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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 17, 2011 19:55:11 GMT -5
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 18, 2011 14:22:26 GMT -5
I wanted to let you know that we have locations for all 3 TABS Third Thursday events. Please see below for the location and contact info for the coordinator. If you could send a quick email to the coordinator to let them know you plan to make it, that would ensure there is plenty of space at the table at the specific restaurant!
Memphis: 6:00 at Panera Bread in Germantown (7850 Poplar Avenue, Suite 2); Nikki Trim is the coordinator, sshawk_85@yahoo.com
Nashville: 6:00 at Urban Flatts (610 12th Avenue South); Ashley Coulter is the coordinator, ashley.coulter@vanderbilt.edu
Knoxville: 6:00 at Naples Italian Restaurant (5500 Kingston Pike), Carol Robbins is the coordinator, robbinc@tsd.12.tn.us
And of course, feel free to just show up if you haven't had a chance to let the coordinator know you are coming - we would love to have you! And it is perfectly fine if you are running a little late - we all know how after-work traffic goes! And don't forget that you're significant other is welcome - we always talk about the sib-in-law issues, so I think it is important that they have the option to attend as well!
I can't wait to hear how the groups go - and if yall could take a group picture, that would be great!
Ashley F. Coulter
Sibling Project Coordinator
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
230 Appleton Place
PMB 40
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615.343.0545
ashley.coulter@vanderbilt.edu
kc.vanderbilt.edu
Find TABS - Tennessee Adult Brothers and Sisters on Facebook!!
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 19, 2011 14:13:42 GMT -5
Action Alert: Help Fight the Isakson Amendment to ESEA!
It is expected that Senator Isakson (R-GA) will offer an amendment during HELP Committee consideration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act of 2011 that would allow schools to discriminate by significantly lowering the academic expectations for students with disabilities. We urge you to join us in helping to defeat this amendment by contacting members of the HELP Committee.
The Isakson amendment would remove the limits on how many students with disabilities can be counted as making adequate results or sufficient progress using less challenging systems of standards and assessments. This amendment would allow schools to take millions of students with disabilities off track for a regular high school diploma as early as 3rd grade when assessment decisions are made in schools, relegating them to lower career and college expectations—simply because they receive special education services.
· The Isakson amendment incorrectly promotes that most students with disabilities can’t learn or achieve when most students with disabilities are able to learn and achieve, just like all other students, when provided appropriate services and supports.
· The Isakson amendment promotes abuse and overuse of alternate assessments by allowing any student with a disability to be tested through these assessments.
· The Isakson amendment will turn back the clock on the advances made in educating students with disabilities over the past 10 years.
Act Now: Members of Congress pay particular attention to personalized messages from their constituents. Include a personal story about how your child has had academic success and has achieved in the regular classroom with his/her peers due to high expectations and appropriate services and support.
The Isakson amendment would remove the limits on how many students with disabilities can be counted as making sufficient progress using less challenging systems of standards and assessments. This amendment would allow schools to take millions of students with disabilities off track for a regular high school diploma as early as 3rd grade when assessment decisions are made in schools, relegating them to lower career and college expectations—simply because they receive special education services.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 19, 2011 14:16:32 GMT -5
URGENT: FIGHT FOR HIGH ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS - Take Action! Tomorrow the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will be starting a mark-up (revision ) of a comprehensive bill amending the Elementary Secondary and Education Act (ESEA-formerly called NCLB), which will be presented by the Committee Chairman, Senator Harkin. NDSS has grave concerns about Senator Harkin’s bill and we worked last week and through the weekend to advocate for changes to the bill prior to mark-up and to get an amendment offered tomorrow for additional changes. See the background section of this alert to learn about key changes that were made in the bill as a result of this NDSS advocacy. ACTION There will be numerous amendments offered to Senator Harkin’s bill tomorrow. If your Senators are on the Committee, we are urging you to contact them TODAY or as soon as you can during the next couple of days. Committee members are from NM, IA, MD, WA, VT, PA, NC, OR, MN, CO, RI, CT, WY, TN, NC, GA, KY, UT, AZ, KS, AK, IL (see a list of names at the end of the alert). You can reach your Senator’s office by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or email your Senators by clicking on the “take action” button on this alert. A sample email is provided. MESSAGE Vote NO on Senator Isakson’s amendment. This amendment would weaken accountability even further than the provisions in Senator Harkin’s bill. Of particular relevance to students with Down syndrome, it would eliminate the cap on the use of the alternate assessment results, thereby greatly increasing the numbers of students who will be inappropriately placed in these assessments. In addition, this amendment has language that would limit access to the general education curriculum for students who take an alternate assessment and would allow states