MU Apr04 - Parents, Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK)pluk.org/MU/MU_Apr04.pdf · Wendy’s of Montana, MTS, and Deaconess Bill-ings Clinic were the major sponsors. The Gazette and Bresnan

In February PLUK held two major events in Billings—the program’s fourth annual “Kids at Heart Gala” and the third annual “Sports and Recreation Festival.” We normally don’t sched-ule events so close together, but a problem in scheduling meant that both were held within a two-week period. Thankfully, we had won-derful planning committees and many excel-lent volunteers who helped make the events successful.

The “Kids at Heart Gala” was chaired by Liz Miller, with Julie Lovell and Kathy Wise both participating for the fourth time. Major spon-sors for the event were Conoco Phillips Pe-troleum, St. Vincent Healthcare, Security Title Co., the Children’s Clinic, and Wal-Mart West. KTVQ2 TV assisted with the event promotion. The gala was held at the Sheraton Hotel and the band Refl ections off ered entertainment.

The “Sports and Recreation Fes-tival” included a large number of groups participating to help make it a fun day for kids. Mike Tilleman (retired NFL player) and Jeff Ballard (retired MLB player) both attended and signed autographs. Wendy’s of Montana, MTS, and Deaconess Bill-ings Clinic were the major sponsors. The Gazette and Bresnan Communi-cation helped with promotion.

Every penny earned at such events goes di-rectly into the program’s services for kids and families. All of us appreciate the work of the volunteer committees and Associate Boards in making such events successful, and we appre-ciate everyone taking the time from their busy schedules to help us help kids. Mike Tilleman and Jeff Ballard were great, showing up at 7:30 am and staying well into the afternoon, just to be able to make it a special day for kids. They

both deserve real thanks! ��

��

Issue 1 • April 2004 • www.pluk.org

Introducing

Monthly UpdateA new publication from Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids

There is no other information resource like PLUK’s Monthly Update. You will fi nd more of everything you need to help and understand your child with special needs. With Monthly Up-date, known aff ectionately as the MU, you will:

• Stay abrest of workshops and training opportunites in Mon-tana and around the nation

• Discover the latest information about disabilities and spe-cial health care needs.

• Find fresh ideas and answers to your questions ��

Busy, Busy, Busy

Kids at Heart Gala 2004

Contents2 Our Latest News3 ITV Training:

ADHD in the Teenager4 PLUK Professional Series:

Assistive Technology4 Montana Training

& Event Calendar7 Training & Event Calendar:

Outside Montana9 In the News11 Ideas and Answers11 Resources in our Library12 Teaching Tips for Children

and Adults with Autism

2 Monthly Update March 2004 www.pluk.org

FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING? A PLUK HonorariumMothers’ Day, Graduations, Easterare great opportunities to Honor someone!

There are people in our world who virtually have everything they need and many things they don’t need. Why buy another box of candy or fl owers for someone who has everything? Why not donate to PLUK as an Honorarium to that person? We’ll send a special Honorarium Card and announce the gift made by you in their honor. We can either mail the card to them, or send it to you to give to them personally. It’s a won-derful way to acknowledge someone who means much to you, to help PLUK and children at the same time and, it will probably mean much more to them knowing that the dona-

tion will go to help PLUK help kids. ��

PLUK’S ASSOCIATE BOARDS GROW IN NUMBER Three years ago, PLUK started a plan to create regional Asso-

ciate Boards for providing volunteer groups a voice from their region to PLUK. At the same time, the groups would assist with developing public awareness for PLUK, help with recruiting volunteers and with developing plans for support. PLUK now has 11 Associate Boards in the state, with nearly all regions hav-ing strong coverage and active Boards. Most Associate Boards average 15 members and meet monthly. Board members help network with area schools, agencies, businesses, and other contacts—helping PLUK grow. In 2004, the goals of the proj-ect are: to add offi cers to each Board (most do have offi cers in place); to start a monthly conference call to the Chairs of the Boards; and to elect a Parent Representative from each Board to serve on PLUK’s “Advisory Council to the Board of Directors.” This advisory council is a new component, and has great pos-sibilities, as it’s a direct link from the Associate Boards to the Board of Directors.

If you’re interested in joining an Associate Board in your region, call PLUK’s offi ce for information and regional contacts. �

�

Cub Scouts at disability awareness activity

Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids516 N 32nd StBillings MT 59101-6003

800-222-7585406-255-0540

[email protected]

PLUK Is Looking

for Volunteers

The Development Com-

mittee of Parents, Let’s

Unite for Kids is asking for

volunteers to assist on Plan-

ning Committees exploring

the possibilities with events

and the planning of events.

