Feds Warn Charters On Special Education

Charter schools must provide special education services and ensure that students with disabilities are not discriminated against just like traditional public schools, federal education officials say.

In a “Dear Colleague” letter issued Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education said that charters have the same obligations as regular public schools to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act in addition to other federal civil rights laws. Such responsibilities are the same whether or not charters receive federal funding, the Education Department guidance indicates.

Specifically, students with disabilities are entitled to a free, appropriate public education and should not be discriminated against in the admissions process or in regard to discipline. Charters must also provide related services to students with disabilities and guarantee that such children have “equal opportunity” to participate in extracurricular activities, the guidance said.

“Every student with a disability enrolled in a public school, including a public charter school, must be provided a free appropriate public education — that is, regular or special education and related aids and services that are designed to meet his or her individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of students without disabilities are met,” wrote Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights at the Department of Education, in the letter.

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Training May Help Autism Moms Reduce Stress

Training mothers of children recently diagnosed with autism to problem-solve may go a long way toward reducing stress levels among these parents, researchers say.

With just six sessions of one-on-one training, a new study finds that moms were much less likely to report significant parental stress.

The finding published online Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics is meaningful, researchers say, because several studies have found that mothers of children with autism often experience high levels of stress and depressive symptoms.

For the study, researchers looked at 122 mothers of children who were just diagnosed with autism. Of them, 59 moms were provided six sessions of a training known as problem-solving education or PSE, while the others were only offered traditional assistance which focused on therapies and interventions for their kids.

In cases where training was provided, interventionists worked one-on-one with the mothers during 30- to 45-minute sessions to identify a source of stress and find practical solutions using a series of defined steps.

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ADA Ruling Puts Emergency Planners On Notice

A recent court ruling that New York City’s emergency plans violate the Americans with Disabilities Act could have widespread implications for cities across the country.

Last week, a federal judge ruled that New York is not adequately prepared to help its residents with disabilities in the event of a disaster, citing insufficient evacuation plans and shelters that are inaccessible, reports NPR.

The ruling came in the first case of its kind to go to trial and followed last year’s Superstorm Sandy when many of the city’s residents with disabilities were left stranded.

Now, experts say other cities are on notice. Bryan Koon, a member of the board of the National Emergency Management Association, told NPR that New York has been well respected for its emergency planning so a ruling against the city will likely spark officials in other localities to rethink their approach.

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In First, UN Holds High-Level Disability Summit

Advocates and dignitaries from around the world converged at the United Nations on Monday for the international body’s first-ever high-level meeting on disabilities.

With more than 1 billion people with disabilities globally, those behind the historic event at U.N. headquarters in New York said the gathering was convened to encourage inclusion of those with disabilities in all aspects of life.

“Far too many people with disabilities live in poverty. Too many suffer from social exclusion. Too many are denied access to education, employment, health care, and social and legal support systems,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who implored leaders to “break barriers and open doors.”

More than 800 representatives from disability organizations attended the meeting, officials said, which included remarks from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and musician Stevie Wonder, among others.

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Stars Lend Voices To Support Autism

Cher, Jack Black, Bryan Cranston and Jim Parsons are among a handful of celebrities willing to liven up your phone’s voice mailbox as part of an autism fundraiser.

Autism Speaks is offering the chance to get a custom-recorded message from “Batman” actor Adam West, Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad,” singer Cher, Jim Parsons of “The Big Bang Theory,” Mark Hamill from “Star Wars,” Michael Dorn of “Star Trek,” sportscaster Vin Scully and actors Jack Black, Peter Dinklage and Zachary Quinto.

A limited number of the recordings are available in exchange for $299 each, which will go toward the autism nonprofit. Fans can specify what they want their chosen celebrity to say in the brief messages which will be delivered on digital files.

The unique fundraising effort was dreamt up by actor Ed Asner, known for his role as Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and his son, Matt Asner, who works for Autism Speaks.

A similar campaign last year offered recordings from notables including Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks, William Shatner and Betty White.

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ESPN, Ben Affleck To Honor Man With Cerebral Palsy

Actor Ben Affleck is set to present an award for perseverance to a father-son team who have competed together in more than 1,000 races despite the younger man’s severe disabilities.

