Which High Schools are including students with Down syndrome respectfully into General Education classrooms?

Where are the best High Schools for students with Down syndrome Included nicely? What kind of High School is everyone happy with? Public or Private schools? Homeschooling? Is the McKay or PLSA Scholarship Funds being used instead? (PLSA-Personal Learning Scholarship Account)

What is the current trend for students with Down syndrome  for an inclusive High School experience? 

I am looking ahead and don't see much positive inclusive Public High Schools around where I live, we may have to relocate. 💔 We live in South Florida, the Fort Lauderdale area and inclusion is a long drawn out ugly fight here in Broward County Public Schools! Wish inclusion was the norm, but it's not here.

High School parents....need to hear what's the real deal going on out there across the Country and here in Florida.

💛💙💛

Need to hear from High School families on how is inclusion is really working out, especially with the new rule of the Standard Diploma for students with disabilities.

💛💙💛

BEST IDEA YET COMING OUT OF FLORIDA ON COMMON CORE!

This is the BEST IDEA I've heard to date coming out of Florida about the COMMON CORE!! 

Share this far and wide ~ you the TAXPAYERS!!!

Published on Jan 28, 2015 by Chris Quackenbush from the Florida Citizens' Alliance explains the Florida Education Stakeholders Empowerment Act

http://youtu.be/cwk5p9SCDHE

www.floridacitizensalliance.com ~ visit the website and share this with others 

http://youtu.be/r1-notNA_hY

Take the time to watch these two short You Tube video's-share this info to STOP COMMON CORE IN FLORIDA!

Florida Teacher's Union Continues Fight Against School Choice Low Income Scholarships

WASTING MONEY IS WHAT I SEE. 

Public Tax Dollars should absolutely be used for a Free Appropriate Education aka FAPE! If that means at a Private School then everyone should be asking WHY are Students going to Private Schools?

We are all TAX PAYERS! - If my Local Public School District doesn't want / refuses to Academically Educate my child because the District Admins, Principals & Teachers all think it's still AOK in 2015, to DISCRIMINATE & SEGREGATE (SECLUDE & RESTRAIN) so many ESE Students into often times Non-Academic ESE ONLY Classrooms, then there goes a large population of students NOT receiving FAPE!

The Teachers Unions & Districts today seem to only care about protecting their own, the teachers, not the students it seems anymore.

To automatically place students into ESE ONLY classrooms, without Camera's and to see that the Districts continue to rehire or shift disciplined bad teachers to another school or into another district, is shameful. That puts more & more Students (ESE especially) at risk for Abuse and/or worst to go YEARS without an Academic Education!!

ALL Students ~ EVERYONE are entitled to FAPE!

Stop wasting your union money with fighting this battle and maybe focus on making sure there are good (great, quality, wonderful, caring, flexible, happy, certified, etc.) teachers in ALL Classrooms!

Protect our Children's Right to A Free Public Education for All Students.

http://freebeacon.com/issues/fl-teachers-union-vows-to-continue-fight-against-school-choice-despite-defeat/

FL Teacher’s Union Vows to Continue Fight Against School Choice Despite Defeat

http://dailysignal.com/2015/01/05/union-lawsuit-florida-school-choice-programs-dismissed-battle-continues/

In this CLASSROOM...

Beautiful & REAL INCLUSION going on in this Classroom!!!

Mariah would say, "See...Easy!!"

Retaliation? Happening to yet another teacher in Broward? Say it isn't so!

This seems to be just how they like to do things in Broward. Especially if you are a GOOD TEACHER! 
Doesn't seem to a nice place to work, even if its the 2nd largest school district in the State. Why am I seeing a pattern here with GOOD PEOPLE reporting wrong doing and then all sorts of pure nonsense starts happening?

I want to know why the District gets away with not following their own Policies & Procedures? 

The lawsuit was filed by the Reading coach Barbara "Chrissy" Pomper from Cypress Run Education Center in Pompano Beach

http://media.trb.com/media/acrobat/2014-10/23456498786540-15135650.pdf
*Chrissy Pomper is the Sister-in-Law of our Current District 3 School Board Member, Heather Brinkworth. This sort of stuff happens with our School Board members families??? NICE!!!

I feel for any family (teacher or parent) that is going thru white collar bullying via the mile high pure nonsense that is allowed to take place here in our Public Schools. Especially when someone has "reported on" something the administration is getting away with doing or not doing. I found myself sitting in the same office, yup the same Mr. Blackburns office. At the time he was the overseer of all the 100+ Central Area Schools, that included all the Principals. Reporting to Mr. Blackburn back then amounted to a bunch of silly and pure nothing and if anything the very Principal that I was reporting as doing some really nasty vindictive stuff towards me, was allowed to 'carry on' and was probably praised for his 'white collar' bullying of a parent, an ese parent and the SAF Chair of the school. I have heard that this same bully Principal has still been at it and I've heard that most of the Teachers have left the school because of, let's say....poor leadership or maybe he really was a BULLY!! Principals are Protected in Broward by the Superintendent to do whatever they want, even though it maybe ethic or not. Principals have the blessing of the District Administrators and the Superintendent to do whatever they please, even if it's morally and ethically wrong.

