The Autism Education Site » wrightslaw

Keeping All Students Safe Act (S.2020)

Melissa — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:31 +0000

Yesterday I received an alert from Wrightslaw about the Keeping All Students Safe Act (S.2020). This was an action alert calling on everyone to contact our Senators asking for their support for the act. Here is an excerpt from the call to action:

Please email your Senators and ask them to cosponsor the Keeping All Students Safe Act (S.2020).

This bill will protect children nationwide from restraint and seclusion in schools.

The need for this legislation is exemplified yet again in a horrific situation in Middletown, CT regarding the use of school seclusion rooms.

The situation described by parents and students in this report is horrific and abusive. Aptly termed “scream rooms” in this media report, such seclusion rooms are exactly what the Federal bill, S. 2020, pending in the Senate seeks to eliminate.

Senator Tom Harkin (Chair, Health Education Labor and Pension Committee) introduced S. 2020 in December. The bill would ban physical restraint except in emergency situations when there is an immediate threat of serious bodily injury.

The bill bans seclusion (confinement) of children in locked rooms or rooms from which they cannot exit. It bans life-threatening restraint that interferes with breathing or the ability to communicate, and mechanical and chemical restraints. It requires schools to notify parents within 24 hours of restraint.

For more information, read the entire Wrightslaw Keeping All Students Safe Act (S.2020) Action Alert.

A List of Autism Conferences in 2012

Melissa — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:00:42 +0000

It is hard to believe that I am posting a list of autism conferences in 2012 in June 2011 but I am. I have received notification of a few autism conferences next year so I figured there is no better time than now to start this list. If you’re still looking for a conference this year, check out my list of autism conferences in 2011.

If you’d like to have your event added to my list, submit a 2012 autism conference today.

February 2012

February 3, 2012 – Future Horizons Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Des Moines, Iowa (use code MHO to save 15%)

February 16 – 18, 2012 – California Association for Behavior Analysis Western Regional Conference in Garden Grove, CA

February 17, 2012 – Future Horizons Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Sacramento, California (use code MHO to save 15%)

February 17, 2012 – Future Horizons Sensory Processing Disorder Conference in Jackson, Mississippi (use code MHO to save 15%)

February 17 – 18, 2012 – From Diagnosis to Daily Living Conference in Toronto

March 2012

March 1, 2012 – Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Huntsville, AL

March 2, 2012 – March 2, 2012 – Future Horizons Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Houston, Texas (use code MHO to save 15% off your registration fee)

March 8 – 10, 2012 – Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Conference in San Antonio, TX

March 9, 2012 – Future Horizons Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada (use code MHO to save 15% off your registration fee)

March 16, 2012 – Future Horizons Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Boston, Massachusetts (use code MHO to save 15% off your registration fee)

March 16, 2012 – Future Horizons Sensory Processing Disorder Conference in Lexington, Kentucky (use code MHO to save 15% off your registration fee)

March 22-23, 2012 – Future Horizons Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Denver, Colorado (use code MHO to save 15% off your registration fee)

March 26, 2012 – March 22-23, 2012 – Future Horizons Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi (use code MHO to save 15% off your registration fee)

March 28, 2012 – Future Horizons Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Branson, Missouri (use code MHO to save 15% off your registration fee)

March 30, 2012 – Future Horizons Autism/Asperger’s Conference in Dallas, Texas (use code MHO to save 15% off your registration fee)

April 2012

April 2 – 3, 2012 – 2012 Stages of Autism Conference in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

April 3, 2012 – Bilinguals Inc and ASAT Autism Conference in NYC

April 13, 2012 – Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Jonesboro, AR

April 19 – 21. 2-12 – Midsouth Autism Conference in Tunica, MS

April 25 – 28, 2012 – Minnesota Autism Conference

April 26, 2012 – Autism Forum – Perspectives From the Journey in Boston, MA

April 26 – 29, 2012 – Autism Research Institute (ARI) Spring Conference – New York/New Jersey

May 2012

May 17 – 19, 2012 – International Society for Autism Research IMFAR 2012 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

June 2012

Do you know of an autism conference taking place in June 2012? If so, please send me a note: Submit a 2012 Autism Conference.