Rick Hoyt, 51, has cerebral palsy and is unable to use his hands or legs. But with the help of a custom-made wheelchair steered by his father — Dick Hoyt, 73 — he’s blazed through finish lines at triathlons, marathons and other endurance events for over 30 years.

Now the duo, known as Team Hoyt, will be honored at the ESPYS, an awards show presented by ESPN highlighting the best in sports for the year. Affleck — a Boston native — will present the Hoyts with the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the event July 17, ESPN said.

The Hoyts had indicated that this year’s Boston Marathon would be their last. But after bombs exploded at the event when the men were just one mile shy of the finish line, they vowed to compete again next year. ESPN indicated that the Hoyts’ commitment to race again is testament to the pair’s “determination in the face of adversity.”

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Study: Eating Troubles Putting Kids With Autism At Risk

Kids with autism are five times more likely than other children to experience food-related problems ranging from mealtime tantrums to extreme pickiness, issues with potentially long-term health consequences, researchers say.

Though many parents have long indicated concerns about the eating habits of their children with autism, a new analysis of existing research on the issue is believed to offer the first comprehensive look. In the review of 17 studies, researchers at Emory University and the Marcus Autism Center found that kids with the developmental disorder face serious risks of feeding and nutrition problems.

In addition to being pickier eaters, kids with autism often have mealtime rituals and other extreme behaviors surrounding feeding, the study found. What’s more, they have lower intake of calcium and protein and more overall nutritional deficits than other children, the researchers report this month in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

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Rubik’s Cube No Match For Boy With Autism

Doctors recommended that Max Park, 10, try playing with a Rubik’s Cube to improve his fine motor skills. Little did they know the boy with autism would become one of the world’s best.

Today, just a few years after he started playing with the the 3-D puzzle, Park is ranked among the 100 fastest players on the planet, but finding out he could compete with the best of them occurred by chance.

The San Diego, Calif. boy convinced his mom and dad to travel to Los Angeles for a Rubik’s Cube competition so that he could observe top players at work. But Park ended up participating.

The youngster completed a six-by-six cube in less than three minutes, beating out college-age players and winning a division title and the world ranking, much to his parents’ surprise, reports FOX5 San Diego.

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Study Questions Early Intervention Eligibility Criteria

Whether or not a child with developmental delays qualifies for early intervention varies dramatically from one state to the next, but often researchers say far more kids are eligible than can be served.

The finding comes from a new study analyzing early intervention services across the nation. Researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine examined each state’s eligibility requirements for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, Part C program, which serves infants and toddlers with disabilities. Then they used data from a long-term government study tracking nearly 11,000 children to identify how many kids were likely to qualify or receive services in each state.

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Autism Therapy Named To Time Magazine’s Top 10

A new finding about the potential of behavior therapy for kids with autism is one of Time Magazine’s “Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs” for the year.

The newsweekly called out the autism development in one of a series of year-end lists featuring the highs and lows of 2012.

The study highlighted by Time found that an approach known as the Early Start Denver Model has the potential to normalize brain patterns in children with autism in addition to helping them improve social skills.

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Boy With Asperger’s Lands ‘Jeopardy!’ Tryout

A Colorado boy with Asperger’s syndrome may soon go head-to-head with Alex Trebek on national television as a contestant on “Jeopardy!”

Gabriel Harris, 11, passed a first-round online test to participate in the game show’s 2013 Kids Week and has been invited to Los Angeles for a second-round assessment.

A regular viewer of the show, Harris rarely gets a question wrong. The fifth-grader is an avid reader with a keen memory for facts.

Despite Harris’s aptitude, however, continuing his quest to appear on “Jeopardy!” was not a sure bet until recently. Harris’s family could not afford the trip for him and a parent from their Greeley, Colo.-area home to California. But after the the boy’s story appeared in the local newspaper, donations poured in.

Now, Harris is packing his bags and prepping for the second-round test this Saturday, reports The Greeley (Colo.) Tribune. 

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Yoga May Improve Behavior In Kids With Autism

A simple, school-based yoga program can do wonders for kids with autism, researchers say, yielding gains in both behavior and socialization.

In a study comparing children with autism who did yoga each day at school compared to kids who followed a typical routine instead, those who participated in the stretching exercises exhibited significantly less aggressive behavior, social withdrawal and hyperactivity.