Something has to change here in Broward, with how GOOD PEOPLE are treated. That includes ALL the Students, the Parents and certainly OUR TEACHERS! 
Allied  I am a concerned parent that knows what it's like to be White Collar Bullied by the Administration of my daughters school & the entire ESE Department & School Staff. I was Retaliated against for Speaking Out and Changing Laws!
ead the latest LAWSUIT against Broward Public School District below:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-cypress-run-lawsuit-20141015-story.html

Here is the actual LAWSUIT: 
Move your mouse over and CLICK 

A Reading coach 
Barbara "Chrissy" Pomper

Cypress Run Education Center in Pompano Beach

vs.

Broward County Public Schools

A REAL High School Diploma ~ Now we're Talking!!

*Click on Photo above to enlarge photo.

SB 850 2014 ~ Florida

STANDARD DIPLOMA for Students with Disabilities!!!!!!!! 

Now maybe it's safe to go back to Public Education! 

*BTW ~ THANK YOU to EVERYONE that has Advocated Hard On The Steps 4 CHANGE!!! Today there is New Progress with the MIND-SET & LAWS in the EDUCATION BUSINESS pertaining to our many Students with UNIQUE ABILITIES and their RIGHT TO EARN A STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA!!!

THANK YOU FLORIDA ADVOCATES!!

Nancy Linley-Harris 

August 8th, 2014 

Here is the link to the PDF Doc. that explains about SB 850 Click highlighted link below here:

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-7134/dps-2014-136.pdf

Nancy's doing the HaPpY Dance...the HaPpY Dance!!!

Can't wait to see how IEP meetings DO THINGS NOW!!!! Maybe it's Safe to have Mariah Elizabeth attend a Broward County Public Schools again?? Nahhhhhh not yet!! We're having too much Fun doing things OUR WAY right now! Not ready to go thru the IEP Process again....yet.

God Bless everyone during your 2014-2015 school year IEP meetings! 

This is BIG CHANGE to the Mindset and maybe the attitude of some, I hope so anyway. I know a few people that should now be BLUSHING IN SHAME for the way many of our students have been shamefully NOT Educated to Learn & Earn a REAL High School Diploma! I know that's all I have ever thought my children would Graduate with! 

Dreams really do come true folks!!

VOTE NO ~ NO MORE TAXES for BCPS on Nov. 2014!!!!!

Watching Juliet Hibbs YouTube.com Channel called: Hibbs4Change 
https://www.youtube.com/user/HibbsforChange

AMAZING Pubic Comments Juliet!! 
I like how you have never given up!
Listening to your Hibbs4Change YouTube Channel in the background. 
*Nice how it loops around and goes from video to the next video.  Click highlighted link to listen.

The Broward DBHS Teacher of the Year was Bullied too???!! 

Keep up the ADVOCACY you do!

BROWARD VOTERS for Education NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH!

VOTE NO 
VOTE NO
VOTE NO 
VOTE NO
VOTE NO 
NO MORE TAXES for BCPS on Nov. 2014!!!!!

SB 850 The year of the "PLSA's" ~ Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts & No More WORTHLESS High School Diplomas!

Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts

~The money is going to go to Parents who have REJECTED FAPE??? 
Are you kidding me? 
What most Parents of Students with Disabilities want IS FAPE!! Parents prepare as best they can to go to IEP meetings prepared to help their Child get the Support & Services they know their Child needs, then the FIGHT BEGINS!!! Parents have to learn how to Advocate and do a quick-study to be almost like a lawyer for their child at what begins the gut wrenching IEP meetings. Expecting and hoping to just get a well written IEP that MAKES SENSE!! Especially for our Children with the most significant learning challenges.

I WOULD NEVER REJECT A FREE AND APPROPRIATE EDUCATION for my Children!!!...but the District can FIGHT ME TOOTH AND NAIL at every meeting! Just t FIGHT ME in Due Process, State Complaints and OCR Complaints and say that these Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts will be going to those Parents that REJECTED FAPE at their Public School. 

Public Education for ESE across the State should stop playing the absolute pure nonsense games and trickery that goes on at too many "THE IEP TEAM" Meetings. Schools need to provide Parents and the students rights to IDEA....without so much fighting and fussin and going to court over...oh goodness this stuff makes me angry!

As an Advocate for 12 years, listening to way too many phone calls from hurt and frustrated parents calling to tell me what was or wasn't happening to their child and what is going on at their child's school

What happened to me personally, as a parent wanting to help my daughter get a good education.~
~ I didn't reject FAPE!!! 
~ I rejected the LOW EXPECTATIONS from staff and teachers at her new Middle School.
~ I rejected the BAD PLACEMENT the school wanted for my child.
~ I rejected the idea of EXCLUDING her from ever sitting in General Education Classroom again. 
~ I rejected DENYING her right to her STEM Class, which they all knew was her FAVORITE CLASS!
~ I rejected the schools out-dated practices.
~ I rejected the IEP TEAM that seemed to have the Districts Blessings to PUSH & BULLY me thru 10 IEP meeings in a 7 month time span! 
~ I rejected their idea to FORCE my child off receiving a Standard Diploma at Graduation!
~ I rejected the STRESS it was causing to our entire family.
~ I rejected the hurt it caused to my daughter.
~ I rejected the PURE NONSENSE and the unfriendly staff that was out to TAKE AWAY from my daughter's education.

