SEPTEMBER 2011 Disabilities Thread

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Second Annual Disabilities & Congregation Inclusion Conference - Strategies to Promote Inclusion in Faith Communities

While many congregations might uphold a desire to fully include people with disabilities in their communities, many may not be aware of effective strategies and best practices. The Second Annual Disabilities & Congregation Inclusion Conference will present a variety of strategies that are being used by communities across the country, including community conversations, audits and awareness campaigns, disability ministries, and more.

Religious leaders and educators, individuals with disabilities and their families, and disability service providers are invited to participate.

When: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 - 8:30a.m.-4:30p.m.

Where: Holiday Inn Express
920 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

For discounted room reservations, call: [phone] or toll-free [phone]

Fees: $50 (Fees cover meals, snacks, and materials)

For more information and to register, visit: www.kc.vanderbilt.edu/registration

Sponsored by: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Faith for ALL

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A new free resource...https://www.smart911.com/

A better 9-1-1 service for people with disabilities.

Nashville Emergency Communications Center now offers a free, new service to improve 9-1-1 response. Once you're signed up, anytime you dial 9-1-1 the dispatcher will see a description of your disability, special rescue notes and your current location on-screen.
Now EMS, police and firefighters can arrive on the scene 100% prepared to help you.

Supported by existing 9-1-1 fees - free to register

100% private and secure

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2011 Down Syndrome Association of West TN Buddy Walk & 5K Run
Saturday, Sept. 24th - Pringles Park / Jackson Generals Field Jackson, TN

7:00 AM 5K Registration
8:00 AM Race Start Awards follow
10:00 AM Buddy Walk Registration
10:30 AM Walks Start Prizes follow
10:30 - 12:00 Food (grilled hot dogs, chips, pizza)

Games for the kids! Live entertainment provided by the BandStand and Tigrett Gospel Choir
REGISTER TODAY!

- Runners may register by mail, phone, online at www.racesonline.com or the day of the event.
- Walkers may register by mail, phone, online at www.firstgiving.com/dsawt or the day of the event.

*Buddy Walk t-shirt for each walker is only guaranteed with pre-registration & payment by Sept. 16th*

For additional information and to register in advance, please contact:
Dexter Williams at [e-mail] or Amber Williams at [e-mail]
Or call Margaret Dougan 217-1232, Melissa Whitaker 616-2605, Debbie Riffle 499-1065

Check out our new website www.firstgiving.com/dsawt

You can register for the Buddy Walk online, set up a team page, or make a donation. Attached is more information about the website. Also attached is the Buddy Walk registration form and 5K Run registration form.

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A national webinar aimed at businesses to learn how to make their websites accessible for online employment applications for people with disabilities. You may have already printed or told others about the one I sent out August 22nd about this webinar. But we just got notice that they are postponing it until Sept. 27th. Please help us reach others to let them be aware of it. Today we had someone register for it, so we know there is some interest in the subject.

Louise McKown
Public Awareness Coordinator/Systems Change Analyst
East Tennessee Technology Access Center

The East Tennessee Technology Access Center will host a nationwide webinar: Online Employment Applications and Website Accessibility. Many employers now require applicants to submit for job applications online. Yet, many of the online application processes are believed to be inaccessible. Either the application forms, or the skills assessment, or the submission of electronic materials, or some combination thereof, are technically inaccessible to users with disabilities using assistive technologies such as screen readers. This webinar will teach participants how to make their online applications fully accessible to this valuable talent pool.

The webinar will be held Tuesday, September 27th from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in ETTAC’s Knoxville office, 116 Childress Street, just off Chapman Highway. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Please call [phone] by September 26th. Because the Henley Street Bridge is being renovated, for directions, go to www.discoveret.org/ettac under the Contact link for a map.

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Corey Green, of Green's Karate is hosting a fundraiser for the Chattanooga Autism Center. Prior to his 4th annual Karate Classic on Saturday, October 15th, he will host a "Kick-a-thon" that will benefit the CAC. Students who participate in this event are going around getting pledges to sponsor their number of kicks they can complete in 5 minutes. Volunteer "counters" record how many kicks they an complete. Pledgers will be sponsoring kids by pledging 5 or 10 cents per kick. The more kicks, the more money raised. Average students should be able to complete 100 kicks in 5 minutes and the max will be 300.

The Kick-a-thon coordinator (Dave Buck) needs at least 20 volunteers who will help count kicks during the event. Volunteers must be able to come to the event at 350 Lookout High Street, Lookout Valley, TN 37415, BEFORE than 10:00am and help count and tally kicks (starting around 10:10am. Kick-a-thon should be finished by 10:25am, Saturday October 15th.

If you can volunteer to be a kick counter, please reply to this email (provide your name too) and I'll add you to our list. If you know of an organization or have family or friends or neighbors who could volunteer that morning for 30 minutes, please send me their contact info or have them contact me at [e-mail] or 865-414-6669.
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Note: our goal is to have 50 kick-a-thon participants and we hope each one averages $25 in donations. We could raise around $1,250 for the CAC! This will help pay for childcare at our workshops or training for our parent mentors among other things.

If you know of any kids who would like to participate in the kick-a-thon, please send them the attached pledge sheet and have them contact Corey Green at [e-mail] or [phone] and he will register them. Participants must get pledgers to sponsor them to participate. Some great prizes are available for participants!

Chattanooga Autism Center
Where the Pieces Come Together
ChattanoogaAutismCenter.org

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STEP MidTN Parent Multicultural Leadership Conference

The FOCUS Conference is designed to empower and inform families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The purpose of the conference is to provide information, strategies and tools for parents and caregivers regarding becoming leaders and improving educational results for their children with disabilities.

Para la información en español, llama por favor Patricia: 1-800-975-2919
Space is limited, so register today vial the link at www.tnstep.org or call 1-800-280-7837!

