The CAC sponsors this blog for everyone in the Mount Diablo Unified School District community who has an interest in special education and students with special needs.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Help start a MDUSD Music Foundation!
Their first step is to form a Board of Directors made up of parents and community members and an Advisory Board made up of music teachers/directors and legal council. Greg Brown, Northgate Director of Instrumental Music and Gary Coartney, Concord High Director of Instrumental Music have volunteered their time for the Advisory Board.
Current priorities for the foundation are:
(A) Maintain 5th grade instrumental music beginning in the 2010-2011 school year
(B) Reinstate 4th grade music in the 2010-2011 or as soon after as possible.
(C) Work directly (and closely) with the school board and superintendent to ensure that the district resumes funding of this program as soon as possible.
(D) Establish a continuing practice of communication/publicity/celebration of the achievements, upcoming events, etc. of all of our district music programs.
(E) Establish long-term plans to support music facilities, technology in the music classrooms, music text books (literature), instruments and equipment.
For more information, please contact:
Gary Coartney at(925) 216-1049 or email neophonic@astound.net or coartneyg@mdusd.k12.ca.us
Friday, June 26, 2009
My Gym Playdates
Joelle Higgins, a Velle Verde parent, has taken the lead and arranged weekly play dates at My Gym in Walnut Creek. The play dates will start on Monday, June 29th. Please contact Joelle if you are interested, as My Gym will discontinue the event if it does not generate sufficient participation.
WHERE: My Gym, 2256 Oak Grove Rd. Walnut Creek
WHEN: Mondays, 1:15pm-2:15pm.
COST: $10 per child (min 6 kids), if the group grows to 12, or bigger, the cost will drop to $5 per child.
RSVP: Joelle Higgins, (925) 584-0986 or jojop2@aol.com by Monday 10am,
Please leave the following info:
Your Name
How many kids you are signing up
Age(s)
Which Monday (one time or multiple weeks)
Telephone number where she can reach you on Monday if the class will be canceled.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tourettes
http://www.hbo.com/bravenewvoices/poets/sanfrancisco_devinmurphy.html
Monday, June 22, 2009
Buddy Play
Bernadette says: "It is natural for children to learn from each other. Younger siblings have always aspired to do and be like their older brothers or sisters. Likewise, when any child is with a group of peers, he or she will have an opportunity to mimic or practice behaviors and skills that they will use throughout life. It is my opinion that any time children with special needs and “typical” children come together as one group, both sides can learn a great deal from each other!"
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Accessible Park: Robert's Regional Park and Pool
Friday, June 19, 2009
Day on the Beach
This event makes ocean sports accessible all. Volunteers create a unique 7,600 square foot platform on the beach that helps beach lovers with mobility issues to travel over the sand to the activities. Beach wheel chair races and children's activities are part of the fun! Register here.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Accessible Beach: Shadow Cliffs
Monday, June 15, 2009
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
"The Bridge Program is a Transitional Program for Developmentally Delayed Adults 18-22 years old. The Program is designed to teach the students independent living skills. These skills include, but are not limited to, learning job skills, travel training, making and maintaining weekly budgets, banking, cooking, and going on community outings.
On Thursday, May 28, 2009, 10 Bridge students along with 4 County students received their Certificate of Completion. The night was a huge success and very gratifying for the students who have worked so hard these past 4 years. Gail Isserman, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel (MDUSD) was the key note speaker. Mildred Browne, Assistant Superintendent Special Education and Student Services (MDUSD) and Karen Sakata, Assistant Superintendent (County) recognized each of the students. The highlight of the night was our Valedictorian, Holland McRae, a graduating Bridge student. We want to wish all of the students good luck in their next endeavors!"
Gina Miller, M.Ed
Bridge Administrator
Sunday, June 14, 2009
MAPPS at Bancroft
June 16 Board Meeting
14a-Using stimulus funds to fund Learning Centers
22-Using stimulus funds to fund 5 Program Specialist positions for 2 years
42-Using stimulus funds to fund certain preschool program expenses
43a-Eliminate paid transportation (this does not affect mandated special ed or NCLB busing,will most likely affect Crossings, Crystal Ranch and Clayton residents).
44-Eliminate one member of the Superintendent's Council (starting 2010-2011 school year.) The Council members are: Associate Superintendent, 4 Assistant Superintends (Special Education, Elementary Education, Personnel Services and Administrative Services) and District General Council.
45-Eliminate Administrative Assistant for one member of the Superintendent's Council (starting 2010-2011)
46-Transfer from State Deferred Maintenance Funding
47-Delay transfer of Meals for the Needy to Food and Nutrition Services
48-Eliminate one Senior Maintenance Worker
49-Eliminate Director of Purchasing50-Reduce District funding for Leadership Conference by 50%
51-Additional reductions to Tier 3 programs (target amount $12,600,000, including the restorations of 5 campus supervisors for student safety.) See information regarding the Tier Programs here. Disclaimer: This list is from the March Study Session, and may not be current.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Autism Speaks launches Safety Project
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Help select the new Superintendent!
Kids Sing for Their Schools
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Speak Up on Health Care Reform!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Speak Up for Early Start
The Lanterman Act is the law that guides Regional Center services in California. The following changes to the Lanterman are being proposed:
-Change the current eligibility requirement for Early Start from 0 - 36 months to 0 - 24 months.
-Mandate that private insurance covers Early Start Services.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 10, the Department of Developmental Services is hosting a public hearing via teleconference from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to get your input regarding Early Start changes only.
