Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
17 February 2003

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

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter, designed to keep you up to date with CHADD of Northern
California's activities and updates in the field.

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

Calendar of Events
Announcements: Women's Reading/Support Group forming in S.F.
Feature Article: Schools Fail Kids With Learning Disabilities
Please Tell Us

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

San Francisco - 2/17/2003, 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
============================
Marin - 2/18/2003, 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 - 2/19/2003, Wed. 7 pm
Mel Levine is giving a free talk on his new book, "The Myth of
Laziness" -- Mel Levine is considered one of the top special
education authorities. This is a great opportunity to increase your
knowledge!
Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto - Contact: TBD:
============================
Contra Costa - 2/19/2003, Wed. 7-9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting -- Ongoing, confidential
support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
Santa Clara - 2/19/2003, 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
============================
San Francisco - 2/20/2003, Thu. 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
How Will California's Budget Crisis Impact Your Child with Special
Needs -- Learn more about proposed cuts and what you can do about
them. From "Open Gate Family Resource Center." RSVP required, one
week in advance.
John O'Connell High School, San Francisco - Contact: See Website:
415.469.4518 for more information or visit www.supportforfamilies.org
============================
Marin - 2/24/2003, Mon. 9:30-11:30am
Parent Resource Group -- Call First...
30 Catalpa Ave., Mill Valley - Contact: Victoria Vogel & Holly
Seerly: 415-383-6048
============================
Sonoma - 2/26/2003, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Sharing and Support. -- Bring your concerns, questions and
experiences. Everyone is welcome, including parents, spouses,
teenagers and significant others -- diagnosed and undiagnosed.
Kaiser Medical Office Building East, Santa Rosa - Contact: Sonoma
Warmline: More information and directions: 707-765-4863
============================
Santa Clara - 2/26/2003, 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 - 3/1/2003, Sat. 9:00a.m.-12:30p.m
Eileen Marzola - Becoming a Strategic Reader: Linking Assessment to
Reading Comprehension Instruction -- Sponsored by the International
Dyslexia Association. Details forthcoming
UCSF Conference Center, Laurel Heights, San Francisco - Contact:
International Dyslexia Association: 650-328-7667 or visit
www.dyslexia-ncbida.org
============================
Contra Costa - 3/5/2003, Wed. 7-9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult Topical Meeting: TBA --
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
San Francisco - 3/5/2003, 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
============================
Santa Clara - 3/5/2003, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
ADD 101 -- Dr. Stubblefield of the Amen Clinic will speak.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
============================
Marin - 3/11/2003, Tues. 7-9pm
Procrastination. Deborah Lancaster, ADDult. -- Learn practical,
useful solutions and techniques to overcome our natural tendencies to
procrastinate and disorganize.
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
Alameda - 3/12/2003, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting --
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
San Francisco - 3/17/2003, 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
============================
Marin - 3/18/2003, Tues. 7-9pm
Drop in Support Group -- for Adults with ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
Contra Costa - 3/19/2003, Wed. 7-9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting -- Ongoing, confidential
support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
Santa Clara - 3/19/2003, 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
============================
Yolo - 3/20/2003, Thu. Lending Library 7:00 pm; 7:15 pm to 8:30 pm
County Meeting -- CHADD welcomes all with interest or concerns
regarding attention deficit disorder.
Davis Branch, Yolo County Library, Davis - Contact: Yolo County
CHADD: 530-750-3929
============================

======== Announcements ==========

Women's Reading/Support Group Forming in San Francisco

Using Sari Solden's first book, "Women with Attention Deficit
Disorder" and excerpts from other reading material as a basis for
discussion and self-exploration, our goal is to learn how to respect
our limits and build on our strengths. We will meet the 2nd and 4th
Tuesdays of the month for 8-10 sessions with a minimum of 6 and
maximum of 9 participants. A small fee (to $5) for room rental may be
charged. Please contact Kali Grosberg for more information.
415-673-6416 or kali.g@...."