to preclude these students from the opportunity to earn a regular diploma. Vote NO on Senator Bennett’s amendment. This amendment would water down requirements by creating separate and lower standards for certain teacher preparation programs. We want to ensure that all students, including students with disabilities, students of color, economically disadvantaged students and English language learners are taught by highly qualified teachers. Vote YES on Senator Sander’s amendment. This amendment will require teachers to have completed a minimum level of training before they begin teaching and also require teachers to prove their effectiveness over time. In addition, it will help end the practice of concentrating new, untrained teachers in schools serving high populations of students with disabilities, students of color, economically disadvantaged students and English language learners. BACKGROUND On October 11, 2911, Senator Harkin posted an 860 page draft bill to reauthorize ESEA. NDSS immediately had grave concerns about the bill’s effect on accountability for all students, on teacher qualifications and more specifically on the academic expectations for students who take alternate assessments on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAS). In exchange for receiving ESEA funding under this bill, states would no longer have to follow Federal requirements for ensuring that their students reach proficiency by a target date. In fact there are no Federal requirements as to how they measure achievement and what steps they must take if schools are not meeting the needs of all their students, including subgroups like students with disabilities---except for 5% of the “persistent lowest performing” schools and another 5% of schools that have the greatest achievement gaps. The goal for the other 80% of schools is that students should be college and career ready by graduation, but there are no Federal rules about measuring this progress annually and no consequences if this goal is never reached. There also would be weaker requirements regarding highly qualified teachers. Through the various coalitions to which we belong, we voiced our concerns about both these extremely important issues. NDSS decided to focus most of its energy on improving the provisions for the AA-AAS because most students with Down syndrome will be placed in this assessment at some point in their elementary or secondary education, for some students as early as third grade. We are committed to changing the language related to the AA-AAS so that the right to access the general education curriculum is ensured, so that these students will not be precluded from the opportunity to earn a diploma, so that the AA-AAS is based on the State content standards (academic expectations for each subject) for the child’s grade, so that they get standards-based IEPs, so that there is a tighter limit on the number of students who can be put in the AA-AAS and so that these students cannot be counted, for graduation rate purposes, as if they earned a regular diploma unless they receive an alternate diploma based on the State content standards. NDSS also focused on promoting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) language for the bill to ensure that educators will have the tools they need to provide access to the curriculum to ALL students. NDSS is pleased to say that we have been successful at getting many of these changes into Senator Harkin’s bill. The bill now says: The AA-AAS must provide access to the curriculum (used to say “promote”) The State must ensure that parents of the students are involved in the decision about which assessment their child will take (used to say they will be “informed” of the decision). Evidence must be provided that students taking the AA-AAS are included in the general education curriculum and assessments aligned to the curriculum to the maximum extent practicable (did not include the word maximum before). The State must ensure that parents are informed whether participation in such assessment may preclude the student from completing the requirements for a regular high school diploma (used to say preclude). The regular assessment must be universally designed, district plans for implementing ESEA must state how they will help schools implement effective strategies, including universal design for learning and UDL requirements are included in the grant focused on literacy curriculum and instruction and the grant on science technology, engineering and math (STEM) curricula and instruction (there is no UDL language currently in ESEA). NDSS is working non-stop to get an amendment introduced tomorrow that would go even further than the changes we were able to get in Senator Harkin’s bill. You can read the amendment language here. If we are not able to find a sponsor for the amendment, given the compressed time frame, we will continue our work to gets the changes in the amendment made after the Committee mark-up is completed. SEANTORS ON THE HELP COMMITTEE Democrats by Rank Tom Harkin (IA) Barbara A. Mikulski (MD) Jeff Bingaman (NM) Patty Murray (WA) Bernard Sanders (I) (VT) Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA) Kay R. Hagan (NC) Jeff Merkley (OR) Al Franken (MN) Michael F. Bennet (CO) Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) Richard Blumenthal (CT) Republicans by Rank Michael B. Enzi (WY) Lamar Alexander (TN) Richard Burr (NC) Johnny Isakson (GA) Rand Paul (KY) Orrin G. Hatch (UT) John McCain (AZ) Pat Roberts (KS) Lisa Murkowski (AK) Mark Kirk (IL) If you are not on the NDSS action alert email list and would like to receive these alerts and information bulletins, please subscribe at: capwiz.com/ndss/mlm/signup/ |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 19, 2011 14:17:39 GMT -5
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 15:37:42 GMT -5
Please see the note below from Partners grad, James Brown. If any of you are able to fulfill their request, please let James know at:
jbrown321@comcast.net
thanks all!
---------------------------------------------------------
Our church small group is doing something called special Spaces. It is similar to an Extreme Home Makeover, but without the cameras, and we only do one room. In the past, it has primarily benefited a person with a disability or someone who is terminally ill.
This time, however, we would like to throw in a special treat. If you know anyone who has a wheelchair van that they have given up for dead or wish to give away/sell for a little money, we have a mechanic in our small group who would like to fix it up and give it to the young man and his mother that we want to help. Would you send an email out to the partners for me?
Thank You,
James Brown"
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 15:39:02 GMT -5
Tips to Make Halloween Enjoyable for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders The very things that can be so exciting to neurotypical kids—wearing the costume of a favorite character, being outside with other kids who also have on costumes, knocking on doors to ask for treats, and getting treats from every house you visit—can be anxiety producing for children with autism spectrum disorders. Read more… support.autism-society.org/site/R?i=Un0BT3u2fDfRo0F-NStznQ |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 15:40:55 GMT -5
Tuned in to Learning Tuned in to Learning is a comprehensive music-assisted learning curriculum for special education, designed by an autism specialist and music therapist to help children on the spectrum learn core skills in a fun and motivating way! While supplies last, the Autism Society is offering this Tuned in to Learning Complete Kit for Social Skills & Pragmatics (Full Color Book/ Music CD/ DVD/ CD-ROM) with the first 100 Professional Memberships to the Autism Society. Each targeted social skill or script is paired with an easy–to- remember song that is entertaining for a variety of ages (although it is geared towards ages 3-12), making it enjoyable for students to learn eye contact, emotions, conversation, body language, turn-taking, greetings, compliments, imitation and self-regulation. Join today as a professional member for this free gift! support.autism-society.org/site/R?i=SZSF3yhqdyxB1iy42UVpxw |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 15:44:28 GMT -5
RESOURCES: Presentations from the Autism Society 42nd National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando The Autism Society brings its annual conference to you! Visit the conference media page to watch some of our popular presentations from the Autism Society’s 2011 national conference in July. Just visit the conference media site, log in and pick your choice of presentation topics that include adulthood and severe autism, puberty, early identification, genetics and more! support.autism-society.org/site/R?i=Am0fcox11ZYgA1n8COB43A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Penn State Autism Conference Shows Language of Friendship During the 2011 National Autism Conference at Penn State, a unique program teaching children about their peers with autism was highlighted. A puppet show called "The Language of Friendship" is teaching children about autism. Read more… support.autism-society.org/site/R?i=TpN7Ku_DiKPYI324_b5qNQ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Free Living with Autism Downloads The Autism Society has developed in-depth information on a variety of topics related to living with autism. This information is by no means exhaustive, but it should help to equip families with some of the basic tools they may need to provide the best outcomes for their loved ones on the autism spectrum. These publications are available as free downloads.Visit the free downloads page. support.autism-society.org/site/R?i=adgnlD7nJPQXy8sNLKnmXAAutism Society 4340 East-West Hwy, Suite 350, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 301.657.0881 or 1.800.3AUTISM |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 15:47:30 GMT -5
Jennifer Thorpe is a Partners grad, with a hearing disability herself, and a cochlear implant. Please see her info and this limited time great opportunity below! www.captioncall.com/captioncall/Having difficulty hearing on the telephone? With CaptionCall, using the phone is stress-free. This state-of-the-art yet surprisingly simple device features a large, easy to read screen that displays written captions of what your callers are saying. And that means you can get more from your conversations-and from life. CaptionCall empowers you to communicate more confidently with friends, family, or coworkers. With CaptionCall you will enjoy: -Familiarity-dial and receive calls just like you always have -Automatic Captioning-no need to dial through a captioning service -Free service-captioning funded by the FCC so no new bills, no monthly charges -Large text-7" display screen with adjustable text makes it easy to read every word of every call -Location flexibility-set up your phone anywhere in your home with wired or wireless internet connection -Elegant design-get a sleek, state-of-the-art touch screen phone that you'll want to show off -One-touch dialing-dial frequently called numbers or Customer Support with a single touch -Photo phone book-store phone numbers and caller ID photos for up to 200 people -Customizable audio-easily adjust ringer and handset volume-also customize frequency amplification -Telecoil loop connection-for hearing aids and cochlear implants with a telecoil option -Secure captioning-enjoy a safe, encrypted, FCC-regulated transcription process. For a very limited time, CaptionCall phones are being offered for free to people who meet the basic requirements. If you have difficulty hearing on the phone, if you have a standard home phone connection (land line), and if you have a high speed Internet connection, you can take advantage of this offer. Free installation, support, and service are offered with every phone. For more information, see the CaptionCall website at www.captioncall.com/captioncall/ . To order a phone or to ask any questions, please contact Jennifer Thorpe at jthorpe@captioncall.com ....I'd love to help in any way that I can (I am a deaf cochlear implant user with a CaptionCall phone of my own and I love it!) Thanks, Jennifer Thorpe CaptionCall Trainer, Tennessee |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 15:48:49 GMT -5
Young Soloist Program
It is that time of year again when VSA Tennessee goes in search of Young Soloists. Young Soloists are any musician or vocalist under the age of 24 with any form of disability. This program is also open to groups as long as one member of the group has a disability.
Why apply for Young Soloists? The top four winners are featured in a performance in the Spring. Past performances have taken place at venues such as the Ryman, Schermerhorn, Dollywood, Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The top two winners have their materials sent to the national competition to be considered for a $5000 scholarship and the opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
However, there is more to Young Soloist than this. Throughout the year, VSA Tennessee is contacted by organizations and festivals looking for talent. By applying to the Young Soloist competition, your name automatically goes into this pool of potential performers even if you are not one of the top winners that year.
VSA Tennessee also hosts its own activities that require performers and it draws from its Young Soloist pool in order to find these individuals. In addition, the process of going through such a critique by professionals in the field of music is always a good opportunity for young musicians to get feedback to better prepare them for the future.
The goal of VSA Tennessee is for Young Soloists to begin their careers under our wing with performance and professional development opportunities, but that through these opportunities they develop their skills and resumes so that they go beyond our performances into the general music community. We have seen this happen with some of our past winners.
The judges for the Young Soloist competition change from year to year so that we have individuals who are professional in the field, but not associated with or have even heard in the past any of the contestants. This year we are pleased to have a music producer, the music coordinator for the War Memorial, and a past VP of ASCAP who currently teaches in the music program at Belmont.
In order to apply, you need to complete the attached form and mail it with 4 copies of a CD or DVD that contains 3 songs to VSA Tennessee 1210 Lake Rise Place, Gallatin TN 37066 by Nov. 1st. All materials need to be to us no later than 5pm on Nov. 1st. For more information, contact VSA Tennessee at userk7706@comcast.net.
As always, thanks to Dr. David and Congressman Diane Black for their generous support that allows us to offer this program.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 15:50:23 GMT -5
Yard sale at ETTAC to raise money for a push button front door The East Tennessee Technology Access Center is a United Way nonprofit agency that matches people with disabilities with the assistive technology they need to help them learn, work, play and live more independently and productively. Many of those who come to the office using wheelchairs and walkers find the present front door hard to navigate. To raise money to install a push button door at the front entrance, ETTAC is having a yard sale Saturday, November 5th from 8:00 a.m. to noon. If weather is inclement, the sale will be held indoors. Community support is greatly appreciated to make this a successful sale. ETTAC not only invites people who want to sell items at the yard sale to maintain their own table, as long as they make a donation to ETTAC, but also to donate things to be sold by the staff. ETTAC is located at 116 Childress Street in South Knoxville just off Chapman Highway, in between E. Moody Avenue and Martin Mill Pike. For more information about participating in the yard sale or about ETTAC’s services, call 865-219-0130. Louise McKown Public Awareness Coordinator/Systems Change Analyst East Tennessee Technology Access Center 116 Childress Street Knoxville, TN 37920 (865) 219-0130 lamckown@bellsouth.net www.discoveret.org/ettacWhere disabilities become possibilities |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 16:04:47 GMT -5
www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2011/10/19/01specedapps.h05.html?tkn=WYCE1AY%2BZ8dN0l9pW60skd%2Bwm4OuHTxwWq0h&cmp=clp-sb-cecPublished Online: October 17, 2011/Published in Print: October 19, 2011, as Special Ed. Apps Gadgets & Games - Special Ed. Apps By Katie Ash Tablet computers, and the iPad in particular, are making an impact on special education—thanks to their large display (which can accommodate students with poor fine-motor skills as well as students with visual impairments) and their portability. The iPad, for example, can store and run hundreds of apps, or programs, that may help students with disabilities perform various tasks, such as communicate with others, brush up on math skills, read text aloud, and transcribe sentences. By downloading apps with various functions, the slim tablet can take the place of a multitude of bulkier, single-function assistive technologies. Below are descriptions of some of those apps available for students with disabilities. This sampling represents only a small percentage of the hundreds of apps created for the iPad and other Apple Inc. devices, more of which can be found in the special-education section of Apple’s App Store. Proloquo2Go Created by: AssistiveWare Cost: $190 For: iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch This text-to-speech app helps students who may have difficulty speaking. With a loaded library of more than 8,000 symbols and an expansive vocabulary, students can “say” anything either by typing in messages for the app to read, selecting preloaded phrases and words from the app’s library, or accessing recently stored messages for commonly used phrases. Students can also change the sound of the voice that reads the text, as well as the size of the font on the app. --------------------------------------- Math Ninja Created by: RazeWare LLC Cost: $2 and free For: iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch This game-based app charges Haruku, the math ninja, with protecting his treehouse from his archrival Tomato-San and his robotic army. Haruku must solve math problems correctly to earn better weapons, such as ninja stars and fire magic, to fend off his attackers. The app covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Users can customize the difficulty of the game so that students at different grade levels can benefit from it. ---------------------------------------------- Dragon Dictation Created by: Nuance Communications Cost: Free For: iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch This voice-recognition app taps into Dragon NaturallySpeaking software to convert the user’s speech into text. The app can be linked with social-networking profiles as well as blogs to quickly create posts;it can also be used to dictate emails, papers, or any other text the user would like to produce. It is simple to use the app—just press the red button to record and press it again to stop recording. When users touch a word they would like to edit, a drop-down menu of alternate suggestions pops up, or they can record a new phrase to replace the text. ----------------------------------------------------- Amplify’d Created by: Jooniti Cost: $1 For: iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch This simple app helps turn up the volume, wherever you are. Just plug in a pair of headphones, launch the app, and use it to adjust the volume levels of what you are hearing in real time. This app, with customizable frequencies and volume boosts, is particularly helpful for students with hearing disabilities. ----------------------------------------------------------- Scene Speak Created by: Good Karma Applications Inc. Cost: $10 For: iPad Created for students with autism, aphasia, apraxia, and other conditions, Scene Speak aims to help them better communicate with those around them. Users can upload pictures, or use the preloaded graphics, then add in “sound areas” on the screen, so that when they touch that part of the screen, the iPad will play a preloaded message, phrase, or word. For instance, students could upload a picture of their classroom and create a sound area on the blackboard that would ask what the day’s assignments are. The scenes are then grouped into “books,” so students can keep track of their scenes by a specific theme or area of interest. Students can record their own voices in the sound areas or use a text-to-speech feature. The app comes preloaded with several scenes, such as a kitchen, a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom, and a doctor’s office.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 16:06:50 GMT -5
We hope you are having a great October so far! Below is a list of some of the upcoming events. If you know of any that are not listed please contact Melissa Hill at chattanoogaautismcenter@gmail.com and let me know so that I may add them to our list. Friday, October 28th 9 AM Conference Planning Committee Meeting at Team Center,1000 3rd St November 7th 6-8 PM Free Autism Workshop "Troublesome Behaviours", Speaker: Christina Moore at Team Center 1000 East 3rd St REGISTER FOR 2nd ANNUAL CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE! WHAT: A conference for families who have children with any variety of special needs. WHEN: Friday, November 11, 2011 - 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Where: First-Centenary United Methodist Church Oak Street Center, 416 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402 COST: $20/individual (scholarships available) REGISTER: chattconnectionsconference.org/registration/ WHAT: Haunted ranch and hayride! WHEN: Oct 14-15, 21-22, 28-29: Opens at 7pm, 1st hayride leaves at dusk WHERE: Mystery Dog Ranch, 975 Wooten RD Ringgold Georgia COST: $10 Movies and concessions by the bonfire. Mystery Dog Ranch sponsors fantastic programs for people with all types of disabilities and for people with ASD. www.mysterydoghauntedranchandhayride.net/ Attention ALL moms and female guardians of children on the autism spectrum: please join us at Coolidge Park on Sunday, Nov. 13th at 2pm for a Chattanooga area "Autism Moms Photo Session"!!! WEAR BLACK! This event is meant to support and establish relationships between autism mothers, as well as prove that WE ARE NOT ALONE! The finished photo will be submitted to an internationally recognized autism magazine (see YouTube video "Autism Moms: The Final Cut"). Photographer will be Shelby Demory of Shelby J Photography. Saturday December 3rd 2nd Annual Christmas Party!! noon to 3pm - ASA-ETC is partnering with Chattanooga Autism Center, Mystery Dog Ranch, and Hozho Therapeutic Equestrian Services for their second annual Christmas Party, complete with Cowboy Santa, presents, food, and lots of fun. The party is for children with autism, their parents, siblings, and advocates. ALL children will receive a present from Santa! Location: Mystery Dog Ranch, 975 Wooten Road, Ringgold, GA 30736. For more information and to RSVP, contact Marie at 706-935-5559 or email her at riding@mysterydogranch.com MUST RSVP so Santa knows how many presents to bring!!!!! Monday December 5th - 6-8 PM Free Autism Workshop "Organizational Skills and Autism" Speaker: Susan Jones-Hayes. Location: 1000 East 3rd Street, Chattanooga TN, 37403 Childcare available Chattanooga Autism Center Where the Pieces Come Together ChattanoogaAutismCenter.org |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 16:09:45 GMT -5
Baby's First Learn more about newborn screening online at Baby’s First Test. Around one in every 500-700 newborns has a condition that can be detected through newborn screening. This resource provides an introduction and information on why it is important for all babies to have newborn screening, whether or not there is family history of a condition. Links to organizations and agencies working to improve health through newborn screening, and a state by state breakdown is included showing which screening panels are required in each. Referrals on where to get more information-especially if a screen test is positive are also available. Check it out at: www.babysfirsttest.org--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New View of the Movement The documentary "Lives Worth Living", is being heralded as an important part of history, itself, through its depiction of the history of the Disability Rights Movement. Airing on the PBS series, “Independent Lens,” on Thursday October 27th at 10 pm, the film includes footage of ground breaking protests and interviews with leaders of the community. In an interview with Chicago’s ABC 7 News, Marca Bistro, President and CEO of Access Living, states that the documentary "validates everything that we believe in, all the struggles we have been through as a collective community and the incredible things we have accomplished together. The reason why I think it hasn't been done at this level before are typed up in the way people perceive disabled people. Either we're out of sight and out of mind. which is the biggest way I think people see us. We're invisible." To learn more, go to: www.itvs.org/films/lives-worth-living--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee Disability Coalition 955 Woodland Street Nashville, TN 37206 |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 16:11:26 GMT -5
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 25, 2011 16:13:06 GMT -5
Today’s Federal Register includes a notice of proposed revisions to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report that must be completed annually by State Education Agencies (SEAs) – this includes reporting on Indicator 8 (parent involvement). This proposed revision maintains the requirement for SEAs to report on the percent of parents who report that schools facilitated parent involvement. Additionally, a new statement was added to the instructions that says, “States are encouraged to work in collaboration with their OSEP-funded parent centers in collecting data and implementing improvement activities for this indicator.” The Department of Education is requesting comments by December 16, 2011. Following are links to relevant documents: · Federal Register Notice: www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-10-17/html/2011-26814.htm· Proposed Revised SPP/APR Data Collection Package: edicsweb.ed.gov/browse/downldatt.cfm?pkg_serial_num=4736 (click on “Att_0624 Part B Measurement Table.doc” to see proposed measurement table for each of the Part B indicators) · Comments can be emailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or mailed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. The revisions posted would go into effect for the 2013 submissions. |
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