To participate in the teleconference, please call the toll free number listed below, and enter the participant code at the prompt.
Toll free teleconference: (866) 222-0917
Participant code: 507301
The Governor and Laterman Act cuts
Thank you to Barbara Maizie at Contra Costa ARC for this:
Recently, the Sacramento Bee editorial board broadcast a live interview on the internet with Governor Schwarzenegger. A question was asked of the Governor regarding the Lanterman Act. You can view the broadcast using this link
Note that the sound from this link does not begin until a couple of minutes into this interview. If you want to view only the Governor's response to the Lanterman Act question, advance the video using the scroll bar to 33 minutes and 30 seconds into the program. Here's the text of this exchange:
Interviewer: "Joyce Hearn, one of our readers, wants to know if you intend to keep intact the Lanterman Act which is the California law that guarantees services for the developmentally disabled."
Governor: "Um, you know it's all on the chopping block. It's all part of the budget And I think that we try to...I'm very sensitive about that because as you know my mother in law one time called me about that when I made cuts a few years ago there. So, but, like I said, I cannot pick and choose, to pick and choose would be the wrong thing here. It has to be somewhat across the board. And so that is also one of the things we are looking at."
Caroline Stimson
Monday, June 8, 2009
Concise explanation of Special Ed Law
It is on this web site
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PODCAST WITH DR. GASTON WEISZ
And there are other interesting topics covered there also.
Caroline & Darrell Stimson
Regional Centers Denying Services, too
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Summer Dates for Pump it Up Jump Nights
1301 Franquette Avenue ~ Concord, Ca 94520 (925) 681-1060
Pump It Up in Concord has recognized the growing population of special needs children in Contra Costa County and is hosting a jump night each month for your special kids and their families. We have scheduled the jump night for the next 3 months so you can mark your calendars!
Wednesday July 8th 6:30-8:00pm
Wednesday July 29th 6:30-8:00pm
Wednesday August 19th 6:30-8:00pm
Wednesday September 16th 6:30-8:00pm
Please visit our website for additional information
So come on out, have a BLAST, catch up with old friends and meet new ones!
Cost is $8.00 per child. Parents are always free!
*Socks are required
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Siblings and the Least Restrictive Environment
Parents: You must read this
Summer reading help
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
DeSaulnier calls for Constitutional Convention
Board Meeting Update
Summer School for Parents
Loving Solutions is a 7 - week series to guide parents to gain skills and confidence to communicate with your strong-willed or out-of-control child. Occurring Tuesdays at the Women's Health Center in Walnut Creek from 4:00 - 6:00 pm starting July 7th, 2009. Please note the cost of the 7 week series is $90.
Session 1: Parenting the Strong- willed child
Session 2: Ideals Rules and Tools
Session 3: Responding to Our Children's Choices
Session 4: Structuring for Success
Session 5: Concrete Solutions for Tough Kids
Session 6: Recognizing Supporting Success
Session 7: Children with ADHD/ADD
Parent Project is a 10- week series designed for parents of teens to teach specific prevention and intervention strategies for destructive behaviors, address some of the most serious questions parents have, while empowering you as a parent and transforming your teen. Occurring on Tuesdays at the Women's Health Center Walnut Creek from 6:30 - 9:00 pm starting on July 7th, 2009. Please note the cost is $90 for the 10- week series.
Session 1: Understanding our Children
Session 2: Addressing Problematic Behavior
Session 3: A Parent's Formula for Success
Session 4: Adolescent Drug Use
Session 5: The Out-Of-Control Child
Session 6: Developing Personal Action Plans
Session 7: Finding Help and Support
Session 8: The Dynamics of Change, Conflict, and Active Listening
Session 9: Communication and Consistency
Session 10: Promoting a Family Unit/Putting It Together and Making It Work
Please check out the website for more information and to confirm details or call 925.941.7900.
Parent speaks out at Sacramento hearing
New ASD Magnet Program?
The Magnet Program will maximise collaboration among professionals at specific school sites to emphasise support for social and pragmatic language development and reading comprehension. The pilot program will target ASD 1st and 2nd grade students, as well as middle schoolers from full inclusion or mild/moderate SDC settings. The intention is to expand the program for all students with social skills and executive functioning deficits.
Behaviorist Program Manager, Kara Oettinger says: "The Autism Task Force and I have been investigating more comprehensive ways to serve students with Asperger's Syndrome or high functioning autism. Research shows that to successfully teach social skills, it needs to be done in the context of the student's life. As Behaviorist Program Manager, I have observed how students easily become isolated and victims of bullying. By restructuring our programs, we can better serve our students, provide consistent, school-wide support and closely monitor progress in the area of social skills development and executive functioning and prepare students for life and work after graduation."
This new program is to be presented to the BOE tonight.
Monday, June 1, 2009
School Board Meeting, Tuesday, June 2nd
-14 Reduce all Special Education services that are not mandated
-14a Close resource centers
-22 Eliminate 5 program specialists
-27 Use federal stimulus money to fund Special Education
-36 Eliminate one senior secretary in Special Education
-37 Transfer some funding for administrative secretary in Special Education to MediCal
The list of potential reductions starts on p72 of the Board of Education's Agenda.
The meeting is on Tuesday, June 2nd, 7:30pm at Monte Gardens Elem, 3841 Larkspur Dr, Concord.
You can also view the meeting online.