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Read this BIO on Pete & Pam Wright aka WRIGHTSLAW
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Bios | Parenting Special Needs Magazine
Showing posts with label Special Ed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Special Ed. Show all posts
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Friday, April 1, 2011
Down syndrome Inclusive Educational Strategies
Schools who let one criterion, such as a specific disability, automatically determine the placement are likely to be held in violation of federal law.
~ Supreme Court - Board of Education v. Rowley ~
"Inclusion is a right, not a special privilege for a select few".
~ Federal Court - Oberti v. Board of Education ~
"Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal"
~ Supreme Court - Brown v. Board of Education ~
All children with disabilities are to be educated to
the "maximum extent" with children who do not have disabilities.
~ Federal Law I.D.E.A. Sec. 612.5 (A) ~
"Inclusion is a right, not a special privilege for a select few".
~ Federal Court - Oberti v. Board of Education ~
"Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal"
~ Supreme Court - Brown v. Board of Education ~
All children with disabilities are to be educated to
the "maximum extent" with children who do not have disabilities.
~ Federal Law I.D.E.A. Sec. 612.5 (A) ~
Elementary & Secondary Education - What is Inclusion?
http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=83&limitstart=3
http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=83&limitstart=3
Elementary & Secondary Education - Tips for Teaching Students with Down syndrome
http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=83&limitstart=2
http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=83&limitstart=2
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Essence of a New Day!
This is the beginning of a new day.
You have been given this day
to use as you will.
You can waste it or use it for good.
What you do today is important
because you are exchanging a day
of your life for it.
When tomorrow comes,
this day will be gone forever.
In its place is something,
that you have left behind...
Let it be something good...
Author Unknown
This little saying is
something I have used
something I have used
as my inspiration
over the years,
over the years,
now let me pass this on
to others to live by.
Have an Awesome Day!
Nancy Linley-Harris
Monday, June 7, 2010
SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS
FREE ~ YES THAT'S RIGHT FREE!!!
SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS
Presented by:
The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc.
and
The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.
Learn how to be a strong advocate for children with disabilities in the public school system at four free workshops scheduled for this August.
A lawyer and an advocate from the Advocacy Center will team up to teach you how to be an equal participant in the IEP process. Training will focus on sections of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 and will include:
Eligibility and Evaluation
Universal Education (Inclusion)
IEP and Advocacy Tips
School Discipline
Transition from High School to Post-school activities (work, school)
Problem Solving (With a Question and Answer Session)
To register go to http://www.fddc.org/registration
or call 1-800-580-7801
All workshops are from 9 am – 4 pm and are FREE!
August 3, 2010 – Fort Lauderdale, Hyatt Pier 66
2301 SE 17 Street Causeway
August 5, 2010 – Tampa, Tampa Marriott Airport
5507 W Spruce Street
August 7, 2010 – Jacksonville, Hyatt Regency Riverfront
225 East Coast Line Drive
August 9, 2010 – Fort Walton Beach, Ramada Plaza Beach Resort,
1500 Miracle Strip Parkway SE
Let us know when you register if you need a sign language interpreter or Spanish translator.
Seats at the workshops are limited to 200. All registrations received after the first 200 will be put on a waiting list and will be contacted if space becomes available.
The list below shows how many are currently registered for each workshop. We will update it frequently so that you can see when 200 are registered
August 3, 2010 – Ft. Lauderdale, Hyatt Pier 66, 2301 SE 17 Street Causeway - 47
August 5, 2010 – Tampa, Tampa Marriott Airport, 5507 W Spruce Street - 40
August 7, 2010 – Jacksonville, Hyatt Regency Riverfront, 225 E. Coast Line Dr. - 71
August 9, 2010 – Ft. Walton Beach, Ramada Plaza Beach Resort, 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SE - 18
SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS
Presented by:
The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc.
and
The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.
Learn how to be a strong advocate for children with disabilities in the public school system at four free workshops scheduled for this August.
A lawyer and an advocate from the Advocacy Center will team up to teach you how to be an equal participant in the IEP process. Training will focus on sections of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 and will include:
Eligibility and Evaluation
Universal Education (Inclusion)
IEP and Advocacy Tips
School Discipline
Transition from High School to Post-school activities (work, school)
Problem Solving (With a Question and Answer Session)
To register go to http://www.fddc.org/registration
or call 1-800-580-7801
All workshops are from 9 am – 4 pm and are FREE!
August 3, 2010 – Fort Lauderdale, Hyatt Pier 66
2301 SE 17 Street Causeway
August 5, 2010 – Tampa, Tampa Marriott Airport
5507 W Spruce Street
August 7, 2010 – Jacksonville, Hyatt Regency Riverfront
225 East Coast Line Drive
August 9, 2010 – Fort Walton Beach, Ramada Plaza Beach Resort,
1500 Miracle Strip Parkway SE
Let us know when you register if you need a sign language interpreter or Spanish translator.
Seats at the workshops are limited to 200. All registrations received after the first 200 will be put on a waiting list and will be contacted if space becomes available.
The list below shows how many are currently registered for each workshop. We will update it frequently so that you can see when 200 are registered
August 3, 2010 – Ft. Lauderdale, Hyatt Pier 66, 2301 SE 17 Street Causeway - 47
August 5, 2010 – Tampa, Tampa Marriott Airport, 5507 W Spruce Street - 40
August 7, 2010 – Jacksonville, Hyatt Regency Riverfront, 225 E. Coast Line Dr. - 71
August 9, 2010 – Ft. Walton Beach, Ramada Plaza Beach Resort, 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SE - 18
Friday, April 23, 2010
NEW BOOK TO OWN!!! Wrightslaw: All About IEPs
Wrightslaw: All About IEPs by Peter W. D. Wright & Pamela Darr Wright; Sandra Webb O'Connor
http://www.wrightslaw.com/bks/aaiep/index.htm#order
If you purchase just one book this year to help you in understanding the whole IEP process....any book by Peter and Pamela Wright gets my highest recommendation! This is their newest released IEP book! Order one today, order a couple as gifts for your friends!
Wrightslaw: Peter and Pam Wright are the most respected Special Ed Advocates in the country! If you haven't attended one of their weekend BOOTCAMPS or heard them speak at a conference...you are really missing simply the best training that all parents dealing with Special Education MUST ATTEND at least one. I have attended 4 already and can honestly say, I learned all I know from Pete Wright!!
Thank you Pete and Pam for the tremondous help you continually provide to parents and families across the country!
http://www.wrightslaw.com/bks/aaiep/index.htm#order
If you purchase just one book this year to help you in understanding the whole IEP process....any book by Peter and Pamela Wright gets my highest recommendation! This is their newest released IEP book! Order one today, order a couple as gifts for your friends!
Wrightslaw: Peter and Pam Wright are the most respected Special Ed Advocates in the country! If you haven't attended one of their weekend BOOTCAMPS or heard them speak at a conference...you are really missing simply the best training that all parents dealing with Special Education MUST ATTEND at least one. I have attended 4 already and can honestly say, I learned all I know from Pete Wright!!
Thank you Pete and Pam for the tremondous help you continually provide to parents and families across the country!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
SP&P Guide ~ State & Federal IDEA Law *LINKS*
**ESE Policies and Procedures (SP&P) Listed by DISTRICT in a handy-dandy-drop-down-list!! What a concept!!! This is my personal baby for the past 4-5 years to get our State Dept. of Ed to do....to create a DROP DOWN LIST OF ALL the districts SP&P Guides! Whoo whooo...advocacy DOES PAY OFF!! Be sure to print one out and put it into a 3-ring binder...this is an invaluable tool!! Enjoy!
ESE Policies and Proceedures
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd.asp
Section 1003.57(1)(d), Florida Statutes (F.S.), requires that district school boards submit to the Department of Education (DOE) proposed procedures for the provision of special instruction and services for exceptional students once every three years. Approval of this document by DOE is required by Rule 6A-6.03411, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), as a prerequisite for district’s use of weighted cost factors under the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). This document also serves as the basis for the identification, evaluation, eligibility determination, and placement of students to receive exceptional education services, and is a component of the district’s application for funds available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
IMPORTANT STUFF to be a GREAT ADVOCATE!
Florida ESE documents!
IMPORTANT FLORIDA ESE STATE DOCUMENTS
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd.asp
FLORIDA'S RED BOOK ~ ESE RULES
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/1b-stats.pdf
FEDERAL IDEA LAW - it's the Federal law!!!
http://idea.ed.gov/
ALL OF THESE LINKS WILL HELP YOU KNOW FOR A FACT WHAT THE RULES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION ARE.....IF YOU GET TO KNOW THESE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE POSTED TO OUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONS WEBSITES....YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE A CONFIDENT ADVOCATE AND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE TO SUPPORTS AND SERVICES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION! PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO KNOW ALL OF THESE, DOWNLOAD AND MAKE THEM INTO YOUR VERY OWN 3-RING BINDERS. CALL YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEY CAN PROVIDE YOU A COPY IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER TO PRINT THEM OUT.
ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN INFORMED AND KNOWLEDGABLE ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD, THEY NEED YOU TO KNOW THIS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND!
I LOVE THIS STUFF! .....learn to like it yourself! 'o)
ESE Policies and Proceedures
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd.asp
Section 1003.57(1)(d), Florida Statutes (F.S.), requires that district school boards submit to the Department of Education (DOE) proposed procedures for the provision of special instruction and services for exceptional students once every three years. Approval of this document by DOE is required by Rule 6A-6.03411, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), as a prerequisite for district’s use of weighted cost factors under the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). This document also serves as the basis for the identification, evaluation, eligibility determination, and placement of students to receive exceptional education services, and is a component of the district’s application for funds available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
IMPORTANT STUFF to be a GREAT ADVOCATE!
Florida ESE documents!
IMPORTANT FLORIDA ESE STATE DOCUMENTS
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd.asp
FLORIDA'S RED BOOK ~ ESE RULES
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/1b-stats.pdf
FEDERAL IDEA LAW - it's the Federal law!!!
http://idea.ed.gov/
ALL OF THESE LINKS WILL HELP YOU KNOW FOR A FACT WHAT THE RULES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION ARE.....IF YOU GET TO KNOW THESE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE POSTED TO OUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONS WEBSITES....YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE A CONFIDENT ADVOCATE AND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE TO SUPPORTS AND SERVICES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION! PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO KNOW ALL OF THESE, DOWNLOAD AND MAKE THEM INTO YOUR VERY OWN 3-RING BINDERS. CALL YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEY CAN PROVIDE YOU A COPY IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER TO PRINT THEM OUT.
ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN INFORMED AND KNOWLEDGABLE ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD, THEY NEED YOU TO KNOW THIS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND!
I LOVE THIS STUFF! .....learn to like it yourself! 'o)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
FCAT or Alternate Assessment....which...
When is the best time to DECIDE which STATE ASSESSMENT TEST is best for your Child? Oh the decisions we have to make for our Children and their education. No one ever told us all this Special Education stuff would require us parents to make these kinds of decisions that will mean getting a REAL Diploma or a Special Diploma.
When is the best time to make the decision to go alternate or to take the regular FCAT?...THIS is the question of the day!
At my own daughters IEP when she was in KINDERGARTEN the 'IEP team' had the discussion: if she should be on the Regular Diploma track or the Special Ed Diploma track! Being the 'mom' to this little Kindergarten Child they all were referring to IF she should get a real diploma or not, I was having heat flashes of NO NO NO they aren't talking about MY GIRL not getting a high school diploma here are they?! I was mortified that such an IMPORTANT life changing decision could or should be even considered at such a young age! Why in Kindergarten..at 5 or 6 years old would my daughters IEP team think they knew enough about her to even know if she would be 'capable' or not of learning 'academics' like the other students in her Kindergarten class?
