A Florida advocate's inquiry to OSEP regarding Asperger Syndrome, Autism and IEP's -

A New York High Court Decision on Domestic Violence: Can a Parent Be Guilty of Neglect Simply Because She Is Victimized in the Presence of Her Children? - The New York City Administration for Children's Service (ACS) was alleged to have had a policy dictating that children be removed from mothers who were victims of domestic violence. Federal District Court Judge Jack Weinstein characterized this claimed policy as a "pitiless double abuse": These women were forced to suffer the battering, first, and the loss of their children, second, by Joanna Grossman

ADHD lawsuit has cost district $40,000 / SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR ADHD -  A lawsuit to decide if a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder deserves a special education plan has cost the Manatee County School District almost $40,000 so far. The district has spent $37,763.36 on legal fees in the case, including $22,496.81 to Edwards and Scharff, a law firm in Palo Alto, Calif.; and $4,211.77 to the Tampa firm of Thompson, Sizemore & Gonzalez by Michael Barber

Administrative Judge to Decide Diploma Dispute.  Parents say high school shuffled their son through the system. - "Sammons, 19, was diagnosed as a child with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, and was placed in the county's exceptional student education (ESE) program as a kindergartner, said Bill Sammons, a commercial real estate broker in Lakeland. ...Mark Kamleiter, the Sammonses' lawyer, said Drew Sammons doesn't demonstrate any of the knowledge he should have gotten out of a high school education, making his diploma worthless.," by Julia Crouse

An Advocate's Official Letter of Inquiry to the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education - Twenty Questions regarding the Autism/Asperger Controversy in Classification and "Educational Diagnosis"

Antonioni files bills to help special education students - Sen. Robert Antonioni has filed a series of education bills for next session that would specifically help special education and preschool students. One bill would require the state to apply for a waiver from the federal government that would allow children with autism to receive intensive services in their homes or communities.  Antonioni said the waiver means the federal government would reimburse the state for 50 percent of the cost of those services. "It's my understanding school systems are facing significant increases of students with autism," Antonioni said. "These children often require specialized services to address their different learning needs. The research shows when they receive intensive coordinated services, they can thrive academically, socially and communicationwise," by Jennifer Fenn / Boston

Appeals court revives $1 million award for fired Portland special-ed teacher by Steven Carter

Art of Citizen Lobbying 

Audit Finds Weaknesses In How State Monitors Sex Offender Programs - A new audit has found weaknesses in how the state monitors programs dealing with sex offenders.  The review by state auditor Elaine Howle and her staff looked at programs run by the Developmental Services and Mental Health departments and the California Youth Authority, the prison system for young criminals.  Among other things, the audit found that... by the AP

AUTISM - A POLITICAL BOMBSHELL " NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"? / President Bush unwilling to address this National Tragedy. Parents are outraged. - Autism has hit epidemic levels with no end in sight. The President has failed to address this National Tragedy....WHY ? There are 25 facts that will leave the American people asking questions. New Book Titled, Mercury: The Winged Messenger presents these 25 facts and others... THE TWENTY FIVE FACTS PRESENTED IN THE BOOK TITLED: MERCURY: THE WINGED MESSENGER. / Press Release

Autism decision is turning point for autistic children in Northern Ireland - The decision to fund Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in Northern Ireland marks a turning point in the services available to families with autistic children in Northern Ireland, according to a University of Ulster behaviour analyst.Dr Keenan, of the University's School of Psychology, has been a driving force behind the development of ABA in Northern Ireland, welcomed the Murray family's victory in gaining funding for ABA treatment for their autistic son Paul, aged seven by News.Medical.net

Autism Task Force - Oregon

Back to School on Civil Rights - COPAA 

Being Businesslike at Your IEP: The Parent Record

Bend La-Pine School District to appeal Special Education ruling. / K.H. and Bend-LaPine School District. - The Bend La-Pine SD will be appealing this decision which allows the parents to be reimbursed for a private therapeutic school as the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) claiming the Bend La-Pine school's, IEP and placement was inadequate and ordering the Bend La-Pine SD to pick up the tab. Order also states this IEP was vague at best.  Suits like this have raged over the last four years and according to the Bend Bulletin, the Oregon Department of Education has lost only one.  Will this be the last straw and set precedent for Oregon Parents?  Read the order.   - 1/2005

BEWARE THE ADVOZEALOTS: Mindless good intentions injure the handicapped by Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., Autism Research Institute

