OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2003

WEEKLY WEBSITE UPDATE

Many stirring pieces on the Home Page
(www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/1/index.htm) this week!� We have a bit of
breathing room with the Senate on
recess from October 4-12, so let our Home Page articles move you to action while
we still have time to act!

In "You Can't Fool Parents," we discuss the five most common reasons schools
give parents for believing that IDEA reauthorization does not directly affect
them.� We then demonstrate why NOT ONE of these reasons is true.� IDEA
reauthorization affects EVERY ONE OF US - whether you're a parent, grandparent,
s
ibling, relative, friend or just a concerned citizen appalled at the injustice
being perpetrated on our most vulnerable citizens.� It affects us whether our
kids are too young to be in the system, or too old to be in the system.� It
affects us even if our kids are not in the system -� any one of us, or our
children, could become disabled at any time.� This is just a fact of life, so we
never
know when we might need this system!� Also, IDEA is the foundation upon which
all the other community-based services and protections for people with
disabilities is based.� Attack IDEA and you attack community services, fair
housing
laws, and every other protection that has enabled people with disabilities to
come out of the closet and into society.� Point is, we cannot afford to think
that this process is not about us or our kids, BECAUSE IT IS!

In "The Shell Game," we talk about the "now you see it, now you don't"
mentality that's pervaded this reauthorization process from the beginning.� As a
current example, we discuss the Senate "boost" of IDEA funding, which seems to
be
on again, off again, depending when you ask.� To keep it "on" again, please
turn to our Breaking News page
(www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/2/index.htm), where an Arc Action Alert
tells you how you can help ensure funding for
IDEA.

We also have two pieces on the proposed weakening of parents' due
process/procedural rights.� A critical feature of IDEA's parental protections,
the
availability of legal assistance, is under attack.� In "Another Whiff of
Hypocrisy,"
we convincingly demonstrate why the proposed cap on parent's recovery of
attorney's fees is simply a guise for enabling a massive power shift away from
parents and toward the schools.� "In Our Children's Defense" discusses the
intimidation of parent advocates as being another verse in this same dangerous
song.� This piece shows you how these school tactics, if successful, will
radically
alter the balance of power between parents and schools.

Finally, in "Verb - It's What They Do," the author reminds us why we're doing
all of this in the first place - for our kids!� This piece is a moving
tribute to the value of our kids - all kids - and a powerful reminder that we
cannot
give up the fight!

Please keep your feedback coming, and have a great weekend!


Sandy Alperstein, today's parentvolunteer@...




Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

SEPTEMBER 27 & 28, 2003

NEW ON THE WEBSITE THIS WEEK

With Congress going on recess for the week of October 4-12, we've posted the
latest update from NAPAS (both on our Home Page
(www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/1/index.htm) and on our Breaking News page
(www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/2/index.htm)).� This update will give you
lots of helpful information
as you prepare to visit (if possible) or otherwise contact your legislators
during this crucial "crunch time."� As we point out in "The Invisible
Majority," this is the time to let your legislators know YOUR REALITY, the
reality of a
special education system CONTROLLED BY THE SCHOOLS, not by families and kids.
The Senate bill is likely (though not certain) to be voted on soon after
Congress returns to D.C. in mid-October, so the time to act is NOW!!!� (By the
way, we have made it EVEN EASIER to write to your legislators - check out our
Resources page, www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/5/index.htm, where we now
have a button to click on to reach the Congress.org site that provides sample
letters and allows you to customize your own.� Contacting Congress is now only a
click away!)

Also on our Home Page (www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/1/index.htm), we
have several pieces dealing with the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).� While
it's tempting to limit ourselves to understanding the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), that's unrealistic because many of the
proposed
changes to IDEA stem from NCLB issues.� Our pieces will bring you up to speed on
NCLB quickly and painlessly.� In "NCLB Context and Code," we provide you with
some background on NCLB, followed by a piece on NCLB's promise for our kids,
and a piece on the threats to that promise currently coming out of Washington.�
These pieces will help you avoid the "conversational landmines" you may
encounter during your contacts with legislators.

Connie Garner, aide to Senator Kennedy, held a briefing for the "disability
community" this week on the status of IDEA reauthorization.� We bring you up to
date on our Grapevine page
(www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/4/index.htm).� We have a CEC update, as
well as a parent advocate's notes taken directly
from that briefing.� Visit the Grapevine and feel as if you were actually there
at this important briefing (without the jet lag, airfare, etc.)!�

On the Grapevine page (www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/4/index.htm) we
also have a Wrightslaw update on a new bill introduced in Congress to "gut NCLB"
as regards special education students.� Looks like IDEA is not the only bill
on the chopping block - our kids are under attack on several fronts, so we
need to pay attention.� As for why this is happening to our kids, we have one
parent advocate's thoughts on the Grapevine about this.� We also have a parent's
letter to the editor, objecting to a recent piece in the press calling for
lower standards under NCLB for special education students.� And we have an
article from the press discussing the division among educators themselves as to
the
appropriate standards for our kids under NCLB.�

Finally, we have news of a recent report paid for by the federal Department
of Education, indicating that teachers want computers and technical support,
NOT elimination of short-term objectives and other crucial elements of the IEP,
to help reduce their paperwork burden.� Apparently parents are not the only
group being ignored by Congress during this reauthorization process!

On our Message Board (www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/4/index.htm) this
week, we have information on the Walk for Autism, as well as more input on the
Senate briefing earlier this week.

Lots of information, but we've put it together for you in a quick,
easy-to-read fashion.� Please get informed and stay involved - we need you now
more than
ever!� More importantly, your kids need you!!�

Let us know what you're thinking and hearing, while there's still time to
make a difference for our kids!!

Sandy Alperstein, today's parentvolunteer@...




Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tamara,
I just talked to Lisa, she told me about losing your dad. I am truly sorry to
hear that. It was 8 years ago I lost Danny. You will be grieving and some
days it will be harder to go on,but know that your dad will always watch over
you
and your boys. I found out the hard way that in terrible times you find out
you are stronger then you know. Remember the lessons he taught you, and the
good memories write them down. Jeanne


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello Tamara,
My condolescences to you and your family. I just joined VOICES and find you and
the organization remarkable. Thank you for providing this families who feel that
their "Voices" aren't heard. What a tribute to your father and family. Take care

Shari
voices_association <voices_inc@...> wrote:
Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is doing well.  I have been quiet on this board for a
couple of weeks.  As most of you know, my father has been extremelly
ill over the last few months.  This past Monday, September 22, my
father passed away after a long, hard fought battle with diabetes.

My father was the foundation of my life...and I was his only "baby".
He has always been the one to encourage and support me throughout
everything that I have done in my life...including starting the
VOICES Association.  He has always been my cheerleader.

It is hard for me to type these words...because seeing them makes
this all so painfully real.  At this time, I would like to ask your
patience, as I go through the grieving process.

I want to thank all of you who sent well wishes while my father was
in the hospital.  Your kind words mean so much to me and my family.

As for VOICES, we have many big plans for helping children find their
VOICES.  The toll free hotline (1-888-5-VOICES) will still be
available for those who need assistance and support.

I think that I can truly honor my father by acheiving the VOICES
dream; For every child to be heard and understood and to realize
their full potential to communicate their thoughts through the gift
of words and to truly find Victory Over Impairments of Communication,
Expression and Speech.


