Archive for October, 2006

Dyslexia awareness month

Published by JohnL on 30 October 2006 in Dyslexia, News and The Press. 2 Comments

These are links to some of the news stories about dyslexia that were published for the second annual Dyslexia Awareness Month, October 2006. It appears to me that the Alabama chapter of the International Dyslexia Association got the most coverage. Congrats to them.

Struggling with dyslexia: Local mother worries about how many children are going undiagnosed Evan Carden, Jackson (AL, US), South Alabaman, 29 September.
Dyslexia awareness Tuscaloosa (AL, US) Tuscaloosanews, 1 October .
Metaxas at Crichton (see “The Bodine School”) Memphis (TN, US) Commercial Appeal, 3 October.
October is national dyslexia awareness month Martha Chiodi, Cincinatti (OH, US) Community Press & Recorder, 3 October.
Inland information fair helps sort out dyslexia Riverside (CA, US) Press-Enterprise, 10 October.
A time to share the sheer joy of reading Huddersfield (UK) Daily Examiner, 11 October.
Utah ‘Blackhole’ for Dyslexics Lara Jones, Park City (UT, US) KCPW, 12 October.
October is Dyslexia Awareness month Madison (AL, US) Record, 13 October.
Demystifying dyslexia Susan J. Park, Orange County (CA, US) Register, 17 October.
Dyslexia is a lnaguage-based disorder Teresa Wickens, North Platte (NE, US) Telegraph 18 October.
‘A hidden disability’ Ben Bromley, Baraboo (WI, US) News Republic, 21 October.
Not ADD? Think Dyslexia - October is Dyslexia Awareness Month public relations press release advertising Brock and Fernette Eide’s book, 23 October.
Local activist shining light during Dyslexia Awareness Month Jamie Alich, Demopolis (AL, US) Times, 23 October.
Terminal will act as gateway U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, Brewton (AL, US) Standard, 23 October.

New blog on LD

Published by JohnL on 27 October 2006 in News. 1 Comment

A person who identifies himself as Ken B (no period) has launched a blog called “Learning Disabilities” on blogspot. There have been three posts in October, one of which addresses the question of whether LD can be outgrown and another of which describes types of LD.

The content appears well-intentioned, but slightly askew. Mr. B divides LD into developmental speech and language disorders, academic skills disorders, and “Other,” subtypes that are close to O.K., but not all the way there. (At least he didn’t go for visual, auditory, haptic, kinesthetic, gustatory, and olfactory!) He also indicates that diagnoses are based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association; DSM does include a diagnostic category “Learning Disorder,” but it’s quite different from the legal defintion, provided in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, that governs provision of services in US schools.

Link to M. B’s blog, http://learning–disabilities.blogspot.com/. I hope it doens’t just turn out to be one of those blogs constructed simply to reap advertising revenue; I don’t mind advertising, but I do find annoying blogs that are vacuous placeholders for advertising. Technoratic tags: learning disabilities

Mothers and fathers

Published by JohnL on 25 October 2006 in ADHD, Dyslexia and Families. 1 Comment

In addition to Liz Ditz’s and Dick’s fine examples, there surely are other blogs which reflect the views of parents of children with disabilities. I came across another one recently. It’s called the mother of All and is written by a woman who, among other things, discusses her son’s Learning Disabilities. You can read the mother of All at this link or see only her entries on Learning Disabilty and dyslexia.

Parents, make sure you keep up with Liz’s I Speak of Dreams and Dick’s The Life that Chose Me.

If you know of other parents who write about their children’s disabilities, please drop a comment so I can generate a more complete list. Thanks.

Suspension woes

Published by JohnL on 25 October 2006 in News and Policy. 0 Comments

U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann ruled that the superintendent and members of school board of the Todd County School District (SD, US) improperly suspended eighth grader Ernest Doe (pseudonym) from 1 November 2005 through 17 May 2006, according to a story by Heidi Bell Gease of the Rapid City Journal. Gease wrote that Mr. Doe has Learning Disabilities, but it is not not clear to me whether Todd County Schools conducted a manifestation determination. (Ms. Gease’s story notes that Judge Kornmann blocked suspension of another student in September of 2005 but does not indicate whether that student was identified as having a disability.)

