Exclusive: Parents say abuse cover-up extends to state agency - CBS Atlanta 46

Exclusive: Parents say abuse cover-up extends to state agency - CBS Atlanta 46

New Broward Superintendent plans staff changes ~ Sun-Sentinel

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/educationblog/2011/09/new_broward_superintendent_pla_1.html

New Broward superintendent plans staff 

changes

By Cara FitzpatrickSeptember 22, 2011 02:54 PM

Broward County's new school superintendent isn't even on the

job yet, but he's already got big plans for the district.  In an 
e-mail to the School Board this week, Robert Runcie, who's still
negotiating a contract with the district, outlined some key staffing 
changes he'd like to make ASAP, including the addition of two
new administrative positions.

click here to read entire article.

• Plan for my Listening Tour - I am asking all Board members to assist me by
providing a list of constituents and organizations important to our mission. I will also
meet with teachers, principals, students and parents during this process.

• Reach out to my neighboring superintendents in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Collier.

WOW!!! Such Discrimination stories!! *it's 2011 folks!

MyVSY.com http://myvsy.com/The%20Story.htm
Click on the link above here to read some pretty incredible and upsetting stories from parents and their Children trying to obtain an education. 


I never really knew how much this was really happening around me! I have a son with ADHD and a daughter with Down syndrome, it hasn't been easy getting the two of them educated. I have had my own situations I could discuss here, but would rather have you check out this website called: My VSY.com ~ check it out!

Observing proposed classrooms & proposed placement options

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/ferpa.osep.observe.htm

WRIGHTSLAW ~ Answers to Questions about Parent Observations, Privacy & Confidentiality.


WRIGHTSLAW website ~ http://www.wrightslaw.com 

The City Club of Chicago presents Robert W. Runcie June 26th, 2007

The City Club of Chicago presents ~ 
Robert W. Runcie
32:24 minutes - 4 years ago
The City Club of Chicago presents Inside Chicago featuring, Robert W. Runcie, Chief Information Officer, Chicago Public Schools. The speech was delivered on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Congratulations Mr. Runcie and WELCOME to Broward Public Schools, Fort Lauderdale, FLORIDA!


I am looking forward to Advocating with Robert W. Runcie for our Kiddo's!

CPS executive will head Florida district

CPS executive will head Florida district
*click above for a direct link to full article

Congratulations Mr. Robert W. Runcie!

Broward superintendent finalists: different backgrounds, similar visions

Broward superintendent finalists: different backgrounds, similar visions

Mariah and I attended this event last night! Mariah likes going to 'the BIG Meetings'!

Family Hires Attorney After Police Scuffle With Special Needs Man

Family Hires Attorney After Police Scuffle With Special Needs Man

Gilberto Powell ~ 22 years old

I AM SO SORRY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO YOU!!!


You remind me of any number of my friends sons....all my friends have a son or daughter with Down syndrome just like you Gilberto.


I am so sad for you and your mom & dad and your entire family that all love you very much!


The police officers that did this to you, should be ashamed of themselves for BEATING you up and being POLICE BULLIES!!


I PRAY this will be a catalyst for not only the Miami-Police Department to make sure all their officers receive DISABILITY TRAINING but for us as a community that serves a large population of individuals with disabilities that ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS provide DISABILITY SENSITIVITY TRAINING.

Gilberto............I am so sorry this happened to you!

HUGS-2-YOU~!!!

PODS Angels ~ Down syndrome family support

www.podsangels.org

The GreatSchools Blog

The GreatSchools Blog


This is a really great BLOG to read and follow. 
Enjoy!

Actor with Down syndrome earns Spanish Best Actor Award! Yo, Tambien

Actor with Down syndrome earns Spanish Best Actor Award!
"Pablo Pineda is a Spanish actor who suffers from Down's syndrome, who stars in the Spanish movie Me Too (Yo, Tambien). His character is also a Down's syndrome victim in his 30's who manages to attain a university degree then goes on to fall in love with a workmate.


The actor plays Daniel Sanz who goes to university in Seville and manage to become the first European with Down's two come away with a diploma. He then moves on to take a job in social services.


Pablo Pineda says that the character has a lot of similarities to his real life as he has a special education degree. This performance has been called emotional and highly convincing.


The movie was directed by Alvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro and offers Pineda the chance to display a huge range of emotions, something that is very difficult for someone with Down's syndrome to deal with. 


Pineda managed to scoop up the prestigious best actor prize at the film festival in San Sebastian, his co-star Lola Duenas also brought home the best actress award." 
Copied directly from the Spanish News weblink To go to the direct link of this article ~ Click here: 

OK so the reporter say he "suffers & is a victim"??? Really? This ticks me off to no end why people still write in such a way that makes an entire group of people out to be SUFFERING when they are not! Why are there still reporters that incorrectly write about our wonderful people with Down syndrome suffering and that they are a victim. With reporters and writers and people in general continuing to still talk like those with Down syndrome are SUFFERING...which they are not...society is suffering from still very much outdated world views about a wonderful group of people that are perfectly able and capable of achieving more than most of society ever believed possible! Those with Down syndrome are MORE ALIKE than different than you and me! Watch the YouTube video clips on the upcoming movie and tell me you don't see NORMAL from BOTH ACTORS in this movie! They both found LOVE! Isn't that what we all want and need from life?    Even though I don't speak Spanish...just watching the movie trailers, I can tell this is going to be a wonderful movie! Do you think it can have subtitles? I can't wait to see this movie! Looks like a good one! I 'felt' this movie......let me know what you think when you watch the trailer.                                      

Yo, Tambien ~ The Movie
www.yotambienlapelicula.com 
Go directly to their website for more info on this wonderful movie!

