+ TWO Special Needs Meetings in Central Ohio

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I.  SPECIAL NEEDS CONNECTIONS  is a support group in Central Ohio for parents of special needs children.

• Share information
• Support each other
• Listen to speakers

The November meeting will beheld

• WHEN:  Monday November 16, 2009
• TIME:    7:00 – 8:30 pm
• PLACE:  130 Big Run Road, Delaware OH 43015 (Molly King’s home)
• SPEAKER:  Nancy Mandernach, OCECD
• TOPIC:  The new IEP and evaluation forms

OCECD is the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities.

Please RSVP so there will be enough materials. 

Contact Molly at: (home) 740-369-4047;  (cell) 614-581-6675; or email mking@nextgenaccess.com

II.   TRANSITION NIGHT FREE RESOURCE FAIR

Co-Sponsored by   Delaware Area Career Center, Hilliard, Dublin, Grandview, Upper Arlington, Westerville & Worthington Schools.

• WHEN:  December 10, 2009
• TIME:  5:30-7:30 PM
• PLACE: Hilliard Bradley High School, 2800 Walker Rd, Hilliard
• TOPIC: Mapping your IEP student’s way through high school and beyond

Representatives will be available to discuss

1) high school transition, 2) career and technical education programs, 3) agency supports after high school, 4) transportation, 5) recreation and parks programs, 5)  Special Olympics, 6) county DD resources and services, 7) employment supports, 8) Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, 9) financial supports, 10) independent living supports, 11) future planning, estate planning and wills.

If you have questions contact Betty Anderson 921-7234 (Hilliard Schools); Sheree Ellis 740-203-2264 (Delaware Area Career Center); Erin Kellum 718-8110 (Dublin Schools); Chris France 481-3620 (Grandview Schools); Peggy Moore 487-5158 / X133 (Upper Arlington); Marianne Davis 797-5877 (Westerville Schools); Sue Morgan 883-3041 (Worthington Schools).

Note: in case of bad weather, closing Hilliard Schools, the event will be cancelled.

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ One Parent Recommends Special Needs Books

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Kindall Nelson, a Chicago writer for  Examiner.com, recommends the following books as summer reading for those with special needs students. 

The first three books are all told from the perspective of  people who have lived with special needs.

• The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal  by Jonathan Mooney ($10.98) who was labeled dyslexic and profoundly learning disabled.  He grew up, graduated from Brown, bought a “short bus” and began traveling the country, meeting with other people who have been similarly labeled in their  lives.  He asked them “What is normal?”  Thirteen people met with him and some challenged even his preconceptions as they told their stories.
• Learning Disabilities and Life Stories  by Pano Rodis, Andrew Garrod, Mary Lynn Boscardin ($47.94).  Thirteen people who live with different types of learning disabilities tell what life is like.  They try to shatter myths that people hold on to.  In addition five notable experts contribute essays.  The audience is educators, parents and older LD students.
• Laughing Allegra: The Inspiring Story of a Mother’s Struggle and Triumph Raising a Daughter with Learning Disabilities  by Ann Ford, John-Richard Thompson, and Mel Levine.  Anne Ford, the author, is the mother of a child with severe LD and the great-granddaughter of Henry Ford.  She weaves her story of sadness, anger, confusion and eventual triumphs with helpful insights and information that can help others.  She also shows that wealth and social status have nothing to do with the ability to  love, accept and help one’s children.    

The following books are rather like handbooks; they should be invaluable to parents, teachers and other concerned persons, but they are probably more challenging reads than the previous three.

• Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd ed. (Perfect Paperback)  by Peter W D Wright, Pamela Darr Wright ($19.77).  Wonderful for any parent who needs clearer definitions of special education laws.  The authors are the creators of Wrightslaw.com, which Nelson says is the first place she goes when she has a question about any special education laws.  This second edition is significantly expanded to include IDEA 2004 as well as the No Child Left Behind Act and Section 504 laws.  She recommends it highly.
• Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, The Special Education Survival Guide  by Peter W D Wright and Pamela Wright ($19.55).  Nelson feels the Wrights are an excellent resource for parents.  This book has some of the same information as the one above, but written especially for parents who haven’t traveled the IEP path before.  Those who have trod the path before will also find it useful.  The book takes each law and breaks it down, showing how it will benefit your child.
• How To Reach and Teach Children with ADD/ADHD: Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions  [ J-B Ed: Reach and Teach]  by Sandra F Rief MA ($21.75).  This book is full of ideas, tools and strategies for teachers and parents alike.  Everyone who works with children will benefit from this book.  It gives practical ways to help kids with ADD and ADHD realize their potential.  Nelson says the strategies in tis book are good for ALL children, even those who have no diagnosis.

sole source: atricle at www.examiner.com by their Chicago Special Education Examiner, Kindall Nelson.  Check out her articles, or subscribe to email alerts for updates and new articles (your email address will not be shared). 

