Resources Information Special Education Long Island

NYS Assembly Bill A8021-which provides that a student enrolled in an individualized education plan during certain school years may continue to receive educational services, has been signed by Governor Cuomo! https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/a8021

This is being shared in New York Alliance for Developmental Disabilities (NYADD)

July 19, 2021 from 6:30-8:30pm FREE!!! Register here: https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLScdtWIK9CZ-ICYE1v/viewform This workshop will benefit ALL students with complex communication needs! Communication is a right, under IDEA, AND under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)... "Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, schools must, without charge, ensure that communication with students with disabilities is as effective as communication with students without disabilities, giving primary consideration to students and parents in determining which auxiliary aids and services are necessary to provide such effective communication." https://sites.ed.gov//memosdc/doe-doj-eff-comm-fct-sht.pdf

GREAT RESOURCES! Elizabeth C. Hamblet, LD Advisory has put together a list of college search and preparation resources for students with disabilities. If your child is beginning the search for college programs, Elizabeth C. Hamblet, LD Advisory is one of the best sources of information for students who will be attending credit bearing university/college programs. Cut thru the myths about accommodations, gives you practical advice on how to obtain support and navigate college life. Critical information about what to look for in programs. https://ldadvisory.com/college-search-and-preparation-reso/

"Speech-to-text technology allowed them to more easily transfer their ideas onto the page. This especially helped his students with ADHD and processing-related disabilities, such as auditory processing disorder or working memory deficits."

At a Spinabifida clinic yesterday a nurse tried to work out how to weigh me. A doctor came along, glanced at me and said Most of them can transfer. Most of th...em. Not most people. Not most of our patients. Most of them. The rest of the medical staff I met were some of the least ableist I’ve encountered but still when I was asked Have you ever worked? and the surprise across their face when I said Yes I’m a trained psychotherapist and a writer and advocate was noticeable as was the Oh wow really? Good for you after. I advocated so hard with each person I met. I managed to talk about eugenics, disability pride and how I didn’t think disability should be eradicated, the state of adult services and how undervalued we are. I advocated hard for lives like mine and my beautiful kid and it was exhausting. Every silly little reel I make and question I answer about how to interact with a wheelchair user leaves me feeling like what the fuuuuuck? Why do I need to do this? It reminds me that we’re not seen as equal to everyone else. We’re seen as other. An awkward thing that people don’t know how to interact with. Most of us know that if we needed to be admitted to emergency care during the last 18 months the importance of stuffing your pockets with family pictures. To humanise yourself. To hopefully prevent a DNR order being given out because you’re not seen as equal and deserving as life as everyone else. I can wear all the beautiful clothes and fancy earrings and still I’m seen as an other. The awkward broken thing. People are surprised I work. Surprised I have a partner and kids. Surprised that I’m funny. Surprised that I’m content. Surprised (and furious) that I’m a gobby little fucker. And I’m only dealing with ableism and the odd bit of sexism thrown in for good measure. The fact I’m white. The fact I’m cis. Offers me protection and privilege. I’m not having to deal with ableism and racism or ableism and transphobia. If it’s bad for me then it’s so much worse for people who exist within multiple marginalised groups. I love being disabled. I am deeply proud of this identity and this community. Tell you what though I’m really bloody tired. ID: comments

Excellent resource on understanding what is "Pragmatic Language"!!!! Shared from FACES

https://twitter.com/Inclusive_Cl/status/1360794210165657600

Chores have benefits like teaching life skills, responsibility and team work, even when your child with autism requires support. Tell me about your child's chores, whether independent or with support. I'd love to hear!

Great to see LI school district expanding their Unified Sports programs! New York has SO FAR to go in inclusion- we are so far behind states like New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc. and quite frankly, the state of outcomes for students with disabilities, stink. We are a state that has been downgraded from 10+ years as a state "In Need of Assistance" in special education to a state "In Need of Intervention". We need to do better. And little steps like Unified Sports may help us to do better.

The U.S. Department of Education has released COVID-19 Handbook Volume 1: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools with lots of helpful info regarding students with disabilities. Volume 2 will follow in the coming weeks. https://www2.ed.gov/documents/coronavirus/reopening.pdf https://www.ed.gov//us-department-education-covid-19-handb... h/t to Candace Cortiella of The Advocacy Institute

Shared from Spectrum https://www.spectrumnews.org//definition-autism-needs-ref/