This virtual discussion will include information for high school for young adults with disabilities who plan to pursue a college degree. Participants can ask any questions they may have, including the process for accessing accommodations, the disability documentation needed, possible types of college-related services available through Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR), as well as things to consider when selecting or visiting 2 & 4 year colleges and universities.
Organizer is WIHD Community Support Network.
Details
When: Tuesday, June 18
Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
You might have read about Ezra (in The Boost, in fact!), a new film co-starring William Fitzgerald, a teenage neurodiverse actor from Montclair, N.J. Well, it’s here! The movie is being released in theaters Friday, May 31, including at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, N.Y.
RELATED NEWS: Montclair Teen Lands Lead Role Alongside Hollywood Heavyweights in ‘Ezra’
The plot centers on a father and stand-up comedian, living with his father, who is struggling to co-parent his autistic son with his ex-wife. The cast also includes Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro Rose Byrne and Whoopi Goldberg. The film was written by a father of an autistic child and several other cast and crew members identify as being on the autism spectrum.
In great news, Jacob Burns is offering, for a limited time, a $5 discount on a nonmember priced ticket. Just use promo code ROBDENIRO.
For show times and ticket information, go to the Jacob Burns here.
Photo courtesy of Jacob Burns Film Center
I suspect the focus of this webinar will be mostly on people with physical disabilities vs. those who are, say, on the autism spectrum, but that’s even more of a reason for people with developmental abilities who can handle computer work to attend and have their voices heard.
STEM is a common abbreviation for four closely connected areas of study: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And, as I’m sure you know, filling the growing number of STEM jobs has become a challenge.
The session will explore what it means to create resources, integrate approaches, and innovative strategies made with all students in mind.
Speakers:
Details
When: Thursday, June 6, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The New York State 2024-25 fiscal year budget was agreed to in April, but there was always some hope for last-minute changes. However, with the legislative session ending June 6, we’ve got what we’ve got. For now.
The WBFO-FM Disabilities Beat podcast with Emyle Watkins has a detailed discussion on how the budget will impact people with disabilities. It’s not great.
In a bit of good news, the budget does prioritize the national “Employment First” approach to employing people with disabilities, which in NYS means getting them competitive integrated employment, via a $6.7 million budget allocation. The details are still pending and, as we know, the devil’s in those details.
But there’s lots of disappointing news as well:
Photo: Mike Groll, Office of Governor Hochul
Recently released research confirms what all too many parents already know: Access to home health nursing is often inadequate, and families face major financial burdens.
The study defines medically-complex children as those who are supported by tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation and require full-time skilled nursing care, but its findings will likely resonate with those caring for any medically complex child.
“This study is the first to focus on the in-home nursing and caregiving environment,” lead author Brian Jordan, MD, MCR, PhD, director of advanced mechanical ventilation and associate professor of pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Oregon Health & Science University, says in a press release. “While prior studies have evaluated the home health nursing shortage from the point of view of the medical community, this study quantifies its impact as experienced and reported by medically-complex families themselves.”
You can check out the report’s summary here.
Image: Freepix.com
A neuropsychologist says autistic kids flourish when taught how their brains work, Pennsylvania’s oldest high school students with disabilities are in limbo, and more news for the week ending May 31, 2024.
Pregnant? Researchers want you to know something about fluoride
I wanted to spotlight this study because it might take off on social media, where it likely won’t receive the needed context. Conducted in Los Angeles, it links prenatal exposure to fluoride with an increased risk of neurobehavioral problems at age 3, including symptoms that characterize autism spectrum disorder.
Importantly, the findings do not show that drinking fluoridated water causes autism or any other behavioral conditions. “Nor is it clear whether the relationship between fluoride exposure and the problems seen in the L.A.-area children — a cohort that is predominantly low-income and 80% Latino — would extend to other demographic groups,” reports the Los Angeles Times.
However, “the results are concerning enough” that one epidemiologist advises pregnant people to avoid fluoridated water straight from the tap and drink filtered water instead.