Also, Nelson says if you have, or know of, a book you would like reviewed or publicised, email Kindall Nelson at specialeducationexaminer@gmail.com .

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards  614-579-6021  or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ Central Ohio: Two Events for Special Needs Families

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From Heather Endres, notice about two upcoming events that might be of interest to special needs families.

I.      SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

Thursday, May 14, 2009, 7-8:30pm.  Speaker: Nancy Mandernach of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD). 

Focus: Q and A Session with Nancy, and information on “Understanding ADHD.”

At the home of Molly King, 130 Big Run Road, Delaware OH 43015.  Please RSVP, so there will be sufficient materials.  Contact Molly at 740-369-4047 (home) or 614-581-6675 (cell), or email mking@nexgenaccess.com.

Childcare provided if needed — if you do need childcare, tell Molly. 

• Share information
• Support each other
• Speakers (usually)

II.    TRANSITION WEEKEND: MY LIFE, MY FUTURE

• Transition Weekend
• June 26-26, 2009
• Embassy Suites Columbus-Dublin
• 5100 Upper Metro Place, Dublin OH 43017
• for families, students and their transition team members

Application Deadline: May 20, 2009. 

Contact Tom Fish, PhD at 614-292-7550 or fish.1@osu.edu .

Sponsors are The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and The Ohio Dept. of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, together with The Nisonger Center of The Ohio State University.

“Transitional” aged kids are 14 and older.  But even if they aren’t 14 yet, parents should be proactive in preparing them for their future, says Heather Endres. 

She just attended a workshop on transition, sponsored by OCECD and the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI).  She received resource packs, and wanted us to know about options.  For more, visit www.OCECD.org and www.ocali.org.

source: Heather Enderes’s email alert.  To receive the alerts, contact Heather at 740-548-3936 or heather.endres@gamil.com

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards  614-579-6021   or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ 2009 Directory of Summer Camps in Central Ohio Available

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The State Support Team Region 11 has published its new 2009 Directory.  Among other things, find the 2009 College/University Resource Directory, as well as the 2009 Summer Camp Directory.

GO TO  www.cositpd.org

CLICK  on  publications 

The directories are there as PDFs.

What Is a State Support Team?   

The State Support Team Region 11 (SST 11) is a new agency.  It combines regional services provided by the former Central Ohio Special Education Resource Center (COSERRC) and Central Ohio Regional School Improvement Team (CORSIT).

As one of Ohio’s 16 SSTs, SST 11 will provide services and assistance to school districts, educational service centers, community schools, early childhood centers, and families, in four areas:

• School Improvement, designed to improve educational outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities and at risk learners.
• Special Education Compliance with federal and state mandates for serving students with disabilities and students at risk for school failure.
• Literacy services that include coaching on high-quality literacy planning, instruction, and assessment.
• Early Learning and School Readiness, focused on compliance and high-quality instruction through technical assistance and professional development.

The Mission of the SST 11

The SST 11 will help school districts build their capacity to plan and implement school improvement processes that close achievement gaps in reading, math and sub-group performance.

• Improve the achievement of children and youth with disabilities and children at risk of being identified as disabled, by assisting educators and families in the development and delivery of specially designed instruction aligned with Ohio’s academic content standards.
• Assist districts and agencies in complying with federal and state laws and regulations, to ensure the full participation of children and youth with disabilities in the school community.
• This mission supports the vision of the Ohio Department of Education by providing processes, products and services designed to assist those responsible for closing the achievement gap for all children in the Central Ohio region.

SST 11 works through the Ohio Department of Education’s Offices for Exceptional Children, Literacy, Early learning and School Readiness, and Field Relations, by providing technical assistance and professional development.

Web address for Educational Service Center of Central Ohio:  www.escofcentralohio.org

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ Central OHIO Parents’ Special Needs Connection April 2 2009

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A support group for parents of special needs children will meet in Delaware OH on April 2, 2009.

“Parent/Professional Communication: Dispelling Myths About Parent/Professional Relationships”

The goal is to learn, share information  and support each other.

