• Photo of a girl holding a sparkler. Text reads: Active listening is paying attention to all possible ways of communication an Autistic child uses. Amy Sequenzia on Ollibean

Parents, Are You Listening To Your Child?

As a non-speaking Autistic, I pay special attention to comments and statements made by parents of other non-speaking Autistics, especially children. Many times I see parents lamenting that they will never listen to their Autistic child say "I love you", or how much they long to hear those words.

  • Blurred photograph of Mt. Everest, text reads" A VIBRANT MIND HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, Martin Pistorius . Ollibean logo, Ollibean and outline of a circle made up of equal signs of various shapes and sizes

A Vibrant Mind Hidden In Plain Sight

Martin Pistorius, author of the New York Times best-seller, Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body delivers one of the most impressive and thought provoking Ted Talks ever. Martin Pistorius' story serves as an urgent call to action to change our assumptions about verbal speech and intellectual capacity. It also reinforces the absolute necessity to treat each human with dignity and respect. How many people are waiting right now for someone to acknowledge their means of communication? How many are waiting for someone to talk to them respectfully and then to listen and watch for subtle movements-

On Not Being “Pretty”

My friend Cara wrote this awesome article about being "ugly" disabled. You should click on the link and read it. Go on, I'll wait.   Isn't it great? The article got me thinking.   Like Cara, I also have cerebral palsy. I sometimes use a transport wheelchair because I have poor balance and I can't stand for too long. When I sit down, my body "flops", or it slowly leans to my right side until I am almost lying down. When it doesn't lean to the side, it tends to relax too much, sliding down the chair. An upright position

  • The National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion

National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion

National Catholic Board of Full Inclusion has a vision of full inclusion in Catholic schools for students with disabilities. Our mission is to inspire schools to begin the process of becoming inclusive, to educate teachers, parents, principals and priests on what it takes to be an inclusive school and to provide the educational research and real life experiences that support it. National Catholic Board of Full Inclusion on Facebook 

Five Reasons You Need to Read ‘Ghost Boy’ by Martin Pistorius

For over ten years Martin Pistorius was trapped in his own body, fully cognizant, but unable to speak or move. He was surrounded by people who believed he was incapable of thinking and tried desperately to get just one person to notice. His story serves as a wake-up call for all of us to drastically change our assumptions about speech and intellectual capacity as well as the need to radically reform expectations and treatment of people with complex communication needs.

  • A photograph of a woman wearing a purple shirt and khaki pants giving a speech on stage. TED in bold red letters , and "America's Finest City" is partially visible behind her. On a large screen behind her " Children with disabilities are among the world's most marginalized and excluded children." To the right there is a turqoise circle with white font "Ollibean Must Watch"/ Also in white font " Torrie Dunlap, CEO, Kids Included Together

Isn’t it a Pity? The Real Problem with Special Needs

The Real Problem with Special Needs We love this TEDx Talk from our friend, Torrie Dunlap, at Kids Included Together on benefits of inclusion and the real "problem" with special needs.   Isn’t it a Pity? The Real Problem with Special Needs Torrie Dunlap, CEO, Kids Included Together   Feeling Good about Casting Someone with Special Needs in the Show In the early 90s I was a student on this very campus, and actually, on this very stage. I was a drama major who had a dream to change the world through arts education. The world, however, had something different in

Why I Don’t Like “Awareness”

Awareness campaigns of disabilities are only effective if they are planned and run primarily by the groups that are the subjects of the campaign. This is because such campaigns are not “awareness”, but “acceptance” campaigns. We welcome support, with focus on respect, equality and access. We don’t need “awareness” of deficits and tragic rhetoric.

Being Disabled and in the Hospital

Being disabled and in hospitals is always scary because our lives is not valued as the lives of non-disabled. I was, in a way, lucky but the policies still need a lot of improvement.

  • image description . Photograph of Maysoon Zayid, woman with long brown hair . She is smiling and wearing a black tank top. White text reads "MAYSOON ZAYID" . In upper right hand corner of image there is a turquoise circle with white text that reads "Must Watch"

I Got 99 Problems..Palsy Is Just One- Maysoon Zayid on Ted

“People with disabilities are the largest minority in the world and we are the most under-represented in entertainment.” Maysoon Zayid

Doll Diversity Isn’t Just Child’s Play – Dolls with Disabilities

As a little girl, I had a doll collection that took over nearly every inch of toy storage space in my room. I loved them all, especially my two most prized dolls - a My Twinn Doll and a My American Girl Doll, both made to look "just like me." And there was a indeed a striking resemblance between me and the dolls. We had matching brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, and even a matching freckle above our lips. There's just one thing that didn't quite match: my dolls stood upright in their plastic doll stands while I sat in

Pro Infirmis Mannequins Video Shows Bodily Diversity is Beautiful

A trip to the mall bombards me with unattainable ideals of “perfection” everywhere I turn. Mannequins of one standard body shape and size taunt me in each store I enter, all of them wearing clothing that won’t look anything on me like it does on them. Their plastic bodies are tall and thin; I am less than 5 feet with more than my fair share of curves. They stand in casual poses; I am sitting in my wheelchair. To me, mannequins are not always inviting displays. Instead, they’re nothing more than sculptures of a supposedly idyllic body type that I

Ollibean and MyVoice Holiday Gift

‘Tis the season and we've teamed up with MyVoice for a special contest featuring TalkRocket Go or RocketKeys- two amazing communication aid apps for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. You choose the app that's right for you. To enter, simply subscribe to MyVoice Newsletter here . We will announce the winner on December 23rd. RocketKeys gives a voice to people with ALS, Aphasia, Autism, Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, MND, and Parkinson’s, using its customizable keyboards, accessible input, and sentence prediction. TalkRocket Go is the family-friendly communication aid that helps people with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Parkinson’s (and

Supporting United States Ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – Why Every Voice Counts!

CALLING ALL SENATORS .It’s time for the U.S. To take their seat at the table In support of global disability rights . RATIFY THE CRPD I have a confession to make: I can only vaguely recall skimming the e-mails that made their way to my inbox in late November and early December last year that called upon the disability community to contact their senators in support of U.S. ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It's not that I didn't realize the importance; I just thought to myself "Oh, I should help.

I Am Disabled and I Am Proud

‎"Polite society often tells us that we need to take the 'dis' out of disability, but maybe... just maybe, we should spend some time putting it back in. Take the "dis" out of disability and you remove the core of what has shaped my life. Disability puts the "D" in diversity, but in order to make that a real difference we've got to own that spot. It took me 35 years to respect and honor that truth. Others shouldn't have to wait that long..." Lawrence Carter-Long

Dr. Caroline Musselwhite Shares Strategies to Promote Literacy for ALL

Dr. Caroline Musselwhite addresses the topic of overall good literacy instruction.  She presents information about how to teach students with significant disabilities using fairly common literacy instruction strategies. There are  11 short video posts to help you get started.  She discusses the issues of AAC and suggests strategies that are easy to implement and highly effective.  Keep Calm and Watch On…

Closed Captioning Helps All Students

"Not only were students talking about how much having the captions helped them as they took notes, their test scores went up," Collins said. During the first year of a 2-year case study, he showed videos without captions to establish a baseline of student comprehension, then in the second year turned on the captions and began to see improvement in comprehension and grades. "During the baseline year, there were a lot of Cs. In the second years, they went from Cs, Ds and Fs to As, Bs and Cs. It was really significant improvement," he said. "We're living in an

More Problems With Functioning Labels

Every now and then my autistic friends and I have to explain why functioning labels are not helpful, why it works against acceptance, why it is something created by non-disabled people who knew very little about how autistic brains work, who saw autistics as lesser people, and who saw the need to grade us in order to apply their wrong assumptions in an attempt to "fix" us. To them, "high-functioning” autistics were "better", easy to deal with. The "low-functioning” autistics required a lot more work because their lives was "misery". That's the first problem: lack of understanding of autism, leading

Putting Education First by That Crazy Crippled Chick

"First, we must ensure that all children, including and especially those with disabilities, receive a quality education. Inclusion means nothing if a child is not receiving a good education, which is, in fact, the very reason we have schools in the first place. " Cara Liebowitz

