Bridges4Kids News Digest

Read the bridges4kids News Digest online! http://www.bridges4kids.org/newsdigest/index.html

National News	*top*
IL State Violating Medicaid Laws Ameet Sachdev, Chicago Tribune, August 25, 2004 http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/8-04/ChicagoTribune8-25-04.html#top 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. TX State Undercounts Dropouts, Expert Says Statesman.com, August 25, 2004 http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/08/25dropouts.html 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.] U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Finds Housing Law Requires Accessible Front Door Gongwer News Service, August 25, 2004 http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/8-04/Gongwer6-25-04.html#top 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. CA Recess Gets Regulated Sandy Louey, Sacramento Bee, August 22, 2004 http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/8-04/SacBee8-22-04.html#top Concerned about safety and injuries and worried about bullying, violence, self-esteem and lawsuits, school officials have clamped down on the traditional games from years past. Gone from many blacktops are tag, dodgeball and any game involving bodily contact. In are organized relay races and adult-supervised activities. Creating Safe And Drug-Free Schools - Girls: The Third Wave Of Youth Violence The Challenge, A communications initiative of the U.S. DOE's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) http://www.thechallenge.org/7-v10no4/girls.htm Currently, America is experiencing an increase in violence among girls, a group that was formerly considered a relatively nonviolent population. This "third wave" of youth violence merits close attention by schools, mental health professionals, and others concerned with the health and safety of young people who may be able to prevent the growth of violence among girls before it becomes even more widespread. Demand on Special Ed is Growing Christian Science Monitor, August 24, 2004 http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0824/p01s03-ussc.htm To what extent should schools take steps to help children with social and emotional disabilities, particularly when children demonstrate strong academic capacities? Which kids belong in special ed and which just need extra help--from counseling to greater supervision on the playground? These have become important questions as budgets tighten in schools across the country and the diagnosis of learning disabilities soars in both number and variety. One thing is clear: The number of children in the United States who qualify for special education is up nearly 40 percent in the past decade. bridges4kids Featured Resource: Free Homeschooling Course from Barnes & Noble Online http://educate.barnesandnoble.com/educate/bn/home/catalog/overview.jsp?productId=25320&userid =yR4dG6v9TJ&sourceid=00412275486063587672&bfdate=08-23-2004+13:03:34&bnit=H&bnrefer=0-10000-5000000000000-5000000&nhid=bn In order to gain the most from this course, all you need to bring with you is a curious mind and an open heart. One of the most important decisions you'll ever make as a parent is choosing which of the growing number of educational options is best for your child. Can the increasingly popular homeschooling option provide your child with the rewarding, successful learning experience you're searching for? This course offers a rare opportunity to receive the information you need to tackle that decision making process. Next session begins on September 7, 2004.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)	*top*
Inspired: A Project Inspired by No Child Left Behind Jimmy Kilpatrick, EducationNews.org, August 23, 2004 http://www.educationnews.org/inspired-a-project-inspired-by-nclb.htm Sebastian Wren, the Program Associate for Reading at the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory in Austin, Texas, has been personally involved with INSPIRED, a very successful pre-school and day-care project in Round Rock ISD, Round Rock, Texas. Wren recently concluded, "Although they started out with different performance levels, by the end of the year, African American students, Caucasian students, and Hispanic students were performing approximately equally. Thus, there is some evidence that the INSPIRED project is helping to 'level the playing field' for disparate groups of students." Military Calls Teens with Help of Schools Peter Smolowitz, Charlotte Observer, August 20, 2004 http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/education/9448180.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp&1c A little-known provision in No Child Left Behind requires high schools to give the names and phone numbers of juniors and seniors to military recruiters who could call and encourage them to enlist. Supporters of the 2-year-old law say it ensures that teenagers know the military is an option. But some parents and teenagers say unsolicited phone calls are an invasion of privacy. And some object to a provision in the law that would deny millions in federal dollars to schools that ignore recruiters' requests for contacts. Parents can notify schools in writing if they don't want their children's information released. [Free login/registration required.] NC Federal Law Hits North Carolina's Schools Hard A significant number of schools in North Carolina are feeling the sting of the No Child Left Behind law for the first time as hundreds of students transfer to other schools. Only 18 schools across the state were required to offer transfers last year. But after the second year of the sweeping reform effort, 138 regular public schools must give parents the option. In addition, 22 charter schools face a range of sanctions.
Parenting/Parental Involvement	*top*
Checklists, Notes and Memory Dan Coulter, Coulter Video, August 2004 http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/8-04/Coulter8-30-04.html#top 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. bridges4kids Featured Resource: Checklists For Parents Seeking Childcare for Children Aged 0-5 This list of checklists and articles includes: Babysitter Information Checklist, Home Daycare Provider Interview Sheet, Daycare Center Director/ Caregiver Interview, Daily Diary Sheet, My Childcare Planner, Sample Contract, What is Quality Childcare?, Checking Out Childcare, Choosing a Day-care Provider: Your Checklist, Finding Childcare: Questions to Ask, Child Care - Observation Checklist, Selecting a Child Care Facility With a Safe Playground, Helpful Information for You and Your Baby Sitter, Child Care Safety Checklist for Parents and Child Care Providers, and a Preschool Director/Teacher Interview sheet. bridges4kids Featured Website: Parents as Teachers (PAT) An international early childhood parent education and family support program serving families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten, usually age 5. The program is designed to enhance child development and school achievement through parent education accessible to all families. It is a universal access model.
Early On/Early Intervention	*top*
bridges4kids Featured Resource: Free Online Course on the Assessment and Intervention of Infants and Toddlers The SELF Outreach Project: Funded by the US Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, is offering a six week online course this fall for anyone involved in the assessment and intervention of infants and toddlers. The course provides information on self-regulation, sensory processing, temperament and social-emotional development. It is an opportunity to learn new information and practice new skills in a flexible environment. The course is free but there is a $25 materials fee. Participants receive a certificate and OT/PT/SLP and Social Worker CEUs are available. We also are looking for people who are interested in becoming trainers in the SELF Process or want to use the SELF information and materials in their training activities. If you are interested, please contact Holly Harrison (email: hharriso@unm.edu). Visit our Web site at http://www.newassessment.org for information on the SELF Outreach Project (click on SELF on the left side bar) and the SELF Process (click on Models on the right side bar). Including Children With Disabilities in Child Care National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) http://www.nccic.org/poptopics/includingchildren.html This list of organizations, publications, and Web sites provide a sample of information about strategies for including children with disabilities in child care settings. Early On Subcommittee Meeting Minutes: Minutes Added *System Operations* System Operations (PDF; July 2004) http://www.bridges4kids.org/minutes/EO-SysOps7-04.pdf System Operations (PDF; June 2004) http://www.bridges4kids.org/minutes/EO-SysOps6-04.pdf *Parent Involvement* Parent Involvement (PDF; July 2004) http://www.bridges4kids.org/minutes/EO-PIC7-04.pdf *Effective Practices & Implementation, Birth to Five* Effective Practices and Implementation, Birth to Five (PDF; March 2004) http://www.bridges4kids.org/minutes/EO-EffPrac3-04.pdf
Michigan News	*top*
Restraint Policies, Charges Under Review Kalamazoo Gazette, August 25, 2004 http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/9-04/KalGazette8-25-04.html#top 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. Michigan School Offers Program for Children with Autism Janet Sugameli, The Detroit News, August 23, 2004 http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/8-04/DetroitNews8-23-04.html#top Krambrooke-Griffin Academy, a private K-8 school in Washington Township, has begun offering a program for children with autism. The school plans to offer speech therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration and sign language instruction, and may seek to include special-needs students in traditional classrooms, depending on their ability. The market for such schools is seen as having potential in Michigan, which has a higher percentage of children with autism than most states, data show. Audit Slams Teacher Preparation Office: July 1999 - June 2002 Examined Gongwer News Service, August 26, 2004 http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/8-04/Gongwer8-26-04.html#top The Department of Education's Office of Professional Preparation Services fails to adequately check on criminal backgrounds of Michigan teachers, and that is just one of a wide range of problems an audit from Auditor General Thomas McTavish detailed about the bureau. Strapped Detroit Area Schools Outsource More Jobs Christine MacDonald, Detroit News, August 23, 2004 http://www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0408/23/a01-251005.htm Services once exclusively provided by public school employees are increasingly being handed over to private companies to save on payroll costs. In many districts, food, custodial and transportation services are being privatized, with some even looking to outsource jobs directly connected to students. 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. 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 assures that a commissioner will read them thoroughly. Elizabeth W. Bauer, 1355 Lake Park Drive, Birmingham, MI 48009; ebauer7400@aol.com or www.bauer4stateboard.com.
Disability News	*top*
Lost Boys - Autism and My Son Lou Schuler, Men's Health, August 2004 http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/9-04/MensHealth8-04.html#top 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. Identifying & Treating ADHD: A Resource for School & Home (PDF) U.S. Department of Education, 2003 http://www.ed.gov/teachers/needs/speced/adhd/adhd-resource-pt1.pdf We are now learning that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is not a disorder of attention, as had long been assumed. Rather, it is a function of developmental failure in the brain circuitry that monitors inhibition and self-control. This loss of self-regulation impairs other important brain functions crucial for maintaining attention, including the ability to defer immediate rewards for later gain.
