* Reinstate Attorney's Fees to encourage settlement
* Assign Burden of Proof to school districts to promote fair process
WHAT: State House Special Education Legislative Hearings
WHEN: October 11, 2011, 10 a.m.
WHERE: State House, Room A-2,
The Joint Education Committee will conduct a hearing on OCTOBER 11, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in Room A-2 of the State House where testimony will be heard on important special education bills that have been filed this session to reinstate important protections to level the playing field for students with disabilities.
Parents and Advocates are encouraged to come to show support for the bills and visit your legislators.
If you are unable to attend the Oct 11th hearing, please call or e-mail your own state representative and state senator and ask them to support these important special education bills. (If you are not sure who your representative is visit www.wheredoIvotema.com)
PHONE CALLS, LETTERS, E-MAILS ARE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE!
Ask your representative and senator to please support the following bills:
1) H. 168 An Act Relative to Equal Educational Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
(Lead Sponsor: Rep. Speliotis)
--- Reinstate Attorney's Fees to Encourage Settlement and Reduce Costs:
This bill addresses the right of parents to recover attorney's fees when their special education case settles as a result of their due process appeal. In 2001, a Justice Rehnquist decision by the US Supreme Court (Buckhannon, 2001) effectively created a two-tier system, barring many low and middle-income families from accessing special education rights and services by stating that attorney's fees could not be awarded if they prevail through settlement. This bill would reinstate parents' rights to recover attorney's fees as previously available prior to 2001. This is critical to encourage prompt resolution and settlement of disputes, reduce litigation costs for families and school districts, reduce the lengthy delays which harm children deprived of essential services for months and sometimes years, and help ensure that children of all income levels receive equal educational opportunities.
-- AND --
2) S. 203 An Act to Provide Fair Process for Students with Disabilities ("Burden of Proof")
(Lead Sponsors: Sen. Eldridge, Rep. Wolf )
--- Assign Burden of Proof to School Districts to Promote Fair Process:
This bill establishes that school districts have the burden of proof in special education cases brought to the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA), reinstating Massachusetts procedural practice that was set aside following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court (Schaffer, 2005). The Supreme Court's decision effectively required parents to carry the burden of proof in the majority of cases under federal law. As emphasized by the dissent, however, districts have significantly greater access to the information, expertise, and resources required for litigation than parents, and placing the burden of proof on parents creates an unfair onus on families trying to achieve equal educational opportunities for their children. The burden of proof should be assigned to school districts as a matter of fairness to level the playing field, and to help deter costly disputes.
Please visit www.massadvocates.org for further information about these and other important bills that will be heard by the Joint Education Committee on October 11, including H. 1950 An Act to Promote Inclusive Transition Programs for Students with Severe Disabilities, S. 193 An Act to Maintain Short Term Objectives for Students with Disabilities, and H. 1040 An Act to Promote Cost-effective, High Quality In-District Programs for Students with Disabilities.
If you have any questions, please contact Johanne Pino at jpino@massadvocates.org or call her at 617-357-8431 x 234
Showing posts with label disability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disability. Show all posts
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
TRANSITION WORKSHOP
The following information is from Terri McLaughlin of the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
"Planning a Life, Making the Most Out of High School"
High school is a time when all students need to be actively involved in planning for their future. At this critical juncture, students and families must be informed, proactive, involved and hopeful. The process can be overwhelming for families because resources and information about Transition planning, Transition assessments and Transition services are often difficult to find.
We are pleased to announce the FIRST Planning a Life conference for the 2011 - 2012 school year!
NOVEMBER 4TH & 5TH (FRIDAY & SATURDAY)
SEVEN HILLS FOUNDATION
81 HOPE AVENUE
WORCESTER, MA
"Planning a Life: Making the Most out of High School" is a two day conference packed with Transition planning information and resources for and about students in special education ages 14-22. Transition planning, needs to be on schedule to ensure a systematic, purposeful, and individualized educational experience.
Plan now to attend to find out about "what you need to know, when you need to ask, and who you need to go to for answers." Our goal is to establish a statewide network of proactive knowledgeable parents working in partnership with their local school districts to develop individualized Transition goals in the IEP.
This conference is open to everyone. Registration is free for families in Boston, Worcester and Springfield, through Transition Works! a grant in partnership with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.
Additionally you can apply for scholarships through the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) Call 617-770-7676 or go to Council Empowerment Funds Program but, you MUST register first!
Go to http://fcsn.org/pti/workshops/transition.php and download the conference brochure.
Send your registration with payment today to the Federation’s Boston office, attention: Wanda.
If you need additional information, contact Terri McLaughlin 617-236-7210 x336 or tmclaugh@fcsn.org
Avoid the waitlist and register TODAY!
"Planning a Life, Making the Most Out of High School"
High school is a time when all students need to be actively involved in planning for their future. At this critical juncture, students and families must be informed, proactive, involved and hopeful. The process can be overwhelming for families because resources and information about Transition planning, Transition assessments and Transition services are often difficult to find.
We are pleased to announce the FIRST Planning a Life conference for the 2011 - 2012 school year!
