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AWAREness |
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October 2010
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This newsletter contains links to PDF files which require Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download Acrobat Reader, click here.
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Providing parents of children with disabilities with information, training, assistance, and support
1021 Delaware Avenue Palm Harbor, FL 34683 1-888-61-AWARE |
Health Provisions Begin Phasing In
Several key consumer protections under the nation's new health law begin taking effect Thursday — six months after its enactment. Insurers can no longer set a dollar limit on the amount of care they'll provide over a person's lifetime or deny coverage to sick children. Young adults can stay on their parents' health plans until age 26. And consumers get greater rights to appeal insurers' decisions. Click here for USA Today article.
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In This Issue
Health Provisions Phasing In
Secretary Duncan on the 37th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Tests and Measurements
Florida Voucher Debate
OSEP IEP Guide
National PTA Parent Involvement in IEP Guide
Measures of Effective Teaching
CFPC Support Parent Programs
National Academic Standards
Family Fun Make a Scarecrow
Kassidy’s IEP Meeting Presentation
Disability Timeline
House of Representatives approves term “Intellectual Disability”
CFPC Calendar of Events
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U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued the following statement on the 37th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which was signed into law on Sept. 26, 1973: "The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first piece of federal civil rights legislation to ensure equal treatment of individuals with disabilities. Today, we celebrate this landmark legislation by recognizing how far our elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary institutions have progressed in ensuring students with disabilities have equal access to an education." The U.S. Department of Education plays an important role in ensuring equal rights for individuals with disabilities and ensuring schools, colleges and universities provide them with a free appropriate public education. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is vigorously enforcing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by initiating compliance reviews regarding disability issues and continuously providing technical assistance to States, school districts, postsecondary institutions, parents and students regarding the rights and responsibilities under Section 504. OCR also continues to vigorously resolve complaints to ensure compliance with federal disability laws. “With President Obama's support, we are strengthening our efforts to ensure that all students, including students with disabilities, have the tools they need to benefit from a world-class education that prepares them for success in college and careers." For further information about Section 504 and OCR, please visit http://www2.ed.gov/policy/rights/guid/ocr/disability.html.
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Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
Helen Keller
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Is Your Child Making Progress? How Do You Know?
You need to know your child's present levels of functioning in
academic areas. Where is your child functioning in reading?
Spelling? Written language? Math? What do standard scores,
percentile ranks, subtest scores, and age and grade equivalents
mean?
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Florida Special-Needs Voucher Program Expands Despite Debate A voucher program that helps students with special needs attend private schools in Florida is expanding to serve more students, despite debate over whether it is needed. Opponents of the McKay scholarship program say it diverts needed funding from public schools to private schools that often have fewer resources to teach students with disabilities and less oversight. But supporters -- including many parents -- say the vouchers expand school choice and allow students with disabilities to be educated in smaller classes with more individualized attention. Click here for complete news article.
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Office of Special Education Programs – IEP Guide
Regulations for Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) were published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2006, and became effective on Oct. 13, 2006. In addition, supplemental Part B regulations were published on Dec. 1, 2008, and became effective on Dec. 31, 2008. Since publication of the regulations, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education (Department) has received requests for clarification of some of these regulations. This is one of a series of question and answer (Q&A) documents prepared by OSERS to address some of the most important issues raised by requests for clarification on a variety of high-interest topics. Each Q&A document will be updated to add new questions and answers as important issues arise, or to amend existing questions and answers as needed.
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From the National Parent Teachers Association – Parent Involvement in IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is the main federal program authorizing state and local aid for special education and related services for children with disabilities. IDEA requires states to provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities so that they can be educated to the greatest extent possible along with all other children. IDEA was created to help states and school districts meet their legal obligations to educate children with disabilities, and to pay part of the extra expenses of doing so. Today, approximately 6 million children currently receive special education services.
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Florida District to Tape Teachers' Lessons for National Study
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CFPC Support Parent Programs
Parents of children with disabilities have shared that they receive the best information and emotional support from other parents of children with disabilities. We have two parent-matching programs here at CFPC:
1.) CFPC Support Parents are veteran parents with whom we match other parents who are in need of emotional support.
2.) CFPC IEP Support Parents are trained veteran parents with whom we match other parents who are in need of help with their child's IEP.
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Special-Education Groups Hopeful About Impact of National Curriculum
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Mary Lou explains how to make an adorable scarecrow using a hanger, paper bag, paper plate, and more recyclables.
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Editors Note: The link below will take you to a YouTube video of a young woman named Kassidy, who is presenting at her own transitional IEP Meeting. The film is a little shaky at times. The idea of presenting in this manner is terrific!2010-03-02 Kassidy's IEP Meeting Presentation
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Timeline The National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (NCLD/Y) serves as a national youth-led information, training, and resource center. NCLD has developed a guide to assist youth with and without disabilities to learn about the rich history of people with disabilities. This guide is a new resource for the growing national movement to have disability history taught in the public schools and community-based organizations. To view the guide, click here.
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The House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill Wednesday evening paving the way for the term “mental retardation” to be replaced with “intellectual disability” in many areas of federal law.
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