  • .There’s none exempt from this disability community, and as a matter of fact we’re the cool community, because we accept everybody.” Keith Jones

Disability Activist Keith Jones on Community

"So let us remember that when we teach, when we educate, we make policy, we make decisions that we do it with a conscience and that we remember that we are leaving fingerprints on forever." Keith Jones

How AAC and assistive tech make classrooms better for all : Paula Kluth

In 2009, I published an article in The Reading Teacher with my colleague, Kelly Chander-Olcott, titled “Why Everyone Benefits from Including Students with Autism in Literacy Classrooms”. One of the points we make in the article is that students with disabilities often bring assistive technology and augmentative communication into classrooms and, therefore, make them richer places to learn. Students with and without disabilities who are in classrooms that use AT and AAC regularly and creatively not only may get access to unique materials, but also get to learn about learning itself. They may be able to generate ideas for using

The AbleGamers Foundation

The AbleGamers Foundation, also known as AbleGamers Charity, is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit public charity that aims to improve the overall quality of life for those with disabilities through the power of video games.Video games allow individuals with disabilities to experience situations that may be difficult or limited in the real world, provide social networking opportunities to maintain mental and emotional health, and participate in one of the world’s largest pastimes. With a three-step approach, AbleGamers works and advocates on behalf of the disability community to increase the accessibility of video games and to achieve further inclusion by those who need

5 Ways to Elicit Language from PrAACtical AAC

PrAACtical Suggestions: 5 Ways to Elicit Language Without Asking a Direct Question SLPs love to talk, of course, but sometimes that works against us. Over-prompting. Jumping in to repeat the last question. Re-phrasing the previous comment. Nature abhors a vacuum and sometimes we just can’t stop ourselves.

Modeling, AAC Style

Modeling AAC Style - This is a strategy that is too powerful to ignore! Here’s why Aided Language Input is at the top of our list of skills that all clinicians should master: 1. It expands our sphere of influence 2. Other communication partners will imitate us. 3. If WE use it, then parents and teachers are more likely to as well.

We Are Not In Our Own World

We need to be careful about how we think about and talk about people with disabilities. One example is the reference that those who are autistic or deaf or blind or have some sort of movement differences are “in their own world.”

I Fall and I Rise Again

My life is in constant motion So different from a few years ago Back then I could not easily climb The wobbly ladders put in front of me I would rise and immediately fall Today I fall, I fall and I rise again The wobbly ladder still there I found my way around it I see words guiding my way I find hands that support my journey No longer I rise and fall I fall and I rise again My life like the ladder Not always in firm ground But friends won't let me down They will reach out and

Senator’s Call for Transition Action Plan An Excellent Idea

Democrat Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey has introduced a bill focused on transition services for students with developmental disabilities who are transitioning to post-high school life. The legislation, known as the Assistance in Gaining Experience, Independence and Navigation Act of 2013, or the AGE-IN Act, calls for:  - Funding for research to determination the best ways to support students  with developmental disabilities who are about to leave school. - Creation of a nation strategic plan focused on transition planning for students with developmental disabilities. - Grants to train "transition navigators" to assist students with developmental disabilities to plan for

  • I fear that Hillsborough County School Board is standing on the wrong side of history.

Disabilty and Civil Rights: Standing On the Right Side of History

"If we were to go back to the 1960s and we were to talk to those leaders who were vehemently against desegregation, we would hear the conviction in their voices of them stating why they believe their decisions and what they were doing to those children were just. Just as I believe that some of you and some of the board members that have spoken believe that their decisions are just. But, I fear that the Hillsborough County School Board is standing on the wrong side of history."

Inclusion is a right not a privilege.

Inclusion is not only socially just, but research shows it improves academic outcomes for all students.

  • Teenager with brown skin and dark brown hair smiling and wearing a "got inclusion" t-shirt.

I Am Here To Make A Difference For My People

"I am here to make a difference for my people. I hope that you listen to what I have to say. I want people like you to stop judging me." Tres Whitlock

The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education – 07/12/13

This week, Carol Quirk who is the Co-Executive Director for the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, will return to the podcast. Carol is going to talk, on behalf of the MCIE, about ways in which we can support inclusive education. The Maryland Co

Much Needed Resource: “We Are Like Your Child”

"We are like your child. Your child is like us. And we may have difficulties, we are disabled--but there is no denying that we are also awesome."

Because I Stood With Henry

Because I stood with Henry I am happier today and you should too. Henry not only got his rights, he proved that presumption of competence should be the default for every student.

Untitled

This is not directed at anyone in particular. It is about several people I’ve met throughout my life. I sometimes need to remind myself that being me means following my own agenda and not pleasing the ones who will not be part of my story.

AAC Helps Learners with Complex Communication Needs Reach Their Full Potential

" A lot of these kids end up not reaching their full potential because they suffer from low expectations. People think they don't speak well, so we shouldn't have them in the regular classroom, but a lot of the kids I work with, they're cognitively fine. They're perfectly capable. They just need a viable means of communication to really help them through that." Cathy Binger

Amy Sequenzia: Does it matter?

Should it matter that some of us are labeled intellectually disabled? Read the definitions, look at us in a realistic way and ask yourself; Does it matter? Aren’t we all worthy?

2013 Top Ten Signs of Special Ed Advocate Burn Out

Subtitle: Why you may need a trip to a COPAA conference to relax. 1. You thought the OSEP’s MOU on NCLB’s AYP came from CDC and was about another STD. 2. You are were actually able to follow #1. 3. You asked the Advocate Committee to research OCR guidanc

Mother

This is for every person who embodies the meaning of motherhood. This is for the ones who nurture and protect, who never consider their lives more important than the lives of the ones being nourished, educated, protected and loved.

Everyone Communicates

One of our favorite resources for all things AAC!

Yoga , Naturally Inclusive

Ryan McGraw is a 30-year-old yoga teacher who has cerebral palsy. He doesn't fit the mold, which is fine, because he's molding yoga routines to fit his needs.

National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability

Great resource promoting increased participation in physical activity among people of all abilities.

Abuse of Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Children with disabilities of any kind are not identified in crime statistic systems in the U.S., making it difficult to determine their risk for abuse (Sullivan, 2003). A number of weak and small-scale studies found that children with all types of disab

Some special education teachers fear losing jobs

ATLANTA (AP) — Some Atlanta special education teachers say they fear they could lose their jobs if they aren't certified to teach in another subject. Keith Butler helps special education students with math in an Atlanta high school. He said teachers are

Law Would Give Parents Final Say About Special Diploma Track

A proposed law moving quickly through the Legislature would give parents of kids receiving special education services the final say about their child’s placement on a special diploma track.

Shouldn’t New Disability Awareness Course Be Mandatory for Police?

Kudos to New York State for making train-the-trainer disability sensitivity training available to its law enforcement officers as of April 2013, with the stipulation that police officers that take the course must take it back to their respective police agencies. But why not make the training mandatory instead of just "available"? The First Responders Disability Awareness Training Course augments the very basic curriculum in disability sensitivity offered to New York state police officers as part of their core training: 14 hours on mental illness, but only two on autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and blindness and deafness , and none on intellectual

Insight into Inclusion: The Language we Use

How do we help our children or students who are perpetually losing things, often running late and seem completely disorganized? Do we re... Teachers love a great resource! Especially a resource that is free and at their fingertips - literally. That's why

The Most Important Information About AAC Use in the Classroom

Presumption of competence combined with support and collaboration from team members helps the learner with complex communication needs have a voice in the classroom.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay Stand Up for Inclusion

Presented and discussed will be the importance of inclusion and friendship for youth with disabilities. The cast and of the acclaimed feature documentary, Wretches & Jabberers will be joined by The National Center on Inclusive Education’s Mary Schuh, PhD, and Tampa advocate, 13 year old, Henry Frost.

School Says, “No Advanced Classes for Kids with IEPs”

My child has a learning disability. Her teachers want her to enroll in advanced classes. She is eligible based on her test scores and school performance. The School will not let her enroll her because she has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). What

April and Autism Acceptance at Tampa Theatre

Get your advocacy on. April and Autism Acceptance is in Tampa. The rock stars of disability advocacy- Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette- are back.

