with Down's syndrome, using vitamins, minerals,
amino acids and digestive enzymes, together with piracetam, a
nootropic (mind enhancing) drug. Supporters of TNI claim it is
designed to alleviate certain harmful symptoms of Down's syndrome (eg,
susceptibility to infections) and to ameliorate other harmful effects
of the syndrome (eg, long term degeneration).
10-21-04
Charter/Private/Alternative »
Pioneering Charter School Remains Model for Success - Ten years
ago, a group of San Carlos parents and community members took
advantage of a new opportunity in public education: They ripped apart
California's 7,800-page education rule book and designed a school as
they saw fit.
10-19-04
Bridges4Kids
NewsDigest » NewsDigest published October 19, 2004
Breaking News and No Child Left
Behind »
Brochure Available To Help Inform Parents About Free Tutoring Under NCLB
(PDF) - Thanks to No Child Left Behind, parents are receiving more options than ever before to help their children succeed in school. Under NCLB,
low-income students in schools that do not meet state standards in reading and math for three consecutive years are eligible to receive supplemental
educational services such as free tutoring.
Breaking News and Statistics »
Featured Website:
National Center for
Education Statistics - NCES is the primary federal entity for
collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the United
States. You can easily search for public and private schools in your area
and learn all about them, find college information online, and locate public
libraries. A goldmine of data.
Breaking News and
Professional Development »
The Saints of
Education - The demands on the teachers of special education students are
enormous. The work is emotionally and physically draining. The stress is
considerable. The magnitude of the workload is colossal with all of the mandated
reporting and administrative tasks expected of them. The cumulative effect of
teaching the special education child causes many teachers to leave the
profession after just a few years.
Breaking News and Parenting »
Your Kids Need You - Our instincts tell us that individuals who live in
loving families that spend time together make for better individuals – but how
many of us actually live like we believe it?
Breaking News and Parenting »
Featured Resource:
Children’s
Scholarship Fund - Founded in 1998, the Children's Scholarship Fund
provides partial tuition assistance for low-income families to send their
children to private schools. More than 62,000 children have benefited from
scholarships across the United States as part of our mission to open the doors
of educational opportunity to families. Eligible families are required to
demonstrate their financial need as measured by standards similar to the Federal
school lunch program, which takes into account family size. The Fund focuses on
elementary education because the earlier a child receives sound schooling, the
better. Scholarships are awarded to all eligible children in a family to attend
the school or schools of their choice.
Breaking News » MI
Supporters, Granholm Square Off Over Proposal 1
- Governor Jennifer Granholm accepted a check Monday from Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters representing a record contribution to the School
Aid Fund. She said such a check would not be possible in the future if voters approve Proposal 04-1.
Lead Poisoning » MI
Bill Creating Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Commission Sent To
Governor For Signature:
Read the text of the bill as passed by the Michigan House and Senate.
Breaking News and
Autism »
A World of Their Own
- One by one, autism — with its rocking, its garbled words
and its obsessions — has visited an extraordinary five of six children
in one Austin family. [Login/registration
required.]
Breaking News and
Prader-Willi Syndrome » MI
Schneider:
Haslett Team Effort Makes Winners Out of Everybody - The last race of the
recent Laingsburg Cross Country Invitational had been run, and the teams were
packing up to go home. Except those from Haslett High School.
Breaking News and
Asthma » MI
U-M Hospital Improves Care
For Asthmatic Kids - A team of physicians from the University of
Michigan's C. S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, says comparing their
treatment of asthma patients with other children's hospitals from around the
country has helped them cut costs, hospital stays and repeat hospitalizations.
Breaking News and
Blindness »
A Guiding Light in Clouded World - Barry Richard, who is nearly
blind, once paid $23 for a hamburger and a beer. He intended to cover
his check with a $5 bill and three ones but handed the waitress a $20
and three ones by mistake. She accepted the windfall without a peep.
Here's what Richard since has learned about handling cash when you
can't see.
Breaking News and
Blindness » Featured Resource:
Sight for Students - VSP (Vision Service Plan), a nationwide,
non-profit, vision benefit plan, sponsors Sight for StudentsTM
, a program that provides eye exams and eyeglasses to children of
low-income, uninsured families. They quote these statistics, among
others: Nearly 30% of children in special education classes, more than
70% of juvenile delinquents, and more than 60% of the individuals
enrolled in adult literacy programs have vision problems. This year
they will help more than 50,000 children. VSP commits up to 40% of
company profits to fund the program. To read more statistics, visit
http://www.vsp.com/newsroom/html/sfs_statistics.jsp.
Breaking News and
Obesity » CO
Class Spotlights Teens' Weight -
Danielle Royster was shocked when the school nurse approached her
about being fat. For 17-year-old Cassie Anno, the conversation in the
principal's office included the words: "It's not that I think you're
fat or anything ..." It was this kind of delicate goading from
teachers, counselors and principals that got Royster, Anno and 11
other Denver Public Schools teenagers enrolled in what is believed to
be a first-of-its-kind weight-loss class that could save their lives.
10-18-04
Breaking News » MI
Parents Shape Sex Education in Michigan - Under new law, districts must
give parents majority voice on boards that review lessons.
Breaking News and Assistive
Technology (AT) » Assistive
Technology Bill Headed to President for Signature - The full U.S. House
of Representatives passed the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 on October 8,
2004, sending it to President Bush for his signature. The Assistive Technology
Act primarily funds state programs that provide assistive technology (AT)
devices and services to individuals with disabilities.
Charter/Private/Alternative » Resource Added: Search for a private school in
your area -
click here.
Breaking News and Bullying »
Fear Strikes at School - Teen aggression is the product of perhaps a
dozen influences. Experts say it may take as many solutions.
Breaking News and Medication »
FDA Orders Strong Antidepressant
Warnings - All antidepressants must carry a "black box" warning, the
government's strongest safety alert, linking the drugs to increased suicidal
thoughts and behavior among children and teens taking them, the Food and Drug
Administration said Friday.
Ask the Attorney »
Question:
My child attends a non-public K-12 school. What can I expect the
private school to provide my disabled son? What about the local public
school?
Answer:
Click here to see John's Answer.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Reel Life Disability Film Festival will take place on October 23, 2004 - All Day at Dearborn Community and Performing Arts Center Theatre, Corner of Michigan
Avenue & Greenfield in Dearborn, Michigan. See films that celebrate our history, culture, and daily experience! Be inspired, enlightened, and empowered! Visit
http://www.bwcil.org/reellife.html for more information and for show times.
Upcoming Events »
U.S.
Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference will take place on November 15-16, 2004 at
City Colleges of Chicago Headquarters. The Tutor/Mentor Connection, a
Chicago-based nonprofit that works to help disadvantaged youth obtain a first
job by age 25 through volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs, will host its
Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference Nov. 15-16. The conference will address
recruiting and training volunteers, enriching the learning experiences of teens,
and raising money to fund activities. Early registration rates are available
through November 1. To register or find more information, visit
www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com.
Upcoming Events »
U.S.
21st Annual Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities will take place
February 28 – March 1, 2005 in Waikiki. We invite you to not only attend, but if
you have information that you would like to disseminate, please consider
answering our Call for Papers, exhibiting in our Exhibitor Gallery, Advertising
in our Participant Program, or taking advantage of any of the other
opportunities available to you. Once again we will be offering our Silent
Auction for Scholarships which raises funds to provide much needed scholarships
for this program and we invite your participation and donations. The Call for
Papers is only open through November 15, 2004 so don’t delay getting your
submission in to us! Everything that you need to know about this program can be
found by visiting our website at
http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu and we invite you to visit us soon.
10-17-04
Breaking News and No Child Left Behind »
No Way Out
- The No Child Left Behind Act provides only the illusion of school choice. Three years later… families across the United States are still trapped in
failing and dangerous schools. There are many adjectives that describe their relationship with the public school system, but empowered is not one of them.
10-16-04
SSI/Medicaid/Medicare
»
Advice on Implementing a “Money Follows the Person” Program - CMS
issued another of its "Dear State Medicaid Director" letters (dated 8/17/04,
SMDL #04-005). This letter is an important handle you can use to PERSUADE
YOUR STATE Medicaid agency to move disabled persons into the community. This
CMS letter will help you when your State agency offers excuses for why it
cannot move disabled people into the community. CMS says it can move them
into the community and can do it under existing rules!
10-15-04
Breaking News and
Election 2004 » Election Day
Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE - The Disability Vote Project advises voters to
call their local Board of Elections before Election Day to find the location
of polling places and their accessibility features. Election Day is Tuesday,
November 2, 2004. The Vote Project notes that colleagues in the civil rights
community have set up a toll-free Election Day hotline. This hotline is now
staffed and, in addition to logging complaints, the civil rights
organizations have law students and attorneys who can provide assistance on
Election Day.
Breaking News and No Child Left Behind »
Paige Announces 2004 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools - More than 250 of the nation's schools have
been named 2004 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced last month. The No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon
Schools program recognizes schools that are either academically superior in their states or demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.
Breaking News and Statistics »
Working Hard, Falling Short:
9.2 Million Families Barely
Getting By - On October 12, 2004 a 36 page report titled: Working
Hard, Falling Short - America's Working Families and the Pursuit of Economic
Security was released by the Annie E. Casey, Ford, and Rockefeller
Foundations. It shows that 9.2 million working families in the United States
- one out of every four - earn wages that are so low they are barely able to
survive financially. 20 million children are in these low-income working
families.
Breaking News » The Disability
Law & Policy Newsletter:
Sample of Articles
- The Disability Law & Policy Newsletter is a bi-weekly publication of the Law, Health Policy & Disability Center that aims to inform disability advocates,
scholars, and service providers of the most current issues in disability law, policy, research, best practices, and breaking news. To subscribe to this free
e-newsletter, go to
http://disability.law.uiowa.edu/lhpdc/publications/news.html and subscribe
to the "Disability Law & Policy e-Newsletter." [Source: Monday Morning in
Washington, D.C.]
Breaking News and
Charter Schools » New Guide!
Successful Charter Schools - Twelve years after the first charter school
was launched, nearly 3,000 charter schools nationwide serve as beacons of public
school innovation and reform due to an unprecedented combination of freedom and
accountability: freedom to lengthen the school day, require dress codes, put
teachers on school boards, and adopt any instructional practice that will help
achieve the mission of building the skills students need to succeed in today's
world. How these schools have boosted student achievement is the focus of a new
guide from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and
Improvement. Successful Charter Schools offers practical advice and concrete
examples from eight charter schools, all of which are meeting state standards of
accountability for all students under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Breaking News and
Bullying » MI
Livonia Aims To Stop Bullies - Columbine called the "wake-up call."
District officials have hired an expert to try to prevent a Columbine-style
catastrophe from happening in Livonia by training teachers and students to
eliminate bullying. One of the keys to her approach is having staffers decide
what will be their 'line in the sand' - behavior that will cause consequences.
Breaking News » MI
Appointments By The Governor: Commission For The Blind - Sheila
Ashcraft of Pontiac succeeds Peeti Greene whose term expired, and
Richard Grant of Belding succeeds Barbara Thomas, whose term
expired, both representing blind persons and both for terms expiring
September 30, 2007. The appointment is subject to Senate
confirmation. [Source: Gongwer News Service, October 13, 2004]
Breaking News » MI
Education Candidates Differ
on Funds, Tests - Though there is some question what it will matter on
Election Day, given past voting trends for the race, the four major party
candidates for the State Board of Education are working to stake out their
positions on the state of schools in Michigan and on the changes needed to
improve them.
Breaking News » MI
Ginotti, Cox Pitch New Web Page for Prescription Drugs - Republican House candidate Carlo Ginotti and his
old prosecutor buddy, current Attorney General Mike COX, are proposing Michigan set up a new web site that prices out prescription drugs on a county and
city-wide level.
Breaking News » MI
Michigan Senators Learn of the Price of Government - The Senate Republican Caucus was the latest group
of influential Lansingites to listen to author Peter Hutchinson's take on how state government should completely redo its budget-balancing process today.
Breaking News »
MI
Michigan Court Orders Worker's
Compensation to Child - A company must pay worker's compensation
benefits for the daughter of an employee killed on the job even though the
unmarried worker had not provided support for the girl while he was alive, a
unanimous panel of the Court of Appeals has ruled. The court, in a per
curiam ruling released Wednesday, said Prestige Painting must provide 500
weeks in benefits to the girl because the law requires payments to the
dependent children of workers.
