special needs gazette - september 2014
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Special Needs Gazette is the only publication that combines parental rights with practical tips for parents with children with special needs like Autism, sensory disorder and mroeTRANSCRIPT
Special Needs Gazette $3.95 SEPTEMBER 2014
Legal Issues: How to sue your local
Some parents may find that the
only remedy to ensure that their
child gets the assistance that they
needs is to sue the school board.
The majority of students who
have hearing loss are given the
general education classroom in
their neighborhood schools and
some begin their education in cen-
ter-based D/HOH Programs and
transition to their home schools.
Many of these students already re-
ceive special education services and
have IEP plans that provide support
and related services.
Recently, Special Needs Gazette
met a stepmother who was look-
ing for resources to help her hus-
band gain custody of his child and
enroll the child into a school that
accepts his IEP for deaf services.
After researching the topic and
speaking with legal, educational
and social worker professionals,
Special Needs Gazette was
shocked at just how little infor-
mation is available to help these
children reach parity
in education. Parents have been
fighting for their rights for dec-
ades, but for kids with hearing
disabilities, things can be bleak.
school board on behalf of your child
Indiana school boss
uses attorney after
over Special Needs
Gazette article, quote
Jim Snapp, the superintendent
of a small Midwest school
stands by his decision to hire
inexperienced teachers. In a
letter from his attorney, he ad-
mits, “...while the August 2014
School Board meeting did con-
tain a presentation by [Snapp]
on the “State of the School,”
your article took the experience
of teachers out of context.”
The letter went on to refer to
“actual statements are reflected
in his PowerPoint presentation”
but did not contain the presen-
tation. Nevertheless, Special
Needs Gazette sought answers
to other questions but no reply
was given. Special Needs
Gazette stands by its report.
by Alisha McDuffy
[ Cont. Page 6 ]
Special Needs Advocate of the Month
September is Childhood Awareness Month
Special Needs Gazette is excited
to launch a new feature
designed to let parents and
others recommend advocates,
teachers, attorneys, social
workers, aides and other
professionals in the special
needs community who help
children, parents, caregivers,
or those who work to direct
policy to ensure that IEPs, 504
Plans and other special needs services are delivered.
Many schools bill for services children never get.
The first recipient is Randi Levine, staff attorney for
Advocates for Children, who is often called the “Special
Needs Whisperer.” Levine has earned a reputation for
leaving no child— or parent—behind. Congratulations!
Special Needs Gazette September 2014
Page 2 [email protected]
Special Needs Gazette is proud to bring awareness to a very important topic: Childhood Cancer. Each year, about 10,450 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer.
Childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades. Because of major treatment advances in recent decades, more than 80% of children with cancer now survive 5 years or more. Madysen Landrum was diagnosed with cancer but died just a few short weeks later December 2013. You can take the $7 CHALLENGE to help her family at
www.GoFundMe.com/MadysenLandrum [ Page 6 ]
[email protected] Page 3
Special Needs Gazette September 2014
Page 4 [email protected]
LOLLI CHEW STIX: Kids love the
lollipop-shaped chewy toys that
feature an easy-grasp circular
handle that is just the right size
for little fingers! Sold in varieties
including “Smooth” that has a
slightly raised “spiral” pattern on
the chewy surface, or “Knobby”
that features lots of textured sen-
sory chewy bumpies!
Store: Therapy Shoppe
Price: $7.99
COOL CHEWS RACE CAR: Social-
ly appropriate alternative for kids
who chew on their clothing, pen-
cils, or other objects! These fun,
non-edible shapes are great for
kids who crave oral stimulation.
Choose a speedy race car or beau-
tiful butterfly. Each has multi-
textured surfaces for a varied sen-
sory experience. Cool Chews are
made in the USA and are BPA,
phthalate and latex free.