Date: September 24th, 2011
Place: Faith Outreach Church, Clarksville, TN
Time: Conference: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Cost: Parents, Caregivers, and Family Members: FREE
Professionals: $20 (conference, materials, and lunch)

The Conference will Feature: Commissioner Tommy J Vallejos, Sr.
Along with:

Ways You Can Be a Leader for Your Child and in Your Community
Addressing Your Child's Behavior and Communication Needs
Strengthening Your Child's Educational Plan
Accessing Educational Supports and Services
Information from State and Local Agencies

If you require childcare for your child or children, please indicate this information when you register and make sure you give us a phone number where you can be reached. A staff member will call you to request additional information prior to the event. You will be asked to sign a release when you arrive at the conference. Please note that childcare will only be available to families who have pre-registered their children by September 19, 2011.


FOCUS is a STEP, Inc project. We are grateful to our funding partners:

The TN Department of Education, The TN Council on Developmental Disabilities, The Arc of Tennessee, the State Personnel Development Grant, and Faith Outreach Church, and Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education.

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Disability and Cultural Diversity Conference - Tuesday, November 15, 2011 @ 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Lipscomb University

Featuring keynote speaker: Tawara Goode, Director at the National Center for Cultural Competence in Washington D.C.

There is limited seating available, so please click here to register early for this event: kc.vanderbilt.edu/site/newsandevents/calendar/page.aspx?id=3015

Please note: We will not have onsite registration for this conference, so all attendees must register in advance online.

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SAVE THE DATE: The Brain Injury Association of Tennessee, the TN TBI Program and the Disability, Law & Advocacy Center’s 2012 Annual Conference. “Beyond Surviving: Thriving After Brain Injury”

Date: March 7, 2012

Location: Montgomery Bell State Park Inn and Conference Center, 1000 Hotel Avenue, Burns, TN 37029

Keynote Speaker: Saul Raisin – Survivor, Author, Triathlete

In 2006, Saul Raisin was building an impressive bicycle racing resume. He’d won the Best Young Rider jersey at the Tour de Georgia, captured ninth place overall at the Tour of Germany, turned in the strongest American performance at the 2005 World Championships, and won a mountainous stage in the first race of 2006. At the age of 23 his future in cycling could not have been brighter.

In the blink of an eye, his world changed. Saul Raisin crashed in a professional bicycle race in France, hitting his head and sustaining massive brain injuries. Saul attributes his bike helmet with saving his life. He slipped into a coma following brain surgery. His parents were told he could be brain dead. When Saul emerged from the coma, he told his friends and family that if he ever lived a normal life again, that he wanted to give back and help people like him. He started the Raisin Hope Foundation to help others with brain injury, raising over $200,000 in three years. He is now a noted motivational speaker, author and triathlete.

Saul’s unbelievable story has the power to motivate traumatic brain injury survivors to never give up hope and keep fighting every day. For those without a brain injury, he has a gift for inspiring them to do what they can to bring hope into the lives of people facing the daily challenges of recovery.

Please contact Pam Bryan for more information: 615-248-2541 or Email: [e-mail]

Please share with anyone you think would be interested!

Pam Bryan, CBIS
Executive Director
Brain Injury Association of TN
955 Woodland Street
Nashville, TN 37206
Office: 615-248-2541
Family Helpline: 1-877-757-2428
Fax: [phone]
Website: www.BrainInjuryTN.org

BIAT’s mission is to ensure hope and support by providing brain injury prevention, awareness, education and advocacy to survivors and their families. Our vision is that our community unites to maximize the quality of life of those who are affected by brain injury.

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."---Ralph Waldo Emerson-

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Adapted tricycle for sale! TMX Tricycle- very good condition- gently used.

Manufacturer description: A robust tricycle designed to accommodate the larger and heavier child. The TMX has 20" wheels, alloy caliper brake with a parking brake mechanism and has a frame folding mechanism option which allows the frame to be folded for transportation and storage. Adapted accessories include: push/pull bar (can be moved to front or back of trike), foot sandals with pulley system, Cumfigrip handle bars, 4' cranks, rear carrier basket, extra wide saddle with back support.

We paid over $1000 for this bike and our son has outgrown it. He enjoys riding, so we hope to put this sale toward a new bike. For sale for $500

See the manufacturers website for more information: www.triaid.com/tricycles2.html

If you are interested, please call or email Jen at 615-771-2464 or [e-mail].

The TMX is a pediatric adaptive tricycle designed for children with special needs. The TMX is a dual-axle foot propelled tricycle typically recommended for children ages 5 years and older. This special needs tricycle will easily accommodate a larger and heavier child. To determine if the TMX pediatric adaptive tricycle will appropriately fit your child, simply compare the inseam measurement to the TMX's target range. The inseam range for a child using the TMX is 20-25 inches (51-64 cm).

The dual axle drive system helps to reduce resistance when pedaling, making it easy for a child with low muscle tone and decreased strength to ride the tricycle. This dual-axle special needs tricycle is outfitted with a low ratio 1:1 fixed gear, which means that for one revolution of the pedals there is one revolution of the wheels. The fixed gear design enables the child with special needs to start moving the tricycle easily, put the tricycle in reverse, and slow down if going too fast!

The TMX special needs tricycle combines a modern style design with comfort and safety features that are sure to enhance a child's strength, self-esteem and FUN!!! The TMX's stability is built into the frame with a low center of gravity and a broad wheelbase, helping to prevent tipping. An adjustable steering stop is another stability feature the TMX offers to help control the turning circle of the special needs tricycle.

The TMX special needs tricycle comes complete with:
Durable, rugged frame. Three 20 inch wheels Caliper brake with a parking brake mechanism Fixed drive gear, dual-axle system for smooth riding and reduce pedal resistance Traditional handle bars Adjustable back/trunk support Foot sandals with pulley system Frame folding mechanism

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On August 25th, I had the opportunity to represent the state at an event hosted by Comcast to launch their "Internet Essentials" program. A majority of job seekers that visit our TN Career Centers utilize our Resource Rooms to conduct a job search, a process that now requires internet and electronic mail in order to be successful. The Internet Essentials program is one of the ways that Comcast is working through a public/private partnership to reduce the recently widening "Digital Divide."