Breaking News »
MI
Ed Board Adopts Progress Standards For Districts -
Despite complaints from larger districts that they would
be at a disadvantage from the policy, the State Board of Education adopted a
policy Tuesday that requires all districts to adopt adequate yearly progress
standards for at least two of their school levels to be considered having met
AYP overall.
Breaking News and IEP Issues - Testing » MI
High School MEAP Test Scored Improve Across-The-Board - State assessment scores for the Michigan
high school Class of 2004 improved across-the-board. The numbers of 2004 graduates who met or exceeded state standards for the Michigan Educational
Assessment Program (MEAP) high school test increased in all five testing areas: Reading, Mathematics, Science, Writing, and Social Studies.
IEP Issues - Testing »
MI
MEAP Results Are Promising - Most high school students in Michigan
know their reading, but they're shaky when it comes to writing and math.
That's what scores from the Michigan Educational Assessment Program released
Thursday indicate. Students were tested in reading, writing, math, science
and social studies.
IEP Issues - Transition »
Transition Planning: Putting Interagency Agreements into Action - This brief from the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition discusses
the essential components of successful interagency agreements when developing and implementing transition plans for secondary students with disabilities.
Kelli Crane, Meredith Gramlich, & Kris Peterson, Putting Interagency Agreements into Action, NCSET Issue Brief, Sept. 2004.
Breaking News »
MI
Coalition Pushing More Civics Education - The Michigan Coalition on Civic Education is planning to use a new $150,000 grant to promote state policy that
would urge expansion of civics education in Michigan schools. Coalition officials said the grant funds, from the Carnegie Corporation and the Knight
Foundation, will be used to implement proposals from "The Civic Mission of Schools", a report issued by Carnegie in 2003. "We want to have students coming
to the Capitol and learning what their government does," said Linda Start, executive director of the coalition. The report indicated that decreasing
participation in politics nationally could be traced to inadequate attention to civics education in the nation's schools. And the report said schools were best
suited among government institutions to promote civic knowledge and involvement. [Gongwer, October 13, 2004]
SSI/Medicaid/Medicare
» Report Examines How The Federal
Government Defines Disability in Different Ways - A report
by the AARP examines how four national surveys conducted by
the federal government in the U.S. define and measure a
critical aspect of disability--whether the disability limits
the person's ability to perform daily activities. Read
Disability: Federal Survey Definitions, Measurements, and
Estimates at
http://research.aarp.org/il/dd98_disability.pdf.
10-14-04
Speech &
Language Impaired (SLI) » Featured Website:
The Hanen Centre -
A recognized innovator in family-focused early language intervention
programs and learning resources for parents and professionals around
the world The basic notion that launched The Hanen Centre is quite
simple – parents can be their child’s language facilitator if they
learn how. After all, it is parents who have the strongest bond with
their children and who have many opportunities to interact with them
every day. The beauty of the Hanen approach is that parents can help
their children learn to communicate during typical, daily situations
such as going to the park or having a snack. Once parents know how to
turn everyday situations into opportunities for language learning,
speech-language therapy for children in need is suddenly no longer
limited to one or two hours per week with a speech-language
pathologist.
10-13-04
Breaking News and IDEA Reauthorization »
U.S. House Appoints IDEA Reauthorization Conference Committee - On October 8, 2004 the U.S. House
of Representatives appointed a 14 member conference committee to negotiate the IDEA reauthorization bill differences with the Senate conferees. The House
conferees included a mixture of representatives from the Education and Workforce Committee, Judiciary Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee. It is expected
that those from Judiciary will focus on procedural safeguards and those from Energy and Commerce will focus on Medicaid issues contained in the bill.
Breaking News and Special Education »
Focused Monitoring (PDF) - How the federal government has changed its
special education accountability process to focus on results.
Breaking News and Special Education »
Featured Website:
National
Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring - To learn about
individual states’ progress in implementing focused monitoring and continuous
improvement processes as they reform their special education programs, click on
a state in the map or a text link below the map.
Breaking News and
Food Allergies »
Cupcakes for Everyone:
Kids with food allergies don't have to miss out on dessert. One of
these delicious cupcake recipes -- including gluten-free and
dairy-free varieties -- is just right for your child.
Children At-Risk - Suicide »
Gryphon Place: This website lists warning signs, myths and
facts, statistics, research, and prevention.
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and
IEP Issues - Discipline »
Recent presentations from the National Accountability Conference Proceedings
(PDF) covered PBS and outcomes related to suspension and expulsion. The presentations give good details about federal obligations to report specific
suspension/expulsion information, both baseline and comparative information, and the effect of PBS on suspension/expulsion.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Michigan Head Start Association Preconference and Conference "The Fatherhood Factor: A Conference for engaging men in the lives of children" -
Preconference will take place on March 2, 2005; Conference will take place
March 3-4, 2005. Keynote Speakers: Jonetta Rose Barras and Lydia Velez Estevas;
Featured Speakers: Neil Tift, D. J. Vanas, and Nigel Vann. For more information
contact Lesley at lesley@mhsa.ws.
10-12-04
Book & Video Reviews » Helping Children With Autism
Learn: A Guide to Treatment Approaches for Parents and Professionals by Byrna
Siegel - Click here to read the
Bridges4Kids review of this book.
Breaking News and General Ed Reform
» Commentary: Is
Unity Possible? - One of the challenges of leadership in any organization
(or country) is how to respect and incorporate diverse viewpoints and
experiences while uniting behind a common vision in order to reach common goals
– and not allowing the process to be derailed.
Breaking News and General
Ed Reform » Featured Website:
e-Lead.org,
a partnership of IEL (Institute for Educational Leadership) and the Laboratory
for Student Success (LSS), offers states and districts information about how to
provide better professional development for principals The renovated site now
includes over 30 programs in its selected database, in addition to other
guidance and resources.
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) » Featured
Website: Association for Positive
Behavior Support (APBS)
Upcoming Events
» MI Special Needs Movie Showing:
Shark Tale (PG) will take place on October 17, 2004 at 12 noon at South Lyon
Cinema, South Lyon, MI (located in downtown S. Lyon, intersection of Ten Mile
and Pontiac Trail). South Lyon Cinema will be having a special showing for all
autistic/special needs kids and their friends and families of "Shark Tale"
(rated PG, 90 minutes). This movie is by the same group that brought us Shrek
and is computer animated. Here is information on the movie visit
http://www.sharktale.com/.
As always, the lights will be a bit brighter, the sound a bit lower, and no need
to worry about kids who need to move around or make some noise, etc. Close
captioning will not be available on this film. Admission will be 1.00 with a
coke & popcorn special for $1. RSVP to Pam & Corey Seeman at (734) 429-7409 or
seeman@paintboxdesigns.net.
Upcoming Events
» MI First in the Healthwise
University Inspirational Series: You're A Better Parent Than You Think! is
presented by Ingham Regional Healthcare Foundation's Healthwise University.
Program will take place on October 21, 2004 (Registration at 5:30 PM, Program at
6:30 PM) at NCG Cinemas (located in the Eastwood Towne Center, Lansing, MI).
Pre-registration is required (by October 19). Introductory cost is $10 per
person (payable at the door). Includes hor d'oeuvres from P.F. Chang's. Join
well known author, humorist, and radio talk show host, Dr. Ray Guarendi, for
this lively presentation! Parents, teachers and anyone who works with children
today are having their confidence, peace of mind, and authority undercut by a
number of widespread myths that have been pushed upon them by the experts, the
media and almost everybody else. Victimized by these false notions, many parents
and educators are plagued by groundless worry, guilt and frustration. This
presentation identifies several of the most pervasive of these myths. To
register or for more information, call toll free 1-877-224-4325 or 517-367-5159,
or visit www.irmc.org and
click on "calendar of events."
10-11-04
Bridges4Kids
NewsDigest » New edition of the Bridges4Kids NewsDigest published 10-11-04.
Breaking News and Parenting »
IL
Little League Faces Behavior Code - Starting next season, Little League
players, coaches and parents in Lake in the Hills may have to promise, in
writing, not to yell at, boo or argue with umpires. [Free login/registration
required.]
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
MI
Lawyers Exit From Kids'
Cases - More than 1,000 abused and neglected children in Wayne County
Family Court cases are getting new lawyers to represent their interests in child
protective proceedings.
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
NY
HS Card $harps - Playing poker for cash is the latest craze in schools
across New York, with kids blowing up to $300 a day playing games such as Texas
hold 'em.
Breaking News and
Education YES! » MI
Memorandum: School
District Report Cards (PDF) - On the agenda for the Michigan State
Board of Education meeting, Tuesday, October 12 (to be held at 9:30 AM in
Grand Rapids at the Grand Rapids Public Schools Admin Building, 1331
Franklin, SE.): Memo from State Superintendent Tom Watkins: At the September
14 meeting of the State Board of education, a proposal was presented for
discussion pertaining to the manner in which school district report cards
would be calculated. The proposal was faxed to all local and intermediate
school district superintendents, as well as authorizers and directors of
public school academies. Presentations on the proposal were also made at the
fall meetings of several professional associations. Based on the reactions
and suggestions received to date, the proposal has been revised to reflect
what follows in this memorandum.
Breaking News and
Education YES! » MI
Memorandum:
School Performance Indicators Under Ed Yes! (PDF) - On the agenda for
the Michigan State Board of Education meeting, Tuesday, October 12 (to be
held at 9:30 AM in Grand Rapids at the Grand Rapids Public Schools Admin
Building, 1331 Franklin, SE.): Memo from State Superintendent Tom Watkins on
proposed changes to the weight given performance indicators in calculating a
school's "grade" under the Michigan school accountability plan "Ed Yes!" The
changes would make it more difficult for a school that receives a "D" or "F"
in academic achievement to raise that grade by rating themselves highly on
the performance indicators.
Health & Safety »
Resource Added: Daily breaking health news and reports on the latest
advances in medicine - television network affiliates have been
providing viewers this information every day on local newscasts - now
you can get it from the same place they do:
Ivanhoe Broadcast
News.
Help For Kids -
Connecticut » CT A great new resource
to look up data about young children in your town, prepared by CHDI as
part of the work of our Early Childhood DataCONNections state team
that released the new "Keeping Children on the Path to School
Readiness" report last week. If you go to this website, you will find
an early childhood data profile page for each town in Connecticut at
http://www.chdi.org/resources_profile.asp. You can access the full
report, as well as the highlights version, at
http://www.chdi.org/resources_download.htm.
10-08-04
Breaking News
and
Supt. Watkins »
MI
State Superintendent
Taps Energy of Model School - A meeting with the front line troops in
West Bloomfield served as an energy booster for Michigan's head of public
schools Monday. Tom Watkins, state superintendent of public education, spent
most of Monday at the Bloomfield Hills Public School's Model High School to
find out what teachers and students believe is important in education.
Breaking News
and
Supt. Watkins »
MI
Local Students Provide
Insight to State Education Leader - Bay-Arenac Community High
School's progress with troubled and challenged students has caught the
attention of the state's top educator. Tom Watkins, Michigan's
superintendent of public instruction, visited the Essexville school on
Friday to ask the students what has helped them become successful. "You'll
hear some real pearls of wisdom," Watkins said of talking to the students.
"They'll tell you what works and what doesn't."
Upcoming Events »
MI
Detroit Parent Network (DPN) presents A Free Evening of
Pampering will take place on October 15, 2004 at
Detroit Parent Network, 51 W. Hancock, 2nd Floor, Detroit (between Woodward
and Cass, 1 block south of Warren). Stressed? Need to
relax? Let DPN take you away! Pampering includes hand & neck massages,
barber, hand & foot soaks, manicures, eyebrow arches, Mary Kay hand scrubs,
facials and make up. Reception, refreshments and signup are from 5-6 p.m.
with pampering, fun and relaxation running from 6-9 p.m. Last client will be
taken in at 8:15 p.m.
Download the flyer
here (PDF). RSVP by October 13, 2004 to
313-832-0617 ext. 31.
10-07-04
Job Opportunities
» AOL's Job Finder:
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CareerBuilder.com. Thousands of jobs are posted daily - set up a personalized
Job Alert to find the perfect one for you. Choose to receive your alert
immediately to get a step ahead of your competition.
