Participants Needed for Survey of Adults With Autism

Adults with autism and their caregivers are urged to participate in Connecticut's first statewide housing needs assessment project to be conducted under the auspices of the Creative Living Community of Connecticut.  The organization will offer long-term residential and treatment options for adults with autism in a farmstead setting.

Farmstead communities in other states have been increasing in number as the aging population faces the need for long-term care for people with special needs.  Residents work the farm according to their needs and abilities and farms are generally self-sustaining.

The survey is being conducted in English and Spanish and will focus on groups in all 8 counties.

The survey may be completed and submitted online at www.creativelivingcommunityCT.org.  Anyone needing a printed copy may call Maryanna Cevan at 860-916-4877.  The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete.  There will be incentives for each county for participation. 

For more information, call Cindy Hall at 860-643-1193.

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Public Hearing to Discuss Public Act 07-147; An Act Concerning Restraints and Seclusion in Public Schools

Website for Parents, Doctors and Teachers of Individuals with Smith-Magenis Syndrome

Smith-Magenis Syndrome is a recognizable pattern of physical, behavioral and developmental features that occur together in the same person due to a single, underlying cause.  The Syndrome (SMS) is a chromosomal disorder.  Common features include:

• Characteristic, yet subtle, facial appearance

• Low muscle tone

• Developmental delay

• Variable levels of intellectual disability

• Early speech/language delay

• Middle ear problems

• Skeletal anomalies

• Decreased sensitivity to pain.

The syndrome also includes a distinct pattern of neurobehavioral features characterized by chronic sleep disturbances, arm hugging/hand squeezing, hyperactivity and attention problems, prolonged tantrums, sudden mood changes and/or explosive outbursts and self-injurious behaviors.

To learn more about Smith-Magenis Syndrome, including information and tips on teaching and parenting children with Smith-Magenis, please visit the Parents and Researchers Interested in Smith-Magenis Syndrome (PRISMS) website at www.prisms.org.

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Connecticut Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism and Young Audiences Arts for Learning Connecticut Seeks Artists with Disabilities

The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, in partnership with Young Audiences Arts for Learning Connecticut, Connecticut’s VSA arts affiliate, is seeking artists with disabilities for their valuable input to the Forum on Career in the Arts for Persons with Disabilities.

 Working with a statewide advisory committee, these organizations will conduct the Forum on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities on November 15, 2008.  The Forum will assess the educational needs, career development needs and will seek to identify barriers for careers in the arts for Connecticut artists and arts administrators with disabilities. Strategies will be developed by Forum participants to overcome the barriers and advance careers in the arts for individuals with disabilities.

 They ask for your help with the following two items:

• Please provide your input to this initiative via the survey 

• Provide information for inclusion in a network of artists and arts organizations that serve individuals with disabilities.

Please fill out the Forum Survey and the ‘Call for Artists’ Information Form by 7/15/2008 and submit it to: info@yaconn.org.  Your information is confidential, and will be used solely for purposes related to this initiative that supports careers in the arts for people with disabilities.

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Survey for Parents of Children with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities

Tzu Min Lee, a doctoral student of the School Psychology Program at Ball State University is looking for participants for a brief survey on preliminary screening procedures for the identification of nonverbal learning disabilities.  The information gathered from the survey will be used in Lee's dissertation entitled, "Validation of a Preliminary Screening Procedure for the Identification of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NLD) in Schools: A Parent Rating Scale."

The purpose of the study is to construct and validate a parent rating scale as a preliminary screening procedure for the identification of students with nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) in schools. Students with learning difficulties are expected to benefit from such a brief and inexpensive screening procedure that will facilitate early diagnosis and intervention.

The survey will include questions for parents or caregivers of children 6 to 15 years old.  If you are interested in participating in the 15-minute on-line survey, please contact Tzu Min Lee at765-285-8500 or through email at tlee2@bsu.edu.  Five dollars in compensation will be issued for those who complete the survey.