'Blueprint' on protection of rights of disabled - An association of disabled persons has appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, to take steps to ensure protection of their rights, including appointing Disability Commissioners and reconstituting the National Disability Council.  The Disability Rights Group (DRG) submitted a 'Blueprint for Ensuring the Rights of Disabled Citizens in India' to Singh and Gandhi which also suggested that a disability Advisor be appointed to the offices of the President, Prime Minister and Chief Ministers by the Hindu

Bullying of autistic students 'ignored' - More than half of all students with autism are being bullied at school every week, but angry parents claim teachers are not doing enough to stamp it out. The shock finding follows interviews with 1700 families on school satisfaction levels. A report to be released today by the Parent Autism Education Committee shows 70 per cent of parents do not believe schools are taking enough action on bullying of students with disabilities. Frustrated parents have also complained some teachers do not accept disability and have accused individuals of behaving poorly towards their autistic sons and daughters.  Between 54 and 70 per cent of parents did not believe schools were doing enough to address their child's academic difficulties, communication, sensory needs, behavioural problems, physical wellbeing, mental health, bullying or social difficulties.

Can I Put My Bare Feet On?

California family wins record settlement over toxic mold - A family who claims toxic mold in their home caused brain damage in their baby has reached a $22.6 million settlement against a lumber company and 16 other defendants. The parents of Kellen Gorman claimed that he became sick because of mold on framing studs that had been improperly stored by Crenshaw Lumber Co. Inc. of Gardena, which agreed to pay $13 million of the settlement. The studs were used in the custom-built Manhattan Beach home the family lived in for about two years beginning in 1999. Kellen, now 5, functions as a 1 1/2-year-old and needs 24-hour care, the family's lawyer, Brian D. Witzer, told the Daily Journal of Los Angeles. Raymond P. Boucher, president of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, said the Oct. 19 settlement was the largest in the country for a mold case involving a single-family home. By the AP

Chicago's schools warned on special ed

Dana's view has tons of sample IEPs and goals

Developing Organized Coalitions and Strategic Plans - Robert Silverstein 

Disability Act Puts Website Accessibility Under The Spotlight - A new wave of legal action is expected as the final stages of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) came into force on 1st October. While the Act has legally required organisations to ensure that their websites are accessible to the disabled since 1999, the publicity around the final stages of the Act is likely to put website accessibility back under the spotlight.

District: Autistic student’s education appropriate - Berthoud Elementary School teachers put together an appropriate educational plan for an autistic student, so the Thompson School District should not have to pay for his private schooling, the district’s attorney argued in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court. The district is challenging Jeff and Julie Perkins of Berthoud, who argue their son Luke, 11, needs to attend the Boston Higashi School to learn. They want the district to pay for Luke’s schooling under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A Colorado Department of Education hearing officer and a state administrative law judge both sided recently with the Perkinses. The school district appealed the decisions in U.S. District Court, filing a 12-page complaint earlier this month. The Perkinses have until Jan. 8 to respond to the complaint through their attorney. By Felicia Jordan

Education Money Returned to Federal Treasury - Oregon

Effective Strategies for Interacting with Policy-Makers - Robert Silverstein 

Extended School Year by Carol Sadler, Educational Advocate 

Extended School Year - Questions and Anwers - Oregon Advocacy Center

Family files suit over job coaching / Parents: Disabled daughter pushed from real world - "...Jefferson County officials haven’t commented specifically on the lawsuit by the Schwartz family, but they told The Capital Times of Madison that they must control costs or high-needs people will consume all the money available to county residents.  Peggy Schwartz’s 22-year-old daughter, Jessica, has a genetic defect that causes autism-like symptoms. She has trouble concentrating for a long time by the AP

Family's autism funding victory could be ‘turning point’ - The decision to fund Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in Northern Ireland marks a turning point in the services available to families with autistic children in the province, a University of Ulster behaviour analyst has said. - Ireland / Dr Keenan, of the University's School of Psychology and a driving force behind the development of ABA in Northern Ireland, welcomed this week’s news that a east Belfast family had won a legal battle to get full funding for an intensive course of home teaching for their autistic son.

Forest Grove school district, parents tussle on private school costs - An administrative law judge tells the district to pay, saying it didn't deal with a teen's learning problems.  Final Order - OAH Case No. 20031306.  Department Case No. DP-03-113.  TA v. Forrest Grove SD.

General Guidelines for Disability Policy Change Agents- Robert Silverstein

Guide to an IEP from US Dept. of Education

Hamilton County Family Wins Court Battle Over Son's Special ... - There was a resolution Tuesday in the long-running court battle over the special education needs of one little boy in Hamilton County Schools.  Six years ago Phillip and Maureen Deal sued the Hamilton County Department of Education, saying it wasn't meeting the educational needs of their son Zachary, who has autism.  Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court of the United States refused to hear the case.  The Department went to the high court after the 6th District U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Deals. The Court of Appeals ruled that Hamilton County Schools pre-determined the education plan for Zachary instead of offering the Deal family options required by federal law.