10-06-04
Breaking News
»
MI
Important Notice: October Michigan Board of Ed Meeting Location Change:
Due to road construction in downtown Lansing, the location of the State
Board of Education’s October meeting has been changed. The meeting will be
held on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. in the Administration
Building of Grand Rapids Public Schools, 1331 Franklin, S.E., Grand Rapids,
MI 49506. From Lansing take I-96 West to I-196. Take Fuller Street exit,
turn south. Travel down Fuller Street to Franklin Street, turn east. The
Administration Building is approximately 1½ blocks east on the left hand
side of the street.
Breaking News and
Inspiration »
From Dorie - As the
mother of a son with Paranoid Schizophrenia I have been struggling with the
issue of prayer for quite some time. It is not that I have lost faith. I have
been running on it for five years now. Granted there were times when it was
reduced to the size of a mustard seed. But as I look back in hindsight, there
was a moment that stands out from all the rest that left me totally and
completely drained and frozen in fear like a deer in the headlights of an
oncoming car when it came to the issue of prayer.
Breaking News and Job
Opportunities »
Japan Study Program for Teachers:
Toyota International Teacher Program - The Toyota International Teacher
Program offers secondary school teachers the opportunity to travel to Japan to
participate in a fully funded, two-week cultural/educational study program.
During the program, participants will be introduced to Japan's past and present,
and consider selected global issues that impact industrialized nations. Sixty
teachers from Alabama, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New
York, Texas, West Virginia, and Washington, DC will be selected to participate.
Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens; be employed full-time as a secondary
school teacher (grades 9?12); have a minimum of three years full-time teaching
experience by the time of the program; and work in one of the states listed
above. The application deadline is January 10, 2005.
Breaking News and College »
College Freshmen
and the Meningitis Threat - Candie Benn was entertaining guests
for Christmas Eve dinner. But her older daughter Melanie, then 18 and
a college freshman home for the holidays, wasn't feeling well. So
Melanie headed up to her room to rest and recover from her flu-like
symptoms. Every year, about 3,000 cases of meningococcal disease occur
in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. The overall fatality rate is about 10 percent,
but it's sometimes higher in young people.
Breaking News and
Medicaid/Medicare/FSS/SSI »
New Legislation Announced to Increase Wages of Direct Support Professionals
(PDF) - New legislation amending Title XIX of the Social Security Act was
announced by U.S. Representatives Lee Terry (R-NE) and Lois Capps (D-CA) at the
recent governmental activities seminar of the American Network of Community
Options and Resources (ANCOR) in Washington. The legislation is designed to
provide more funds to states to increase wages of direct support professionals,
who provide services to persons with disabilities.
Help For Kids - Canada: Ontario »
Toronto
The Education of Amuthini
Wijendra - By 2002, Amuthini Wijendra seemed to have the kind of success
that she and her family had sacrificed so much to attain. Ten years after coming
to Canada from her home in war-torn Sri Lanka, and three years after graduating
from the University of Waterloo with a computer engineering degree, Wijendra
held a lucrative job as a consultant with Deloitte and Touche. "It was a very
good job," concedes Wijendra, 30. "But when I was a consultant, I didn't feel
that at the end of the day, I could say I made a difference in this person's
life or that person's life."
Legal Research »
Test Help Resource Links:
Free LSAT Prep Tools,
LSAT Intelligent Solutions,
The LSAT Center, and
Power Score
Down
Syndrome » Featured
Website:
Down Syndrome
Association of West Michigan
IEP Issues - Least
Restrictive Environment (LRE) » Office of Special Education Programs' IDEA
Amendments of 1997 Curriculum:
Module 8 Least Restrictive Environment - In this module you will find:
Overview of LRE, Determining a Student's LRE, LRE and IDEA 97, State's
Obligation including Placement-Neutral Funding, Supplementary Aids, LRE &
General Education, Permissive Use of Funds, Other Aspects including
Participation in Assessments, Performance Goals and References. Module 8 also
includes the following components, with the text of each provided in separate
files: background text on the statute (explaining the requirements of the
statute passed by Congress in 1997), addendum text on the regulations
(explaining requirements of the final Federal regulations for IDEA published on
March 12, 1999), handouts in English and handouts in Spanish (revised to
incorporate the regulations), training script (revised to incorporate the
regulations), overheads in English (revised to incorporate the regulations), and
overheads in Spanish (revised to incorporate the regulations).
IEP Issues - Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) »
U.S. Department of Education's Deaf Students Education Services Policy Guidance
- While this policy guidance specifically address D/HH students, the legal
principles articulated in it are applicable to all. This policy guidance was
authored by Dr.Robert Davila, who is deaf, when he was an undersecretary in
OSERS. Dr. Davila is Deaf, himself, and he really does get it with respect to
LRE issues.
Upcoming Events »
MI
I Was Included: What it Means to Belong, sponsored by Everyone
Together Macomb, will take place on October 18, 2004 from 7-9 p.m.
(Subsequent meetings will be the 3rd Monday of every month at the same
time and location)
at
Macomb Intermediate School District, 44001 Garfield, Clinton Twp MI
48038, Room 103 B (use the South entrance of the new addition). This
free workshop Features Theresa Arini, Self-Advocate and Business
Owner. Theresa Arini is a lifelong resident of Macomb County. She is a
1981 Lincoln High School graduate, of the Van Dyke Public School
District. She has earned a BS from Eastern University and is currently
working on her Masters at Wayne State. Come and hear Theresa tell her
personal inclusion success story, which is sure to be a true
inspiration for both parents and professionals. Join with us as we
discover how and when Theresa found out she was different - you'll be
surprised! Learn why it's important for every student to belong, no
matter what a their ability/disability level may be. Please call Laura
Krausman at (586) 756-2590, or Monique Bonifas at (586) 997-3720 to
reserve a seat and materials. If you prefer, you can also email us at
everyonetogethermacomb@yahoo.com. Please be sure to include
your contact information.
Upcoming Events »
MI
12th Annual Parenting Awareness Michigan (PAM) Conferences
- There are two conferences to choose from: October 21 in Marquette at
Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave., Don H. Bottum
University Center, Marquette, MI 49855 and November 8 in Lansing at
the Holiday Inn South, 6820 S. Cedar St, Lansing, MI 48911. These are
geared for people who work with parents and families of all ages
ranges. The early bird registration fee is $35. We do provide
prevention certification CEUs. For more information
download the conference
brochure (PDF; size=400k) or contact Luanne Beaudry, Parenting
Awareness Michigan Coordinator, Prevention Network, 800.968.4968 or
email
pamcampaign@preventionnetwork.org.
10-05-04
Breaking News
»
Better Homes & Gardens Request: School Improvement Success Stories -
A
magazine writer from Better Homes and Gardens magazine is seeking stories
about parents who have helped improve their children's schools. Examples
could be profiles of parents who successfully banned junk food from campus,
organized large-scale community efforts or resurrected endangered sports
programs or electives. As part of this, specific tips will be extracted and
added to the article in order to help readers bring about similar change in
their own children’s schools. For more information, email Lisa at
lisalewis@alum.berkeley.edu.
Breaking News and
Autism »
Autism Incidence, 2003 School Year Data - Fighting Autism has updated
their graphical display of Autism Incidence in the United States public school
system to include the recently released 2003 school year data. You are able to
select any of the 50 states and display the following graphs: Autism Incidence,
Autism Incidence Cumulative Growth, and Autism Incidence Annual Growth.
Breaking News and Parental
Involvement »
Gary Stager on One-sided Parent Contracts - Here's a list of promises I
think schools should keep...
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
Homeless Students Find Refuges in Public Schools - Because of a
federal law reauthorized in 2001, public schools have become refuges
for homeless students, where education, food, clothing, and dental and
medical services are more accessible than ever, educators say.
SSI/FSS/Medicaid/Medicare »
Low Income Americans on Medicare
Receive Drug Discount Cards - The U.S. Health & Human Services reports
that HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced on September 22 that nearly two
million low-income Americans on Medicare will soon be automatically eligible for
prescription discounts through the Medicare Drug Discount card and qualify for
an additional $1,200 in savings over the next 14 months.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Designing IEPs That Support Inclusion will take place on October 14, 2004 at
Monroe County Community College, Room 173-B (Student Services Administration
Building) 1555 S. Raisinville Road, Monroe MI. 48161. Sandee Koski and Kelly
Orginski from the Parent Education Network will discuss writing IEPs in the
least restrictive environment, roadblocks to inclusion, supports for teachers,
data collection, accommodations (including assistive technology). Please RSVP
for this FREE workshop to reserve an information packet by contacting Emilie
Mullins of Inclusion Works! Monroe Everyone Together at
emmullins@earthlink.net.
10-04-04
Breaking News and
Recent Court Cases »
MI
Federal District Court Holds
Removal of Children Unlawful - In an opinion issued July 30, 2004, the
federal court for the Western District of Michigan refused to dismiss a Section
1983 action against state agency (FIA) workers who entered a home and removed
children without a written order. The opinion contains an interesting discussion
of case law regarding immunity of public officials and of the legal requirements
to remove children.
Breaking News » Featured
Website:
TestPrepReview - TestPrepReview.com is a free service "created
to provide free practice test questions for students in a variety of
career situations." Includes online review for ACT, SAT, GED, LSAT,
GMAT, MCAT, ParaPro, Nursing, and many more.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Annual Michigan Collaborative Early Childhood Conference: Preconference
will take place on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 and the Conference will take
place on Thursday & Friday, January 27-28, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel,
Dearborn.
More details coming soon.
10-03-04
Ask the Attorney
≈
Question:
Our child is a special education student and recently received a
failing grade on his 4-week progress report. Now we are told that our child has
been declared ineligible for any athletic competition until the next marking
period. Isn’t this illegal?
Answer:
Click here to see John's Answer.
Breaking News and Parenting »
George’s Place - Autism swept him off to a secret world. Could his
grandmother find a way to meet him halfway?
Breaking News »
Tonsil Removal Has Slight
Clinical Benefit - Removing children's tonsils is not nearly as common in
the United States as it was a few decades ago, as more doctors have come to the
conclusion that the surgery's ability to reduce the frequency of throat
infections had been overrated.
Breaking News and
Asperger's Syndrome »
Bestseller Helps Parents Fight
Accusations of Child Abuse - Books: Novel has shed light on Asperger's
Syndrome but families still find themselves under investigation.
10-01-04
Bridges4Kids
NewsDigest » New edition of the Bridges4Kids NewsDigest published 10-01-04.
09-30-04
Breaking News and
Inclusion » Featured Website:
The
Supportive Classroom - A Curriculum for Creating Safe and Supportive
Classroom Environments - Tested in 14 Vermont Schools Kindergarten through
Eighth Grade. "We believe that all students need to be supported to feel good
about themselves, to feel good about school, and to feel that they belong. For
belonging to occur, students and their teachers must be supported, and
opportunities created for students to meaningfully participate and make
friendships. For every student to belong, teachers must strive to find a way to
help all students to have power and worth as individuals and as group members."
Breaking News »
MI
Bill Tracks Errant Students - Two Macomb County state representatives
plan to introduce legislation that would require disciplinary records to follow
students from school to school.
Breaking News »
MI
Michigan Department of Human Services Issues Draft Child Care Center Rules
(PDF) - Opportunity for public input on Friday, October 15th, 2004 from 1:00
to 4:00 p.m. at the State of Michigan Library 717 W. Allegan Street, Lansing,
1st floor auditorium.
Breaking News »
MI
September
FOCUS on Results Now Available - FOCUS on Results are guidance and
technical assistance documents published four times a year by the Michigan
Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention
Services (OSE/EIS). The September 2004 packet includes What Is the Process in
Michigan for Resolving Disputes Regarding Suspensions and Expulsions? What
Factors Must Schools Consider When Suspending or Expelling Students? Meeting the
Challenge of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP); Using Assessment Data Changes the
Way Some Schools Do Business; and No Child Left Behind-No, Really!
Breaking News and
Vaccinations/Immunizations »
Desperate Measures -
Armed with a new study, some parents say vaccines trigger autism. But is
skipping shots the answer?
Breaking News and
Inclusion »
Integrated at Last:
The Right to Belong, The Story of Yvonne
Breaking News and
Environmental Toxins »
CA
Report:
Kids at Steep Risk From Bad Air - Los Angeles children playing
outside were at high risk of breathing unhealthy air one out of five
days over the last three summers.
Breaking News and
Schizophrenia »
Cognitive Rehabilitation
Shows Robust Benefits For Schizophrenics - Targeted therapy can help ease
some of the most chronically disabling aspects of schizophrenia, new research
shows.
