11 March 2010
Comments Sought on National Education Technology Plan Draft
The draft Plan is now available for public comment. Please click here to read the plan and submit comments.
Read CEC’s Recommendations titled: Embedding Technology in Education for All Learners.
Seclusion & Restraints Bill Passes House of Representatives
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The bill now moves to the senate where it is sponsored by Senator Dodd and is called S.2860. The bill would make seclusion and restraints a last resort and would require training on the techniques and parental notification. There is also a competitive grant program established to encourage school-wide positive behavior supports. Here is a summary of the bill. Here is Sen. Dodd's description. This site has the full text of the bill.
Call or write your U.S. senators and tell them what you think of this bill. This official contact tool
of the U. S. senate may be useful in that regard.
Mouse Emulator Joystick for Orthopedically Impaired: Free software and controller Under $8!
Joy Tokey!I recently had to send in a mouse emulator that worked with a joy stick on a power wheelchair for repairs. The student had been using it to access his laptop. He had Kurzweil 3000 (Flash demo) and Click nType keyboard to write in his scanned worksheets, do reports, etc. and now he was stuck without his gear.
I knew it would probably be a month until this student got his equipment back so I needed to come up with a fast fix to patch together in the meantime. I was online searching for mouse emulator software and I came across Joy Tokey, an open source free application that takes a Playstation game controller that is USB and converts the joystick and a couple of buttons to a mouse controller.
I downloaded the app and unzipped it in a folder on my desktop.
I didn't have a PS2 USB controller, but I did have an older PC game controller with 2 thumb joysticks, side buttons, a plus and 4 top buttons - regular game controller. It was USB. I plugged it in with Joy Tokey open and selected the preference for a mouse. It worked great! I had up, down, left, right, with a joystick and 2 buttons were my left and right-click. I could hold down the left-click button and move the mouse to highlight text. I used Click n Type for my on-screen keyboard to type.
I plan to to take this down to the school and hook it up with the student. If we can mount the controller where the student can access the thumb stick and buttons, he will be able to get back to school work!
I looked online and found a USB game controller for PC for $7.99 at Computer Geeks . They also had a wireless joy stick which would be even better for $24.99. For under $8 you can get a controller, download the free mouse emulator app and be ready to rumble.
Next week I will share on some online art programs that work with this set up to do some great drawing and build mouse skills and control.
All the best,
Lon
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Twitter is used to communicate with parents, teach students
Teachers in Kentucky's Jefferson County are slowly integrating social-networking Web sites into the classroom, saying the sites help improve student learning and communication with parents. One teacher has established a classroom Twitter page and selects students to post short updates about classroom activities throughout the day for parents. Teachers also are using YouTube in lessons, and officials say they are considering lifting a ban on Facebook in schools. The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.)10 March 2010
Poll Nearly Deadlocked: What Would You Change About IDEA?
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My plan here is to collect some of your responses and present them to Congress. Sure I've got some ideas, but why not flex our muscles. The readership of this blog is growing. I'm quite proud that many different kinds of special ed stakeholders are tuning in. We have won awards and recognition. Heck, we even were granted a lenghty exclusive interview with the new Assistant Secretary of Education.
If there is power in numbers, why not present some of our thoughts as a group? I'll try to be fair in any presentation I make and I'll try to separate out my opinions (and as you know they can be strong) from group opinions or from group lack of consensus. I think that this may be exciting. Please let me know how you would change the special ed laws.
Mi Stories: Social Story Videos for iTouch and Video iPod

Mi-Stories utilize modeling, social scripting, and visual strategies to help target appropriate communication, behavior and social skills. There are numerous stories available including going to the grocery store, going to a restaurant, calming, getting dresses, crossing the street, riding in the car, as well as a video on how to use the iPod and a parent training protocol. More stories will be available soon.
Mi-Stories came about as Debbie Lord was asked to develop social stories for individuals served by KenCrest’s transition age after-school program, EDUCARE. “We were developing stories to help these kids, many of who are kids with autism, understand the appropriate things to do and how to act in certain situations.” Lord said. KenCrest received several grants to help with this project.
The Mi-Stories work in numerous ways. People with disabilities are able to watch the stories and hear and see appropriate behavior and social interaction. They also hear a scripted social scenario that describes how to act and interact all while watching the story. Also, with the iPod, the story can be utilized right before or during the activity, if necessary.
