Have you heard about H.R. 4247 also known as Keeping Students Safe Act?
The U.S. House of Representatives passed The Keeping Students Safe Act on March 3, 2010. This legislation addresses physical restraint and exclusion standards in schools. Under the proposed law, elementary and secondary schools are prohibited from using mechanical restraints, chemical restraints, or physical [...]
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Do you care who writes the check for your child’s special education?
While reading the comments section of the Houston Chronicle I’m surprised at the hoopla around a local popular minister’s partnering with the Houston Independent School District to fund a charter school for kids with autism. What’s clear from these comments is that parents and special educators [...]
Yesterday an Italian court convicted 3 Google Executives for failure to comply with the Italian privacy code. The court found that the Executives violated the code when a 2006 video was uploaded to YouTube that showed an Italian boy with autism being bullied. See, http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/serious-threat-to-web-in-italy.html.
How can we use innovations like YouTube to increase society’s tolerance for [...]
Are you thinking about how to protect your family this year from the flu virus? If so, the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities offers the following information and advice about how to safeguard yourself and your loved ones:
“Flu is caused by the highly contagious influenza virus and usually spread by respiratory secretions. Individuals are at [...]
The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a favorable decision for parents of kids with special needs related to special education funding. On April 27th, 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case called, Forest Grove School District v. T.A. (6/22/09). The Court was asked to decide whether public schools can refuse to pay for [...]
I read an article in today’s paper about a mom who I know. She’s suing the Eanes Independent School District for alleged violations of her daughter’s civil rights. The mom’s name is Cheryl and her eleven year old daughter has cerebral palsy. Although I am familiar with Cheryl’s efforts to work with the Eanes School [...]
Should you have to send your kids with disabilities to public schools and let them fail there before your public school is required to pay for your child’s private education? The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments this week in a case to decide this question. Apparently, the law is unclear to public schools. Public school [...]
There’s one week to go before you must file your 2008 IRS tax return. I usually don’t get much good news around tax time, but a friend shared some information with me about possible savings that I have to pass along. Did you know that families of children with special needs can deduct costs for medical expense, [...]
April is Autism Awareness Month. Autism affects 1 in 150 children and 1 in 94 boys. Chances are that you know someone affected with autism.
Last year at this time, Rene’ Craft, co-founder of Special Needs Neighborhood.com, spoke to two moms of kids with autism whose children now are adults. They shared with us their experiences parenting kids with [...]
Autism Speaks is hosting its Austin “Walk Now for Autism” event this Saturday, November 15, at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. In addition to the walk, there is an autism community resource fair, live music and fun activities for kids. For more information, check out the Special Needs [...]
