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February 27, 2012 

Needed: Quality Life Activities

Study: Many Adults with Disabilities Do Nothing All Day

By Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop

A significant number of adults with developmental disabilities lack regular, daily activities, a situation that's symptomatic of larger problems, new research indicates. Read more.

Clarity in Insurance Labeling Due by Sept 23 

HHS Unveils Requirements for Consumer Insurance Labels   

 By Susan Jaffe, Kaiser Health News
To make it easier for consumers to find the insurance plan that is right for them, insurers and employers that offer health insurance will provide a new "Summary of Benefits and Coverage" as of September 23, 2012. These summaries use standardized language to provide the same details for every policy to make it easier to compare plans. The summaries must be consumer friendly and written in simple English. Fine print is not allowed, and consumer insurance labels (modeled after the nutritional labels found on most packaged foods) must be included. The prices of policies will not be part of the descriptions. The final regulations governing the "Summary of Benefits and Coverage" were released on February 14, 2012.

List of Tax Benefits for People with Disabilities 
Late last week, the IRS released its Tax Tips for the years 2011-2024. It mentions that taxpayers with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities may qualify for a number of IRS tax credits and benefits. View the list and go to IRS.gov for more information.
 

Chronic Conditions in High-Deductible Health Plans

Families enrolled in high-deductible plans were about three times more likely to delay or forgo care as families enrolled in traditional health plans. Read more

Narration Devices in Harkins Theaters

View Press Release PDF

Harkins Theatres announced that newly available technology will be made available on virtually all screens and locations to provide closed captioning and descriptive narration. Installation has already begun, with all closed captioning and narration technology expected to be installed by the end of this year. 
 

New Literacy Director for Arizona

The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust announced the establishment of a literacy director for the state of Arizona. Working in partnership with the Arizona Department of Education, Arizona Head Start Collaboration Office, First Things First, and other partners, Piper Trust is investing in a full-time consulting position to lead state efforts in early literacy. For more information, visit www.pipertrust.org/azliteracydirector.

Public Comment on Early Intervention in Arizona

The Arizona Early Intervention Program is seeking public comment on Arizona's proposed 2012 Application for Federal Funds and proposed early intervention policies. Comments will be accepted through April 16, 2012. The proposed application and policies will be available at www.azdes.gov/AzEIP. If you are unable to access the application and policies electronically, please contact (602) 532-9960; toll free outside of Maricopa County at (888) 439-5609, or by e-mail at AllAzEIP2@azdes.gov.

Peer & Family Behavioral Health Report

Arizona's Department of Health Services held a series of focus groups and interviews to obtain input from persons with Serious Mental Illnesses (peers) and their family members regarding the integration of physical healthcare and behavioral healthcare services. St. Luke's Health Initiative and AHCCCS, and several behavioral health peer-run organizations and peer and family members partnered to produce the full report available online: "Summary of Input from Peers and Family Members Regarding the Planned Integrated Healthcare System for Persons with Serious Mental Illnesses".  It's on the ADHS Integrated Behavioral Health and Primary Care website under the NEWS area along with a link to submit additional comment.

State Budget

Children's Action Alliance on State Budget Proposal

A budget proposal emerged from secret talks at the legislature.  Identical budget bills (HB 2852 and SB 1523) were heard and adopted by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on a party-line vote.  This gave no time to learn about a budget proposal that will affect health care, education, public safety and much more. 

The legislature and Governor Brewer are far apart on a variety of issues, including the projection of future revenues and the overall level of spending.  For more information comparing the Governor's budget to the new budget bills, click here.

The Children's Action Alliance urged lawmakers to make three changes in the budget to give Arizona kids the chance to grow up healthy and strong:

1. Add $6.5 million to this year's budget to lift the KidsCare freeze.  This will be a short term investment with a long-term payoff of healthier children, more school success, fewer family bankruptcies, and a stronger health care system.

2. Support Governor Brewer's proposal to add $50 million for reading instruction in elementary schools so that more children can read well by the end of third grade and Arizona can compete and win the jobs of the 21st century.

3. Sustain Child Protective Services, job training, community emergency services, and domestic violence prevention with $50 million to the Department of Economic Security.  These funds will replace federal funds that Arizona is losing and allow current services to continue. 

Legislative Updates

Today is the 50th day of the legislative session, with three weeks left for bills to be heard in committees.  The Legislature passed its initial version of a budget, which did not include some items in the Governor's proposal: $50 million for reading interventions for K-3 students; $25 million for DES to backfill the loss of federal stimulus funds, and $29 million for services for persons with mental illness.  Also not included in the legislative budget was the 3% provider rate increase.  Legislative leaders and the Governor will be working to iron out these differences, and now is the time for advocacy on the budget.