At the meeting, I was asked to share information about this new service with other state government representatives who might assist in providing outreach and information to our mutual customers. I have attached an electronic copy of the brochure and wanted to provide each of you with the basic information so that you can share with staff throughout our agency. In general, any household in Tennessee who has a student who is on the free lunch program should qualify for a very low cost solution to in-home internet service as follows:

Basic Cost for Internet

· Internet access and service
· $9.95 + tax per month, no price increase, no activation fee, no equipment rental fee for as long as a household is eligible.
· cannot have had Comcast Internet for the last 90 days.
· cannot have a back balance with Comcast.
· must be in a Comcast serviceable area.
· they may purchase a computer, if they so choose, for $149.99, plus tax
· Online, print and on site.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like additional information.

Susan K. Cowden, Administrator
TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development
220 French Landing Drive
Nashville, TN 37243
615-741-3874
615-741-3003 Fax
[e-mail]

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Reminder: The next PACT meeting is Monday 9/26/11 at 5:45pm -6:45 pm at the TEAM Centers waiting room. We will be getting updates from the different committee chairpersons and we'll talk about the latest developments in the CAC.


For example, the CAC is now incorporated and we are filing for non-profit status! We look forward to seeing you there and getting your input on a fund-raiser that's in the works and to plan the CAC/ASA-ETC Christmas Party (12/3/11).

--Chattanooga Autism Center
Where the Pieces Come Together
ChattanoogaAutismCenter.org

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A Miracle Night in Dalton, Georgia - September 25, 2011:

The Dalton Freight Depot was alive with excitement and music as a record audience spilled outside the historic venue to hear performances by The Dixie Bee-Liners, Jubal's Kin, Lone Mountain Band and Earl Brackin. Emcee, Geoff Morris, visiting Dalton from Bendigo, Australia opened the show by saying "Tonight is a Miracle Night". The event was a CD release party for Bluegrass Bands Helping Hands Volume Three - Big Leagues. The CD is a compilation bluegrass music project to benefit The Miracle League of Whitfield County. Millie Hicks, Miracle League member stated, "It was an amazing night with fantastic music. The level of talent of these bands is incredible and we are so thankful for their support of the Miracle League. With their help and the great community turnout, we were able to raise over $4,400 for the Miracle League bringing us ever closer to that first pitch."

Morris speaking to the audience said that Miracles can happen in two ways. "Miracles can happen by faith and paraphrasing someone else saying you can also create miracles one dollar at a time".

The show was recorded and will be broadcast Monday September 26th at 8pm eastern on Wall-to-Wall Bluegrass at www.worldwidebluegrass.com . The CD is available at 25 locations in North Georgia and can be purchased on-line. For more information visit www.bluegrassbandshelpinghands.com .

Millie Hicks announced "if anyone is interested in volunteering or learning more about the Miracle League they can visit our website, www.whitfieldcountyga.com/miracleleague, or call [phone]. If they so wish, they can now donate directly online at www.communityfoundationnwga.org/MiracleLeague."

All proceeds from the CD benefit the completion of The Miracle Field in Dalton, Georgia. The field when completed will feature a specialized playing surface for use by children and adults with special needs.

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"Bullying in Connecticut schools: Students with Asperger’s can find themselves targets" by Vinti Singh, Staff Writer (Updated 07:21 p.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2011)

We are looking for students, parents, and teachers throughout the state who are ready to step up, speak out and make a change to stop bullying one word at a time. Visit our Facebook page to view more student perspectives on bullying. Participate by emailing us at [e-mail]

"What year did `Taxi Driver' come out?" Dan Comeau asks his son, Teagen. Teagen, 13, has never seen it. He pauses for a minute, but then says, "1979." Teagen has memorized an encyclopedia's worth of trivia about films. It's one of the classic characteristics of Asperger's syndrome, a developmental disorder on the autism spectrum. He and his twin brother, Tyler, of Bridgeport who entered Bassick High School this August, develop almost obsessive interests in different subjects. But along with their proclivity for learning comes difficulties with social relationships and handling anxiety. This has made them targets for bullies.

The twins have been harassed on the school bus and picked on and teased for their anxious behaviors throughout their lives. But unlike other students who can more easily verbalize their experience and seek help, the twins -- and others with Asperger's syndrome -- have difficulty communicating the scope of their troubles to adults and family members, making it even more difficult for them to resolve problems with bullies. Children with Asperger's tend to be bullied once or twice a week, according to a fact sheet by Nelle Frances, an author who writes children's books about the syndrome. "Very often (students with Asperger's) find they're a little bit isolated from other students," said Dania Jekel, executive director of the Asperger's Association of New England. "They have trouble reading people's facial expressions. They're a little more vulnerable because developmentally, they're a little younger and more naïve."

It's taken years for the twins to discuss the details of being bullied, but one recent day they opened up. Tyler does most of the talking for the twins, and Teagen interjects every now and then with his own aside. While Tyler sits on a love seat rattling off facts about the spectrum of autism disorders, Teagen fidgets in his seat and frequently gets up and paces up and down the hallway and back, which could mean he's "stimming," which is a repetitive motion people with Asperger's sometimes reflexively do when they are anxious or deep in thought.

Tyler says he gets anxious when people are yelling at him -- his definition of yelling being different than others his age. Teagen, meanwhile, gets anxious when he hears swearing or hears someone describing something disturbing, and he'll respond with a sound like a low squeak. These are the kinds of behaviors other kids find amusing or odd, and they purposefully try to trigger him, said his dad. The twins have had multiple bullies over the years, Tyler said. The boys, who grew up in Mansfield, said their first bully was another boy who rode their bus when they were in the fourth grade. "He used to pick on a lot of kids, but he really liked to pick on us because we didn't react," Tyler said.