Thirty-four-year-old Daniel is the first European with Down syndrome to have graduated from university. He starts a social services job in Seville, where he meets free-spirited co-worker Laura. They become fast friends, drawing the attention of both their co-workers and families. Their unique relationship becomes problematic when Daniel falls in love with her. But these rebellious souls refuse to bend to the rules and they find friendship and love as they have never known.

BUS Schedules??...did YOU get one?

Did you get BUS info in the mail this week or last? I got a postcard in the mail for my high school son and a second reminder I received a Robo-Call reminding again of my son's bus scheduled time of pick up and what corner he needed to be at.

My daughter, well.....anxiously I have been looking in the mail box everyday waiting.....I even called the school a couple of times last week to let them know I was concerned because I had received my son's BUS info but hadn't heard anything about my daughter's BUS info for the start of the new school year.

Funny thing.....I spoke with 3 other mom's with Children that have Down syndrome and all three said they hadn't received any postcard in the mail or a robo-call or anything about time and place of pick up. One mom has a son that got his info a week ago...just exactly like I did for my son. Her son and daughter will be attending the exact same school that starts at the same time. When she called her school about her little girl, she was told by her ESE person....that because her daughter had DD=Developmental Disability that she would need to take a short bus....a SHORT BUS??!!! Did she really say that? I thought maybe my friend was retelling me what she thought she heard the lady say....and that she was retelling me wrong...but she assured me that yes the lady DID say to her that her daughter would have to take THE SHORT BUS!!!!

What is wrong with people!!...What is wrong with the very 'professionals' that work with our families and our Children and they continue to use such OUT-DATED terminology?

Why have 3 of us mom's not gotten our BUS info and we all have other siblings that also ride buses and the the other family members all received their BUS schedule but our Children with Down syndrome did not! What is going on with our kiddo's NOT GETTING our BUS schedule postcards in the mail or even the robo-caller that has gone out to our other Children? I just don't get it....how can it be such a coincident that 3 of us families all with a Child with Down syndrome have not gotten any info about their BUS SCHEDULES???...We all are WONDERING........WHAT'S UP?!!

Our school may not have the "program" YOUR Child needs.....

A parent with a young Child goes to enroll her very sweet little girl.....in her neighborhood school today....at SHUTTLE Elementary in Tamarac, Florida. (Not really the name of the school....) The office person that was there to help with registering new students was a nice lady I'm sure and just doing her job. My friend was asked about her 2 Children that she was registering today. She tells the nice lady behind the desk that her daughter has Down syndrome. Oh boy.....THAT was mommies first mistake because once you mention you are REGISTERING YOUR CHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME, then things are handled differently for sure! The office person told my friend, "Have you had an IEP meeting with anyone from OUR school? OUR school might not have "the program" needed for your daughter.

My friend is a good Advocate for her two Children and moved to a new apartment over the summer just to make sure her Children would be in the boundry of that really NICE school! She also made sure this NICE school had what she knew her two Children needed and one is an ESE PreSchool Program for her little girl! Her little girl attends a Special Needs Developmental PreSchool now, called UCP in Fort Lauderdale.  UCP knows that her little girl would be transitioning onto that particular Elementary school, one that UCP has told this mommie yes that school does have the ESE PreSchool program or PLACE as it has been called in recent years. Seems our School District here wants to call our 3-5 year old Special Ed PreSchool Programs something different every year...just to confuse parents....and some school staff people even! Some of the 3-5 year old ESE PreSchool Programs are 'secretly' NOT for our little ones with Down syndrome it seems...........I said....it seems....let's get the DATA so we know. That would be nice to know for sure!

OK Folks.....What IS this particular PROGRAM all these people are always talking about....for OUR little kiddos with Down syndrome????

There is an ESE PreK Program at Shuttle Elementary in Tamarac (aka as the PLACE Program) and the little girl is absolutely ELIGIBLE to ATTEND that program because of her AGE and her ESE Eligibility! So what gives when they find out there is a student with DOWN SYNDROME wanting to enroll and attend the school that is down the street from the parents house?

This IS an ongoing problem here in Broward County and lots of places around the entire Country! I know for a fact this IS a very common problem with the MIND-SET and 'secret policy maybe' here in Broward Public Schools! This is not the first time a parent has contacted me and asked me for help and what to do. Parents are being told something that just isn't TRUE when it comes to enrolling their Child *with Down syndrome into their neighborhood schools!

What CAN BE DONE about this ongoing DISCRIMINATION that parents are being told......?

SEEKING ADVICE about this all too common problem here in Broward County!

Would be nice to find out where MOST students with Down syndrome are attending school and what sorts of classrooms they are being educated in. Is there a way to find out this information? Someone please help make this "situation" right.....it is just not right! How would YOU feel if you were told oh no your Child can't come to THIS SCHOOL.......we may not be able to "meet your Child's needs here."