This is true in most areas of

the state as the program’s

Associate Boards gear up

for events in the future. Are

you interested in joining a

committee or an Associate

Board? Call PLUK’s Execu-

tive Director, Dennis Moore

or the Offi ce Manager,

Sheryl Shockley, to inquire

about helping. ��

Monthly Update March 2004 www.pluk.org 3

How to participate in PLUK ITV Training• Register by telephon-

ing us at 406-255-0540 or 800-222-7585, or visit our ITV Web page at http://www.pluk.org/ITV.htm

• Attend one of the sites listed at left.

• View the session “live” over the Internet from any computer anywhere. The Web site provides links.All sessions are video-

taped and available for checkout through the TRIC/PLUK Library. For informa-tion, contact librarian Jan-ice Sand at the telephone numbers above or by E-mail to [email protected]. The sessions are maintained also in a Web archive. See http://www.pluk.org/ITVarchive.htm.

For information on cur-rent active sites, registra-tions, and all sessions, visit the ITV Web page at http://www.pluk.org/ITV.htm or telephone the PLUK office at 406-255-0540 or 800-222-7585. �

�

PLUK ITV TRAINING SERIES: ADHD in the Teenager: Services & InterventionsPLUK ITV Training, April 13

http://www.pluk.org/ITV.htm Topic: ADHD in the teenager: Services &

Interventions Speakers: panel from Kalispell, MT

Dr. Marlene SnyderDiana & Tom Auerhammer, LCPCElsie Johnson, Registered Educa-tional Therapist

When: Tuesday, April 13, 2004, 6:00 to 8:00 pm MSTThere will be an open house from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Byte

Savvy in Kalispell.Session Description: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disor-

der, or ADHD, is a neurological disorder that affects up to 5% of school-aged children and adolescents. Children with ADHD may exhibit developmentally inappropriate attention skills, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and poor school performance. If undiagnosed and untreated, ADHD can negatively impact a child’s ability to effectively learn at home and school, as well as to develop healthy relationships with family, peers, and adults. This panel will cover issues related to driving, sexuality, test-ing, counseling, interventions, organization, study skills, and differing learning styles.Current Sites

Billings: Granite Tower, 222 North 32nd Street, Suite 300, 406-690-2518

Browning: Blackfoot Community College, US-2 & US-89, 406-338-5441

Great Falls: VisionNet Classroom, 1211 NW Bypass, 406-727-5994

Helena: Hustad Center, 1084 Helena Avenue, 406-727-5994 Kalispell: (instructor site) Byte Savvy, 309 South Main, 406-

257-5050Missoula: Blackfoot Telephone Co-op, 1221 North Russell,

406-721-2121Streaming Sites

Miles City: Holy Rosary Health Center Community Room #1, 406-951-1357

Future Session topicsApril 13, 2004 “ADHD: Services and Interventions,” panel from

around MontanaMay 11, 2004 “Fragile-X”

Dr Marlene Snyder from December 2001 session on ADHD and Driving


PLUK PROFESSIONAL SERIES: It’s NOT About Technology! Tools for IndependenceMay 12 in Billings and May 19 in Kalispell.

PLUK continues to upgrade the training opportunities in Montana for parents and profes-sionals on the variety of topics. This May we will present “It’s NOT About Technology! Tools for Independence.” On May 12th Roger Holt, ATP, will provide a session at MSU-B College of Tech-nology in Billings on topics related to Assistive Technology: IDEA and 504 guidelines, ADA Rules and 508 guidelines, “Assistive Technology 101,” “Making Decisions in the Classroom Relating to Assistive Technology,” and “The History and Future of Technology.” The seminar will be re-peated on May 19th in Kalispell at Flathead Valley Community College. This training is an all-day session and will include a detailed resource guide. For details and registration forms, go to the seminar Web page at http://www.pluk.org/ATconf.htm or call the office at 406-255-0540 (local) or 800-222-7585 (Toll free in Montana). �

�

Montana Training & Event CalendarThe following is our most up-to-date listing of training activities occurring around the state in the next few months. Parents who need financial assistance in order to attend trainings may apply for a parent training grant. Call the PLUK office to request a form.

Differentiated Instruction, April 14, Missoula

This workshop, presented by Rick Wormeli,

will address the diverse learning needs of stu-

dents. Participants will explore the concepts

and principles of differentiated learning. They

will investigate instructional and management

strategies that can be used in academically

diverse classrooms.

Administrators, general educators, special

educators, paraeducators, parents, agency

personnel, and others interested in meeting

the needs of all kids are invited to participate.

Register at the Region V CSPD Online Reg-

istration Web site: http://www.cspd.net

or contact Nancy Marks at nmarks@mcps.

k12.mt.us or 406-728-2400 ext 5036 for

more information. ��

Thinking in Pictures: A look inside AUTISM, Dr Temple

Grandin, April 14, Billings

Dr. Temple Grandin is a gifted animal scien-

tist who is also autistic. Dr. Grandin is perhaps

one of the most noted high-functioning in-

dividuals with autism in the world. Grandin is

an active speaker around the world on autism

and the author of two books, Emergence: La-

beled Autistic and Thinking in Pictures. Grandin

thinks, feels, and experiences the world in

ways incomprehensible to most people. She

has helped thousands of parents and profes-

sionals understand how to help individuals

with Autism/PDD/Asperger’s.

This seminar will serve as a valuable source

of inspiration and understanding for parents,

professional counselors, teachers and others

working with children diagnosed with Autism/

Asperger’s.

Seminar Fee: $39 for individuals or $50 for a

couple or family

http://www.msubillings.edu/cot/

SpringFever2004/scheduleApril14.

htm ��

Families & Learning Conference, April 14-16, Helena

The 2004 Families and Learning Confer-

ence is geared for learning opportunities and

professional development experiences for all

parents and professionals involved in school/

family/community partnerships and family

literacy programs across Montana.

For more information, visit: http://www.

montanapirc.org/linksfromhome/

familiesandlearning.htm. ��

More Strategies from Rick Wormeli, April 15, Missoula

In these two half-day sessions, Rick Wormeli

will focus on some specific strategies to enhance

learning in the classroom for all students.






Register at the Region V CSPD Online

Registration Web page at http://www.

cspd.net or contact Nancy Marks at

[email protected] or 406-728-

2400 ext 5036 for more information. ��

Preschool Forum, April 16, Missoula

Come learn and share information about

services that affect children ages 3 to 5 in the

Missoula area.









2400 ext 5036 for more information.

Lunch will be provided so please RSVP by

registering for this workshop! ��

Reactive Attachment Disorder, April 16–17, Malta

By Nancy Thomas

Contact: Brenda Rummel at 406-654-5236

Instructional Alignment, April 16–17, Glendive

By Lisa Carter, Glendive DCC

Contact: Bruce Clausen at 406-377-5265

Click On Reading Comprehension, April 19, Missoula &

April 20, Kalispell

Part 3 of a three-part series designed to

provide increased knowledge and strategies

for working with students in grades 4-12 who

struggle with reading. Sessions can be taken

individually, but it is recommended they be

taken as a series.









2400 ext 5036 for more information. ��

Gentle Teaching by Dan Hobbs, April 20, Missoula

Dan Hobbs, an internationally renowned

behavioral consultant, will present on devel-

oping individualized behavioral strategies in

a gentle compassionate way. This approach

focuses on strengths, interests and building

trusting relationships.

Contact Program Coordinator, CDC Su-

zanne Sterrett at 406-549-6413 ext 123 or

[email protected]

Register online: http://www.cspd.net ��

PLUK Empowerment Series, April 20, Billings

April 20, 2004, 6–8:00 pm: Vance Thurston

will speak regarding his experience growing

up with dyslexia, the instructional strategies

he learned to work around the challenges he

faced as an individual with dyslexia, his mom’s

perspective as a parent, and some of the re-

sources available to assist dyslexic individuals.

All sessions are two hours long and go

from 6 to 8 pm. If there is a subject that is of

high interest to anyone, we can offer tele-

conferencing in different areas of the state

upon request. Anyone is welcome to attend.

However, registration for each session is

required. To register please send E-mail to

[email protected], or call the PLUK

office at 406-255-0540. ��

Community Lifespan Respite Training, April 20, Billings

Community Lifespan Respite is a collab-

orative inter-agency program administered

through STEP to provide respite (short, tem-

porary care) to children and adults with dis-

abilities, healthcare concerns, special needs

and to those at risk of abuse and neglect.

The primary purpose of respite is to provide

relief from demands of ongoing care, thereby

reducing stress, preventing abuse and neglect

and enhancing family preservation and support.

The goal of CLR is to ensure all families have

access to some form of respite service. CLR

does not provide the respite itself or employ

providers, but is a point of contact and re-

source for families in need.

CLR has three major components:

• Information, referral and education for families

• Provider recruitment, screening and month-

ly trainings


• Financial assistance information and other

resources available

CLR provides trainings on the third Tuesday

of each month from noon to 1:00 pm, at the

STEP office at 1501 14th St. West, Suite 210. For

those attending the trainings we provide a

light lunch. The trainings are free and all we ask

is that you RSVP so we are prepared with the

correct amount of materials and food.

Upcoming trainings include:

April 20, 2004 PT in Motion on “Lifting and

Transfers”

May 18, 2004 Sue Bailey from YCCOA on “Ag-

ing Sensitivity”

June 15, 2004 Nancy Meyers from STEP on

“Safety and Universal Precautions”

For further information please contact Tami

Haan at 406-248-2055. ��

Montana Association of Gifted and Talented Education-

24th Annual Spring Conference “Guiding Today’s

Explorers” April 22-24, Helena

Differentiated instruction supports the

needs of diverse learners including those

highly capable students. The Montana AGATE

conference focuses on differentiated instruc-

tion strategies that can be utilized in every

classroom.

Register at the Region V CSPD Online Reg-

istration Web site: http://www.cspd.net

or contact Nancy Marks at nmarks@mcps.

k12.mt.us or 406-728-2400 ext 5036 for

more information. ��

Stabilizing with Foam in Children with Neurological

Problems, April 22-23, Missoula

Nancy Hylton, PT, CO will present in Mis-

soula on April 22-23 on “Stabilizing with Foam

in Children with Neurological problems.” This

is a dynamic hands-on workshop by an excel-

lent presenter. Interested persons should con-

tact Julie Tompkins, MonTECH at 800-732-0323

or 406-243-2426. ��

Positive Discipline, April 23-24, Glasgow

Contact: Jody at 1-800-659-3673

Sign Language Training in Bozeman April 23-25

The “Skillshops in Signing Exact English and

Educational Interpreting,” sponsored by the

S.E.E. Center for the Advancement of Deaf

Children, begin Friday evening, April 23 and ends Sunday afternoon, April 25.

These Skillshops are for teachers, aides, parents and others who want to learn, as well as for those who use Signing Exact English and wish to improve their vocabulary, fluency, and expressiveness. Participants review S.E.E. vocabulary and do extensive work on addi-tional signs, visual features of sign language, song and story telling techniques, and recent research findings.

Intensive work is done in groups from be-ginner to advanced levels. Each group is lim-ited to approximately 15 participants. Sessions are geared for adults and are not appropriate for children under 16 years of age. Participants at full week summer sessions, for an additional fee, can take a skill evaluation and receive a certificate indicating proficiency level. Those evaluated also receive detailed follow-up cov-ering sign production, fluency, fingerspelling, expressiveness, and speech readability.

Visit http://www.seecenter.org for more information and to register. Click on ‘skillshops’ and scroll down to weekend skill shops for details. The cost is $150. �

�

A Focus on Self-Advocacy, April 27, MissoulaPanel of middle school and high school stu-

dents, parents, educators, and agency folks will share strategies for promoting self-advocacy skills. Hosted by IDEA PTA, as a part of their Positive Parent-Professional Partnerships. All programs are free. Business meeting held from 6:45–7:15 pm, program follows 7:15–9:15 pm. Contact Nancy Marks MCPS Special Ed Coordi-nator, 406-728-2400 ext 5036, [email protected]. Childcare vouchers are available. OPI renewals are also available.

To receive information about IDEA PTA events, programs and other items of interest, contact

Mary Hall at [email protected]. ��

Support Group Meeting for Families in Kalispell, April 28Flathead Valley PLUK is proud to sponsor

these Parent Support Meetings open to all parents who have children with disabilities and special health care needs. Purpose: sup-port & education. Next Meeting: April 28. Location: The Summit—Kalispell. Time: 7:00–

8:30 pm. More info??: 406-756-6159


Training & Events Calendar: Outside Montana

2004 CEC Convention and Expo, April 14-17, New Orleans

Choose from more than 600 workshops,

lectures, demonstrations, mini-workshops,

panels and poster sessions:

• Find out how NCLB and the new IDEA will

affect you

• Learn strategies for success with autism, dis-

cipline, and other challenges

• Hear the latest information on transition,

technology, and more

• Get guidance on meeting the needs of di-

verse learners

• Browse innovative educational tools at the

Expo

• Visit the Career Center and find a job

• Attend the Teacher of the Year and Yes I

Can! Award ceremonies

http://www.cec.sped.org ��

Northwest Council for Computer Education 2004

Conference, April 14-17, Spokane

We have tried to provide a variety of activi-

ties that will give you a look at what’s new in

educational technology... and have some fun

in the process! You will find carefully struc-

tured sessions for different interests and dif-

ferent knowledge levels, and new techniques

and strategies that you can take back to your

classroom to implement and share.