Debbie Lord has made presentations on Mi-Stories at the American Speech Language and Hearing Association in 2008 and 2009 and the Council for Exceptional Children National and Sate conference in 2009 and will make numerous other presentations over the next year."
9 March 2010
Save Gifted Education Funding; Call in March 10-11
In 2009, less than 2 cents out of every $100 of the federal K-12 education budget was devoted to meeting the needs of the nation’s 3 million students with gifts and talents. As educators, we know that all children deserve an education that addresses their unique learning needs – and these students are no different.
Congress is considering proposals that may eliminate funding for the Javits program. This would result in a loss of research, supports, and services that help schools provide gifted education.
Recognizing that Javits is in jeopardy, Representatives Matheson (D-Utah) and Gallegly (R-Calif.) and Senators Dodd (D-Conn.) and Grassley (R-Iowa) have asked fellow members of Congress to help restore program funding to $11.25 million, the most it has ever received.
With deadlines imminent, it is critical that as many members of Congress as possible sign on to defend the Javits program. Now’s the time to tell them why gifted education is so important.
What You Can Do
CEC has designated Wednesday, March 10 and Thursday, March 11 as national “call-in” days to contact your House and Senate representatives in support of federal gifted education funding.
Visit CEC’s Legislative Action Center, input your zip code, and we’ll provide you with phone numbers, talking points, and a feedback form. It’s that easy!
Thank you in advance for your support. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of all children with exceptionalities.
Birth to 3, Early Intervention and Technology Featured on FCTD

National Council on Disability Appoints Executive Director
The National Council on Disability (NCD) today announced the appointment of Joan M. Durocher as Executive Director. Ms. Durocher will serve in this position as an interim placement through September 11, 2010, or until a permanent Executive Director is appointed.
NCD is an independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress to enhance the quality of life for all Americans with disabilities and their families.
Read the entire NCD press release.
God still does miracles
D.C. chancellor fires 18 special-education employees
Washington, D.C. schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee fired 18 employees from the school system's special-education department, according to an official statement. A spokeswoman for Rhee said the firings were part of cost-saving measures and attempts to achieve the special-education department's "overarching goals and initiatives," but Rhee's critics questioned whether there were other motives behind the cuts. The Examiner/Washington, D.C.8 March 2010
How Widespread is Discrimination Against Kids on the Basis of Disability?
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In terms of kids with disabilities- what do you think? How widespread is discrimination? Has OCR been somewhat lax in enforcing the law prohibiting discrimination against children with disabilities?
There has been a lot in the news lately concerning the misuse of seclusion and restraints, especially the incidents involving children with disabilities that led to the pending legislation. There has also been a lot of cases in the last few years involving bullying and harassment of school kids, including kids with disabilities. I believe that we are seeing the beginning of a merging of what I had previously felt were two hot button issues.
What are your thoughts?
Maybe we’ll kick and scream on the floor together
7 March 2010
I’m Excited!
I’m excited about this new job that I will soon be interviewing for. It’s a charter school with a great mission statement. They actually believe in heading off the learning curve before it happens. I really want this job. Pray for me that I get this one!
HERE’S TO 2010!
6 March 2010
Connecticut’s Burden of Proof, Redux
Here we go again.
Last Spring, I wrote about how parents of children with special education needs in Connecticut, as well as their advocates and attorneys, organized to successfully oppose efforts by school districts to switch the Burden of Proof in Special Education Due Process Hearings from the school district, who has the burden now, to the party who initiates the hearing…which is, in almost all cases, the Parents. That post ended with the following comment:
“Luckily, this latest effort by school districts to alter the Burden of Proof was unsuccessful, but those of us who care about the opportunity for parents to access their rights will likely need to remain vigilant on this issue, as I doubt it’s going anywhere for long.”
Well, it didn’t even take a full year.
This Monday, March 8, 2010, many of us will be back in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, once again, for a Public Hearing on this same issue. If the school districts are successful in changing the Burden of Proof in this legislation, they will be be making a process that is already so very difficult for parents that much harder, and upending a State practice that has been in effect for over a decade.

Taking on a school district in a special education Due Process Hearing is an incredibly difficult task, even when parents are represented by experienced counsel, and have the means to hire experts to testify on their behalf! The parents who fall into that category, however, are by far the minority.
Most parents can’t afford lawyers or experts.