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

Parents and Teachers Say Nation's Schools Fail Kids With Learning Disabilities

National Center for Learning Disabilities launches call to action to
Keep Kids Learning

New York, NY, January 15, 2003 - An overwhelming majority of parents
and teachers say the nation's schools take too long to identify
students with learning disabilities, according to a benchmark study
released today by the National Center for Learning Disabilities
(NCLD). The study provides important insights given the Congressional
debate set to take place early this year about education legislation
known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The
poll findings have spawned an online initiative called
KeepKidsLearning (www.keepkidslearning.org), to empower parents and
teachers to express their opinions about the critical policy changes.

Conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates/American Viewpoint,
the survey strongly indicates that both parents and teachers favor
replacing the current model for classifying students with learning
disabilities with an alternative model that focuses on early
identification and intervention. In fact, nearly half of parents in
the country have children who are struggling learners.

The Hart Research/American Viewpoint Poll-conducted among 603 parents
of children in Kindergarten through 12th grade and 403 teachers of
grades K-6-highlights the country's growing concerns about the
current education system for identifying and serving students who
struggle to learn and the desire to adopt a new one. Highlights of
the poll include:
44 percent of parents have a struggling learner in the household
Parents (82%) and teachers (90%) believe that adoption of the
alternative system would have a positive effect on the progress of
students with learning disabilities

78 percent of parents favor adopting an alternative education system
that is focused on early identification and intervention

85 percent of teachers who see the effects of the current system in
their classrooms on a daily basis prefer a newer model

65 percent of teachers believe that many of their colleagues could
use more training to help them identify students with learning
disabilities

66 percent of parents and 82 percent of teachers say that adopting an
alternative system for identifying children with learning
disabilities would have a positive impact on the classroom overall

"As this landmark poll indicates, the majority of parents and
teachers are tired of watching struggling learners suffer alone,"
said Geoffrey Garin, president of the Peter D. Hart Research
Associates. "They are heavily in favor of a new educational system
that allows these children to get the help they need right from the
onset of academic troubles."

The survey findings highlight the increasing debate on the
reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA). Introduced 27 years ago, IDEA revolutionized the standards of
special education. Today, however, its out-of-date approaches force
struggling learners to fail for one year or more before providing the
crucial instruction and support that can enable them to succeed.
Regrettably, almost three times more students with learning
disabilities are receiving special education services at ages 9-11
than at ages 6-8, despite the knowledge that to be most effective,
interventions must be delivered by the end of second grade.

"Parents and teachers know that the earlier children are identified,
the more likely they are to succeed in the future," stated James H.
Wendorf, executive director of NCLD. He added, "When you consider
that a below-average reader loses one million words of active
vocabulary each year, the benefit of early identification is
undeniable."

Compared with a system that waits a year or more, the new model would
allow children to be identified as early as kindergarten. As soon as
it becomes evident that a child is struggling, teams of classroom
teachers and special educators would provide special instruction and
monitor progress almost immediately after the initial problem has
been spotted. Those students continuing to show low levels of
progress after three months would then be eligible for special
education services.

In conjunction with NCLD, co-sponsoring organizations of the Keep
Kids Learning online campaign are calling for universal screening for
early literacy skills, problem-solving approaches for earlier
identification and intervention, and enhancing the professional
development of our teachers who work with struggling students
everyday. The Learning Disabilities Roundtable works to find
consensus on LD issues that will influence current federal policy.

"Since IDEA comes up for reauthorization once every five years, now
is the time to communicate and work with Congress to ensure that all
children benefit from the best research available," stated Wendorf.
He added, "As the nation begins making resolutions for the new year,
we must ensure that Congress embraces critical changes to IDEA now
because no child has five years to waste."

To help parents, teachers and community members weigh in on IDEA,
NCLD has created a web site called KeepKidsLearning
(www.keepkidslearning.org). At the web site, visitors can easily send
their opinions and concerns about the legislation to their Senator or
Representative.

*The statistical margin of sampling error is ± 4.0% among the parents
and ±5.0% among the teachers.


About National Center for Learning Disabilities
The mission of NCLD (www.LD.org) is to increase opportunities for all
individuals with learning disabilities (LD) to achieve their
potential, and to provide solutions to help them participate fully in
society. NCLD accomplishes its mission by promoting public awareness
and understanding of learning disabilities, conducting educational
programs and services that advance research-based knowledge, and
providing national leadership in shaping public policy.

===== 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.