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
Featured Website:
Stop It Now! - The Campaign to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse (888)
PREVENT (773-8368).
Breaking News »
EUROPE
Chemicals banned in European Toys - European
Union governments permanently banned chemicals used to soften plastic from
being used in toys, saying they are harmful to young children who put toys
in their mouths. The measure outlaws the chemicals, known as phthalates.
Editor note: the following article does a good job of describing phthalates,
the controversy over them, and the scientific evidence available at the time
(3-4 years ago) the article was written, with the author ultimately
concluding that the evidence then available did not support a ban.
Breaking News and
Nutrition »
MI
Williamston, Fowlerville Schools Giving Kids Healthy Snack Options
- Justin Dartt, 16, a junior at Fowlerville High School, is not
happy about the new healthy snack machines at his school. Fowlerville
and Williamston high schools are piloting a state program this year
aimed at getting students to eat and drink healthier.
Breaking News and General
Ed Reform - Leadership »
MI
Everett's Principal is Named Best in the State - Dale Glynn,
who has led Lansing's diverse Everett High School since 1995, is
Michigan's new High School Principal of the Year. Affectionately known
as "Rainbow Man" because of his inclusive nature, Glynn said the
students "become my sons and my daughters."
Upcoming Events »
MI
Association for Children's Mental Health 15th Annual Conference "Pathways to
Possibilities: Hope and Help for Children and Families" will take place on
October 28-29, 2004 at Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing, MI.
Topics include: "Parity and Access"; "Health Child: The Effects of the
Environment on Our Children's Development"; "Voice and Choice: The Family's Role
in Evidence Based Practice"; "How To Talk To Legislators"; "Finding Information
and Resources to Help Your Child"; "Bullied Youth: Helping Them Achieve
Success"; "The Healing Parent"; "Honoring and Engaging the Highly Sensitive
Child with the Arts as Process"; "Communication: Strategies That Work"; "The
Explosive Child"; "Michigan Mental Health Commission Findings and
Recommendations." Parent Scholarships Available!
COST:
2 Days member $135 (after Oct. 11 = 160; non-member $170 (after Oct. 11 = $190)
1 Day member $85 (after Oct. 11 = $100); non-member $120 (after Oct. 11 = $140).
To register or for a conference brochure call 1-888-ACMH-KID (1-888-225-4543).
Upcoming Events »
MI
Michigan Council of School Attorneys 2004 Fall Conference will take place on
November 4, 2004 from 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM at DeVos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids. Keeping up with school law issues can be challenging
even for the most experienced school attorney or school official. To stay
current, you need access to concise, clear information. The Michigan Council
of School Attorneys Fall Conference has consistently offered pertinent and
timely topics for school officials and attorneys who are involved in the
legal aspects of education, and this year is no exception. Whether you are
an attorney, board member or school administrator, this half-day conference
is designed for those interested in the cutting edge legal issues that
confront school districts. Each presentation will be conducted by a school
law expert who will address all of your concerns and questions. All
registrants will receive a detailed outline of each presentation assembled
in a convenient three-ring binder. Cost is $50 MASB & MCSA Members/ $65 Non-Members. Register online at
www.masb.org or download
registration form at
http://www.masb.org/pdf/fallconference04.pdf and mail registration form
with payment to MASB Business Office, 1001 Centennial Way, Ste 400, Lansing,
MI 48917.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Michigan Fathers Conference, sponsored by Dads Empowered in cooperation
with The Birmingham Public Schools and Birmingham Youth Assistance, will take
place on November 6, 2004 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Birmingham Covington School,
1525 Covington Rd. (corner of Quarton and Covington), Bloomfield Hills.
Featuring Morning Kick-off speakers: Mike Stone, WDFN and Chris Edwards, FOX 2
News. Morning Keynote: Paul W. Smith, WJR Radio, on The Importance of Fathers.
Lunch Keynote: Steve Garagiola, Channel 4, "Balancing Work and Family".
Childcare available - must sign up in advance. Breakfast and Lunch included with
full day registration of $22 ($30 after Nov.4). Half-day registration available:
includes breakfast (8AM - 12:30PM: $16 ($22 after Nov. 4). For more details
visit
www.dadsempowered.org or call 248-203-3800 to register. Registration forms
available online at
http://www.communityed.net.
09-29-04
Breaking News, General Ed
Reform and Depression »
Emotional Ties to School Vital to Success - There's a growing body of
evidence that building emotional connections between young people and their
schools improves their commitment to education and increases their ability to
resist risky behavior. Research shows that 40 percent to 60 percent of all
students -- urban, suburban and rural - are "chronically disengaged" from
school. And these numbers don't include kids who actually drop out of school.
"Essentially, we're telling kids they're on their own, and while many of them
succeed, many don't. This is not acceptable."
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
D.C.
Truancy Initiative Cites 756 Families - D.C. public school officials
yesterday said their new efforts against truancy — including "aggressive
interventions" — have already resulted in 756 families being notified about
problems with their children's attendance.
Breaking News, Juvenile Justice
and Children At-Risk »
MI
Children in Crisis: Mental Health - In this three-part series, the
Detroit Free Press examines how children with bipolar disorder, anxiety,
schizophrenia, depression and other mental illnesses succeed or fail in getting
mental health services. Through the eyes of children who are in treatment,
locked up, or on the brink, we explore what it takes to get services, what's
available and the impact on families when a child needs mental health care.
Breaking News and
Food Allergies
» MI
Metro Schools Ask Kids to Leave Peanuts at Home - First it was
drugs. Then guns. Now some schools in southeast Michigan are trying to
prevent another possibly lethal scourge from reaching their
classrooms: the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Upcoming Events »
MI
MiAEYC's Annual Early Childhood Conference, hosted by the Michigan
Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC), will take
place on April 14-16, 2005 at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place,
Grand Rapids, Michigan. Visit
http://www.miaeyc.org for more details.
09-28-04
Breaking News and
Parenting
» Featured
Resource:
Sign up for AARP's Free Newsletter for Grandparents Raising
Grandchildren - In this newsletter from the AARP Grandparent
Information Center you'll get: Practical information to help you raise
your grandchild, Resources and information, News about programs that
support grandparents and their grandchildren, and Practical tips on
how to deal with challenges such as legal and financial matters,
education, housing, health, respite, child-rearing, grief, loss, and
stress. The newsletter is sent through the U.S. Post Office (snail
mail).
Breaking News and
Juvenile Justice »
CHILDREN IN CRISIS:
Family of Boy Overcoming Abuse Makes Tough Choice to Get Him Help He Needs
- Not when he is reminded of the fire that killed his three adopted
siblings and nearly took his own life. Not when he thinks of the years of
horrific neglect, physical and sexual abuse and constant shuffling from
place to place. Not even when he's plucked out of his home and locked up in
a juvenile detention center.
Supt. Watkins »
MI
District Hosts Distinguished Visitors - May
2004: State Superintendent for
Public Instruction Tom Watkins and State Representative Andy Meisner Visit
Roosevelt Students - On May 7, 2004 students at Roosevelt Primary School
(K-2) and Wilson Elementary School (3-4) hosted special visitors to their
classrooms when State Superintendent for Public Instruction Tom Watkins and
State Representative Andy Meisner spent the morning learning about their
programs. Tom Watkins is pictured at left with Ferndale Superintendent Gary
Meier and two Roosevelt students. [Includes photo gallery]
Breaking News and
Supt. Watkins
»
Teacher Appreciation -
Tom Watkins, Michigan’s state superintendent of schools, likes to ask students
about what they think makes a teacher great, and then to jot down the answers
for use in his speeches. Since taking over as Michigan’s top school official in
2001, Mr. Watkins has filled a drawer with the quotes. At the urging of friends
and colleagues, he recently compiled some of the comments into a small paperback
book titled They Help Us Paint Rainbows.
Breaking News »
MI
State Could Lose Millions in Cash For Kids - Michigan could lose millions
of dollars in federal aid for children who are abused, neglected or delinquent
because Family Court judges and referees may be improperly filling out legal
documents.
Breaking News »
MI
Study: School Pensions
Absorb Expected Funding Increases - Expected increases in health care
funding for school retirees combined with still low earnings on retirement
investments mean retirement account contributions could eat up as much as half
of any future increases in school aid, according to a report from the Citizens
Research Council.
Breaking News »
MI
FIA Adds More Counties to Multi-county Service - Beginning Friday another
12 counties will be added to the number of those with so-called "transparent
county lines" that should expand the options Department of Human Services
recipients have for receiving services. The counties added to the list -
Arenac-Bay, Clare-Isabella, Gladwin, Lake-Newaygo, Mason-Oceana, Midland and
Osceola-Mecosta counties - will bring to 48 counties the number that give FIA
recipients greater flexibility in choosing an office for services. Under the
program, an FIA recipient can choose to work through an office that is more
convenient than the office located in the recipient's home county. [Source:
Gongwer News Service, 9/27/04]
Breaking News and General
Ed Reform »
No Black-White Test-Score Gap at Age 4, But It Appears After Children
Enter School - African American children and white children
from similar family backgrounds who entered kindergarten in 1998 began
school with approximately the same test scores. This striking finding
is drawn from the national Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. But by
the end of first grade African American children have lost ground to
comparable white children. The authors find no evidence that slippage
occurs over the summertime, an oft-offered explanation for the
test-score gap. Nor are differences in family background the likely
cause. Instead, it appears that the cause is within the schoolhouse.
09-27-04
Breaking News »
MI
Introduction to The Children with
Special Needs Fund - The Fund provides services and equipment to children
with special health care needs that no other resource – including state or
federal programs – provides. The Fund was created in 1944 with a large bequest
of Dow Chemical stock by Dr. and Mrs. James Pardee. Dr. Pardee was a co-founder
of the Dow Chemical Company. It has been supplemented by donations made by many
other individuals over the past 58 years. This generosity has enabled the Fund
to help thousands of families. The Fund is administered through the Michigan
Department of Community Health.
Detroit News »
MI
$46 Million in Grants Will Help Engage Detroit Kids After School - At
least twice a week, 15-year-old Lionel Andrews of Detroit kicks and punches
other children. He said if he couldn't do that, he would probably be sitting at
home or hanging out in the streets. "It gives me something to do," he said,
describing the karate lessons he has taken after school since last year.
Breaking News and
Children At-Risk »
'Lost Boys' Celebrate Success - Their stories are still hard to fathom:
the trek across hostile terrain, the young boys who died en route, the refugee
years spent without parents. But many of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan who have
resettled in the Salt Lake area are finding their way now — and are attending
college in record numbers. "It's amazing to me, given the life they've had and
the childhood they had, how strong they are," says Kristy Swapp, Gai's
girlfriend. "I know no way to explain it based on American culture." She credits
their religious faith — "They'll say, 'I may have been lost from my family, but
not lost from God' " — and their sense of being part of an extended network of
cousins and ancestors. "By the time they're 3, they've heard their family
history back 10 generations."
Breaking News and Assistive
Technology (AT) »
AZ
Special-ed Pupils Learn Via High-tech Inspiration - Severely learning
disabled children at Desert Mirage Elementary School in Glendale, Arizona are
using technology this school year and making great educational gains beyond what
teachers and parents predicted, even hoped.
Breaking News »
Dumont Willis' New Hampshire Special Education Dictionary - They have
been given nicknames by audiences at their workshops. At a workshop on test
reviews, they were dubbed Cisco and Eggbert; at a workshop on learning
disabilities they were named (by a dyscalculic member) The Three Stooges; and at
a workshop on the identification of Serious Emotional Disturbance they were
named Dumb and Dumber! Now you, too, can benefit from their unique insight into
New Hampshire's special ed process - which sounds suspiciously familiar to that
found in other states!
Breaking News and Disability Info -
Cerebral Palsy (CP) »
Featured Website:
Caring For
Cerebral Palsy - This site addresses the specifics of caring for a child
with cerebral palsy: bathing, dental care, dressing, exercise, feeding, hearing,
nutrition, play, seizures, sleep, suctioning techniques, suppositories & enemas,
toilet training & bowel issues, and vision care. Information comes to you in the
form of excerpts from texts we've found useful, and links to sites that offer
additional perspective.