It's really sad when families feel they are being forced out of the Public School System and "FAPE", because IDEA is NOT always provided! So if it's not being provided anyway...if a family decides to homeschool or enroll in a Private school, what are they walking away from...really? The McKay Scholarship has been a GIFT for us to find a school where we felt welcomed and my children feels VALUED & RESPECTED!

There are schools that provide a RICH QUALITY EDUCATION that provides for the Whole Child and that includes the Family too! Making families feel welcomed and including them in educational decisions shouldn't have to be a fight.  

If we hadn't filed for our INTENT to use the McKay Funds during a certain time period then the PLSA/Personal Learning Scholarship Account would be available. Not all Parents can access the McKay Funds for whatever reason. So the PLSA's are going to help those children.

Parents want to TRUST Schools & Teachers to do the right things and provide IDEA at the very least. 

Quoted from: 
JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, TIMES STAFF WRITER
Blog: The Gradebook

Special education advocates offer different perspective on Florida voucher plan.

"However, on the last day, many of the terms recommended by CEES that had been included in the vastly different versions of this voucher bill for the entire Session evaporated in one amendment placed on a totally different bill. The new bill (SB 850) would greatly benefit some parents and students while potentially injuring the ability for others to receive the services they deserve and leading to predictable fraud and abuse. A total of $18.4 million was allocated to provide these new services, primarily to students whose parents had already rejected receiving FAPE through their public schools. More than six times the “new” money was allocated for these vouchers than was provided as an increase for the ESE Guaranteed Allocation."

http://www.tampabay.com/resources/documents
The organization had other concerns, not often heard, on issues including funding, diplomas and testing.~ Read the full summary here./2014/06/Final_CEES_2014_Session_Report__3_.pdf

SESSION OVERVIEW
http://www.tampabay.com/resources/documents/2014/06/Final_CEES_2014_Session_Report__3_.pdf

FL Gov. Rick Scott signs into law Personal Learning Accounts ~ THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!

FL Gov. Rick Scott signs school choice expansion bill 

Good move Florida Gov. Rick Scott!! Because of signing into law SB 850, more families will now have the option to send their children to Private schools, especially when things aren't always going so well at Public schools.

Click the link below to read a really well explained news article pertaining to the new Senate Bill 850.
http://www.redefinedonline.org/2014/06/scott-signs-school-choice-legislation/

Florida Establishes Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts ~ Governor Scott Signs Bill Giving Families More Choices for Students with Special Needs - Read more at: 
http://excelined.org/news/8855/#sthash.bED1wbCW.dpuf

From ~ Florida Politics Blog
After daylong standoff, Legislature sends Gov. Rick Scott a school-voucher expansion
By Aaron Deslatte
Tallahassee Bureau Chief
May 2, 2014

Senator Gardiner like our family, is raising a child with Down syndrome. For our children to be successful in life, a good education is a must! Sen.Gardiner said, 
"(SB 850) that also creates "personal learning accounts" for special-needs students and abolishes "special diplomas" -- a priority of incoming Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, who has said the diplomas are worthless and wants universities to instead work to develop better technical training.

"That's pretty important to me," Gardiner said.

Thank you, Senator Gardiner for standing up for what should already be for our Children with Down syndrome and students with UNIQUE ABILITIES! YES!!! This is such an important Law for so many people!! 

http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2014/jun/19/nan-rich/vouchers-take-3-billion-out-public-schools-nan-ric/

What IS Common Core? Do you know? ~ Now Called Different Names = Mean the Same

Brilliant anti-Common Core Speech by Dr. Duke Pesta




NGA
ICCR

What would qualify Governers to rewrite education?

Media ~ Tell the FULL STORY of Taxpayers Money in Broward Public ESE Education

The part of this Sun Sentinel News story that wasn't included is the fact that Broward Public Schools is NOT doing their part with TAXPAYER MONEY for many students with learning disabilities either. 

Parents are retaliated against for Advocating for the much needed services for their child via the IEP Process. Many Principals, District Admins and teachers have an outdated mindset for some students with IEP's and don't want to do the right things by many ESE Students. THANK GOD for the McKay and that there are the different VOUCHERS for parents to make the choice to remove their children from Broward County Public Schools so they CAN GO ELSEWHERE where there are NO HASSLES and our Children and Parents are treated with RESPECT when Advocating for the much needed services and supports parents know their children need. 

Sun Sentinel ~ Tell the REAL STORY of why parents are LEAVING Broward Public schools for Private or Charter. 

The Public Schools are NOT USING TAXPAYERS MONEY as they should be on our Special Needs Students...they are WAREHOUSING THEM into NON-ACADEMIC - NON-DIPLOMA Track ESE Cluster Classrooms and some families want more for their Children than what Broward Public Schools wants to do for our children. 

Enough is enough and parents have the choice and the right to take their Child's Taxpayers money's and 'shop elsewhere'.!! 

Wish the Sun-Sentinel would tell the FULL Story of what really is or is not going on with ESE students and families in Broward Schools!

*Sun Sentinel interview some of the parents that have withdrawn their children with IEP's from attending a Broward Public School and ask them WHY and what are the real reasons they enroll their children in Private and Charter schools. 

Tell the FULL STORY of how our Taxpayer monies are being used in Public Education here in Broward. ESE Monies!!

