Missouri Advocates For Families Affected by Autism

We are a citizens action group advocating and lobbying for families that have a child with special needs. We believe that EVERY child has a right to a FREE and APPROPRIATE EDUCATION and should NEVER BE LEFT BEHIND.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Diagnostic Checklist Form E-2 and Research Questionnaire Form E-3 | Autism Research Institute

Diagnostic Checklist Form E-2 and Research Questionnaire Form E-3 | Autism Research Institute


ARI's Diagnostic Checklist, Form E-2, was developed by Dr. Bernard Rimland to diagnose children with Kanner's syndrome, which is also known as 'classical autism.' Many parents and professionals have also used the E-2 checklist to assist in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The responses on Form E-2 are entered into a computer which calculates a diagnostic score. The score along with its interpretation is sent to the person or agency submitting the checklist. In addition, a file number is assigned to each child for data recording and analysis, and to ensure confidentiality. There is no charge for this service.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Life on the Other Side of the Wall: An Open Letter to the Media

Life on the Other Side of the Wall: An Open Letter to the Media


An Open Letter to the Media


“Asperger Syndrome”— That’s what I saw on the news headline in bright, bold red letters on Friday. If I didn’t already know what it was because I have it I probably would have been afraid of it. In the article that followed the autism spectrum wasn’t properly explained and to the uninformed, the only thing to gather was that all things autism were dangerous.
 
What is being left out of the conversation is that those were Asperger’s, and other autism spectrum disorders, are far more likely to be a victim of a crime than the one committing it. And often times the person on the spectrum will not speak up about it because of communication issues.

What is also being left out of the conversation is perhaps the most important line about the autism spectrum and that is, “If you’ve met one person with autism you’ve only met one person with autism.” It is dangerous and irresponsible to generalize autism like I have heard in the past few days. Each person on the autism spectrum can be radically unique to the next. Myself, I’m a public speaker and yet the next person you meet with Asperger’s may have a difficult time engaging in a one-on-one conversation. I heard one speaker on the news say that ALL people with Asperger’s are great in math. This too is untrue, some can be, and may be amazingly good at it, but others may be more of an abstract thinker and be good in the areas of music and art.

Teacher accused of improperly strapping autistic child; faces firing - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

Teacher accused of improperly strapping autistic child; faces firing - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Which Congressman Is Blocking Bill That Would Protect Kids with Autism? - ABC News

Which Congressman Is Blocking Bill That Would Protect Kids with Autism? - ABC News

"Chairman Kline believes state officials and school leaders are best equipped to determine appropriate policies that should be in place to protect students and to hold those who violate those policies accountable," said Alexandra Haynes Sollberger, the communications director for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. "For this reason, the committee has not scheduled any action on seclusion and restraint legislation at this time."

Friday, November 30, 2012

Death at School: Parents Protest Dangerous Discipline for Autistic, Disabled Kids - ABC News

Death at School: Parents Protest Dangerous Discipline for Autistic, Disabled Kids - ABC News

Death at School: Child Restraints Spark Controversy | Video - ABC News

Death at School: Child Restraints Spark Controversy | Video - ABC News

Congress slams NIH, CDC reps for evading vaccine/autism evidence

Congress slams NIH, CDC reps for evading vaccine/autism evidence

Feds Accuse City Of Barring Group Homes - Disability Scoop

Feds Accuse City Of Barring Group Homes - Disability Scoop

Twice Exceptional Children (2e) - Wrightslaw

Twice Exceptional Children (2e) - Wrightslaw

Eligibility for Special Ed: Grades, IQ Scores, Evaluations

Eligibility for Special Ed: Grades, IQ Scores, Evaluations

Lawmakers Look into Federal Response to Rising Rates of Autism | C-SPAN

Lawmakers Look into Federal Response to Rising Rates of Autism | C-SPAN

Murder victim's foster brother speaks out - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Murder victim's foster brother speaks out - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Section 504 - Civil Rights Law, Protection from Discrimination - Wrightslaw

Section 504 - Civil Rights Law, Protection from Discrimination - Wrightslaw

Office of Civil Rights sends Resolution/Closure Letter in 'life threatening" Peanut Allergy case. Gloucester County, VA argued to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) that a child with a life-threatening peanut allergy was not a child with a disability and therefore not entitled to either an IEP or a 504 plan. With complaints, OCR normally looks at the "process requirements of Section 504" and not the substance of "individual placement and other educational decisions made by a school division." However, in "extraordinary circumstances" OCR will review placement and "other educational decisions."