Ollibean Art for Change at USF: April. Autism. Advocacy. Acceptance.

A day of inclusive education, community acceptance, and self-advocacy at USF with Academy Award Winning Director and Stars of the Acclaimed Documentary Wretches & Jabberers, NCIE's Mary Schuh, PhD, and Tampa advocate Henry Frost. CARD (The Center for Autism and Related Disorders) at the University of South Florida) will host at USF's Marshall Hall.

Retention is Not a Form of “Specialized Instruction”

The school wanted to retain my son who has an IEP for OT, PT and Speech. They insisted he repeat second grade. I disagreed. Now in third grade, his teachers want to send him back to second grade. They say his writing is not on par with a “normal” third g

Home Modifications

Not all people begin life with disabilities, but most of us will need some kind of assistance as we experience the normal process of aging. Living at home within a community increases self-esteem, which can improve mental and physical health. Another rea

Feds eye NY school’s treatment of disabled student

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating an incident in which a disabled student at a suburban New York high school was kept inside as the school was being evacuated during a fire emergency. The Journal News ( http://lohu

A Parent’s Story of Advocacy on The Inclusive Class

Teachers love a great resource! Especially a resource that is free and at their fingertips - literally. That's why I put together a list of... How do we help our children or students who are perpetually losing things, often running late and seem complete

Ten Things I wish My Teacher and SLP Knew about AAC : Pat Mervine

Pat Mervine has a great website and is the author of  "How Katie Got a Voice (and a cool new nickname)" . I wish..... the entire team would be trained in how to program and use my AAC system.  My "voice" shouldn't be taken away from me just because an adult is absent or busy. Oh, and a good back-up system would be much appreciated for when my device goes down. my AAC device would be charged (if electronic) and positioned for me to use it all times.  Other kids can talk all day -- at recess, lunch, on the bus,

Appropriate Education for Your Child – 02/15/2013

Unfortunately, our guest Howard Glasser, was unavailable for this morning's show! However, Terri and I managed to fill the 30 minutes (it's not hard!) talking about inclusion and education. During our show, we talked about finding appropriate education f

Merck Fund Announces Three $1M Grants to Support Translational Research in Developmental Disabilities

Several AUCD network members and George Jesien, Executive Director of AUCD, participated on the scientific advisory committee which helped develop this important grants program with the John Merck Fund. The John Merck Fund announced today the first three

Wright’s Law: Why Schools Usually Say “No!”

My son is going to middle school. Same district, new school, just blocks apart. His 1:1 (same para for 3 years) has been the best thing that has come into his life ever. We want his para to follow him to middle school. The Special Education Director says

I Feel Tired

Some parents understand that autism is a natural part of some children’s lives and they fight the societal attitudes toward autistics. That’s love. Some parents don’t, and they fight, and hurt, their own children. This is not love and is one of the things that make me very tired.

Love is in the Air – Media Profiles People with Disabilities

Bill’s and Shelley’s path to marriage is not unlike many others who fall in love, lose touch as life takes its turns, and reconnect later in life when the time is right.

Proximal Femoral Geometry Before and After Varus Rotational Osteotomy in Children With Cerebral Palsy and Neuromuscular Hip Dysplasia

You could be reading the full-text of this article now... Background: Surgical management of hip dysplasia in children with cerebral palsy (CP) usually includes varus rotational osteotomy (VRO) of the proximal femur. Several techniques of VRO (end-to-end

‘Impaired Perceptions’ – Photographer Brian Steel Fights Ableism

"The overall message is that you cannot tell what a person is capable of or what their life is like simply by looking at them. " Brian Steel

The Inclusive Class: Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities

Nicole and Terri are looking forward to interviewing Dr. Sheldon Horowitz about ways classrooms can support children with learning disabilities.

Jennifer Byde Myers: Autism and the Quest for Knowledge

Great post by Jennifer Byde Myers at  jennyalice.com. Jack doesn’t fit the mold. Not the mold for a typical kid, not the one for cerebral palsy, not autism, not ADHD. Whenever we try to "box him up", another piece of him pops out, unexplainable by a typical convention.

  • Picture of a smiling woman with light brown hair in a pony tail,she is wearing a purple shirt with a black jacket. the text reads "It's the hardest thing to put up with."

No Limits: People With Cerebral Palsy v Condescending Tools

No Limits: People With Cerebral Palsy v Condescending Tools.

Grit Media

Grit Media promotes the rights and aspirations of people with disabilities by creating opportunities to be seen and heard in a range of media productions. Our productions bring disability awareness into peoples' homes through the depiction of realistic, compelling and entertaining content, that encourages audiences to see disability as a natural part of life. The organisation provides training opportunities for people with disabilities and aims to encourage the wider media industry to join our battle against a culture of harmful misconception and ignorance about disability. Welcome to Grit Media.

Ido In Autismland

We love Ido In Autismland, a blog by Ido a young autistic advocate who types to communicate.

Q&A: IDEA and child care

This 4-page brief explains the basics of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to child care providers, including early intervention for children under the age of 3 and special education and related services for school-aged children. It

IEP Team Member Apology: A Template for “Not Knowing It All – After All”

Have you just committed a real faux pas but find yourself at a loss for words to apologize? Perhaps you are a celebrity who needs to apologize for disability-related comment… A teacher who needs to apologize for outrageous classroom mistreatment… Or, a p

Letter from National Council on Disability (NCD) to the President Following Newtown Tragedy

December 20, 2012 The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency, and in response to your recent national call to act

COPAA Statement on the Newtown Tragedy

The members of Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) work in schools every day with teachers and on behalf of the 7.1 million children with disabilities in the United States. Because of our work, we feel intense, personal pain over the

FCC Honors Designers of Communications Technology Benefiting People with Disabilities

445 12th Street, S.W. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: December 19, 2012 Michael Snyder at (202) 418-0997 E-mail: Michael.Snyder@fcc.gov FCC CHAIRMAN GENACHOWSKI HONORS INNOVATORS IN ACCESSIBILITY COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY IN CEREMONY TODAY Demo

My Top Ten

These are the top 10, now top 18 things I need for teachers, therapists, doctors, friends and family to know.

My iPad Is Not a Toy

Please never refer to my iPad as a toy. It is not. It is my voice. Imagine if you could not speak with your mouth how important your iPad voice would be.

What Does Ollibean Mean to You?

Crazy but true, simply wearing an Ollibean tshirt makes bedtime routine happy and fun! Send us a message about why you want one, what Ollibean means to you, and we'll get one to you.

An Ethnographic Investigation of African American Mothers’ Perceptions of Augmentative and Alternative Communication

The purpose of this study was to investigate fourteen African American mothers' perceptions of the utilization of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) by their children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The authors used ethnographic metho

‘Smartpen’ Pilot Program Helps Students with Disabilities

We often get questions about the legality of using a recording device or pen in class. Parents ask this question when schools tell them “recording devices violate the confidentiality” of other students in the classroom. Digital recorders or recording pen

Ollibean: All of a kind

The faces of Ollibean are kids with and without disabilities all trying to make the world a better place.

Use Your Words: Non-Verbal, Speech, and AAC

I see a little girl every week at events that my child attends. She's great. She's nine years old, has a fantastic laugh, and a mischievous sense of humor. She loves puddles, chocolate cake, and apples. She has a small crush on my son. She's also non-ver

I Am

How do you talk to someone who uses AAC?

Build Your App with Therapy Box

“After numerous requests, we have opened up our service to work with creative speech and language therapists, teachers and organisations who have an idea for an app they would like to deliver. We will make it happen” explains Therapy Box Therapy Box, the

Get Schooled: Jack Black Rocks “Sensitive”

AUTISM IS AWESOMISM . LOVE this video performed by the incredible Wyatt Isaacs (Autism the Musical), Jack Black, Stephen Stills from the Miracle Project Benefit.

