Bridges4Kids News Digest

September 20, 2008

Bridges4Kids NewsDigest Topics

• National News	• Disability News
• Michigan News	• Special Education Issues
• Parenting/Parental Involvement	• Ask the Attorney/Advocate
• Early Childhood	• Upcoming National Events
• Visit Bridges4Kids	• Upcoming Michigan Events
• Where to Find Help For a Child

National News	top
CA Students at KIPP Perform Better, Study Finds http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/18/BA6H12VQKQ.DTL Since their founding in 1994, KIPP public charter schools have won high praise from educators and politicians - some say bordering on worship - for their apparent success in helping poor children of color excel in school. TX Dallas Researchers Hope to Train Teens in Reasoning Skills http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/rmiller/stories/DN-miller_14bus.ART.State.Edition1.26df6de.html University of Texas at Dallas scientists believe they are on the road to success in overcoming the failure of many teenagers to develop the ability to reason to solve daily problems. Now they just need a little outside help – about $20 million – to expand their findings and put them into practice. Finding a College for Students With Special Needs http://www.psycport.com/showArticle.cfm?xmlFile=ap_2008_09_17_ap.ds.dsf.all_D938JE380_news_ap_org.anpa.xml&provider= Students with learning disabilities are applying to college this fall at more than five times the rate of the 1980s - and facing a confusing thicket of special-needs jargon in the process. Colleges and universities are "the new frontier, in terms of access to education" for students with learning differences, says George Jesien of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. Only recently have they made much progress in leveling the playing field for qualified students with disabilities and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Parents of Special-Needs Children Divided Over Palin's Promise to Help http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/us/politics/07needs.html Amid the barbs and hockey banter Wednesday night, Gov. Sarah Palin directed an emotional appeal to the hearts of millions of parents with children who have special needs, promising they would “have a friend and advocate in the White House” in a McCain-Palin administration. As she spoke, the camera panned to her baby, Trig, who has Down syndrome. Guide Helps Doctors Manage Vaccine Allergies http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN3148694520080902 With careful monitoring, even children who have had allergic reactions to a vaccine can still be vaccinated, a U.S. team of experts said on Tuesday. The team developed a step-by-step guide to help pediatricians quickly identify children with allergic reactions to vaccines and safely immunize them. Pfizer Launches Site Weighing Drug Risks, Benefits http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/15/ap5424053.html The world's biggest drug company is taking a crack at making that easier with a new Web site on medication safety -- unusual in an industry often criticized as using marketing practices that oversell drug benefits and downplay risks.
Michigan News	top
Michigan Students Propose Changes to New Graduation Rules http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/NEWS06/80916052/1008/NEWS A group of high school students recently proposed dramatic changes to the state’s tough new graduation requirements that would create separate routes to a high school diploma based on whether a student planned to attend college, enter the work force or pursue a career in the fine arts. Some routes would require less rigorous coursework for students. Michigan K-12 Education In A Word: Dire http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/9-08/MIRS9-17-08.html The status of Michigan's K-12 education system is cause for worry and alarm, two presenters to the Senate Education Committee reported this week. Michigan Senate Asks DHS, Friend Of Court To Talk http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/9-08/MIRS9-16-08.html The Michigan Senate unanimously passed 4 bills aimed at curbing child abuse.
Parenting/Parental Involvement	top
Raising the Bar: How Parents Can Fix Education http://www.districtadministration.com/newssummary.aspx?postid=50711 At the start of yet another school year, it's time for some radical change in your local schools -- a specific change that only parents can bring about. It's a thing already being done in some far-off countries but that remains strangely rare here in America. It's something I've tried -- and, despite the skepticism of friends and neighbors, it seems to work. Saying what We'd Want to Say http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/9-08/Coulter8-29-08.html My wife, Julie, and I lost a close friend recently. Bella died quickly and unexpectedly of a heart attack. It was a real shock. The kind that makes you look at your life and how you're living it. Bella and her husband, Mike, were very close. So much so that it's hard to imagine one without the other. Mike told us that he only regretted not being able to say goodbye. Bridges4kids Featured Book: An Intimate Understanding of America's Teenagers: Shaking Hands with Aliens http://www.praeger.com/catalog/B34508.aspx Alicia is so obsessed with being popular, she does things that would shock her parents, if they knew. Hector is aware the gang that wants him to join may be the death of him, but he will not decline. Sam was a baseball star, but can't play the sport he loves anymore because he is wracked from football injuries, a sport his father will not let him quit. These are just a few of the teenagers readers will "meet," in this candid book authored by a 34-year veteran high school teacher. Voted Teacher of the Year and Coach of the Year, Bruce Gevirtzman shares with us the results of his years spent talking with teenagers about topics from life and lust to depression and death. Revealing honest, poignant words shared in conversations, classroom talk, interviews, surveys, and journals, Gevirtzman takes us inside the minds of today's youths, and also contrasts them with teenagers of decades past. Also, read his article The iPod. Bridges4kids Featured Resource: AARP's Grandparents Section http://www.aarp.org/family/grandparenting/ GrandCare Toolkit: A thorough listing of health, financial, and safety resources for grand families or relatives raising children Tips for Grandparents: Looking for a fun activity or vacation destination for yourself and your grandchild? We have some great ideas! State Fact Sheets: Get helpful, state-specific data, no matter where you live in the United States. GrandCare Support Locator: Here's a searchable treasure trove of community resources to help grandparents and other relatives raising children, and to assist grandparents with visitation issues. Benefits QuickLINK: Find out if you or the children you’re raising are eligible for key public and private benefits. Guide to Public Benefits: Use this quick reference to find out about cash assistance, health, nutrition, and tax-credit programs designed to help grandfamilies. 23andMe Slashes Price on Personal Genetics Test http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/9-08/Google9-8-08.html A Google-backed startup that analyzes customers' genetic makeup to predict health risks and provide ancestry information has slashed the price on its personal DNA test, the company announced Tuesday. For more information on Parenting, Siblings, Adoption and Foster Care, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Parenting.html
Early Childhood	top
Free Publications: Shining Stars Series These free publications from EdPubs show how Parents can help toddlers thru children in the 3rd grade level learn to read. To order, download or view, visit http://edpubs.ed.gov/ and enter "Shining Stars" in the search box near the top of the page. Speaking Slowly Helps Children Learn http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/9-08/WichitaEagle8-22-08.html The average adult speaks at a rate of almost 170 words per minute, but the average 5- to 7- year-old processes speech at a rate of only 120 words per minute. The gap between what a child hears and what he or she understands can appear to parents and teachers as inattention, confusion or outright defiance. MI Half-day Kindergartens to Cost Districts http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809080374 Hundreds of school districts across the state are wrestling with options for kindergarten following a recent change in the way the state funds those programs. For more information on Early Childhood issues, visit www.EarlyChildhoodMichigan.org
Disability News	top
Educator’s Book Reviews 50 Conventional and Holistic Treatments for Autism, ADD and OCD http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/9-08/Pittsburgh9-11-08.html For more than 30 years, education counselor Patricia Lemer has been helping parents of children with developmental delays understand conventional and holistic treatments and determine which are the best fit for each child. Her new book focuses on the needs of children with autism spectrum disorders and related diagnoses, such as attention deficit and obsessive-compulsive disorders. It provides an overview of these conditions, theories about causes and information on nearly 50 conventional and holistic treatments, ranging from traditional therapy to newer offerings such as Brain Gym, behavioral optometry and neurofeedback. US Researchers Call Off Controversial Autism Study http://www.physorg.com/news140884428.html A government agency has dropped plans for a study of a controversial treatment for autism that critics had called an unethical experiment on children. The Art and Science of Wheelchair Basketball http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/sports/othersports/09wheelchair.html Minutes before the cries of "Box left! Box left!" fill the floor, before players collide in ferocious crashes of aluminum and titanium, and before his United States teammates continue their quest for the gold medal in men's basketball at the Paralympic Games in Beijing on Tuesday, Paul Schulte will take a long, hard look at his opponents' wheelchairs. Serving Victims of Crime with Autism http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=shop_downloads Autism Society of America Addresses Needs of Crime Victims with Autism - As part of its Crime Victims with Autism Assistance, Education, and Training Program, a project funded by the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, the Autism Society of America has created a series of fact sheets and brochures to assist crime victim assistance professionals, families, and individuals with autism. A 2007 ASA survey of individuals with autism and their families revealed that 35% of individuals with autism have been the victim of a crime and the ASA is taking steps to help communities and professionals provide crime victim assistance. These much-needed materials are the first of a series of publications designed to improve services to crime victims with autism. Watch for the project’s training curriculum which will be available in the coming months! Bridges4kids Featured Resource: Autism Therapy eBrief http://autism.healingthresholds.com/subscribe-to-ebrief The Autism Therapy eBrief is a weekly update of scientific research and news coverage of autism therapies. For more information on Disabilities, Disorders and Diseases, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Disabilities.html
Special Education Issues	top