July 2012

July 22 – 27, 2012 – Fragile X and Autism-related Disorders: From Basic Neuroscience to Improved Clinical Care in Easton, MA

August 2012

August 1 – 2, 2012 – ICare4Autism International Autism Conference in Jerusalem, Israel

August 9 – 10, 2012 – Victorian Autism Conference in Australia

September 2012

Do you know of an autism conference taking place in September 2012? If so, please send me a note: Submit a 2012 Autism Conference.

October 2012

October 14, 2012 – Seaver Autism Center Annual “Advances in Autism” Conference in New York, NY

October 25, 2012 – Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Maryland

November 2012

Do you know of an autism conference taking place in November 2012? If so, please send me a note: Submit a 2012 Autism Conference.

December 2012

December 6, 2012 – Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Oklahoma City, OK

Past Autism Conferences in 2012

January 2012

January 18 – 20, 2012 – DADD’s 13th International Conference on Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, and other Developmental Disabilities in Miami Beach, FL

January 19 – 21, 2012 – Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton 5th Annual Conference in Enoch, Alberta, Canada

January 27 – 29, 2012 – Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Autism Conference in Philadelphia, PA

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Roanoke, VA

Melissa — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:00:56 +0000

Learn more about IEPs, special education law, extended school years, least restrictive environment (LRE) and more at the Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Roanoke, Virginia.

Conference Dates: May 20, 2011
Conference Location: Roanoke, VA
Conference Venue: Sheraton Roanoke Conference Center
Speakers: Wayne Steedman
Conference Topics:

Section 1401 Definitions: Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.
Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment/Mainstreaming/Inclusion, Private Placements, Statewide Assessments
Understanding Test and Measurements, and the Bell Curve, Standard Scores, Scale Scores, % Ranks, Grade Equivalent, Age Equivalent
Section 1415 Prior Written Notice, Procedural Safeguards Notice, Mediation, Due Process Hearing, Appeal, Discipline, Age of Majority
Special Ed Advocacy for the Parent, Advocate, and Parent’s Attorney

Contact Phone Number: 877-823- 2237
Email Address: infofacesofvirginiaorg

Recommended Reading:

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Cincinnati, OH

Melissa — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:57 +0000

The Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training event in Cincinnati, Ohio will be held on May 7 at the University of Cincinnati.

Conference Dates: May 7, 2011
Conference Location: Cincinnati OH 45221
Conference Venue: Tangeman University Center, University of Cincinnati
Speakers: Pete Wright
Conference Topics:

Section 1401 Definitions: Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.
Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment/Mainstreaming/Inclusion, Private Placements, Statewide Assessments
Understanding Tests and Measurements, and the Bell Curve, Standard Scores, % Ranks, Grade Equivalent, Age Equivalent
Section 1415 Prior Written Notice, Procedural Safeguards Notice, Mediation, Due Process Hearing, Appeal, Discipline, Age of Majority
Litigation: Special Ed Caselaw

Contact Phone Number: 513-803-0513
Fax: 513-803-0103
Email Address: sipcchmcorg

Recommended Reading:

Photo: Ryosuke Yagi/Flickr

From Emotions to Advocacy in Mansfield, OH

Melissa — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:00:52 +0000

The team at Wrightslaw is stepping beyond their typical special education law and advocacy conference format during the From Emotions to Advocacy conference on May 4, 2011. Attendees will still receive a primer in special education law but this event focuses more on the advocacy side of things.

Conference Date: May 4, 2011
Conference Location: Mansfield, Ohio
Conference Venue: Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center
Spakers: Pete Wright
Conference Topics:

Advocacy 101: Learning the Rules of the Game
Goals and Strategies for the Advocate
Evaluations and Your Child’s Disability
Smart IEPs
No Child Left Behind
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Contact Phone Number: 419-747-4808

Recommended Reading:

Photo: Skyler817/Flickr

Wrightslaw Special Education Boot Camp in West Virginia

Melissa — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:00:15 +0000

The team at Wrightslaw is taking their special education law and advocacy conference to the next level with the upcoming two-day boot camp in West Virginia. Pet and Pam Wright will be speaking at the event at the Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV.

