On Wednesday, Autism Speaks, an advocacy organization, rolled out this commercial on cable television news stations, calling on the U.S. Congress to end insurance discrimination against those with autism. The commercial depicts two little boys, one who has had his treatment covered and another who has not.
Special train ride offered in Billings - Montana's News Station - Fair. Accurate. To the Point. -
Kids from Headstart, EagleMount and Autism Speaks received a free train ride aboard Thomas the Tank Engine, thanks to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington foundation and Montana Rail Link.
Autism Brings Moms A Whole New Level Of Stress, Study Says - Disability Scoop
helenair.com - Continuum of Care
helenair.com - Manic man in the promised land
Baucus and Grassley team up on bipartisan healthcare compromises - Los Angeles Times
ORISE Fellow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Division of Human Development and Disability, Child Development Studies Team
Continue reading "Healthy Parenting, Health Communication, and Conference Fellowship" »
Students with learning disabilities should tailor search - CharlotteObserver.com
Vaccine Issue Yields Second Defection At Autism Speaks - Disability Scoop
FCTD | Computer-Based Assessment and Instruction: Do They Make the Grade?
Videos | This Is Health Care Transition
Videos | Health Care Transitions: College and Beyond
Department of Public Health & Human Services - Part C Federal Reports to OSEP
The Part C Annual Performance Report and regional Part C agencies Annual Performance Reports are posted at http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/fssac/ ( under Part C Reports) and so is Montana's Part C Determination Letter from the Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) If they have any questions they can contact Erica Peterson at epeterson2@mt.gov
Parents of two autistic sons vaccinated one but not the other « Autism Science Foundation
Autism Science Foundation - Autism Vaccines
YouTube - DisabilityLawLowdown's Channel
2009 Summer Institute on Assistive Technology
Register today for the 2009 Online Summer Institute on Assistive & Instructional Tecnology. The Institute will take place July 20-31, 2009. This year's topics are: Use of Social Media Tools and Accessible Instructional Materials: NIMAS and Beyond. Whether you participate in the Institute for continuing education credit or just to increase your knowledge, our faculty of assistive technology experts will share successful strategies and useful resources. Join colleagues throughout the country from the comfort of your office or home.
Overcoming Autism: Public Schools Deal with a Growing Problem | Edutopia
“Stewarding the Health of Our Children's Learning” Webinar archive
In case you missed it live, the recording of David Boulton's “Stewarding the Health of Our Children's Learning” Webinar, hosted by Scientific Learning, is available for free.
Talking With Your Doctor And Other Health Care Professionals
Since you are a young adult, you need to be able to communicate effectively with your doctors and other health care professionals.
Many young people have found the GLADD approach to talking with health care professionals to be very helpful.
No State Meets Community Living Obligation, Report Says - Disability Scoop
House Bill Mandates Autism Coverage For Military - Disability Scoop
Military families would get insurance coverage for autism treatment under a bill approved by the House of Representatives Thursday.
House Bill Mandates Autism Coverage For Military - Disability Scoop
Military families would get insurance coverage for autism treatment under a bill approved by the House of Representatives Thursday.
Zero to Three: School Readiness Interactive
The tragedy and triumph of T.A. - The Boston Globe
On Monday, the US Supreme Court issued a special-education decision, Forest Grove School District v. T.A, that had been closely tracked in many sectors of American education. Those who compulsively need to keep score might conclude that private schools for children with special needs had “won.’’ They would be wrong. The true winners were children with what one might call hidden disabilities - social, emotional, and learning needs that are often less apparent than some visual, auditory, ambulatory, or intellectual challenges.
Changes Proposed For Medicaid Waiver - Disability Scoop
Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals - Kaiser Family Foundation
This interactive side-by-side compares the leading comprehensive reform proposals across a number of key characteristics and plan components. Included in this side-by-side are proposals for moving toward universal coverage that have been put forward by the President and Members of Congress. In an effort to capture the most important proposals, we have included those that have been formally introduced as legislation as well as those that have been offered as principles or in White Paper form. This side-by-side will be regularly updated to reflect changes in the proposals and to incorporate major new proposals as they are announced.