Such parents are already facing an uphill battle, as their school district has special education teachers, school psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physical therapists, social workers, regular education teachers, and administrators, all on their payroll, all of whom can testify on the school district’s behalf. And remember, all of the education records and most of the evidence is within the possession and control of the school district. Doesn’t it make sense that the Burden of Proof would fall properly on the school district, whose obligation it is to offer a Free and Appropriate Public Education?
The information as to how you can voice your opinion on H.B. 5425 follows, including how to write your legislators if you can’t be present. The portion of the bill which affects the Burden of Proof in Due Process Hearings is found in section 3.
The Education Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 8, 2010 at 3: 30 P. M. in Room 1E of the LOB. Please email a PDF copy of your written testimony to chris.calabrese@cga.ct.gov by 10: 00 A. M. on the date of the hearing and include the word “TESTIMONY” in the subject line. Written testimony will be accepted in Room 3100 of the LOB until 12: 00 P. M. on the date of the hearing. Please submit 50 copies. Written testimony submitted after 12: 00 P. M. will not be distributed in hard copy form. Sign-up for the hearing will begin at 12: 00 P. M. in the First Floor Atrium of the LOB, will be conducted by lottery, and will conclude at 1: 00 P. M. The first hour of the hearing is reserved for Elected Officials. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes of testimony. Unofficial sign-up sheets have no standing with the Committee. All testimony will be available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/ed/.
If you care about the rights of children with disabilities, it would be best if you could be there Monday afternoon to express yourself and let your voice be heard, and join me in opposing Section 3 of H.B. 5425!
Fifteen states, D.C. are Race to the Top finalists
It was announced this week that fifteen states and Washington, D.C., have been selected by the Department of Education as finalists from a pool of 41 applicants in the federal Race to the Top grant competition. They are now closer to obtaining a piece of $4.35 billion for education. Other finalists are Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee. Officials expect to announce no more than six winners next month. A second round of competition will take place this year. (also check out The Wall Street Journal)5 March 2010
About That Post…
Yeah, about that post a couple days ago. I DO NOT apologize for it. That was how I was feeling. I do, however, apologize for the language. I was so distraught. I can honestly say that it was THE lowest emotional & spiritual point of my life. I have never felt the way I felt that day. I have always believed in God. Although lately it has been in an agnostic kind of way. I still believed in a higher power. That was not the case the other day. The other day I simply refused to believe that there could be a higher power even. I mean seriously, with all the stuff I’ve been going through as well as what I see in the world. I didn’t want to continue.
So, what has changed since then? I don’t know. One thing that I’ve experienced in my lifetime is the belief that God does not put more on you than you can bear. Again, the other day, I did not find that to be the case. I have said that I am at a breaking point before but did not break. I was broken. There is simply no other way to put it. I was spiritually & emotionally broken. It was written all over my face & body. My shoulders were slumped. I had nothing left to give. I couldn’t even smile. I didn’t want to smile.
But, let me get back to what I was saying. What has changed? I gave up & completely & totally broke. Why is that? Is that a requirement of committing to God? Do you have to be broken? I wish I had the answer to myself, dear reader. I’d write a book about it if I did. That’s all I have to say.
HERE’S TO 2010!
Test Distress
House Committee Questions Duncan about Lack of Support for IDEA
Ranking Member John Kline (R-MN) opened with a harsh statement about the lack of proposed funding for IDEA, citing Representative DeLauro’s (D-CN) statement about $250 million being “budget dust.” Kline also pointed out that the President’s proposed level is $26.1 billion less than what is needed to meet full funding of IDEA.
Secretary Duncan responded to questioning about the lack of IDEA funding by stating over $11 billion dollars of economic stimulus monies for both IDEA and Title I had yet to have been distributed. He didn’t identify how much IDEA monies had not yet been distributed.
It is important to point out that stimulus monies must be obligated by September 30, 2011 and end at that point. Yet, any monies in the President’s FY 2011 request, if enacted in a timely fashion – a big if in an election year – wouldn’t get to school districts until June of 2011, well after the stimulus has run out.
CEC has long advocated for Congress to fulfill its original pledge and fully fund IDEA, but we need your help! Congress has tough choices to make about what it should fund, and we want it to choose special and gifted education. CEC has been working with Congress and the U.S. Department of Education to increase funding for gifted and talented programs and to increase funding for IDEA. Education funding is only 2% of the entire federal budget – this is why your voice can add so much.
YOU can help right now! Encourage your senators and representatives to co-sponsor the IDEA full funding legislation (S. 1652 and H.R. 3578) and gifted education.
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