Store: Sensory Smart
Price: $8.00
CHEWBEADS BRACELET: Specifically
designed for babies and kids who love
to chew on their mom’s jewelry, the
Chewbeads merges fashion with therapy
by providing a soft, non-toxic jewelry,
which is colorful, chic and, above all else
safe. Chewbeads are great for children
with autism, sensory processing delays
or oral motor delays. Bracelets are made
with 100% silicone and are easily
cleaned with dish soap & water, also
dishwasher safe!
Store: Fun & Function
Price: $18.99
Top 3 “chew toys” for Autism and Sensory Disorders
Tell Us What Works
for Your Child!
Chewbeads
Do you have special toy or method
to soothe your child? Share your tips
and stories with us at
Lolli Chew Stix
Chew Race Cars
Special Needs Gazette September 2014
clearance from an ear nose and
throat doctor (ENT) certifying a
child as Deaf or Hard of Hearing
and needing support. These two
specific criteria will qualify a child
for special education services un-
der IDEA.
Subsequently, the U.S. Department
of Education issued the federal im-
plementing regulations for Part B
of the IDEA 2004, at 34 CFR Part
300.100 et seq., effective October
13, 2006. Supplemental Part B reg-
ulations were published on Decem-
ber 1, 2008, and became effective
on December 31, 2008.
If you need to sue, contact:
* YellowPagesforKids.org
* ParentAdvocates.org
* AdvocatesforChildren.org
* AutismSpeaks.org
* ResourcesforSpecialNeeds.org
However, there is a growing trend for
school districts to create 504 plans
for D/HOH students that provide gen-
eral classroom and instructional ac-
commodations. Let’s take a closer
look at how IDEA 2004 and Section
504 Plans differ in the ways that they
help support students who are Deaf
or Hard of Hearing in the classroom.
As parents of students with a disabil-
ity, we need to decide which plan will
be the best for our child.
If a school district only wants to con-
sider a 504 plan for your child with
hearing loss instead of special educa-
tion services under IDEA, find out
what accommodations the school will
provide for your child. Will assistive
listening devices be provided, and if
so, who will monitor the equipment
Legal Issues: How to Sue the School Board [ Continued from Cover ]
Special Needs Gazette September 2014
Page 6 [email protected]
and what qualification will this per-
son have? Who will be responsible for
implementing the plan and instruct-
ing the classroom teachers on how to
provide appropriate accommoda-
tions? How often will your child be re
-evaluated to determine if the plan is
successful? Another thing to consider
is the fact that Michigan Special Ed-
ucation Law is provided from birth
to age 26, but 504 plans do not
begin until a child reaches Kinder-
garten. Eligibility for special educa-
tion as D/HOH is determined by two
pieces of medical documentation, a
hearing evaluation by a licensed
audiologist and a medical
KITCHEN TABLE: Is food making your child sick?
Special Needs Gazette September 2014
[email protected] Page 7
By now, we’ve figured out a
thing or two when it comes
to food and special needs
kids. By keeping a keen eye
on what your children have
at home—and even during
school lunch—parents can
save a lot of headaches.
In their book, Food and your
Special Needs Child, Antonia
Chitty and Victoria Dawson
uncover some things that eve-
ry parent with a special needs
child needs to know.
Here is a recipe for a delicious pizza
for children with sensory issues or
Autism that your child will love!
INGREDIENTS
2cups rice flour
1. 2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp xanthan gum
2 tsp dry active yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 tsp vinegar
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup warm milk substitute
3/4 cup GFCF Pizza
6 slices tofutti mozzarella
In a mixing
bowl, combine
flour, sugar,
xanthan, yeast,
and salt.
Add egg, vinegar, oil and milk sub-
stitute to dry ingredients and mix
for 3 minutes on high speed using
an electric mixer. Using a rubber
spatula, spread dough evenly on a
well greased cookie sheet or 14"
round pizza pan.
Let rise on top of a warm oven for
20 to 30 minutes. Bake crust at
425 F for 10 minutes. Spread on
pizza sauce. Add tofutti mozzarel-
la (cut into 1/2 inch pieces), and
your choice of pizza toppings.
Bake at 425 F for 15 minutes or
until cheese bubbles.