IDEA and Kids with Special Dietary Needs

IDEA and Kids with Special Dietary Needs

When a School Refuses to Protect a Child with Life-threatening Allergies …

When a School Refuses to Protect a Child with Life-threatening Allergies …

Crisis Management, Step-by-Step - Wrightslaw

Crisis Management, Step-by-Step - Wrightslaw

Monday, November 12, 2012

Queen Creek football players stand up for bullied special-needs student | azfamily.com Phoenix

Queen Creek football players stand up for bullied special-needs student | azfamily.com Phoenix

Support For Many Autism Interventions Lacking - Disability Scoop

Support For Many Autism Interventions Lacking - Disability Scoop

Autism, Developmental Disorders 'Major Epidemics' - Disability Scoop

Autism, Developmental Disorders 'Major Epidemics' - Disability Scoop

Topsham parents seek permission to record nonverbal son's school day | Sun Journal

Topsham parents seek permission to record nonverbal son's school day | Sun Journal

Video: School bus worker chokes autistic boy - Schools - MiamiHerald.com

Video: School bus worker chokes autistic boy - Schools - MiamiHerald.com

Parents of special-needs student question school's supervision - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Parents of special-needs student question school's supervision - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

'Scream rooms' to be featured on national TV - The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT

'Scream rooms' to be featured on national TV - The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT

Springfield Non-Profit Loses State Contract After "Billing Irregularities"

Springfield Non-Profit Loses State Contract After "Billing Irregularities"

Monday, November 5, 2012

Temporary teacher charged with smooshing shoe in autistic boy's face

Temporary teacher charged with smooshing shoe in autistic boy's face

Autistic Hoya: Protesting Autism Speaks

Autistic Hoya: Protesting Autism Speaks

Cameras In Classrooms? Bring It On! | Psychology Today

Cameras In Classrooms? Bring It On! | Psychology Today

Carlton Palms abuse complaints: Complaints show history of abuse at Lake facility for developmentally disabled people - OrlandoSentinel.com

Carlton Palms abuse complaints: Complaints show history of abuse at Lake facility for developmentally disabled people - OrlandoSentinel.com

Hillsborough bus driver charged with pushing girl, 8, off bus | TBO.com

Hillsborough bus driver charged with pushing girl, 8, off bus | TBO.com

His name is Bill - and he is fighting against seclusion and restraint - Children's Mental Health Network

His name is Bill - and he is fighting against seclusion and restraint - Children's Mental Health Network

Booklet Shows Dangers of Restraint and Seclusion in Schools | WUKY

Booklet Shows Dangers of Restraint and Seclusion in Schools | WUKY

Vaccine bombshell: Baby monkeys develop autism symptoms after obtaining doses of popular vaccines

Vaccine bombshell: Baby monkeys develop autism symptoms after obtaining doses of popular vaccines

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

R-3 settles civil rights complaint - Lebanon Daily Record : Local News: office for civil rights, lebanon r-3 school district, special education, advocates for lebanon r-3 special education,

R-3 settles civil rights complaint - Lebanon Daily Record : Local News: office for civil rights, lebanon r-3 school district, special education, advocates for lebanon r-3 special education,


DESE found that the Lebanon trailers were perfectly normal school buildings.  OCR did not.

In a resolution with the Office for Civil Rights, the Lebanon R-3 School District has agreed to move the two special education classrooms currently being held in mobile homes at the Lebanon Junior High School to its elementary schools.

An investigation that began last spring has finally culminated with the Lebanon R-3 School District agreeing to the OCR’s terms and signing a resolution agreement on Tuesday. The district has until March 1, 2013, to submit a plan about how the district will relocate the classrooms. The move must take place by the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education visited the district September 28, 2012 and found the operations in Lebanon were typical of programs for students with disabilities.

They went on to add that it was clear students with disabilities were integrated with students in general education in a variety of settings.

Deinstitutionalization Toolkit: National Council on Disability

Deinstitutionalization Toolkit: National Council on Disability

An Open Letter to Ann Coulter | The World of Special Olympics

An Open Letter to Ann Coulter | The World of Special Olympics

Petition | Missouri State School Board: Examine the actual public comments submitted to MODESE special education | Change.org

Petition | Missouri State School Board: Examine the actual public comments submitted to MODESE special education | Change.org

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Schools Say the Darnedest (Craziest, Meanest, Most Ridiculous...) Things!

Schools Say the Darnedest (Craziest, Meanest, Most Ridiculous...) Things!

