Monday, April 30, 2007

Comments are Rolling in on SB 10

I have been receiving lots of emails on SB 10. I will always ask first before I post your comment. The comments are coming in from both sides of the fence.
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The only good thing may be that more private schools will attempt to serve kids with disabilities. The poorest children, of course, will still be left out. The vouchers will probably help kids with Aspergers, ADD, and learning disabilities, but not children with more significant disabilities.

Nancy W. Duncan
Executive Director, Disability Resource Group
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I do understand there are many people excited over SB10 when I first heard of it I caution people I talked with to proceed slowly. On the surface the bill seems an answer, but each of us has to do what is best for our family. For my family, this is not a good bill .I am not happy about the bill - as always, we give more than we may possibly receive.

Saundra Z. Brown, Macon

Friday, April 27, 2007

Final version SB 10

For a complete version of Senate Bill 10, private school vouchers for children with disabilities,

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/fulltext/sb10.htm

If you get a chance, read through it and tell me what you like, don't like, and what was left out.

Have a great weekend!

Ever Think of Running For Office?

Sherry Sperin , class of 2006, is participating in a workshop in Atlanta that supports women running for office this weekend. The White House Project is a national organization that encourages more women to seek leadership positions. I know quite a few grads who would make great candidates!

Here is the link for the full details: http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org/voterunlead/gorun/

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Partners Leading the Pack

Jackie McNair, parent mentor for Gwinnett, has just been appointed to the board of the Greater Georgia Chapter of the Autism Society. Macon graduate, Saundra Brown, just received an the Arbitrator of the Year for 2007 award by the Better Business Bureau. Saundra is also a part of the Region 4 MHDDAD Planning Board. Congratulations ladies!

Partners and Voices Grads:Please send me your good news and I will post it!

Public Input for Voc Rehab

For everyone who has something to say about Voc Rehab....the public notice below:
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The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program of the Georgia Department of Labor will hold public comment hearings throughout the State regarding the state plan for delivery of vocational rehabilitation services for fiscal year 2008.

SRC COMMITTEE: PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS – May 7-18th, 2007

Each year, the Georgia VR program is required to submit to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) a plan which addresses how it proposes to provide a broad array of vocational rehabilitation services to Georgians with disabilities who are eligible. Public input and participation is requested regarding substantive changes, additions or improvements in the delivery of those VR services.

RSA is the federal agency responsible for administrative and fiduciary oversight for vocational rehabilitation funding disbursed by the United States Congress.

LOCATIONS, DATES and TIMES OF MEETINGS:

May 7
Columbus
Founder’s Hall Turner Continuing Education Center
Columbus State University
Corner of East Lindsey Drive & College Drive

10:00 a.m. –
1:00 p.m. and
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
May 8
Albany
Darton College
Room 101, Building B
2400 Gillionville Road

2:00 – 7:00 p.m.
May 9
Waycross
Waycross College
Educational Building Auditorium
2001 South Georgia Parkway

2:00 – 6:00 p.m.
May 10
Savannah
Coastal Georgia Center
305 Fahm Street

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
May 11
Augusta
Georgia Dept. of Labor Career Ctr.
601 Green Street

1100 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
May 14
Macon
Georgia Dept. of Labor Career Ctr.
3090 Mercer University Drive

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
May 15
Athens
VR Regional Office
125 Athens West Parkway

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
May 16
Suwanee
Gwinnett County Public Library
Suwanee Branch
361 Main Street
1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
May 17
Rome
Coosa Room
Rome-Floyd County Library
205 Riverside Parkway

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
May 18
Atlanta
Floyd Room, West Tower 20th Floor
Sloppy Floyd Building
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MEETINGS:

A toll free number is available to request accommodations at the meetings. The toll-free number for VR customer service is 866-489-0001. VR Centers assist in giving information to clients. The State Plan, including the Strategic Plan, will be available one week prior to the first meeting.