CEC Celebrates IDEA’s 37th Anniversary

On November 29, 1975 President Gerald Ford signed into law the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142), landmark legislation that forever changed how American’s view individuals with disabilities. Now known as the Individuals with

Longview school suspends use of isolation box

The Longview School District has suspended the use of an isolation box for special education students while it reviews the policy for isolating students who may be a danger to themselves or others. The Longview School District has suspended the use of an

Evaluating the Efficacy of the LRE

I attended an IEP meeting recently that really brought home for me the complex nuances of determining what placement, or blend of placement options, represents the Least Restrictive Environment (“LRE”) for an individual student with an IEP. Not only are

Now, It’s Our Turn!

Tonight, Terri and I had the tables turned on us! It was our turn to be on the "hot seat" when we were featured guests on HuffPost Live. Interviewed by host, Nancy Redd, we appeared live (and on camera - much more stressful than a phone interview!!) to d

CHOP presents new findings on pediatric cardiovascular disease at AHA 2012

Physician-researchers from the Cardiac Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia presented new findings on pediatric cardiovascular disease at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2012 in Los Angeles. They described racial dispari

  • ollibean think tank. tim villegas. inclusion

The Case for Inclusion Part 3: Sea Change

The longer there is a strong distinction between general and special education the worse it is for students who are labeled with a disability. It perpetuates the language of Us and Them...

Adding the I to IEP: H is at the table

We worked with the wonderful team at H’s Distributed Learning School to update his Individual Education Plan (IEP) and for the first time ever H was there to take part. He wasn’t completely interested – but we built-in other options for him so he could p

Open Letter from a Doctoral Student Who Needs Some Help with her Study

Hi, my name is Christina and I am a doctoral candidate at Grand Canyon University. The title of my dissertation is “Examining the Potential of Using Technology to Improve Academic Performance: The Experience of Autistic Children with E-Readers.” As a for

Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities – 11/02/12

Having taught at the primary, secondary and college levels, Dr. Horowitz has also worked as a consultant to school districts throughout the New York City metropolitan region. In addition, he is frequently cities in popular press topics including parentin

Listen to The Inclusive Class Roundtable – 10/26

Inclusive Education, as defined and described by education experts, is a philosophy. It is not a program, nor does it happen in is... Parents of school-age children can often become bewildered by today’s education system and it’s expectations. Its quickl

Special ed in distress A few schools get it right, but complaints and lawsuits are mounting against a troubled program serving 7,000 Seattle students.

Five years ago, a high-profile report found that Seattle's public-school district was decades behind the rest of the country in serving students with disabilities. Today, the problems are even worse. Six special-education directors — and three superinten

Why Won’t the School Provide Homebound Instruction?

My child’s doctor recommended homebound instruction. The school said they had the authority to override that recommendation. Why won’t the school provide homebound services? Issues of homebound are determined in part by state law and state regulations, i

COPAA Announces Keynote and General Session Speakers for 2013 Conference

COPAA is an independent, nonprofit membership organization of special education attorneys, special education advocates, related professionals, and parents/family members. Our primary mission is to secure high quality education services for children with

  • Ollibean Think Tank Amy Sequenzia Advocacy on turquoise and green background

Supporting Young Autistics

We hope that young autistics today will be proud of themselves and without shame. The message that boy received at that moment was the opposite of acceptance. It was ableist and it came from someone who is part of our own community.

Inclusive Education: It’s Great If You Can Get It

Inclusive schools need to become a reality for all students across the nation regardless of abilities, socio-economic background and geographic location. Unfortunately, many school districts do not see the inclusive classroom as the Least Restrictive Environment and an appropriate placement for children with special needs. Thus, what one child has free and appropriate access to, another one doesn’t. And then inclusion , which has been proven by experts to be the gold standard of special education, becomes an ideal situation…if you can get it. The lack of universal practice of inclusive education in our school system creates an overall discord in

AAPC Publishing Releases Lesson Plan a la Carte: Integrated Planning for Students With Special Needs

Integrate learning objectives with therapeutic supports and necessary modifications right in the classroom. Multiple worlds exist within the educational universe. Integrated planning happens when each of these worlds (teaching, clinical, administrative,

National Council on Disability (NCD) Releases Report on Rights of Parents with Disabilities & Their Children

WASHINGTON, DC -- On Thursday, September 27, the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency, released “Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children” -- a groundbreaking policy study, inf

The Case for Inclusion Part Two: What Does Inclusion Look Like?

It should always be the objective of public education to serve all students no matter what their disability label. It should always be the objective to give the right amount of support for all children.

Bureaucrats

You look at me But you don’t see me You talk about me but not to me You think you know all about me But you deny my humanity You think I don’t have wishes You believe I don’t have plans You don’t respect my basic rights According to you I should be grateful That I have a place to sleep That I have three meals a day If I say I want to go out You ignore me To you I am only a burden Too disabled to have an opinion To you I don’t count as a person

Presume My Competence

Really, this is number one. Please presume my competence.

  • Top 10 things I need you to know

Focus on My Strengths

#4 Please focus on My Strengths. I have many. We all do.

I Stand With Henry

What Henry is doing is advocating for his rights, at the same time that he reminds us of our own rights and about how far we still have to go.

Top 10 Things Autistic Self Advocate Needs Teachers to Know : # 3

Top ten things I want you to know. Number 3: Please talk directly to me, not to my support person.

  • boy wearing a turquoise tshrt that reads "Not being able to speak is not the same as not having anything to say" sitting on couch one hand on iPad one hand on his dog . The dog is yellow lab/golden mix .

Autistic Student’s Top 10 List for Teachers of Students with Special Needs #2

Top ten things Autistic student wants teachers, therapists and friends to know about students with special needs... they may be shocking to some of you, but hopefully to most they are exactly what you expect. Here's number 2.

  • Girl with brown hair , blue tshirt is holding an iPad out in front of her. Her face is obscured by the iPad. Boy with Brown Hair holds a white sign that says " The Civil Rights Act of 1964 granted equal rights to all people. I am a person. I want these rights.

A Sister Stands with Her Brother: I Am Heard, I Am Important, and I Am Included

No one wants to be the excluded one, the one to stand alone in silence, the one left out of the conversation. No one wants to be forgotten. So why are some individuals treated this way? Luckily it just takes one person to stand up and include, and the rest will follow. Be that person, take a stand, make a difference.

StateImpact Florida A Finalist For Innovative, Investigative Journalism Award

From our investigation: Tres Whitlock types on the DynaVox tablet that serves as his voice. Whitlock, 17, has cerebral palsy and can’t speak on his own. He tried to enroll in a Hillsborough County charter school, but the school had concerns about the the

NeoSpeech Text-to-Speech Featured in AAC Speech Application

We believe that NeoSpeech Text-to-Speech will benefit people with speech disabilities to communicate with other people. NeoSpeech, a leader in text-to-speech (TTS) software and speech-enabled solutions, announced today that an Augmentative and Alternativ

  • flowers, green leaves, red geranium, blue bells, hyacinth, ivy

A Sensory Garden for Zoë and Oliver

One of Ollibean's contributors, the lovely and amazing, Julie Lohoefener of Bloom Garden Shop, let's us in on some great tips on creating a non-toxic Sensory Garden with your kids.

Dr Thomas Armstrong – Neurodiversity – Aug 27,2012

Call in to speak with the host "Neurodiversity" by Dr Armstrong - Brilliance "Neurodiversity - Discovering the Extraordinary gifts of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and other brain differences. This book has it all - what research tells us about the specific str

USC’s Special Ed Infographic

Welcome to Making Special Education Actually Work, the official blog of KPS4Parents. We sincerely hope that this blog proves to enlighten and empower all responsible adults to ensure that all children, regardless of disability, receive a Free and Appropr

My Civil Rights

Inclusion, Martin Luther King, Jr, The Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and education.

National Federation of the Blind Applauds National Council on Disability Report

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “We applaud the National Council on Disability for its strong affirmation of the value, equality, and dignity of workers with disabilities, and for its recommendation that Section

First Day of School

Today is the first time that Henry has not had a First day of School. He is not allowed to go to his neighborhood school that is about 200 yards from our home.