Thanks so much,

Tamara Hill
President/Co-Founder
VOICES Association, Inc.
Proud Mother of Kerry,11  Chris,8  Jovan,3 (apraxia) and
Shaun,14months

http://www.4voices.org







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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tamara, I lost my mother to complications from diabetes on Oct. 14, 2001.
   The grief has eased a bit.  Please know that I am thinking of you and that
you are in my prayers as you begin this new chapter in your life.

   What you are doing for our children is indeed a tribute to your dad who
provided you support and love to make it happen.  I know he was...and will
continue to be...very proud of his daughter.

   Janice Miller
   mom to Liana, age 7, and Kara, age 4.5 (apraxia)
   San Diego

_________________________________________________________________
Help protect your PC.  Get a FREE computer virus scan online from McAfee.
http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is doing well.  I have been quiet on this board for a
couple of weeks.  As most of you know, my father has been extremelly
ill over the last few months.  This past Monday, September 22, my
father passed away after a long, hard fought battle with diabetes.

My father was the foundation of my life...and I was his only "baby".
He has always been the one to encourage and support me throughout
everything that I have done in my life...including starting the
VOICES Association.  He has always been my cheerleader.

It is hard for me to type these words...because seeing them makes
this all so painfully real.  At this time, I would like to ask your
patience, as I go through the grieving process.

I want to thank all of you who sent well wishes while my father was
in the hospital.  Your kind words mean so much to me and my family.

As for VOICES, we have many big plans for helping children find their
VOICES.  The toll free hotline (1-888-5-VOICES) will still be
available for those who need assistance and support.

I think that I can truly honor my father by acheiving the VOICES
dream; For every child to be heard and understood and to realize
their full potential to communicate their thoughts through the gift
of words and to truly find Victory Over Impairments of Communication,
Expression and Speech.


Thanks so much,

Tamara Hill
President/Co-Founder
VOICES Association, Inc.
Proud Mother of Kerry,11  Chris,8  Jovan,3 (apraxia) and
Shaun,14months

http://www.4voices.org

SEPTEMBER 20 & 21, 2003

WEBSITE NEWS THIS WEEK

As we expected, with Congress and school back in session, rumors are starting
to fly.� To find out what's REALLY happening (or not happening) with IDEA
reauthorization, just stop by the website to find out.� We update daily, so if
it's out there, you'll know about it!�

For example, on our Breaking News page
(www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/2/index.htm), you'll see that DREDF, one of
the major national IDEA advocacy
organizations, has issued its first RRN (Rapid Response Network) alert since the
summer.� This Alert brings you up to date and lets you know who to contact
and what to do to join in the fight!� Whenever you want to know what the major
organizations are saying and asking us to do, check out our Breaking News page!

On our Home Page (www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/1/index.htm), we have
some stirring pieces focusing on the societal implications of leaving our
children behind.� In "Cash or Carry" we point out the fallacy behind saving
money
on our kids now (we'll just have to spend more later, not to mention the
devastated lives left behind).� In "Disappearing Acts," we remind ourselves that
if
we don't take action now, IDEA may become just another disappearing act in the
revolving door of our popular culture.� And in "Solutions in Search of a
Problem," we point out the hypocrisy of calls for "data-based reforms," minus
the
data.� We use attorney fee caps as a case in point for why the data does NOT
support the massive changes to IDEA currently being proposed in Congress.�
Finally, once you've read these pieces and are moved to join in the action (and
who wouldn't be?), we tell you EXACTLY how to do so. We answer your frequently
asked questions about who to contact and how to do so in "No Need to Feel
Embarrassed: You Are Not Alone."� To complement this information and complete
the
picture for you, on our Resources page
(www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/5/index.htm), we have added "IDEA Talking
Points" in both Word and pdf formats.�
Now there's NO reason not to participate in this critical battle to save IDEA
for our kids!

On our Grapevine page (www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/4/index.htm), we
have a piece that illustrates the D.C. due process experience.� This ties into
the fee cap issue because our legislators may have a skewed view of due
process, since D.C. has by far the highest number of due process cases in the
nation.�

Finally, on the Message Board
(www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/pages/4/index.htm) we have information on a March
for MiCASSA (statute to help the elderly and
disabled remain in their homes rather than in institutions if they so
choose).� Members of the advocacy group ADAPT will be marching from Philadelphia
to
D.C. to support passage of this bill.

Well, now you know WHO to contact, HOW to contact them, and WHAT to
say/write.� Let's get to work!� Together we can make a difference and save IDEA
for our
kids!�

As always, please let us know what you're thinking and hearing!� Till next
week!


Sandy Alperstein, today's parentvolunteer@...



Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all.� Here is our Home Page for this weekend:

SEPTEMBER 13 & 14, 2003

MANY UPDATES THIS WEEK

As information starts to slowly trickle in from D.C., we are Our Children
Left Behind have been working hard updating our website to make it the best that
it can be for you, our visitors!� We expect a lot more action in the coming
weeks and we wanted to be ready for it!

To this end, we have updated our Resources Page (as explained in more detail
below in the September 12 Home Page).� We have done several things that will
make our Resources Page even more helpful: (1) we have included a "Quick Start"
section that includes the most important links for getting up to speed
quickly on IDEA reauthorization; (2) we have provided direct links to take you
exactly where you want to go with one click of your mouse; and (3) we have
weeded
out stale, or unhelpful, information.�� So now it's even quicker and easier to
find out about IDEA reauthorization and what you can do to help!

Our Home Page also includes another article on fee caps (explaining why the
seemingly fair idea of capping attorney's fees for both sides - schools and
parents - is actually not fair at all), an article pointing out the dizzying
"spin" we've all been encountering during this reauthorization, and an article
illustrating why the one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter proposals in Congress
these
days do NOT make sense for our kids.

On Breaking News we see that the Senate has voted to increase special
education funding to the levels previously authorized (but keep in mind this is
NOT
about mandatory full funding, but rather, simply about raising the spending
level to what had been previously suggested by the Senate).� We also have news
of
an IDEA rally in New Jersey planned for this weekend, and a News Brief from
AUCD.

On Grapevine, we learn why a new GAO report does not support the need for fee
caps, we learn more about the Houston education scandal (disappearing
dropouts), and we have updates from Capitol Insider and NASBE.� We also read
about
one school's egregious misspending of special education funds, and find links to
many other such cases.� With IDEA funding being so scarce, it is truly
frightening to see what some schools are doing with the money they do have.

Finally, on the Message Board we have an actual draft of the Lamar Alexander
proposal to take special education students' scores OUT of NCLB calculations.�
We also have a piece about removal of short-term objectives, and some
background on IDEA and the Constitution.�

As things start to happen, please be there to help!� We update daily to keep
you informed, so please visit often!� We can't do this without all of you!!

parentvolunteer@...




Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

hi tamara i have different type of updating
--- voices_association <voices_inc@...> wrote:
> Hello Everyone!
>
> Please post your therapy updates, questions and
> vents here.  School
> is back in session and many of us are attending IEP
> meetings.  Please
> share your therapy or IEP experiences.
>
>
> Thanks so much!
>
>
> Tamara Hill
> President
> VOICES Association
> http://www.4voices.org
>
>


=====
_______________________________________________________________________

CENTER for LANGUAGE & LITERACY, WEB SITE: www.Tejas-SLP.com
DEBORAH J CHITESTER M.S.,CCC/SLP BILINGUAL SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST CERTIFIED
ACCENT MODIFICATION, 832-755-9853

Confidentiality Notice:This transmission may contain information that is
privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If
you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure,
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reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in
error, please immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its
entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you.