Breaking News and Lead Poisoning »
MI
Get the Lead Out! News:
September 24, 2004 -
In this Newsletter: State of Michigan Budget Update - $1 Million in New
Funds, State Legislation Update, Candidate Forum - State Offices, HUD Grant
Staff Changes, Touchpoint Service Provider Training, Institutes for Healing
Racism, and HUD Grant One-Year Party October 16.
Special Education » Featured Resource: The
Special Ed Advocate:
September 16, 2004 Edition - Topics include: Getting
help for a child with reading problems; what does law say
about passing grades; can parent get child's IEP changed: do
teachers have to provide accommodations in child's IEP; prepub
offer Stephen Jeffers v. School Board ends 9/28; finding help
in the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities; new issue of
The Beacon on high-stakes testing; Wrightslaw programs in CT,
VA, OK.
Breaking News and No Child Left
Behind »
No Class:
Why
Are "Public" Schools Closed to the Public? -
It's back-to-school
time. Unfortunately, despite school report cards and mandates like No Child Left
Behind, many public schools still treat parents like mushrooms: feed them guano
and keep them in the dark. This occurred to me when, like any good parent, I
called the principal's office at my local public elementary school to check it
out before sending my son.
Breaking News and No Child Left
Behind »
MI
Education Community Invited to Comment on Proposed District Report Cards -
NCLB requires the state to issue an adequate yearly progress (AYP) report
card for a school district as well as individual schools within the district. We
did not do so in 2003 because of incomplete data. We are prepared to do so now,
but need to define on what basis we will compute a district’s AYP.
No Child Left
Behind »
No Child Left Behind Newsletter:
September 15, 2004 Edition (PDF) - Topics Include: Letter to
Superintendents Offers Guidance, Funding for the Arts; Filling the Summer
Gap; Close-Up: No Child Left Behind—Improving Literacy Through School
Libraries; Tips for Parents; and New Resources! Just Added to FREE Web Site.
Breaking News »
Mandatory Mental Health
Screening Threatens Privacy, Parental Rights - On Sept. 9, the 'Ron Paul
Amendment' was defeated in the House of Representatives by a vote of 95-315. The
Amendment would have prevented the funds sought by an appropriations bill (HR
5006) from being used for the mandatory mental-health screening of Americans,
including public schoolchildren.
Breaking News »
MI Michigan Youth Leadership Forum:
Application & Information
(PDF) - Youth with disabilities are invited to participate in the June 12-16,
2005 Leadership Forum. Application deadline is November 30, 2004.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Meeting Notice: Michigan Child Care Task Force will take place on October 6,
2004 at Grand Tower FIA building, 235 S. Grand Ave., Lansing, MI 48909 (Meeting
will take place in the Dempsey Room, 1st floor. There is parking available at
the South Grand Parking structure just north of the FIA building. You may be
asked to produce I.D.). Contact Lisa Brewer at 866-648-3224, ext.27 or Richard
Lower at 517-374-MHSA for more information.
Upcoming Events »
MI
The Wonder of Boys and Girls: Understanding the Hidden Nature of Our Sons and
Daughters will take place on October 6, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at
Cranbrook Art Museum on the grounds of Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills.
Therapist Michael Gurian, author of “The Wonder of Boys” and “The Wonder of
Girls” will give two presentations, courtesy of the Birmingham Bloomfield
Families in Action, on “The Wonder of Boys and Girls: Understanding the Hidden
nature of Our Sons and Daughters” and “What Could He Be Thinking: Understanding
the Nature of Our Boys.” The first, on The Wonder of Boys and Girls” will be
held at Cranbrook Art Museum on the grounds of Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield
Hills; and the second, “What Could He Be Thinking” will be at the Seligman
Performing Arts Center on the Detroit Country Day School campus in Beverly
Hills. Gurian will discuss his research in neurobiology and how the brain works
in both genders to help parents and professionals understand how boys and girls
learn differently and how to better bond with each gender. Prevention of
substance abuse will grow from understanding how to communicate with the
genders. “For example,” he says, “for boys, don’t sit them down and verbalize
and lecture them for 10 to 20 minutes. The male brain doesn’t take in as many
words as the female brain. Girls have twice the verbal centers as boys do. So
boys don’t process as much being lectured to.” For more information call
248.645.3000. For directions visit
schools.cranbrook.edu/about/campus/directions.asp.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Macomb St. Clair ASA Safety Day, sponsored by The Macomb/St. Clair County
Chapter of the Autism Society of America, will take place on October 9, 2004
from 1-4 p.m. at Bozymowski Center, 11870 El Dorado, Sterling Heights, MI. See
Vendors for: Identity Cards, Locator Watches, Door Alarms, Pool Alarms, Fence
Alarms, Other Devices. See Representatives from: Children's Hospital, Police
Department, Fire Departments & Others. All attending will get even discounts
when purchasing at the event. Existing members will have the first $50 paid from
the Autism Society chapter to the vendor toward your purchase at the event. New
members that day get first $25 paid. Identa-A-Kid Services of America - The
child Identification Program. State Farm is bring Seat belt safety (preschool -
1st grade), Taylor Door will have deep discounts available. Bicycle Helmets from
Children's Hospital for $4.00 and they will fit them on the children while
supplies last. Stan Safety, the Magical Fireman, Door Prizes and Music. Free
Window Decals and Finger Printing. Cider and Doughnuts. For further information
please call Angel Vice at (586) 757-7550.
Upcoming Events »
U.S.
Jane Pauley Television Show "Asperger Syndrome: A World Apart" will air
on Friday, October 1, 2004. What is it like for parents who can't connect with
their child? The Jane Pauley Show will go inside the minds of children with
Asperger Syndrome - a neurobiological disorder affecting as many as 1 in 300
children - in hopes of helping parents recognize the symptoms, and find
solutions that can help their children lead full, productive lives. Check your
local listings for broadcast times and stations at
http://www.janepauley.com/watch/index.html or visit
http://www.janepauley.com/
(Click on "Show Info" or "This Week" for details.
Upcoming Events
»
U.S. CHADD's 16th Annual International Conference will take
place on October 29-30, 2004 at Renaissance Nashville
Hotel and Nashville Convention Center, Nashville, TN. With
more than 70 sessions being offered over three days, you will have the
opportunity to listen to and speak with the country's leading specialists
covering the newest treatments for AD/HD and recent findings in the fields of
medicine, psychiatry, psychology and education.
Scholarship Notice: Click here to
download the scholarship application and information packet (PDF). Visit
http://www.chadd.org for more
details or to register.
Upcoming Events
»
U.S. Free CME/CEU Accredited Online Seminar and Teleconference:
"Contemporary Issues in ADD/ADHD" wil take place on November 4, 2004 from 7 - 9
PM (ET) (6 PM CT, 5 PM MT and 4 PM PT). Presenters are Pasquale Accardo, MD,
Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth
University, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia and Jonathan Mink,
MD, PhD., Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, and
Pediatrics, Chief of Child Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine
and Dentistry. Moderator will be Alan Percy, MD, Director, Clinical
Neuroscience, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at
Birmingham School of Medicine. This seminar is for: Child Neurologists, Primary
Care Physicians, Pediatricians, Nurses, School Nurses, Elementary and Secondary
School Teachers, Special Ed Teachers *CME/CEU offered only for healthcare
professionals. The objective for this On-line Seminar & Teleconference is to
present what the correct body of scientific literature tells us is happening in
the brain of a child or adult with ADD/ADHD. There are chemical imbalances, and
there are a wide array of pharmacological and behavioral interventions used in
the treatment of ADD/ADHD, once a differential diagnosis is made. All of these
issues and more will be addressed in this Web-based interactive symposium. Visit
http://www.eparent.com/web_seminar_add_adhd/ for more details or to
register.
Upcoming Events »
U.S.
The Second International
Conference on Positive Behavior Support "The Expanding World of PBS: Science,
Values, & Vision", hosted by the Division of Applied Research and Educational
Support (DARES) at the University of South Florida and sponsored by the NIDRR
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Positive Behavior Support, the
OSEP Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and
Support and Florida's Positive Behavior Support Project, will take place on
March 10-12, 2005 at Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel, Tampa, FL. Positive
Behavior Support involves the assessment and engineering of environments so that
people with problem behaviors can increase social, personal and professional
quality in their lives. It is an approach that blends values about the rights of
people with disabilities with a practical science about how learning and
behavior change occur. This conference offers families and professionals
information that contributes to successful applications of PBS and improvement
in the lives of persons with challenging behavior. Networking and collaboration
opportunities will encourage future development of research, practice and
systems change within the fields of PBS. Special features will include half-day
and full-day Skill-Building Workshops and evening Topical Interest Groups. Visit
our conference website at
www.apbs.org for registration information or call the conference support
office at (570) 398-4081.
09-26-04
Breaking News »
WA
Tacoma Elementaries Enforce Ban on Recess - The recess bell will ring no
more in Tacoma public schools. It's been stilled by the pressures of the world
marketplace.
09-21-04
Bridges4Kids
NewsDigest » New edition of the Bridges4Kids NewsDigest published 9-21-04.
09-17-04
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
MI
Report Spreads Blame for Child's Beating Death - The beating death of an
emotionally disturbed 4-year-old foster child in Detroit last year led to
imprisonment for his foster mother, criminal charges against two foster-care
workers and the departure of two employees of the Michigan Family Independence
Agency.
Breaking News and No Child Left
Behind »
Tips for Parents on No Child Left Behind from The Achiever - As states
across the nation release their education report cards revealing which schools
met their progress goals, parents no doubt will have a few questions about what
these changes under No Child Left Behind mean to their child, school and
community. Below are a few questions parents may want to consider: How many
special education, minority, limited English proficient or economically
disadvantaged students are achieving at grade level (are proficient) in either
reading or mathematics? What percentage of students graduate from your child's
high school? How many attend college? Does the school offer afternoon, weekend
or summer school instruction for students who need extra help in reading and
language arts or math? Does the district inform parents of the choices and
options available to them under the No Child Left Behind Act? How many of your
school's teachers meet the highly qualified teacher standards under No Child
Left Behind? How many teachers hold only emergency credentials? Is there an
explicit student disciplinary policy? How does the school inform parents when
their child has misbehaved and been placed in detention, suspended or expelled?
Has the school been identified as a "persistently dangerous school"? A full
checklist of these and more questions is available at
www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/nclbchecklist.html.
Breaking News and No Child Left
Behind »
New Learning Resources From Ed.gov's FREE Web Site - The federal
government's most dynamic Web site for learning resources
www.ed.gov/free recently added to its
collection nearly 20 new online resources in science, health and social studies.
The Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) Web site is designed to
make it easy to find teaching and learning resources on subjects ranging from
arts to vocational education, from more than 35 federal organizations. Updated
weekly, the site includes, among recent additions: Hubble: A View to the Edge of
Space, from the National Science Foundation; Hands on the Land, from the Bureau
of Land Management; I Hear America Singing, from the Library of Congress.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Real Inclusion in Real Classrooms, sponsored be Everyone Together Oakland
County, will take place on October 20, 2004 from 6:30- 8:30pm at Farmington
Training Center, 33000 Thomas Street, Farmington MI 48331. ETOC presents Mr.
Vitas Underys and Ms. Denise Gundle-White, two educators who work together every
day to include children of ALL abilities in general education classrooms. It can
really work for ALL children! Come see how. Cost is free; seating is limited.
Please RSVP by October 18:
etoakland@yahoo.com or 248-888-4111 (voice mail).
Upcoming Events »
MI
How Special Education Law Supports Inclusion, sponsored by Everyone Together
Oakland County, will take place on November 10, 2004 from 6:30- 8:30pm at
Bloomfield Township Library, 1099 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Hills MI. ETOC
presents attorney Laura Athens who will speak to how the federal law IDEA
supports inclusion through the mandate of "least restrictive environment." Learn
how to use the language of the law and its court interpretations in your
advocacy. Cost is free. Please RSVP by November 8:
etoakland@yahoo.com or 248-888-4111
(voice mail).
09-16-04
Breaking News »
MI
Ann Arbor Voters Approve Tax to
Fund Special Education - Voters in 10 school districts around Ann Arbor,
Mich., approved a measure to hike property taxes to fund special education. The
Washtenaw Intermediate School District will use the estimated $12.5 million in
new revenues to pay a bigger slice of each member district's special-education
costs.
Breaking News »
MI
Featured Website:
Detroit Kids -
A directory of the over 3,000 programs that provide
activities and help to Detroit kids. There are many special needs programs
listed, from evaluation to special education. The Web site is provided as a
service to the community.