Really......just want schools to ACCEPT our Children and TEACH THEM! Is that asking too much?

This annoys me more than a little................................

Have a delightful day!

*Become a FOLLOWER of this Blog and share it with others. Thanks!

Dad v. Autism: Dad v. Summer School

Dad v. Autism: Dad v. Summer School: "He probably could have been swimming... So Noah has gone to Summer School for the last three summers. It is paid for by the school system ..."


Thursday July 28, 2011         Dad v. Summer School

*Check out my cousin's blog....from Michigan before reading my post below.

I came to the same conclusion back when my little girl was in the 2nd grade! She took the 3rd grade FCAT and failed with flying colors! Because of that...she was 'entitled to attend' the 3rd grade READING CAMP for all 3rd graders that didn't pass the FCAT. That was a BLOG story I posted back then about when she was attending the Reading Camp. The Principal of the Summer ESY Program and the Reading Camp for 3rd graders, took one look at my daughter and very loudly (and unprofessionally) in front of the entire cafeteria filled with students and staff....told me that my daughter needed to 'go over to the OTHER SIDE' of the divider in the cafeteria where all the other ESY students were. She very rudely stated, that she needed to be in Mrs. SoInSo's classroom! I will find the date of that blog posting...it's a sad but true story of just how much PREJUDGMENT still goes on with people....especially Administrators that are 'in charge' of lots of our kiddo's! Here is the blog post from THAT wonderful experience!!
Blatant Socially Accepted Discrimination 3rd Grade Reading Camp? June 22 - July 24, 2009

ESY ~ Extended School Year for our Kiddo's that NEED the intensive help to gain academic skills so they don't LOOSE any of their academic progress over the summer time break is a great and wonderful program for students. ESY classrooms are filled with wonderful teachers and staff that work over the summer. ESY is NOT an INCLUSIVE General Education type classroom setting, the Children all have an IEP ~ Individual Education Plan/Program with the SUMMER TIME high priority academic and "educationally relevant" therapeutic needs to be worked on during the short and sweet time frame over the summer months.

I have personally gone and done OBSERVATIONS of her ESY classrooms on several occasions to each of the ESY school sites over the years from the time she just 3 years old till when she had just finished attending the 2nd grade. I personally meet her new Summer time ESY teachers, staff and principals at my daughters ESY schools. THIS IS A MANDATORY IN MY BOOK to do each year you send your kiddo off to ESY!! I tell parents all the time...give the ESY school site 3 days to 'get settled' and before the end of that very first week of ESY....make contact with the ESY office staff and set up an observation time. Once you have gotten a teeny tiny snap-shot of your kiddo's ESY day and a feel for the program, you will know without a doubt if ESY will be best for your kiddo! Sign up for it and attend....but do an observation and know more about what the ESY school day is really all about and meet and know who the teacher and staff are that will be responsible for your Kiddo!


Is there classwork and homework during the summer ESY program? Have you seen or not seen classwork coming home or notes from the teacher or staff?....do all you can to see and make sure it's going to be the BEST use of every ones time to have your Child continue into the 2nd week! You will know before the end of week 2 if it is going to be worth a darn. PS ...remember that observations are not the time to TALK or have big old long conversations about your Child with the teacher....it is an observation...and many times...not always a true snap-shot of how the 'academic' day really goes along. It might even be an observation of an ALL HANDS ON DECK type of situation...not real at all of how the day actually is.

Support staff....find out WHO ARE THEY? The main ESY teacher....WHO ARE THEY? What school do they teach at during the school year? What sort of classroom are they used to teaching and what types 'disabilities' do they have training and certification in to teach? It is just good practice as a parent sending your Child off to school, to KNOW the Certification their teachers hold. Here is the Teacher Certification LOOK-UP link for the Florida Department of Education: http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/public.asp  This link is something you should know how to use and be using on a regular basis for all teachers and staff! Mark it as a favorite and put it on the computer desk top for quick reference. Share it with other parents!! Know what all your teachers & staff are CERTIFIED IN to teach! Know the members of your IEP TEAM and what they are CERTIFIED IN TO TEACH! Make sure your IEP TEAM are the REQUIRED IEP TEAM MEMBERS and are CERTIFIED in what they say they are at the IEP meeting.

I am all for ESY ~ for students that need it! I am all for parents being INVOLVED AND ABLE TO SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES WHO IS TEACHING OUR CHILDREN! I encourage everyone to make sure you get the first and last name of every single person that ever works with your Child. Look up their teacher certifications on the State Department of Education websites and know what they are certified in. I am NOT for taking hours and hours of total 'fluff' to determine ESY 'eligibility' and to also take hours to write an ESY IEP! I am all for DISAGREEING to anything you do and/or don't believe is what your Child needs from his/her ESY program.

Parents are taken on an EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER RIDE of emotions over the IEP process as it is....why do 'they' put on such a show for the ESY ELIGIBILITY IEP meeting and waste so much time with what should be basically simple and easy to do for our kiddo's!! I have attended some ESY IEP meetings that turned into 4 hour Circus Acts and for what...for the fact 'the IEP determined' that the Child only 'qualified for 2 HOURS per week on a MONDAY!!! Really.....the Child has a MATRIX of 253-254 and would only NEED 2 HOURS PER WEEK ON A MONDAY?? That particular parent learned how to sign 2 different DUE PROCESS PAPERWORK THAT DAY! It did not go to Due Process and low and behold 'the right' amount of days and the right amount of time was provided to that Child for ESY that year!