  • Ollibean Think Tank Amy Sequenzia Advocacy on turquoise and green background

Amy Sequenzia : Friendship and Respect

It is a mistaken idea that we, autistics, lack empathy. It is also a myth that we are not social. My friends and I, we understand and respect differences. And we understand that we all have a lot to contribute, in a diversity of manners.

Another School year !!

Another school year begins August the 16th for us. My son is a young 1st grader , he will be 6 on August 23rd . But will still be five when school starts . His kindergarten experience wasn’t so great . Before he started school last year I met with the sc

Special needs kids staying in traditional schools

LOS ANGELES The high cost of educating students with special needs is disproportionately falling on traditional public schools as other students increasingly opt for alternatives that aren't always readily open to those requiring special education. The i

Sebastien’s Smile

Sebastien's Smile was created for the sole purpose of raising awareness for Mitochondrial diseases which affect the Setin's son Sebastien.

Henry’s video for his friend Sebastien, please help by sharing

Thursday Henry decided he wanted to write something to help his friend. We decided to video the process, as you can see, typing one letter at a time is a very long and arduous process. It took Henry  hours to type and edit that paragraph. It was hard and Henry decided to not to share the parts that were too emotional. Sebastien is one of Henry's best friends, he loves him dearly and he has watched his body get weaker and weaker each day. I am so proud of H for writing this, it was very, very hard for a

Amy Sequenzia: “Storm”

"Storm" a poem by autistic self-advocate Amy Sequenzia.

Ollibean Talks to Ray Ellis, director of “Certain Proof: A Question of Worth”

"All of these children have one thing in common. They were always having to prove themselves, over and over and over again." Ray Ellis

London 2012 Takes Paralympic Torch Relay to New Heights

The Paralympic Torch Relay is the perfect moment to get your flags back out and get behind the incredible athletes taking part as the excitement builds once again right across the capital • Flames to be created at the summits of the UK’s four highest pea

WEBSITE WEDNESDAY: The Accessible Principal

I am so thrilled to share the with you, which is a new blog that was launched this summer by one of the best administrators I have ever met. Marilyn is a school and district leader in a suburb here in Chicago and she has interests ranging from technology

  • woman reading a book in lounge chair with ocean in background

Ollibean Mama Spotlight

Connect and learn with other parents like Tonya who presume competence and celebrate their children for being exactly who they are. #allofakind

NYC to Integrate Special Ed Students into Regular Classrooms

New York City’s pilot for special education inclusion has moved the district to apply the program to a majority of the schools in the city. The city’s conclusion is that students with special needs should get access to the general education curriculum, n

What is the Timeline for Developing a Section 504 Plan?

My 6 year old daughter had her 3 year reevaluation. She has Childhood Apraxia of Speech and fine motor difficulty. She is doing well academically. At the IEP meeting, one month ago, it was decided that she no longer qualifies for an IEP. The school sugge

Resources and Downloads for Differentiated Instruction

Educators from Mesquite Elementary School, in Tucson, Arizona, have provided these resources for you to use in your own school. Daily collaborative planning time at Mesquite Elementary enables teachers to plan differentiated instruction to address the pr

  • ollibean think tank. tim villegas. inclusion

The Case for Inclusion: Does All Really Mean All?

Tim Villegas of Think Inclusive on the motivation to change from educating students with disabilities in segregated settings to inclusive settings where all means all.

Ollibean Think Tank Member Tim Villegas

My hope is that ThinkInclusive.us can create a bridge between educators, parents, and advocates (including self-advocates) to promote ideas, innovation and inspiration to change our world to be more accepting and value each and every human being.

How to Make Inclusive Practices a Reality For Your School

The new school year is fast approaching and The Inclusive Class Podcast is set to help you prepare! On Friday, August 10, 2012 we will kick off our "Back to School" series which is 3 podcasts that will discuss tips, strategies and resources for helping y

  • Change Leader in pink capital letters. AMY SEQUENZIA in brown capital letters with brown line on top and bottom of text. poet. advocate. human. lower case text

Change Leader: Amy Sequenzia

"Presume competence. The same way I want people to assume I am competent, I also assume that others are competent".

Snacking: The Little Bite That Won’t Hurt You

Ollibean contributor Kristie Salzer talks about the benefits of "refueling" between lunch and dinner to decrease hunger related meltdowns for kids. We love her suggestions of 25 super easy snacks to get you started!

  • got questions? get answers from our disability centric community

Got Questions? Get answers from our disability-centric community.

We’ve organized Ollibean so members can support each other in a very organic way. You will connect with others based on mutual interest in diffability related content.

Self-directed learning helps some students reach goals, study suggests

Students with cognitive and learning disabilities that were taught the fundamentals of self-determination were more likely to access mainstream curricula and achieve their academic and other goals, according to new research by Karrie Shogren, a professor

Teaching Reading to Children with Special Needs

On Friday July 27, 2012, Nicole and Terri will be interviewing Dr. Kathleen Whitbread about the importance of including children with special needs in reading instruction. In todays schools, children who are deemed incapable of reading, are usually pulle

School-Wide PBIS & Teachers Who Bully

One reason, I suspect, is that people are so focused on holding bullies accountable that they’re not focusing on the real causes of bullying. But, that’s a reactive strategy rather than a proactive attempt to prevent bullying in the first place. Addition

  • Ollibean Think Tank Amy Sequenzia Advocacy on turquoise and green background

Ollibean Think Tank Member Amy Sequenzia

Amy Sequenzia is a poet and autistic self-advocate. Her writing is as beautiful and powerful as she is. She is an extraordinary voice in the disability rights community .

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology ( FAAST)

About FAAST Our Mission is to improve the quality of life for all Floridians with disabilities through advocacy and awareness activities that increase access to and acquisition of assistive services and technology. We value each individual's right to achieve their highest potential and the possibilities that can be realized through collaborative efforts focused on the goal of improving life for Floridians with and without disabilities. FAAST has worked with thousands of people with and without disabilities throughout the state to provide: Hands on assistive technology demonstrations and trainings Financing for assistive technology purchases Assistive device lending programs Community outreach to rural and

Bullying Prevention State Laws

This new brief focuses on bullying prevention legislation. To date, 47 states have passed legislation requiring schools to take leadership in addressing the problem. This brief provides information on elements of a bullying prevention plan, the school’s

  • “I can’t speak for my friends, but labels hinder my life. I reject labels. I am just me.” Amy Sequenzia

Amy Sequenzia: “Just Me”

Amy Sequenzia writes about rejecting society's many labels. Perceptions such as “super spectacular” autistic and “low-functioning” are equally harmful .

Leaders@ED: Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Alexa Posny has had 23 jobs. While she never envisioned a specific career path, every position she held was a stepping stone towards her current position as the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Dep

Inclusive Educational Practices for Students with Special Needs

Studies have shown when kids with disabilities are educated in inclusive settings, the classrooms are better for all of the students.

International Hip Dysplasia Institute

The International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) is a collaborative, international, not-for-profit effort to improve the health and quality of life of those affected by hip dysplasia. Our goal is to provide education to patients, families, and physicians as the most comprehensive and reliable resource for knowledge about hip dysplasia in its various forms. What is Hip Dysplasia? Hip Dysplasia means that the bones of the hip joint are not aligned correctly. It affects thousands of children and adults each year and is known by many different names: Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) Hip Dislocation Congenital Dislocation of the Hip (CDH)

A Letter to Parents of Children with Special Needs

I hope you have an enjoyable and relaxing summer with your family! Don’t forget to keep your child reading, practice some math facts or maybe even keep a journal of your family vacation. It's easy to forget about school for the summer and let the days pa

  • ollibean think tank inclusion advocate. talk show host. human. Nicole Eredics

Introducing Ollibean Think Tank Member Nicole Eredics

We are very proud to introduce Ollibean Think Tank member, Nicole Eredics of the Inclusive Class . We know you are going to learn as much from Nicole as we have. She is kind, extremely knowledgeable, and beyond lovely. She really is the consummate teacher. Listen to any one of her podcasts or read her blogs and you'll see what we mean. Nicole is very committed  to inclusion and we are grateful to have her share her knowledge with us. Welcome, Nicole! Hello! I’m Nicole Eredics and I’m an Elementary Teacher who has spent over 15 years teaching in an inclusive school

Special-Ed Students at Greater Risk of Bullying, Being Bullied: Study

TUESDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Students with visible disabilities and those receiving special education services for behavioral problems are at greater risk of being bullied and of bullying others, according to a new study. These children also are m

  • ollibean_therapy

Dinosaur Claw: Physical Therapy for Cerebral Palsy

"Helping Hands" at Rice University have developed Dino-Might, a controller/game designed for patients with cerebral palsy to use for physical therapy.