I Will try to Forgive, but I will NEVER Forget


I will try to Forgive, but I will never Forget

Children should never be afraid to go to school, and parents should never have to worry that their children will be harmed by the people taking care of them while they are at school.
Forgiveness isn’t possible when negative emotions stick around and cloud my thoughts about restraint and seclusion.  I am trying to forgive, but I will never forget.  
Forgiveness can’t be doled out quickly when constant reminders of an offense that happened to my child while in the public school system surrounds me.
As many times as I’ve thought about how to come to terms with the violence my son was subjected to, finding forgiveness hasn’t been one of those things on my list of things to do.
To forgive and let all the pain of what my child and our family went through wash away—the guilt, the pain, the anxiety, the despair seems so difficult to do.
Can I really do that? 
Can I truly forget how my son’s downward spiral of regression, depression, anxiety attacks began? He was so little, so innocent and just didn’t know how to cope with everything around him.
Can I honestly forgive the people who abused my child by restraining him over and over and by putting him in seclusion because they didn’t try to understand him, because they didn’t try to understand his disability?
Can I totally forgive the people who turned me away when I asked them to get my son some help?
Can I totally look past their denial of what they did to my son and the retaliation and pain we are still going through today?
Can I forgive myself for overlooking the signs that my son was showing me that “something was wrong”, but I wasn’t seeing because I thought he was in good hands?  If I can’t forgive myself then how can I ever forgive you?
Can I fully embrace the struggles we have gone through to find justice for the violence my son was subjected to at the hands of others?
Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and I ask myself why I didn’t listen to my son when he told me, “No school Mommy, no like.”  He used to love going to school.  What happened to make him so fearful of school?
Here’s what I can accept.  I can accept that all of that did happen to my child, but I will not accept that it had to happen because I know for a fact it did not have to happen.
Here’s something else I haven’t been able to accept.  Not because I turned it down but because this too hasn’t happened yet—no one has yet to apologize to my son for what they did to him.  Instead I have heard nothing but excuses of why he was treated with such violence and that they felt they did what had to be done.  Do you even remember my son?  I’m sure you have moved on with your life and long forgotten my little boy.
What I can’t accept is how these same people continue to destroy him by using unprofessional evaluations that make him look bad so that they can justify what they did to him as being the right thing to do.
Come to think of it, I think my whole family could use an apology.  Shouldn’t someone have said sorry to me and my husband for the extra stress they have caused us, the time lost with our son and the things we’ve been denied as our child’s parents?  
When are those apologies coming?  I’m not saying I’m holding out for those before I can forgive and forget, but it sure would be nice for someone to admit that they played a role in my son’s regression, depression, and anxiety attacks that developed from all the restraint and seclusion abuse he went through at the hands of people who were supposed to be helping him?  
Forgive and forget.  As much as I’d love to, oh how I’d really love to be able to say to several of  my son’s past school staff, “I forgive you,” but right now, today, this week with what he went through and what we’ve gone through as a family, I’m just not ready to say, “I forgive you.”  In fact, it might be a long time before I am ready to forgive and move on.
To offer forgiveness, if I really, really had to do that today would be a bit jaded.  It would go something like this:
Dear Teacher, Teachers Aide, Principal and Behavior Specialist (and whoever else had a hand in destroying my child’s life),
I know you are all just human, and you thought the violence you subjected my son and other children to was the right thing to do.  I understand that some of you have more professional training under your belt and loads more formal education than I do.  I understand that you have a hard job.  I have a feeling though that your lack of training of my son’s disability, your refusal to help and understand him when I pleaded with you, your power struggle with my son over his behaviors that were not in his control, and your pride muddled your thoughts.  How else did you let what happen to my son happen?  How could you keep restraining him and putting him into seclusion when it was obvious that it was making him worse?  And how did you not see that these violent acts were starting to affect him mentally and were causing him to regress in his academics and social skills?  You had to see he was in mental pain, and yet you continued to restrain him and put him in seclusion.  Why?  Please tell me why so I can try and understand, and if I can understand maybe I can find it in my heart to forgive you and move on.
I totally get that you’re super busy and that you have a lot of children with behavior issues, but that does not make what you did to my son or other children right.  That does not make what you are still doing to children with disabilities right.  Don’t you understand that behaviors are a form of communication for our children who are nonverbal or who can’t express themselves?  Don’t you understand even now that restraint and seclusion doesn’t help children with disabilities and that it can cause long lasting trauma and escalate behaviors.  Clearly you must have been overwhelmed and understaffed.  What other excuse could you give for watching my son go through such mental torment and regression?
I’ve waited a long time to figure out if I need to forgive you, but I’m honestly at a standstill even thinking about it.  I really don’t know how to say this, but I do think it’s time for me to say something.  So, here goes. 
I’m sorry you didn’t open your eyes to see the red flags being waved right in front of your face that my son was suffering mentally from your actions and was regressing at a fast pace.  I’m sorry you were clueless and that your ignorance failed my child.  I’m sorry your educational knowledge of children with disabilities failed my son.  I’m sorry you never knew that behaviors are a form of communication.  I’m sorry you refused to update his functional behavior plan.  I’m sorry you were ignorant of my requests to get him help.  I’m sorry you bullied me at several IEP meetings and made me cry.  I’m sorry you wasted my time telling me, ‘He did this and he did that but you never told me what you were doing to him.’  I’m sorry I waited until my son had a breakdown before I pulled him out of school.  I’m sorry you’re still doing the same thing to other children as you did to my son and that you are still bullying parents.  I’m sorry you haven’t learned a thing from your past violent actions.
No parent should feel as alone, scared, worried, angry and as destroyed as I felt the day I picked up my son from school as he cried hysterically begging me to take him home.  No parent should witness what happened to their child like I did.  No one should witness that and later be told, “We didn’t do anything wrong.”
No parent should walk through life not knowing what to do next or not knowing where to turn for help.  No parent should have to face the agonizing decisions I’ve had to.  No parent should have to fight as hard as scores of parents now have to do to keep their children safe when they go to school.  No parent should be left high and dry with nowhere to turn for help like so many other parents have.  No parent should expect or demand an apology from someone who promised to do no harm in the first place.  None. 
One more thing.  When one forgives his offender the last part of the apology usually includes not only a renewal for the relationship to be whole again, but also a promise, a promise to never commit the offense again.  See, that’s a problem.  Not on my end but for your apology, when you make it….it won’t be a true apology if you are still doing to children what you did to my son.  You still don’t see the big picture and that what you’re doing to children with disabilities is physically and mentally harmful.
You can’t help make this all go away until you take a step back.  Take a step back and look at the children with disabilities as children who need help with the behaviors that are not in their control because right now you are only looking at them as unruly children.  They are not unruly; they are children with disabilities that have a tough road ahead of them!  When you stop and realize how you played a role in damaging my son’s future, and after you rectify what you are doing is wrong, then we can talk about forgiveness. 
It’s with a heavy heart that I apologize that I cannot truly offer any forgiveness to you.  I pray to God that I can because it’s nearly impossible for me to stop thinking about how my son and countless other children ended up where they are today.  Someday I hope to have the strength to completely move past the pain and sadness you brought to my child and my family.  One day I’ll be able to find forgiveness.  Until then I’ll be here waiting for you to offer yours. 
Anonymous mom
09/2012
Please HELP me!
STOP Restraint and Seclusion