Well of course in Kindergarten no student is taking 'the FCAT'...so it wasn't a real issue at that point in time...but each year at her ANNUAL IEP the 4 QUESTIONS would be asked during the meeting and each year I felt that I had to STAND MY GROUND that yes she was capable of doing well in her ADAPTIVE SKILLS and WAS CAPABLE of things age appropriate. *Funny (actually very sad) how these "IEP TEAM" people sit around IEP table after IEP table facing parents that are raising wonderful Children and doing the best they can to help their Child acquire skills that will help them be as independent as possible...and yet without batting an eyelash...they can 'recommend' so easily that they will be on an ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT and earn a SPECIAL DIPLOMA...because why...are "they" really in a position to make that kind of MAJOR DECISION for a PERSON at such a young age? Do these kinds of decisions REALLY need to be made when a Child is just 5 & 6 years old?
I just wish that ALL STUDENTS were given a FAIR SHAKE at TAKING THE FCAT the 1st time and a 2nd time and as many times at it takes to give them a FAIR SHAKE! If a student FAILS the FCAT...they get INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS to help them do better on the next State Exams. Schools should be teaching ALL STUDENTS TO READ AND WRITE AND DO MATH, and that includes students receiving special education services! They need MORE INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS and extra help!
Do ALL STUDENTS PASS THE FCAT? NO.....do some students need extra help? Absolutely!! Are students that have an IEP and have an ELIGIBILITY to receive Special Ed Supports & Services really being PUSHED to learn to read and write? I think MORE CAN BE PROVIDED in the way of INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS...the same interventions that are provided to students that don't pass the FCAT! It doesn't even have to be 'special ed'...it needs to be INTENSIVE...and what about RtI...?? (Response to Intervention) RtI is something that has been in place for a couple of years now....still haven't heard of anyone actually DOING IT for our students...and why is that?...no training...or no interest in understanding what RtI actually is and how it's suppose to work for those students AT RISK!
Alternate Assessment or FCAT...which is it?...if a student is on Alt. Ass...how many teachers and principals believe that because a student is on Alt. Ass that they can't be fully included in a General Education Classroom? I do know that if a student is on the Alt. Ass. that it's NOT a reason to not be educated in a General Education classroom!
If more students receiving Special Ed services were given the opportunity to receive INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS in READING AND MATH EARLY and everyone did their part in helping students really learn academics EARLY...more students would be learning and passing State Exams and showing progress in all areas of academics.
Do I think the FCAT is a good thing?...yes and no....it does help with accountability...but when so many of 'our kiddo's' are put on the ALTERNATE ASSESSMENTS at such an early age...it doesn't help that student...it lowers the expectations for that student and it certainly lets teachers and schools 'off the hook' in providing INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS to help them read and do math! I don't agree with putting so many on the Alt. Ass. at such a young age...everyone should be provided with HIGH EXPECTATIONS TO LEARN and be provided any and all the extra help that it takes to get ALL STUDENTS TO READ AND WRITE.
What are you comments on this? Would love to have a discussion on 'the expectations'...or lack of them...I expect my daughter to be taught to read...I expect her to need extra help, I expect she will be a good reader...someday...she needs INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS...just like others that are below grade level and not passing the State exams to measure how she is doing and how 'the school is doing'.....ahh...how is the school doing...isn't that what it's really all about? ...and if we have YOUR Child take the State exam and it brings the 'school grade' down....oh well...just push to get em on the ALTERNATE ASSESMENT and then it won't matter anymore...the students on Alt. Ass. don't have anything to do with 'how the school is doing' anymore...that takes care of that problem!
Special Diploma....I hate how it looks and sounds...and what it stands for!! NOT MUCH!
When is the best time to make the decision to go alternate or to take the regular FCAT?...THIS is the question of the day!