Tyler and Teagen are slow to make decisions, so they would sometimes linger in the aisle, deciding where to sit. The bully would come down the aisle and slam the twins into the side of the bus. "He made Teagen anxious," Tyler said. "Teagen would start making noises and he would pick on him." Once Tyler tried to make the bully stop teasing his brother, and the bully took Tyler's fingers and bent them backwards. Another time, Tyler leaned down to get his backpack and the bully kicked him in the face. Their parents have always told them to tell an adult if someone was being mean to them, but this is difficult for them because of their Asperger's. The day the bully kicked Tyler in the face, he went to the only adult on the bus, the bus driver, but was unable to form words. The bus driver told him she was going to write him up for crying.

Conveying the seriousness of the bullying incidents to their parents was also difficult. Tyler and Teagen don't always pick up on inflections and answer questions literally. At home, their father would ask the twins how their day was. They would answer that someone was being mean to them. "To us, someone being mean was just a minor infraction," Dan said. "...It took us a while to figure out what was going on. We learned we had to be specific with our questions. We had to specifically ask, `Did anyone hurt you today?' "

GROWING UP DIFFERENT

The twins have known almost their entire lives that they are different. At 2-years-old, they completely stopped talking, and six months later they were diagnosed with classic autism. Teaching children early about their autism can help them fight back against bullies, experts say. "It's extremely important when people are struggling with things like social communication, anxiety, depression, misunderstanding peoples intentions, that they are understanding what's really going on," Jekel said. "Then they stop blaming themselves and others. They see their life through slightly different lens, and they can really be proud." Jekel said administrators have found when students tell their peers as early as kindergarten about their condition, they are more likely to be accepted and less likely to be bullied.

Tyler says he'll probably tell his close friends about his Asperger's, but he generally does not like to let everyone know, since they start asking him all sorts of questions. But not all children are diagnosed early on and that can make things even harder for them when they are targeted by bullies.

Ellsworth Evarts IV, of North Branford, wasn't diagnosed with Asperger's until May, when he was 15. Before his diagnosis, his parents were flummoxed when in December 2010, his grades suddenly dropped and one teacher described him as a shell of his former self. Like the Comeau twins, he was being bullied at school. Ellsworth, nicknamed Ells, is a tall, husky teen who looks like he should be on the high school football team. Also like the twins, he didn't tell his father the full details. Ellsworth III -- who didn't yet know his son had a disorder -- demanded he defend himself. Ellsworth III, nicknamed E.T., said he was confused as to why Ells couldn't just throw a punch back.

Ells, as a result, became even more withdrawn. Ells said the bully had threatened to stab and shoot Ells' father if he tried to get help. Because students with Asperger's tend to take information literally, Ells stayed silent, convinced the bully would harm his dad.

YEARS OF HURT

Ells was first bullied in a youth group by several boys when he was 11 years old. One boy, the ringleader, would get all of the others to make fun of Ells for the way he walked and talked. "They knew there was something different about me," Ells said. "I didn't have a quick mouth. They knew they could put me down and I couldn't react." "They would call him a retard," Ells' mother, Lisa, said. "Actually, he is highly intelligent." Ells didn't have to confront the bully again until his freshman year in 2010 at a New Haven high school, when he was on the same bus. Ells assumed the bully had matured since they were kids. But six weeks into the school year, Ells said the bully started demanding Ells not talk to anyone else on the bus and harassed him every time he tried. When Ells would take out his phone to listen to music, the bully would knock it out of his hands. The bully demanded Ells sit perfectly still. He barely allowed Ells to breathe. He threatened to hit Ells with electrical cables. He told Ells he carried a knife. In a vocational class, the bully once took a power tool and drilled it close to his head.

In December, Ells said the bully came and sat in the seat next to Ells on the bus and smashed him on his leg. "It stung like hell," Ells said. "I said, `Stop. Stop hitting me.' I kicked him, but it was reflexive." The bully kept slapping him and Ells kept kicking back, Ells said in a statement filed later with the New Haven police department. Ells said he was left with red welts on his legs. He called his father and explained to him what was happening. Ells came home red and flustered and he soiled himself, Lisa said. "He looked shell shocked, like he had been on the front lines with bombs," Lisa said.

The following day, the principal called both boys into the office together, and Ells found he couldn't fully explain what had happened. "We hear this every day," said Barbara Cooper, a co-director of Super Kids, a Ridgefield based after-school program for children on the Autism spectrum. "It's awful. It's a language disability. It's better if they're asked to draw something describing what happened." E.T. said because Ells admitted that at one point he had wrapped a cord around his own neck to show his distress, the school informed his parents they would impose penalties of equal proportions for both boys. E.T. said school officials said Ells wrapping a cord around his own neck constituted an implied threat to the other boy.

New Haven police department youth officer Ricardo Rodriguez said the department had no comment on the incident, which Ells and his father later reported to the police. Both boys were given a three-day in-school suspension in the same room. The room was supervised by a monitor who sometimes had to exit the room to also supervise the hallways. Ells said the boy continued to bully him, muttering under his breath that he would retaliate.

Christopher Hoffman, spokesman for New Haven Public Schools, said while the district couldn't comment more specifically about this case because of federal student confidentiality laws, the district followed the extensive protocols it has in place for handling bullying charges and aggressively investigated and addressed the bullying allegations as soon as they arose. "The school and the district have devoted significant time, effort and resources to this case, working with the families and seeking to assure that the student is safe and protected," Hoffman said. "We have been responsive and flexible throughout."

Months later, Ells was charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the bus incident. He is scheduled to appear in New Haven juvenile court on Sept. 22. After that 2010 bus incident, Ells shut down. He was afraid to walk the hallways between class. He was afraid to eat lunch in the cafeteria. He was afraid to go to the bathroom. He was unable to do his schoolwork. His mother stayed up till 3 a.m. trying to help him with algebra. His father would scream at him to get his schoolwork done. E.T. took away his phone, thinking it was a distraction, though Ells said it comforted him. "I felt like a frozen computer," Ells said. "I was running and running, but after a computer is eaten, it can't do anything. Some connection got burnt."