Click link here for Sun Sentinel story: 
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-mckay-scholarship-no-ese-20140606,0,7092946.story

Click link here for Sun Sentinel data base MAP to Private & Charter schools in Broward:
http://databases.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/schoolmap/#/?address=110%20Southeast%2010th%20Avenue%2C%20Fort%20Lauderdale%2C%20FL%2C%20United%20States%20Florida%20Florida&radius=16100

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)

Broward could make history with ‘charter conversion’ - Schools - MiamiHerald.com

Broward could make history with ‘charter conversion’ - Schools - MiamiHerald.com

Inspire Inclusion By Dr. Julie Causton ~ VIDEO #2: Legal Aspects of Inclusive Education

Inspire Inclusion

Video #2: Legal Aspects of Inclusive Education Dr. Julie Causton 

http://www.inspireinclusion.com/video-2-legal-aspects-of-inclusive-education/ HERE

IDEA Supplementary Aides & Services Check List to take to IEP meetings! HERE

http://www.inspireinclusion.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/checklist_full.pdf HERE

I am thankful for and inspired to share with you one of the Top Experts in supporting Inclusion for ALL students into neighborhood schools & classrooms they would attend if they didn't have a disability! ~ Dr. Julie Causton

Her Video's and website are JAMMED PACKED with the tools needed to Advocate for our Children to be provided an Inclusive Education. Sign up to receive more useful resources Dr. Julie Causton provides!

This is the Meat & Potatoes!!!!
Have a Great Day!
Pass it on!! 

Nancy and Mariah
321 Fun ~ Mariah's Life!

Special Education is Not a Place: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act By Lily Clausen, Isabel Frye and Chloe Marsh Junior Division

Special Education is Not a Place
U.S. Department of Education sent this bulletin at 05/21/2014 11:21 AM EDT

Special Education is Not a Place: 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
By Lily Clausen, Isabel Frye and Chloe Marsh
Junior Division

This website was created by 3, seventh graders. 
Pass this GREAT RESOURCE on to others! I think they did an absolutely fantastic job on their project!

http://65454531.nhd.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/7/8/25788665/process_paper.pdf

http://65454531.nhd.weebly.com/

* OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ~ A Due Process for an IEE in Broward County 5/21/14

Who wants to sit in on a Live DUE PROCESS HEARING to LEARN the "PROCESS" of a Due Process? A Due Process with a ALJ / Administrative Law Judge for an IEE / Independent Evaluation in Broward County. 

A Broward Mom has requested for it to be OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Let me know! Come and LEARN the "Process" of an IEE Due Process at 9AM - May 21st, 2014.

The Hearing site is on Commercial Blvd. South side of Commercial Blvd West of 95 at: 
1400 W. Commercial Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

This below address was not the correct place for today's meeting. 
(*The 'game played' on that is another blog story!) 
This below address is where Due Process Meetings could be held, so I am keeping the address listed on the blog for future reference.

Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims 
Building I 
Suite 200 (2nd Floor at top of the Stairs)
4500 N. State Rd. 7 
Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319
(954) 714-3400 Ext. 111

Let me know if you will be there for the hearing!! 
Great Learning Opportunity to learn the PROCESS of a DUE PROCESS.

Is this the SB 1108 Parent Signature for DIPLOMA OPTION that Parents have to sign YES or NO?

Appendix C
Florida Department of Education 
Parental Consent Form/Prior Written Notice 
Instruction in the State Standards Access Points Curriculum and 
Florida Alternate Assessment Administration

SB 1108 Parent Signs off on DIPLOMA OPTION click here
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/studentsupport/ese/PDF/ParentConsent%20FAA_AccessPoints_Eng.pdf

Customize your Child's Special Education with Florida Personal Learning Accounts SB 5103

CS/SB 5103 
This Bill takes effect July 1st, 2014

Students with Disabilities; Establishes Florida Personal Learning Account Program to enable parents of students with disabilities to customize their child's education using wide range of instructional services; provides student eligibility, responsibilities for program participation, administration & funding of Florida Personal Learning Accounts, & DOE, nonprofit scholarship-funding organization, & school district obligations.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2014/5103/ByVersion

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2014/5103/Analyses/h5103a.EDAS.PDF

PERSONAL LEARNING ACCOUNTS!
Down syndrome, Autism, Occupational Therapy, Medical Services, TUTORING, EDUCATIONAL CHOICES, Academic Services, Private Schooling. Thinking of HOMESCHOOLING? Are you already HOMESCHOOLING? Annual Evaluation, Educational Progress, HIGH ACCOUNTABILITY for how the Funds are spent! Cross Referenced with APD. Cross over with the McKay Funds. 

Watch and Hear some HEROIC MOMS provide PUBLIC TESTIMONY! 
Julie Kleffel ROCKED the House!! 
The Bill Passed!! 

This is GREAT NEWS that will mean FINANCIAL HELP to many parents raising Children with Special Needs!

*PASS IT ON SO THOSE INTERESTED KNOW ABOUT THIS EXCITING NEW BILL*
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/VideoPlayer.aspx?eventID=2443575804_2014031151&committeeID=2711 
CLICK HERE to view WARRIOR MOMS ADVOCATING FOR THEIR CHILDRENS' EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS IN SUPPORT OF PERSONAL LEARNING ACCOUNTS.