  • parenting

Jedd Hafer of Love and Logic ® answers your parenting questions

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jedd Hafer, of Love & Logic® and asked him some of our questions. Jed's one of those people that you start talking to and feel like you've known him forever.

Introducing Ollibean Change Leaders

Introducing Ollibean Change Leaders - comprised of the most innovative, passionate doers on the planet. Folks out there blazing a trail for the rest of us, leaders in advocacy, inclusive education, cutting edge medicine, technology, human rights, the arts, disability rights, and philanthropy. They are changing things for people of all abilities. They are the Einsteins, the Ghandis, the Martin Luther Kings, the Helen Kellers of our generation. You’ve probably heard of most of them, and if you haven’t, you will. We all have the power to create real change and make our world a better place, we just have to

National Council on Disability (NCD) Honors Life of Justin Dart

Listen to the heart of this old soldier. As with all of us the time comes when body and mind are battered and weary. But I do not go quietly into the night. I do not give up struggling to be a responsible contributor to the sacred continuum of human life

Christine Ashby appointed director of School of Education’s Institute on Communication and Inclusion

School of Education Dean Douglas Biklen has announced the appointment of professor Christine Ashby as director of the Institute on Communication and Inclusion (ICI), effective June 1. The ICI, formerly the Facilitated Communication Institute, conducts re

Cooling Therapy for Birth Disorder Boosts Later Survival

A treatment that cools the bodies of infants who lack sufficient oxygen at birth brings benefits that last for years, a new study confirms. Infants sometimes develop severe oxygen deficiency during the birth process. This condition—known as birth asphyxi

U.S. Department of Education Announces New Awards in Technology and Media Services

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs has released applications for new awards in Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities--Models Promoting Young Children's Use of Assistive Technology. The purpos

  • ollibean think tank inclusion advocate. talk show host. human. Nicole Eredics

Top 3 FAQs About Inclusive Education

Parents naturally want what is best for their child, particularly when it comes to education. If a parent is not very familiar with inclusive education or had a child in an inclusive school, they have many questions and concerns. While too numerous to list, here is the top 3 frequently asked questions about inclusive education: Why isn’t there an inclusion program in my child’s school? Inclusive education is not considered a program that can be offered by schools. Inclusive education is a philosophy that the entire school district must believe in and support. The belief that all children should have

Matt W’s Field Day Race

Matt ran an amazing race on field day at Worthington, Ohio's Colonial Hills Elementary School. According to the Youtube video, Matt was given the opportunity to sit out, but after watching this kid run, you can see why that wasn't ever an option for him. The strength and determination Matt shows in completing this race is incredible. Matt has  cerebral palsy which makes running challenging, but that does not stop him. Love seeing his classmates and teachers encouraging and supporting him all the way to the finish line.

Stop IDEA Funding Cuts!

There could be some big changes awaiting you during the next school year if Congress does not act soon to save programs for children with disabilities such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Many federal programs will automaticall

Science-Based Decision-Making in Special Ed

Last month, I wrote an article for Special Education Advisor, a blog operated by some folks located in Chatsworth, CA who are dedicated to helping parents of children with special needs. You can see the article by clicking here. The title of the article

Report: Disabled Face Transportation Barriers

WASHINGTON, DC -- Two civil rights organizations are highlighting disparities in transportation access for people with disabilities. "Equity in Transportation for People with Disabilities," a report by The American Association of People with Disabilities

Videos games as therapy?

Video games may not be as bad for us as our mothers told us. The latest foray into the virtual realm stems from the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, citing that targeted rehabilitation of patients with Cerebral Palsy can be achieved through the use of active video games (Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 Kinect, Playstation Move, etc.).

Are charter schools bad at special ed?

Critics say public charter schools have an unfair advantage over regular public schools because they are less likely to have students with learning disabilities. That is not always true. Consider one D.C. charter management organization, DC Prep, with mo

Does “Eligible for Special Ed” Mean an IEP?

My 15 year old daughter was determined eligible for special education. The special ed teacher was pushing for a 504, I want an IEP. If she qualifies for special education doesn’t that mean she gets an IEP? The answer to your question about an IEP v. a 50

Cycling Study Aims to Improve Movement of Children with Cerebral Palsy

AUSTIN, Texas - (May 23, 2012) - Cycling training is an effective therapy for children with cerebral palsy, a type of brain injury that causes altered development in both children and adults. It is one of the most common movement disorders in children an

Helping Special Education Students, and Paying With His Career

There was no particular moment when Harris Lirtzman decided to blow the whistle, and so close the door on his teaching career. A former deputy state comptroller, he had decided to give public school teaching a midcareer whirl. In 2009, he landed a job as

Assistive Technology – What is UDL, NIMAS, and AIM?

The National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) creates a national standard for print materials in accessible formats. Schools and publishers must adhere to these standards when creating educational materials – textbooks, workbooks, a

iPad gives voice to kids with autism

Sharia Siddiqui uses an iPad to help her communicate. Her father says it's "given her a sense of control she never had." STORY HIGHLIGHTS Touchscreen iPads are giving voice to autistic children, adults Apps for it and other tablets aid those with trouble

Marine returns from war to surprise: Son with cerebral palsy walks for the first time

Staff sergeant Jeremy Cooney hugs his son, Michael, after the boy with cerebral palsy surprised his father by walking to him. (CBS) (CBS News) A U.S. Marine serving in Afghanistan traveled thousands of miles home for a reunion with his family, but it was

By |May 11th, 2012|Categories: Articles, General, Lifestyle, Parenting|Tags: , |0 Comments

Thank you to the best beta testers on the planet

We appreciate the excellent feedback, and are making changes based on the input from our incredible and highly intelligent group of Beta Testers ( parents, kids living with diffability, self-advocates, therapists, educators, physicians, and freedom fighters) Hang on, fasten your seat belts, it might be a little bumpy along the way, but it will be worth it, we promise.

Comparing General Education to Special Education: What are the Differences?

Students with autism are educated in a variety of settings including general education (GE) and self-contained (SC) classrooms. In GE placements, students are educated with their peers by a general education teacher. In self-contained settings, students

The Coming Special Needs Care Crisis

Eli Toucey (left) has seizures and social issues that make it all but impossible to leave him with a random babysitter. What could really save Hillary Toucey’s life is a personal-care attendant to help with her 7-year-old son, Eli. Dark-haired, fair-skin

Being left out puts youths with special needs at risk for depression

The challenges that come with battling a chronic medical condition or developmental disability are enough to get a young person down. But being left out, ignored or bullied by their peers is the main reason youths with special health care needs report sy

Disability photography: Changing the world one photograph at a time

Researching the subject, I quickly realised that the majority of photographs of disabled people are very negative, and mainly used within charitable organisations. Having lived within a disability world all my life, I already knew that societies’ opinion towards disability is very negative, and that has to change. I knew from that moment on, that this was something that disability was passionate about portraying in a positive light.

Parents Wire Kids To Prove Teachers’ Verbal Abuse

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (AP) — Teachers hurled insults like "bastard," "tard," "damn dumb" and "a hippo in a ballerina suit." A bus driver threatened to slap one child, while a bus monitor told another, "Shut up, you little dog." They were all special needs st

U.S. Department of Education Reaches Agreement with School District on Services for Students with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that its Office for Civil Rights has reached a resolution agreement with the Memphis, Tenn., City Schools on aids and services to students with disabilities. The agreement resolves a compliance review init

Working to Give All Students the Ability to Succeed

Tech-Now, Inc. is one of the many organizations across the country implementing the High School/High Tech Program, which provides young people with all types of disabilities the opportunity to explore jobs or further education leading to technology-relat

Facebook blocks NC mom’s pictures of Special Olympics event

Diane Cornwell said her seven year old, Cole, who happens to have Down Syndrome had a great time at his first Special Olympics event last Friday. She uploaded an album of 40 pictures to share and says Facebook blocked it for inappropriate content and locked her account.