Bills:

SB 1047 (school stos; administration), creates a new tax credit for contributions to a school tuition organization for scholarships and grants for students with disabilities, passed the full House by a vote of 37 to 19. 

SB 1258 (third grade promotions; exceptions) is up for a vote by the full Senate this week.  As amended, the bill removes not only the parental choice exemption from "move on when reading," but every other exemption currently in the law.  The amendment added a single exemption, which would allow for promotion if deemed appropriate by a child's IEP team. 

SB 1462 (schools bullying policies; definition) is up for a vote by the full Senate.  This bill defines bullying to include electronic communications, and requires charter schools to have policies and procedures prohibiting bullying.

HB 2377 is a striker.  Garnishment; failure to comply now reads S/E: incapacitated persons; definition; voting

Sponsor is Rep. Eddie Farnsworth (R-Gilbert). The Striker for HB 2377 would permit persons under a limited guardianship to vote after obtaining Court approval by clear and convincing evidence. Currently, persons under any form of guardianship are prohibited from voting in Arizona.

"This change is consistent with a law the state legislature passed in 2003 which promoted the establishment of limited guardianship for individuals who retain the capacity to make certain decisions about their life. This change is also consistent with the shift Arizona voters make to our Constitution in 2000 when we removed the blanket exclusion from voting for persons under guardianship," said Peri Jude Radecic of The Arizona Center for Disability Law (ACDL).

This bill is supported by The Arizona Center for Disability Law, The Arizona Secretary of State and The Arc of Arizona.

HB 2377 was passed out of the House Rules Committee on Wednesday.  It will be heard in the Majority House Caucus Thursday and may be seen on the floor of the House the week beginning February 27. The deadline for all House bills to be heard and voted on in Senate Committees is March 16. 

HB 2823 (schools; teachers; principals; evaluation systems) moves to the House floor this week.  This bill will require districts to adopt uniform performance classifications for teacher and principal evaluations and prescribes consequences for the results of such evaluations.  There is concern about how this will affect group B/ special education teachers because of the lack of validity and reliability of the data being used for evaluations.   

Health Literacy for Adolescents

A report examines the consequences of a lack of health literacy among adolescents. Title: The Case for Investing

In Youth Health Literacy: One Step On The Path To Achieving Health Equity For Adolescent

Learn about Co-teaching

Co-teaching is a method for delivering instruction that draws on the strengths and expertise of multiple educators. Although there are many styles of co-teaching, each involves two or more educators collaborating to plan and deliver sound instruction for a group of students. This module introduces the many faces of co-teaching relationships, examples of successful co-teaching strategies, approaches for developing co-teaching skills, and opportunities to co-plan lessons. Read more.

Definitions of Evidence-Based Practices

What types of practices are being used in your child's education? Learn more about various terms used to rate teaching practices and how they differ.

A Parent's Guide to Evidence-based Practice and Autism

From The National Autism Center

Free downloadable manual is designed to support parents as they make decisions about their child's treatment.
It discusses the complexity of diagnostic evaluations for children on the autism spectrum, identifies and describes effective treatments, and outlines the importance of professional judgment and using data to guide treatment decisions. Other topics include the role of family preferences and values in the decision-making process, and how best to determine if a professional or organization has the capacity to provide evidence-based practice for a child with autism.

Universal Design for Learning in Transition

This InfoBrief identifies and explains selected classroom-based strategies within the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) model. General and special educators can implement the strategies to engage students with disabilities (particularly those with learning disabilities) in order to prepare students to transition from secondary to post-secondary and workplace settings. Visit this page

The Media and Mental Illness Stigma: Have we turned a corner?

TeenScreen.org Blog entry by Laurie Flynn

Mental health advocates say the pain of stigma is as devastating to people with mental disorders as the symptoms of illness isolates young people struggling with mental illness, and makes it hard to engage them in treatment. Read more.

Special Day for Special Kids

A free event for families of children with disabilities and special health care needs

Saturday, March 24, 2012

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale (located on the southeast corner of Indian Bend and Scottsdale roads)

FREE train rides, carnival activities, carousel rides, games, activity booths, clowns, face painting, petting zoo, plus lots of food and ice cream.

Registration required at the event. Questions? Contact Raising Special Kids 602-242-4366 or 800-237-3007.

Transition Fair

Tuesday, March 6, 2012,

6:00-8:00pm

Paradise Valley Community College, Q Building, (Enter off of 32nd St. and Grovers)

FREE ADMISSION

For parents & students to learn about what is available in our community to support students with special needs in planning their transition to adult life.