ESY ~ It's a GREAT Program! It's the process of getting 'qualified & eligible' and the correct and needed amount of time the student will be able to attend the program for. Always remember it's 'the IEP TEAM that determines' how many weeks and how many days the student qualifies too attend for. Being told many times that, "the ESY Program is for the really BAD KIDS" or "it's for the REALLY INVOLVED kids"......(I have heard these similar type comments said way too many times when I attend IEP meetings with parents!) Getting it all written on the IEP document is all fine and dandy....but like any SPECIAL EDUCATION Supports & Services, YOU have to be part of the TEAM!!

ESY CAN BE WHAT YOU MAKE IT TO BE BY YOUR BEING INVOLVED!! Establish COMMUNICATION between home and ESY teacher and school. Ask for HOMEWORK and send it back to the ESY Teacher everyday. I had an ESY teacher that was so happy I wrote a daily note and said I was, "THE FIRST PARENT TO EVER DO THAT at ESY!!" (I really hope not!!) Do you know the Daily SCHEDULE and the OT, PT, ST person that will be seeing your Child and for how long and where? Do you know who the classroom assistant is and what they do during the regular school year and what school they work at? Do you know the age of the other classmates? Are they a lot older than your little one? What grade are most of the other classmates? Are they students with challenging behaviors that your Child doesn't have now and absolutely does NOT need to be 'watching n learning' from as well? THIS STUFF IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW! Our Children need a good classroom that is tailored to their needs, not tailored to the 'schools needs' or the 'teachers needs' or the Administrators needs....it IS about YOUR Child's needs! Be a confident advocate and do what is BEST for YOUR Child!

Raise the bar on EXPECTATIONS....from everyone! If you don't communicate to the ESY TEACHER & STAFF at which they probably did not attend the ESY IEP meeting or may not even ever see the IEP! Most ESY teachers are just meeting your Child for the first time and don't know your Child at all or may not have even laid eyes on your Child's IEP document or ever seen the ESY "PLAN".

Say YES 2 ESY! ~ Do YOUR part as a parent and go OBSERVE the classroom you are sending your Child to over the summer! MEET THE TEACHER & the ESYAdministrator!

Look for FUN over the summer.....HOME SCHOOL the ACADEMICS if you can....Create your own school work! YOU KNOW your Child BEST! Be the summer teacher....and have FUN with your Child!

School is around the corner....DUST OFF THOSE IEP's and start planning for the real goals that absolutely need to be mastered within 1 school year!

Have a FUN Summer!


*Share this BLOG with others on your FACEBOOK PROFILE & become a FOLLOWER of this BLOG! Let's pump it up everyone! Share the resources that are out there for parents and staff to learn from!

Phone-Bridge to Broward ESE Advisory Executive meeting tonight & listed

http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/studentsupport/ese/html/AdvisoryMeetings.htm

This just posted on the OFFICIAL Broward Schools ESE Department web page ~ THANK YOU.

ESE Advisory Council Executive Board Meetings



Dates for ESE Advisory Council Executive Board meetings at the South Area Office Harrison Blvd, Sunrise Training Room A 6-9:00 PM have been confirmed.



Phone- Bridge will be available.



Phone Number: (754)321-0810 Meeting ID: 957100



You may call into the meeting five minutes prior to the scheduled start time.



July 14

July 21

July 28

August 4th

August 11th

August 18th

August 25th



Ivan Baratz, ESE Advisory Chair is requesting the following statement be placed in the ad:-



For additional information please contact

Ivan Baratz, Chair-ESE Advisory Council

e-mail: makeadifference4kids@yahoo.com

cell phone number: (954) 292-8444

Finally a baby DAYTIME SOAP STAR with Down syndrome!

Fantastic story of a new little guy just a few months old got the part as TV Soap Star!! All I have to say...."IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

When will there be an AMERICAN Daytime Soap Star with Down syndrome? Wouldn't THAT be something for all of us to 'watch' how the story line grows and unfolds? Come on GENERAL HOSPITAL!!!!

SOAP STAR! - Local - Ballymoney Moyle Times
CLICK THE ABOVE for complete story ~ Enjoy!

Believe in me...and I'll believe in me.

Wish ALL schools had this attitude!

Down Syndrome - A mother - A Foundation - A Child 04/17 by The Coffee Klatch | Blog Talk Radio

Down Syndrome - A mother - A Foundation - A Child 04/17 by The Coffee Klatch | Blog Talk Radio

Saving another High School Diploma for someone!!

Going today to help save another high school diploma for someone! I swear....the weeks that lead up to students taking the Florida FCAT exam our IEP "teams" get geared up and start getting my parents all excited about an IEP meeting....and the bottom line reason for these meetings is to ask the couple of questions to the "IEP TEAM" and to get that student off the regular diploma track!...so they don't have to give that student the FCAT! I say....they need to change their ATTITUDE towards certain individuals that have a certain disability and have HIGHER EXPECTATIONS and continue to teach them to the Sunshine State Standards and do a better job of teaching ALL students with disabilities!!