In May, Ells went to the Yale Child Study Center, where he was diagnosed with Asperger's. "It explained everything," E.T. said. "We ended up salvaging the school year." Ells' teachers allowed special provisions for his learning, but Ells is still afraid and traumatized.
"We lost our kid," Lisa said. "He's recessed into a virtual world. He prefers his gaming community to real life." He's been very anxious about the start of this new school year. While Ells' cousins were buying new shoes and comparing teachers before school started, Ells obsessed about how he could protect himself and what he would do when he saw his bully again. Lisa said he often has revenge fantasies.

The first day of school went by smoothly. But at the end of the second day, as Ells boarded the bus, his bully ran to the back and glared at him, Ells said. Last school year, the Board of Education drew up a plan to separate the students on the bus. People with Asperger's like to adhere to rules. If one is changed for no apparent reason, it can be a cause for stress. Ells had a meltdown. He refused to get on the bus. Ells said he was not getting on until the bully moved to the front. The principal told the bus driver to leave. Ells was left in the parking lot and the school doors were locked. Suddenly it was hard for him to breathe and he was sweating profusely. Neither of his parents could get to him right away, so his father called the police. E.T. told Ells to file a report with the police, and contacted the state Department of Children and Families. He tried to get Ells a lawyer, but because the fees would be too expensive, is using a victim's advocate from the juvenile court instead.

"At any one time, we have a couple of families going through this with a lawyer," said Cooper, the director of the Ridgefield after-school program for students with autism. "The parents want to work with the school and they want it to be pleasant, but sometimes they are left with no other choice."

EMPOWERING VICTIMS

Both Ells and the twins are searching for ways to stop bullying. The twins have become advocates for other students on the autism spectrum. They give lectures to educators and paraprofessionals at professional development sessions and to college students going into special education. They even sat down and talked to their former bus driver. They chose to go to high school after moving from Mansfield and being home-schooled for a few months. Ells designed a T-shirt that says: "Stop bullying now. Stand up, Speak out!" on the front, and "Real zero tolerance is no concealment or silence" on the back. The period on the red exclamation point drips red dots down the shirt.

"The bleeding doesn't stop," Ells said, "even after the bullying."

Read more: www.ctpost.com/local/article/Bullying-in-Connecticut-schools-Students-with-2180307.php#ixzz1Z093tD4X

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Re: ETTAC Second Make and Take Workshop

The East Tennessee Technology Access Center will present its second make and take workshop to aid parents of children with disabilities, their therapists and teachers with assistive technology tools for access to reading books. The Making Books Accessible on the Computer workshop will be held Saturday, October 22nd from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and on Thursday, October 27th from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. During this workshop participants will explore My Own Bookshelf software PowerPoint templates; and Intellitools Classroom Suite to increase literacy and math skills. Materials to make books will also be available.

The workshop costs $10 to cover supplies, and participants are asked to bring a flash drive to save their work. Registration is required by October 17th by calling [phone]. ETTAC is located at 116 Childress Street, in Knoxville, just off Chapman Highway. For a map and directions go to the Contact link on this website: www.discoveret.org/ettac

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US Labor Department awards more than $21 million in Disability Employment Initiative funding to 7 states

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $21,166,560 for seven states under the Disability Employment Initiative to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The initiative is jointly funded and administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration and its Office of Disability Employment Policy.

“During these difficult economic times, it is important to ensure that all workers, including those with disabilities – who as a group face employment barriers even during times of prosperity – are able to benefit from the Labor Department’s employment and retraining services,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “These federal grants will help to provide services and support to individuals with disabilities in seven additional states, and put them on the path to permanent and secure jobs.”

This round of funding is the second under the Disability Employment Initiative, which now supports 16 state projects. The new grants are part of cooperative agreements with California, Hawaii, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin to implement exemplary employment services for individuals with disabilities in the public workforce system. The states with continuing grants under the initiative are Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.

All projects under this initiative build upon the department’s Disability Program Navigator Initiative by hiring staff with expertise in disability and workforce issues. The grants also support extensive collaboration across multiple workforce and disability service systems in each state, including vocational rehabilitation services, mental health and developmental disability agencies, Medicaid Infrastructure Grant-supported activities, independent living centers, business leadership networks, and other community and nonprofit organizations.

“Our priority is to provide individuals with disabilities the foundation of education, job training, and employment and support services to achieve economic stability,” said ETA Assistant Secretary Jane Oates.

The Disability Employment Initiative also expands the workforce development system’s participation in the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program by requiring participating state workforce agencies or local workforce investment boards to become employment networks. Many Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries use the mainstream workforce system to seek employment opportunities. By serving as employment networks, grantees will expand the capacity of the department’s One-Stop Career Centers to serve Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities.

“Access to high-quality employment and training services is vital to moving youth and adults with disabilities into the workforce and preparing them for good jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries,” said ODEP Assistant Secretary Kathy Martinez.

The department’s priority is to serve individuals with disabilities and those who are receiving Social Security disability benefits, and it is working on early intervention strategies to assist people with disabilities before they become Social Security disability beneficiaries. States will work closely with the Social Security Administration’s Work Incentive Planning and Assistance Program and its Community Work Incentive Coordinators to expand services to beneficiaries.

Editor’s note: A chart listing the grant recipients follows this release.

Disability Employment Initiative Grants Recipients - Amount

California Employment Development Department - $6,000,000
Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations - $2,923,674
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services - $2,944,036
South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation - $1,997,747
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development - $2,916,400
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development - $2,550,695
Washington State Employment Security Department - $1,834,008

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Center for Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics helps even more children in year two:

“I knew something was wrong. I just didn’t know what. I needed answers,” says Heather Honeyman, mom to Rilee, age 3. Rilee had his first appointment with Dr. Regina Gargus at the Center for Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics in August 2009. Dr. Gargus, a triple board certified developmental behavioral pediatrician, spends more than three hours with a child during the first round of assessment. Several follow-up visits later, Heather got her answers—Rilee has autism.