• Where –home of Molly King, 130 Big Run Road, Delaware OH 43015
• Date –April 2, 2009
• Time — 7: 00 to 8:30 pm
• Speaker –Nancy Mandernach, Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD)
• Topic — Parent/Professional Communication: Understanding the parent’s point of view, feelings and attitudes in trying to secure appropriate services; understanding the professional perspective (dispel myths about parent/professional relationships)
• RSVP – so there will be enough materials

Contact Molly at home: 740-369-4047 or on cell: 614-581-6675, or email mking@nextgenaccess.com  

if you would like to receive direct information via email about meetings in central Ohio,  ask to be added to  Heather Endres’s mailing list.  heather.endres@gmail.com  

tutoring in Columbus OH:  Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email   aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com  

+ Tourette Syndrome Teacher Offers Resources

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Brad Cohen (with Lisa Wysocky) has written “Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had.”

Jim Eisenreich, a former professional baseball player who has Tourette’s, has written a Foreward. 

As a child with Tourette syndrome, Brad Cohen was ridiculed, beaten, mocked, and shunned.  Children, teachers, and even family members found it difficult to be around him.

As a teenager, he was viewed by many as purposefully misbehaving, even though he had little power over the twitches and noises he produced, especially under stress.

Even today, Brad is sometimes ejected from movie theaters and restaurants.

But this book is not the work of someone filled with self-pity.  His unswerving determination and fiercely positive attitude conquered the difficulties he faced in school, in college, and hunting for jobs.

He never stopped striving, and after twenty-four interviews, he landed his dream job: teaching grade school and nurturing all of his students as a positive, encouraging role model.

Cohen is now a motivational speaker as well as a teacher and author.  He is the recipient of Georgia’s First Class Teacher of the Year award.

He has founded a camp for children with Tourette’s and has appeared on Oprah.  In 2006, this book won the Independent Publisher’s Education Book of the Year Award.

His life has also been made the subject of a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie.

There are fifteen chapters;  it is part memoir with harrowing and heartwarming experiences, part great teacher anecdotes, part practical advice.

There is a “photo album”  and an appendix: “Thoughts on Living with Tourette Syndrome and Other Disabilities” (terrific advice).  There’s also an index. 

But most usefully there are two pages of resources.  Here are some:

• Brad Cohen’s Official Site — additional resources for those with Tourette’s.  www.frontoftheclassbook.com
• Americans with Disabilities Act — Know your rights if you have any kind of disability.  www.ada.gov
• Jim Ehrenreich Foundation — A foundation for children with Tourette syndrome.  PO Box 953, Blue Springs, MO 64013, 800-442-8624 (toll free)  www.tourettes.org
• Life’s a Twitch — Dr B Duncan McKinlay, Psychologist, offers writings, research, a documentary, songs, children’s resources, a question-and-answer forum, presentations, and other information and encouragement for those living with TS and associated disorders.   www.life’satwitch.com
• National Tourette Syndrome Association — A national US organization for those withTourette syndrome.  42-40 Bell Boulevard, Bayside NY 11361  888-4TOURET (toll free) or 718-224-2999 www.tsa-usa.org
• Planet Tic — An easy website to use for kids, parents, and teachers.  www.planettic.com
• Tourette Spectrum Disorder Association, Inc. — A great place to find more information on the breadth and depth of Tourette syndrome. www.tourettesyndrome.org
• Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada –  A national organization in Canada for those with Tourette syndrome.  194 Jarvis Street, #206, Toronto Ontario M5B 2B7 800-361-3120 (toll free) www.tourette.ca
• Tourette Syndrome “Plus” — Another great resource for information on Tourette syndrome.  www.tourettesyndrome.net

+ Central Ohio Parents’ IEP Training Jan 15, 2009

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Your   Rights  in  Your  Child’s  IEP  Process

A training will be held at the home of Molly King, on Thursday, Jan 15th at 7:00 pm.

Presenter is Nancy Mandernach from the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD).

Training is FREE, but you must RSVP so they’ll have enough materials.

PLACE:         130 Big Run Rd, Delaware OH 43015

RSVP:           Molly King at 740-369-4047  (home) or 614-581-6675 (cell) or email mking@nextgenaccess.com

to receive information yourself about these events, you may email Heather Endres at heather.endres@gmail.com and ask to be put in the loop!