PUBLIC INPUT:

Interpreters will be provided for non-English speaking participants, ASL etc.
Citizens attending the hearing who wish to comment for the record will be limited to five minutes; no two-way dialogue is permitted. Those who wish to comment but cannot attend the hearing in person may send written statements to Linda Shepard, Parents Educating Parents & Professionals, Inc., 3680 Kings Highway, Douglasville, GA 30135; or email them to shepard.linda@peppinc.org. Written statements are limited to two (2) pages, double spaced. PEPP will use “Survey Monkey” to conduct a survey on proposed changes to the plan. The survey and any additional information will be posted to our website on the home page http://www.peppinc.org/.

The Georgia VR State Plan for fiscal 2008 may be reviewed online at http://www.vocrehabga.org/, or in print at any regional or local VR office in the state. To locate the nearest office, or for more information about the public hearing, call VR Customer Service at

Families Coping with Autism

This sounded interesting.. please feel free to pass this along. I got this from the Marcus Institute.

LOOKING FOR FAMILIES COPING WITH AUTISM
Do you have a child with autism or PDD who is 6-12 years old? We are conducting a study that will examine how families who have a school-age child with autism are coping. The data will be collected through a survey that is mailed to the family. Families will receive $10 after returning the survey. There is a lack of research on the impact of autism in diverse groups, and therefore we are especially interested in recruiting families who will provide racial, ethnic, economic, and religious diversity. This study is affiliated with the Clinical Graduate Program of the Psychology Department at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Meg Manning at margaret.manning001@umb.edu or (617) 287-6318.

Greetings from Kathie Snow for Partners

A quick request from Kathie Snow below:

Twenty years ago, the Minnesota DD Council launched the first Partners in Policymaking program! Colleen Wieck, the Executive Director of the MN DD Council, Ed Skarnulis, the Director of DD Services at the time, and others were instrumental in creating a leadership developmental training program that changed the course of our lives!

In celebration and recognition of the 20th anniversary of Partners, I’m collecting testimonials, tributes, and/or other contributions from people who have benefited from Partners in Policymaking and/or who recognize the value of the Partners program.

Would you please take a moment to send me your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and/or whatever you’d like to share? (See more info below.)

You’re welcome to also send relevant photos, videos, and/or other appropriate items. All testimonials and other information received will be gathered together and presented to the MN Council at their June meeting.

You can send your “testimonial” to me via Email, fax, or regular mail (contact info below). However, please make your “greeting” to the Minnesota DD Council, and if sending it via Email, please do not hit the reply button, but create a new Email to my address, with “Dear MN DD Council” (or something similar).

All testimonials and other materials received will be placed on the Minnesota DD Council’s website, in celebration of 20 successful years of the extraordinary Partners in Policymaking program!

My Email address is: kathiesnow@msn.com
Fax number is: 719-687-8114
Snail mail address:Kathie Snow250 Sunnywood LaneWoodland Park, CO, USA 80863-9434

Please send as soon as possible, and no later than May 23, 2007.

I don’t know where I would be today---or what direction my son’s life would have taken---if I had not been in the Partners program so many years ago! I’m so grateful for my Partners experience and the leadership of Colleen, the MN Council, and Partners coordinators and funders....and I hope you’ll take a moment to share your appreciation and ask others to do the same!
Thanks for your help, and I look forward to receiving your response!

Kathie Snow
Woodland Park, CO
Texas Partners Grad 1991

Friday Night Lights and SB 10

SB 10, a bill on private school vouchers, passed by the one vote of Speaker Glenn Richardson late last Friday night. I was unable to be there but Dave caught all the action and the spirited debate in the House that lasted for hours. I will send out the final copy of the bill later this week. I have been advised by the staff of the House Ed committee to wait a few days while they catch up online. I have already had several calls about parents who want to put their children back into public school for a while to take advantage of the private school option.

Now that its all over.... will you consider it for your child?

Forums for Medically Fragile Children

I recently received this notice about two forums around the state for parents of children who are currently enrolled in or were denied the Katie Beckett Deeming Waiver. It looks like a great opportunity to express your opinions on this issue. If you are able to go,drop us an email and tell us how they went -rita@aadd.org.
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The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is pleased to provide an update on its partnership with the State of Georgia and the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to develop a statewide service delivery system for medically fragile children and their families. Established in the fall 2006, Champions for Children with Exceptional Needs Initiative (formerly Supporting Healthy Families Initiative) will map the existing services for medically fragile children and their families, identify where there are gaps, and develop recommendations to meet those gaps with an appropriate nonprofit or network of nonprofits across Georgia. This work is being guided by an Advisory Committee comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders. The Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC) has been hired to conduct the research and outreach activities.

Dates and Locations
Saturday, April 28th (Atlanta forum)
North Atlanta High School
2875 Northside Drive, NW
Atlanta, GA 30305

Saturday, May 5th (Savannah forum)
Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler
225 Candler Drive, Suite 203
Savannah, GA 31405

Check-in and light continental breakfast: 8:30AM—9:00AM
Community Forum: 9:00AM—12:00PM

To register for the Forums send an email to champions@atlcf.org by 12:00PM on Friday, April 27 for Atlanta and 5:00PM on Thursday, May 3 for Savannah. Please specify if you will attend the Forum in Atlanta or Savannah

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Capitol News

The House voted to approve the FY07 and FY08 budgets on Friday, handing the budget over to the Senate for consideration. The Senate now are pressed to pass the FY08 budget on Monday or Tuesday so that the General Assembly will be able to pass the only legislation that they are sent to Atlanta - the State's budget. The House agreed with the Governor to fund 1,500 new MRWP services to Unlock Georgia's waiting lists for people with disabilities.

Stories popped up around the state covering his process
Several hours after the House and Senate signed off on the midyear plan in separate unanimous votes, the House adopted Gov. Sonny Perdue’s 2008 budget request 156-7, putting the Legislature on track to adjourn this year’s session next Friday.
These was an one cut in the budget that raises serious concerns concerning healthcare in Atlanta.
The House budget also rolled back $140 million in cuts to K-12 education proposed by Perdue to $100 million, offsetting that $40 million increase in part with $30 million in projected healthcare savings. Several Democrats questioned House Republican leaders’ plan to move aged, blind and disabled Medicaid patients into managed care at the beginning of next year.

“Can we actually do this by January of 2008?” asked Rep. Keith Heard, D-Athens.

Harbin said the Department of Community Health, which oversees Medicaid, has been planning such a step since the state moved the rest of Georgia’s Medicaid population — mostly women and children — into managed care last year. “This is the most expensive part of the (Medicaid) program,” he said, referring to the aged, blind and disabled category of enrollees. “If we’re going to do managed care, the whole population has to be included.”

Partners in Policymaking Weekend

One weekend out of each month, a group of amazing people get together to learn from each other about how to make a difference together. This weekend, we had the pleasure to hear Jeff Strully on Saturday talk about how important having a clear vision for the future is to our lives.

Jeff Strully spent the afternoon facilitating a dialogue about building a desirable future. Some of the links he offered as resources include:
TASH - an international membership association leading the way to inclusive communities through research, education, and advocacy. TASH members are people with disabilities, family members, fellow citizens, advocates, and professionals working together to create change and build capacity so that all people, no matter their perceived level of disability, are included in all aspects of society.

Inclusion Press - Inclusion Network offers 'generic' workshop, training and consultation models and workshops created to meet specific situations - planned jointly with you. For other Inclusion activities, Go to their website.

Quality Mall - a place where you can find lots of free information about person-centered supports for people with developmental disabilities. Each of the Mall stores has departments you can look through to learn about positive practices that help people with developmental disabilities live, work and participate in our communities and improve the quality of their supports.
Jeff talked about how our own personal styles affect the way we contribute to grou decisions. He recommended the following book:
Rita facilitated a conversation about lessons learned throughout the day. She used concepts from this wonderful book.

On Sunday, we discussed how to build real relationships with others. A wonderful book that frames how important it is to have a strong network of support in all of our lives is "Never Eat Alone"

Thursday, April 12, 2007

A Greenlight for SB 10 from House Ed Committee

Considering the amount of changes that were made to the original bill, SB 10 passed quickly out of the House Education Committee this afternoon. The bill had an additional change that was made since the last meeting a couple of weeks ago. Parents will have to have their child enrolled in public school for one year instead of just one semester, to take advantage of the voucher. Also today, the bill was ammended to only allow private schools in Georgia to accept vouchers. Previously, an out of state placement was permitted.

As soon as the final House version is ready electronically, we will send it out to everyone. SB 10 is now headed for the House floor for a vote. That will more than likely happen early next week.

Consumer Advisory Network (CAN) extends through 2011

I got this request from Lynne Broderick, MPH - Research Coordinator with the Crawford Research Institute at the Shepherd Center
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technology, “Wireless RERC”, is pleased to announce the extension of its Consumer Advisory Network (CAN) through 2011!

Our new Survey of User Needs is now available and we invite you to take part in it, become a CAN member and share it with others you know who may be interested. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.

The fully-accessible survey is available online at:

http://www.wirelessrerc.gatech.edu/survey/coverletter_p2.html

The Wireless RERC is funded by the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research to “promote equitable access to and use of wireless technologies by people with disabilities and encourage adoption of Universal Design in future generations of wireless devices and applications.” Members of the Consumer Advisory Network (CAN) are integral to helping us achieve this mission.

The Consumer Advisory Network started in 2001 with our first Survey of User Needs. Over 1,200 people responded to the Survey of User Needs, and over 800 of those became CAN members.

During our first five years, CAN members have taken part in:
a nationwide survey about the usefulness and usability of wireless products
focus groups on cell phones, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and text messengers
development of a guide to choosing a cell phone
study of the use of cell phones in everyday living
talks with wireless companies about better usability for customers with disabilities

If you have any questions, or to request hard copies of the survey or to complete it over the phone, please contact:

Lynne Broderick
2020 Peachtree Road, NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
Voice: (404) 367-1348
Toll-free: (800) 582-6360
Email: wirelessrerc@shepherd.org or lynne_broderick@shepherd.org

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Governor Perdue Announces March Revenue Figures

Revenues look good for this year, but we are still waiting to see how they resolve the supplemental budget. There is some concern that the FY08 budget will not be completed by end of session. They may try to come back in May or June to finish the "Big Budget".
ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that net revenue collections for the month of March 2007 (FY07) totaled $1,174,222,000 compared to $1,200,704,000 for March 2006 (FY06), a decrease of $26,482,000 or 2.2 percent. The percentage increase year-to-date for FY07 compared to FY06 is 5.8 percent.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Vouchers for children with disabilities still being debated

Henry T. Edmondson III, a political science professor at Georgia College and author of "John Dewey and the Decline of American Education," made the case today in the AJC that flexbility is needed in the school system.
Critics further note that under special education voucher programs, parents who opt to use a voucher must waive their access to federal resources provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. But this is precisely the decision for a caring parent to make, and the fact that some make it in other states is evidence that IDEA does not always ensure quality special education. Besides, parents can always relinquish their voucher the next year if they should find that their child's earlier schooling was superior.
This issue is still being hotly debated. We all want what is best for children with disabilities. If this program moves forward, how do we ensure that all children are recieving the best educational experience?

How do we measure success?

Larrabee reports that disagreements on the supplemental budget is about timing

Brandon Larrabee with the Morris News Service reports today that disagreements about the budget are not about whether, but about when...
Legislative leaders stress that much of the disagreement over revisions to the budget for the year ending June 30 are not about whether the state should do many of the projects proposed by House leaders, but when to fund those proposals.
But why the different views? Some have suggested that Senators are spooked by national loses for republicans.
...conventional wisdom that the lack of spending restraint by Washington Republicans contributed to November defeats because it disillusioned conservatives, who expected smaller government after the 1994 Republican revolution. "When it doesn't happen, people then get disappointed," Mr. Bullock said.
Rep Ben Harbin welcomed thousands of golfers to Augusta with an opinion piece over the weekend calling the Senate to task for not moving forward...
AS THE GEORGIA Senate locks down in its position that the 2007 supplemental budget should primarily fund emergencies such as tornado damage or increases in student enrollments, projects that many of us deem emergencies such as the Golf Hall of Fame face a critical juncture. It's not just political gamesmanship anymore.

If senators truly believe the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame is no longer a worthy investment, they should spend this week in Augusta. They will see visitors from throughout the world at Augusta National spending millions of dollars. Golf fans bring so much prestige to our state that a $300,000 investment to the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame will someday reap benefits many times that for the good of all Georgians.