Where's the Advocate today?

BENSON HaPpY!!! Priceless!!!

BENSON HaPpY!!! Priceless!!!!!!

Awe Mommie!!!! I am so HaPpY for Benson and You!!! This is what has been needed for so long for Benson......SUPPORT!!!! 

Thank you Community!!

A Father's Sacrifice ~ Thomas S. Vander Woude ~ Focus on the Family

A Father's Sacrifice
Focus on the Family 

Published on Mar 19, 2014
Thomas S. Vander Woude gave his life for his youngest son, Joseph. In this video, members of the Vander Woude family remember their husband and dad. They also share what Thomas' life and death taught them about living life well, sacrifice... and faith.

https://www.youtube.com/user/FocusOnTheFamilyUSA

Tis the Season for Filing State Complaints & Going to Due Process in Florida.

Close to the end of another the school year is in the air! This is when I hear about a few Due Process & State Complaints being filed during this time of year.

My phone is ringing with pleading parents wanting to know what to do now, because they are concerned and fed up with a situation that's been going on for too long now at their Child's school. Some are concerned their child isn't being provided therapies during FCAT time, and other basic violations to IDEA.

I have been getting a few phone calls pertaining to Occupational Therapy and it has been taken away from their child at school and parents don't know what to do. 

Wondering what to do about a situation that needs to change at school? 

Now is the time to know what the Procedural Safeguards are and to finally DO SOMETHING about it! 

My Best Advice to you is: 
FILE!!! Just Do It & FILE!

Google your State Dept. of Education and look up and read all about what is a "Due Process" and/or "How to File a State Complaint". 

Filing is a learning experience and it's a learning process. Don't be afraid of filing for a Due Process or a State Complaint if you know your Child's Rights and their IEP is being Violated.

OCR~Office of Civil Rights Assistant Secretary ~ Catherine Ihamon

OCR~Office of Civil Rights 
Assistant Secretary ~ Catherine Ihamon


http://www.ed.gov/blog/2014/02/getting-to-know-assistant-secretary-for-civil-rights-catherine-lhamon/

Harsh Discipline More Common For Students With Disabilities By MICHELLE DIAMENT March 21, 2014

Harsh Discipline More Common For Students With Disabilities

By MICHELLE DIAMENT

March 21, 2014

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/03/21/harsh-discipline-disabilities/19218/

My 2 calls today ~ 2 different students with Down syndrome being pinched, scratched, pulled by their backpacks to get on/off the bus.

April 7th, 2014. 

I received 2 calls since 3PM today, it's now about 5:30PM. Both calls were from two different mom's telling me their children with DS are being hurt and treated 'roughly'. One at school and one on the bus to and from school. One parent from Broward, the other parent from Palm Beach school district. I know both of these 2 children and I know these mom's and their families. One is a girl about 7 and the other a boy about 10 years old. My heart aches hearing from both of them today and what they told me. 

Do I believe what they are telling me? Absolutely I believe both of them! I am their 'go-to person', I don't hear from them very often, but when I do, it usually because they need my advice on what they should do.

One said, her son is being Pinched in the 'soft spot' under his upper arm. That there have been some unexplained scratches lately that seem to be nail scratches on his neck. 

The other mom, told me her daughter is acting a lot different and doesn't want to get on the bus like she did before. Mom asked the bus aide and the driver if something has been happening to her daughter while riding the bus. 

What can either parent do when they suspect something has happened and their child is being mistreated, hurt, pulled, pushed, scratched, pinched...etc? 

Mother's Protect your Children and Keep Them Safe!

Always follow up what you see, know and have been told with an email to your Child's school. Document what your Child communicates to you. Take pictures of any bruises, cuts, scratches, bumps etc. Request to VIEW THE TAPES from the Bus ride that day you know something may have happened. Request written accident reports when your Child comes home with unexplained marks they didn't have when they were sent to school in the morning. Take your child to the doctor to document each and every unexplained, boo-boo. Request to have a meeting with your school principal and ESE person to voice your concerns and request to view video tapes where incidents may have happened.

If you are a person that works everyday with our Children with Down syndrome, either as a classroom assistant or a 1:1 Aide or the Bus attendant on an ESE Bus, take a break and let someone else have your job if you see yourself loosing your cool and not having the patience with our Children. Protect both of you!

People that work with our children with Down syndrome on school buses and in the classrooms....please be kind and considerate to our children!!!!

School employees; Stop hurting our Children! You know who you are and what you do. STOP!!

Video: Kids with severe disabilities taking mandatory standardized test BY VALERIE STRAUSS March 12 at 3:29 pm

Video: Kids with severe disabilities taking mandatory standardized test
BY VALERIE STRAUSS
March 12 at 3:29 pm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/12/video-kids-with-severe-disabilities-taking-mandatory-standardized-test/

Lt. Governor Dan Forest Testimony at NCGA LRC Study Common Core

Arkansas Mother Obliterates Common Core in 4 Minutes!

Faces of Common Core & The Impact on Special Needs Children by Gretchen Logue

Our Children Are Not All The Same
Special Education is not part of Common Core.

SPD = Sensory Processing Disorder ~ The Chronicles of Ellie Bellie Bear

Sensory Processing Disorder ~ The Chronicles of Ellie Bellie Bear

So What Exactly Is SPD? 

