|
|
|
Best Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday Season and Very Happy New Year
Here at the Parents' Place of Maryland we understand the many challenges and emotions that families of children with disabilities and special health care needs experience. We know from our own experiences the ups and downs of sharing our lives with these very special young people. We hope that you take time to relax and enjoy the holiday season with your families. And remember we will still be here in the new year to help you find the information and resources you need. Please consider making a donation to help us reach even more families.
|
Frederick County Public Schools will replace the portfolio-based Alternate Maryland School Assessment, or Alt-MSA, with an online test designed by the public-private National Center and State Collaborative for students with severe cognitive disabilities, school system officials told the Board of Education on Wednesday.
Maryland's State Department of Education signed onto the NCSC assessment, which aligns with Common Core State Standards in English and math. It is driven more by formative and summative information that takes less time to compile than the previous Alt-MSA portfolio, school system special education director Dan Martz said. He believes the new test is more supportive of classroom time and means of accessing test material, from student-manned iPads to teacher transcription of answers. Those in grades three through eight, as well as high school juniors, will be tested, doing away with assessments for sophomores with disabilities. The test is expected to be administered in full in spring 2016.
|
|
SWIFT Center Mini-films Show Inclusive Practices
IOD Filmmaker Dan Habib just completed 10 mini-films for the SWIFT Center that show what inclusive school transformation looks like in five trailblazing schools across the country. SWIFT (Schoolwide Integrated Framework for Transformation) is a national K-8 technical assistance center for academic and behavioral support that promotes achievement for all students, including students with the most extensive needs.
"The videos provide a quick overview of the SWIFT framework," explains Habib. "We wanted to show inclusive schools in action so that others could learn more about the key SWIFT features, such as a strong and positive school culture, inclusive academic instruction, and family partnerships."
The videos show excellent examples of clear classroom and school expectations, principals who empower teams to make important decisions, schools that leverage differentiation and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to individualize instruction, co-teaching models, and much more. The films let you see these practices in action while hearing/reading a detailed description of each feature. You can view all the videos on the Swift Center Youtube channel.
 | | All Means All |
|
|
Parents' Place Accepting Applications for LEADers Class
Parents' Place is now accepting application for the next LEADers training program. The LEADers Program provides parents with the information they need to be informed and active in special education advocacy at the state and local levels.
Parents are offered the tools they need to be an active voice for not only their own child, but also for other children with disabilities in their communities. Applicants must be family members of children with disabilities who want to develop a better understanding of special education advocacy and to make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities. Training begins in February 2015 and will be held in Columbia, MD. Hurry, the deadline for applications is December 12, 2014. Find out more and apply here.
|
|
Congress Set to Pass ABLE Act to Help Families Save for Expenses Related to Disability
Modeled after tax-free college savings accounts, the bill would affect as many as 54 million Americans with disabilities, amending the federal tax code to allow states to establish the program. To qualify, a person would have to be diagnosed with a disability by a physician by age 26 that results in "marked and severe functional limitations"; those who are already receiving Social Security disability benefits and diagnosed by age 26 would also qualify automatically. Families would be able to set up tax-free savings accounts at financial institutions to pay for expenses such as education, housing, transportation, job training and health care.
The accounts could accrue up to $100,000 without the person losing eligibility for government aid such as Social Security disability payments; currently, the asset limit is $2,000. Medicaid coverage would continue no matter how much money is deposited in the accounts.
The measure is aimed at helping people like Sara Wolff, 31, of Moscow, Pennsylvania, who has Down syndrome. A clerk at a law firm, she cannot work additional hours to save more without losing Social Security benefits and says the death of her mother this past year made her realize the importance of being able to plan for the future.
The House is set to vote early in December on the bill, called the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, which stands out in a bitterly divided Congress for its wide support. First introduced in 2006, the legislation now lists an overwhelming 85 percent of Congress as co-sponsors, even after a conservative group criticized it as "decisive step in expanding the welfare state."
In the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are co-sponsors, the bill was expected to move quickly in the lame-duck session once the House acts. It would be the first time that Congress passed major legislation for the disabled since the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act.
The complete Associated Press article may be read here.
|
|
Enroll Now! Maryland Health Connection
Maryland Health Connection, Maryland's official health insurance marketplace offers a silly look at the "Emotional Stages of Enrolling in Health Coverage for a Young Adult" here.
Don't forget to enroll for a health coverage! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
December 14, 2014
9:00am - 11:00am
Baltimore, MD
December 20. 2014
10:00am - 2:00pm
Arc of Frederick, MD
January 10, 2015
9:00am - 1:00pm
Baltimore, MD
Save the Date!
February 18 - 21, 2015
Chicago, IL
April 8 - 11, 2015
San Diego, CA
June 25 - 28, 2015 Phoenix, AZ
July 8 - 11, 2015 Denver, CO
|
|
Workshops
Check out our online calendar for new and upcoming workshops in your area.
|
|
2014 Toys R Us Differently Abled Toy Guide Available
Toys''R''Us, Inc. has a long history of supporting the special needs community. For 20 years, they have published the Toys''R''Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, an easy-to-use resource featuring specially selected toys that encourage play for children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities.
During the past several years, Toys''R''Us has worked with many celebrities who have served as the ''face'' of the Guide. This year's cover features Albert Pujols, father of five, philanthropist and baseball World Champion.
The Guide is available online, as a catalog and new this year is an app. You can read more and access the Guide at the Toys R Us website.
|
|
University of Maryland Creates Disability Network
Grant money from Moving Maryland Forward helped the University of Maryland create the TerpAccess Disability Network to raise awareness of disability issues through events, advocacy training and an accessible website. It also will allow the school to explore offering an undergraduate disabilities studies minor or certificate program. Find out more by reading the entire Diamondback article.
|
|
Loyola Students to Provide Live Closed Captioning for Sports Events
Live captioning is a service for the fans, primarily parents or grandparents, who are deaf or developing hearing loss and cannot hear a game's public address announcer. The service also helps fans who might miss an announcement for any reason.
Beginning in the spring 2015 semester, the work-study students will attend Loyola Greyhounds soccer and lacrosse games, and contests in additional sports, and transcribe PA announcements as they happen in real time. When action necessitates loudspeaker commentary, like during player introductions or after scoring plays, the transcribed audio appears in caption form on the scoreboard for fans to read.
Read the complete Loyola News article. |
|
Pre-recorded Webinars You Can Access Any Time
Parents' Place is making available pre-recorded webinars for families to listen to when it is convenient for them. The available webinars are:
How Do I Know If My Child Is Making Progress?
Autism Insurance in Maryland
The PARCC Assessments and Students with Disabilities.
Click on the title and begin listening.
|
|