Hospital autism detention 'wrong' Hospital / The detention of a man with autism under common law was a breach of his human rights, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. - The decision could have implications for people with dementia and learning disabilities who have been admitted to care under similar circumstances. The man was detained at a Surrey hospital in 1997 after he was deemed incapable of consenting to treatment. He had no right to appeal, unlike if he had been held under the Mental Health Act.

How to Disagree with the IEP Team

How to be Heard: Talking To Your Child's Teacher Effectively by Cheli Cerra

How to Negotiate in IEP Meetings

How to Prepare for Due Process Hearings

Justice system 'ignores' autism - People involved in the administration of criminal justice must raise their awareness of autism and Asperger syndrome, a leading charity says.  Research by the National Autistic Society (NAS) shows that over 90% of police and solicitors have no training to help them to understand autism.  The result is that those who have the disability are often misunderstood.  The NAS is launching a campaign so that people with autism receive proper support from justice professionals.  It is estimated that more than half a million people in the UK have autism - a complex, lifelong disability that affects a person's ability to communicate and make sense of the world around them.  By BBC News

How to Shop for an Adoptee Legislator

Judge refuses to delay libel case against Channel 4 -Channel 4 and warned claimants against using defamation proceedings as a tactical deterrent. The judge's comments came after a bid by Dr Andrew Wakefield to put his pending claim against Channel 4 on ice pending the outcome of General Medical Council proceedings against him. Dr Wakefield is suing Channel Four over a Dispatches programme, broadcast on 18 November last year and entitled "MMR (What They Didn't Tell You.)"  He claims the content of the programme alleged he had spread fear the measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine might lead to autism, even though his own laboratory had carried out tests which contradicted his own claims.  By Roger Pearson

Letters to a Stranger  - Tactics & Strategy: The "Letter to a Stranger" by Janie Bowman and Pete Wright

Living Through Due Process

Monkey Zoo-Doo - School Bureaucracy On the Planet of the Apes

Model Bill of Rights for People Receiving Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology Services

Moser v. Bret Hart SE CA Counsel Lawfirm / CIV-F-99-6273 OWW SMS
ORDER RE: SANCTIONS FOR ATTORNEY’S VIOLATIONS OF DUTY OF CANDOR AND NOT TO IMPEDE, OBSTRUCT, OR TO VEXATIOUSLY MULTIPLY PROCEEDINGS - This is a very important federal District Court case.  It is a sanction order outlining the outrageous conduct of the school district's special education lead attorney, the attorney's law firm, and the school district in a case appealed by plaintiff parents to overturn a defective California special education hearing officer's decision in the school district's favor. Why is this case important?   ...To read the case.    Student v. Bret Harte Union High School District - Briefs:

	Order To Show Cause; Re: Sanctions / December 1, 2003
	Order To Show Cause; Re: Sanctions / February 25, 2004
	Order: Sanctions for Attorney's Violation / January 12, 2005

Mothers from Hell

Mother sues, alleges abuse in special education - Today Ann Gaydos looks back in horror, and asks herself how she could have kept sending her child back into that classroom. Her daughter, Paige, has a form of autism that put her in a special education class in Cupertino, Calif. Over several months, Gaydos says, Paige's teacher subjected her to a series of abuses - ranging from pushing her to the floor and sitting on her, to rubbing a burrito in her face by Larry Slonaker

Mother sues school district over son's education - The mother of a recent Ragsdale High School student has sued Guilford County Schools, claiming her son didn't receive an adequate education. The suit, filed in Superior Court, seeks damages in excess of $10,000. The parent, Kathy Edwards, also is suing the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction by Bruce Buchanan

NEIU chief: Special chairs no inherent problem - In February -- nearly five months after the Lackawanna County district attorney's office began investigating allegations a teacher was tying autistic students to wooden support chairs -- parent Kathleen Walsh asked the Abington Heights School Board to remove the chairs from autistic classes by Lauren Roth

New Disability Bill Sharpens Onus on Public Bodies - Public bodies will have to do more to ensure equality of opportunity for disabled people under a new Bill published today.  The Disability Discrimination Bill aims to make the public sector consider the needs of disabled people rather than waiting for a complaint to arise.  The Bill was announced in this week’s Queen’s Speech and was published in the House of Lords today. It would extend the Disability Discrimination Act to include more people with HIV, MS and cancer, bringing around 175,000 more people within the scope of the Act every year.  By Jamie Lyons, PA Political Correspondent

