PLUK News feed

fctd.info: Assistive Technology Implementation in the Classroom: There Are No Shortcuts to Success

Link: fctd.info
For children with IEPs, assistive technology is often critical to accessing the curriculum. In school districts throughout the U.S., AT professionals ideally work in close collaboration with teams of teachers, administrators and parents, to facilitate AT implementation in public school classrooms. For the most part, these AT coordinators are highly trained professionals skilled at evaluating students and aiding the AT team in considering AT for students. Many AT coordinators prefer a collaborative, consultative model for AT selection which places the ultimate selection decision in the hands of AT team members but is supported by the technology expertise supplied by the AT professional. 

stltoday.com: St. Louis preschool offers therapy, healing to abused children

Link: stltoday.com
February 14, 2009 - Andrea Eldridge, left, finishes singing happy birthday to her adopted son William, right, during his fifth birthday party at America's Incredible Pizza Company in south St. Louis County. William is a recent graduate of the Family Resource Center's therapeutic preschool.

disabilityscoop.com: Judge Considers Suit Against Blue Cross Over Autism Treatment

Link: disabilityscoop.com
A Michigan father is seeking class action status for his lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan claiming that the insurer should cover behavior therapy for children with autism.

economist.com: Christopher Nolan, the voice of the crippled, died on February 20th, aged 43

Link: economist.com
For a long time, no one knew. He could communicate: yes with upshot eyes, a neck-bow for affirmation, a drubbing of feet on his wheelchair for attention. The IQ tests always went well, well enough for him to go to “ordinary” school at Mount Temple in Dublin. His blue eyes blazed with intelligence. But no one suspected that in his head were stored millions of words, “nutshelled” and ready. They included all the songs and stories he had heard from his father, the poems recited by his teachers, the alphabet-words stuck up round the kitchen by his mother, glittering fragments of Hopkins and Joyce and Yeats. His overriding ambition was how to “best his body” and get them out.

eleanoresproject.org: Eleanore's Project Update

Link: eleanoresproject.org
Dear Friends of Eleanore's Project!
We are getting ready for our latest expedition to Peru in just a few short weeks. Our container with 147 wheelchairs and other rehabilitation equipment just landed in Callao, the port just outside Lima.  We will be having a week of wheelchair seating clinics in Lima, where we will serve children and families from 4 different disability programs.  Our second week will be spent in Arequipa working with our partners EquipKIDS.  Some kids and families will be travelling at least 5 hours to receive our services.  We will also be providing training and education at both sites for local therapists, special educators and families. 

Our team will consist of 16 individuals, including five occupational therapy students from the College of St. Catherine.  This is the second year we have collaborated with them.  The rest of the team includes occupational therapists, specialized wheelchair technicians,  Eleanore's Project University of Montana intern, and of course, members of Eleanore's family.

At this writing, because of the economic downturn, we are still owe over $2000 for the wheelchairs we will be providing.  Please consider donating to website below, called Just Give.  As always, 100% of all donating go directly to kids and families with disabilities.

Download Getting_Ready_for_Peru_2009

disabilityscoop.com: Millions For Autism In Obama Budget Proposal

Link: disabilityscoop.com
There is $211 million allotted for autism research, screening, public awareness and support services within President Barack Obama’s budget proposal, according to an outline released Thursday.

augie.edu: Lighting the Way Autism Spectrum Disorders in our Community

Link: augie.edu
Lighting the Way - ASD in our Community
(Autism Spectrum Disorder)
June 11-12, 2009
Augustana College, Sioux Falls SD

hosted.ap.org: Tucson class finds creating toys not child's play

Link: hosted.ap.org
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- It's not just another day in school for the third-grade class of gifted students at Desert Willow Elementary in the Vail Unified School District.

newstranscript.gmnews.com: Trainer opens studio doors to special trio

Link: newstranscript.gmnews.com
Mike Hanley, owner of The Training Studio, has been working with three local boys who are autistic. The boys work out together during a 45-minute session each Wednesday. A few years ago Hanley, a resident of Belmar, worked with a high school student who was also autistic.

rtinetwork.org: RTI in Pre-Kindergarten

Link: rtinetwork.org
Articles and resources in this section provide information on key components of Response to Intervention (RTI) frameworks in preschool settings, how they relate to RTI in K-12 settings, examples of early models in the field, as well as resources for planning for implementation and policy recommendations.

Read the "Roadmap to Pre-K RTI: Applying Response to Intervention in Preschool Settings"