Breaking News and
Job
Opportunities »
MI Job Opportunity:
Deaf-Blind Coordinator of Family Services
- The Coordinator of Family Services will be responsible for coordinating
and providing support/assistance for families of persons ages 0-26 who are
deaf-blind in the state of Michigan. [Posted 9/13/04]
Literacy » Two New Children of the Code Interviews:
Dr. Louisa Cook Moats and
Dr. Terrence Deacon -
Dr. Louisa Cook Moats, Ed.D., specializes in the implementation of
school-wide interventions for improving literacy. She directed the NICHD Early
Reading Interventions Project in Washington, D.C. and as a Distinguished
Visiting Scholar, worked on the California Reading Initiative. She is the author
of many books and articles including: Speech to Print: Language Essentials for
Teachers, and LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling).
Her work in neuro-psychology and on large scale reading projects has provided
her a unique perspective on the social-educational inertia that constrains how
teachers and parents think about the challenges involved in learning to read.
Dr. Terrence Deacon is professor of Biological Anthropology and Linguistics
at U.C. Berkeley. He is the author of The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of
Language and the Brain. Dr. Deacon is a renowned neuroscientist whose work
provides an important backdrop for understanding the neurological challenges
involved in learning to read. Our conversation with Dr. Deacon stretches from
the origins of language and consciousness to the problems of automatizing the
symbolic processing necessary for reading.
Positive
Behavior Support (PBS) » Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)/Analysis
Sheets (PDF):
Behavior observation forms (PDF; size=40k) Use these forms to quickly
document observations of behaviors. Such observations can be a good first step
in a functional behavior assessment or analysis. This document consists of
reproducible data sheets -- two versions of an observation form, and a
behavioral intensity rating scale -- as well as instructions for using those
sheets.
Functional Behavior Assessment (PDF; size=14k) This document is used to take
the observation of challenging, inappropriate, or ineffective behaviors a step
further and begin to assess the function that the behavior serves for the child.
This set of worksheets is designed to examine a single behavior (or type of
behavior), form a hypothesis about the function of that behavior for the child,
and design a behavioral intervention plan to address it.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Free Transition Seminar "You Can't Put a Square Peg in a Round Hole - a
Journey", sponsored by Cooke School, will take place on September 25, 2004 8:00
- 4:00 P.M. at Cooke School, 21200 Taft Rd., Northville, MI 48167. Joe and
Marilyn Henn are the parents of Nancy Henn, a young woman with severe autism.
Mr. and Mrs. Henn travel the country sharing with other parents how they used
federal benefits available in all 50 states to fund Nancy's successful
transition from school to adult life. They will be presenting four modules
during a 2-day seminar. Morning Session: You Can't Put a Square Peg in a Round
Hole: Finding and Funding a Pragmatic Path to Supported Employment; Afternoon
Session: Is a Family Consortium Home Right for Me? Sessions are free! Free lunch
will be provided during a one hour break for all attending. Please contact
Michelle Driscoll at the Arc of Northwest Wayne County (313) 532-7915 if you
would like more information or to register for the seminar. you may attend both
days or only one day. RSVP by 9/21/04.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Free Transition Seminar "You Can't Put a Square Peg in a Round Hole - a
Journey", sponsored by Cooke School, will take place on October 9, 2004 8:00
a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Cooke School, 21200 Taft Rd., Northville, MI 48167. Joe and
Marilyn Henn are the parents of Nancy Henn, a young woman with severe autism.
Mr. and Mrs. Henn travel the country sharing with other parents how they used
federal benefits available in all 50 states to fund Nancy's successful
transition from school to adult life. Morning Session: When legal advice is
needed - What you should know. Afternoon Session: Picking an adult service
provider - perils and promises. Sessions are free! Free lunch will be provided
during a one hour break for all attending. Please contact Michelle Driscoll at
the Arc of Northwest Wayne County (313) 532-7915 if you would like more
information or to register for the seminar. you may attend both days or only one
day. RSVP by 9/21/04.
09-15-04
Job Opportunities
»
MI
Migrant
Health Promotion Seeks to Fill Two Positions: Regional Capacity Building
Director and National Capacity Building Director - Migrant Health
Promotion, a national nonprofit agency dedicated to health education and
advocacy for farmworkers, seeks experienced and committed individuals to serve
as Capacity-Building Directors. The Directors assist Migrant/Community Health
Centers, Voucher Programs, community-based organizations and others with
developing, implementing, and evaluating Camp Health Aide or Promotor(a) de
Salud Programs. Responsibilities include presenting and promoting the Camp
Health Aide Program model regionally and nationally, training Health Center
staff in grant writing, program planning, implementation and evaluation,
developing health education programs and materials, and other related
activities.
Upcoming Events »
MI
5th Annual Michael Golds Memorial ADHD Conference “It’s A Family Affair”
will take place on October 1, 2004, Registration 8:00 am - 8:25 am, Opening &
Awards and Featured Speaker: 8:30 am - 10:30 am at Oakland Community College,
1-696 @ Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI. Sessions Include: Joel Young,
MD and Birgit Amann, MD present “Hyperactive Boys, Inattentive Girls...Restless
Men, Tired Women - A Gender Perspective of AD/HD”. See
www.chaddmi.com for more
complete information on the speakers and their presentations. Speaker links at
top of that page. Oakland Community College is an authorized Continuing
Education Credit granting institution. Attendees of the Conference may submit an
attendance credential and program outline to their respective professional
organization for determination up to 6 CEU credits. Cost is $50 per person ($25
student) includes lunch. Visit
www.chaddmi.com for more complete information or to register.
Upcoming Events »
MI
LDA of Michigan's Annual
Conference "Challenges of Change" will take place on October 3-5, 2004
at Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, East Lansing, MI.
Download the conference brochure, including speaker and session
information, registration form, etc (Large PDF File; size=2MB;
download times may vary depending upon connection speed).
Parent Scholarship Information:
Scholarships are being offered to parents. For more information on
the scholarship or to fill out the form,
click here (PDF). Contact the LDA of Michigan at
info@ldaofmichigan.org or
call 517-485-8160.
09-14-04
Breaking News and
Nutrition »
Children In Crisis:
Nutritional Therapy Gives Youngster a Weapon in the Battle Against Rage -
Like a child reciting his favorite video game titles, Dylan DeGlopper
meticulously lists the foods he can't have: anything with wheat or white flour;
flavored popcorn and potato chips; anything enhanced with smoky seasoning. The
no-nos go on and on. "I was ornery and cranky," he said recently, four months
after starting a gluten-free diet. "I feel a lot better than I did when I was
eating normal stuff. Now with this, I feel a lot more mellow."
Breaking News »
What's a Child Worth? -
What’s a child worth in the United States? I don’t mean in dollars, but
sometimes it comes down to that. Many of us spend a lot of our personal income
on our kids. Politicians often say kids are our future. But when it comes to
elected representatives putting money and resources into schools and programs
for kids, we see how much our kids are really worth to this country.
Breaking News and Disability Info -
Obesity
» A Push for Phys Ed - A
new study makes a strong case that physical education may be the single best
strategy for curbing the nation's growing child obesity problem--at least among
girls. In the first study to evaluate the effect of P.E. programs on
kindergartners and first-graders, researchers found that increasing P.E. time by
one hour per week could lead to a significant decline in body mass index, a
measure of body fat, among girls.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Creating Community in the Classroom, sponsored by Everyone Together
Oakland County, will take place on September 16, 2004 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
(Sign-in at 6:00 p.m.) at Bloomfield Township Library, 1099 Lone Pine Road,
Bloomfield Hills MI 48302 (Southeast corner of Telegraph & Lone Pine). Join us
for an evening of lively conversation with Dr. Michael Peterson, Professor,
College of Education, Wayne State University. Dr. Peterson works every day with
the teachers of tomorrow, those who are learning not only how to teach academic
skills, but also how to instill in our children the sense that we are all part
of one democratic community and that each person has something to contribute.
For more information on his work visit
www.wholeschooling.net.
Please let us know you will be coming by calling our Voice Mail at 248-888-4111
or etoakland@yahoo.com.
Upcoming Events »
MI
"Dream It! Achieve It" Person-Centered Planning Conference will take place on
September 20 & 21, 2004 in Lansing, Michigan. Jim Conroy, president of Center
for Outcome Analysis and Center for Self-Determination consultant will discuss
the reasoning behind linking individual budgets to person-centered planning. He
will also share developments concerning new quality assessment instrument
designed jointly by the Center for Self-Determination and Center for Outcome
Analysis. For more information visit
http://www.macmhb.org/PCP/PCPAgenda.pdf.
09-13-04
Breaking News and Literacy
» Struggling Decoders: Reading
Fluently and Making Meaning of Text - As an elementary school teacher and
principal for the past 31 years, I have had ample opportunities to listen to
students read. By the time that they are in the third grade, most students are
able to read with fluency and make sense of at least simple texts. Some students
with learning disabilities plod through the same texts that their peers read
with ease. When I think about these students, I am struck with how their reading
in many ways mirrors my reading when I use my eyes and, to a lesser extent, my
fingers.
Breaking News and Parenting
»
How Do We Keep Him
Safe? - Many things may run through a parent’s mind after he or she reads
about certain tragedies. In the past month, you may have heard of three people
with autism who died after wandering from their homes. One died as the result of
being hit by an automobile; two drowned within a short distance of home. How do
we keep Andrew, our 3 1/2-year-old son, safe? How does anyone keep his or her
child safe?
Breaking News and Parenting
» What's to Blame
For The Rise in ADHD? - A study published in the journal Pediatrics in
April suggests TV viewing in very young children contributes to attention
problems later in life. “The study revealed that each hour of television watched
per day at ages 1 through 3 increases the risk of attention problems by almost
10 percent at age 7,” said Dr. Cristakis, lead author. Jane Healy, an education
psychologist in Vail, Colorado, and author of "Your Child’s Growing Mind: Brain
Development and Learning from Birth to Adolescence," believes common programming
tactics designed to capture attention can have a deleterious affect on brain
chemistry.
Breaking News and Children
At-Risk »
Sex and the TV-watching Teen - One thing you won't find on your TV is a
commercial for cigarettes, and it's one of the few 'broadcasting' issues on
which the federal government and Hollywood have common ground.
Breaking News and No Child Left
Behind »
Why No Child Left Behind Must Work - Q&A with Sandy Kress, one of the
main architects of NCLB.
Breaking News and
General
Ed Reform
»
CA
Teachers Find Making House Calls Pays Off - Katrina Ramos had difficulty
keeping her class under control when she first started teaching at Hiram Johnson
High School three years ago. Her students were defiant and talked back to her,
making it difficult to teach, the special education teacher said. So she opted
to take advantage of a local program, receiving the training necessary to make
individual home visits. The result: Her classroom's behavior turned around in no
time.
Breaking News and School Climate
»
D.C.
Audit of D.C. District Shows Parents Kept in the Dark - The D.C. public
school system routinely fails to notify parents and guardians when students get
caught with drugs or become violent in school. The Inspector General's Office
reviewed more than 100 "serious security incidents" involving students last
year, finding that in more than half of the cases there was no evidence that
officials notified parents.
Breaking News and School Climate
» Challenge Day: Challenging You to BE the Change - "What an incredible
program Challenge Day is! I have seen a tremendous change in behavior of the
students who attended Challenge Day when presented for Buchholz High School.
Students are reaching out to each other, making sure no one eats alone or is
bullied or teased. I know of three students who felt confident enough after
realizing that they were not alone in some of their feelings (as shown through
the "step over the line" activity), to seek help for some repressed suicidal
tendencies. these students were counseled and referred for additional
professional help. Challenge Day not only touches lives, it saves lives!!!"
Betty Merrill, English Teacher, Buchholz HS, Alachua County, FL. Read the latest
Challenge Day Newsletter at
http://www.challengeday.org/newsletter/200409.pdf or visit the website at
http://www.challengeday.org.
Breaking News and General
Ed Reform »
VA
Virginia's Governor Plans Drive to Reform U.S. High Schools - Virginia
Gov. Mark R. Warner said yesterday that his major initiative as chairman of the
National Governors Association will be a campaign to reform American high
schools and make the senior year more meaningful. Warner called 12th grade "one
of the most important transition years in education" but said too many seniors
slack off and waste the time. As one cure for "senior slump," Warner said,
seniors should be allowed to receive college credit, thus saving some of their
college tuition and trimming states' higher education budgets.