If you happen to be like me, Sensory Processing Disorder [SPD] is a new experience and a bit confusing.  Okay, it is really confusing.  As you start to read all of the checklists and behaviors that might be associated with said disorder, you start to think “hey, I have that.” or “OMG, my child has that for sure!”.  The fact of the matter is that everyone has some of the behaviors on the checklists and that is absolutely typical.  It is true.  What makes it a disorder is that it affects one’s ability to complete tasks, learn, and / or communicate.  The sensory issues are so severe that they impact daily activities of living [ADL].

History:
While SPD may seem like a relatively new phenomenon, it was studied by Dr. Anna Jean Ayred, PhD, OTR since the 1960s where she coined the term “sensory integration dysfunction”.Ever hear of the book “The Out-Of-Sync Child” by Carol Stock Kranowitz from 1995?  This author touches on SPD and that was in the mid-1990’s. Since then, starting around 2007, Sensory Processing Disorder and Sensory Integration Disorder have become more widely studied.   HOWEVER, there is no actual ICD-9 medical code for SPD. . . YET.  An ICD-9 is a diagnostic code used by medical providers, OTs, etc.  For example, Down Syndrome has a ICD-9 code of 758.0 Without an ICD-9 code, billing to insurance and obtaining therapies is rather difficult.  

How is it that a disorder that has been around for over 50 years does not even have its own diagnostic code?  How is it that there is no definitive diagnostic tool for SPD?

http://ellietheurer.blogspot.com/p/sensory-processing-disorder.html

The Chronicles of Ellie Bellie Bear continues because I want the world to see what I see just how wonderful and utterly perfect my daughter is, designer genes and all.  That our little Bear-Bear has more determination and motivation than most adults I know and that she is surpassing all of our expectations.  That, yes, there are challenges and yes, sometimes thing are hard, but Ellie is our beautiful, sassy daughter who completes our family.

*A note from DS Advocate Blog writer, Nancy Linley-Harris: I like to share fellow bloggers stories that help educate society to a better understanding of 'our world' of raising a wonderfully unique person with Down syndrome. If you are interested in having one of your stories featured and shared on one of my blogs please send me a link to your story. 
HaPpY Blogging!! 
Nancy ~ DS Advocate

8 Teachers from Broward & Palm Beach Disciplined ~ For doing some Crazy Crap!

BACKGROUND CHECKS & PROPER TRAINING EVERY YEAR for ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES! ~ MANDATED!

By Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel

7:09 p.m. EST, November 12, 2013

"The state has disciplined eight area teachers and former teachers for incidents that allegedly happened both inside and outside their classrooms." 

Click link below for full article from the Sun-Sentinel. 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-teacher-discipline-state-20131112,0,1967364.story

This is some crazy crap a couple of teachers are 'getting caught at' doing off and on-the-job! What the heck is wrong with some of these people? Are you kidding me?? 

Most of them will continue to do what they do...they get a slap on the wrist for unprofessional behavior and no work ethics! Get rid of them for good if they have proven themselves uncaring and without morals in the treatment of the students and people they are assigned to work with. 

These slaps on the wrist are becoming more common and in the news all too often....especially stories pertaining to abuse of some sort towards students with special learning needs. 

Camera's in ALL CLASSROOMS is maybe something that should be put on the table for discussion. Setting up cameras as a monitoring tool used as SPOT CHECKS of any classroom every now and again or anywhere within the school and work place.  This will help to ensure and document that things are running smoothly on any given day. Cameras could be set up overnight if there is ever a concern for what is taking place within any given area of the school campus. Portable cameras that move around the campus if there is such resistance to having permanent cameras placed and running everyday in certain classrooms. If everyone is doing their job professionally, there should be no worries about what gets captured and recorded on any given day. 

Absolutely camera's are needed in ESE and Special Education Classrooms all day every day! There have been way too many abuse stories going on with our students receiving Special Education and seems the stories are increasing.

If you are concerned for our - YOUR Children at school and your Child maybe more vulnerable to being taken advantage of because of being a student in Special Education, please join the Cameras In Special Needs Classrooms Facebook group that has almost 14,000 members! https://www.facebook.com/CamerasInSpecialNeedsClassrooms

Broward Beat.com ~ Sources: School Board Member Being Probed BY BUDDY NEVINS

Sources: School Board Member Being Probed

BY BUDDY NEVINS

http://www.browardbeat.com/sources-school-board-member-being-probed/

Investigation into California Special Education ~ Denying & Delaying Services is happening across the Country!

Public Schools Delay or Deny Special Education Services for Most Vulnerable Students

NBC NEWS Investigative Report

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Public-Schools-Delay-Deny-Special-Education-Services-231960511.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_BAYBrand

NICHCY no longer being funded by OSEP...WHY?

I went to the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) website this morning and was surprised to see that NICHCY is no longer being funded by U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

WHY? 
Why would OSEP not want to continue funding this resource for us? 

Be sure to visit the NICHCY website and save some of the resources for future reference. Great resourse for anything and everything pertaining to Individual Education Plans (IEP's)

The site will "be open" until September 30, 2014.

http://nichcy.org/schoolage/iep/iepcontents

*below is the notice I received when I visited the NICHCY website this morning.