What is with our Public School system today that they are so quick to put students on the SPECIAL DIPLOMA TRACK and have them take the ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT? I don't get it....why would anyone want to attend school for so many years and in the end they don't even get a HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA!? Who ARE these people sitting around our IEP "team" tables making life long academic decisions on behalf of our Children!

If you ask me.....that SPECIAL DIPLOMA is NOT so.......SPECIAL IF IT'S NOT A DIPLOMA AT ALL!! What parent wants to send their Children to school everyday and in the end they are working towards a NON HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA? I don't know many that would say yes to that! Our Children need a HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA!! Teach them to be able to get one!

Anyway....wish me luck in advocating for this very smart little guy that has been doing a wonderful job  academically. I am impressed with how well he has been doing in school. He has always shown us that he CAN DO IT!

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) ~

Elementary & Secondary Education - What is Inclusion?
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

Down syndrome in the 21st Century

Monday is WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY (3.21.11)

http://321fun.blogspot.com/2011/03/down-syndrome-in-21st-century.html

Great video to share with EVERYONE!

A for Accountability Award!

A for Accountability Award - we all should be working on this award!
Read over on the RIGHT HAND SIDE of this link (in the blue)...interesting reading for sure!

Everyone one of us needs to speak up for what is true and right!

Parent Advocates.org is a great resource - enjoy!

http://www.parentadvocates.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=484

Advocating ~ means being on your toes...

Advocating...

You are their first teacher of every little thing 

Celebrate big & small accomplishments

Stay up-to-date with current information

Be CONFIDENT in your parenting role

Praise & be Joyful in the little things

As a parent you do not get a day off 

Work together for the common goal

Being on your toes.....ALL the time

Stand tall knowing what you know 

Have good working relationships

Share with others your concerns

Educate one person at a time

Meet others in the same boat

Go to trainings & conferences

Attend National Conventions

You know your Child BEST 

Speak up for your Child

Guidance for Safety

Positive redirection 

Praise to success

Protect your Child

Share solutions

Be organized

Help others

Be strong

Volunteer

Smile

Love

Hug

Cry

'o)

Created by Nancy Linley-Harris

Feb. 24, 2011

IEP's & School books online via Broward's PORTAL.

http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/casdl/textbooks/index.asp

This is the PORTAL you absolutely should know how to access. This is where you can view your Child's school TEXTBOOKS and IEP's. Be sure you know your Child's SCHOOL ID# by heart. You can find your Child's ID# on the IEP and report cards.

Enjoy!

What exactly are the DD Medicaid Waivers?

What exactly are the DD Medicaid Waivers?

MEDICAID WAIVERS ~ fldd resources.org

If you still have not filled out the forms to have your child signed up and on the Medwaiver WAITLIST, here is the link with all the resources to help you with the process. JUST DO IT and get all the paperwork turned in and get going with it. If you need help or have questions and need help, please feel free to contact me and I would be happy to assist you.

Remember for the Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Waivers it is only for 5 specific documented disabilities:
1. CP
2. Autism
3. Spina Bifida
4. Mental Retardation
5. Prader-Wili syndrome
Sign up starts when the child is 3 years old,
don't keep putting it off...JUST DO IT!


http://www.flddresources.org./html/medicaid_waivers.htm

Pledge for Parental Involvement

Pledge for Parental Involvement

I pledge to support my child's education
to the best of my ability.
I will have high expectations for my child
to succeed in school and in life.
I will make my child's education a priority,
and model positive actions and attitudes.
I will partner with my child's school
to ensure I am informed and involved
in all aspects of my child's education,
and I will be an active advocate
for my child's education.
I understand that education is the key
to success, and will do everything I can
to nurture my child's ability to learn.

*November is Parental Involvement Month
I received this saying at a Title I Parent Training

Is she getting a good education today?

Just when you think you have the kinks out of all the school issues and things are running smoothly, something tugs inside of you to keep doing what we do and that is to continue to STAY ON TOP OF EVERY LITTLE THING that is or is not happeing at school with your Child, in my case with Mariah. When it comes to making sure our Children are being taught....really taught how to READ, WRITE & DO MATH, we have to continue to keep the lines of communication wide open regularly!

 With the long Christmas Break finally over and the New Year finally here...the first week of January is my time to send out a few emails to both Mark & Mariah's teachers and ask a few questions and make request for some help in a few of my areas of concern. I believe if parents get too comfortable with NOT being in contact with our Children's teachers and they don't have regular parent/teacher conferences or some kind of contact either small phone chats or emailing them it is easy for our Children to not be provided the support they need to help them learn.



I started my emailing the first day they were back in school and WOW what a whirl-wind of positive things start happening! When I inquire about certain things and they get back to me, it helps me know where I need to keep ON TOP OF THINGS better.



Parents if you haven't had a parent teacher conference in awhile or yet this year...absolutely it is time set one up and get reconnected to all the different teachers and have some discussions.



Emailing is my 'mode of communication' that I prefer to use when wanting to touch base and ask some questions on how things are going. I'm sure there are some teachers that dread any email coming from me or some parents, but to be honest..emailing teachers is the surest way to get the ball rolling with some good conversation about YOUR Child and how things are really going at school.