The findings published this month in The American Journal of Occupational Therapy offer tremendous promise for the growing population of children with the developmental disorder, researchers say.

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Swimwear Designer Plucks Model With Special Needs

In what’s believed to be a first, a Miami girl with Down syndrome is the new face of a major fashion designer’s ad campaign.

At 10-months-old, Valentina Guerrero is the cover girl for Spanish swimwear designer Dolores Cortés’ new U.S. catalog and will be featured in ads for the brand’s DC Kids line.

“People with Down syndrome are just as beautiful and deserve the same opportunities. I’m thrilled to have Valentina modeling for us,” Cortés said, according to Adweek.

In addition to featuring Guerrero in her advertisements, Cortés also brought the youngster out on the runway during Fashion Week in Miami last Friday.

The designer has pledged to donate 10 percent of profits from the swimwear collection to the Down Syndrome Association of Miami.

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Judge: Disabilities Act Applies Online Too

Knocking down arguments from Internet movie giant Netflix, a federal judge ruled this week that websites are subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The decision from U.S. District Judge Michael Ponsor in Springfield, Mass. comes in a case pitting disability advocates against Netflix.

Advocates alleged that the company operates in violation of the ADA because many movies and TV shows offered through Netflix’s streaming service are not captioned, making them inaccessible to those who are hearing impaired.

Attorneys for Netflix argued that the company’s offerings are exempt from the ADA and asked for the case to be dismissed. In rejecting that argument, Ponsor’s ruling paves the way for the lawsuit to proceed.

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College Hoops Star Puts Sister With Disabilities First

One of the most closely watched players during March Madness this year almost gave up basketball entirely to be near her sister with severe disabilities.

Elena Delle Donne was the top women’s basketball recruit in the country when she decided to play for the University of Connecticut in 2008. But just two days into her tenure at the highly-ranked program, Delle Donne abruptly left.

She returned home to Delaware and wouldn’t play basketball again for a year. Delle Donne was, however, able to be with her older sister Lizzie who is blind, deaf and has cerebral palsy.

“She knows me by my smell and my feel, so, physically, physical contact is the only thing she knows,” Delle Donne told ABC News. “So when I did leave, I lost Lizzie basically. Well, she lost me and I wasn’t OK with that when I left.”

As a junior this season at the University of Delaware, Delle Donne averaged 27.5 points — more than any other player in the country — and helped her team win an NCAA tournament game for the first time ever. They lost Tuesday night in the second round to the University of Kansas, but the young star says she’s not looking back.

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Teen With Down Syndrome Turns Basketball Phenom

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Down Syndrome Awareness Gets Boost From UN

by Shaun Heasley, Disability Scoop

Beginning this year, the United Nations — and all of its member countries — will set aside a special annual day to recognize Down syndrome.

A resolution approved by consensus vote in the U.N. General Assembly late last year named March 21 World Down Syndrome Day. Accordingly, member nations will be asked to promote awareness of the chromosomal disorder starting this spring.

Now officials at the U.N. say they will mark the day by gathering members of the Down syndrome community at U.N. headquarters in New York for a conference tackling issues ranging from education and independent living to research and working with the media.

Organizers with the Brazilian delegation, which spearheaded the effort, say they’re hoping to get representatives from as many countries as possible to attend the event.

For at least six years, Down syndrome advocates have promoted an awareness day on March 21. But the U.N. action stands to bolster their efforts. The date, 3/21, is considered significant because Down syndrome occurs when an individual has three copies of the 21st chromosome.

In addition to World Down Syndrome Day, the U.N. previously set aside an annual day to honor autism. April 2 was named World Autism Awareness Day in 2007.

Teen Behind Inclusive Cheerleading Awarded $100K On VH1

A teenager who started the nation’s first school-based cheerleading squad including students both with and without disabilities is getting $100,000 to expand the concept.

Sarah Cronk, 18, got the idea to include students with disabilities on a cheerleading squad at her Bettendorf, Iowa high school in 2008 after observing the boost her brother with autism received when he was befriended by the school’s swim team captain.

Since then, 33 schools located as far away as South Africa have replicated Cronk’s original squad comprised of students with various disabilities and typically developing teens who act as peer coaches. All of the students perform together at high school football and basketball games.

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