In the fall of 2005 Mr. Doe was suspended after he admitted to being among a group of students in a car from which someone fired a rifle near a school. The suspension was based on accusations of vandalism and violation of a state law barring guns at schools. Apparently school principal Peggy Diekoff initially suspended Mr. Doe for two weeks but, in November of 2005, superintendent Richard Bordeaux extended the suspension to 10 weeks and later for the remainder of the school year.

After the shooting, middle school Principal Peggy Diekoff suspended Doe from all classes and school activities. Doe’s parents were contacted about the suspension, which was to continue until there was a school board hearing.

In a letter dated Oct. 25, 2005, Bordeaux informed the Does that he was extending the suspension until Jan. 13, 2006. The Does were told they could contest the decision at a Nov. 1, 2005, school board hearing.

At the Nov. 1 hearing, it was noted that Ernest Doe was on an Individualized Educational Program, which meant that because of a learning disability, he had rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The school board then referred action to Bordeaux, who said Doe should be put on disciplinary “home study” until testing could determine if his actions were related to his disabilities.

On Nov. 22, Bordeaux informed the Does that he was leaving Ernest on home study until the end of the school year and that Ernest was not to be on school grounds or at school activities during that time. After Doe’s attorneys filed for a preliminary injunction, Ernest was allowed to return to school on Jan. 23, 2006.

In his ruling, Kornmann noted that Diekoff and Bordeaux justified extending Ernest’s suspension based on vandalism to school property, even though the school handbook provides for only three days’ suspension for a first act of vandalism.

The school district also cited as justification the Gun Free Schools Act, which would have allowed for at least one year’s suspension. But because there was no proof Ernest Doe set foot on school property Oct. 14, Kornmann said that law did not apply.

Kornmann ruled that the board acted improperly by not making a decision after the Nov. 1 hearing and by leaving Ernest on suspension while he was being tested regarding his learning disabilities.

Links to Ms. Gease’s story, the Todd County School District Web presence, and the Wikipedia entry about Mission (SD; US), the county seat of Todd County.

Urban PRIDE

Published by JohnL on 24 October 2006 in Families and News. 0 Comments

In Boston (MA, US), an organization called “Urban PRIDE” provides a variety of services and support for families of children with disabilities. Here’s a snip from the organization’s about-us:

Urban Partnership Resources and Information on Disability and Education (Urban PRIDE) is a not-for-profit organization and community resource center founded in 1997 to empower and support parents of children with disabilities in inner city Boston to improve the lives of children at home, in school and in the community. We aim to improve the availability of and access to culturally responsive disability related support, information, and training for culturally and linguistically diverse families who have children with disabilities, as well as young adults with disabilities in urban Boston. At Urban PRIDE, we work with families in ways that builds on their strengths and the existing resources in the community.

Link to the Urban PRIDE site.

CLD conference

Published by JohnL on 10 October 2006 in News and Research. 0 Comments

The Council for Learning Disabilities is holding its 28th International Conference on Learning Disabilities later this month. The meeting is at the Hilton Tyson’s Corner Hotel in McLean (VA, US) from October 20th through the 22nd. There are preconference institutes and workshops on the 20th. On Saturday, October 21st, Lou Danielson of the US Office of Special Education Programs will provide a keynote address and there are also concurrent sessions, poster sessions, and the Master Teacher Showcase. On Sunday, October 22nd, there will be more concurrent sessions, a keynote presentation by Edward J. Kame’ enui, a presentation by Connie Gardner, and a presentation by CLD’s Distinguised Lecturer (and my pal), Daniel P. Hallahan. Learn more by following this link.