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New Regulations in Title 1 of the No Child Left Behind Act Proposed

On April 22, in Detroit, Michigan, Secretary Spellings proposed new regulations to clarify and strengthen Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act.  "I'm proposing new policy tools that will give families lifelines and empower educators to create dramatic improvement," she explained.  "Many are actions that have gained broad support through conversation on how to strengthen NCLB.  While I will continue working with legislators to renew this law, I also realize that students and families and teachers and schools need help now.  So, at the President's request, I'm moving forward to empower educators to take actions that families have been waiting for."  The proposed regulations focus on improved accountability and transparency, uniform and disaggregated graduation rates, and improved implementation of public school choice and supplemental educational services (SES).

Please read a summary of the proposed regulations for more information.

These proposed regulations were published in the Federal Register on April 23 and can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2008-2/042308a.html).  Public comments are due on or before June 23.  The Department expects to issue final regulations this fall.

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Grants Available for Families Struggling with Child (16 year-old or younger) Health-Related Expenses

The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (http://uhccf.org/) has announced that new grants are available to help children who need critical health care treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents' health benefit plans.

UHCCF provides grants to families to help pay for child health care services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses.

Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants of up to $5,000 each for child medical services and equipment by completing an online application at the UHCCF Web site.

To be eligible for a grant, children must be 16 years of age or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States, and be covered by a commercial health benefit plan.

RFP Link: http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15013057/uhccf

For additional RFPs in Children and Youth, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_children.jhtml

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In-School Suspension Bill to Go Into Effect July 1, 2009

Beginning July 1, 2009, a law will go into effect that requires that only students deemed too dangerous or disruptive be suspended at home.  The law also doubles the maximum period of in-school suspension from five consecutive school days to ten. 

The July 1, 2009 implementation date will come twelve-months later than its first proposed start date of July 1, 2008. 

To view the Act in it's entirety, please visit the Connecticut General Assembly's website and search for House Bill 5826.

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New Bureau Chief of the CT Bureau of Special Education Receives Award

Anne Louise Thompson, who became the new Chief of the Connecticut Bureau of Special Education in February, received LRP's 3rd Annual JoLeta Reynolds Service to Special Education Award on May 6, 2008 at a luncheon ceremony at LRP's National Institute in Charlotte, NC.  Thompson's instrumental role in implementing and maintaining statewide LRE goals and objectives earned her the award which recognizes a professional who demonstrates dedication, excellence and integrity in serving children with disabilities and their families. 

In an article published by LRP, Thompson says, "Some teachers and administrators, even some parents, feel that you can't do something unless you believe in it.  I have found that by changing some people's behavior, that may change their attitude."

"For example, teachers and administrators may not think certain children can be educated in their home school, let alone in a general ed classroom," Thompson said.  "But if they are told they must include these children in their classrooms and curriculum, and then are shown how to do so, those assumptions can change."

"While you might not believe it, you need to put it into practice," Thompson said she told people about placing students with intellectual disabilities into general education classrooms.

"Later, those people would say, 'I was told I would have to teach these children in my classroom, in our school, so I did, and now, I would never go back to the way it used to be,'" Thompson said.  "I hear these stories all the time."

Please click here to view the article in its entirety. 

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CT State Department of Education Conducting Parent Survey on Special Education Services

The Connecticut State Department of Education has begun conducting its annual CT Special Education Parent Survey to study parents' and students' experiences during the past 12 months of receiving special education services.  This year, thirty one school districts have been chosen to participate.  Parents in those districts who have been chosen to participate will receive the survey in the mail in mid to late May. 

Information from this statewide survey will be used to monitor progress in improving special education services in Connecticut.  All responses are kept strictly confidential.  Only an independent evaluator will have direct access to this information.  In all reports, responses will be combined and there will be no identification of individuals.  District-identifying information will only be issued to report, as mandated by the U.S. Department of Education, whether the Parent Survey response properly represents the demographics of the state as a whole.

The following school districts have been selected for this year's survey:
 

If you have received the survey, you are greatly encouraged to participate as it is critical to the improvement of opportunities and outcomes for Connecticut's students with disabilities.  Completed surveys should be returned, in the stamped envelope provided, to SERC at 25 Industrial Park Road in Middletown, CT 06457 by June 6, 2008.  If you have any questions about the survey or need help completing the survey, please contact CPAC at 800-445-2722 or by email at cpac@cpacinc.org.  All services are free for parents and all information is kept confidential.

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