House Passes the ADA Amendments Act – Bill Now Cleared for the President’s Signature http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/9-08/Nami9-18-08.html On September 17, 2008, the House unanimously passed legislation to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and overturn a series of Supreme Court decisions that had narrowed the scope of the law in recent years. The bill unanimously passed the Senate on September 11 and is now on its way to the White House where the President is expected to sign it into law as early as next week. Free Publication: Legal Rights of Children with Epilepsy in School & Child Care: An Advocate's Manual (PDF) https://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsylegal/upload/ChildrensRights.pdf Do you want to know more about a child's right to FAPE in IDEA? Are all children with disabilities entitled to the services guaranteed in IDEA 2004? What are the thirteen named disabilities in IDEA? What is "Other Health Impaired (OHI)"? The Epilepsy Foundation has published a new Advocate's Manual that provides detailed practical guidance to help parents and non-attorney advocates understand the rights of children in the special education process. This new manual is not limited to children with epilepsy, it's reach is far broader. It provides excellent information about how to effectively advocate to secure the rights of all children with disabilities. MI Standards for the Emergency Use of Seclusion & Restraint http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-6530_6598_7376---,00.html The document, Supporting Student Behavior: Standards for the Emergency Use of Seclusion and Restraint is now available on the Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services (OSE-EIS) Web site. The document summarizes how a positive behavior support approach uses proactive strategies to reduce or eliminate the use of seclusion and restraint; defines the terms "seclusion" and "restraint"; outlines procedures for emergency use of seclusion and restraint; and provides a framework for training. 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 Upcoming Wrightslaw Conferences Sept 25, 2008: Broomfield (Boulder Area), CO October 16, 2008: Des Moines, IA October 23, 2008: Bedford/Manchester, NH October 24, 2008: Savannah, GA October 30, 2008: Columbia, SC November 6, 2008: Long Island, NY November 14-15, 2008 : Clarksville, MD November 19-20, 2008 : Charleston, WV December 3, 2008: Edmond, OK NH LDANH "Written Expression: The FINAL Frontier" WHEN: Friday, October 17, 2008 from 8am to 3pm WHERE: Bedford, NH 03110 (Hillsborough County) DESCRIPTION: Participants will learn about the different stages of written expression; become knowledgeable about different types of remedial writing programs; be able to make informed decisions about testing written expression and progress monitoring. COST: Cost is $95 member; $125 other; $65 Student w/ID FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit http://www.LDANH.org or email information@LDANH.org. NY Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. Presents What’s Out There and How to Get It 2008-2009 Free Training Series For Families and Professionals Needing Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities WHEN/Where: These free workshops take place on multiple dates, times and locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens. DESCRIPTION: Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. presents 51 free workshops in all boroughs for parents and professionals. We cover the programs and services available to children and youth with disabilities, and the systems, laws and entitlements that affect them. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information or to register, visit http://www.resourcesnyc.org/rschedule.php. FL The Sixth International Conference on Positive Behavior Support WHEN: March 26-28, 2009 WHERE: Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, Jacksonville, Florida
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 Michael Golds Memorial AD/HD Conference WHEN: Friday, September 26, 2008 WHERE: Farmington Hills, MI DESCRIPTION: Dr. Pennington’s son, Ty Pennington, is star on ABC’s hit show, “Extreme Makeover Home Edition”. She has interviewed many friends and family who knew Ty, her and their family during their younger years. She will share her struggles and successes, as well as, the views of others on what makes up good parenting. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, visit http://www.chaddmi.com. 4th Annual Buddy Walk WHEN: October 4, 2008 WHERE: Kensington Metro Park, Milford, MI DESCRIPTION: All proceeds Benefit the Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information call Lisa Anderson 248-681-4258 or visit http://buddywalk.kintera.org/dsgsemi. Free Civic Engagement Training WHEN: October 11, 2008 from 10-12:30 p.m. WHERE: Child and Family Services, 3785 Veterans Drive, Traverse City DESCRIPTION: This Civic Engagement Training is for parents and professionals who want to learn more about the impact of toxic exposures on child development and how to ask elected officials and government leaders to do all they can to protect our children. Download the flyer here. Lunch and childcare will be provided at no charge with RSVP. Please specify when registering if childcare is needed. This event is free and open to all who register! FOR MORE INFORMATION: To register, fill out the online registration form, send an email to jackie.igafoteo@ldaofmichigan.org, or call (517) 936-3370. The Reading Brain: Research Insights and Client Evaluations WHEN: October 11, 2008 from 8:30 to 3:30 pm WHERE: Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI DESCRIPTION: Featured speakers include: Guinevere Eden D. Phil "The Reading Brain: Neuroscientific Insights into Reading and Reading Disabilities." Steven L Pastyrnak, Ph.D. "Diagnosing Dyslexia: Is Preschool Evaluation Possible?"; and Patricia Sekel, Ph.D."The ABC's of Dyslexia Evaluations." COST: $75 IDA member/$95 non member until Sept 30 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the International Dyslexia Association Michigan Branch at http://www.idamib.org/fall08conf.htm. Autcom Annual Conference 2008: Embracing the Hope and Joy of Autism WHEN: Friday and Saturday, October 17-18, 2008 WHERE: Four Points Sheraton, 3200 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, visit http://www.autcom.org/conf2008/main.html. To register online, visit http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=170&EID=2848. 16th Annual Parenting Awareness Michigan Conferences WHEN/WHERE: October 22, 2008 in Marquette, Michigan and November 3, 2008 in Lansing, Michigan DESCRIPTION: Two statewide conferences to choose from – or attend both! For anyone who works with parents and families...PAM organizers, educators, parent network and coalition members, service providers, school personnel, parent volunteers, and anyone interested in parenting and Parenting Awareness Month. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To download the brochure or to register, visit http://www.preventionnetwork.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