I encourage each of you to make contact with your Children's teachers & ESE Support people right about now, the first weeks of the New Year. Spring Break is just around the corner and in Florida we have the Standardized test called the FCAT. When its just before FCAT, that is ALL that is going on at school...preparing everyone how to do well on it! The end of another school year will be here before we know it. Make it a priority to keep good communication happening all the time with their teachers. Sending out an email once in awhile to get updates on some things is a good thing.



Set up a PLANNING MEETING with your Child's teachers, this is not an IEP meeting. This is a meeting that is alot more casual and free flowing with conversation about what's working, what's not working and what are some of the challenges teachers and you both are seeing. What are some of the wonderful things that are going on at home and while in school. I love doing MARIAH PLANNING MEETINGS in the middle of the school year especially when everyone comes to the table with an open mind and willing to share ideas and some possible new changes to how things have been going.



Right now, things are working out wonderful for Mariah's 5 grade year. She has 3 great teachers that are all good at emailing me back. The beginning of the year didn't start out so well because Mariah's homeroom/reading & math teacher refused to ever talk or communicate with me! She may have been good teacher but if she couldn't provide any parent/teacher communication...ever...not one email was ever replied back to, not one phone message I left for her was ever returned. I was a wreck at that time because of it! I wanted to have a parent/teacher conference around the 5th week of school just to touch base and discuss how things were going. We were having some MATH issues going on at the time. Needless to say, I finally had that parent/teacher conference close to the 13th week of school! If she wasn't going to ever talk to me than I guess I needed to be able to observe her classroom and to see how she worked with my daughter. What I saw during that classroom observation was my daughter being fully segragated and not included at all!! I was so upset by then that I had already spoken to the Principal and requested for a new teacher for my daughter.

Not only did Mariah get a new homeroom teacher, she got a new MATH teacher as well! Ever since the switch of teachers I have not had a problem with being able to communicate and have Mariah's teachers email me back. The classwork she brings home now tells me she is being provided an opportunity to be part of the classroom lessons and to do the best she can. She is learning so much this year in 5th grade!



If things don't seem right, chances are they aren't right! When things sent home from school show you that real learning took place, that is a great sign!. If you ever have a teacher that refuses to collaborate and communicate with you about your concerns for your Child's education and is unwilling to work with you on a regular basis, put in for a teacher change as quickly as you can! The school year goes by way too fast to waste a week or a month or a couple of months trying to make things work out with someone that probably doesn't believe in your Child like you need them to anyway. It's not about worrying about hurting someones feelings...it's about YOUR CHILD getting a good education and being able to have a good parent teacher relationship! If you have a teacher that doesn't give YOU the time of day...trade em in for a different one - QUICK!! It's all about PARENT INVOLVEMENT & if you have a teacher that doesn't want that or get that...request for a teacher that does! 



Mariah's new teacher is an absolute delight to work with! What a breath of fresh air to be able to have a teacher that actually wants to say hi to me and give me friendly updates about my daughter and on classroom stuff. It was not a fun time for me to have a teacher that refused to have any conversation with me about my daughter, it was something that totally took me for a loop, I just never expected it. *Isn't it part of a teachers job discription to talk to parents? .......sometime? 



Is she getting a good education today? Well..I know she loves going to school everyday and I know she has a good handful of nice friends that truly care about her. Her teachers are good people and they are doing the best they can helping my daughter do her personal best while she is in their classrooms. When parents & teachers are able to work together for the sake of the Child that is when everyone is learning! Teachers that embrace inclusion and aren't affraid of parents that want to be involved are the teachers become just better teachers because of it! Inclusion and having students with significant learning challenges in General Education Classrooms is not easy, I won't lie, but it is rewarding and at the end of the school year, that teacher with the open mind and the desire to teach ALL CHILDREN is the better teacher by far!! (Can I have an amen!) 



Having a student with Down syndrome fully included in a General Education classroom is not something that just happens overnight...it takes lots of collaboration and work from both parents & the teachers and it takes having 'talks'...either in person by having little planning meetings or shooting an email once in awhile or even a quick friendly phone conversation. Parents don't be affraid to have a NON-IEP PLANNING MEETING for your Child, some of the best ideas and ways your Child learns or how the teachers present lessons are talked about at these meetings.



Everyone touch base with your son or daughters teachers and get an update on things. Have a wonderfully productive January and a Healthy New Year!
 
www.dsadvocate.com

iPad & iPhone APPS for Communication help

iPad & iPhone APPS for Communication help

This is just a test to see if I can post from my iPhone...

BROWNSTOWN TWP.: Read 180 program at middle school help address specific reading needs (with video) - thenewsherald.com

Scholastic 180 program....has helped some students improve 1 grade level sometimes more in reading!!!
Amazing how well this Middle School is doing with this program. Please read the article by clicking on the link below.

BROWNSTOWN TWP.: Read 180 program at middle school help address specific reading needs (with video) - thenewsherald.com

ParentAdvocactes.org

Great website and resource!

http://www.parentadvocates.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=contribute

Most up to date Prenatal Testing for Down sydrome

Updated Prenatal Testing for Down sydrome info

Multiplication BINGO Game!

Multiplication BINGO Game!