At my own daughters IEP when she was in KINDERGARTEN the 'IEP team' had the discussion: if she should be on the Regular Diploma track or the Special Ed Diploma track! Being the 'mom' to this little Kindergarten Child they all were referring to IF she should get a real diploma or not, I was having heat flashes of NO NO NO they aren't talking about MY GIRL not getting a high school diploma here are they?! I was mortified that such an IMPORTANT life changing decision could or should be even considered at such a young age! Why in Kindergarten..at 5 or 6 years old would my daughters IEP team think they knew enough about her to even know if she would be 'capable' or not of learning 'academics' like the other students in her Kindergarten class?
Well of course in Kindergarten no student is taking 'the FCAT'...so it wasn't a real issue at that point in time...but each year at her ANNUAL IEP the 4 QUESTIONS would be asked during the meeting and each year I felt that I had to STAND MY GROUND that yes she was capable of doing well in her ADAPTIVE SKILLS and WAS CAPABLE of things age appropriate. *Funny (actually very sad) how these "IEP TEAM" people sit around IEP table after IEP table facing parents that are raising wonderful Children and doing the best they can to help their Child acquire skills that will help them be as independent as possible...and yet without batting an eyelash...they can 'recommend' so easily that they will be on an ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT and earn a SPECIAL DIPLOMA...because why...are "they" really in a position to make that kind of MAJOR DECISION for a PERSON at such a young age? Do these kinds of decisions REALLY need to be made when a Child is just 5 & 6 years old?
I just wish that ALL STUDENTS were given a FAIR SHAKE at TAKING THE FCAT the 1st time and a 2nd time and as many times at it takes to give them a FAIR SHAKE! If a student FAILS the FCAT...they get INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS to help them do better on the next State Exams. Schools should be teaching ALL STUDENTS TO READ AND WRITE AND DO MATH, and that includes students receiving special education services! They need MORE INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS and extra help!
Do ALL STUDENTS PASS THE FCAT? NO.....do some students need extra help? Absolutely!! Are students that have an IEP and have an ELIGIBILITY to receive Special Ed Supports & Services really being PUSHED to learn to read and write? I think MORE CAN BE PROVIDED in the way of INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS...the same interventions that are provided to students that don't pass the FCAT! It doesn't even have to be 'special ed'...it needs to be INTENSIVE...and what about RtI...?? (Response to Intervention) RtI is something that has been in place for a couple of years now....still haven't heard of anyone actually DOING IT for our students...and why is that?...no training...or no interest in understanding what RtI actually is and how it's suppose to work for those students AT RISK!
Alternate Assessment or FCAT...which is it?...if a student is on Alt. Ass...how many teachers and principals believe that because a student is on Alt. Ass that they can't be fully included in a General Education Classroom? I do know that if a student is on the Alt. Ass. that it's NOT a reason to not be educated in a General Education classroom!
If more students receiving Special Ed services were given the opportunity to receive INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS in READING AND MATH EARLY and everyone did their part in helping students really learn academics EARLY...more students would be learning and passing State Exams and showing progress in all areas of academics.
Do I think the FCAT is a good thing?...yes and no....it does help with accountability...but when so many of 'our kiddo's' are put on the ALTERNATE ASSESSMENTS at such an early age...it doesn't help that student...it lowers the expectations for that student and it certainly lets teachers and schools 'off the hook' in providing INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS to help them read and do math! I don't agree with putting so many on the Alt. Ass. at such a young age...everyone should be provided with HIGH EXPECTATIONS TO LEARN and be provided any and all the extra help that it takes to get ALL STUDENTS TO READ AND WRITE.
What are you comments on this? Would love to have a discussion on 'the expectations'...or lack of them...I expect my daughter to be taught to read...I expect her to need extra help, I expect she will be a good reader...someday...she needs INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS...just like others that are below grade level and not passing the State exams to measure how she is doing and how 'the school is doing'.....ahh...how is the school doing...isn't that what it's really all about? ...and if we have YOUR Child take the State exam and it brings the 'school grade' down....oh well...just push to get em on the ALTERNATE ASSESMENT and then it won't matter anymore...the students on Alt. Ass. don't have anything to do with 'how the school is doing' anymore...that takes care of that problem!
Special Diploma....I hate how it looks and sounds...and what it stands for!! NOT MUCH!
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