A State Fund That Helps Children Hurt at Birth Is Suspended It paid the medical expenses of children who have suffered neurological injuries as a result of medical malpractice during childbirth. (New York Times)
A push to end subminimum wage for people with disabilities in New York A look at the bill sponsored by Assemblymember Phil Steck and Sen. James Skoufis. (Spectrum News 1)
Mom takes legal action against New Rochelle school district, claims aide violently yanked, yelled at autistic son (News 12 Westchester)
Special needs students in PA ‘in limbo’ as court weighs plan to extend services to 22 The Pennsylvania Dept. of Ed has appealed a court’s ruling invalidating a policy entitling students with disabilities to receive special ed services until their 22nd birthday. (Phillyburbs.com)
N.J. special education teacher now accused of sexually assaulting 14 students Nightmare. (nj.com)
How One School Fosters Belonging for Students With Disabilities A look at one of the 16 schools in Washington state aiming to demonstrate that all students benefit from inclusive classes. (Edweek)
Forced sterilizations for people with disabilities decried by members of U.S. Congress A resolution was introduced to bring attention to the experiences and challenges people with disabilities face when it comes to reproductive rights. (Michigan Advance)
Americans with disabilities are at a breaking point. Are politicians listening? “Our representatives should pay attention because they could be the most undervalued voting bloc in our country this election.” Amen. (The Hill)
Neurodivergent Kids Flourish When They’re Taught How Their Brains Work (Scientific American)
‘Simon of the Mountain’ Review: Federico Luis’ Sometimes Playful, Often Provocative Debut Weighs What Constitutes Disability This feature from Argentina centers on a group of nonprofessional performances: independent-minded adolescents with cognitive disabilities. (Variety)
In collaboration with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), this webinar from Parent to Parent of NYS will discuss and describe the DSP code of ethics as it relates to the family. In addition, it will cover the specific role of the DSP not only in certified residences, but in community-based settings as well as the family home.
This presentation aims to provide more understanding of each member’s role in supporting the individual receiving services and how all parties can work together to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Details
When: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
PAUSE Events, run by Autistic Adults NYC, are for non-speaking, intellectually disabled, and/or high-support needs autistic adults.
For this event, participants will make collages that represent the participant and their personality. Attendees are not expected to follow any specific instructions. All materials will be provided.
PAUSE kindly request that members with low-support needs refrain from RSVPing to keep the priority of PAUSE events towards intellectually disabled, non-speaking, and high-needs individuals. Read more about PAUSE, which stands for Proud Autistics Unmasked Social Exchange, here.
Details
When: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Time: 12 p.m.
Where: Brooklyn Library, Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Heights Branch, 286 Cadman Plaza W., Brooklyn, N.Y., 11201
Registration: Register here. If you’re registering for an autistic adult, please be sure to include a plus 1 with your RSVP.
New York City budget could result in cuts to special ed for preschoolers, California risks its reputation as being developmental disability-friendly, the problematic vaccine stance of RFK Jr., and more developmental disability news for the week ending May 24, 2024.
Early childhood education at center of budget talks between Mayor Adams and City Council Members “slammed” Adams’ proposed budget cuts to early education, noting that some money for programs like special ed for preschoolers will dry up without new investments. (Gothamist)
California prioritizes electric school buses over preschool for children with disabilities Gov. Gavin Newsom invested millions into expanding preschool for children with disabilities. Now, he’s proposing to scale it back to invest more in electric school buses. (Edsource.org)
Man With IDD Stuck In Texas Jail For 5 Months After Group Home Called Police Such arrests are common in group home situations in Texas, according to Krishnaveni Gundu, co-founder and executive director of Texas Jail Project. (Disability Scoop)
Essay: My son is profoundly autistic. Please don’t say he’s merely ‘neurodiverse.’ This writer says advocates are fighting to eliminate terminology that accurately describes his son and thousands of people like him. (Boston Globe)
Essay: My 29-year-old Son Is on the Autism Spectrum — but It Doesn’t Stop Us From Traveling the World (Travel & Leisure)
Advocacy Groups Aim To Tackle Mental Health, Heart Issues Among Those With IDD National developmental disability advocacy groups are inking multimillion-dollar partnerships with big players in health care to better address co-occurring conditions. The goal: To reduce the number of mental health crisis incidents. (Disability Scoop)
How RFK Jr. and Shanahan help deliver false hope to parents of children with autism (CNN)
Feigned outrage over the education of students with disabilities in school choice won’t close opportunity gaps How school choice is leaving vulnerable students behind, exacerbating educational opportunity gaps that already loom large. (k12dive.com)
Bradley Cooper Producing PBS Documentary About Family Caregivers Set to premiere in 2025, it will examine both systemic issues within the care system — where more than 50 million Americans provide unpaid care to family members — as well as tell personal stories of people who care for loved ones. (Hollywood Reporter)
This virtual presentation will guide parents through the process of transitioning their child from Early Intervention (EI) to the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE).
The New York State Early Intervention Program is part of the national Early Intervention Program for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. It’s administered by the NYS Dept. of Health through the Bureau of Early Intervention. In New York State, the program has been in effect since July 1, 1993.
To be eligible for services, children must be under 3 years of age and have a confirmed disability or established developmental delay, as defined by the State, in one or more of the following areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social-emotional, and/or adaptive.
Preschool Special Ed policy ensures that preschool children with disabilities receive timely and appropriate services in the least restrictive environment and that those services are coordinated with State and local agencies. (You can learn more about pre-school special ed here.)
Details
When: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The presentation is being organized by the Mid-Hudson Early Childhood FACE Center, Lower Hudson Early Childhood FACE Center and NYSED OSE Partnership.