Conference Dates: April 20-21, 2011
Conference Location: Roanoke, WV
Conference Venue: Stonewall Resort
Speakers: Pete & Pam Wright
Conference Topics:

Overview: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA-97) and the Reauthorized IDEA of 2004
Section 1415:Procedural Safeguard s – Prior Written Notice, Procedural Safeguards Notice, Mediation, Due Process Hearings, Appeal, Dicipline
Section 504: Discrimination, Retaliation, Damages
Emotions, Conflict
School Culture

Contact Phone Number: 1-800-950-5250
Email Address: bgivenwvadvocatesorg

Recommended Reading:

Photo: liftarn/Flickr

Wrighstlaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Greensboro

Melissa — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:11:01 +0000

If you’re the parent of a child with special needs, whether those needs be developmental, medical or emotional, and you live in the Greensboro, North Carolina area then check out the Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training coming your way.

Wrightslaw is one of the best sources about IDEA 2004, IEPs, extended school years and more for parents. Understanding your rights, and your child’s rights, will help you get the most out of the school.

Conference Date: April 7, 2011
Conference Venue: Westover Church 505 Chapel Road
Speakers: Pete Wright
Conference Topics:

Section 1400 Findings, Purpose
Section 1401 Definitions: Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.
Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment/Mainstreaming/Inclusion, Private Placements, Statewide Assessments
Special Ed Advocacy for the Parent, Advocate, and Parent’s Attorney
Legal, systematic and “school culture” obstacles to compliance with IDEA-04

Contact Phone Number: 336-605-4654, 336-508-4730
Email Address: cbruffey2bellsouthnet

Recommended Reading:

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Eureka, CA

Melissa — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:00:49 +0000

Spend your St. Patrick’s Day 2011 learning how to advocate for your special needs child at the Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Eureka, CA.

Conference Date: March 17, 2011
Conference Location: Fortuna, CA 95540
Conference Venue: River Lodge
Speaker: Pete Wright
Conference Topics:

IDEA History and Overview
Section 1400 Findings, Purpose
Section 1401 Definitions: Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.
Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment/Mainstreaming/Inclusion, Private Placements, Statewide Assessments
Understanding Tests and Measurements, and the Bell Curve, Standard Scores, Scale Scores, % ranks, Grade Equivalent, Age Equivalent

Contact Phone Number: 707-733-9472
Email Address: kristin_biernackiyahoocom

Recommended Reading:

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Virginia Beach, VA

Melissa — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:00:48 +0000

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Virginia Beach, VA

Conference Dates: March 31, 2011
Conference Location: Norfolk, VA 23502
Conference Venue: Quality Inn Suites Lake Wright
Speaker: Pete Wright
Conference Topics:

The Parent as the Special Ed Manager and Expert
Recognizing and Avoiding the Fatal Obstacles
How to Deal with Conflict, A Healthy and Normal Event
Crisis, Emergency, Help
Tactics and Strategies

Contact Phone Number: 757-466-3696
Fax: 757-461-5375
Email Address: DSAHRverizonnet

Recommended Reading:

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Monterey, CA

Melissa — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:00:27 +0000

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Monterey, CA

Conference Dates: March 24, 2011
Conference Location: Seaside, CA 93955
Conference Venue: CSUMB World Theatre 100 Campus Center, Building 28 Seaside, CA 93955
Speaker: Pete Wright
Conference Topics:

Section 1401 Definitions: Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.
Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment/ Mainstreaming/Inclusion, Private Placements, Statewide Assessments
Understandings Tests and Measurements, and the Bell Scores, % ranks, Grade Equivalent and Age Equivalent
Legal, Systematic and “School Culture” Obstacles to Compliance with IDEA-04
How to Deal with Conflict, A Healthy and Normal Event

Contact Phone Number: 831- 372- 2730
Email Address: mailspeacialkiddsrusadeorg
Fax: 831-372-5730

Recommended Reading: