2009 Disability Pride parade Chicago 7/25

DIVERSITY ROCKS!

2009 Disability Pride Parade

Saturday, July 25

Downtown Chicago

Step off: 11 a.m.

Dearborn and Van Buren north to Daley Plaza

Plaza Program Noon-2:30 p.m.

www.disabilityprideparade.org

1-866-260-5812

Featuring

Jesse White Tumblers

Comedian Brett Eastburn

Miss International 2008 Jayna Altman

Blues Musician Willie Williams

Violinist Nura Aly

Smooth Entertainer Peter Love

Core Components of RTI in Indiana: Part 2

A new CEEP Special Report was issued; The Core Components of RTI: A Closer Look at Evidence-based Core Curriculum, Assessment and Progress Monitoring, and Data-based Decision Making.

This is the second report of a three-part series on Response to Intervention (RTI) in Indiana. The current report examines in greater depth the first three core components of the RTI framework to support schools in their implementation and understanding of:

• evidence-based core curriculum, instruction, intervention and extension;
• assessment and progress monitoring; and
• data-based decision making.

Click HERE to view the report in PDF format on the CEEP web site.

Article 7 (special ed law) trainings

Summer is often a good time to attend trainings to learn more about special education law and IEP's. ASK is offering trainings around the state in the next few weeks. To locate the one closest to you, check their training calendar.

There is a fee for the training, but you can apply for the Family Involvement Fund to cover the costs.

Article 7 (Special Education Workshop) & Preparing Your Child’s IEP
(Individual Education Plan) Training

Overview: This workshop, combining the Article 7 and IEP training, is all day training that offers basic information about special education laws and regulations for Indiana children ages 3-21. It also introduces recent changes in federal law that will impact Indiana’s state regulations. In addition, this training will provide information on how to prepare for a case conference and write an IEP. This training is a great opportunity for family members and professionals who advocate for children with a disability or serious chronic illness.

Autism Family Resource Center

The Easter Seals Crossroads' Autism Family Resouce Center is a place where families of children of all ages on the Autism Spectrum can connect through parent-to-parent support, become better educated, use library and video resource materials, have free access to the Internet, utiize software to create effective, personalized visual schedules....and much, much more! Visit our resource library to see what materials are available. The Autism Family Resource Center is open to the public. View the Autism Services calendar of events.

Independence Day

Fun with family and friends, cook-outs, and fireworks are wonderful ways to celebrate our Independence Day. Our forefathers' powerful declaration—"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"—lay the foundation for Americans to live self-determined lives of our choice. But what about Americans who happen to have disabilities? Are they also enjoying "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness," and living self-determined lives of their choice? Click here to read the Independence Day article at www.disabilityisnatural.com

Modifications for ADL (daily living)

This info comes from the UK, but it may give you some ideas to speak with your child's OT about:

This page lists a number of possible concerns for children with disabilities such as difficulty eating or being able to safely have a bath. For each concern you can click on links to case studies detailing the experiences of children and their families who shared these concerns. These case studies are based on the clinical experiences of our occupational therapists and not on particular individuals.

Beds and cots

Is your child at risk of injuring themselves on, or climbing out of a standard bed or cot?
Read how soft spaces and specialised cots have helped reduce this risk for both Alexander and Ben.

Does your child experience epilepsy?
Read how an epilepsy sensory has helped Ben's parents sleep soundly in the knowledge that they will be woken in the event of Ben having a seizure.

Chairs

Is your young child unable to sit unsupported?
Read how Mohammed is now sitting independently with the support of a corner chair.

Does your child need supportive seating at school?
Read how the provision of an activity chair helped Chloe to concentrate on her school work.

Eating and drinking

Is your child unable to use standard cutlery?
Read how specialised cutlery and crockery enabled Sophia to eat independently.
Read how Thomas' parents adapted his cutlery using foam handles.

Does your child have difficulty drinking out of standard cups, or anything other than a bottle?
Read how Ruby was helped with a specialised cup and a one-way straw.

Does your child's food go cold before they have finished eating?
Read how an insulated bowl helped Sophia.

Personal care

Is your child unable to clean themselves after toileting?
Read how Olivia gained some independence through using a toilet with wash and dry facilities in combination with a multi-functional shower chair.

Does your child require support in the bath and/or on the toilet?
Read how Jack is supported with a bath seat and a supportive toilet seat.

Is your child ready to start toilet training but your toilet seat is too large?
Read how a trainer toilet seat helped Hannah overcome her fear of using the toilet.

Are you considering adapting your bathroom to meet the needs of your child?
You may wish to read our advice on adapting bathrooms for children.

Does your child have access to a shower?
Read how mobile shower chairs have assisted Olivia and Christopher.

more info at:

http://www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk/index.php

Wrightslaw Conf Indpls 9/18

Autism Society of Indiana

2009 Annual Conference

Junior Achievement of Central Indiana

7435 N Keystone Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46240

Friday, September 18, 2009

8:30 - 4:30 pm

http://disabilitygoto.com/WrightslawIndianapolis.html

Wayne Steedman

Attorney at Law

Mr. Steedman's practice is devoted primarily to the

representation of children with disabilities. He has

represented his clients in administrative due process

hearings and state and federal courts.

In addition to a law degree from the University of

Maryland, Mr. Steedman has a Masters Degree in Social

Work. For several years, he served as a Due Process

Hearing Officer in special education cases. He is an active

member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates

(COPAA).

One-day program, 6.5 hours, focuses on changes in IDEA

2004, the interrelationships between IDEA 2004 and No Child

Left Behind, and how to use these laws to get

better special education services for children

with disabilities.

You will learn about:

• new requirements for evaluations,

reevaluations, parental consent

• new requirements for IEPs, IEP teams, IEP

meetings

• new eligibility requirements for students

with specific learning disabilities

• requirements for accommodations on high

stakes tests, accommodations guidelines,

alternate assessments

• new rules about discipline and manifestation reviews

• new procedural requirements and timelines, including the

“Due Process Complaint Notice” and “Resolution (IEP)

Session”

• requirements for reading programs, essential components

of reading instruction, research based instruction

• requirements for highly qualified teachers and

paraprofessionals

• high stakes tests, accommodations, alternate assessments

• new options and choices for children who attend struggling

schools

• how NCLB applies to children with disabilities

Special Education: IDEA & No Child Left Behind

Agenda

7:45 - 8:30 Registration

8:30 – 10:00

Introductions; IDEA 2004: History and

Overview; Section 1400: Findings &

Purposes; Section 1401: Key Definitions in

IDEA: Special Education, LD, etc.

10:00 – 10:15 Break

10:15 - Noon

Section 1412: Child Find, Least Restrictive

Environment, Private Placements, Statewide

Assessments, Accommodations; Section

1414: Evaluations, Reevaluations, Parental

Consent, Individualized Educational

Programs (IEPs), IEP Teams, IEP Meetings

Noon – 1:00 Lunch (provided as a part of registration)

1:00 – 2:45

Section 1415: Procedural Safeguards: Prior

Written Notice; Resolution Session;

Mediation; Requirements & Timelines for

Due Process Hearings; Discipline. Proposed

IDEA 2004 Regulations.

2:45 – 3:00 Break

3:00 – 4:00

No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB): IEPs;

Research Based Instruction; Reading; Highly

Qualified Special Education Teachers

4:00 – 4:30 Questions and Answers