This year you will find over 130 sessions, 50

workshops, and a variety of student sessions

and presentations that show the practical in-

tegration of technology in the classroom. You

will also have the opportunity to view a vari-

ety of DigiTalkie presentations submitted by

students from around our region and to talk

to students about their classroom projects.

http://www.ncce.org ��

Effective Strategies to Access the General Ed Curriculum

and Achieve Inclusive Outcomes for Children with

Significant Disabilities, April 27 – May 24

• The Effects of "Pull Out" on Community and

Learning, Tuesday, April 27th

• If Everyone Agrees This is SO Important,

Why Do So Few Kids Have Friends? Thurs-

day, April 29th

• Alternatives to Over-Reliance on Paraprofes-sionals, Wednesday, May 5

• Six and ½ Lessons for Inclusive Educational Outcomes, Wednesday, May 12

• Beyond Access: Students with Autism Learn-ing General Ed Curriculum, Tuesday, May 18

• The Least Dangerous Assumption in Prac-tice, Friday, May 21

• Communication Supports within General Education Classrooms, Monday, May 24Visit http://www.tash.org/telecon-

ferences/index.htm for registration and

pricing. ��

“Using Brain Research To Improve Child Learning, ADHD, Mood, Memory And Health” Conference, April 28–May 1

This “Learning and the Brain” conference will be held at the Harvard University Faculty Club and Hyatt Regency Cambridge, MA. For more information go to http://www.edu-

pr.com. ��

YAI International Conference on Developmental and Learning Disabilities, May 3-7, New York

For information, call 212/273-6193 or send E-mail to [email protected]. Begin-ning in March, information will be online at

http://www.yai.org/pid.cfm.

National ADA Symposium, May 11-13, Kansas City, Missouri

Featuring Dateline NBC correspondent John Hockenberry as Keynote speaker.

Hockenberry received an Emmy for his Dateline reporting, and is the author of Mov-

ing Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs and

Declarations of Independence, describing his experiences as a wheelchair user and foreign news correspondent in the Middle East.

Visit http://www.adaproject.org/ for more information. �

�

PECS Training, May 20-21, Boise IDBoise, Idaho, May 20 & 21, 2004: Picture Ex-

change Communication System (PECS)Two-Day Workshop, Presented by Donna

Banzhof, MEd. & Christine Cavarretta, BCBA$375 professional tuition$235 parent tuition


Includes second Edition PECS Manual and handout packet for note-taking

Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc., the developer of the Picture Exchange Communi-cation System (PECS), is sponsoring a dynamic talk that focuses on enhancing the education and communication skills for individuals with autism and other related disabilities. Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. is proud to an-nounce the arrival of:• The Picture Exchange Communication Sys-

tem (PECS) Two-Day WorkshopWe are confident that special educators,

administrators, speech language pathologists, parents and anyone who works with individu-als with autism and other disabilities will leave our workshop with fresh ideas and practical new strategies to enhance their students’ communication and learning environments.

As a special offer, mention Sarah Moore on your registration form and receive a $30.00 discount off the two-day workshop.

For registration information, visit us online at http://www.pecs.com or call 888-732-7462. For general information, contact Sarah Moore at [email protected] or call 302-

368-2515. ��

Autism One Conference, May 27–30, ChicagoAutism One 2004, the most comprehensive

conference on autism ever assembled, will be held May 27–30, 2004, in Chicago. It is a confer-ence for parents and professionals discussing the care, treatment, and recovery of children with autism. For more information, please visit

our web site at http://AutismOne.org. ��

Intermountain Special Study Institute, June 7–10, IdahoIdaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho,

will hold its Intermountain Special Study Insti-tute on Deafness, June 7–10, in Pocatello, Ida-ho. This institute is an excellent opportunity for teaching and related services personnel to share knowledge, as well as to learn effective teaching strategies from recognized profes-sionals in the field of deafness. The Office of Public Instruction will again be providing a limited number of stipends to pay for the reg-istration fees of teachers of the deaf, regular education teachers and speech-language pathologists who are providing services to

students who are deaf or hearing impaired

in the public schools in Montana. Renewal

units, as well as ASHA CEUs will be available to

participants. Personnel who wish to apply for

a stipend should contact Marilyn Pearson at

[email protected].