Just found this on a great site that is also a really great resource for tutoring & online learning! Check it out! Click on the link above.

More Alike Than Different!

Inclusion is a Crazy IDEA?

People have a lot of different crazy ideas on what INCLUSION really is or what it should look like in a classroom or on a school campus. Inclusion is not a place, it's not sitting seperately away from other students, it's not a seperate classroom or going to visit a special teachers classroom and then going to the cafeteria to eat lunch in the same room as other students and then not sitting with your Gen. Ed classmates!

Inclusion is a community, it's a community that is accepting of differences and of everyone no matter what! Inclusion is a place where everyone is accepted and valued just as they are! Classrooms are made up of individuals, everyone is different and unique with different learning styles, hopes and dreams for their future! Inclusion is all together all the time! INCLUSION WORKS!

Consideration of Assistive Technology at IEP's?

DOES EVERY IEP TEAM NEED TO CONSIDER THE NEED FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY???

YES YES AND YES!!!

BUT DO THEY..?

ABSOLUTELY NOT AND TO GET OUR DISTRICT TO COME OUT AND DO AN 'AT TECH ASSIST' IS LIKE PULLING TEETH....THIS IS WRONG!!

OUR CHILDREN NEED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY YESTERDAY!!


http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/studentsuppor...t/ese/PDF/QuestionsAboutAT.pdf

Free & Reduced Lunch form

Apply for free or reduced lunch _online application CLICK HERE

Horses and the Handicapped Program 9/9/10

This is Mariah's 1st day back riding....the Summer break was too long to be away from riding! She was in such a great mood all day knowing she was going to be riding  STAR later. When we got there it was so good to see all her friends and her mommie's friends. Being back in class with her favorite girlfriends was the best! To see Sam, Caroline, Katie and Mariah all back together in the same class made ALL of us so HaPpY!! These girls have been riding together for years. Mariah has known Caroline & Katie back when they were little tiny new babies and Sam, Mariah met her at another riding stable when they both were real young, guess they have been riding together for maybe 6 years now.

In this video clip they had just gotten back from trail riding and were ending the class. They all looked great sitting high up on there own horses together again. This was taken using my iPhone! I am amazed at how easy it was to capture this quick snippet and post it to facebook so easily! I love my iPhone!!

BENSON goes to NOVA E ~ finally!!

(Below is an email I received from BENSON'S mom - just had to post here!)

Well I like to thank you Nancy for finally making it happen.... Benson is in Nova E Elem. like he was suppose to be last year because his name was picked out of the lottery. His 3 older sisters attend Nova too! He wasted a whole school year in a cluster program at another school in Broward! Oh sorry, not a whole school year, I forgot the 2 months that Broward County schools district left him behind without being in any school! I refused to let them force me to put my son in school I did not want him to go...his name was picked from the Nova E Lottery...that is where he was registered to go for Kindergarten...I went to the Kindergarten Round Up! Funny Nancy how they kept telling you and me how they had no record of him being registered there. How do they lose registrations of children after school starts?

I learned many things this past year:
1.) 90% of the people that say they know what is best for Benson, had never meet him.

2) there are beautiful laws that look good on paper, but make them work it is almost impossible.

3) definition of inclusion in broward county schools is a special need child inside a regular classroom as a guest and if possible far away from his peers.

4) discrimination from students toward special needs children starts with the way teachers introduce them to the peers.

5) if we could have more like "Nancy Harris" to advocate for our kids, cluster classrooms would be history, well maybe not for all but for those with Down syndrome anyway...

I don't really know how it will be at Nova E this year, I don't know how inclusion works in this school, what is the level of acceptance, but at least Benson is happy for now and that counts a lot for me and my family. I know we still have a long way to go, because while ignorance predominates the fight never ends for me to have good help for Benson to get an education in Broward Public schools. I am hopeful soon they will get it right and help me with my Benson because everyday is important for his education and his future success.

Thank you Nancy for not giving up on me or my son this past year!

Daniele ~ Benson's Mom

A brother loves his little sister so much!

God Doesn't Make Mistakes .......a video & song

This is just beautiful!! SHARE THIS WITH THE WORLD!

HOMEWORK POLICY ~ Broward Public Schools

HOMEWORK POLICY ~ Broward Public Schools
Hope this link (click above) is helpful!
It would be a good idea to print out the HOMEWORK POLICY and keep a copy handy whenever you have a parent teacher conference and need to make reference to your Child's homework. This policy says it all and I'm sure will be very useful for many!

Did you know it is suggested that the total time to do homework should be 10 minutes per the grade. So say a 5th grader should have a TOTAL of 50 minutes of homework and say a 9th grader should have a TOTAL of 90 minutes of homework assigned per day.

This homework policy was written by our school board members....let's be sure our Children benefit from it! Are teachers and staff aware of this policy and what it says? Tell another parent about this policy and share the link with them so they too can print it out and know what this policy states.

Enjoy!

Where is BENSON? ~ You remember BENSON....

For those of you that have been following my blog for awhile...you may remember a little 6 year old boy named, BENSON. He has Down syndrome and was being totally discriminated against in the fact that our school district would not allow him to attend a regular general education Kindergarten classroom. Why not? Because our wonderful IEP team members that are hired by our Broward School District insisted on having certain district 'assigned' individuals DICTATE to the mom exactly how much time her son would be removed from general education classrooms, it was written in stone that he needed to be 100% ESE Special Education classroom...we call that a CLUSTER classroom.