“It was tough,” she says, “but mostly, we were relieved to get a diagnosis. Now we could move forward.” These days, Rilee is thriving. He meets with an occupational therapist and a speech language pathologist at the pediatric center weekly. He’s more social, and his communication skills are improving.

Rilee is one of 922 children—a 50 percent increase from last year's numbers—who received services at the pediatric center during the 2010-11 fiscal year. Families traveled from 11 states in 149 communities ( see map), 18 percent more than the previous year. "We are so grateful to have these services close to home," says Heather. "It's made all the difference for Rilee and our family."

Siskin Children's Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
1101 Carter Street | Chattanooga, TN 37402 | 423.648.1700
www.siskin.org

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Dear parents and advocates:

We're gearing up for 3rd annual Community Conference on Autism and are accepting proposals for presentation. "Fill your Toolbox" is the theme of next year's conference (April 13th, 2012). Our goal is for all participants to leave every workshop with a new skill or idea that they can put to use and make an immediate impact. And, we're adding a whole series just for teachers so they can gain tools for their classroom. We'll have three tracts:

+Tools/Interventions (for experienced advocates and parents or professionals seeking CEUs)
+Parent’s Corner (for new parents or parents who are new to a particular topic within the field of Autism)
+In the Classroom (presentations for educators)

The proposal instuctions have more details, including our suggested or desirable topics. If you're a professional in an area of Autism or have a presentation you think will fit, please submit your proposal before the end of November.

Also, please pass this invitation along to speakers you'd like to appear at the conference and encourage them to submit their talks. We encourage online submissions. Simply go to our home page at www.chattanoogaautismcenter.org and click the "SUBMIT PROPOSAL ONLINE" link, after reading the submission guidelines and instructions.

Chattanooga Autism Center
Where the Pieces Come Together
ChattanoogaAutismCenter.org

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Dear CAC parents and advocates:

We had a productive meeting of the Parents/Advocates Collaboration Team (PACT) yesterday. Below are the minutes and you can see what has been discussed and accomplished. Please consider being a part of PACT by attending our next meeting October 26 at 5:45 pm OR by emailing us your proposed ideas or how you can collaborate with others to create new supports for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders in our region.

9/26/2011 - Chattanooga Autism Center PACT meeting minutes

Attendees – Scott Kramer, Susan Jones-Hayes, Trish Cox, Dave Buck, Karen Weigle, Alyce Benson, Joe Newton, Tim Benson - Meeting started at 5:55 at TEAM’s lobby.

TREASURER UPDATE: Scott Kramer reported that the CAC has established a checking account at First Tennessee Bank and has $17,041.81. Money is from previous donations, merchandise sales, and conference revenue. Scott will be working with the CAC finance committee to create an annual budget, which will be approved by the interim board of the CAC. Budget will have to reflect upcoming expenses such as 2012 conference costs, child care for workshops, operating expenses, and new costs such as filing fees for nonprofit paperwork.

CAC BOARD UPDATE: The CAC is now incorporated. It has an interim board with the following members: Karen Weigle (president) Alyce Benson (secretary), Scott Kramer (treasurer) Tim Benson (director), and Dave Buck (director). 501c3 paperwork is being submitted and we expect to receive nonprofit status in the next few months. After 501c3 status is complete, goal is to increase board size by adding parents and advocates and people in the business community who are willing to work hard to support the mission of the CAC.

WORKSHOPS: Susan Jones Hayes reported on upcoming workshops:

October 3rd, “Question and Answers about Autism”. Speaker: Karen Weigle
November 7th,. “Troublesome Behaviors”. Speaker: Christina Moore
December 5th, “Organizational skills and autism” Speaker: Susan Jones-Hayes

COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR: Melissa Hill is monitoring emails sent to the CAC account and also sends communications to those signed up. We will be asking Melissa to craft a communication policy to help make it easier to get important information to all on the CAC mailing list.

CONFERENCE: Conference planning is progressing well. A “Call for Papers” is available on the CAC website. Anyone who is interested in submitting their presentation should go to our homepage ASAP. ChattanoogaAutismCenter.org. 2012 conference theme is “Adding Tools to your Toolbox” and all workshops will focus on creating new skills that participants can use after the conference.

Conference will have three tracks. (1) Parents Corner (2) Tools/Interventions, (3) In the classroom. Parents corner will have topics for parents and others who are new to autism and will be taught at a basic level. Tools/Interventions will be topics taught at a more advanced level and geared towards service providers acquiring their CEUs or for parents/advocates with a more advanced understanding of Autism topics. “In the Classroom” is geared towards educators. Last year almost a third of attendees were teachers and we will use this opportunity to present training that gives them skills that they can immediately use in their classrooms. Next conference planning meeting is Friday, Sept 30th at noon at the CAC.

PARENT MENTOR PROGRAM at CAC: LINK: chattanoogaautismcenter.giving.officelive.com/ParentMentoring.aspx

Joe Newton will be emailing people on the CAC list asking for volunteers to participate in the Parent Mentor program. Volunteers must complete certain training (e.g., STEP, Lifeline’s advocacy training) to participate as mentors.

KICK-A-THON: Volunteers needed. Those who are available to volunteer in from 10am to 10:30am on Oct 15th should email [e-mail]. Responsibility includes counting number of kicks for an individual participant during a 5 minute time span.

NEXT PACT MEETING will be Monday Oct 26th from 5:45 to 6:45pm at TEAM. (bring food if you wish). Meeting adjourned at 7:05pm

Chattanooga Autism Center
Where the Pieces Come Together
ChattanoogaAutismCenter.org

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Washington State University is conducting research to discover what parents of children with autism think about a type of autism intervention. This is being conducted through an online survey. We are respectfully requesting your assistance in distributing our survey to parents and families of children with autism. Attached is an email which can be forwarded to families as is a flier that can be posted at your facility.