The State of Learning Disabilities (2009)
Elementary Students Held Back In Early Grades Often Do Not Get Special Education Plan
The Chronicle | Schools turn to Professional Learning Communities to improve student performance
On June 22, 2009, the Supreme Court issued a pro-child decision in Forest Grove School District v. T.A., a case about tuition reimbursement for a child who was never found eligible and never received special education services from the public school.
The question presented in Forest Grove v. T.A. was whether parents who unilaterally enroll their disabled child in a private school are entitled to tuition reimbursement if the child never received special education from the district.
Continue reading "Call For Nominations For Emerging Leaders" »
Autism Treatment Acceleration Act (ATAA)
Autism Treatment Acceleration Act (ATAA) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Introduced by Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA), Chris Smith (D-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Hank Johnson (D-GA), ATAA is comprehensive federal legislation that addresses several critical challenges facing the autism community, including increased funding for scientific research, treatment and services.
The “Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009” (ATAA) contains a total of twelve sections, each putting forth a different program for autism. A key feature of the bill is Section 12, which contains the provisions for federal reform of autism insurance coverage. If passed, Section 12 will require all insurance companies across the country to provide coverage for evidence-based, medically-necessary autism treatments and therapies.
The DBTAC – Network of ADA Centers is pleased to announce the release of the 2009 Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Anniversary Tool Kit. The Tool Kit offers informative materials designed to help you plan and publicize ADA activities during the ADA Anniversary and throughout the year. The Tool Kit includes: · Overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 · ADA - Findings, Purpose, and History · The Americans with Disabilities Act from a Civil Rights Perspective · Americans with Disabilities Act Resources and Publications · Americans with Disabilities Act and Olmstead Resources · ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) Summary and Resources · Statistics You Can Use · The White House Agenda on Disabilities · Tips on Writing a News Release · Sample Proclamation: ADA Anniversary · National DBTAC Initiatives
Down's syndrome reveals one key to fighting cancer | Health | Reuters
Autism Speaks: Guide on Clinical Assessment of Infants
IDEA 2004 - Questions and Answers On Discipline Procedures
Revised June 2009 OSERS issues this Q&A document to provide guidance on discipline policies enacted for school-age students to personnel in State educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs), and families. This Q&A document represents the Department’s current thinking on this topic. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person. This guidance does not impose any requirements beyond those required under applicable law and regulations.
IDEA 2004 - Questions and Answers on Disproportionality
IDEA requires States and LEAs to take steps to address disproportionate representation of racial/ethnic groups in special education. The statute, as amended in 2004, and the Part B regulations include important changes in how States must monitor the LEAs in the State to determine disproportionate representation of racial and ethnic groups in special education and related services that is the result of inappropriate identification.
IDEA 2004 - Questions and Answers on Secondary Transition
Revised June 2009 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 October 13, 2006. Additional regulations were published on December 1, 2008 and became effective on December 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.
'Lazy' label can mask learning disabilities | ajc.com
As an occupational therapist, I work with learning disabled children who are average to above average in cognitive/intelligence, with a “glitch” in one or two areas of learning. They need help and yet they are often denied services, told by their teachers they could do it if they want to and just need to try harder. These children look bright, they seem to be listening, they can repeat what the teacher is saying and for all intent and purposes, seem as if they understand. But when the connections are not secure, the communication is like hearing a phone conversation with static on the line, and some crucial information is missed. This can happen if a child has an auditory processing disorder, attention deficit, sensory motor issues or a myriad of other “soft” developmental disabilities. These children “look” so good that the natural assumption is often that they’re not listening and just need to “try harder.”
The potential benefits of a gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet for children with autism may not be worth the risk of poor nutrition from the restricted diet. This author states that current studies have not shown consistent benefits of a GFCF diet for many children with autism. However, many parents currently are enthusiastic about the GFCF diet. Nutritionists think that parents should be educated about following the diet. Parents need to make sure they provide children with good overall nutrition, whether on the GFCF diet or not.
