An Inconvenient Youth

Just a quick hand-off to an article from Oprah's site that may be of interest to anyone raising (or support someone raising) a child with autism.

Enjoy summer -- JD

Resource Fair for Parents with Austic Children

SUMMER RESOURCE FAIR
presented by Autism Sharing & Parenting, Inc.

Saturday, August 15, 2008
11AM-3PM

Center for Autism
3905 Ford Rd
Suite 6
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Just off I-76 and City Ave. w/ Free Parking Lot and Street Parking
*Enter from Ellington Road*
www.thecenterforautism.org

Special Guest Presenter:
Lisa Mitchell
M.S.W., L.C.S.W. - R

Bringing the Birds & Bees Down to Earth:
Sexuality Education for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders

This nationally renowned presenter will cover everything from puberty preparation to direct sexual education for all ranges of individuals on the spectrum.

Be prepared for frank discussion with practical solutions and resources. This topic is rarely discussed but definitely needed.

Lisa Mitchell is a licensed Social Worker with The Cody Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities Sexuality Education and Reproductive Developmental Disabilities Sexuality Education and Reproductive Health Program (Stony Brook, NY)

AND

Sign up for IEP Clinic!

With

RUTH LANDSMAN
Advocate and Founder of The Parent Exchange
Bring your IEP for a one-to-one, 15 minute session.

Sign up by calling 215-413-7106 or e-mailing crocmei11@gmail.com

Slots are filled is on 'first-come, first-serve' basis. If you are not available for your 15 minute time-slot, it will be re-assigned.

PLUS!

Entertainment

Fun Children’s Activities compliments of Parent to Child
AND
Resources, Resources, Resources!

Join Us! Please RSVP!

Food will be served, Volunteers are needed, Donations accepted

PA HB 1665: call to action

PA House Bill 1665 provides special funding guidance for PA approved private schools (including the four chartered school for the deaf and blind, which includes my daughter's school :-) -- please contact your representatives and let them know how important it is to support this legislation (as well as your family and friends); you can determine your state senator’s and representative’s contact information by clicking on the following link and putting in your home address: www.congress.org -- some points to consider:

• H.B. 1665 is important to schools that educate children with disabilities because it will help our school to keep up with the funding for special education and basic education. Both basic and special education are likely to have significant increases for 2009-10 because of federal stimulus dollars, which can’t be used for the Approved Private School for the Children with Disabilities. Because the increase for special education is from federal dollars, the line item for special education this year is flat lined. This means that in 2010-11 there will be no increase for our school, unless H.B. 1665 is enacted.
• Our Approved Private Schools teach children with the most severe and complex disabilities – students who come with a variety of disabilities and in many cases, multiple disabilities. A student population with one or more complex and severe disabilities means higher costs to educate.
• The bill applies only to those fiscal years in which special education is flat lined. In such a year, the increase for our school would be the average percentage of the increases for special and basic education in the last year in which there was an increase for special and basic education.
• H.B. 1665 will require no funding for 2009-10 as our appropriation for the 2009-10 is based on last year’s special education line item.
• (When communicating with Democratic House members) – “ Please tell Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans and your floor leadership, Majority Leader Eachus and Speaker McCall that you would like H.B. 1665 amended into the omnibus school code bill that will pass with the budget.”
• (When communicating with Republican House members) - “Please tell Appropriations leader Mario Civera and your floor leader, Sam Smith, that you want H.B. 1665 amended into the omnibus school code bill that passes with the budget.”

May I also suggest the following "talking points" (yes, you now have talking points!):

• S. B. 982 is important to our approved private schools for children with disabilities because it will help our school keep up with the funding for special education and basic education. Both basic and special education are likely to have significant increases for 2009-10 because of federal stimulus dollars, which can’t be used for our Chartered School for the Deaf and Blind and for the Approved Private School for the Disabled. Because the increase for special education is from federal dollars, the line item for special education this year is flat lined. This means that in 2010-11 there will be no increase for our school, unless S. B. 982 is enacted.
• Our Chartered Schools and the Approved Private Schools teach children with the most severe and complex disabilities – students who come with a variety of disabilities and in many cases, multiple disabilities. A student population with one or more complex and severe disabilities means higher costs to educate.
• The bill applies only to those fiscal years in which special education is flat lined. In such a year, the increase for our school would be the average percentage of the increases for special and basic education in the last year in which there was an increase for special and basic education.
• S. B. 982 will require no funding for 2009-10 as our appropriation for the 2009-10 is based on last year’s special education line item.
• (When communicating with Republican Senate members) - “Please tell Appropriations leader Jake Corman, Education Committee Chair Jeffrey Piccola, and your floor leader Dominic Pileggi, that you want S. B. 982 amended into the omnibus school code bill that passes with the budget.”
• (When communicating with Democratic Senate members) – “ Please tell Appropriations Chair Jay Costa and your floor leader Robert Mellow that you would like S.B. 982 amended into the omnibus school code bill that will pass with the budget.”

