EVENTS - Focusing on local and national happenings in adult services and special education, as well as noteworthy papers on disability issues
AUTISM ISSUES:
Essentials for Educators: High Functioning Autism & Asperger Syndrome http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S35NDMuoJ4&feature=related
"FACT SHEET ON AUTISM EMPLOYMENT" BY Dr. Scott Standifer, Disability Policy & Studies, University of Missouri
http://dps.missouri.edu/Autism/AutismFactSheet2011.pdf
Good news regarding Employment case under ADA compliance: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/11-7-11a.cfm
Agricultural Communities for Adults with Autism: http://www.ac - aa.org "Agricultural Communities for Adults with Autism (ACAA) is a consortium of existing and in-formation organizations focused on sharing best practices and advocating for holistic, agricultural based employment and housing models for adults with autism."
"Autism Speaks" Press Release re housing and residential supports program, supporting the agricultural model and choice of housing for individuals with Autism:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/about-us/press-releases/autism-speaks-launches-housing-and-residential-supports-portal-help-families
Learning and Sharing how to help people with Autism lead healthier lives and educate their parents/guardians/caregivers about Autism and the associated needs: 2 excellent websites you may want to read and learn from:
www.mothercub.com and www.houstonenzymes.com
www.Spectrummentor.com. A wonderful forum that brings together the Spectrum community.
Link to "When the Autistic Child Grows Up" By Susan Senator
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_19642239
Article offering insight re how babies learn to speak and how this observation may demonstrate need for early intervention services for children who may possibly be autistic:
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/16/10152043-babies-learn-to-speak-by-lip-reading-could-offer-autism-clues
New Definition of Autism Will Exclude Many, Study Suggests:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/health/research/new-autism-definition-would-exclude-many-study-suggests.html
Here is a youtube video about a student with autism and his sped fight for appropriate educational services:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLN5vhAsi1Y&fb_source=message
follow-up:
http://www.myfoxhouston.com//dpp/news/local/120210-sleeping-special-education-judge-resigns-under-fire#ixzz1m62SQ9Dp
Here is a site to access some good, working knowledge about how to keep people with autism safe: www.autismsafety.org
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Parents of Adults with Disabilities in Colorado: www.pad-co.info "Purpose of the PAD-CO Listserv: For the discussion of the unique problems, concerns, joys and successes of parents of adults and older children with disabilities, and for finding goals and directions which we can voice to others to further the progress of our children with disabilities
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PBS Documentary To Chronicle Disability Rights Movement - October 27, 2011
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/10/21/pbs-documentary-disability-rights/14289/
ESEA/Elementary Secondary Education Act (also known as NCLB/No Child Left Behind), October 20, 2011 - A potentially harmful amendment for students with disabilities was defeated in the Senate. The Isakson amendment #2, which would remove the limits on ho w many students with disabilities can be counted as making adequate results or sufficient progress using less challenging systems of standards and assessments, was defeated in the HELP Committee by a vote of 14 to 8 this morning. In addition to the 12 Democrats on the committee, two Republican Senators, Ms. Murkowski (AK) and Mr. Kirk (IL) voted against the amendment to support our children. Your outreach yesterday and last week contributed greatly to this accomplishment!
States waived from NCLB - includes Colorado:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/learning-the-language/2012/02/most_waiver-winning_states_rev.html
The Massachusetts Disability Law Center is now rolling out an online manual on special education transition services, available through the hyperlink below.
http://www.dlc-ma.org/manual/
It is based on Massachusetts and federal law, but advocates in other jurisdictions may find it to be useful as well. This Manual is written for parents and students who are advocating for better transition services, including social, vocational and independent living skills. It is written in an easy-to-understand format but also contains “Endnotes” and an Appendix at the end of the Manual with legal information for attorneys and experienced advocates.
The Manual was edited by the Disability Law Center (DLC), in partnership with the Federation for Children with Special Needs, the Institute for Community Inclusion, and Massachusetts Advocates for Children. It was written by the Northeastern University School of Law Legal Skills in Social Context program.
"Subject: opportunity to be part of research on employment and 'time spent meaningfully' I'm writing to let you know about new research that Donna Lehr and I are starting named "Time Spent Meaningfully." If you meet the criteria below and are interested in participating, or if you have any additional questions, please contact me at (617) 353-6419 or zsr@bu.edu<mailto:zsr@bu.edu> so I can send you a complete study description. Please feel free to pass this on to anyone you know who may also fit the criteria below. It is generally agreed upon that employment is an essential component of a good quality of life among adults. However, achieving the goal of employment is often challenging, even for persons without disabilities. For some parents, guardians, and professionals who support young adults (21-30 years old) with extensive or pervasive support needs and limited functional communication abilities, identifying work of interest, configuring those work opportunities, and arranging for necessary supports seem insurmountable. These challenges result in some questioning the value of employment, and some supporting the argument that the "work day" should be defined variously, or that perhaps work should be defined differently. This study focuses on these challenges and how families and professionals have responded to them. If you volunteer to participate in this study, you will be asked to schedule one 30-60 minute interview focused on your adult child's daily and/or weekly experiences, the supports and funding utilized, and any ongoing barriers to employment and/or time spent meaningfully. Thank you." -Zach Zachary S. Rossetti, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Special Education Program
Boston University
Two Silber Way, Room 224
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 353-6419
As of the year 2002 the International Journal of Special Education will be published on this website. Libraries and individuals are permitted to print out entire issues for educational purposes.
http://www.internationaljournalofspecialeducation.com/issues.cfm The International Journal of Special Education
The intent is to make the journal available internationally and free of charge to everyone who is interested in special education or is a student of special education.
Below is a link to "How Safe is the Schoolhouse? An Analysis of State Seclusion and Restraint Laws and Policies (2012)." The purpose of the report (and this post) is to describe and analyze the laws in the 50 states & D.C. relating to restraint and seclusion, and to analyze the effect that the national Congressional bills have had on state laws, regulations, and policies over the last 2 years.
The report consists of a comprehensive description and analysis of state seclusion/restraint statutes, regulations, and nonbinding guidance in effect through 2012. The report also contains a brief executive summary and charts and maps, and a state-by-state appendix. (All information in the maps and charts is also contained in the text; they simply provide visual information for those who need or prefer visual information.) The state-by-state appendix at the end allows you to look up your state and see a summary of state laws/policies. The report is current through January 2012.
The report can be downloaded from http://www.autcom.org/pdf/HowSafeSchoolhouse.pdf
or http://bit.ly/StateSR12
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