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ Central Ohio IDA Membership Meeting and More: Oct 4th and 5th

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Two upcoming events in the Columbus Ohio area:

First:

The annual membership meeting will be held October 4th at Marburn Academy, in conjunction with “Walk in the Shoes of a Dyslexic,” the eye-opening simulation for people who wonder what it fells like to be dyslexic.

Place: Marburn Academy, 1860 Walden Drive, Columbus OH 43229. 

Time: 9-11 AM: Walk in the Shoes of a Dyslexic simulation; 11-12 : COBIDA membership meeting.

Second: 

Sunday, October 5th: A NON-PARTISAN house party for Ted Celeste at 7 PM at 2954 Scioto Place, Columbus OH 43221.  (Celeste is a Democrat, but the organizer and sponsor of this event is Janis Mitchell, COBIDA vice president and chair of the statewide IDA legislative committee, is a strong Republican.)

If re-elected, Ted will be the chair of the education committee in the Ohio House of Representatives.  He has made a firm commitment to sponsor a dyslexia bill for us and usher it through the House.  COBIDA is trying to show its support for his commitment to dyslexia by helping Ted get reelected.  (Monies raised will help Celeste, and not go to COBIDA.)

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email   aedwards@columbus.rr.com

+ LDA Conference in Salt Lake City in February: Register Now

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The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) will hold its 46th annual International Conference February 25-28, 2009 in Salt Lake City.  Find information at  www.LDAamerica.org

Called a “5 Star Event,” the conference is meant for educators, administrators, teaching professionals, practitioners, parents, volunteers, as well as people with learning disabilites.

Rick Lavoie, MA, MEd will address the Wednesday opening keynote session on “Special Education in 2009:  A Look Back, A Look Around, A Look Ahead.” 

General Session speaker on Thursday will be Donald D Deshler, PhD, Professor of Special Education and Director of the Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas.  He will address ”Learning, Unlearning, and Not Learning.” 

Atlanta Falcons football player and LDA spokesperson David Irons, Jr will deliver the keynote address during Thursday’s Adult Luncheon.  David’s story is not unlike many who have faced the challenges posed by learning disabilities.  He is a shining star in his own right in the example he sets in the NFL spotlight and in his personal life off the field, says LDA Executive Director Sheila Buckley.

On Friday, the General Session speaker will be Cal Crow, PhD, Program Director of the Center for Learning Connections at Highline Community College in Des Moine, WA.  His topic: “Identity, Self-Efficacy and Resiliency: Touching the Heart.”

Also on Friday, at the LDA Awards Banquet, hear Smantha Abeel, from Muncie Indiana, a young woman with a learning disability whose life journey inspires audiences and gives hope to others.  She is the author of two books, and speaks frequently and candidly about the difficulties of growing up with a learning disability from elementary school through graduate school, as well as how it impacts her life in the present.

There will be exhibits, products both electronic and otherwise, books and DVDs available.  Expect Table Talks for teachers, research Poster Sessions, and opportunities for parents to interact with professionals.

Professional Continuing Education credits are available, as well as graduate credits. 

Special stipends are offered to two-person faculty teams from five Colleges or Universities, one who teaches general education courses and one who trains teachers to work with children who have learning disabilities.  Chosen teams can receive up to $1,000 per team to reimburse airfare, lodging, meal and parking expenses (attendance at the entire four-day conference is required).

LDA may be contacted at www.LDAamerica.org, by email at info@LDAamerica.org, by phone at 412-341-1515, or by FAX at 412-344-0224.

Joining LDA when you register will give you a discounted rate.  If you register on or before Jan 14th, you’ll receive an early bird discount.

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email   aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ OHIO: IEP Workshops in Columbus Area

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The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) will offer two FREE IEP workshops this fall.  Nancy Mandernach will be the presenter.  For more information about this organization and to contact their office visit www.OCECD.org.

1.       Friday, October 24th 2008: Understanding and Writing an IEP      (This workshop was last given in June of 08 at the same location.)       Time: 6:30-8:00 pm

2.       Wednesday, November 19 2008: Transition Drives the IEP       (This is a NEW workshop at the same location.)    Time: 6:30-8:00 pm

LOCATION:    Center Point Church – 7750 B Green Meadows Drive, Lewis Center OH 43035 

REGISTRATION:      CONTACT Heather Endres at heather.endres@gmail.com or 614-288-7583

COST: FREE    but please register so there will be enough materials for everyone.  Unfortunately, no childcare available.

tutoring in Columbus OH:    Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email   aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com