If your child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder does not qualify for an IEP (Individualized Education Program), it is possible that he/she might qualify for a Section 504 Plan. This plan, part of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability. People who have a physical or mental…
“Dear, It’s About The Children…”
Telling others about your child’s autism.
Miscellaneous interesting education-related tidbits:
The NC State Board of Education is removing the second retest program from EOGs. The change will be effective in the 2010-2011 school year. Hurrah! Why should students who scored a Level 2 be required to take TWO retests?! Instead, schools will be able to use the first retest results in calculating ABCs and…
EARLY INTERVENTION PROJECT: TRAINING SCHOOL STAFF AND PARENTS TOGETHER
Buncombe and Brunswick counties are the lucky sites for this targeted pilot program to study best practice methods in Early Intervention. The Autism Society of NC, along with Family Support Network of Brunswick County and Carolina Pediatric Therapy, is working with the two school systems to train teachers and parents to use a combination of…
Proposed Changes to NC Policies—Comment Period
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Exceptional Children Division, is proposing changes to the Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilites. The comment period is from November 23, 2009 through January 21, 2010, with a public hearing on Wednesday, December 16. Most of the changes seem to align NC Policies with federal law, but…
WARNING! Helicopter Moms
The pros and cons of being a hovering caregiver.
School Violence Prevention Act: Coming to Your School
Chances are good that your child with autism has been bullied at one time or another while in school. Thanks to the new state law, SB526, the schools’ reaction to these situations may be changing. A friend of mine recently experienced this change firsthand. Her teenage son came home one day, describing an incident that…
Statewide Autism Training for Teachers
Claire Greer, Consultant for Autism, Severe/Profound and Multiple Disabilities for the NC Department of Public Instruction, has developed 5 modules for training autism teams in each LEA (Local Education Agency, or school district). The LEA selects a group of professionals—often a special education teacher, a speech pathologist, and an occupational therapist—to attend these intensive sessions. …
Will they, or won’t they? Should they, or shouldn’t they?
Lots of opinions back and forth over the New York Times article on the proposed changes to the DSM-V. Ari Ne’eman, founder of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network thinks this could be helpful in terms of getting more services, parents of children with a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome fear the loss of identity for their children. …