NOTICE: The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) is no longer in operation. Our funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) ended on September 30, 2013. 

Our website and all its free resources will remain available until September 30, 2014.

The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) has provided information and resources to the nation on disabilities in children and youth for many decades. On September 30, 2013, however, our funding from the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education ended. 


This rich website and all its free resources will remain available until September 30, 2014. We encourage you to explore our website and collect any resources that may assist you in serving children and youth with disabilities. 

*See the New IDEA Website

SURVEY ~ PT & OT ~ ESE Services in Florida Public Schools

Take the Florida PT & OT Survey! 
PT & OT ~ ESE Services in Florida Public Schools

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3DW85N7 
Click here to take survey

Share and Pass this survey on! 
Post it to your FB page and let others know about it.

Thank you,

DS Advocate
http://www.dsadvocate.com/

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ~ Student with Down syndrome found dead in the 'schools backyard' pond!

RIP Jenny!!!! Your Drowning on a Middle School Campus will not be in vain. Your Drowning in the 'pond' out in the backyard of your school will hopefully help lead the way to ACCOUNTABILITY for the SAFETY & WELL BEING OF ALL CHILDREN and TRAINING of all school staff! Prayers to your family, friends, classmates and teachers today! Click below highlighted link to the Tampa Bay News article:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/school-in-shock-after-riverview-girls-drowning/1257915

I have written several blog posts about Jenny Caballero since her drowning this last year, because Jenny represents students with Down syndrome and Students with Disabilities across the entire State of Florida! TRAINING must take place to keep our children SAFE! 
http://www.ds-advocate.blogspot.com/2013/09/jennifer-caballero-you-drowning-in-pond.html

Parents upset at common core forum's 4PM start time

Parents upset at common core forum's start time
Well at least the State of Florida Department of Education held 3 PUBLIC COMMENT FORUMS across the entire State. 
(*click on highlighted link to play video)

The PUBLIC COMMENT Forum held in Broward County was scheduled at 5PM till 8PM I believe. There were 111 Speakers SIGNED UP to provide PUBLIC COMMENT and our Commissioner of Florida Department of Education stayed till the very last speaker spoke! That was till about 11PM that night! I have to say she was concerned to hear from ALL OF US THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK and I appreciate that. I would have liked to see more than just 3 Public Comment Forums held around the State so that some people didn't have to drive from 4 hours away to attend after a full day of working as one Florida school teacher did.



I know this video is about 'what time' of the day (4PM-6PM) the public comment meeting was being held in Albany, New York. The person in the video said, she feels it's like they really DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY by the time that it was set for and with only 3 days notice!!!

I have seen over the years...this is how they do things. Short notice, not enough of the meetings being held across the State so people don't have to travel hours to get to a meeting. 

People ~ Educate yourselves on exactly what this COMMON CORE that's being talked about like a wildfire out of control!! It's like a Choo Choo Chooooo Train that is coming to town, so get out of the way!! Coming to a Town near you!!

In FLORIDA ~ Here is a GREAT RESOURCE FACEBOOK PAGE to help educate yourselves on all the hoopla-la on Common Core and why we need to:
STOP COMMON CORE IN FLORIDA!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-Common-Core-in-Florida/516780045031362

I VOTED 4 You! ~ School Board Security Guard told me I wasn't allowed to attend the meeting you held today.

Dear School Board Member for the district/area I live in,

I've been thinking about a situation that happened to me today. This morning I actually had the spare-time to volunteer of my time to attend. I want you to know that when I was greeted by my first name before I was even to the School Board Security Desk this morning, it surprised me. I was there inquiring about the meeting you were having, at first the security guard said what meeting? ...and then said, "I wasn't allowed to attend that meeting." 

She was told, to not allow me access to your meeting.

I voted for you, yet I am not allowed to sit in on a new ESE work-group you've been putting together...not just as a "listener only". Why? 

School Board Member, I VOTED for you and I told my friends to VOTE 4 You too! 

Is it because I REFUSE to give up My Membership and My Voting Rights to the Broward ESE Advisory for Parents in order to be allowed access to your next ESE Work group? 

Why would I turn my back on a group I've attended and have been an active part of for so long? You want members to give up their Membership, ultimately giving up My Voting Rights to our school districts parent led ESE Advisory for the past 13 YEARS!? 

Over the years, my daughter has almost always attended with me, beginning when she was just 2 years old. She was so young, she wasn't even ENROLLED in any Broward Public school yet. Together my daughter and I found ESE Family Support at those ESE Advisory meetings. School Board Member, my daughter has been attending all those meetings along side with me for the past 13 years too...it's been OUR SUPPORT all these years!! 

Today is her 15th Birthday! She announced it at the end of the meeting! *She loves an opportunity to 'self advocate' or public speak. She was so incredibly happy to stand up and announce to the whole room that it would be her 15th Birthday today!

WOW!!! So I VOTE 4 You...yet you won't allow me to attend an ESE Work group you're putting together? Bet you know I have a daughter with Down syndrome and I LIVE in your District. I am one of your district/area families...yes I am one of your constituents in your District! 

I'm not sure what's to be gained or WHO will gain from your 'selective' work group. By only allowing certain people...and 2 of them don't LIVE in 'the neighborhood' even. 

Thought the creation of your work-group meetings was about pulling together your area families and creating a 'ESE Work Group' for and families from the district or area of Broward County that you represent. 

