"Disability Deception: Lies Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game"
 by JoAnn Collins
Free Special Ed Articles

Free Articles on Special Education written by JoAnn Collins can be found at: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=JoAnn_Collins

Currently over 150 articles are available in subjects such as: Letter Writing, parent input statements, functional skills, how to assertively participate in your child's IEP, model forms, extended school year services, inclusion, autism, applied behavioral analysis, FAPE, tape recording, due process, independent educational evaluations and IEE's at public expense, least restrictive environment, waiting lists, sensory integration disorder, learning disability, Sensory diet for sensory integration disorder, behavior, how to improve behavior, etc.


Check back often because new articles are being posted every week!

If you have a suggestion for an article please send an E mail to:
JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com

I recently received this E mail from an attorney in Boston Massachusetts: "I ran across your fine article regarding access for experts to observe programs. I have worked on this issue in Massachusetts for some time now. We have succeeded in having a new provision signed into law (allowing observations). Hopefully this will serve as a model for similar measures in other states. It took some doing, as this was opposed by the administrative organizations. The provision has just received its official designation as Chapter 363 of the Acts of 2008 of Massachusetts!"

Congratulations to all parents, advocates and attorney's in Massachusetts that worked hard to make this law happen for children with disabilities!!


     Testimonial from parent

New testimonial about articles: "Thank you so much for taking the time to put your insights on line. I can sleep tonight knowing that I have read this simple summary of your suggested game plan for resolution meetings (name of article is-Resolution meetings for due process--can it resolve my special education dispute!). Such a crazy bureaucracy. Thanks again for sharing your experiences and insights."

Thank you so much for the article that was recently posted entitled: 4 Parenting Tips to Avoid School Districts Attorney at Your Child's IEP meeting. "I loved this article, especially the resource from OSEP (a letter from
Hillary Clinton asking about OSEP's position on attorney's at IEP meetings)! I will be using this information in the future! Thanks again!"


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Contact Information: JoAnn Collins
PO Box 89 Bradley Il. 60915
E mail:
JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com 

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New article comment on article entitled: What IEP Teams Need to Consider in 7 Areas-For Children With Autism

Comment: "I found your article very conside and informative. It is a great reference tool for parents and teachers for designing an IEP specific to the child."  Mary Ann Harrington

JoAnn--Thank You Mary Ann!
               
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New comment on article: Over-Identification of Minority Children in Special Education-What Can Be Done?

JoAnn: "This article proved to be quite an eyeopener. I knew problems of profiling existed in society but I didn't know it's presence was so pronounced within the educational arena. Sounds like the school to jail, prison pipeline I've been hearing quite a bit about lately, which starts at around 3rd grade in most inner city schools is definetely in full effect. The United States has a sich preoccupation with enhancing and increasing the prison system but not strengthening nor funding our educational system. Please continue to provide information to education the general public about these statistics." Savannah

Thank You Savannah!
Top Articles are:

1. Sensory Integration Dysfunction; What is it, Diagnosis and Treatment

2. Parenting Tips on Sensory Diet for Sensory Integration Disorder

3. What are Functional Skills, and How Can My Child With a Disability Benefit From Them?

4. Special Education Acronyms; What Do All Those Letters Mean?

5. How Do I Know If My Child Has a Learning Disability?

6. What is Autism,
and How Do I Know if my Child Has It?

7. Parenting Tips on Bio Medical Treatments for Autism

These articles can be found at:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=JoAnn_Collins

Articles have appeared on these Websites:

1. www.eductra.com

2. http://parentingtipssite.info/

3. www.americannursetoday.com

4. www.learningaboutparentinginfo.com

5. www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Biotech-Law-Weekly

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www.specialeducationaladvice.com 

             
Testimonials about Articles

1. "I have seen your articles on E zine--Wow they are amazing!"

2. "The articles you posted contain very useful and practical information. I learned a lot from them and am better
prepared for my son's upcoming IEP meeting."

3. "I am someone who has benefitted from your inspiring, supportive and enlightening articles. Thank you for writing them and sharing them with us parents!!"

4. "I read some of your articles. I especially loved the one about appropriate vs. best. I just wanted to say that you rock!! This is the best information and help that I have ever seen or ever will see!!"

5. "Thank you for the article entitled: Are Parents Allowed to Observe Child's Classroom? My school district has refused to allow me to observe the special education classroom where my son with autism will be attending. This
article will really empower me to fight for him. This was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again!"

6. "I just found your articles on the Internet. I have saved some of your articles to share with my daughter. My grandson has autism and the school is refusing to give him ESY. Thanks for the
information.
 
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Eric J. Smith left me a question on one of my Ezine articles that I would like to respond to.

Here is Eric’s question: “Hello I am wondering what your thoughts are on special needs children receiving special needs education in mainstream schools. . .We are possibly at the opposite of the articles you have (written) where we want our daughter who has Angelman’s Syndrome to receive her supported education in a mainstream facility. We support the need for specialist services and supported education, just not at a facility focused only on disabled kids. Anyway, I would value your opinion.

JoAnn—Here is a little information on Angelmans Syndrome for those reading this:

Angelmans Syndrome is a neuro-genetic disorder characterized by intellectual and developmental delays, sleep disturbance, seizures, jerky movements, frequent laughter or smiling. A diagnosis is based on: A history of delayed motor milestones and then later a delay in general development, especially of Speech. Unusual movements including tremors, jerky arm and leg movements, hand flapping, and a still legged gait. There is a characteristic facial appearance as well as a history of seizures and an abnormal EEG tracing. There is also a deletion on Chromosome 15.

Here is my reply to Eric:

Eric: Thank you for placing a comment on one of my E zine articles. Here is my response to your inquiry:

As a parent of two adults with disabilities and an educational advocate for over 20 years what I am most concerned about is a child with disabilities is learning; not only academic learning, but functional learning as well. Whether this learning occurs in a regular classroom, a self contained classroom, or a special school is best left to the parents to decide, what is appropriate for their child.

My daughter Angelina who is now 29 years old participated in mainstream education throughout her schooling; and I believe that she benefited from it.

Children with disabilities can receive many positive things by being in a regular classroom. They have access to the regular education curriculum, they can make friends with children without disabilities, they can learn social skills and appropriate behavior from them, and many other positives.

But one thing that needs to be kept in mind is the importance of functional educational training for children with disabilities. A wonderful book that I use is called: “Functional Curriculum for Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Age Students with Special Needs” by Paul Wehman and John Kregal. While this book is older it is filled with lots of great information on Functional Curriculums. It even discusses the functional skills that children with disabilities need to learn at different stages of their education (elementary, Middle School and High School). I recently heard that the men wrote a second edition that has more updated information; definitely worth checking out!

As a child ages they may require more focus on functional skills training and functional academics rather than normal academics. The above book also has a chapter on functional academics that children need to learn so that they can become as independent as they can be in their adult life.

Unfortunately functional curriculums which include community training cannot be carried out in a regular classroom, but can be carried out in a specialized classroom with regular equipment for students to use and learn on (ovens, cooking utensils, tooth brushes etc), as well as the child’s community.

Special education is a service and not a specific placement! The child can receive the related and special education services they need in any setting that the parent deems appropriate.

Hope this answers your question Eric! Thank You for taking the time to ask me. JoAnn Collins


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