Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
30 September 2002

CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy,
and Support

===== In This Issue =====

About the Newsletter
Calendar of Events
Feature Article: IDEA Reauthorization
This Week: Today is the Last Day to Register for CHADD's National Conference!
Please Tell Us

===== About the Newsletter =====

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.
It's a step toward bringing the members closer together.

======== Calendar of Events ==========

San Francisco - 9/30/2002, Mon. 1-5 pm
Mental Health Association of San Francisco Presents: Hoarding And
Cluttering: Solutions 2002 - Eviction prevention and de-cluttering
strategies for compulsive hoarders and people who care about them.
-- Confirmed Presenters include: Michael Tompkins, Ph.D, Director of
Professional Training - Center for Cognitive Therapy; Francis
Strassman, Professional Organizer - More Than Order. Registration:
$30. MHA Members $20. Low income: No one turned away for lack of
funds.
The State Building: 455 Golden Gate Avenue at Polk, San Francisco -
Contact: Mental Health Association of San Francisco: 415-241-2926 or
visit www.mha-sf.org
============================
Sacramento - 10/1/2002, Tues. 6:45 p.m.; 7-9 pm
Spectrum Disorders - John Capel, PhD. -- A revolutionary new model in
the diagfnosis and treatment of AD/HD occurred when some researchers
forged the new concept of "spectrum disorders." This presentation may
offer some answers for people struggling with atypical symptoms.
Sutter Center for Psychiatry, Sacramento - Contact: Greater
Sacramento CHADD: 916-552-1557
============================
Contra Costa - 10/2/2002, Wed. 7-9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult Topical Meeting: Finding the Right Career for the ADDer --
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
Sonoma - 10/2/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Pamela LeBlanc, MA, Parent Educator will speak on Parenting Styles
and the Six Goals of Behavior. -- What is your parenting style?
Would you like to learn how to create mutually respectful family
relationships? Can tools like these work in other relationships,
like with bosses, co-workers, or your child's teacher? You bet!
Kaiser Hospital Building, Santa Rosa - Contact: Sonoma Warmline: 707-765-4863
============================
Santa Clara - 10/2/2002, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
Presentation: Dr. Brendan Pratt -- TBA
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
============================
San Francisco - 10/2/2002, Wed. 7:30pm
Women's ADD Support Group -- Please Call Lynn to confirm times and
locations before attending.
CPMC Davies Campus, San Francisco - Contact: Lynn: 415-621-1078
============================
San Mateo - 10/5/2002, Sat. 9 am - Noon
Last One Picked...First One Picked On: The Socail Implications of
Learning Differences. - Richard Lavoie, MS, MEd. -- $20.
Pre-registration ends 9/20/02.
South San Francisco Conference Center, South San Francisco - Contact:
Schwab Learning: 800-230-0988 or visit www.SchwabLearning.org/events
============================
San Mateo - 10/5/2002, through 10/6/02
Reed Martin, JD - Workshop - Special Ed Advocacy, IEP's and 504's, 2
day Workshop -- Sponsored by Learning Disabilities Association of CA.
Registration: LDA Members, $150; Non-members, $175.
San Mateo Marriot, San Mateo - Contact: www.ldaca.org or 916-745-7882
============================
San Mateo - 10/8/2002, Tues. 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Jonathan Mooney - Overcoming Learning and Attentional Difficulties to
Reach Academic Success -- Jonathan Mooney is co-author of "Learning
Outside the Lines" and addresses the emotional experiences of
alternative learners and shares practical strategies. Co-sponsored by
Orinda Union School District and Schwab Learning.
Orinda Intermediate School; 80 Ivy Drive, Orinda - Contact:
925-254-5990 or visit Schwab Learning: www.SchwabLearning.org/events
============================
Alameda - 10/9/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting --
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
Marin - 10/14/2002, Mon. 7-9pm
Affordable Counseling- learn about the four main counseling agencies
in Marin that offer psychotherapy at sliding scale. Learn about the
services they offer for ADHD, depression, anxiety, substance use
disorder, etc. for adults, couples, families, parents, children,
teens. -- Note: different day & location from usual: Marin General
Hospital, main auditorium, first floor. Conjoint meeting with NAMI.
Marin General Hospital, Corte Madera - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
Marin - 10/15/2002, Tues. 7-9pm
Drop in Support Group -- for Adults with ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
Santa Clara - 10/16/2002, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
Silicon Valley Adult, Parent and Spouse Support Groups -- Separate
peer-facilitated groups let you share struggles and strategies with
each other. Includes video.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
============================
**** - 10/17/2002, through 10/19/01
Partners For Progress: 15 years of giving hope, changing lives! --
CHADD Fourteenth Annual Conference on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder
Fontainebleau Hilton Resort, Miami Beach, FL - Contact: See Website:
www.chadd.org/webpage.cfm?cat_id=14
============================
San Francisco - 10/19/2002, Sat. 2-4:30pm
LD and/or ADHD Accommodations -- A workshop by educational therapist
Steven J. Corelis for teachers and parents, will focus on challenges
to the student in the classroom; student response to challenges; what
the law says; and accommodations, strategies, modifications,
compensations. (All programs at the SFPL are free)
San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco - Contact: SFPL Resource
Collection for LDs: 415-557-4540
============================
San Francisco - 10/21/2002, Mon. 7:00 - 9pm
Adult Success Group -- Share skills and strategies for success at
home, in the workplace, in relationships, etc.
CPMC Pacific Campus, San Francisco - Contact: Rachel Rosenfeld: 415-362-7227
============================
Online - 10/23/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST
Wendy Richardson - Eating Disorders, Addiction, and ADHD --
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
Marin - 10/23/2002, Wed. 9:30-11:30am
Parent Informational Resource and Support Group -- Call First...
30 Catalpa Ave., Mill Valley - Contact: Victoria Vogel & Holly
Seerly: 415-383-6048
============================
Santa Clara - 10/23/2002, Wed. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Meeting -- Discussion of and sharing
successful ADHD/LD strategies and coping skills with other like
ADDults
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443 or visit www.kpinst.org/
============================
San Francisco - 10/24/2002, Thu. 7-9pm
Helping Parents to Advocate for their Child within the School System.
-- Janine Matteson, MFT, is a marriage and family therapist, as well
as a resource specialist in the present day school system. CHECK
location: This meeting is in Dining Room A, across from the cafeteria.
CPMC Pacific Campus, San Francisco - Contact: San Francisco Warmline:
415-442-1944
============================
Sacramento - 11/5/2002, Tues. 6:45 p.m.; 7-9 pm
AD/HD and Women's Issues -- Speaker: Cass Brown, PhD.
Sutter Center for Psychiatry, Sacramento - Contact: Greater
Sacramento CHADD: 916-552-1557
============================
Contra Costa - 11/6/2002, Wed. 7-9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult Topical Meeting: Establishing Priorities --
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
Santa Clara - 11/6/2002, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
Medications -- Dr. Sanjay Jasuja, author of "A Book on Stress, ADD &
Parenting" and "Out of Chaos!" will speak on the subject of
medications.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
============================
Sonoma - 11/6/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Sharing and Support. -- Bring your concerns, questions and
experiences. Everyone is welcome, including parents, spouses and
significant others -- diagnosed and undiagnosed.
Kaiser Hospital Building, Santa Rosa - Contact: Sonoma Warmline: 707-765-4863
============================
San Francisco - 11/6/2002, Wed. 7:30pm
Women's ADD Support Group -- Please Call Lynn to confirm times and
locations before attending.
CPMC Davies Campus, San Francisco - Contact: Lynn: 415-621-1078
============================

