Bridges4Kids News Digest

March 25, 2008

Bridges4Kids NewsDigest Topics

• National News	• Disability News
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB)	• Special Education Issues
• Parenting/Parental Involvement	• Ask the Attorney/Advocate
• Early Childhood	• Upcoming National Events
• Michigan News	• Upcoming Michigan Events
• Where to Find Help For a Child
• Visit Bridges4Kids

National News	top
Good Pay, Steady Work, Few Takers as Young People Spurn the Trades http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/SPI3-24-08.html The average construction worker is well into his 40s, and unless something changes to make the fresh-from-prom set take a sudden interest in framing and drywall, that work force is just going to keep getting older. Program Aims to Help Ease Transition to College Work http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/Post3-18-08.html On the academic ride from high school to college, the track doesn't quite line up, causing some students to derail in their early college years, state educators say. A new statewide project is looking for ways to give students "a seamless transition" from high school to higher education. Education Watch: Afterschool Detention Can be a Chance to Learn Better Behavior http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/Journal3-9-08.html Six boys schlep into a second-floor classroom at Calcutt Middle School for what would have been afterschool detention in any other school. At Calcutt, it’s afterschool re-engagement. MD Villa Julie Focuses on Middle Years http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.middle13mar13,0,5498286.story Better teacher preparation for grades 6-8 is goal of planned program, a first in Maryland. Middle school teachers are usually thought of in the teaching profession as having a unique quality that allows them to put up with -- sometimes even enjoy -- the students who are turning from sweet children to awkward teenagers. But until yesterday no university or college had focused its undergraduate education majors on that period of life when kids need to learn a lot -- from how to write a paper to algebra -- and also get through those wacky, difficult years. Villa Julie College announced yesterday that, beginning this fall, it will offer Maryland's first teacher preparation program designed for the middle grades. Innovation Like Collaboration http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/Coulter3-21-08.html Have you ever had a great idea that turned out not so great? Or one that worked out, but only after you substantially tweaked it? Innovation is important, but often it needs to be tempered by collaboration to make sure it accomplishes its goal -- without unwanted side effects. Rewarding Support http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/Coulter3-08.html Do you crave recognition? Do you secretly yearn for praise of your accomplishments? While it’s socially appropriate to be modest, just about all of us want our good works to be noticed. And we love rewards. What could feel better than someone praising us and offering a concrete expression of their appreciation? At the end of this article is your chance to nominate someone for an amazing award to be presented by Coulter Video. CA At L.A. school, Singapore Math Has Added Value http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-math9mar09,1,5861820.story?ctrack=3&cset=true Here's a little math problem: In 2005, just 45% of the fifth-graders at Ramona Elementary School in Hollywood scored at grade level on a standardized state test. In 2006, that figure rose to 76%. What was the difference?