NOVEMBER 4TH & 5TH (FRIDAY & SATURDAY)
SEVEN HILLS FOUNDATION
81 HOPE AVENUE
WORCESTER, MA
"Planning a Life: Making the Most out of High School" is a two day conference packed with Transition planning information and resources for and about students in special education ages 14-22. Transition planning, needs to be on schedule to ensure a systematic, purposeful, and individualized educational experience.
Plan now to attend to find out about "what you need to know, when you need to ask, and who you need to go to for answers." Our goal is to establish a statewide network of proactive knowledgeable parents working in partnership with their local school districts to develop individualized Transition goals in the IEP.
This conference is open to everyone. Registration is free for families in Boston, Worcester and Springfield, through Transition Works! a grant in partnership with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.
Additionally you can apply for scholarships through the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) Call 617-770-7676 or go to Council Empowerment Funds Program but, you MUST register first!
Go to http://fcsn.org/pti/workshops/transition.php and download the conference brochure.
Send your registration with payment today to the Federation’s Boston office, attention: Wanda.
If you need additional information, contact Terri McLaughlin 617-236-7210 x336 or tmclaugh@fcsn.org
Avoid the waitlist and register TODAY!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
BACK TO SCHOOL!
The start of another school year, seems like just yesterday we were welcoming summer. I have always loved the start of the new school year, whether as a student, a teacher, or a principal. The hope and excitement of what the new year will bring, seeing old friends/colleagues again, cooler weather, new clothes... how could one not be excited to walk back through those front doors? Unfortunately, many of you reading this post know all too well the stress and anxiety of "Back to School." You worry that your child will struggle to make friends or be the target of bullying. Will the teacher(s) see that special being you have the privilege of loving unconditionally? Will the teacher(s) be willing and able to make the necessary accommodations so your child can access the curriculum? Will you have to "fight" to get the services you know your child needs and has a legal right to?
If I may offer a few suggestions that may help:
1. Keep the channels of communication open: via telephone, note, email etc. Try not to assume that you know why a decision was made, ask why. Try not to assume that you are intentionally being left out the loop, pick-up the phone or send an email asking what's going on. Let the school know when your child didn't sleep well, or lost a beloved pet.
2. Think positive! Leave the past in the past. As hard as that is to do, assume that this year is going to be a successful year for your child and communicate that through your attitude. Try not to show or discuss your frustration in front of your child. Children are egocentric and will assume responsibility for your frustration. They may also assume your anger and bring it back to school with them, which, chances are will only lead to more frustration for you.
3. Bring people with you to your team meetings. When you attend a team meeting as a parent, you are thinking with your heart and emotions, which is appropriate for the situation. Therefore bring family &/or friends to support you, to take notes, to share their knowledge and experience of your child with the team. Of course, always notify the school in writing whom your are bringing. (Bringing food such as cookies, grapes, crackers or nuts also changes the tone of the meeting quickly.) If possible, never attend a team meeting alone.
4. Create or find a network of support for yourself. Join your school's special education PAC... now there's a source of support & knowledge to tap into. Consider attending workshops through organizations such as SPaN (spanmass.org) or the Federation for Children with Special Needs (fcsn.org), or join a network group specific to your child's disability. The benefits to such networking are many, such as: knowing you are not alone, having people to talk to who have been through what you are experiencing, and free advice from people who know exactly what you are talking about and can empathize with you.
I hope this blog is helpful to someone & I especially hope that each of you has a magnificent school year. HERE'S TO A SUCCESSFUL 2010/2011 SCHOOL YEAR!!!
If I may offer a few suggestions that may help:
1. Keep the channels of communication open: via telephone, note, email etc. Try not to assume that you know why a decision was made, ask why. Try not to assume that you are intentionally being left out the loop, pick-up the phone or send an email asking what's going on. Let the school know when your child didn't sleep well, or lost a beloved pet.
2. Think positive! Leave the past in the past. As hard as that is to do, assume that this year is going to be a successful year for your child and communicate that through your attitude. Try not to show or discuss your frustration in front of your child. Children are egocentric and will assume responsibility for your frustration. They may also assume your anger and bring it back to school with them, which, chances are will only lead to more frustration for you.
3. Bring people with you to your team meetings. When you attend a team meeting as a parent, you are thinking with your heart and emotions, which is appropriate for the situation. Therefore bring family &/or friends to support you, to take notes, to share their knowledge and experience of your child with the team. Of course, always notify the school in writing whom your are bringing. (Bringing food such as cookies, grapes, crackers or nuts also changes the tone of the meeting quickly.) If possible, never attend a team meeting alone.
4. Create or find a network of support for yourself. Join your school's special education PAC... now there's a source of support & knowledge to tap into. Consider attending workshops through organizations such as SPaN (spanmass.org) or the Federation for Children with Special Needs (fcsn.org), or join a network group specific to your child's disability. The benefits to such networking are many, such as: knowing you are not alone, having people to talk to who have been through what you are experiencing, and free advice from people who know exactly what you are talking about and can empathize with you.
I hope this blog is helpful to someone & I especially hope that each of you has a magnificent school year. HERE'S TO A SUCCESSFUL 2010/2011 SCHOOL YEAR!!!
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