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Anne Arundel County Commission on Disability Issues Seeks New Members
Applicants can be an individual with a disability, have a family member with a disability, serve within the disability community, or have an interest in disability issue. All applicants must live in Anne Arundel County. You can read the full article here.
Commission meetings are open to the public and are held the fourth Tuesday of each month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Chesapeake Room, 2664 Riva Road, Annapolis, within the Heritage Office Complex.
Anyone who wishes to be considered for the Commission should submit a letter to the County Executive and resume addressed to Jill Bezek, ADA Coordinator, 2666 Riva Road, Fourth Floor, Annapolis, MD 21401 by Nov. 7, 2012. For information, contact Ms. Bezek at 410-222-4464. TTY users should call via Maryland Relay.
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National Restaurant Association Offers Guide to Americans with Disabilities Act
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) released "Americans with Disabilities Act: Toolkit for Restaurant Operators," an information-rich resource that helps restaurateurs comply with updated accessibility guidelines and welcome guests with disabilities to their restaurants.
The new federal accessibility standards - officially, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design - represent the first major changes to the federal design standards since 1991. The 2010 Standards set ground rules for what makes a restaurant "accessible," covering everything from restrooms to signage, elevators, ramps, and parking spaces.
The 2010 standards apply to new construction and alterations starting on or after March 15, 2012. Since Title III of the ADA also requires businesses to remove barriers to guests wherever it is readily achievable, businesses should use the new standards for guidance when they remove existing barriers to guests.
The 80-page toolkit includes a general overview of Title III of the ADA, and a checklist that restaurateurs can use at their operations to evaluate such features as dining areas, self-service counters and children's play areas.
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Keys to College Success for Students with Disabilities
College remains a hurdle for many with disabilities. Now a new study offers insight on what separates individuals with special needs who are ultimately successful in higher education from those who are not.
In interviews with recent graduates with disabilities, researchers found that students who earned degrees shared the ability to self-advocate and persevere. They also had good insight into their abilities and limitations and often cited a strong relationship with at least one faculty or staff member on campus.
Many overcame significant challenges to succeed in college, with some saying that they earned degrees even after being told by high school teachers that they were not "college material."
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PPMD: Free IEP & 504 Clinics & Trainings by Phone
Don't forget to take advantage of the assistance that Parents' Place of Maryland can give you. Register for our upcoming clinics and trainings by phone.
See the schedule below. Bring your questions, documents and good ideas to the Special Education Clinic where our Parent Educators can talk with you and be that "other set of eyes" to look over your child's records. You will have the opportunity to ask specific questions regarding your child's IEP or 504 plan. Registration is required. See instructions at the end of this article.
December 6, 2012 - 5pm-8pm
January 3, 2013 - 5pm-8pm
February 7, 2013 - 5pm-8pm
Training by phone dates:
December 13, 2012 - "How Will I Know If My Child Is Making Progress?" - This workshop helps parents answer that question as they learn how to gather information from special education and general education sources.
February 21, 2013 - "School Discipline and Positive Behavior Intervention"- This workshop will cover school disciplinary practices and trends, Functional Behavior Assessments, and Positive Behavioral Interventions.
March 7, 2013 - "Help! My Child is Being Bullied" - Learn how to recognize bullying, effectively respond and build positive solutions.
Advance Registration is Required for Clinics and Phone Trainings
To register email Rochelle Howell at rochelle@ppmd.org and provide your email and your phone number.
You will not be confirmed for your appointment until you receive a return email. For additional questions, contact Rochelle or call 410-768-9100 x104. Be sure to bring a copy of your child's IEP or 504 and a list of your questions for the IEP/504 Clinic.
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Maryland Elementary Schools Participate in Positive Behavioral Supports Study
The program, known as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), is already used in more than 16,000 schools across the U.S. And many state education departments have "technical assistance" centers that help schools implement the plan.
"But just because something is widely used doesn't mean it's effective. We have to do the research," said Catherine P. Bradshaw, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, who led the new study.
She and her colleagues have been following 37 Maryland elementary schools that were randomly assigned to start the PBIS program or not. They found that after four years, teachers at schools with the program typically reported more positive behaviors among their students - like sharing and cooperating with each other - versus teachers at the other schools. They also reported less problem behavior, like kids being disruptive in the classroom or bullying other children.
Quick Links about PBIS
OSEP Center on PBIS
Fact Sheet from NASP
PBIS Maryland
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Save These Dates!
Baltimore, MD
7:00pm - 10:00pm
November 13, 2012
Towson, MD
November 17, 2012
Bowie, MD
8:00am - 4:00pm
December 8, 2012
All Spanish Parent Conference
Silver Spring, MD
8:30-3:30
Check the PPMD online calendar for time, location, and registration information for these and many other training opportunities. www.calendarwiz.com/ppmd
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Medicaid and the Election
Kaiser Health News recently published an article discussing what the outcome of the presidential election might mean for Medicaid. The article explains President Obama's Medicaid policies related to health care reform and presidential candidate Mitt Romney's proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act and convert Medicaid into a block grant to states. |
Resources for Emergencies
PACER Center in Minnesota has pulled together links to many emergency resources for individuals with disabilities. Click here. |
Diane Rehm Show Discussion of Primary Health Care
The U.S. is facing a critical lack of primary care physicians, and it's likely the Affordable Care Act will worsen that shortage. Many worry there won't be enough physicians to care for the estimated 30 million people set to gain insurance under the law in 2014. And it's not just an issue of fewer doctors joining the ranks. While 20 percent of Americans live in rural areas, just 9 percent of physicians practice there. But some argue that the way primary care doctors practice is even more important than their numbers. This hour, the first of our new medical series, "Mind and Body," Diane and her guests discuss the future of primary care medicine and medical home. You can listen to the archived show here.
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Internet Essentials Offers Low Cost Service to Families
Families with at least one child receiving free or reduced school lunch are eligible for a Comcast program that provides broadband Internet access for less than $10 a month.
The Comcast program, Internet Essentials, is in its second year and is part of a larger, industry-wide effort to increase high-speed Internet access among low-income families.
To be eligible, families must live in an area serviced by Comcast and have at least one child in their household receiving free or reduced school lunch.
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