Freda Lee, Consultant for the Mental/Intellectual Disabilities Program for the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI), recently presented information to the Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children; her topic was the Occupational Course of Study (OCS), one of only two diploma-tracks for high school students in NC. Because NCâs OCS did not meet federal…
Discontinuing microwaves in classrooms
Did you know that some schools are prohibiting the use of microwaves by students? According to the Dept. of Agriculture, which governs the Child Nutrition Programs (providers of school meals), food preparation and reheating should ONLY occur in inspected food prep areas. That means no microwaves in classrooms, cafeterias, or anywhere that students can use…
Good news in the special education legal arena
A federal appeals court recently ruled that a lawsuit alleging that Hawaii schools âdeliberately neglected the needs of two girls with autism during their formative yearsâ could go forward. The parents are seeking damages under the federal Rehabilitation Act due to âlost opportunityââthat the Hawaii Department of Education failed to provide appropriate special education when…
Back to schoolâI love it, I love it not
Back to schoolâhurray! I say that now with a sigh of relief, but not for long. I hate getting up and rushing out the door, I DETEST homework and projects with a passion, and I donât enjoy the constant monitoring of my childrenâs progress. What I do enjoy about my children being in schoolâbesides watching…
My Summer Camp Experience
This past Friday, August 13th, I had the privilege of attending the Talent Show at Camp Royall. Â I was there to welcome families and give them information about ASNC. Â As it turned out, I got much more from the experience than what I gave. Â I arrived early to the Campâs gym and sat out…
School Resource Officers and your child: preventing problems
Did you know that School Resource Officers (SROs) may know nothing whatsoever about your child with autism or even about autism? Did you also know that your child with autism could be arrested at school and charged with assault? Being proactive and connecting with the SRO at your childâs school could be vitally important for…
Through the Eyes of the Child
To truly understand a child on the spectrum, we must take the childâs perspective–by Kathy Dolbee âA childâs grief is little, but then, so is the child.â Percy Bysshe Shelley The above statement might seem obvious, but it makes clear that both perception and perspective play an important role in how a person views a…