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Hello Everyone!

Please post your therapy updates, questions and vents here.  School
is back in session and many of us are attending IEP meetings.  Please
share your therapy or IEP experiences.


Thanks so much!


Tamara Hill
President
VOICES Association
http://www.4voices.org

Please distribute widely:

September 9, 2003
ACTION ALERT
~~~~

U.S. SENATE TO VOTE ON ADDITIONAL IDEA FUNDING


Background:

An amendment is expected to be voted on this week to increase funding for the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B State Grant
Programs.  The tripartisan amendment will be offered by Senators Chris Dodd
(C-CT),
Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Jim Jeffords (I-VT).  It will increase IDEA Part B
funding by $1.2 billion for Fiscal Year 2004.  Total funding for the IDEA Part
B
program for FY 2004 is allowed to increase by $2.2 billion under the FY 2004
Budget Resolution adopted earlier this year by the Congress.  Unfortunately,
the
FY 2004 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human
Services and Education adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee only
increases IDEA Part B by slightly less than $1 billion.  The
Dodd-Hagel-Jeffords
amendment, if adopted, would bring the FY 2004 appropriations for IDEA Part B to
the full amount allowed under the FY 2004 Budget Resolution.

Ever since its original enactment in 1975, IDEA has been woefully
underfunded.  A promise by the Federal government to fund 40% of the cost of
special
education by 1980 has never been realized.  In fact, current funding for the
IDEA
State Grant only represents 17.6% of the cost, less than one half the promise
made over 25 years ago.  This funding history has led to several serious and
negative consequences including:

·    School officials are reluctant to give students with disabilities the
services they need;

·    Special education students and their families receive backlash from
school authorities and the public as taking valuable resources away from
students
without disabilities; and

·    Congress continues to make funding promises to school systems and
parents that never materialize.

Action To Be Taken:

Call or e-mail your two Senators immediately, urging them to vote for the
Dodd-Hagel-Jeffords IDEA amendment.

You may use the sample letter on The Arc or UCP Action Center on the web site
or contact your Senator’s office by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at
(202) 224-3121.

Please act now!  Thank you.



SAMPLE LETTER -

Dear Senator,

It has been 28 years since the U.S. Congress enacted landmark legislation,
now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to
guarantee every child with a disability in our nation a free, appropriate public
education.  Four over a quarter of a century, millions of students with
disabilities have completed their education and gone on to become productive
wage earners
and tax payers.  This compares markedly with decades of discrimination, lost
educational opportunities and unwarranted dependence and
institutionalization. 

When enacting P.L. 94-142 in 1975, the Congress promised state and local
governments, school systems and parents that the Federal government would
contribute 40% of the costs to educate a student with a disability. 
Unfortunately,
that fiscal promise has never been met.  In fact, that promise has never been
one half met.  Today, IDEA Federal funding amounts to 17.6%, the highest
percentage ever but still way below the 40% promise.  The lack of Federal
funding has
led to many negative consequences for school systems and students with
disabilities and their families.  It has pitted families of children with
disabilities against families of children without disabilities.  It has placed
school
systems in impossible situations, requiring them to meet the complex and
expensive educational needs of students with disabilities without the financial
resources to do so.

This year, the Congress has an opportunity to make better progress in
increasing the Federal role in financing special education.  The FY 2004 Budget
Resolution sets aside an additional $2.2 billion to finance the IDEA State
Grant. 
The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1350, legislation to reauthorize
IDEA.  That bill also calls for a $2.2 billion increase in IDEA for FY 2004. 
Now is the time to deliver on the promise and appropriate fully the dollars
set aside in the Budget Resolution and authorized in the pending IDEA
reauthorization bill.

Yet, the Senate seems poised to once again fail to meet its promise to
schools and parents.  The FY 2004 Labor, Health and Human Services and
Education
appropriations bill, as adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee,
appropriates less than a $1 billion for the IDEA State Grant.  To say that
special
education advocates are once again disappointed is an understatement.

There is hope, however.  Senators Dodd, Hagel and Jeffords will soon offer an
amendment during consideration of the FY 2004 L, HHS and ED appropriations
bill to bring the FY 2004 appropriation for the IDEA State Grant to the $2.2
billion level.  We strongly urge you to vote for this amendment.  It’s time
to
support our schools and all of our students.  It’s time for the U.S. Senate
to
take another major step toward meeting the promise regarding Federal funding of
IDEA.

Please vote yes on the Dodd-Hagel-Jeffords IDEA funding amendment.

Thank you.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey, Victoria!  Small world.  I have the same former career as you (in WA
state).  Well, I didn't get as far as Director but I have 10 years of victim
advocacy experience in the courts and as a police officer.

I also have a 2.5 year old severely speech delayed son.  We don't know exactly
what is going on yet but some suspect oral-motor dyspraxia or CAPD.  *sigh*
He is a doll, though.  Babbles constantly unless in speech therapy or OT!

Nice to meet you.

Pam

mom to Noah (6.10 yr), Olivia (5) and Ian (2.5)
> My name is Victoria Maxwell and my husband Paul and I live in
> Southern California with our 4 daughters Tylor(11), Alexa(6), Zoe
> (3.5-apraxia) and Ainsley (2).
>
> I am a former victim advocate and non-profit agency director working
> in the field of domestic violence and child abuse.
>
> My daughter Zoe is "speech delayed"/possibly apraxic and being seen
> through the public school system. This is all very new to me and I
> am still wading through the beuracracy in effort to get her all the
> services she needs. (So if there is anyone out there who can hold my
> hand and help me through this I'd be very appreciative!!)
>
> I look forward to getting to know you all!
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> voices_group-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

My name is Victoria Maxwell and my husband Paul and I live in
Southern California with our 4 daughters Tylor(11), Alexa(6), Zoe
(3.5-apraxia) and Ainsley (2).

I am a former victim advocate and non-profit agency director working
in the field of domestic violence and child abuse.

My daughter Zoe is "speech delayed"/possibly apraxic and being seen
through the public school system. This is all very new to me and I
am still wading through the beuracracy in effort to get her all the
services she needs. (So if there is anyone out there who can hold my
hand and help me through this I'd be very appreciative!!)

I look forward to getting to know you all!

Hi all.� This is the Our Children Left Behind Home Page for the weekend.�
Every weekend our Home Page consists of a review of what's been added to the
website over the previous week.� I hope you find this information helpful!

SEPTEMBER 6 & 7, 2003

BUSY WEEK ON THE WEBSITE!

There's a lot happening on the website this week!� In preparation for this
month's expected Senate consideration of their IDEA reauthorization bill (S.
1248), we have updated our Resources Page to make it more user-friendly.� We now
have a "Quick Start" section that lists a few "must see" sites, followed by a
more comprehensive listing of resources for those seeking more information.�

We also are kicking off a new campaign called "Leave No Physician Behind."�
As some of you may know, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Senate Majority
Leader and HELP committee member, happens to be a doctor.� We have prepared a
sample letter for parents and others to present to their doctors for signature
(quick and easy).� Let's flood Senator Frist's office with letters from his
colleagues!� Go to our September 5 Home Page for details (just scroll down a bit
from the top).

Our Home Page also features the tragic story of a Michigan child with autism
who was killed at school during attempts at restraint. This is not the first
such death.� This truly is a life and death battle we're fighting, folks -
let's not forget it!� Unfortunately, the school lobbies seem to care more about