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Pine Tree defends cool-down room - Longview News-Journal: Local News

Pine Tree defends cool-down room - Longview News-Journal: Local News

Teacher who abused disabled student in NW Arkansas goes to prison - ky3.com

Teacher who abused disabled student in NW Arkansas goes to prison - ky3.com

Should cameras be installed in special needs classrooms? : News : CarolinaLive.com

Should cameras be installed in special needs classrooms? : News : CarolinaLive.com

6-year-old with Down syndrome hit by 2 teachers

6-year-old with Down syndrome hit by 2 teachers

Principal's notes say teacher blindfolded girl - California State Wire - fresnobee.com

Principal's notes say teacher blindfolded girl - California State Wire - fresnobee.com

The Williamson Daily News - Parents concerned about in school abuse

The Williamson Daily News - Parents concerned about in school abuse

Parent: Bus Driver Threatened Special Needs Students with Duct Tape | fox4kc.com – Kansas City news & weather from WDAF TV – FOX 4

Parent: Bus Driver Threatened Special Needs Students with Duct Tape | fox4kc.com – Kansas City news & weather from WDAF TV – FOX 4

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Fox C-6 School District: Is Spending $3.3 Million on Sports Stadiums Appropriate? - Arnold, MO Patch

Fox C-6 School District: Is Spending $3.3 Million on Sports Stadiums Appropriate? - Arnold, MO Patch

Politics Aside, There’s No Debating the Scary Facts of Romney’s Tax Policy - COLORLINES

Politics Aside, There’s No Debating the Scary Facts of Romney’s Tax Policy - COLORLINES


On healthcare, Romney pledged to “repeal and replace Obamacare.” The centerpiece of his rollback is the elimination of the individual mandate, which requires all Americans to buy subsidized insurance. Bafflingly, in the same breath, Romney promised to maintain Obamacare’s “pre-existing conditions” provision, which prevents insurance companies from denying coverage due to longterm ailments such as asthma, autism or HIV/AIDS.
The problem is that covering pre-existing conditions is expensive. In order to pay for the added costs of doing so, the insurance companies themselves insisted during the negotiations on Obamacare that the number of people participating in the healthcare system be expanded to help pay for it. That’s one of the key reasons for why we have the mandate: it helps underwrite the coverage of pre-existing conditions. Without the mandate, there is no viable way to ensure that people with pre-existing conditions can get coverage.
Romney himself once acknowledged this fact. That’s why he included both the pre-existing conditions provision and the individual mandate in his healthcare plan for Massachusetts.
When Obama pointed out that Romney’s Massachusetts health care plan was the model for Obamacare, Romney said, “I like the way we did it in Massachusetts.” But in a strange move of mental jujitsu, the former governor, went on to deride Obama for taking Romneycare nationwide through Obamacare. What was good for the people of his home state is apparently not good for the rest country.
Romney had a string of additional desultory answers and skewed facts on Medicare, Medicaid and education. On the Obama administration’s key education initiative, Race to the Top, Romney said that he “did agree” with the program. However he opposes the $4 billion included in the stimulus plan that established Race to the Top and got it going.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Update: DESE says Lebanon School District compliant when it comes to special needs students - ky3.com