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)	top
Law Opens Opportunities for Disabled http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/WashPost3-17-08b.html As Montgomery County ninth-grader Stephen Sabia reads "Romeo and Juliet" and studies the Holocaust and World War II for honors history and English, his mother credits an important ally in her years-long drive to secure the best education possible for her son with Down syndrome: the federal No Child Left Behind law. For more information on No Child Left Behind, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/ESEA.html
Parenting/Parental Involvement	top
Resource Sites for Parents and Students FunBrain: http://www.funbrain.com Scholastic Kids: http://www.scholastic.com/kids Homework Spot: http://www.homeworkspot.com PBS Kids: http://pbskids.org/games Game Goo, Learning that Sticks: http://www.earobics.com/gamegoo/config.html Aplusmath.com!: http://www.aplusmath.com S.O.S. Mathematics: http://www.sosmath.com Math.com: http://www.math.com/students/practice.html University of Cambridge: http://nrich.maths.org/public Building a Family http://www.howtodothings.com/family-and-relationships/c231-building-a-family.html Expert articles on starting a family, adopting, being pregnant and raising young children. Money Matters Get Muddled for Disabled http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/Newsday3-16-08.html Sean Beaudoin, 25, has an autism spectrum disorder, but with help he has become fairly independent. He has his own car. He works 20 hours a week as a kennel assistant. He has a credit card in his name, although his mother keeps it. And he has a good credit rating. But his parents, Curtis and Paula Beaudoin, recently experienced the downside of such autonomy for their son, who lives with them. For more information on Parenting, Siblings, Adoption and Foster Care, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Parenting.html
Early Childhood	top
MI Job Opportunity: Michigan’s Children Seeking Director of Fund Development and Operations http://michiganschildren.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=417&Itemid=76 MI Job Opportunity: Great Parents, Great Start & Early On Seeking Consultant http://web1mdcs.state.mi.us/vacancyweb/VacancyInq2.asp For more information on Early Childhood issues, visit www.EarlyChildhoodMichigan.org
Michigan News	top
Autism Research Bill Passes House Michiganders could donate to autism research via income tax checkoff in legislation passed by the Michigan House of Representatives on March 18, 2008. The bill was introduced by Rep. Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee). Michigan currently has income tax checkoffs for the Children's Trust Fund, the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Program and the Military Family Relief Fund. "As more and more children in Michigan are diagnosed with autism, the need for effective treatments becomes more and more pressing," said Angerer, chair of the House Health Policy Committee. "With this new tax checkoff option, residents who want to help advance autism research will have an easy way to contribute to the community." Michigan Storm Headed for Nationals http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/Times3-17-08.html Quad rubgy (aka “Murderball”) is a fast paced, full-contact, aggressive sport that rivals the intensity of hockey and is not intended for the faint of heart. This year, when the country’s top 16 quad rugby teams battle for the national title on April 11-13 in Louisville, Kentucky, the Saginaw-based Michigan Storm will be there.
Disability News	top
Dodd Announces The Disability Savings Act Of 2008 http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hcu-doddsavingsact,0,2489789.story Sen. Christopher Dodd announced significant new legislation that would allow families of people with disabilities to save money in tax-advantaged accounts. The Disability Savings Act of 2008 would allow savings similar to college 529 plans, so families could put aside money for care without jeopardizing their access to existing government assistance. Featured Resource: GBKids.com http://www.gbkids.com/ "As parents, we are motivated to provide our children with the best opportunities for play and learning. As a parent of a child with multiple disabilities, I have selected products for my child that allow her to fit in with her peers at school and around the neighborhood. We feature those same products on our website." Tonsil Removal May Cure ADHD Behavior in Kids http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/DMN8-11-07.html Little T.J. was a monster. There's no other way to say it. Extremely hyperactive, the toddler ran around in circles, destroying everything in his path. He got kicked out of day care and banned from friends' homes. ADHD Drugs Won't Raise Risk of Substance Abuse http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/02/AR2008030200022.html Drugs used to treat ADHD do not increase the risk of future drug or alcohol abuse in young adults, according to a National Institutes of Health study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. "Parents should be reassured that the use of psychostimulant medication for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents does not increase the risk for substance abuse in later life and remains the most effective treatment for this condition," said Dr. Jon A. Shaw, the University of Miami's director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science. New Bilingual Autism Resource Guide http://www.asdAtoZ.com To help diverse families living with autism, a new Bilingual Autism Resource Guide is now available at www.asdAtoZ.com. The Bilingual Autism Resource Guide is a free directory of the best web resources available in Spanish with site descriptions in both Spanish and English. Autism No Longer an Obstacle For Students Seeking College Degree http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080310/NEWS05/803100317/1118/PRINT If college were purely academic, 16-year-old Cullen Kappel would have no worries. But the mostly straight-A student who studies astrophysics just for fun knows his challenge at college will be in what happens between classes. Paterson's Ascension Inspires Disabled http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/14/AR2008031400893.html When David Paterson takes office Monday to become the nation's first legally blind governor to serve more than a few days, among those watching with the greatest interest will be those who cannot see. For more information on Disabilities, Disorders and Diseases, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Disabilities.html
Special Education Issues	top
Appeals Court Upholds Award of Four Years of Compensatory Ed http://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/08/al.0310.draper.htm On March 20, 2007, the District Court of Georgia ordered the Atlanta Independent School System to pay Jarron Draper's tuition at a private special education school for four years, or until he graduated from high school, as prospective compensatory education for their persistent failure to educate him. In the Mainstream but Isolated http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/WashPost3-17-08.html Victoria Miresso cannot button a shirt, match a sock or tell one school bus from another. Yet at Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown, she is expected to function much like any other sixth-grader, coping with class changes, algebra quizzes and lunchroom bullies. For more information on Special Education, IEPs and Section 504, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Rules.html
Ask the Attorney/Advocate	top
Visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/AA.html for dozens of Attorney John Brower's previously posted Q&As.