Breaking News and Homework
Help »
UK
Researcher: Children Who Memorize
Times Tables Multiply Faster and More Accurately - Speaking at a
conference for British math teachers, Dr. Sylvia Steel said studies indicate
that auditory rote learning of multiplication tables is the most successful way
for children to master multiplication facts. Math teachers say rote learning was
less popular ten years ago, but note that times tables are still being taught
today, along with other numeracy strategies.
Breaking News »
National PTA Has Partnered With Nickelodeon For Both Their Let's Just Play
and Worldwide Day of Play Events - Let's Just Play is a long-term,
nationwide campaign designed to encourage kids ages 6 to 14 to get up, get
out, and go play. The highlight of the campaign occurs on Saturday, October
2, with Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play.
Upcoming Events »
MI
ARC Services of Macomb Pizza Party Fund Raiser will take place on September
17, 2004 from 6-10 p.m. at Father Kramer K of C Hall, 7400 Bernice, Center
Line, (four blocks south of 696, 1 block west of Van Dyke). Join us as we
raise money and have fun! Pizza, Pop, Beer, Music and Dancing, Raffle
Prizes. United Way has cut the Arc's funding by 20%. Come for a great time
and chances to win gift certificates.
Cost is $15 per person in advance or $20 per person at the door. To reserve
tickets you can call ARC Services of Macomb (586) 469-1600, Terry & Sandy
Williams (586) 775-0685, or Laurie O'Meara (586) 293-9206.
Upcoming Events »
MI
ASA Macomb/St. Clair September Support Group Meeting, sponsored by The
Macomb/St. Clair County Chapter of the Autism Society of America, will take
place on September 20, 2004 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Memphis Public Library,
34830 Potter Street, Memphis, MI 48041. If you have any questions, please
contact Paula Bellhorn at (810) 357-1679.
Upcoming Events »
MI
The Social Security Administration “Ticket to Work Summit" will take place
on Monday, September 27, 2004 (Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. with the
program scheduled from 8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) at the Lansing Center, 333
East Michigan Ave., Lansing MI 48933. This free conference is designed
specifically for entities interested in helping people with disabilities
find employment. Our theme is “Reaching New Heights in Employment.” We hope
to accomplish just that. Our conference sessions will underscore the power
of the Ticket to Work, explain how the system works, help you maximize your
efforts and find local services and support. Here is a preview of what you
can expect to learn during this exciting Summit: Sue Suter, Social
Security’s Associate Commissioner for the Office of Employment Support
Programs, will provide a national update on the Ticket to Work program.
Libby Child, National Ticket to Work Advisory Panel Member, will explain the
role of the advisory panel and what their future plans are. Sandra Smith,
Maximus Representative and manager of the EN Capitalization Project, will
explain what an Employment Network is and what the role of Maximus is. Barb
Otto, Health and Disability Advocates Director, will discuss the Midwest
Employment and Training Partnership – who they are, why they exist and how
they can help. If that’s not enough – there’s more! For the afternoon, we
have crafted workshops addressing the specific issues raised by our
community partners. To be sure that you get the information you want and
need, we are offering four workshops. You can choose to attend the two that
best meet your needs. Click here to
download the workshop descriptions sheet (PDF). To RSVP, contact Vonda
VanTil at (616) 233-2209 or email her at
vonda.vantil@ssa.gov no later than
September 17, 2004. When you RSVP, please indicate which two workshops you
plan on attending and advise us of any accommodation needs you may have.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Adolescents and Young Adults with Asperger Syndrome: The Real World will
take place on September 28-29, 2004 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Featuring Dr.
Liane Holliday Willey, EdD author of Pretending to be Normal, Asperger
Syndrome in the Family and editor of Asperger Syndrome in Adolescence; Dr.
Richard Howlin, PhD psychologist specializing in the fields of Asperger
syndrome and ADHD and internationally respected speaker and author; and
Dennis Debbaudt author of Avoiding Unfortunate Situations: A Collection of
Experiences, Tips and Information from and about People with Autism and
Other Developmental Disabilities and Their Encounters with Law Enforcement
Agencies. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn how AS effects
adolescents and young adults! Visit
www.unitingparadigms.com for more information.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Yoga 4 Us with Lori Hughes, PT, sponsored by The Macomb/St. Clair County
Chapter of the Autism Society of America, will take place on October 25,
2004 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Memphis Public Library, 34830 Potter Street,
Memphis, MI 48041. Lori Hughes has been a physical therapist with the St.
Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency (formerly the St. Clair
County ISD) for 13 years and works with children in the Port Huron Area
School District. Lori uses the “Yoga 4 Us” techniques in her work with
children of varying ability levels. “Yoga 4 Us” is a comprehensive program
of yoga techniques designed to enhance the natural development of children
with special needs. This style of yoga is gentle and therapeutic – safe for
babies and children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome and other
developmental disabilities. Come join us and learn how yoga can strengthen
the immune and central nervous systems, increase body awareness, enhance
cognitive and motor skills and much more. If you have any questions
regarding this presentation, please contact Paula Bellhorn at
pbellhorn1979@hotmail.com or
(810) 357-1679. Please RSVP by October 20, 2004.
09-12-04
Breaking News »
MI
Budget Bills Move Through The Sausage Maker - The House and Senate
churned out the bulk of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 budget today and dealt with
several other meat-and-potato bills necessary to cement the spending plan for
the fiscal year that starts in just over two weeks. Beginning in the Senate, the
following is a brief run down on the [school/child related] budgets and related
legislation.
09-10-04
Find Help For a Child in the U.S. - Texas »
EduHelpNow: Supporting
parents in the pursuit of effective instruction. EduHelpNow provides testing,
evaluation, and advocacy services for parents.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Michigan State Board of Education
Meetings:
September 14, 2004,
October 12, 2004, November 9, 2004, and December 14, 2004. All meetings take
place on the 4th floor of the Hannah Building
in Lansing EXCEPT FOR THE SEPTEMBER MEETING. NOTE:
The September 14, 2004, State Board of
Education Meeting will be held in St. Johns, Michigan at the Clinton County
Regional Educational Service Agency, 1013 South U.S. Highway 27, in the South
Point Mall. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Take U.S.127 north out of
Lansing to the Price Road Exit. Turn left (west) off the exit. Go to the traffic
right (Business 27) turn right (north). Travel approximately 6 miles. The South
Point Mall will be on the right hand side of the road (east side), across from
the fast food restaurants. These meetings are open
to the public.
Persons with
disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in the meeting
should contact Mrs. Eileen Hamilton, one week in advance to request mobility,
visual, hearing, or other assistance. Call
Mrs. Eileen Hamilton (Administrative Secretary, State Board of Education) at:
(517) 373-3900 (voice), (517) 373-4035 (TDD), or email:
hamiltone@michigan.gov
09-09-04
Find Help For a Child in Canada »
Ontario page updated.
09-08-04
Bridges4Kids
NewsDigest » New edition of the Bridges4Kids NewsDigest published 9-8-04.
Breaking News and No Child Left
Behind »
CPS Corners Tutoring Market But Runs Risk of Losing it All - Following a
turbulent first year, private tutoring companies take a back seat in competition
for $45 million in federal funds. Putting it charitably, last year’s effort to
provide the tutoring required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was
a rocky learning experience.
Breaking News and Literacy »
Red Flag Screening - Give your child an informal reading test
to help evaluate his/her level of reading accuracy. The test is based
on materials from the State of Texas. "Our screening is designed to
provide parents with a tool that can help confirm or negate their
suspicions, through the use of objective & widely accepted standards
as applied to state approved grade level material. The results of the
screening can then be used as one more piece of the puzzle in
determining whether to seek further help or testing."
Breaking News and IEP Issues -
Gifted Learners »
"Multiple Intelligences" Theory Comes Under Fire -
Although Harvard professor Howard Gardner's notion of multiple
intelligences appeals to many teachers, numerous psychologists
say that theory is not supported by research. Some educators
believe Gardner's ideas led to the demise of ability groupings
in schools, an approach they felt had helped meet the academic
needs of the better students. [Free login/registration
required.]
Breaking News and
Nutrition »
FL
Principles vs. Profits - They're not quite the scary androids of I,
Robot, but snack and soda vending machines in South Florida schools are nearly
as controversial. They're seen as villains by nutritionists fighting childhood
obesity, as saviors by principals seeking extra cash to pay for band uniforms,
class trips and senior proms.
Breaking News and General
Ed Reform »
PA
Chief of School Panel Wants Historic Shift - James Nevels says his drive
to change the way Philadelphia teachers are assigned is aimed at equity of
opportunity for students. [Free login/registration required.]
Upcoming Events »
MI
23rd Annual Michigan Statewide Conference Child Abuse and Neglect:
Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment, sponsored by The University of Michigan
Medical School, will take place on October 25-26, 2004 at the Ypsilanti
Marriott, Ypsilanti, Michigan. The registration deadline is October 11, 2004. To
register, call (734) 763-1400 or (800) 800-0666 and ask for a course brochure
and registration form. You can also email the Office of Continuing Medical
Education at OCME@umich.edu.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Our Children, Our Future...Diversity, Our
Strength will take place on September 13, 2004 from 7-9 p.m. at Stout Middle
School, 18500 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, Michigan. Wayne County Everyone Together
welcomes Michigan State Board of Education trustee Elizabeth Bauer for a lively
discussion about nurturing an appreciation of differences. For more information
email wceveryonetogether@yahoo.com
or phone 1-800-292-7851 ext 691.
Upcoming Events »
MI Supporting Families with Young Children:
The Fourth Biennial Conference on the Early Years will take place on November
8-10, 2004 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Parent
scholarships are now available!!! The Supporting Families with Young Children
Conference is a means of bringing people together from across initiatives and
disciplines. The conference strengthens and supports the efforts of service
providers, advocates, leaders, and parents in communities throughout Michigan
who have made great strides in increasing the complement of services available
to expectant families and families with young children. These efforts are a
result of the increased awareness of the significant development that takes
place in the first years of life and the need to support families. The
conference will feature sessions from eight different areas of
discipline/tracks. These include Administration, Policy, Advocacy, Partnership
(AD); Child Development and Physical Health (CD); Diverse Populations (DI);
Family Literacy (FL); Home Visiting and Family Issues (HV/FI); Nurturing the
Worker (NU); Social-Emotional Well Being and Mental Health (SE/MH); and
Supervision (SU). The sessions are designed for individuals and families working
with young children and children’s issues. Download the conference brochure
(shortened version) at
www.bridges4kids.org/pdf/events/SFYCConfCatalog04.pdf or email
PeelerN@michigan.gov for the full,
29-page brochure.
9-06-04
Breaking News »
Featured
Website:
SKI-HI
Institute - The SKI-HI (pronounced "Sky-High") Institute is a unit
within the College of Education, Department of Communicative Disorders and
Deaf Education, at Utah State University. The SKI-HI Institute is a group of
dedicated individuals whose goal is to enhance the lives of young children
with special needs and their families. Many programs have been developed at
the SKI-HI Institute for children who are deaf/ hard of hearing,
blind/visually impaired, deaf-blind, multi–disabled, or who have any special
needs. The materials can be used by: service providers, families and
parents, early interventionists, para-educators, teachers, day care
providers, early childhood specialists, related service personnel, and
others involved with young children who have special needs. Materials
include delightful, user–friendly program manuals, videotapes, assessments,
print materials and much more. These materials are disseminated by HOPE,
Inc. For more information on these materials, select
HOPE and
Resources & Materials.
09-04-04
Searchable
Resources » MEL:
Michigan's
Electronic Library - The Michigan eLibrary is an anywhere,
anytime information gateway to selected Internet resources, full-text
magazines, newspapers, electronic books online practice tests and
more. The Library of Michigan has purchased more than $3.6 million in
resources for Michigan with funding from the State of Michigan and a
Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum
and Library Services. You need a drivers license, state id or can log
on to it at the local library without supplying this ID. It has access
to practice test taking for ACT and SAT's, full text newspapers as
well as books and magazines such as Exceptional Child. Nice if you are
on a budget and restricted to home.
09-03-04
Breaking News and Literacy
»
Featured Website:
Free Phonics Lessons Online
Breaking News »
MI
2004-05 Budget Deal Opens Way For
Legislative Action - When the Legislature returns to session on September
8, it will have little more than three weeks left to enact the 2004-05 budget
before the fiscal year starts. But it will have at least a leadership agreement
on most elements of the budget.