Our survey specifically examines video modeling. Video modeling is an autism intervention that uses video recordings and display equipment (e.g., television, computer monitors, iPads, smart phones, portable DVD players, etc.) to provide a visual model of a targeted behavior or skill.

Families are invited to fill out the Survey of Parent and Caregiver Knowledge and Attitudes about Video Modeling Intervention. To fill it out, visit:

spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDZPMmRBUDZKa21tYzBCLXVveUdicHc6MA

The survey consists of 31 questions and should take 10-20 minutes to complete. Your responses will be kept confidential and only be used for academic research. Please feel free to forward this email to other parents of children with autism.

If you have any questions, please send them to [e-mail], you will receive a response within 48 hours.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Teresa Cardon, Ph.D, CCC-SLP
Amanda Smith-Treadwell
Washington State University

*This survey has been reviewed by Washington State University's Institutional Review Board, as study #11920.

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Laughter really is the best medicine. Laughter releases tension, eases pain, improves your breathing, elevates your mood, and in general, improves your outlook on life.

Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville Is Having a Fund Raising Event For The Brain Injury Association of Tennessee!!! The Brain Injury Association of Tennessee will Receive 100% Of The Ticket Sales For This Event!!!

RICH GUZZI - COMEDIAN, HYPNOTIST (see information about Rich Guzzi below)

Tickets - $15 (there will be a processing fee of about $3 - BIAT receives the $15 price of the ticket)

Wednesday Night - October 26 Show Begins at 7:30 (Doors Open at 6:30)

Zanies
2025 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37204

IMPORTANT FOR PURCHASING TICKETS FOR THE EVENT!!! PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE AT nashville.zanies.com/ . Click on Rich Guzzi poster, click purchase tickets for Wed., Oct 26 and Enter Promo Code: Brain

OR BY CALLING ZANIES BOX OFFICE: 615.269.0221 and Reference the Brain Injury Association of Tennessee Fundraising Event for Oct. 26

Please pass this on to your Family, Friends and Co-Workers! This show is family friendly.
Please join us for a night of fun and help the Brain Injury Association of TN!

Questions? Please contact:

Pam Bryan
Executive Director
615-248-2541
=======================================================================
All About Me - RICH GUZZI:
I am a comedian, master hypnotist, motivational speaker and corporate trainer. I am also an activist against all that is wrong with the system that stops people from getting their goals accomplished because of endless red tape and bureaucracy. Fighting for the underdog is one of my main goals in life. There are many talented people in the world who never get a chance to showcase their skills for various reasons and I will do my part to expose those injustices; and if I can make you laugh along the way, so much the better. I live outside of Nashville, Tennessee in a log cabin with my girlfriend Jolana, our dog, Jasper & the Baby Kitty. I am an animal lover as well as an ANIMAL LOVER!

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SPORTS AFTER BLINDNESS - Paralympic Experience - Adaptive Sports Conference

The Tennessee Association of Blind Athletes wants to invite you to a day filled with fun and excitement. On Saturday October 22, 2011 TNABA will host our “Sports After Blindness” Paralympic Experience and Adaptive Sports Conference. This is your opportunity to come and get hands on experience of adaptive sports and recreation for the blind and visually impaired. Experience Goalball, Tandem Cycling, Soccer, Track& Field, Judo, and much more. Best of all you will get to meet and hear from Paralympic athletes that have or will represent our country in the Paralympics. This event is proudly hosted by the TNABA, The United States Association of Blind Athletes, and the U.S. Paralympics.

Whether you are a blind adult or child, a parent, physical education teacher, vision or special education teacher, coaches, community program coordinator, or a student getting ready to enter into a career, you can be sure there is something for everyone. Enjoy all the exciting hands on sessions, speakers, lunch, door prizes, and much more for just $15.00. Attached is a flyer and there is lots more information being put up daily on our website at www.tnaba.org . There you can register to join us as we celebrate the incredible talents of blind athletes. SIGN UP TODAY!

And please pass this information on to everyone you know. Remember no one is promised another day with sight, however life is less than over. You just have to look at it from a different prospective. I look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Warmest Regards,
Ricky Jones
TNABA Executive Director
Tennessee Association of Blind Athletes
1081 Zophi Street, Nashville TN 37216
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Web: www.tnaba.org

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A Night in Old Havana to benefit the East Tennessee Technology Access Center HeartSong’s Accessible Music and Art Program for Children with Disabilities

Freedom to express themselves through music and art is how children with and without disabilities feel when they are involved with the East Tennessee Technology Access Center’s HeartSong accessible art and music program. Freedom of movement expressed through Tango and Salsa dancing and hearing Calypso and Cuban Jazz music will be the theme playing at ETTAC’s benefit “A Night in Old Havana” to help support the HeartSong program.

A Night in Old Havana will be held at Rothchild Catering and Conference Center, 8807 Kingston Pike in Knoxville on Friday October 21st from 7:00 to 11:30 p.m.

In addition to the music and art exhibits, those who come will be able to play casino games and enjoy Cuban food and drinks. Chips won in the casino games along with cash can be used to participate in the live auction for a variety of items including a Florida condo package, a Beaver Creek Colorado Retreat package, a Hemingway basket and The Everything Rum basket.

Tickets for the event start at $60 for individuals, and reserved tables of 10 can be purchased for $600 or $1,000. Additional perks and casino game chips come with reserved tables.

To purchase tickets, buy an advertisement in the program, or for more information about A Night in Old Havana and the HeartSong program, call Tracey Farr or Lois Symington at [phone], or email them at [e-mail] or [e-mail]. Information is also available at ETTAC’s website: www.discoveret.org/ettac.