New Rule for Severly Disabled. 2003

'No Child Left Behind' Top Education Issue - President Bush asked for it. Sen. John Kerry  voted for it. Both candidates now find their education agendas driven by the No Child Left Behind law.  The most aggressive shake-up to schools in a generation, the law is the top education issue in a presidential race dominated by war, terrorism, jobs, taxes and credibility. The law orders schools to ensure all children achieve regardless of race, ethnicity or income. For voters, the line dividing Bush and Kerry is subtle. The nominees diverge on how much to spend on the law and how much to tinker with it as schools try to comply by Ben Feller

No Child Left Behind: What Will it Take? (Feb 2002)
Another Fordham Foundation Report

Ont. parents sue schools in new autism lawsuit - The parents of five autistic children launched a class-action lawsuit against the Ontario government and school boards Monday, arguing that the province should provide an expensive autism therapy in its public schools.  Last month the Supreme Court has ruled that the province of British Columbia does not have to foot the bill for an effective, but expensive treatment program for autistic children.  Four families had sued the B.C. government, arguing it should pay for the costly treatment of their autistic children. They argued that Autism Spectrum Disorder is a medical disability, and as such, merits health-care funding, by CTV.ca News Staff

OUT OF THE DARK AGES / (By Govenor Barbara Roberts) (Extension of Remarks - January 26, 1993) - "Today, you and thousands of people in America have some understanding of autism. Autism as a disabling condition is finally out of the dark ages. But I remember the pain of parenthood during those dark ages. My son Mike is 36 and autistic..."

Oregon Advocacy Center's Grievance Procedure

Parents fight for girl's right to learn - "The girl's family has filed a civil rights suit in federal court, claiming that School Administrative District 55 failed to recognize the unique challenges of Asperger's. They argue that students with the lifelong neurological disorder can excel academically, but still be crippled by their inability to perform in social situations, and often need special services to do well in school," by Gregory D. Kesich

Parents heading to court over autism -  Undaunted by their recent loss at the Supreme Court of Canada, parents of autistic children are carrying their fight with the provincial government to another front. The Supreme Court ruled last month that the provinces do not have an obligation to pay for treatment of autistic kids under public health care plans. But a group of Ontario parents last week has launched a class-action suit claiming that the province is obliged to provide an education for autistic kids under both the Education Act, which guarantees access to public schools, and the Charter of Rights, which calls for equal treatment under the law by Ian Urquhart

Psychopharmacology: Disability Law and the Administration of Psychotropic Medication in the School Setting by James F. Luebbert, M.D., Richard P. Malone, M.D. and Len Rieser, J.D.

Playground debate heads to court - The parents of a home-schooled Falmouth boy, banned from the city's playground, head to court Friday to ask a judge to allow him to return there, by ABC News

Recovering Attorney Fees in Special Education Cases

Reexamining Rowley: A New Focus in Special Education Law by Scott F. Johnson, Esq. Beacon - Fall 2003

Reflecting On The First IEP Meetings I Attended - I have attended dozens of Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings since Nicholas was first diagnosed in 1998 and when Matthew received his diagnosis in early 1999. The very first IEP meeting I had for each child was very different. Both boys accompanied me to Nicholas’s meeting, my first ever IEP meeting. By Bonnie Sayers

Report outlines new battle plan for autism - The state task force charged with recommending ways to improve the organization, financing and delivery of services and treatment for Pennsylvania residents with Autism Spectrum Disorder released Wednesday what it calls its "blueprint for change." By Jo Ciavaglia

Section 504 - An Overview - Oregon Advocacy Center

Special Education - A Guide for Parents and Advocates - Oregon Advocacy Center

Special Education leaves schools behind by the Augusta Chronicle

Steps in the IEP Process

Suits May Target No Child Left Behind Act - The federal No Child Left Behind Act threatens costly penalties for schools deemed failing to meet academic standards. In response, some educators expect a series of lawsuits aimed at avoiding the sanctions. Since President Bush (news - web sites) signed the sweeping education reforms in 2002, the law has drawn criticism from educators debating its strict performance and test requirements. The act requires all students to be proficient in reading, writing and math by 2014, by the AP

The IDEA Amendments Are A Bad Idea - Let It Go! An Open Letter To President Bush, Secretary Paige And Senator Frist

What is an IEP

What is Inclusion?

What is your IEP IQ?  by Peter W. D. Wright, Esq.

What should be in your child's IEP

When Parents and Schools Disagree

Your Child's IEP: Practical and Legal Guidance for Parents