administrative convenience than about our kids.� As another Home Page article
points out, IDEA must be about courage, not convenience!� Parents of children
with special needs have plenty of courage - let's share it with our legislators
and stand up together for what's right!

With September come more bulletins and action alerts designed to get us up to
speed quickly.� Check out our Breaking News page, where we have posted an
update by CHADD on the status of IDEA reauthorization, as well as Talking Points
for your legislators, prepared by Wrightslaw.

Our Grapevine Page features a piece on Hardball Tactics as well as a call by
governors for increased federal funding for education.� There are also several
pieces on attorney fee caps, given that an attorney fee cap amendment
(similar to that in H.R. 1350) looms large.� We have a bulletin from a law firm
discussing this issue, along with two parent essays about their difficulties in
finding special education attorneys willing to help parents, and how the fee cap
amendment could devastate students and families.

Finally, our Message Board has been especially active this week.� We have
posted a study on special education expenditures, a discussion that occurred at
the National Conference of State Legislatures, and a piece that demonstrates
the current lack of accountability for special education students under NCLB.�
This latter issue will be immeasurably exacerbated by a proposed amendment by
Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, a proposal that would EXCLUDE special
education students from NCLB accountability measures altogether.� This is in
stark contrast to a recent (Aug. 2003) report from the National Center on
Educational Outcomes that illustrates the promise of NCLB for children with
disabilities.� Don't let Congress renege on its promise to teach ALL kids and
leave NO
child behind!� Visit our message board and let us know what you think!� Better
yet, let your legislators know what you think!

As always, thanks for visiting, and keep your input coming!

parentvolunteer@...



Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi.  We are in the process of developing a bank of template (form) letters
for use in various special education situations.  Please feel free to visit and
make use of our letters.  The link is

<A
HREF="http://pub60.ezboard.com/fourchildrenleftbehindfrm25">http://pub60.ezboard\
.com/fourchildrenleftbehindfrm25</A>



Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all.  We have unveiled our new "Leave No Physician Behind" campaign on the
OCLB website (www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com).  As some of you may know,
Senator Bill Frist (Senate Majority Leader and HELP committee member) is a
physician.  We understand that he is interested in the views of his colleagues
on
IDEA.  We have come up with a quick and easy way to provide Senator Frist with
the
feedback he needs.  This campaign is posted on our Home Page, and I have cut
and pasted it below.  Please consider participating by downloading the letter
(there's a place to click on the Home Page for a downloadable copy of the
letter) and sending it to your doctors and friends.  This is from the Home Page:

LEAVE NO PHYSICIAN BEHIND  

Friends, 

The next step in the IDEA reauthorization process is for S.1248 to go to the
full Senate. We have been told that this could happen as early as next week.
 Since U.S. Senator Bill Frist, M.D. (R) is the United States Senate Majority
Leader, and many of our students with disabilities are also patients to
numerous medical professionals, we would like to ask you for a small favor that
could
make a big difference.  

In addition to contacting your Senators and Representatives in Congress with
your IDEA reauthorization stories, we’d like you to ask as many physicians as
you know to please read, fill in the blanks, sign, and fax the letter pasted
below to Senator Frist.  [A downloadable copy is available by clicking <A
HREF="http://www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/images/Dear_Senator_Frist.doc">HERE</\
A>.] 

While you are talking with your physician contacts, it will be a great
opportunity for you to help them understand why their help with the IDEA
reauthorization is so important to students and families. We have heard that
Senator
Frist, M.D. really cares about patients. So, it will be important for Senator
Frist to know that physicians have been listening to families and are keenly
aware
of what is at stake for 6.5 million children with this reauthorization. 

Thank you for all of your work and ongoing advocacy for our students.  

 U.S. Senator Bill Frist, M.D.
461 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC  20510
Fax: 202-228-1264 

 Dear Senator Frist,


My name is Doctor _____________________________________.  My practice is
located in _____________________________________. I am writing to you about
concerns that I have with H.R.1350 and S.1248.

I have seen the extraordinarily beneficial effects carefully planned special
education has had on children with disabilities. I understand that under the
current provisions of the reauthorization bills before Congress (H.R. 1350 and
S. 1248), involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, our
Nation's special education statute), much of what is "special" about special
education will be abolished. 

The proposed deletion of short-term instructional objectives, the advent of a
"three year" Individual Education Program (IEP), and the watering down of
effective parental participation in the educational process will all result in a
return to the days when students with special needs were placed in separate
classrooms, under, essentially, a custodial care model.

I am also concerned that the withdrawal of critical provisions for positive
behavioral assessments and interventions as well as the elimination of
provisions for a "manifestation determination" as part of the disciplinary
process
will result in either the outright expulsion of students with disabilities from
school, or placement in an outside facility, either of which will only
exacerbate whatever issues they have.  Clearly, some behaviors (such as those
found in
autism) are a direct result of a disabling condition.  Often, these behaviors
are the very reason that many students receive special education services in
the first place.  Promoting the expulsion of students because of these
behaviors, without serious regard for their cause, would be like encouraging
physicians to throw patients out of their offices for complaints of acute pain
without
any examination.

For the above stated reasons, I must inform you that I am absolutely opposed
to H.R.1350 and could only support S.1248 if it includes further protections
for students.  To me, education for students with disabilities is not only a
civil right, it is also a critical quality of life issue. Unless students with
disabilities are assured to be better off tomorrow than they are today with
these proposed bills, I cannot support either H.R.1350 or S.1248.

As they stand now, these bills will weaken the delivery of effective special
education services, promote segregation, reduce curriculum access, and harm
innocent children and their families. America's children deserve better.


Sincerely,



Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have heard from reliable sources that an attorney fee cap amendment WILL be
offered this month on the Senate floor, and WILL most likely be successful
unless we take action now to stop it!

The following is courtesy of Wyner & TiffanyAttorneys at Law, 3878 Carson
Street, Suite 104, Torrance, California  90503, Telephone (310) 792-8999, Ext.
305, Facsimile (310) 792-8988<A
HREF="http://www.specialedlaw.org/">www.specialedlaw.org</A>   Steven Wyner<A
HREF="mailto:swyner@...">
swyner@...</A>, Marcy J.K. Tiffany<A
HREF="mailto:mtiffany@...">mtiffany@...</A>

A group of Senators intend to introduce an amendment to S. 1248 (IDEA
Reauthorization) limiting the ability of parents to recover attorneys’ fees in
IDEA
disputes.  This will be a sneak attack; the Senators are not telling anyone
what the amendment will say or who will offer it, but it will be proposed on the
Senate floor in mid-September.  The reason for proceeding in this way is to
eliminate any opportunity for parents and child advocates to express their views
on the issue.  The House of Representatives has already passed a Bill (H.R.
1350) that includes a provision limiting attorneys’ fees, but it cannot become
law unless this Senate amendment is approved.  The rationale for the amendment
is simple: by discouraging lawyers from taking these cases, parents will have
limited access to attorneys, and the number of requests for due process
hearings will be reduced substantially, thus saving the school districts
money. 
Apparently, these Senators are not concerned that this will also mean that many
children will be deprived of their right to obtain the free appropriate public