IEP Issues	*top*
How To File A Discrimination Complaint With (OCR) The Office For Civil Rights Department of Education, Revised July 2004 http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintprocess.html
Ask the Attorney/Advocate	*top*
bridges4kids Exclusive: Ask the Attorney with John Brower Question: Our child currently has a §504 Plan. We feel that our child requires Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech-Language (S/L) services. Can these services be provided to our daughter under her 504 Plan? Answer: See John's Answer at http://www.bridges4kids.org/AA/q36.html. bridges4kids Exclusive: Ask the Attorney with John Brower Question: Our child is a student with high functioning autism. After attempts to mainstream our child that were not very successful, we agreed to a change in placement to a self-contained classroom for emotionally impaired children. Our decision was based entirely on the classroom teacher, who we knew to be very experienced and had taught children with autism. Two weeks before school started, the teacher left. Now we have a teacher with no experience and no supports in place for my son. What can we do? Answer: See John's Answer at http://www.bridges4kids.org/AA/q37.html
Upcoming National Events	*top*
These are NEW calendar listings that have been added this week. To view a complete calendar of National events, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Conferences.html. National Truancy Prevention Conference WHEN: December 6-8, 2004 WHERE: Washington, DC DESCRIPTION: The conference, "Partnering To Prevent Truancy: A National Priority," will highlight promising & effective school-, community-, & court-based programs that rely on interagency cooperation to prevent truancy in urban, rural, suburban, & tribal communities. Participants will include juvenile justice practitioners, educators & other school personnel, judges, law enforcement officers, researchers, social services providers, health professionals, local & state policymakers, community & business leaders, & representatives from faith-based organizations & national & local youth service agencies. Attendees will learn practical approaches to reduce truancy in their schools & communities. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Additional information about the conference will be posted on OJJDP's Web site as it becomes available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ojjdp.
Upcoming Michigan Events	*top*
These are NEW calendar listings that have been added this week. To view a complete calendar of Michigan events, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Conferences.html. Michigan Child Care Task Force Meeting WHEN: September 8, 2004 from 9:30 a.m. - Noon WHERE: State of Michigan Library, Lake Ontario Room, 3rd floor, 717 West Allegan, Lansing, MI 48909-7507 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (517) 373-1580 for directions or email brewer@mi4c.org for more details. Mom’s Night Out SPONSORED BY: Arc of Livingston WHEN: September 8, 2004 at 7:00 pm WHERE: Brighton Bar and Grille DESCRIPTION: Come sit and chat with other parents of children with special needs. Dads welcome! Event is free; no registration required. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (517) 546-1228 MICHIGAN STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS WHEN: September 14, 2004, October 12, 2004, November 9, 2004, and December 14, 2004 WHERE: 4th floor of the Hannah Building in Lansing HOSTED BY: The Michigan State Board of Education DESCRIPTION: 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. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call Mrs. Eileen Hamilton (Administrative Secretary, State Board of Education) at: (517) 373-3900 (voice), (517) 373-4035 (TDD), or email: hamiltone@michigan.gov Shared Solutions in ASD: From Science to Success WHEN: October 19-20, 2004 WHERE: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan DESCRIPTION: Carol Gray will be the keynote at this event. Bullying is an old problem with a new face – new because attitudes and responses to bullying have changed dramatically since early 1990. Parents and professionals have taken an important “double take” of tired misconceptions and bullying mythology. Rusted conclusions that “…kids will be kids” or dangerous advice to “ignore it” can’t hold their ground in the shadow of new understanding. This mini-workshop shares basic information about bullying, discusses why children with ASD are among its most frequent targets, and identifies practical solutions that work toward keeping all children emotionally, physically, and socially safe. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the Gray Center website at http://www.thegraycenter.org/2004_autism_conference.htm or call 616-954-9747 for details. Educational Conference to Address Hate Crimes in Schools WHEN: October 21, 2004 from 7:30 am - 3:45 pm WHERE: Holocaust Memorial Museum in Farmington Hills, MI DESCRIPTION: This program is presented by the MI Alliance Against Hate Crimes (MIAAHC) FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Sharone Senk at 248-646-2440 or email name & address to davisfl@michigan.gov for registration materials. Research – Education – Advocacy: Protecting children and future generations from exposures to neurotoxicants SPONSORS: Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan (LDA Healthy Children Project Partner) and Institute for Children’s Environmental Health. Co-sponsored by the Association of Children’s Mental Health (ACMH), Michigan Environmental Council (MEC), Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH), American Academy of Pediatrics, Michigan Chapter, Ecology Center, Bridges4Kids, and the Michigan Lead Safe Partnership. WHEN: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 (Doors open for registration at 1:00 p.m., conference runs from 1:30 – 4:30 PM) WHERE: Kellogg Center on MSU’s Campus in East Lansing, Michigan COST: FREE DESCRIPTION: 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. FOR MORE INFORMATION: 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 is encouraged.
Bridges4Kids Chief Executive Officer Deborah Canja deb@bridges4kids.org Bridges4Kids Director of Information Technology & Information Systems Jackie Igafo-Te'o jackie@bridges4kids.org Bridges4Kids Resource Assistant Bella Djordjevski news@bridges4kids.org