Breaking News »
MI
Budget Details: Cuts to 20j Schools
Tops List - Oakland County schools had announced their opposition to
anticipated changes to the additional funding paid to the highest spending
districts, but they will have to carry their fight to the full Legislature as
the budget agreement does call for the additional payments to be frozen at
current levels. Click Here For The
List of Affected 20j School Districts.
Breaking News »
MI
Budget Agreement Unwelcome to Some
Groups - School groups were quickest to be vocal on the budget agreement
announced Thursday, but a number of interests around the state are expected to
welcome the budget with less than warm greetings.
Detroit Parent Network » Many events,
workshops and support group meetings are taking place this month at DPN.
Check our September Calendar for
more information on upcoming meetings and events (PDF) for this month.
Breaking News and General Ed Reform
»
More States Offer Single-sex
Schools - For an increasing number of public schools, the formula for
a better education requires a little arithmetic: divide the girls from the
boys. That's just fine with Kristielle Pedraza, a 13-year-old who says she
will not miss the boys while she attends the Irma Rangel Young Women's
Leadership School, Dallas' first all-girls public school and one of a
growing number of such schools nationally.
Breaking News and Parental
Involvement »
An Everyday Effort to
Improve Education - Karen Budd is one of those parents that
school administrators try to avoid. To begin with, she understands
math, having a bachelor's degree in the subject, plus some graduate
work in engineering, from the University of Pittsburgh. Every school
superintendent who has ever attended a PTA meeting knows the
math-savvy parents are the worst.
Upcoming Events »
MI Dialectical Understanding: Asperger Syndrome
and Autistic Spectrum Disorders, sponsored by the Autism Society of
Washtenaw County, will take place on Thursday
September 9, 2004 from 7 PM to 9 PM at Washtenaw
Intermediate School District (WISD) Teaching and Learning Center, Vogel C,
1819 South Wagner Road, Ann Arbor MI 48103. The discussion will be on the
application of dialectical principles to the understanding of Asperger
Syndrome and the Autistic Spectrum Disorders. This will address practical
parenting issues and therapeutic intervention with Richard Howlin, Ph.D. Dr.
Howlin is a clinical developmental psychologist. His extensive experience
with Asperger Syndrome has centered on the role of both temperament and
social processing in children and adults. Dr. Howlin maintains a private
practice in Chelsea Michigan. For more information call Lora Durham
President/Treasurer 483-2540, Carolyn Leckrone, Vice President 483-1590, or
Jeanne Brakhage, Secretary 994-8100 x6451.
Upcoming Events »
MI Collaborating For Learning: Co-teaching and
Differentiated Instruction, sponsored by the Michigan Network for Inclusive
Schooling, will take place on Saturday, September 11, 2004
from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM at Farmington Training Center,
33000 Thomas, Farmington, MI 48336. Come and join us in a
powerful training seminar that will help participants learn how to make
inclusive teaching work where all students learn and achieve together. Our
speaker will be Dr. Rich Villa, Bayridge Consortium, Oakland California. Dr.
Villa has long experience as an administrator, teacher, and consultant to school
districts throughout the world in using creative, collaborative strategies to
insure that heterogeneous groups of students learn at high levels. Cost is $40.00 for individual registration and $25.00 per person
for group registration (team of 3 or more people). Registration includes
continental breakfast and lunch. 6.5 contact hours for CEU’s are available. You
may apply for these at the conference registration desk. Cost: $5. Make Checks
Payable to Farmington Public Schools. To register contact
Judy Guillery, Farmington Training Center at (248) 489-3386 or
judy.guillery@farmington.k12.mi.us.
Upcoming Events »
MI
Michigan FIA Application Form Redesign Public Comment Forums Notice: The
Michigan Department of Human Services is soliciting comments on the content and
design of a new application form. The redesign is for all programs including the
Family Independence Program (FIP), the Food Assistance Program (FAP), Medicaid
(MA), State Disability Assistance (SDA), Child Day Care (CDC), and State
Emergency Relief (SER). As part of the redesign process, FIA is providing the
public the opportunity to provide comments and suggestions on the application
and on two versions of possible changes. There will also be opportunities to
provide public comment. The schedule of the dates, times and locations are as
follows: September 21, 2004 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Novi OPD Training
Center, Michigan Classroom, 2425 Karim Blvd., Novi, MI; September 23, 2004 from
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Grand Rapids OPD Training Center, Cascade Commons, 5321
28th Street, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI; September 28, 2004 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00
p.m. at Escanaba OPD Training Center, Classroom 1B, 2717 North Lincoln Road,
Highway 2, Escanaba, MI; and September 30, 2004 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at
Gaylord OPD Training Center, Alpine Center Complex, 4th Floor, 800 Livingston
Blvd., Gaylord, MI. FIA is providing opportunities for agencies and clients to
comment on proposed changes to the application. The public can access the
proposed changes on the Web at
www.michigan.gov/fia-application. The web site has a links to various
options for the application.
09-02-04
Breaking News »
MI Fall Issue of Leading Change:
Integrating Communities and Schools - The 2004 fall issue of Leading
Change is now available for download. This issue of the Michigan Department of
Education publication focuses on Integrating Communities and Schools.
Breaking News and General Ed Reform -
Drop Outs & GED »
GED:
Testing Out - The GED booms among teenagers, but is it a good idea? The
two girls from the Merrimack Valley both believed the GED was their ticket out
of high school.
Breaking News and
Home
Schooling »
PA
Does the State Have a Right to Monitor Home-schooling? - Home-schooling
parents in Pennsylvania fight the state's required reports on their children's
progress. At dispute is the age-old but not yet settled question of who owns the
children, and who therefore should oversee their education--the parents, the
state, or God?
Breaking News and Children At-Risk -
Truancy »
TX
Knock, Knock: It's Houston's New Truancy Gambit - Houston's inaugural
"Reach Out to Dropouts Day" had 100 volunteers knock on the doors of 800
students who hadn't shown up to school in the first two weeks of classes. To
the city, it was a success: Some parents, unable to convince their kids to
return to school, actually asked officials to send volunteers their way;
others, having heard that volunteers might come knocking, had already sent
their kids back to class.
Breaking News »
CA Mercury Ban Bill Vetoed by Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger - Vetoed Bill would have prevented mercury injections as
follows: Vaccines that contain mercury could not be injected into pregnant women
and children under 3, starting in July 2006, unless there is critical shortage
of vaccines or a public health emergency. Some studies indicate the that mercury
can contribute to increasing rates of autism. AB2943 by Assemblywoman Fran
Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, passed the Assembly 48-21 and was stopped by the
governor. [Source: Monterey Herald, August 27, 2004]
Breaking News and Bullying »
Cyberbullies' Torments Have Much Wider Reach - In the wireless age, who
needs fists when you've got instant messaging? Today's young cyberbullies don't
bother with face-to-face intimidation. Children everywhere have figured out that
they can be far more vicious bullying through the Internet, cellphones and other
high-tech mediums. And they are less likely to get caught. The extreme
cyberbullying cases that make headlines overshadow the minor ones that occur
more often, such as forwarding private e-mails without the writer's permission
or spreading rumors on message boards.
Job Opportunities
»
MI
Special Education Consultant for
Oakland Schools Special Education Department - This consultant serves as
consultant when child is suspected of having a handicap, offering collaborative
consultation, evaluation, and instructional technology services to students with
special needs, their parents, and school staff in Oakland County. Provide
consultations to general and special education staff regarding evaluation,
methods, materials, curriculum and programming for special education students.
Provide staff development activities on evaluation, methods, materials, and
curriculum as related to special education students with a focus on the
cognitively impaired (CI) population. [Posted 9-1-04]
Upcoming Events »
MI
How to be an Effective Advocate: Advocating for Inclusive
Education and Beyond, sponsored by Everyone Together Macomb, will take place on
September 20, 2004 from 7-9 PM at Macomb Intermediate School District, 44001
Garfield, Clinton Twp MI 48038 Room 103B. Pat Dwelle, Advocate from UCP of
Metropolitan Detroit and parent of a son with autism, empowers parents with
knowledge, resources, improved skills and self-confidence in advocating for
Inclusive Education, and in any kind of advocacy. FREE to the public. Space is
limited. Please contact either Laura Krausman (586) 756-2590, or Monique Bonifas
(586) 997-3720, or email
everyonetogethermacomb@yahoo.com to reserve a seat and to request materials.
09-01-04
Bridges4Kids
NewsDigest » New edition of the Bridges4Kids NewsDigest published 9-1-04.
Breaking News »
MI
Restraint Policies, Charges
Under Review - A year ago today, Michael Renner-Lewis III woke before the
sun rose. It was Monday, the first day of school. All weekend, he'd talked
excitedly about this day, and now he was up before 5 a.m., blaring his music and
waking his mom.
Breaking News and
Disability Info -
Autism »
Lost Boys - Autism and My
Son - They used to be thought of as loners, misfits, even geniuses. Now
they're being labeled "autistic." But here's the scary part: The diagnosis may
boil down to an excess of maleness.
Summer Camp
» New Camp Added: YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin, Middleville, MI (Day and Overnight
Camp) - Located on beautiful Barlow Lake southeast of Grand Rapids,
highlights include swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and tubing. Other
popular activities include horseback riding, archery, arts & crafts, sports, and
much more. State licensed and accredited by the American Camping Association and
the Certified Horsemanship Association. Operating since 1913. Visit
www.campmanitou-lin.org or call
toll free 1-888-909-2267.
08-31-04
Breaking News and Medicaid »
IL
State Violating Medicaid
Laws - Illinois' health-care program for poor children violates federal
law because it fails to ensure that youngsters receive appropriate preventative
medicine, from immunizations to tests for lead in their blood, a federal judge
has ruled.
Breaking News »
TX
State Undercounts Dropouts, Expert Says - Boston professor says Texas
should look at completion numbers. Annual school ratings surged over the
past decade in Texas with the help of a faulty formula used to count
dropouts, a Boston College professor said Tuesday during a court challenge
to the state's school finance system. [Free login/registration required to
view this article.]
Upcoming Events »
MI
Research – Education –
Advocacy: Protecting children and future generations from exposures
to neurotoxicants, will take place on October 27, 2004 (Doors open for registration
at 1:00 p.m., conference runs from 1:30 – 4:30 PM) at Kellogg Center on MSU’s Campus in East Lansing,
Michigan. Cost is free. Foster effective collaboration between researchers,
health care professionals, health-affected groups, environmental
health and justice advocates and other concerned citizens in order
protect all children in the region from environmental pollutants that
can undermine their healthy development. Goals: Enhance
understanding of existing and emerging science linking certain
chemical exposures to learning, behavioral and developmental
disabilities. Highlight current initiatives and encourage broader
education of key stakeholder groups (learn about mini-grants
available to support educational programs for your constituents). Develop specific educational and policy opportunities regarding
environmental factors which may adversely affect children’s healthy
development. Engage a ‘critical mass’ of interested persons and
organizations to take action towards creating a healthier environment
for all children. To register or for more information call Tiffiany
Leischner at 517 381-5125, ext. 355 (Also see
www.iceh.org or
www.cheforhealth.org for
more information on LDDI). Space is limited – early registration
encouraged.
08-30-04
Parenting »
Checklists, Notes and Memory
- I’ve never been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome or Attention Deficit
Disorder, as my son has. But, as my wife will attest, I certainly have some of
the tendencies of both. Okay, more than some.
Breaking News and
Recent Court Cases »
U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Finds Housing Law Requires Accessible Front
Door - Federal housing discrimination laws require the front door of a
new multi-unit apartment must be made handicapped accessible even if the design
allows access through another means, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S.
6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. The circuit was the first in the
nation to rule on the issue as it blocked further construction on 19 apartment
buildings in Michigan and Ohio that provided handicapped access only through a
patio door.
Breaking News »
MI
Governor's Commission on Mental Health Seeks Stories
From Parents Re: Challenges of Finding and Receiving Mental Health Care for
Children in Michigan - Parents are asked to visit
www.michigan.gov/mentalhealth
to enter comments and tell the Commission their family story. The draft
report is due Sept. 20th; stories should be sent as soon as possible.
Decisions will be made Sept. 20 revisions made and the final report
presented to the Governor on Sept 30 by the Commission co-chairs. So the
sooner the better the comments get in. If people would copy Liz Bauer on the
comments, she |