Struggle over how to evaluate special ed teachers

Lynne Sladky / AP In this April 3, 2012, photo, teacher Bev Campbell, left, holds up stuffed animals in front of student Sebastian Rodriguez in her special education class at Amelia Earhart Elementary School in Hialeah, Fla. More than a dozen states have

Outing The Prejudice: Making The Least Dangerous Assumption

We highly recommend this brilliant article by Zach Rossetti and Carol Tashie on their interpretation of Anne Donnellan's concept of presuming competence, the least dangerous assumption.

RESNA Releases Wheelchair Position Statement

The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) has issued a position paper titled "The Application of Ultralight Manual Wheelchairs." Developed through RESNA's Special Interest Group on Seating and Wheeled Mobility, the paper highlights that: Wheelchairs should conform to the individual, and not the individual to the chair; Wheelchairs should be as lightweight as possible while also being fully adjustable to meet the individual's needs; and Wheelchairs that are lightweight and adjustable cause the least amount of injury to users and increase functionality.

Deaf Olympic hopeful uses social media to fight discrimination

Marcus Titus, top U.S. breaststroker, rallied for change and got it. USA Swimming will allow the use of hand signals to accomodate Deaf swimmers at the summer Olympic trials.

Disabled Military Protection Act Allows Military Families to include Special Needs Trusts within the Survivor Benefit Plan

Currently, under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), a military retiree can set aside up to 55 percent of his monthly retirement pay to provide their family members with a monthly stipend, after he or she dies. However, these benefits are counted as income

Subconscious Stereotyping

When it comes to negative stereotypes, your subconscious may not be the best dinner guest.

SchoolBook: Testing Takes Its Toll on Special Needs Students

April 19, 2012, 8:12 a.m. It has been a challenging week for many third through eighth grade public school students in New York City, as they have started their days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with the federally mandated English Language Arts exa

Presuming Competence

This issue is very important to me because so many events and breakthroughs in my life happened because I was presumed to be competent. On the other hand, some events in my life were not so good because of a presumption of incompetence. The message of presumption of competence is of encouragement and acceptance. The presumption of incompetence sends a negative message, a message that says no matter how much one tries, success is out of reach. For disabled people, especially the ones who need more support, who can’t communicate through speech or who have other communication difficulties, this negative

Inclusive education still best model, says advocate

Gordon Porter says there are now hundreds of specialized teachers and thousands of assistants in the province. (CBC) A long-time advocate for inclusive education maintains it is still the right approach for students with special needs. But Gordon Porter,

The National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials

The National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials! This site serves as a resource to state- and district-level educators, parents, publishers, conversion houses, accessible media producers, and others interested in learning more about and implementing AIM and NIMAS. AIM Center at a Glance For students with sensory, physical, cognitive, or learning differences and their teachers, accessible instructional materials (AIM) may open doors to teaching and learning that ordinary print-based materials have closed. Accessible instructional materials or AIM are specialized formats of curricular content that can be used by and with students who are unable to read or use standard print materials.

Office of Special Education Program’s Discretionary Grants Public Database

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21. To this end, OSEP provides leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts, including funding approximately 1,000 grants and contracts each year. If you'd like to know what grants and contracts OSEP has funded as part of its initiatives to improve results for children with disabilities, you've come to the right place! (If you're looking for OSEP's grants opportunities, we would direct you to OSEP itself, at: www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/index.html)

Data Accountability Center (DAC)

This website provides public access to data about children and youth with disabilities served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - Part B and C; technical assistance (TA) materials to support the collection, analysis and reporting of IDEAdata; and the forms and spreadsheets used for collection. DAC was funded in October 2007 by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education to provide information and TA to improve the quality of all state-reported data required by the IDEA. Westat and its subcontractor, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center–Human Development Center, operate DAC as a 5-year cooperative agreement with

Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network

The Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network (or “TA&D Network”) is a network of approximately 45 Centers (this fluctuates as old projects end or new ones begin) funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). These projects provide information and technical assistance to states, schools, educational professionals and families, on topics such as autism, deafness, disproportional representation, dispute resolution, learning disabilities, parenting children with special needs, positive behavior support and transition. The TACC works with the TA&D Network to coordinate and support the work of these projects. ABOUT THE TACC The Technical Assistance Coordination Center (TACC) was formed in 2008 to facilitate coordination, collaboration,

Life After IEPs

  Welcome ! If you’re a parent or mentor of a young person with disabilities, Life After IEPs is for you. Whether your child is an elementary student or a high school graduate, you’ll find information, resources, and support you’ll need along the way. A challenging journey There’s joy on the path to adulthood. But it ain’t always easy. Perseverence, grace, and a good sense of humor are needed. It can be a bumpy road.   Supports available during the IEP years will end after high school Unfamiliar laws, systems and jargon lie ahead Resources exist, but they’re scattered in

Stereotypes of Children with Disabilities

Stigmatization is one of the greatest obstacles to the successful integration of people with Trisomy 21 (T21 or Down syndrome), the most frequent genetic disorder associated with intellectual disability. Research on attitudes and stereotypes toward these people still focuses on explicit measures subjected to social-desirability biases, and neglects how variability in facial stigmata influences attitudes and stereotyping.

My Valentine by Paul McCartney- Featuring Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp

Paul McCartney Directs His Own 'My Valentine' Videos Featuring Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp using ASL.

MyVoice AAC

MyVoice is a new app, available for Apple and Android devices, that helps people with a variety of speech and language challenges communicate more quickly and easily. MyVoice has groundbreaking features like location-awareness, downloadable phrase books and wireless customization from any web browser. With its lifelike voices and beautiful interface, MyVoice is the affordable communication aid app you've been waiting for. MyVoice is changing the world, one voice at a time. It can be a vital aid for children and adults living with: • ALS • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Aphasia, Apraxia, Ataxia, Dysarthria • Brain Cancer • Cerebral Palsy

Teachers Weigh-In: Do We Over Accommodate? Join the Debate…

Read more as teachers debate accommodations for students. Pete & Pam Wright and Advocate Pat Howey join the discussion. Take the poll – then click “read more” to add your comment and join the debate! I teach at a charter school. We feel that if the stude

Watching TV: Even Worse for Kids Than You Think

It's no secret that sedentary behavior contributes to obesity and chronically poor health. But not all sedentary behaviors are created equal, according to a new study that examines the link between blood pressure in children and their choice of inactive

Faces of Ollibean- We want to hear from you!

Every week we put the spotlight on another person out there making a difference. Share your story and inspire and motivate others to Be the Change.

Marlo Thomas: The Givers: What Inspires Michael J. Fox? A Very Personal Interview

Unbowed by his disease and still exhibiting his trademark energy, Michael reminded me not only of the single-mindedness that is fundamental to fighting for a cause, but also of the indestructibility of the human spirit -- one that looks at each new day as another chance to enjoy the magic and the gift of life. If only all of us could learn that lesson.  