Go to http://www.isu.edu/issi for

more information on the institute. ��

Access For All: Building, Funding and Improving

Community Transportation, June 14–15

June 14–15, 2004 Washington State Conven-

tion and Trade Center, Seattle, WA

The Community Transportation Association

of America (CTAA) and the University of New

Hampshire Institute on Disability are sponsor-

ing Access For All. This two-day conference,

which will focus on building, funding and

improving community transportation, will

provide information on what you can do to

further expand transportation services in your

community. Special emphasis will be placed

on expanding transportation options for per-

sons with disabilities.

This conference is being held in conjunction

with the annual Community Transportation

Association EXPO, June 13–18. For more infor-

mation on the EXPO, access: http://www.

ctaa.org/expo/. During the Access For All

conference:

• Share ways to develop federal, state and lo-

cal investment to increase accessible trans-

portation services.

• Hear from colleagues who have developed

models for community-based transporta-

tion planning.

• Learn ways to elevate the issue of trans-

portation on a broad range of community

agendas.

• Further hone your leadership skills for build-

ing effective transportation partnerships.

• Take home resources that will support you

in expanding transportation in your com-

munity.

For registration, agenda and available

scholarships, visit: http://www.ctaa.org/

expo/2004/accessforall.asp. ��


In the News

New, Flexible Policies Help Teachers Become Highly Qualified

March 15, 2004 US Department of Education

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced

three new policies giving teachers greater flexibility in dem-

onstrating that they are highly qualified under the No Child

Left Behind Act (NCLB) while also ensuring that every child in

America is taught by a teacher who knows his or her subject.

These new policies, which take effect immediately, will

address the particular challenges of teachers who teach

more than one subject, especially those in rural districts and

science teachers.

“We know that effective teachers are one of the most

crucial factors in student achievement and are needed

in every school in America, regardless of state line or city

boundary,” Paige said. “That’s why No Child Left Behind

puts such emphasis on giving every student in our great

nation an expert teacher. We are committed to the goal of

a world-class teaching force and recognize the real chal-

lenges states and educators face. The policies announced

today offer common sense solutions that will help states

and districts get the best teachers in front of the most

needy students as soon as possible,” Paige said.

Read the complete press release at: http://www.ed.gov/

news/pressreleases/2004/03/03152004.html. ��

From: Fact Sheet New

No Child Left Behind

Flexibility: Highly

Qualified Teachers

http://www.ed.gov/

nclb/methods/teachers/

hqtflexibility.pdf

I. Rural Teachers

Approximately one-third

—or almost 5,000—of all

school districts in the United

States are considered rural.

As Department officials

have traveled the country

listening to teachers and

state and district officials,

they frequently have heard

that the highly qualified

teacher provisions of the No

Child Left Behind law don’t

adequately accommodate

the special challenges faced

by teachers in small, rural

districts. Often, the teachers

in these areas are required

to teach more than one

academic subject. This new

flexibility is designed to rec-

ognize this challenge and

provide additional time for

these teachers to prove that

they are highly qualified.

Under this new policy,

teachers in eligible, rural

districts who are highly

qualified in at least one

subject will have three

years to become highly

qualified in the additional

subjects they teach. They

must also be provided pro-

fessional development, in-

tense supervision or struc-

tured mentoring to become

highly qualified in those

additional subjects. ��

Games with VisionAllInPlay.com is a Web site

where individuals who are blind, have low vision, or are fully sighted can play games together using accessible design. No special accommo-dations, no special rules, just well designed games! Visit and learn more at http://www.allinplay.com. �

�

Free Spanish Guide to Detect and Manage Diabetes

CHCF and La Opinión, the nation’s largest Spanish-lan-

guage daily newspaper, today released “Todos Contra La Di-abetes,” a special supplement available to anyone looking for objective information on diabetes.http://www.chcf.

org/press/view.cfm?itemID=21725 �

�

Wheelchair Lift Van for Sale1995 Chevy with automatic

and loaded with features, 152,000 miles, asking $8,000. Call 406-827-3522 for more

information. ��


DISCOVER CAMP!

The National Center on Accessibility has

collaborated with several organizations to

develop an on-line resource for parents of

children with disabilities sending their child to

camp for the first time. Discover Camp! is the

on-line resource for parents. The guide answers

questions about selecting a camp, consider-

ations for attending open houses, and meeting

with camp staff. Discover Camp! also links to a

database of camps accredited by the American

Camping Association. For more information, con-

tact the National Center on Accessibility at 812-

856-4422 (voice), 812-856-4421 (TTY), or http://

www.ncaonline.org/discover. ��

ADA Document Portal

http://www.ADAportal.org

A new on-line library of ADA documents

is now available on the Internet. Developed

by Meeting the Challenge Inc. of Colorado

Springs, with funding from the National Insti-

tute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research,

this Web site makes available more than 3,400

documents related to the ADA; including

those issued by Federal agencies with respon-

sibilities under the law. It also offers extensive

document collections on other disability

rights laws and issues. ��

Camp for Children with Learning Disabilities and ADHD

The Learning Camp is a unique summer

camp that focuses on helping children with

learning disabilities such as dyslexia, attention

deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyper-

activity disorder (ADHD), and other learning

challenges. We help to build the self-esteem

and confidence that is needed to cope in their

academic world. Our program blends aca-

demic tutoring with the wonderful adventures

that can be found in the heart of the Rocky

Mountains of Colorado.

http://www.learningcamp.com ��

ADHD kids usually have ADHD parents

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan 20, 2004 (United

Press International via COMTEX) — Maryland

researchers say parents of a child with atten-

tion-deficit hyperactivity disorder should be

tested for the condition themselves.

A recent study by University of Maryland

researchers found parents of children who

have ADHD are more than 20 times more likely

to have ADHD than parents whose children

do not.

Further, if their children also have other seri-

ous behavioral problems, the parents’ risk for

such disorders, such as depression, anxiety

and substance abuse, is as much as five times

the norm.

The study is summarized in the December

issue of the Journal of the American Academy of

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

“It’s critical to have parents performing at

their best,” Andrea Chronis, director of the

ADHD program at the University of Maryland

and the study’s lead author, told the Wash-

ington Post, “so that the child can perform as

well as possible. ... (But) if a child has ADHD

and the parents do, too, you can imagine the

difficulties.”

ADHD, which affects an estimated 3 percent

to 7 percent of school-age children, often con-

tinues into adulthood.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medline-

plus/news/fullstory_15626.html ��

Family Handbook on Future Planning

A Family Handbook on Future Planning is a

guide to help families develop a future plan

for their sons or daughters with cognitive,

intellectual or developmental disabilities, that

provides personal, financial and legal protec-

tions for these individuals after the parents

either die or can no longer provide care or

support. It is not designed to be a “do-it-your-

self” guide to will writing, trust development

and other legal processes. Instead, the guide

will help families review and inventory the

needs and strengths of their family member,

determine what should be in a plan, and then

locate qualified professionals and resources to

finalize the plan.

Visit http://www.thearc.org/ for

more information or to download. This pub-

lication is also available on the PLUK publi-

cations page: http://www.pluk.org/

Pubs/. Download a .pdf at http://www.

pluk.org/Pubs/Fed/Future_Plan-

ning_893K.pdf. ��


Ideas and Answers Resources in our Library: ADD/ADHD

The A.D.D. Nutrition Solu-

tion: A Drug-Free 30-Day

Plan by Marcia Zimmer-

man, C.N. ADD273

Attention Deficit Disorder:

A Different Perception by

Thom Hartmann. ADD231

ADHD and Teens: A Parent’s

Guide to Making It through

the Tough Years by Colleen

Alexander-Roberts. ADD218

ADHD in the Young Child:

Driven to Redirection by Cathy

Reimers, PhD. ADD243

Driven to Distraction by

Edward Hallowell, MD &

John Ratey, MD. ADD238

Healing ADD: The Break-

through Program that Al-

lows You to See and Heal

the 6 Types of ADD by Dan-

iel Amen, MD. ADD257

How to Reach and Teach

ADD/ADHD Children: Prac-

tical Techniques, Strategies,

and Interventions for Help-

ing Children with Attention

Problems and Hyperactivity

by Sandra Rief. SFF107

How to Reach and Teach

Teenagers with ADHD: A

Step-By-Step Guide to Over-

coming Difficult Behaviors

at School and at Home by

Grad Flick, PhD. ADD251

A Mind at a Time by Mel

Levine, M.D. LEA321

Moms with ADD: A Self-

Help Manual by Christine

Adamec. ADD250

Taking Charge of ADHD:

The Complete, Authoritative

Guide for Parents by Russell

Barkley, PhD. ADD256

Q I have a question that I have asked before, but have never received an adequate answer. My son, who has ADHD, has

graduated from high school and we have been trying to find af-fordable health insurance for him. Because he is not in school (he is now 19) he can not be on our policy. He can COBRA over but it is at a huge monthly premium! He is working, but of course the company does not have health benefits. Can you help me locate a policy or something he might qualify for. I have checked with Social Security Disability, but they say because medicine can help a person maintain a job, he would not qualify for disability health insurance. The problem is the money it costs to get this medicine, or doctor appointments. This seems to be a big loophole in the healthcare system! They are not at the age yet of having a good paying/insurance benefit job, yet need insurance. Is there any-thing you can think of to help us because he does have ADHD and had been given the label learning disabled all of his life with

help in school, and now there seems to be no help?

A This is an issue for many families and there is no simple answer. Here are some resources for insurance and medications:

1. The Montana Comprehensive Health Program provides lower (not cheap) cost health insurance for those who can’t get insur-ance, who no longer qualify for COBRA and those with low income who need assistance making premium payments. For information, call 800-447-7828 or visit http://www.mthealth.org.

2. Many drug manufacturers have what’s called Patient Assistance Programs. These programs are designed to help those who can’t afford their medicines obtain them at no cost or low cost. The fol-lowing Web sites provide free information and application forms:http://www.needymeds.com http://www.rxassist.org http://www.rxhope.com/pap_selectdrug.asp http://www.helpingpatients.org/ 3. Check out the possibility of buying in to Medicaid through

the Ticket to Work Program which “removes barriers that re-quire people with disabilities to choose between health care coverage and work.” Contact: Gary Flom at 406-657-2054 or [email protected] or see http://www.msu-billings.edu/socialsecurity/TicketToWork.htm

4. Check the CHIP program at http://www.dphhs.state.mt.us/hpsd/pubheal/chip/index.htm or Covering Kids at 800-421-6667.

5. An alternative for uninsured families in Montana… Blue Care was created by a statewide coalition of physicians, hospitals, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) to offer uninsured Montan-ans a new, limited health insurance plan, which covers most health care services an individual would need during the course of a year.http://www.bcbsmt.com/Products/Individuals/

individuals.html#bluecare ��

Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with AutismTemple Grandin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor , Colorado State University

Good teachers helped me to achieve suc-cess. I was able to overcome autism because I had good teachers. At age 2½ I was placed in a structured nursery school with experienced teachers. From an early age I was taught to have good manners and to behave at the din-ner table. Children with autism need to have a structured day and teachers who know how to be firm but gentle.

1. Many people with autism are visual think-ers. I think in pictures. I do not think in language. All my thoughts are like videotapes running in my imagination. Pictures are my first language, and words are my second language. Nouns were the easiest words to learn because I could make a picture in my mind of the words. To teach words like “up” or “down,” the teacher should demonstrate them to the child. For example, take a toy airplane and say “up” as you make the airplane take off from a desk. Some children will learn better if cards with the words “up” and “down” are attached to the toy airplane. The “up” card is attached when the plane takes off. The “down” card is attached when it lands.

2. Avoid long strings of verbal instructions. People with autism have problems with re-membering the sequence. If the child can read, write the instruction down on a piece of paper. I am unable to remember sequenc-es. If I ask for directions at a gas station, I can only remember three steps. Directions with more than three steps have to be written down. I also have difficulty remembering phone numbers because I cannot make a picture in my mind.

3. Many children with autism are good at drawing, art and computer programming. These talent areas should be encouraged. I think there needs to be much more emphasis on developing the child’s talents.

4. Many autistic children get fixated on one subject such as trains and maps. The best way to deal with fixations is to use them to moti-vate school work. If the child likes trains, then use trains to teach reading and math. Read a book about a train and do math problems with trains. For example, calculate how long it takes for a train to go between New York and Washington.

5. Use concrete visual methods to teach number concepts. My parents gave me a math toy which helped me to learn numbers. It consisted of a set of blocks which had a different length and different color for the numbers one through ten. With this I learned how to add and subtract. To learn fractions my teacher has a wooden apple that was cut up into four pieces and wooden pear that was cut in half. From this I learned the concept of quarters and halves.

Dr. Temple Grandin is the author of two autobiographies: Emergence: Labeled Autistic and Thinking in Pictures. Currently an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado, speaks internationally on Autism and the humane treatment of animals. She is the owner of Gran-din Livestock Systems and a world renowned designer of livestock handling facilities.

For more tips, visit http://www.cdrcp.com/aut_teachingtips.html �

�

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