Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Education Department Allows States to Cut Special Education Spending
From CEC Smartbrief: Three states have requested - and two states have already been granted - waivers to federal spending requirements for special education in what advocates say may be the first use of a economic-hardship provision of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/06/16/35waivers.h29.html?tkn=RWTFyh%2BCQTVUoGGFoJx5UR3i8y0gmWTc8y4F&cmp=clp-sb-cec
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Check Out Past Issues of the WA P2P E-Newsletter!
Access past issues of the Parent to Parent of Washington State E-Newsletter at the newsletter archive page! Here's the link: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs082/1102737289181/archive/1103467143824.html
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Can Disability Be Sexy?
From Disability Scoop: A series of photographs spoofing the often racy advertisements from clothing retailer American Apparel is questioning traditional ideas of beauty in a most provocative way.
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/14/can-disability-be-sexy/8048
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/14/can-disability-be-sexy/8048
Friday, April 30, 2010
Documentary "Dakota's Pride" Available for Free
The award-winning, positive documentary on Down Syndrome, "Dakota's Pride" which aired on PBS in many locations, is now available for free to organizations! The Gifted Learning Project has secured a grant for a limited number of copies for DS parent organization libraries. Please e-mail theglp@yahoo.com to request your copy. Copies are limited to one copy per organization on a first come, first served basis. Extra copies are available at a discounted price. Also check out TV shows "Parenthood" (Monday nights; highlights raising a son with Aspergers) and "Glee" which features a girl with Down Syndrome.
Friday, April 23, 2010
IQ Requirements Hindering Families
From Disability Scoop: Determining whether or not an adult with a disability qualifies for significant assistance often comes down to one factor: IQ score. Trouble is that IQ and ability don't always match up. Link to article: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/04/23/iq-requirements/7779/
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
P2P USA: What It Means to You & Me
Forwarded by Susan Atkins, State P2P Coordinator and submitted by Lauri Gerber, Garden City Center:
"When I was asked to go to a national director's meeting in Washington, D.C., I was excited and nervous and not sure I was the right person. That's a long way from home. I made the decision to go. I knew our Parent To Parent program is important but just did not realize how important. I have only been with Families Together for a year and a half and did not get the opportunity to use their services while my son was young. I am sure if I had, I would have survived a lot easier than I did. I had a very supportive family, but they did not always understand what I or my child was going through. I was so busy coping; I did not know what I needed.
Is there a way to know what information and resources are out there to help you? The P2P USA Board is an amazing group of dedicated women that care about people they do not even know. They have been there. The one thing that was discussed is that it does not matter how educated or how much parenting experience you have, when a child with a disability is born or a child has an accident or illness that leaves them with a disability, there are lots of things that a parent needs to know to be able to provide the best possible outcome for that child. That is what keeps them motivated. They shared the example of Betsy Santelli. Betsy did the research for the Parent To Parent program funded by the Beach Center in Kansas. It was a randomized control research study of the highest quality, and is one of only 15 done to test different ways to help parents. Betsy built the Parent To Parent program. She is no longer with us but her legacy lives on, especially in the women who knew her and the many lives she touched.
Seeing the dedication of the Board of Directors of Parent To Parent USA is both amaxing and humbling. They believe so earnestly in this program. They are all volunteers from across the United States. There is no dedicated funding. They have one working meeting a year when they get together and do everything else by phone or internet. This meeting was made possible through donations from other organizations. The Board has done a lot of work and are willing to do whatever it takes to get our families what they need. Look at their website at http://www.p2pusa.org
During this meeting the Board wanted to know what local programs were seeing as needs and how the Board could use their knowledge and contacts to lead the Parent to Parent programs into the future. They are partnering with many people at the federal level who believe in this program. It is their goal to lead the way and make things happen that will improve services to families. We need funding but more importantely people are realizing we need partnerships and cooperation instead of competition. The old saying, 'It takes a community to raise a child' is especially true when the child has a disability. Watch what our governing bodies are doing and let them know what is important in your family's situation. There are people with knowlwdge, contacts and research working for us. I think it is important you know that. It is important to do our part also. Help them be the force for us. They have the will. Do you?"
"When I was asked to go to a national director's meeting in Washington, D.C., I was excited and nervous and not sure I was the right person. That's a long way from home. I made the decision to go. I knew our Parent To Parent program is important but just did not realize how important. I have only been with Families Together for a year and a half and did not get the opportunity to use their services while my son was young. I am sure if I had, I would have survived a lot easier than I did. I had a very supportive family, but they did not always understand what I or my child was going through. I was so busy coping; I did not know what I needed.
Is there a way to know what information and resources are out there to help you? The P2P USA Board is an amazing group of dedicated women that care about people they do not even know. They have been there. The one thing that was discussed is that it does not matter how educated or how much parenting experience you have, when a child with a disability is born or a child has an accident or illness that leaves them with a disability, there are lots of things that a parent needs to know to be able to provide the best possible outcome for that child. That is what keeps them motivated. They shared the example of Betsy Santelli. Betsy did the research for the Parent To Parent program funded by the Beach Center in Kansas. It was a randomized control research study of the highest quality, and is one of only 15 done to test different ways to help parents. Betsy built the Parent To Parent program. She is no longer with us but her legacy lives on, especially in the women who knew her and the many lives she touched.
Seeing the dedication of the Board of Directors of Parent To Parent USA is both amaxing and humbling. They believe so earnestly in this program. They are all volunteers from across the United States. There is no dedicated funding. They have one working meeting a year when they get together and do everything else by phone or internet. This meeting was made possible through donations from other organizations. The Board has done a lot of work and are willing to do whatever it takes to get our families what they need. Look at their website at http://www.p2pusa.org
During this meeting the Board wanted to know what local programs were seeing as needs and how the Board could use their knowledge and contacts to lead the Parent to Parent programs into the future. They are partnering with many people at the federal level who believe in this program. It is their goal to lead the way and make things happen that will improve services to families. We need funding but more importantely people are realizing we need partnerships and cooperation instead of competition. The old saying, 'It takes a community to raise a child' is especially true when the child has a disability. Watch what our governing bodies are doing and let them know what is important in your family's situation. There are people with knowlwdge, contacts and research working for us. I think it is important you know that. It is important to do our part also. Help them be the force for us. They have the will. Do you?"
Thursday, March 18, 2010
New Ways to Connect with the WA Department of Early Learning
Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) has announced the launch of their blog and Facebook page:
DEL Connect (http://delconnect.blogspot.com)
DEL Facebook Page: (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olympia-WA/Washington-State-Department-of-Early-Learning/366437744745)
Also, learn more about the Kindergarten Readiness Pilot (WaKIDS) at http://www.del.wa.gov/development/Kindergarten/pilot.aspx
Go to the DEL website at http://www.del.wa.gov for more information.
DEL Connect (http://delconnect.blogspot.com)
DEL Facebook Page: (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olympia-WA/Washington-State-Department-of-Early-Learning/366437744745)
Also, learn more about the Kindergarten Readiness Pilot (WaKIDS) at http://www.del.wa.gov/development/Kindergarten/pilot.aspx
Go to the DEL website at http://www.del.wa.gov for more information.
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