May 16: The Sibling Journey

Dale Fisher, a clinical social worker and family therapist in private practice, specializes in helping families who are dealing with the impact of having a child with a developmental disability. On May 16 she will address the particular issues for siblings – their thoughts and feelings, roles and long-term impact on their lives.

Chestnut Hill Library, May 16, 1-3 pm

No RSVP is necessary. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is available at the lot behind Top of the Hill Plaza, entrance on Bethlehem Pike. The Library is close to the terminus of the 23, L and 94 buses and the final stops of the R8 and R7 train lines. Sorry, there is no child care at the meetings and we can not offer child care or transportation reimbursement.

For more information, directions, to volunteer, to offer to bring refreshments, or to get on the mailing list, call Jean at 215-913-9027 or email JFMcCou@aol.com. Please send an email to let us know if you prefer NOT to receive our mailings or emails, or if you are willing to receive the email version only.

WE APPRECIATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE DIVISION OF MATERNAL, CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH, PHILADELPHIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Apr 4: Ruth Landsman on Special Education

PARENTS of CHILDREN with SPECIAL NEEDS

S P E C M E E T I N G

Saturday, April 4, 2009 from 1:00-3:00

Chestnut Hill Library, 8711 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia

Refreshments served from 12:30-1:00

Ruth Landsman on Special Education

SPECIAL PARENTS OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN (SPEC), a group founded and run by parents of children with special needs, invites you to come and share with other parents the triumphs and challenges of raising a child with special needs. SPEC’s purpose is to provide support and information. We meet monthly during the school year and welcome parents and caregivers of children of all ages and types of needs. We welcome back the many folks who continue to attend, and we love newcomers!

Ruth Landsman is director and founding member of the Parents Exchange, an information, referral and advocacy organizations. She has two decades of experience advocating for the rights of children to special education, and more than two decades as the parent of a child with special needs. Please join us and bring your questions about your child’s access to education.

No RSVP is necessary. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is available at the lot behind Top of the Hill Plaza, entrance on Bethlehem Pike. The Library is close to the terminus of the 23, L and 94 buses and the final stops of the R8 and R7 train lines. Sorry, there is no child care at the meetings and we can not offer child care or transportation reimbursement.

For more information, directions, to volunteer, offer to bring refreshments, or to get on the mailing list, call Jean at 215-913-9027 or email JFMcCou@aol.com. Please send an email to let us know if you prefer NOT to receive our mailings or emails, or if you are willing to receive the email version only.

WATCH FOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF OUR NEXT MEETING: May 16

WE APPRECIATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE DIVISION OF MATERNAL, CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH, PHILADELPHIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

from Kathleen Britt who visited Mar 7, 2009

Thank you so much for having me at the meeting. Any opportunity I have to meet new people I take it!

Here are a couple of websites that may be helpful to people in your group:

• Special Olympics Philadelphia: www.specialolympicsphila.org
• Special Olympics Pennsylvania: www.specialolympicspa.org

For those that are interested, Special Olympics Philadelphia can also be found on Facebook and Twitter. We are constantly updating those sites to make sure everyone is up to date with what is new in our program.

I would love to come back again next year and please feel free to pass my contact information along to anyone that may have questions.

Thanks!

-Kate

TWO Meetings to choose from!

AUTISM SHARING AND PARENTING

Wednesday, March 18, 2009
6:15pm-8pm
CBH
8th & Market, 7th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107

and

Saturday, March 21, 2009
1pm-3pm
*Center for Autism*
3905 Ford Rd, Suite 6
Philadelphia, PA 19131
*New Location*
*Enter from Ellington Road*

Please sign in at the front desk

Reading Intervention Strategies for Children on the Autism Spectrum
Presented by Renay Boyce, M.Ed.

The skills needed to be a successful reader include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Ms. Boyce will explain how to assist students when there are challenges in any of these areas. Strategies and ideas will be suggested to use at home.
Family members will leave with packets of useful information -- while supplies last!

YES! We are ALWAYS looking for volunteers -- Please call!

About the Presenter:

Renay Boyce, M.Ed. is a Special Education Case Manager for the School District of Philadelphia. Ms. Boyce specializes in reading interventions and has presented to educators, including The Urban Education Special Education Leadership Collaborative and PA International Dyslexia Association. She is particularly known for bringing knowledge, resources and practical solutions to families in Philadelphia at the Office of Specialized Services annual parent training each June.

*ASP greatly appreciates your RSVP for an accurate head-count*

Light Meals Provided You MUST RSVP for Childcare at least 3 days in advance

Call RSVPLine: 215-413-7106 ~or~ Email: NASYA06@MSN.COM