This little guy has 3 older sisters that attend a NOVA school and another older sister that graduated from a NOVA school. BENSON'S mom of course wanted her son to attend the same NOVA school all her other Children go to, so she signed BENSON up to be on the NOVA LOTTERY! He was put on the 'sibling Nova lottery list' and guess what....HIS NAME WAS PICKED!!! BENSON'S name was picked from the lottery and mom was delighted! It was a HaPpY time for the mom, his sisters and others that knew how much it meant to this family that BENSON be able to attend the same school and ride the same bus as his 3 older sisters! It was cause for celebration for sure! To be picked from the NOVA LOTTERY SYSTEM was an accomplishment few get! She registered him at NOVA and then attended the KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP at the beginning of last year...just 2 days before she was told that the school did not have a 100% ESE ROOM for BENSON to be in, so mom was told he could not attend their school now...that was such a blow to everyone's plan for BENSON and his sisters!
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Back at the beginning of the school year last year, I did several BLOG postings pertaining to BENSON and the stories that pertain to all the shenanigans that he and his mother had been put thru this last 2009-2010 school year at SNEAGLE RIDGE ELEMENTARY School. So much NONSENSE that no parent should ever have to put up with when dealing with the school we entrust our Child to!! That school absolutely needs to have some disability specific trainings and certainly needs to have the entire administration and its general education teachers taught POSITIVE INCLUSION TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES. The Gen. Ed. "nice" Kindergarten teacher BENSON was assigned, refused to even make simple EYE CONTACT with him on a regular basis, this was observed on several occassions. That teacher absolutely refused to INCLUDE BENSON to even the smallest degree...her attitude was carried over to her young students in that they all were 'on the look-out' for any little thing BENSON might do....those students followed her 'fine example' to DISCRIMINATE and not accept BENSON, just because he was different and had  Down syndrome. The opportunity and the lessons that teacher missed teaching all her students is lost...his 'regular Kindergarten classroom peers' missed out on a very valuable lesson called....ACCEPTANCE...acceptance for those that are a little different than you and me. BENSON WAS NOT INCLUDED IN GEN. ED KINDERGARTEN this last school year at Sneagle Ridge...because his Gen. Ed teacher and the staff and administrators mind-set is behind the times in that they just don't get it...they are not interested in getting it either!! How do I know this? Because I was by this mom's side the entire school year with trying to communicate to BENSON'S school and trying to create a well written IEP and trying to get the supports and services BENSON needed! This school very much BELIEVES in clustering students with disabilities into seperate classrooms and when they on occassion blend two Kindergarten classrooms together I saw with my own eyes the attitude not only from the administration, but more importantly from the other classroom students. They did not want to sit 'too close to those students' on the carpet during a blended class time inside the library for Media Special.

The students with disabilities are pretty much taught all together in their own Special Needs classroom, not mainstreamed or included. BENSON'S mom wanted her son to be given the opportunity to learn along side typically developing classmates so he could learn from them....so he could copy what they were doing. She knew that....yes he absolutely needed help and assistance especially to help him to follow classroom rules and to keep his hands to himself and not touch others. The assistant and the ESE teacher at this school very much believed in frequently giving fish crackers and/or Cheetos throughout his entire 'school day' as the way to get BENSON to 'learn'.....this was sickening to watch being done...YES BENSON liked the food treats, but it so wasn't written on his IEP whatsoever to use food reinforcements to get him to comply! Did anyone read his IEP? Where did that come from or is that a way some teachers were taught they had to do for certain individuals to motivate them to stay on task? I think that way is great for DOG TRAINING for sure!

Since BENSON had only been provided the most minimal of opportunities to be part of a General Education Class room, I saw with my own eyes that not much of any real Inclusion was practiced at this school. NEVER would I ever recommend this particular school to anyone ....especially for a child with a disability like Down syndrome! The Administration's mindset is out dated and discriminatory. Inclusion is not encouraged or understood at SNEAGLE RIDGE ELEMENTARY, and because of that I would absolutely request that this school be provided with QUALITY Disability Specific Training and also to have FIN-Florida Inclusion Network provide all the teachers and staff with POSITIVE INCLUSION STATEGIES Sessions! Oh and I absolutely would never recommend this particular school to anyone!!

This school is only one of many across our Country that have this same outdated way of thinking about our little kiddo's and their ABILITIES to learn to READ, WRITE & DO MATH! I am a firm believer that with the right teacher with an open mind and lots of room for flexibility to the way they have always 'taught' classes...our kiddo's require a lot of being flexible yet being firm with what your expectations are about each Child....the point is....TREAT OUR CHILDREN WITH RESPECT AND TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO READ AND DO MATH AND ALL THE OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS A CHILD ATTENDS SCHOOL FOR!

The time is now, our Children's future depends on everyone DOING THEIR PART in providing a FAPE and BELIEVING in them that they absolutely are capable and able to learn just as anyone else....yes it might be at a slower pass or a different way. Bottom line is...everyone has the right to be taught along side their neighborhood friends, in their neighborhood school. Let's start doing the right thing for the future of our Children!