The Council for Exceptional Children has endorsed a new report titled Federal Policy, ESEA Reauthorization, and the School-to-Prison Pipeline :

"Students with disabilities have long been disciplined, expelled, or otherwise removed from learning environments at higher rates than other populations. A discussion about the problem and what must be done to solve it is the focus of a new report -- Federal Policy, ESEA and the School to Prison Pipeline -- endorsed by CEC and its division Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD).

The report points out that NCLB/ESEA directly encourage the use of zero-tolerance school discipline policies and the referral of students to law enforcement for disciplinary infractions. The result has been the criminalization of students with disabilities across the country.

Continue reading here"

Feds Broaden Workplace Protections To Include 'Invisible Disabilities'

New rules expanding what qualifies as a disability for the purpose of job discrimination protections are to be published Friday in the Federal Register. Read more

New DES Director

The Governor's appointment of the new DES Director Clarence Carter was confirmed last week in the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Human Services (http://www.azleg.gov/CommitteeInfo.asp?Committee_ID=65&Session_ID=102) chaired by Senator Linda Gray and Vice-Chairman Rick Murphy.

Budget

Despite persistent rumors to the contrary, the House did not move toward action on a budget. There are two apparent scenarios beginning to take shape. The House, Senate and Governor could reach an agreement on a compromise position between the Governor's budget and the Senate's version. Another possibility is the House becomes impatient with the Governor and takes up the Senate version for her to act on. 

The rumors that the House plans deeper cuts into K-12 may be false, although there are members that would like to see this. 

One other issue appears to be a dispute over which version of Proposition 204 reform to adopt; rolling back the population to the preferred levels, or adoption of the Governor's plan to "freeze" enrollment.  

SB 1113: A bill that would have removed the statutory monopoly that exists for Arizona's only private ICF was defeated Wednesday morning in the House Health and Human Services Committee.

Day of Action - Rally at State Capitol
Consumers/Parents Needed: To tell your story about how cuts to social service programs will and/or have impacted your life. Needs to be short and sweet (1 to 2 minutes)! Please contact David Carey at (602) 443-0723 or davidc@abil.org ASAP if interested.

Speaking agenda to include Senator David Schapira and Representative Chad Campbell, as well as consumers, community Leaders.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

State Capitol Rose Garden, 1700 W Washington Street in Phoenix
Arizona's Disability Advocacy Network in conjunction with Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition (PAFCO). Participate in the PAFCO Rally For A People's Budget at the state capitol. This will be a gathering to call for public accountability against current budget proposals. Listen to speakers in addition to learning about legislative and media actions.

Spinal Cord Injury presentation

Part of a 13-week course, each night will focuses on a different aspect of paralysis. Transportation and a light meal provided free of charge.

When: March 31, 2011, 4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Disability Empowerment Center, 5025 East Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ  85034

Host Organization: Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association www.azspinal.org 

Who: for professionals, students, family members and persons dealing with paralysis in any form

Registration is required.

Sponsor(s): Governor's Council on Head and Spinal Injuries

Contact Person: Micaela Cheatham, Phone/TTY: (602) 507-4209, micaela@azspinal.org,

Lunch with Assistant Deputy Director of the Division of Behavioral Health Services

Open invitation to lunch and conversation with Bob Sorce, Assistant Deputy Director of the Division of Behavioral Health Services!  Please be sure to bring your own lunch and drink and join the conversation on March 30th from Noon to 2:00 pm.  Parking in the garage across from the DBHS building is free and getting to the building by bus is easy.  This is a great opportunity for the behavioral health community to share any concerns they may have or ideas for improving our statewide behavioral health children and adult systems.  Everyone is welcome! 

Subject:  Brown Bag w/Bob
When:    Occurs the last Thursday of every month effective 1/27/2011 until 12/29/2011

Time:     12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Where:   DBHS, 150 N. 18th Ave., Phoenix in Conf-Room-215A

Webinar 

Webinar Recording: Linking and Integrating with Primary Care: Medical Home Model for Children's Mental Health

Hosted by the National Technical Assistance Center in Children's Mental Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), February 17, 2011

Watch this webinar to learn about the role of primary care in linking social, emotional, mental and behavioral health services to children. The webinar involves an examination of the opportunities to enhance collaboration between primary care and the medical home model for children's mental health.

Fact sheets for youth with disabilities, written by youth with disabilities.