I Voted for you...and you barred me from being a Parent Volunteer to which you were seeking ESE Parents to sit on a New ESE Work group you have put together.

Signed,

Disappointed 4 sure! 

Public vs. Private vs. Charter Schools ~ Great Schools website

Public vs. private vs. charter schools
http://www.greatschools.org/school-choice/6987-public-private-charter-schools.gs?page=3

Cute little Video & some good posts in the "comments" after the video. 
In the world of school choice, private schools are a viable option (even when you think it's not).
http://www.greatschools.org/school-choice/private-schools/7068-private-schools-video.gs

Overcomer ~ Mandisa (Lyric Video)

Crank it Up!! You're An Overcomer!!

Jennifer Caballero ~ You drowning in the pond behind Rogers Middle School last October 2012 in Riverview, Florida will not be in vain!

Jennifer Caballero ~ You drowning in the pond behind Rogers Middle School last October 2012 in Riverview, Florida will not be in vain! Your beautiful LIFE was for a reason! God doesn't make mistakes! Was it to help get EVERYONE TALKING about ESE "ISSUES" ~ which are many throughout the entire State of Florida. Will your tragic and senseless drowning around this time last year, will it make better changes at how students like you are TREATED IN SCHOOL? Will your death help with getting QUALITY TRAINING for those hired to work as ESE 1:1 Para Professional Aides? I HOPE SO!! 

Jennifer Caballero ~ thinking of you and your family today!! Prayers to your mom & dad!!!

Oct 23, 2012 ... RIVERVIEW — An 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome who ... Jennifer Caballero, who went by Jenny and whose mother held her in her arms...http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/girl-with-down-syndrome-found-dead-near-riverview-school/1257809 Click to read full story.

Oct 24, 2012 ... RIVERVIEW Jennifer Caballero hid under the bleachers, away from her ... A teacher saw Jennifer — an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome ...
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/school-in-shock-after-riverview-girls-drowning/1257915 
Click to read full story.

I live in Broward and if Hillsborough County Public Schools runs like Broward Public School District, you can bet NOBODY "downtown" wants to be accountable for actions that could and should have prevented the death of Jennifer, a little girl with Down syndrome. 

Are schools with WATER nearby....are the FENCES checked on a regular basis? I don't care what school district, what matters is the SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS no matter what!!

I too am a parent to a wonderful daughter with Down syndrome and I know first hand that the support of a GOOD 1:1 Para "Professional" is everything!! TRAINING is everything when it comes to staff working with students with a disability, most are not trained or even 'collaborating' with the parents, who KNOW everything about the student they are HIRED to work with 5 days a week! ~ EVERYONE IS AT FAULT for Jenny's death! 

If the good character of the Brand New Assistant Principal, Mr. Livingston is what they are trying to point out, I can support that and all that he was overseeing...if it's true about his 'requests or CONCERNS' for things that needed to be done. Absolutely the DISTRICT Adminstrators and the different departments, the maintenance department that oversee that ALL the schools are SAFE!! That would include MAKING SURE FENCES SURROUNDING PONDS are secure and able to prevent children from DROWNING in those ponds that are within feet of the schools. Over the SUMMER Break....wouldn't it be safe to say that such SAFETY CHECKS would be ongoing without the school building Assistant Principal needing to even put in a 'request' for a full inspection of the campus for SAFETY of ALL STUDENTS! 

What is wrong with this that everyone wants to blame or ruin the full and future career of this one man, if he if found to be of good character and WAS CONCERNED with 'things' on his new campus. I would like to know more about Mr. Livingston as a leader and his background pertaining to ESE students, he sounds like her was chosen for his new position because he was what Rogers Middle School needed! 

I would like to know why the heck any and all 1:1 Para Professional Aides are not doing their jobs with caring for the individuals they are hired and receiving a pay check each week to KEEP SAFE and like Mr. Livingston said, ...."the aides need to be ENGAGED with their students"......absolutely....the teacher should have demanded that the ESE Aides DO THEIR JOBS of working with the students they were assigned to work with! 

Mr. Livingston, I am sorry you are caught in the crossfire when those that work "downtown" should be on the stand with you and held accountable for so many things, training of the Aides, fences being in good repair, teachers making sure the ESE Aides are ENGAGING with the student they are assigned to keep safe!!! 

The Building Maintenance department...what do their logs and records have about the repairs needed at that school to keep ALL STUDENTS SAFE?!!! 

Jennifer Caballero ~ Your death will not be forgotten or in vain! Because of your senseless drowning out behind your new Middle School...I am praying that ESE students like you are treated with RESPECT and Educated with School Staff that ENGAGE with their student and that all Public School Employees make sure to keep all students safe!

Listed below are a few news articles;

Aug 6, 2013 ... The assistant principal of Rodgers Middle School, fired in the aftermath of the death of a special-needs student, was before the Hillsborough ...
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/rodgers-middle-school-firing-is-revisited/2135022

Gov. Scott to sign bill that improves special needs education, allows ...
Jun 28, 2013 ... Gov. Rick Scott is set to sign a bill making big changes to the way special education is run in Florida.
http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/gov-scott-to-sign-bill-that-improves-special-needs-education-allows-parents-to-be-more-involved