Update: DESE says Lebanon School District compliant when it comes to special needs students - ky3.com

LEBANON, Mo -- In June, parents of special needs students in Lebanon held a meeting concerning the treatment of their children. It was led by the Advocates for Lebanon R-3 Special Education. 

They claimed their special needs children were being housed in two trailers behind Lebanon Junior High School for long periods of time. They went on to add their students were not properly being integrated with other students in the school. 

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education visited the district September 28, 2012 and found the operations in Lebanon were typical of programs for students with disabilities.

They went on to add that it was clear students with disabilities were integrated with students in general education in a variety of settings.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Report: Test security is inconsistent among states - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Report: Test security is inconsistent among states - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff


And, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch back in April, in Missouri there were more than 100 reports of standardized testing irregularities, including cheating, that poured into the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2010 and 2011.
According to the paper, of the $8.4 million Missouri spends to administer the Missouri Assessment Program, nothing is spent on test fraud detection services.
It also affirms that Missouri education officials rely on a system of "self-reporting" that assumes teachers and administrators will come to the state when they know of possible abuse.
Under this approach, the article explains that, even when allegations of testing irregularities are reported, the state and school districts rarely engage in the kind of rigorous statistical review many say is needed.
The article says that Missouri has also dismantled a program due to funding reductions that had sent inspectors randomly into schools to ensure tests are administered properly.
That article also acknowledged that Mo. education officials say looking for "red flags" would add thousands of dollars to the testing contract at a time when the state has cut department funding.

$24 Million in Grants Awarded to 22 States to Improve Training Systems to Help Children with Disabilities | U.S. Department of Education

$24 Million in Grants Awarded to 22 States to Improve Training Systems to Help Children with Disabilities | U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education announced today the award of $24 million in grants to 22 states to improve personnel training systems to help children with disabilities. States receiving grants are: Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Springfield schools look outside the box for expansion options to deal with influx of students - kspr.com

Springfield schools look outside the box for expansion options to deal with influx of students - kspr.com


Just like Lebanon they are thinking of putting special education students in a separate building.  Lee's Summit did this, too.

School leaders say once the school board leases the property, the church will become a second campus for special education students, who are currently being spread throughout the district in small makeshift classrooms -- because their only campus is full.

Monday, September 17, 2012

RC #7: PENN STATES TWIN IS ASD(ALLENTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT, PA) IN CONDOLENCE OF CHILD RAPES | Watchmen Politics

RC #7: PENN STATES TWIN IS ASD(ALLENTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT, PA) IN CONDOLENCE OF CHILD RAPES | Watchmen Politics

Awareity

Awareity

Lawsuits and Deliberate Indifference
Schools and school leaders are not exempt from the litigious society we live in. Therefore, all school personnel must be equipped to take appropriate actions when they know or should know about events of harassment, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying, sexual assault, etc.

Recent settlements and pending lawsuits are establishing precedents school leaders should take very 
seriously to prevent devastating harm to their school’s bottom line, reputation and the community too.
For example, the town of South Hadley (Massachusetts) paid $225,000 to the parents of Phoebe Prince (who committed suicide after being bullied by classmates). This settlement did not include legal fees incurred when six former classmates were charged in connection with Phoebe’s treatment at school. More recently, the Emerson Board of Education (New Jersey) settled a lawsuit brought by a former student who said bullying linked to his perceived sexual orientation over a six-year period was ignored by school administrators. The student will receive $130,000 from the Bergen County School District.

A pending lawsuit filed by the mother of Seth Walsh (who committed suicide after being bullied by 
classmates) against the Tehachapi Unified School District (TUSD) is one all school leaders should be watching closely. The lawsuit was filed using the results of a federal investigation by the Department of Justice and Department of Education that found TUSD “failed to act in an appropriate manner” even though the school was aware of the harassment towards Seth Walsh. Our greatest opportunities often occur during times of adversity, and making a difference for student safety will not happen until status quo approaches, excuses and acts of deliberate indifference are eliminated. Can your school afford a legal settlement of $130,000, $225,000 or more?