education to which they are entitled under the IDEA.
                                        \
                      ****
Under current law, parents only recover attorneys’ fees if they prevail in
due process and if they receive greater relief than they were previously offered
by the school district.  A federal judge determines whether the fees incurred
were appropriate based on the rates normally charged by attorneys doing this
type of work, and that judge’s determination of whether the time spent was
reasonable.  Unlike other civil rights cases, there is no additional award for
very difficult lawsuits or extraordinary results.  And, there is no
reimbursemen
t unless the parent obtains real and meaningful relief in the due process
proceeding.  In contrast, your tax dollars pay the legal fees of the lawyers
hired
by the school district to fight you, whether the school district wins or
loses.
                                        \
           ****
The real culprits for increasing special education legal fees are school
districts who fight parents tooth and nail, even though the children are
rightfully entitled to the services requested by their parents.  Because these
school
districts have the financial resources to litigate far beyond the ability of
any individual family, they drag-out these cases hoping that parents will become
frustrated and simply give up.  It is still possible to do something about
this terrible proposal.  This legislation is sure to pass unless we act
promptly.  Please stop what you are doing and communicate with your Senators
today. 
Send an e-mail or fax informing them that if they vote in favor of the attorneys
’ fees limitation, not only will you not vote for them, you will work to
defeat their re-election.  Tell them of your personal struggle to obtain
special
education and related services for your child.  Identify your school district
and state.  Tell them whether your child received more special education and
related services after you hired a lawyer.  Tell them if your school district
took your requests for special education and related services more seriously
after you hired a lawyer.  Please send copies of your e-mails and faxes to all
of
the members of the HELP Committee. 

For a list of the phone, fax and/or e-mail address of every U.S. Senator,
please go to the following website: <A
HREF="http://www.senate.gov/">http://www.senate.gov/</A>.  [Oftentimes, you can
only e-mail your Senator by going to his/her website (by clicking on the
Senator’s name) and then by clicking on the “Contact Me” or “Contact
US”
link.] For a list of the phone, fax and/or e-mail address of all members of the
HELP
Committee, please click the following link: <A
HREF="http://www.senate.gov/%7Elabor/">http://www.senate.gov/~labor/</A>. 
[At the top of the page, click on “Members,” then click on the website for
each
member, then click on the e-mail link for each Senator.]
                                        \
     End of Copied Message

For a sample letter, please go to <A
HREF="http://www.uniquelygifted.org/IDEAsampleletter2.htm">
http://www.uniquelygifted.org/IDEAsampleletter2.htm</A>. 

Thanks for taking the time now, before it's too late!

Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all.  I received this from an advocate contact.  Please feel free to
circulate widely.

Subject: Senate to consider watering down IDEA/NCLB in September;
> contact Senators now
>
> In September, the Senate will likely consider a bills to water down
> the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  The House of
> Representatives has already passed a bill gutting the IDEA.  Now, it’s
> the Senate’s turn to consider its bill, S. 1248.  The current Senate
> bill, S.1248, protects kids better than the House bill, but still
> waters down the rights of disabled children.  Amendments to water it
> down even more are expected in September.  The Senate Republican
> Policy Committee has already urged Senators to replace the Senate bill
> with the much worse House bill (H.R. 1350). The American Academy of
> Pediatrics, Children's Defense Fund, Disability Rights Education &
> Defense Fund, and others believe the House bill will hurt disabled
> kids.
>
> Learn about the issues and contact your Senators now (go to
> http://www.senate.gov or call your Senators, 202-224-3121).  School
> districts have been lobbying hard--including with paid lobbyists--and
> parents are not being heard.  Let your Senators hear you; send an
> email or fax today, and send this email on to other friends..
>
>
> Key issues to address include:
>
> * EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT FROM APPLYING TO
> CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES .  Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) plans to
> introduce a bill that would let schools not count scores from kids
> with disabilities to determine NCLB compliance.  This will result in
> two tracks: kids whose scores are counted and get the services they
> need to improve academics and pass the tests; and kids in special
> education whose scores are not counted and don't get services;
>
>  *  Under the current IDEA, kids who are dangerous or sell drugs can
> be removed from the classroom.  But, the House would let schools
> exclude children from the classroom for any school conduct code
> violations, even if the misbehavior was caused by their disabilities
> or they didn't understand what they did wrong, such as diabetic kids
> who eat in class, kids with autism or ADHD who jump up, don't raise
> their hands, etc.; children who act out because they can't
> communicate.  Drop out rates are high for kids moved to alternative
> settings.  This is a backdoor way for teachers who don't want
> mainstreamed kids to get them out of the classroom–something they
> can't do right now.  The Senate bill lets kids stay in the classroom
> if the disability caused misbehavior, but the Senate Republican Policy
> Committee wants the Senate to take the House approach.
>
> *  The Senate bill would let schools to put children in alternative
> settings if the SCHOOL DECIDES the misbehavior DID NOT result from the
> disability, even if a hearing officer reverses the school. The school,
> not the parents, to decide.  GAO studies show that there is no good
> data to justify changing the current discipline rules in the IDEA;
>
> *  PROPOSED CHANGES TO DISCIPLINE RULES COULD BE A BACK DOOR TO AVOID
> THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT (schools don't have to count test scores
> of kids who were not in the same school for an entire year, so schools
> have an incentive to move kids to alternative placements, even if they
> know that a hearing officer will later rule that the decision was
> wrong.);
>
> *  The Senate recognizes that disabled children should meet the same
> educational expectations as other children "to the maximum extent
> possible" while the House bill would only give them access to the
> general curriculum, meaning opening schoolhouse doors but providing
> inferior educations.  Tell your Senators to keep the Senate language
> and reject H.R. 1350's section 602(8)(c).
>
> *  Both H.R. 1350 and S. 1248 eliminate  short-term objectives and
> benchmarks from IEPs.  These important markers help school districts
> fix problems during the year.  Children in regular education receive
> regular report cards. Children with disabilities should also receive
> regular reports on their progress on their IEP goals. The House would
> allow 3-year IEPs. And it would have gotten rid of short-term
> objectives and benchmarks except for the most severely disabled
> children. The Senate bill will get rid of short-term objectives, but
> require schools to give parents reports on IEP progress when they give
> report cards.   This is not good enough.  Short-term objectives and
> benchmarks help schools to measure a child's progress, and increases
> school accountability.  This is a critical tool for parents, teachers
> and therapists. Short-term objectives provide clear expectations of
> what needs to be achieved during the school year.  When parents and
> teachers see that the child isn't meeti
> ng the short-term objectives, they will know that the annual goal
> won't be met without taking action.  Isn't it better to take action
> during the school year to fix the problem instead of waiting until May
> or June to find out that your child isn't progressing?
>         No Child Left Behind testing is not a substitute for
> short-term objectives, because the tests only cover academic subjects;
> they have nothing to do with to speech, physical, social, or behavior
> goals that so many of our kids have in their IEPs.  And, for children
> with severe disabilities that would not take the NCLB tests, there
> will be no accountability under the Senate bill.
>
> * The bills, particularly the House bill, will eliminate important
> procedural protections that level the playing field for children and
> schools (the House bill, which the Senate Republican Policy Committee