KASA stands for Kids as Self-Advocates. It offers more than 60 fact sheets written by youth with disabilities on its Advisory Board and youth writers from its network.

http://www.fvkasa.org/resources/index.php

Have you ever wondered what it's like to have a disability?

How does a person who can't see read? Can a person with a physical disability play sports? If you couldn't hear, how would you talk with your friends? Do people with disabilities get frustrated; have friends, like ice cream? This web site can help you begin to answer your questions about disabilities.

 http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir/kidsweb/default.html

Reduce stigma presentations- free

The Arizona Stigma Reduction Committee (ASRC) invites you to help spread the word about the importance of reducing stigma and increasing inclusion throughout Arizona. The ASRC is supported through the Arizona Department of Health-Behavioral Health Services by grant funding it receives from the federal Olmstead Grant.

Contact: Cynthia Henry, ADHS/DBHS Liaison, Office of Individual & Family Affairs, ASRC Coordinator, 602-364-1015 office,    877-464-1015 toll-free

Update on health care reform

From Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs

Summary of Key Maternal and Child Health Related Highlights with Updates on Status of Implementation 

Southwest Human Development's the A.D.A.P.T Shop

• The A.D.A.P.T. Shop offers children with disabilities and their families individualized adaptive supports that can be identified, designed and  fabricated for specific needs
• Adaptations or low-tech solutions which can make a tremendous difference.
• Support to families in determining what equipment would be most helpful for their child
• Community therapists team with the A.D.A.P.T Shop on adaptation ideas and fabrications for their client.

Operated by appointment only.

For more information, please call: Tina Martin, Assistive Technology Program Manager, (602) 633-8686, tmartin@swhd.org, www.swhd.org

The Disability Law Handbook is written in "Frequently Asked Questions" format and answers questions about the ADA, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments. The Southwest ADA Center has announced the availability of the Disability Law Handbook in Spanish, as well as English.  Free copies may be downloaded or viewed at http://www.swdbtac.org/html/publications/Spanish/gld/index.html Spanish version 
http://www.swdbtac.org/html/publications/dlh/index.html  English version.

Inclusion Blog

Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the U.S Department of Education posted a blog on the need for schools to be inclusive.  Are there thoughts you have on inclusion you would like to share with this community?  If you would like to reply to her blog the link is http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/03/inclusive-schools/.

2011 Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Strategic Plan for Autism Research:

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) and the Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) are pleased to announce the release of the 2011 IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research. The updated Strategic Plan contains 16 new research objectives covering a variety of issues, including use and accessibility of interventions for non-verbal people with ASD, health promotion for people with ASD, and issues related to safety for people on the spectrum.  The HTML version of this year's Strategic Plan is fully hyperlinked throughout to websites with information about funders, programs and over 180 ASD-related publications. A formatted, downloadable PDF version of the Plan is also available. Links to the new Strategic Plan and related information, including a news update about the Plan, can be accessed from the IACC Home Page.

March 28, 2011 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Guardianship: Making the decision; understanding the process.  Learn what guardianship involves before your teen turns 18.  You will learn alternatives to guardianship.  

Guardianship -Turning 18 what's next?

En Español

Marzo 28, 2011 Al cumplir los 18 anos, que sique?1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Tutela: Tomando la Decision y Entendiendo el Proceso

Aprenda lo que la Tutela implica y sus alternativas antes de que su adolescente cumpla los 18 anos de edad.

Abril 01, 2011 Es su Hijo Blanco de Burlas?10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Estrategias de Intervención para Padres de Niños con Discapacidades. Una forma de abuso en la escuela a través de la intimidación, tiranía y aislamiento

In Northern Arizona:

High School Transition

Learn how to prepare youth for transition from High School to higher

education, employment, and life in the community.

WHEN: March 30, 2011 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

WHERE: DATS Conference Rm - Hopi Tribal Complex

If you have any questions or would like to register please call the Hopi Office of Special Needs at (928) 734.3418

Getting And Keeping The First Job

Assist families with identifying the importance of employment for youth with

disabilities and special needs. Learn the importance of disability

self-awareness, career planning/exploration and strategies to navigate

resumes, interviews and accommodations. Families who understand the world

of work, and who maintain high expectations play a pivotal role in

employment.

WHEN: March 30, 2011 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

WHERE: DATS Conference Rm - Hopi Tribal Complex

Presenter: Kathleen Collins, Raising Special Kids

If you have any questions or would like to register please call the Hopi Office of Special Needs at (928) 734.3418

Collaborative Therapies Conference - Free