Upcoming National Events	top
These are NEW calendar listings that have been added this week, along with events taking place this week. To view a complete calendar of National events, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Conferences.html Workshops on Sibling Issues WHEN: April 25 & 26 2008 from 9:00am - 3:00pm WHERE: Indiana University Cancer Center, 1044 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 DESCRIPTION: Don Meyer is the director of the Sibling Support Project. As the project’s director, he has conducted more than 300 workshops worldwide, training over 8,000 parents and providers on sibling issues and the Sibshop model. Cost is $35 one day $50.00 two days. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information or to register, contact Cheryl Wisdom at 274-2964 or 1-888-365-2022. Postsecondary Disability Training Institute WHEN: June 10-13 & 14, 2008 from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. WHERE: Portland, Maine FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please visit our website at www.cped.uconn.edu for detailed Institute information.
Upcoming Michigan Events	*top*
These are NEW calendar listings that have been added this week, along with events taking place this week. To view a complete calendar of Michigan events, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Conferences.html Michigan’s Conference for Lead Safe & Healthy Homes WHEN: April 22, 2008 WHERE: Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, East Lansing, MI DESCRIPTION: This conference is intended for public health staff (nursing and environmental health), health officers, WIC staff, lead professionals, physicians, educators, community advocates, social workers, home visitors, daycare providers, rental property owners and managers, local, county and state legislators, and housing rehab contractors and workers. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information contact Tarah Collins at (517) 324-8329 or tcollins@mphi.org. Wrightslaw Special Ed Law and Advocacy Training WHEN: April 23, 2008 WHERE: Livonia, MI FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, visit http://www.mygreatkid.com. Community "Rolling" Event WHEN: Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: WKAR Studios DESCRIPTION: This event will include both an extensive resource room and a program featuring several speakers, a musical performance and a preview of the national documentary. The day-long event will include a resource room featuring organizations dealing with wheelchair use, independent living, and special needs, among other related topics. Those attending the free event will be able to pick up information and talk with representatives from participating organizations. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, visit http://www.wkar.org. Rick Lavoie: It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success WHEN: May 1, 2008 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. WHERE: Eton Academy, 1755 Melton, Birmingham, MI 48009 DESCRIPTION: This seminar will explore the relationship between learning disabilities and social challenges and will identify the specific causes for specific social skill deficits. Open to the public. Cost is $25 per person. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information or to register visit http://www.etonacademy.org. Rick Lavoie: The Motivation Breakthrough: 6 Secrets to Turning On the Tuned-Out Child WHEN: May 1, 2008 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. WHERE: Eton Academy, 1755 Melton, Birmingham, MI 48009 DESCRIPTION: This workshop, based on the book by the same name, encourages teachers and parents to examine and identify each child’s motivational style and to design motivational strategies that will inspire the child to reach his or her potential. Cost is $25 per person. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information or to register visit http://www.etonacademy.org.
Bridges4Kids NewsDigest Staff Deborah Canja Chief Executive Officer deb@bridges4kids.org Jackie Igafo-Te'o Director of Information Technology & Information Systems jackie@bridges4kids.org Bella Djordjevski Resource Assistant news@bridges4kids.org