> supports, has been called a totally one-sided bill for school
> districts.  There will likely be efforts to amend the Senate bill to
> eliminate these protections).  Parents would have difficulty learning
> their children's rights and IEP meetings could be amended by meeting
> with the principal, not all of your teachers and therapists and other
> important changes.
>
> * Amendments to limit the amount parents can recover in attorneys fees
> if a judge finds that the school district violated the law.  The House
> bill lets state officials cap the rate as low as they want and the
> Senate Republican Policy Committee has asked Senators to adopt this
> cap. No limits are proposed on how much school districts can spend on
> their legal fees from your tax dollars.
>
> *  Both the Senate and House bills would get rid of the requirement
> for Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans.
>  These analyses determine what made a child misbehave so that positive
> behavioral supports can be used.
>
> *  All Paperwork requirements could be eliminated for 10 states,
> according to the House bill and Senate Republican Policy Committee. 
> This could mean eliminating written IEPs, Prior Written Notice,
> Information for Parents about Rights, and even Progress Reports.  This
> could make the IDEA unenforceable and get rid of school
> accountability.  Tell the Senate to reject amendments that would allow
> this.
>
> *  Both House and Senate only partially fund the IDEA, instead of
> funding it in full, as Congress had promised.  Not only will there not
> be enough money for children with disabilities, but school districts
> will be allowed to divert the IDEA money they get for other projects,
> taking the money that is intended for disabled kids.  If your child is
> receiving therapy or services in large groups or can't get an aide or
> equipment they need, tell your Senators about this!
>
> For a more complete analysis and description of each of these points,
> go to http://www.geocities.com/protectidea (It also includes links to
> statements by organizations about the IDEA bills)  Other good sources
> of information are  http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/idea2002.htm 
> http://schwablearning.org/articles.asp?g=2&r=728 (short-term
> objectives) http://www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com and
> http://www.dredf.org/
>
> CONTACT YOUR SENATORS NOW; please do not delay.  You can find your
> Senators at http://www.Senate.gov and get their email, phone (local
> and Washington DC), and fax numbers.  You can also call the main
> Senate and House number, 202-224-3121, and look up local numbers in
> the blue pages of your phone book.  Please send email or fax; do not
> send post office mail because anthrax screening delays it for up to 3
> weeks.  A fax is best because its taken more seriously since its
> harder to do than an email, but an email is good too (especially if
> you call the Senator's office to follow up).   Be sure to include your
> full address in correspondence; Senate office computers reject emails
> without zip codes from in-state.  (Members of the House can be found
> at http://www.house.gov)  Its not enough to just sign petitions about
> the IDEA–Congressional offices only pay attention to correspondence
> from their own constituents.  They virtually ignore petitions.  So,
> please send your own email!
>
> Remember that you are trying to convince your Senators to adopt a good
> IDEA.  You won't convince them by attacking political parties or
> suggesting that there would be more money for IDEA if less money or
> attention was spent on other things which you oppose. This is not the
> time to vent about other policies.  Since you may be asking Republican
> Senators to go against the recommendation from their own policy
> committee, its probably not a good idea to attack Republicans  or
> their party.  Far better to just say that the Senate Republican Policy
> Committee wants X and this is a bad idea for Y reason.
>
> Get your friends and family members to write emails and faxes; you can
> even help grandma and grandpa write them.  Tell your elected officials
> how important the IDEA is and that they should not water it down! 
> Please feel free to repost and recirculate this email.
>




Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

<A HREF="http://www.psidea.org/">P.S. IDEA</A> (www.psidea.org), in conjunction
with <A HREF="http://www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com/">Our Children Left
Behind</A>
(www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com), is conducting polls relating to the IDEA
reauthorization throughout the month of August (while Congress is in recess).

There are about a dozen different questions on the various *hot* topics
pertaining to the reauthorization.� To participate, go to <A
HREF="http://members.aol.com/PSIDEA/polls.htm">
http://members.aol.com/PSIDEA/polls.htm</A>.


Each time you visit the site, you should see a different poll question (at
random).� We hope you'll visit often in order to voice your opinion in each
poll.

At the end of August, we'll close out the polls and publish a report of the
results that can be shared with policymakers and the media.

The more respondents, the better -- so please distribute this announcement
widely.� Thank you for your participation!


Parents Supporting IDEA
... because all education should be special.
<A HREF="http://www.psidea.org/">http://www.PSIDEA.org</A>



Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, <A
HREF="www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com">www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com</A> (IDEA
reauthorization)



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dr. Goldberg routinely tests for HHV6 levels and other indicators of viral
activity in all patients initial labwork.  If you're interested in what he
specifically orders, most of the info is on the NIDS websites. The "discuss"
area has the most info.

           Becky
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Pam
   To: voices_group@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 9:05 AM
   Subject: [voices_group] Re: New member


   Thank you Becky!

   How did you come to decide you needed to check in to the hidden
   virus theory?  I've read about it but didn't really have it click
   that it would be a potential problem for us.

   Pam

   --- In voices_group@yahoogroups.com, "Eric & Becky" <beckeric@e...>
   wrote:
   >  Hi Pam,
   >
   >      your son sounds a lot like my Jacob(just turned 3!), who is
   definitely apraxic.  He made little progress in ST over the past
   year until we started him on antivirals (Famvir and Valtrex). His ST
   progress, motor planning, and overally functioning since then have
   been amazing. He has gone from struggling with single syllable
   approximations to 3 word phrases in a matter of months. We see a Dr.
   (goldberg) who is experienced in treating hidden viral issues and I
   know that is my son's primary problem.    I know this probably
   sounds wacky but it's saving my son......I never would have believed
   that Jacob had such immune abnormalities until I had the (very
   abnormal) lab results in my hands.  He doesn't have a developmental
   problem, he is sick.  Other than his delays, Jacob is also a
   very "apparently"  healthy child with "low tone" and severe motor
   planning problems.
   > To check out our Drs website, go to www.neuroimmunedr.com or
   www.nids.net.  It may not be the answer for everyone but its
   answering my prayers.
   >
   >   Best of luck on your journey,
   >
   >       becky
   >   ----- Original Message -----
   >   From: Pam
   >   To: voices_group@yahoogroups.com
   >   Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 9:55 PM
   >   Subject: [voices_group] New member
   >
   >
   >   Hello
   >
   >   I was invited to join this group by some nice, unknown person.
   >   Thank you.
   >
   >   My name is Pam.  I have 3 children:  Noah (6.5 yrs, early
   >   talker/math geek), Olivia (5 yrs, on-time talker/drama queen)
   and
   >   Ian (28 months, late talker+/master lock-picker).
   >
   >   Ian, as you can see, is the reason why I join this group.  Since
   >   January of this year, I have been through so many evals and late
   >   night sessions on the computer to find a reason for my son's
   >   delays.  Autism, special diets, "Einstein Syndrome"... the list
   goes
   >   on.  Ian's official diagnosis (as of June '03) is Mixed
   >   Developmental Disorder.  Can't tell you what that means.
   >
   >   Currently, I still have Ian on a diet free from gluten and most
   >   dairy.  I am using supplements to maximize his health.  Nothing
   >   unusual:  Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, multivitamin and B-
   vitamin
   >   complex.  He is a happy and healthy little boy.  Well, not too
   >   little.  No hyperactivity, agression, or major sensory issues.