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www.wsmv.com/story/15572994/suspended-teacher-moved-to-another-school

Suspended teacher moved to another school - Posted: Sep 28, 2011 5:19 PM CDT Updated: Sep 28, 2011 6:17 PM CDT --- Posted by Carley Gordon - email

COLUMBIA, TN (WSMV) - Parents and grandparents of special needs students have a lot of questions for the Maury County School District and for special education teacher Dana Watson. Getting answers, though, hasn't exactly been easy.

Watson is accused of locking a special ed student in a closet at Whitthorne Middle School.
On Monday school spokesperson Kim Doddridge told us, "The subject teacher was suspended and the matter is still under investigation." Sure enough her employee file says she's been suspended since Sept. 2 and the investigation isn't yet complete.

So why would she be teaching at Mount Pleasant Middle School? It's in the same district just a different school. "A person that's supposed to be suspended without pay but they're working over at another school, I don't know, something sounds fishy," said concerned grandparent Janet Lang. According to Watson's file, on Sept. 13 the district dissolved the special ed program at Whitthorne Middle and moved it and Watson to Mount Pleasant.

We called the school today and a secretary there confirmed Watson is there and working. Watson even had her own personalized voice mail set up. "You just don't put a teacher from one spot to the next and expect the parents not to get upset about it," said Lang. Channel 4 called Watson and the district with some very serious questions in mind. Lang did too, but received the same response. "They were conveniently all in a meeting. I said, 'Ok I want him to call me back.' He never called me back," said Lang. Channel 4 made multiple attempts to reach Watson and the Director of Schools. Our calls weren't returned.
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www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2011/09/25/top_stories/02teacher.txt

Mother: Teacher locked son in closet By CHRISTINE SEIBER/ [e-mail]

An 11-year-old special education student was allegedly locked in a closet by his teacher because he misbehaved, the child’s mother said. The mother, who spoke anonymously to protect her child’s identity, said her son, a fifth grader at Whitthorne Middle School, came home one day in late August and told her what had happened. She said his teacher, Dana Watson, put her son and another female student in the closet together for misbehaving and the door was then locked.

Watson, a special education teacher, was suspended without pay pending an ongoing investigation effective Sept. 2, a school document indicates. She has worked at Whitthorne since 2009. She also taught special education classes at Spring Hill High School and Randolph Howell Elementary School. The boy told his mother this was not the first time he had been put in the closet. She said she did not know how long he was kept there. “He won’t talk about it now,” the mother said. She said her son has ADHD, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, seizures and is borderline bipolar.

Shortly after she learned of the incident, she voiced her concerns to Whitthorne Principal Linda Lester and school official Julia Priest, who told her the allegation would be investigated.
“No one got back to me,” she said. “The only reason I knew she was suspended was because of the newspaper.” She added that after she spoke to school officials, her son said he was told to stop telling her what was going on at school.

Kim Doddridge, Maury County Schools spokesperson, said school system officials will not comment on the matter. The mother indicated she has had negative experiences with the school system in the past regarding her daughter, who is also handicapped. She also suspects her son was not given his medication at the correct times, which she said Watson denied. She said the Department of Children’s Services is investigating the incident. She added she was denied any information when she contacted school officials on Friday. Watson could not be reached for comment.

In October of 2009 Chancery Court Judge Jim Hamilton found no wrongdoing by the Maury County public school district after a special education teacher at Brown Elementary placed a 9-year-old boy, whom she said was acting aggressively, in a room with a steel door, a small window and no interior door handle. The boy’s mother claimed the school violated state law by placing the boy in the room alone with no way out and by obstructing the view through the window, but Hamilton said the room was used in the best interest and for the protection of the student. School officials said the room had been used 45 times between July 2008 and September of 2009.

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Please pass on the following event info to those in your network who'd like to learn more about autism and get to ask their individual questions to our very own Dr. Weigle. See link to event listing on FB.

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166966700054685

ANNOUNCEMENT! Free Workshop – Autism Q &A

Facilitator: Karen Weigle, PhD
Date/time: Monday, October 3rd, 6:00 to 8:00pm
Location: Chattanooga Autism Center, 1000 East 3rd Street
Who: Parents, advocates, professionals, caregivers, and educators.
--
Chattanooga Autism Center
Where the Pieces Come Together
ChattanoogaAutismCenter.org

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The Dept of Education has issued a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking loosening the requirements for parental consent for use of public insurance (such as Medicaid) by school districts, 34 CFR 300.154(d). The notice has been published in the Federal Register. Comments are due by December 12, 2011, and the comment procedure is laid out in the notice.

www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-28/html/2011-22784.htm
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-28/pdf/2011-22784.pdf


The current regulation is here: www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/34/300/154

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ies.ed.gov/ncser/pubs/20113005/

The Post-High School Outcomes of Young Adults With Disabilities up to 8 Years After High School: Key Findings From the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2)
The Post-High School Outcomes of Young Adults With Disabilities up to 8 Years After High School: Key Findings From the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 is a report that uses data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 dataset to provide a national picture of post-high school outcomes for students with disabilities. The report describes the experiences and outcomes of young adults with disabilities in postsecondary education, employment, independence, and social domains during their first 8 years out of high school.

Selected findings include:

Sixty percent of young adults with disabilities reported having continued on to postsecondary education within 8 years of leaving high school.
Ninety-one percent of young adults with disabilities reported having been employed at some time since leaving high school, holding an average of four jobs.
Ninety-four percent of young adults with disabilities reported having been engaged in employment, postsecondary education, and/or job training during this post-high school period.
Fifty-nine percent of young adults with disabilities had lived independently (on their own or with a spouse, partner, or roommate), and 4 percent had lived semi-independently (primarily in a college dormitory or military housing).
The participation rate of young adults with disabilities in any one of three types of social and community involvement activities—lessons or classes outside of school, volunteer or community service activities, and organized school or community groups—was 52 percent, ranging from 20 percent to 39 percent of young adults across the three types of activities.
View, download, and print the full report as a PDF file (2 MB)

ies.ed.gov/ncser/pubs/20113005/pdf/20113005.pdf