A GPS for Families of People with Special Needs – Part I

PART ONE BY LAUREN AGORATUS INTRODUCTION I wrote this manual to help other families of individuals with special needs and the professionals who work with them. My daughter now has five life-threatening conditions, and autism just to keep things interesting. We have been through everything from early intervention to currently going through transition to adult care. I hope this helps you on your journey. EARLY & CONTINUOUS SCREENING Families may be concerned that their child […]

Exercise Is Important For Exceptional Parents

THE FITNESS PRIORITY BY KRISTIN MCNEALUS, PT, DPT You cannot continue to care for your family if you do not also care for yourself. We all know that exercise is important to incorporate into our regular routine, and yet there are many excuses that get in the way, and the workouts get cut easier than other tasks that seem to be a higher priority at the time. It may seem impossible to exercise at times. […]

The Olmstead Decision Has Been Misinterpreted

BY JILL BARKER, DAVID HART AND TAMIE HOPP The Olmstead decision, which interprets the Americans with Disabilities Act, is so clear that persistent misinterpretation by federal agencies can only be described as purposeful. INTRODUCTION The 25th Anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2015 offers an opportunity to set the record straight about what the landmark Supreme Court decision, Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999)1, actually says about the ADA’s […]

Creating a Better IEP Meeting Experience for Families

BY DR. MARY A. HOUSER AND DR. CHARLOTTE L. FONTENOT Whether at the pre-IEP conference, during the IEP conference, or beyond, it is the parent who steers their child’s educational course. Every parent of an exceptional child receiving special education  in the public schools today has heard the words, “IEP meeting.” For some, these words conjure positive thoughts about a productive meeting that will educationally benefit their child. For others, however, the words “IEP meeting” […]

Teen Goes From Special Ed To Valedictorian

By MIGUEL OTÁROLA, THE SEATTLE TIMES/TNS For Chance Mair, sometimes emotions are hard to express. And it was certainly an emotional night in suburban Seattle at Marysville Arts and Technology High School’s graduation earlier this week, where the students filed into the auditorium in black gowns and royal-blue stoles. Not only was Mair graduating with the 50 seniors in his class, he was the class valedictorian. And he would be giving the valedictorian address, a […]