State to pay $4.4 million in landmark settlement

Advisen FPN


State to pay $4.4 million in landmark settlement [The Honolulu Star-Advertiser]

Aug. 29--The state has agreed to pay $4.4 million to settle a landmark lawsuit filed by a couple who alleged the Department of Education failed to provide their daughters with appropriate autism-specific services during the girls' formative years in the 1990s.
Attorneys say the suit could have far-reaching implications for other cases filed on behalf of special-needs students who have not received a free, appropriate public education, as federal law requires.
"Clearly, school districts are on notice that a denial of meaningful access for kids can expose them to significant damages," said Susan Dorsey, lead attorney for the Levin Education Access Project, a nonprofit that assisted the family with the case.
"The rest of the country will be looking at this decision. It's a huge victory for children."

Lee's Summit did this to my son.  I wonder if I should sue them.  I know of many other families that have had the same thing happen in Lee's Summit.  Maybe we should all sue them.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Another Republic family prevailed in lawsuit against school district | Springfield News-Leader | news-leader.com

Another Republic family prevailed in lawsuit against school district | Springfield News-Leader | news-leader.com

News-Leader files lawsuit against Republic schools, says Sunshine Law was violated | Springfield News-Leader | news-leader.com

News-Leader files lawsuit against Republic schools, says Sunshine Law was violated | Springfield News-Leader | news-leader.com

Republic school district paid $185,000 to settle suit by student | Springfield News-Leader | news-leader.com

Republic school district paid $185,000 to settle suit by student | Springfield News-Leader | news-leader.com

Locked Away: Students Say Seclusion Doesn't Help | StateImpact Ohio

Locked Away: Students Say Seclusion Doesn't Help | StateImpact Ohio

City schools avoid suit, hand over ‘seclusion room’ files | The Columbus Dispatch

City schools avoid suit, hand over ‘seclusion room’ files | The Columbus Dispatch

Faces of Autism: Does your school have a secret history of abusing disabled children? Find out here - National special education | Examiner.com

Faces of Autism: Does your school have a secret history of abusing disabled children? Find out here - National special education | Examiner.com

Beth Kassab: Rate of physical restraints in schools is alarming - Orlando Sentinel

Beth Kassab: Rate of physical restraints in schools is alarming - Orlando Sentinel

A Terrifying Way to Discipline Children - NYTimes.com

A Terrifying Way to Discipline Children - NYTimes.com

Teacher accused of abusing autistic child remains on paid leave - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Teacher accused of abusing autistic child remains on paid leave - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Won't Back Down - Official Trailer HD (2012) - YouTube

Won't Back Down - Official Trailer HD (2012) - YouTube

Missouri Education Watchdog: UN Trying to Take Away Parental Authority of Parents of Disabled Kids - Maybe Even Denying the Right To Homeschool

Missouri Education Watchdog: UN Trying to Take Away Parental Authority of Parents of Disabled Kids - Maybe Even Denying the Right To Homeschool

Monday, August 6, 2012

Missouri Autism Guidelines Initiative


I just received my copy of the Missouri Autism Guidelines Initiative:  Guide to Evidence-based Interventions

It is sponsored by the Thompson Foundation for Autism; the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Missouri Department of Health; the Office of Special Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; and Mercy Children’s Hospital – St. Louis and Springfield.

Here is the part that I want you to pay attention to:

Advisory Committee:

Julie Donnelly, PhD  AUTISM CONSULTANT AND TEACHER, Columbia Public Schools. Provided diagnosis and program planning for students with autism. Taught class within a class and learning disabilities resource room. half-time 1992-93. TEACHER, Delaware Elementary, Springfield, MO. Taught Multi-handicapped students with autism. Organized community based programs, peer integration, structured functional individualized curriculum. Provided alternative and augmentative communication methods and computer use for all through adaptations; 1988-1992.  TEACHER, Westport Elementary and Pershing Junior High, Springfield, MO. Taught self-contained EMR grades 1-3. Provided independent living skills training for junior high students with autism; 1985-1988. SPECIAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR AND TEACHER, Norwood R-1 Schools, MO. Coordinated special services including initiation of a gifted program. Taught EMR and LD K-6, 7-12 and Title I Math; 1981-1985.  TEACHER, Seymour Public Schools, MO. Taught self-contained Educable Mentally Retarded class K-6. Initiated Foster grandparent program; 1979-1981.

EXPERT WITNESS CONSULTATION AND TESTIMONY

Gills vs Columbia Public Schools, MO (School prevailed in due process, appeal and appeal to 8th Circuit)
Nordbergs vs Minneapolis, MN Schools (School prevailed in due process and appeal)
Lee's Summit, MO due process (settled in school's favor, unnamed for confidentiality)
Asburys vs Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Ed (DESE prevailed and in appeal & 8th district, Supreme Court review denied)
True vs Farmington Schools, Farmington, Minnesota (School prevailed in due process)

Beth Emmendorfer, EdD Associate Superintendent at Jackson R-2 Schools

Stacey Martin, MA, MAC  Autism Consultant for Lee’s Summit R-7 School District.  In charge of my son’s IEP throughout his education.  Never used any evidence based interventions for my son.  Never worked on my son’s social issues in a manner that is scientifically proven and evidence based.  Decided to give my son a calculator for math instead of one-on-one help as recommended by psychologist.  If you need to more, ask me.  I can fill you in on a lot.

