July 18th, 2007
Here is a great issue of The Inclusion Notebook from the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Disabilities that discusses the use of the SCERTS Model in inclusive classroom settings.
While reading through the issue, I was pleased to learn that the staff at Great Neck School, Waterford, CT, has recognized that one of the great features of the SCERTS Model is that it has a flexible framework, one that can incorporate a contemporary ABA approach into a model that is based on the most current research in child development.
In other words:
“If your multidisciplinary TEAM follows the SCERTS Model, you can be assured that a child’s needs are being addressed in a developmentally appropriate manner.”
Posted in ABA, Behavior, Emotional Regulation, Inclusion, LRE, Mainstreaming, SCERTS, Social Communication, Special Education | No Comments »
May 9th, 2007
Here is a great starting point to begin learning about Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) from Wrightslaw. There is also a great article entitled: “How Can I Get the School to Provide an Appropriate Program?”
Another helpful resource is Protection & Advocacy Inc. Learn more about their vision of advancing the human and legal rights of people with disabilities by reading their “Mission Statement”.
Posted in Advocacy, FAPE, Special Education | No Comments »
April 30th, 2007
Topic:
Understanding and addressing challenging behavior in the home and community.
Speaker:
Ron Pekarek, M.S., BCBA
Date/Time:
May 21, 2007 (Monday)
6pm (Meet and Greet)
6:30 – 8pm (Lecture)
Location:
Tulare County Office of Education
2637 W. Burrell Ave.
Visalia, CA
PDF Flyer available
Posted in Behavior, Calendar updated, Emotional Regulation | No Comments »
April 27th, 2007
Here is a great resource from Wrightslaw that will help answer many of the questions our families and professionals are confronted with as we discuss educating our kids in inclusive settings.
Wrightslaw has included an article entitled: “Isn’t full inclusion a child’s right?“, which does a great job of relating the term “inclusion” back to IDEA statute, regulations, least restrictive environment, mainstreaming, FAPE, and educational benefit.
Posted in Advocacy, Inclusion, LRE, Mainstreaming, Special Education | No Comments »
March 23rd, 2007
You can visit the Central Valley Regional Center’s website which describes the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act as the foundation by which services are provided. You can request a copy of the Lanterman Act here or you can download it as a PDF.
Preparations are currently in the works to offer a support group meeting that will focus on making this information easier to understand and apply. Check back regularly or subsribe to the RSS feed for further updates.
Posted in Advocacy, Reference | No Comments »
March 9th, 2007
ASHA announced the availability of four new ASHA documents related to the role of the speech-language pathologist with respect to autism spectrum disorders. The documents were developed by ASHA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Members of the committee were Amy Wetherby (chair), Sylvia Diehl, Emily Rubin, Adriana Schuler, Linda Watson, Jane Wegner, and Ann-Mari Pierotti (ex officio). Celia Hooper, vice president for professional practices in speech-language pathology, 2003–2005, served as the monitoring officer.
Guidelines for Speech-Language Pathologists in Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders Across the Life Span (PDF)
Roles and Responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists in Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders Across the Life Span: Position Statement (PDF)
Principles for Speech-Language Pathologists in Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders Across the Life Span: Technical Report (PDF)
Knowledge and Skills Needed by Speech-Language Pathologists for Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders Across the Life Span (PDF)
Posted in Reference, SCERTS, Social Communication | No Comments »
February 26th, 2007
Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. has made the Dictionary of Developmental Disabilities Terminology, Second Edition by Pasquale J. Accardo, M.D., & Barbara Y. Whitman, Ph.D., with Shirley K. Behr, Ph.D., Anne Farrell, Ph.D., Ellen Magenis, M.D., and Jill Morrow-Gorton, M.D. search-able and available FREE online.
Posted in General, Reference | No Comments »
February 9th, 2007
A special thank you is extended to Jean and Jim Slater for making pictures search able and available here for free.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Jean and Jim; Jean is a speech pathologist who together with computer programmer Jim Slater created Picture It and PixWriter which are easy-to-use software solutions that promote literacy and communication within the Special Needs community.
Thanks again!
Posted in Special Education, Visual Supports | No Comments »
February 6th, 2007
We have had several requests recently to make literature available that discusses the need for extended year educational programs for children with autism. Many families have benefited previously from programs designed to meet the National Research Councils recommendations for Educating children with Autism (2001) which states:
“Educational services should include a minimum of 25 hours a week, 12 months a year, in which the child is engaged in systematically planned, developmentally appropriate educational activity aimed toward identified objectives.”
Wrightslaw is also a great resource for learning about Extended School Year Services (ESY). A good starting pointing would be to read their article on Advocacy Strategies: Negotiating for ESY Services.
We will continue to provide information and support as we learn more.
Posted in Advocacy, ESY, Special Education | No Comments »