   >
   >   They say Ian has low-normal tone.  It seems funny to me, since
   he
   >   was always referred to as our strapping baby boy.  He met all of
   the
   >   physical developmental milestones early or on time.  I can see
   the
   >   tone issues in his mouth and jaw.  He is just learning how to
   blow.
   >   We are leaning towards Dyspraxia as focus/diagnosis.  He
   definitely
   >   has some type of motor planning problem.  He is also definitely
   a
   >   bright little boy and an amazing problem solver.
   >
   >   Today, Ian can say only 3 words understandable to the outside
   >   world:  mom, dada and Uh-Oh.  Ian babbles constantly and carries
   on
   >   conversations; usually using the same few sounds.  He does not
   move
   >   his mouth much when he "speaks".  He does not drool; though he
   did
   >   as a baby.  I have yet to see him make the "o" shape with his
   >   lips/mouth.
   >
   >   Ian absolutely tanked his speech/OT evals in April of this
   year.  I
   >   guess that is not uncommon.  -2.2/-2.3 on receptive/expressive
   >   language testing.  I still believe he has some issues with
   receptive
   >   language, but I am more and more convinced it is due to a
   processing
   >   problem.  He currently is in speech (2x/wk) and OT (2x/wk).
   >
   >   I am hoping to find advice, contacts and support from this
   group.  I
   >   have many friends who want to understand and help, but they have
   >   their limits!
   >
   >   No questions at this time.  I'm just going to go through the
   >   archives and see what all of you are about!
   >
   >   Thanks for reading this long post.  I promise to keep them
   shorter
   >   in the future.
   >
   >   Pam
   >
   >
   >         Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
   >               ADVERTISEMENT
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
   >   voices_group-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
   >
   >
   >
   >   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
   Service.
   >
   >
   >
   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


         Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
               ADVERTISEMENT




   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
   voices_group-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com



   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thank you Becky!

How did you come to decide you needed to check in to the hidden
virus theory?  I've read about it but didn't really have it click
that it would be a potential problem for us.

Pam

--- In voices_group@yahoogroups.com, "Eric & Becky" <beckeric@e...>
wrote:
>  Hi Pam,
>
>      your son sounds a lot like my Jacob(just turned 3!), who is
definitely apraxic.  He made little progress in ST over the past
year until we started him on antivirals (Famvir and Valtrex). His ST
progress, motor planning, and overally functioning since then have
been amazing. He has gone from struggling with single syllable
approximations to 3 word phrases in a matter of months. We see a Dr.
(goldberg) who is experienced in treating hidden viral issues and I
know that is my son's primary problem.    I know this probably
sounds wacky but it's saving my son......I never would have believed
that Jacob had such immune abnormalities until I had the (very
abnormal) lab results in my hands.  He doesn't have a developmental
problem, he is sick.  Other than his delays, Jacob is also a
very "apparently"  healthy child with "low tone" and severe motor
planning problems.
> To check out our Drs website, go to www.neuroimmunedr.com or
www.nids.net.  It may not be the answer for everyone but its
answering my prayers.
>
>   Best of luck on your journey,
>
>       becky
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Pam
>   To: voices_group@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 9:55 PM
>   Subject: [voices_group] New member
>
>
>   Hello
>
>   I was invited to join this group by some nice, unknown person.
>   Thank you.
>
>   My name is Pam.  I have 3 children:  Noah (6.5 yrs, early
>   talker/math geek), Olivia (5 yrs, on-time talker/drama queen)
and
>   Ian (28 months, late talker+/master lock-picker).
>
>   Ian, as you can see, is the reason why I join this group.  Since
>   January of this year, I have been through so many evals and late
>   night sessions on the computer to find a reason for my son's
>   delays.  Autism, special diets, "Einstein Syndrome"... the list
goes
>   on.  Ian's official diagnosis (as of June '03) is Mixed
>   Developmental Disorder.  Can't tell you what that means.
>
>   Currently, I still have Ian on a diet free from gluten and most
>   dairy.  I am using supplements to maximize his health.  Nothing
>   unusual:  Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, multivitamin and B-
vitamin
>   complex.  He is a happy and healthy little boy.  Well, not too
>   little.  No hyperactivity, agression, or major sensory issues.
>
>   They say Ian has low-normal tone.  It seems funny to me, since
he
>   was always referred to as our strapping baby boy.  He met all of
the
>   physical developmental milestones early or on time.  I can see
the
>   tone issues in his mouth and jaw.  He is just learning how to
blow.
>   We are leaning towards Dyspraxia as focus/diagnosis.  He
definitely
>   has some type of motor planning problem.  He is also definitely
a
>   bright little boy and an amazing problem solver.
>
>   Today, Ian can say only 3 words understandable to the outside
>   world:  mom, dada and Uh-Oh.  Ian babbles constantly and carries
on
>   conversations; usually using the same few sounds.  He does not
move
>   his mouth much when he "speaks".  He does not drool; though he
did
>   as a baby.  I have yet to see him make the "o" shape with his
>   lips/mouth.
>
>   Ian absolutely tanked his speech/OT evals in April of this
year.  I
>   guess that is not uncommon.  -2.2/-2.3 on receptive/expressive
>   language testing.  I still believe he has some issues with
receptive
>   language, but I am more and more convinced it is due to a
processing
>   problem.  He currently is in speech (2x/wk) and OT (2x/wk).
>
>   I am hoping to find advice, contacts and support from this
group.  I
>   have many friends who want to understand and help, but they have
>   their limits!
>
>   No questions at this time.  I'm just going to go through the
>   archives and see what all of you are about!
>
>   Thanks for reading this long post.  I promise to keep them
shorter
>   in the future.
>
>   Pam
>
>
>         Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>               ADVERTISEMENT
>
>
>
>
>   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>   voices_group-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Pam,

      your son sounds a lot like my Jacob(just turned 3!), who is definitely
apraxic.  He made little progress in ST over the past year until we started him
on antivirals (Famvir and Valtrex). His ST progress, motor planning, and
overally functioning since then have been amazing. He has gone from struggling
with single syllable approximations to 3 word phrases in a matter of months. We
see a Dr. (goldberg) who is experienced in treating hidden viral issues and I
know that is my son's primary problem.    I know this probably sounds wacky but
it's saving my son......I never would have believed that Jacob had such immune
abnormalities until I had the (very abnormal) lab results in my hands.  He
doesn't have a developmental problem, he is sick.  Other than his delays, Jacob
is also a very "apparently"  healthy child with "low tone" and severe motor
planning problems.
To check out our Drs website, go to www.neuroimmunedr.com or www.nids.net.  It
may not be the answer for everyone but its answering my prayers.

   Best of luck on your journey,

       becky
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Pam
   To: voices_group@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 9:55 PM
   Subject: [voices_group] New member


   Hello

   I was invited to join this group by some nice, unknown person.
   Thank you.

   My name is Pam.  I have 3 children:  Noah (6.5 yrs, early
   talker/math geek), Olivia (5 yrs, on-time talker/drama queen) and
   Ian (28 months, late talker+/master lock-picker).

   Ian, as you can see, is the reason why I join this group.  Since
   January of this year, I have been through so many evals and late
   night sessions on the computer to find a reason for my son's
   delays.  Autism, special diets, "Einstein Syndrome"... the list goes
   on.  Ian's official diagnosis (as of June '03) is Mixed
   Developmental Disorder.  Can't tell you what that means.

   Currently, I still have Ian on a diet free from gluten and most
   dairy.  I am using supplements to maximize his health.  Nothing
   unusual:  Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, multivitamin and B-vitamin
   complex.  He is a happy and healthy little boy.  Well, not too
   little.  No hyperactivity, agression, or major sensory issues.

   They say Ian has low-normal tone.  It seems funny to me, since he
   was always referred to as our strapping baby boy.  He met all of the
   physical developmental milestones early or on time.  I can see the
   tone issues in his mouth and jaw.  He is just learning how to blow.
   We are leaning towards Dyspraxia as focus/diagnosis.  He definitely
   has some type of motor planning problem.  He is also definitely a
   bright little boy and an amazing problem solver.

   Today, Ian can say only 3 words understandable to the outside
   world:  mom, dada and Uh-Oh.  Ian babbles constantly and carries on
   conversations; usually using the same few sounds.  He does not move
   his mouth much when he "speaks".  He does not drool; though he did
   as a baby.  I have yet to see him make the "o" shape with his
   lips/mouth.

   Ian absolutely tanked his speech/OT evals in April of this year.  I
   guess that is not uncommon.  -2.2/-2.3 on receptive/expressive
   language testing.  I still believe he has some issues with receptive
   language, but I am more and more convinced it is due to a processing
   problem.  He currently is in speech (2x/wk) and OT (2x/wk).

   I am hoping to find advice, contacts and support from this group.  I
   have many friends who want to understand and help, but they have
   their limits!

   No questions at this time.  I'm just going to go through the
   archives and see what all of you are about!

   Thanks for reading this long post.  I promise to keep them shorter
   in the future.

   Pam


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               ADVERTISEMENT




   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My take on this is that Dr. Rimland feels other doctors are lazy in
giving the diagnosis of PDD, and should delve further to give a
diagnosis to parents that actually means something.  I read it a
long time ago and didn't read it again before posting this message.
I could be WAAAAY off base.

Dr. Rimland is contraversial in some circles, and treated like a God
in others.  I spent many months immersed in the Autistic Spectrum
Disorder sites and the DAN! protocol ( biomedical treatments for
autism and the spectrum disorders).  I feel many follow these
doctors like lemmings.  It can be difficult to listen to, but
worthwhile to learn about.

That's it!

Pam

--- In voices_group@yahoogroups.com, "voices_association"
<voices_inc@a...> wrote:
> Here's a very interesting opinion about the term "PDD" that was
> brought to my attention (thanks Lisa Geng!).  This doctor believes
> that there is no such thing as PDD.
>
> http://www.autism.org/pdd.html
>
> What do you think?
>
> Tamara

Hello

I was invited to join this group by some nice, unknown person.
Thank you.

My name is Pam.  I have 3 children:  Noah (6.5 yrs, early
talker/math geek), Olivia (5 yrs, on-time talker/drama queen) and
Ian (28 months, late talker+/master lock-picker).

Ian, as you can see, is the reason why I join this group.  Since
January of this year, I have been through so many evals and late
night sessions on the computer to find a reason for my son's
delays.  Autism, special diets, "Einstein Syndrome"... the list goes
on.  Ian's official diagnosis (as of June '03) is Mixed
Developmental Disorder.  Can't tell you what that means.

Currently, I still have Ian on a diet free from gluten and most
dairy.  I am using supplements to maximize his health.  Nothing
unusual:  Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, multivitamin and B-vitamin
complex.  He is a happy and healthy little boy.  Well, not too
little.  No hyperactivity, agression, or major sensory issues.

They say Ian has low-normal tone.  It seems funny to me, since he
was always referred to as our strapping baby boy.  He met all of the
physical developmental milestones early or on time.  I can see the
tone issues in his mouth and jaw.  He is just learning how to blow.
We are leaning towards Dyspraxia as focus/diagnosis.  He definitely
has some type of motor planning problem.  He is also definitely a
bright little boy and an amazing problem solver.

Today, Ian can say only 3 words understandable to the outside
world:  mom, dada and Uh-Oh.  Ian babbles constantly and carries on
conversations; usually using the same few sounds.  He does not move
his mouth much when he "speaks".  He does not drool; though he did
as a baby.  I have yet to see him make the "o" shape with his
lips/mouth.

Ian absolutely tanked his speech/OT evals in April of this year.  I
guess that is not uncommon.  -2.2/-2.3 on receptive/expressive
language testing.  I still believe he has some issues with receptive
language, but I am more and more convinced it is due to a processing
problem.  He currently is in speech (2x/wk) and OT (2x/wk).

I am hoping to find advice, contacts and support from this group.  I
have many friends who want to understand and help, but they have
their limits!

No questions at this time.  I'm just going to go through the
archives and see what all of you are about!

Thanks for reading this long post.  I promise to keep them shorter
in the future.

Pam

Tamara;

United Cerebral Palsy in San Diego offers free "labs" where I send my parents
to look at a variety of devices--they also do evals at a relatively
reasonable rate.  In my experience, not all school slps are qualified to do the
assessment (though many districts claim they do!)--it takes special training and
knowledge.  I know I can't do it, although I have successfully programed devices
for my adult and child patients.

Karyn--slp


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tamara (and other looking into AAC),

I've worked closely with Dynavox and their products for several years. We
are in touch with them frequently for kids on Rehab. Check out their
website:  www.dynavoxsys.com to get more information. They have lower-tech
equipment as well as high-tech. Hope the website will give you all
information and help with your seaches!

Christie O'Meara, SLP


>From: "voices_association" Reply-To: voices_group@yahoogroups.com To:
>voices_group@yahoogroups.com Subject: [voices_group] Re: Therapy
>Updates...Jovan's Journey Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2003 15:09:47 -0000
>

_________________________________________________________________
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Tina!

We are currently looking at wheather or not Jovan needs an assistive
device.  I feel he needs one.  I am not sure how to go about this
other than to ask for an AT assessment at his next IEP meeting...  I
wonder, though if I could go through my insurance instead???

Jovan is doing slightly better as far as repeating one syllable and
some two syllable words, but his verbal language is still mostly
jibberish.  I can't wait for the day when Jovan can speak in
sentences...and  we can have that "mother and son" conversation I
have always drempt of!

Tamara

Tamara:
Hi!  I enjoyed reading and listening to Jovan.  I was wondering if you did
indeed get an assistive technology device for him and what you think you owe his
progress to?
We do the PECs and my son is very apraxic.
Thank you.
tina
ps we are currently looking into the Chat PC.
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: voices_association
   To: voices_group@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 8:13 AM
   Subject: [voices_group] Re: Therapy Updates...Jovan's Journey


   Hi Everyone!

   I have updated Jovan's webpage on the 4voices.org website.  His
   latest recording of his speech along with a general update on his
   therapy can be found here:

   http://www.4voices.org/pages/6/index.htm

   Can you tell what Jovan is saying?

   Tamara
   http://www.4voices.org


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Therapy is going good....the therapist is teetering back and forth about Sydnie
having apraxia.  She's mentioned it only once and gave me a website to check
out.  I just started her on Fish oil supplements so we'll see how that goes
along with her starting preschool this week. sniff!
~Angie
May God Bless You As He Has Us
www.babiesonline.com/babies/s/sydniebrooke
mom to Sydnie (3, Ds), 3 angels in Heaven
http://www.earningforce.com/go.cgi?sydniesmom5

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: voices_association
   To: voices_group@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 8:09 AM
   Subject: [voices_group] Therapy Updates...


   Hello Everyone!   Happy August!

   How's Therapy going?  Please post your therapy updates, questions,
   brags and vents here!

   Tamara
   http://www.4voices.org


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Everyone!

I have updated Jovan's webpage on the 4voices.org website.  His
latest recording of his speech along with a general update on his
therapy can be found here:

http://www.4voices.org/pages/6/index.htm

Can you tell what Jovan is saying?

Tamara
http://www.4voices.org