Donald McCary, Director of Applied Behavior Analysis for Special School District

Kaye Otten, Ph.D. Autism and Behavior Specialist with the Lee’s Summit R-VII School District  Also worked with my son.  Enough said.

Kim Ratcliffe  Associate Executive Director Student Services at Missouri School Boards' Association


Keenan Stump SLPSpeech-Language Pathologist Olathe, KS




Sherri R. Tucker
Cofounder and President Lee's Summit Autism Support Group
Cofounder MOAFAA (Missouri Advocates for Families Affected by Autism)

GOP Votes Down Anti-Bullying Bill Despite Cries From Parents Of Dead Gay Kids | The New Civil Rights Movement

GOP Votes Down Anti-Bullying Bill Despite Cries From Parents Of Dead Gay Kids | The New Civil Rights Movement

GOP Senate Hopeful: Bullying Bill Unconstitutional Because Kids Don’t Know They’re Gay | The New Civil Rights Movement

GOP Senate Hopeful: Bullying Bill Unconstitutional Because Kids Don’t Know They’re Gay | The New Civil Rights Movement

Lawsuit: Principal Retaliated Against Family And Bullied Student Hospitalized For PTSD | The New Civil Rights Movement

Lawsuit: Principal Retaliated Against Family And Bullied Student Hospitalized For PTSD | The New Civil Rights Movement

A New Look at Section 504 and the ADA in Special Education Cases | Children's Rights Litigation | ABA Section of Litigation

A New Look at Section 504 and the ADA in Special Education Cases | Children's Rights Litigation | ABA Section of Litigation

Saturday, August 4, 2012

How to Avoid Special-Ed Lawsuits | Plog

How to Avoid Special-Ed Lawsuits | Plog

Back in 1998, the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) annual law seminar included a section titled “Special Education for Early Childhood Autistic Students -- How to Avoid Parent Demands for LOVAAS/TEACH Methodologies.” (In this case “TEACH” is a typo; it’s supposed to be TEACHH, an acronym for Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children.) That program and LOVAAS (named for the doctor who invented it) are now considered among the best methods for teaching young autistic students. The notes on the pictured copy of the law seminar’s program were written by Kansas City attorney Kim Westhusing, who has represented several parents of autistic children in due process cases against metro school districts.

Book Review: The Parents’ Guide to Teaching Kids with Asperger Syndrome and Similar ASDs Real-Life Skills for Independence « Spectrummy Mummy

Book Review: The Parents’ Guide to Teaching Kids with Asperger Syndrome and Similar ASDs Real-Life Skills for Independence « Spectrummy Mummy

Parenting Asperger's Newsletter 67

Parenting Asperger's Newsletter 67

Friday, August 3, 2012

autism

autism

Senator Scott Rupp also:
   ~Created the office of Autism in the state so families can navigate through the confusing departments within their state government.

  ~Created and was a founding member of the Missouri Autism Commission 
   ~
Was instrumental in the saving and reforming of the First Steps Program that was slated for elimination in 2005.

Scott Rupp, Missouri Secretary Of State Candidate, Could Win Via Autism Parents

Scott Rupp, Missouri Secretary Of State Candidate, Could Win Via Autism Parents

Italian court rules MMR vaccine caused autism : :: Natural Health 365 ::

Italian court rules MMR vaccine caused autism : :: Natural Health 365 ::

Did the Wall Street Journal Bury the Merck Fraud Story?

Did the Wall Street Journal Bury the Merck Fraud Story?

Thursday, August 2, 2012

When Bloviators Bloviate « autismblues

When Bloviators Bloviate « autismblues

the point « a diary of a mom

the point « a diary of a mom

Dear Joe « a diary of a mom

Dear Joe « a diary of a mom

Willful ignorance: Joe Scarborough speculates Aurora killer is autistic; Backlash erupts | Twitchy

Willful ignorance: Joe Scarborough speculates Aurora killer is autistic; Backlash erupts | Twitchy

First Autistic Presidential Appointee Lambastes Joe Scarborough And Autism Speaks | Mediaite

First Autistic Presidential Appointee Lambastes Joe Scarborough And Autism Speaks | Mediaite

Researchers See Differences in Autism Brain Development as Early as 6 Months | Science News | Autism Speaks

Researchers See Differences in Autism Brain Development as Early as 6 Months | Science News | Autism Speaks

EU-AIMS - European Autism Interventions – A Multicentre Study for Deve

EU-AIMS - European Autism Interventions – A Multicentre Study for Deve

Peter Bell — Hunter College

Peter Bell — Hunter College

Drug Companies Drive the Psychiatric Drugging of Children.