===== Feature Article ======

IDEA Reauthorization and The Special Ed Commission: Current Threats
to the Rights of Children With AD/HD and Other Disabilities

In July, The President's Commission on Excellence in Special
Education issued their report entitled, "A New Era: Revitalizing
Special Education for Children and Their Families". The Commission,
which was created in October 2001 by President Bush to ultimately
"recommend reforms to improve America's special education system",
reported 9 findings and 3 major recommendations. While some of their
findings are certainly valid, the Commission's report in conjunction
with The No Child Left Behind Act pose a threat to the rights of
children with disabilities and their families. (The No Child Left
Behind Act was signed in to law January 2, 2002.)

Currently IDEA is up for reauthorization even though IDEA '97 hasn't
been fully implemented to date and its' successes cannot be entirely
judged. Among other things, the Commission's report may very likely
contribute to changes in eligibility categories, behavioral supports
and protections, and a reduction in required paperwork and its'
safeguards. Numerous disability advocacy groups stress that changes
in these areas will particularly affect children with mental health
issues including AD/HD. The report does not address the need to
fully fund IDEA.

During conference in Miami, a V.A.N. session is being held on
Saturday, October 19 at which time Dr. Robert Pasternack, Assistant
Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education Office for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), will be addressing the
Department's position on the reauthorization of IDEA. Matt Cohen
will be responding with CHADD's position. The moderated discussion
will then be opened up for comment. This is an excellent opportunity
for CHADD leaders and members to present their personal stories and
have impact on the reauthorization process.

If you are passionate about this issue, are well versed in the
issues, and are interested in the possibility of giving testimony,
please contact Dina Dudarevitch (dmdina@...) prior to or during
conference. Individual statements will be no more than 3 minutes in
length, so prepare accordingly. Written statements should focus on
pertinent issues, successes experienced by your child or children due
to IDEA, and written from the heart! Please include an appeal to
protect and fully implement IDEA as currently written. It is
extremely important that all adversarial contact is avoided.

Thank you, not only for your efforts on behalf of CHADD, but for the
benefit of all children with disabilities.

RESOURCE LIST:
1) "Looming Reauthorization Battle Threatens Rights of Kids with
Disabilities Under IDEA '97" by Matt Cohen; Attention! Magazine,
August 2002.

2) "A New Era: Revitalizing Special Education for Children and
Families", The President's Commission on Excellence in Special
Education.
http://www.ed.gov/inits/commissionsboards/whspecialeducation/

3) CHADD Comments on the Recommendations of the President's
Commission on Excellence in Special Education (PCESE) for the
Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act /
Letter to Mr. Thomas Irvin, Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services
http://www.chadd.org/newszoom.cfm?cat_id=7&subcat_id=37&news_id=91

4) No Child Left Behind Act
http://www.nclb.org/

5) Join the CHADD V.A.N.-Volunteer Action Network
http://www.chadd.org

6) NAMI Where We Stand
http://www.nami.org/policy/wherewestand/idea.html

======== This Week ==========

Today is the Last Day to Register for CHADD's National Conference! If
you looked before and fares seemed too high, look again. Many fares
have fallen.

===== Please Tell Us! =====

We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. Any comments,
suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please
continue to help us make this newsletter more beneficial to you all.

We also invite readers to share their experiences with us and other
members. Please feel free to write to us about anything that you
would like to see published.

You can e-mail your comments to us at CHADD_Dimples@....
Simply replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the
right place.