For more information contact: Susan Zipprich at 602-449-2600 szipprich@pvlearners.net or Esther Schon at 602-787-7171 esther.schon@pvmail.maricopa.edu

Map to fair location: http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/campusmap/

Parenting High Ability Children Conference

Saturday, March 31st at the ASU West Campus

4701 W Thunderbird Rd.

Price: $25 per person (pre-registration required) - Online Registration

Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented is hosting its 5th annual Parent Institute: Parenting High Ability Children on The conference features speakers on social and emotional development, balancing family life, creativity, the gifted brain, advocating for your child, gifted with learning challenges, educational alternatives, and parenting tips. Attendees can browse vendors of books and games; pick up literature on summer camps and other programs, and network. Open to all Arizona parents or teachers of high ability children. Optional programs for children are offered simultaneously. For more information, go to www.aagtparentday.com.

Parent Institute Information For questions, please call the office at 602.882.1848.

FREE Child Developmental Screening

For Children Ages: Birth to 3 years

WHERE: Lower Moenkopi Community Center, Tuba City, Arizona

WHEN: February 29, 2012, at 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Children will be screened in developmental areas: Cognitive, Communication, Social/Emotional, Physical and Self-help skills. For information, call Sandra P. Ami (928) 734-3416 or Crystal Kewanimptewa (928) 734-3418.

Spanish Webcast on Health Insurance

Families USA is partnering with the U.S. Department of Labor to host a Spanish language webcast on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST, to help people with access to job-based insurance better understand their rights under federal health insurance laws. The webcast will include practical information on how to maintain or obtain coverage during life or work changes.

Tourette Syndrome Educational Event

Friday, May 4, 2012, 12:45pm - 6:00pm

Diagnosing and Treating Tourette Syndrome and Associated Conditions

For more information, please visit the Tourette Syndrome Website.

Register by April 20th

CME Program for physicians and allied health professionals (1:00 - 4:15): Register online here.

The CME program will be broadcast live online 12:45 - 4:15 pm  

Program for Individuals/Families and the general public (4:30 - 6:00pm): (not webcast--must attend in Tucson).

To Register: Martie Fankhauser: martie_fankhauser@yahoo.com or call (520) 884-9091.

For more information: http://psychiatry.arizona.edu/events/TSA

13th Annual Greater Phoenix Autism/Asperger's Conference

March 30-31, 2012

MADCAP Theater

730 South Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281

More information: www.phxautism.org

Friday Keynote Speaker is Dr. Temple Grandin, a highly successful adult with autism, and one of the leading lecturers on how to help individuals with autism/Asperger's.

As a teacher, Karen Hinds had been referring families of her special education students to Raising Special Kids for years. Then, Karen became the mother of a child with special needs.

"Over the years, I've been able to see the difference that Raising Special Kids has made for many families. They have provided multiple resources as well as a caring ear. Families were able to learn how to advocate for their child and learn about services.

Now as a parent of a child with a disability, I appreciate them even more for the support they have given me as well as the resources."

Raising Special Kids needs your help to serve more families like Karen's. Please make your donation today through our secure online system. A donation of any amount is greatly appreciated.

Raising Special Kids' Parent Leaders share valuable experience and knowledge with new parents. As mentors they build confidence, increase advocacy skills, and provide support that decreases the isolation and grief new parents often feel when learning of a child's disability. Last year, Parent Leaders mentored 360 new parents. 0ver 90% reported they improved their ability to work with professionals, and their ability to provide for their child's needs, services, and care.

For information about Parent Leader Training, contact Janna Murrell at Raising Special Kids 602-242-4366 or jannam@raisingspecialkids.org

To register, call 602-242-4366 or click on the link to register online.

Unless otherwise indicated, workshops are located at our office in the Disability Empowerment Center (DEC).

Please do not wear fragrances in the DEC facilities.

Raising Special Kids

5025 E. Washington St., Suite 204

Phoenix, AZ 85034

Guardianship/Turning 18, What's Next?

March 01, 2012

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Making the decision; understanding the process.  Learn what guardianship involves before your teen turns 18.  You will also learn about alternatives to guardianship.

The Journey to Adulthood

March 01, 2012

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

This class will provide parents with information about physical, emotional and social changes that adolescence and puberty bring to every child. 

Positive Behavior Support - in Sierra Vista

March 03, 2012

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Positive Behavior Support Seminar for Parents presented by Raising Special Kids in partnership with Sierra Vista Unified School District.