Risperdal

Empathy and Autism

Empathy and Autism

(67) Ortho-Mcneil-Janssen and Autism Speaks.

(67) Ortho-Mcneil-Janssen and Autism Speaks.

Scarborough Tissue: Player Tells Coach Autistic People Grow Up To Be Mass Murderers | Mediaite

Scarborough Tissue: Player Tells Coach Autistic People Grow Up To Be Mass Murderers | Mediaite

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Proposed Changes To State Regulations

proposedstateplan2012


The Office of Special Education, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, is proposing changes to the State regulations implementing Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  The proposed changes are available for inspection until September 19, 2012, in the Office of the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Special Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 205 Jefferson Street, 4th floor, Jefferson Building, Jefferson City, MO  65102 during regular office hours.
Public hearings, in the form of a webinar, are scheduled for the following dates and times:
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Written public comments on the proposed changes are being solicited and should be directed as follows no later than the close of business on September 10, 2012:
Bonnie Aaron, Director, Compliance
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
P. O. Box 480 Jefferson City, MO  65102-0480
Fax: 573-526-5946

Replace current law, recommends Minnesota task force on bullying | Minnesota Public Radio News

Replace current law, recommends Minnesota task force on bullying | Minnesota Public Radio News

Paula C. Durbin-Westby Autistic Advocacy Blog: Autism Speaks and Walmart Target Autistic Students with "School Supplies"

Paula C. Durbin-Westby Autistic Advocacy Blog: Autism Speaks and Walmart Target Autistic Students with "School Supplies"

seMissourian.com: Submitted Story: Rupp Sensory Saturday Presentation (07/27/12)

seMissourian.com: Submitted Story: Rupp Sensory Saturday Presentation (07/27/12)

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Petition | Joe Scarborough, MSNBC: Retract your statements about autism and the Colorado shooting | Change.org

Petition | Joe Scarborough, MSNBC: Retract your statements about autism and the Colorado shooting | Change.org

Becoming a teacher without heading back to school : News : HeartlandConnection.com

Becoming a teacher without heading back to school : News : HeartlandConnection.com

To qualify for the program, the candidate must have a Bachelor's degree where they obtained a 2.5 g.p.a. or greater, and pass a background check. The program offers certification to teach 5-12th grades, in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Elementary Education, English Language Arts, General Science, History, Math, Physics, Special Education, and a Reading Endorsement.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

50 Cent Autism Tweets: Holly Robinson Peete Writes Letter To Rapper In Response To Offensive Statements

50 Cent Autism Tweets: Holly Robinson Peete Writes Letter To Rapper In Response To Offensive Statements

The ugly tweets were in response to an eager fan who wrote to 50: "Release the album or get shot again." The rapper allegedly tweeted back, "yeah just saw your picture fool you look autistic." And, he didn't stop there. "I dont want no special ed kids on my time line follow some body else," he posted later.

Easy Puzzle Nails - YouTube

Easy Puzzle Nails - YouTube

Nail Art Video.   It's a simple puzzle design with Autism Awareness Colors. I think it is a fun way to show support for Autism Awareness. It can be viewed from this link.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Do You Believe That People With Disabilities Should Have The Right To Make Their Own Decisions?

email : Webview

Do you believe that people with disabilities should have the right to make decisions about our own services? To choose with whom and where we live? To be able to invite visitors home and make our own decisions about how to spend our day, decorate our homes and what kinds of services we want and don't want? Today, you have an opportunity to make these rules law! 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the government agency that funds most disability service provision in the United States, has put forward a regulation that would set out requirements for how service providers receiving Home and Community Based Services funding can behave. CMS has proposed a wide variety of crucial protections, such as protecting people with disabilities from eviction from our homes due to refusing a particular service or treatment, requiring that community providers must respect the choice and autonomy of the people they support and many other important protections that will empower people with disabilities in interactions with their service providers.

But these regulations are facing severe opposition from many in the provider industry that believe that people with disabilities are "too disabled" to make these choices for ourselves. We have till this Monday to make our voices heard, before the CMS Public Comment period closes for good! Follow these simple instructions to make sure you're represented:

Carmel on the Case - Locked In A Closet?

Carmel on the Case - Locked In A Closet?

The Broward State Attorney's Office is investigating a special needs teacher on possible child neglect charges. A mother says the way her autistic son was punished by the teacher crossed the line. Investigative reporter Carmel Cafiero is On the Case.

Read more: http://www.wsvn.com/features/articles/carmelcase/MI95511/#ixzz1zOAmAvPh