SEN / ICT

The sen / ict directory began life in August 2011 to act as a directory for Special Educational Needs and Information Communication Technology Resources. Companies can showcase their business, the products they produce and services they provide. There are also hundreds of FREE online resources from fun/educational games, activities and printable resources to tools that help disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology. The sen / ict directory aims provide a central location for all your favourite resources, as well as introduce you to new ones you might not have found otherwise for your child

Planned and On-The-Spot Curriculum Accommodations in the Inclusive Classroom

The Paraeducator's Toolbox: Practical Strategies to Support Students with Learning and Behavioral Challenges 5.7.2012 9:00 AM - 3:00pm

Kris’ Camp

Kris' Camp is a non-profit organization first established in 1995 as a therapy intensive/respite camp for children with special needs (thus far focusing on children with autism/autistic-like challenges) and their families. It is motivated by three mutually enforcing goals: To provide therapy for special kids, and To provide respite and support for the siblings and parents of special kids. To provide theoretical and hands-on education and training to students, caregivers, and professionals working in the field of autism and other developmental disabilities. The camps are named after Kris Moore (5/30/1988 - 11/9/1993), a wonderful little boy who touched many people

AudioBookCloud

AudioBookCloud:Your Online Audio Library is an online audio book library collection of streaming audio books for public libraries. A subscription to AudioBookCloud gives your patrons UNLIMITED remote access to your audio book collection. Like our TumbleBookLibrary and TumbleReadables collections, AudioBookCloud are launched from a link on your library or school website. Your patrons can access the entire collection from any computer with an Internet connection. Your audio are never all checked out, never on hold. As many people can listen to the same book at the same time as you like!!! Here's how it works. Once you have previewed AudioBookCloud and are

TumbleBookLibrary

TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of TumbleBooks � animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love. TumbleBooks are created by adding animation, sound, music and narration to existing picture books in order to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you. The TumbleBookLibrary is a collection of licensed titles from children's book publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Chronicle Books, Candlewick Press, Charlesbridge Press, Harcourt, Little Brown, Walker & Company, Lerner Books, and HarperCollins Publishers, amongst others. The TumbleBookLibrary provides enrichment to students who are reading independently with a variety of

TumbleReadables

TumbleReadables is an online collection of read-along titles for elementary, middle school, and high school students which features adjustable online text and complete audio narration. Sentences are highlighted as they are being read and the pages turn automatically. The collection features chapter books, early readers, graphic novels, YA/teen novels, high interest/low level books for both middle school and high school students, plus classics of American and English literature. Read-Alongs are great for emergent, struggling, and reluctant readers, as well as being an excellent tool for ESL. They are also well received by strong and accomplished readers who are excited to follow

Fit Kids Playground

Our mission is to decrease the burden of childhood obesity and its associated potential chronic diseases in the Tampa Bay area. Through parental education, early childhood intervention through fun education and community awareness about the simple steps that can be implemented to teach healthy habits for life, the Tampa Bay community will be healthier for years to come.

Love and Logic ®

What Is Love and Logic All About? The Love and Logic Institute is dedicated to making parenting and teaching fun and rewarding, instead of stressful and chaotic. We provide practical tools and techniques that help adults achieve respectful, healthy relationships with their children. All of our work is based on a psychologically sound parenting and teaching philosophy called Love and Logic. What Is Love and Logic? Children learn the best lessons when they're given a task and allowed to make their own choices (and fail) when the cost of failure is still small. Children's failures must be coupled with love

OlliNEPAL at the SERC School

OlliNEPAL at the SERC School in Kathmandu

OlliNEPAL team at HDCS, Asha Bal Bikash Sewa (“Children’s Hope Development Service”)

OlliNEPAL team at HDCS, Asha Bal Bikash Sewa ("Children's Hope Development Service")

Asha Bal Bikash Sewa (“Children’s Hope Development Service”)

Asha Bal Bikash Sewa (“ABBS”) is a day care ministry for children with physical and learning difficulties under the age of 16. The ministry was founded by a Norwegian Missionary Family who were living and working in Nepal. They had a severely disabled child who was cared for by a Nepali woman, Tulsa Sharma. Tulsa is now the Co-Ordinator of the ABBS programme. The ministry has grown from a single centre in Dhobighat, attended by three children which opened in 1993, to operating three centres serving approximately ninty five children with dedicated staff and volunteers. Two centres are based in

Kanti Children’s Hospital

MISSION To realize the vision, the Board has established its mission as the followings: To support GON plan to cut down children’s death rate by two-third by the year 2015. To be a leader in the field of quality child health education, training and research within the region. To develop professional exchange programs with other like-minded child health institutes within or outside the region. To exchange experience and knowledge with regional, zonal district hospitals and health centers on trainings and research. To provide expertise to government for the development of children’s hospital in the country. To set up a standard

Special Education and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children (SERC)

Established in 2009, and located in a peaceful neighborhood of midtown Kathmandu, SERC has a goal of providing most effective education to its students. All our students are either differently able or have individual special education needs. Every pupil in SERC has a specific and complex education needs, and our goal is to provide them with the best possible education methodologies and environment for them to flourish and bring out the best buried deep within. We believe that a perfect match between proper education methodology and rehabilitation therapies is the only way to go ahead. We, at SERC, try to

Shoreham students “experience” autism for a day

Fourth grader Nick Donnelly counted along with the rest of his classmates seated around the small cafeteria table at Miller Avenue School in Shoreham Thursday.When they reached 15, they pulled off the colorful bandanas that covered their eyes. Nick strai

Another Mom Faces Murder Charge in Child with Cerebral Palsy’s Death

A New York woman has pleaded not guilty to an upgraded charge of second-degree murder in the death last summer of her 8-year-old disabled daughter. Veronica Cirella, of Plainview, was initially charged with manslaughter after authorities said she admitte

Parents charged in death of Texas boy, 10

TEXAS CITY, Texas, April 5 (UPI) -- The parents of a disabled 10-year-old Texas boy whose body was found in a box are now charged in his death, authorities say. Texas City police said Tina Louise Madrid, 42, of Texas City was arrested Wednesday and was h

Epidemic, Awareness and Us, Autistics

By now everyone knows about the new numbers on autism diagnosis. And we have already seen the media jumping in the alarmist train: IT IS AN EPIDEMIC! My friend and I decided to look up some definitions for this word that has been used to classify me. This is what I found in one on line dictionary: epidemic noun a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time: a flu epidemic. a disease occurring in such a way. a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon: an epidemic of violent crime. Am I a

Therapists Address Esophageal Atresia

The Esophageal Atresia Treatment Program at Children's Hospital Boston in Boston, MA, is one of the only programs in the country specifically designed to care for children with this condition. Setting itself apart from the rest, Children's Hospital Bosto

Releasing IEE Data Without Parent Consent

I am a private psychologist. I completed an IEE, then turned in the report to the district and parents. We held an IEP meeting to review the results. Can the district request that I release my raw test data, test protocols, and test materials to the scho

Bill Introduced regarding special needs trust

H.R. 4329 -This bill or resolution was assigned to a congressional committee on March 29, 2012, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole.  To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan.  

Recording catches teachers mistreating special needs student

Two Alabama teachers have been put on administrative leave after the mother of a 10-year-old student with cerebral palsy attached an audio recorder to the bottom of his wheelchair and caught them scolding him about drooling, among other things. Jose Sali

School bans disabled girl from using walker

Kristi Roberts was stunned when school officials insisted that her disabled 5-year-old daughter switch to a wheelchair from the walker she’d been using for the previous two years. Little LaKay had battled cerebral palsy and epilepsy since she was born, a

OlliNepal Update – March 29

The Ollibean/OlliNepal team finished up their trekking outside of Pohkara, Nepal and are headed back to Kathmandu for 7 days where they will volunteer at a local school, meet with OLE Nepal ,Kanti Children's Hospital, and SEEDs Nepal. The team's internet access & email has been fairly limited, so we are all exicted hear their reports of working with children with a range of diffabilities and delivering communication tools/tablets. Can't wait to see the pictures and videos!  

Kyoto prof rolls out omnidirectional wheelchair

A mechanical engineering professor has taken the wraps off his vehicle that is designed to become a next-generation wheelchair. As its formal name suggests, this is the Personal Mobile Vehicle, or Permoveh for short. Rolling it around at

Ollibean Team Arrives in Nepal

The adventure begins! Beautiful start ! Greeted at Nepalese Airport by longtime friend, Topden Lama. Topden brought Tibetan scarves for the group

  • Photo of girl kicking with balloons in background. Text reads: RESOURCES we love. Ollibean logo.

Association on University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)  is an incredible resource. The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a  membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. The AUCD network includes: 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), funded by the Administration on Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) 52 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Programs funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) 15 Developmental Disability Research Centers (IDDRC), most of which ar