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 Welcome Informed Parents Together Southwest Georgia! Here you can find the most up to date articles, topics, and information for parents in S.West Georgia and statewide! please forward----spread the word
 News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 2, 2008Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343 Georgia to Offer More Community Living Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities HHS’ Office for Civil Rights and Georgia Reach Statewide Olmstead Settlement Agreement More than 2,300 individuals with disabilities currently institutionalized in Georgia’s eight public psychiatric hospitals and mental retardation facilities will have the opportunity to live in their communities with appropriate supports tailored to meet their individualized needs as a result of a settlement agreement between the state of Georgia and the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Under the settlement, signed Tuesday, Georgia also will involve consumers and advocates in planning how best to provide adequate community services to meet the needs of all Georgians with disabilities who are either living in institutions or at risk of institutionalizatio n without community supports. “Georgia’s commitment to improve its community services through this settlement furthers the President’s New Freedom Initiative by supporting independent living and individual choice,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. “This agreement provides persons with disabilities greater opportunities to live within their home communities and have full access to community life.” By enhancing community alternatives to institutionalizatio n under the settlement, Georgia will promote individuals’ rights under the United States Supreme Court’s 1999 ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. that the unnecessary institutionalizatio n of individuals with disabilities constitutes discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “Every Georgian who faces mental illness or developmental disabilities has the right to be treated in a way that not only ensures the best outcome, but allows for the highest quality of life,” said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. “We’ve worked hard to make this agreement work, and the state of Georgia is committed to completing this effort.” The agreement settles statewide complaints filed with OCR by the Georgia Advocacy Office, Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Georgia Legal Services Program, and the Disability Law and Policy Center of Georgia. The complaints alleged that, in violation of the ADA, Georgia has failed to treat individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs -- the setting that enables persons with disabilities to interact with people without disabilities to the fullest extent possible. “In this voluntary compliance agreement with the Federal Government, Georgia promises a serious effort to end the illegal segregation of its citizens with disabilities and to provide appropriate community alternatives,” said Sue Jamieson, the attorney with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, who originally filed the Olmstead case, which arose in Georgia. “If the agreement results in long overdue residential supports and other needed community services, it could finally begin to heal the wounds we have all suffered from institutionalizing people who should be our neighbors.” Georgia’s implementation of the settlement agreement will rely, in part, on a $44 million dollar Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Grant, which was awarded to the state by the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on June 30, 2008. This grant will allow Georgia to “rebalance” its Medicaid program away from long-term institutional care to one that offers individuals the option to live in the community. Experts from HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will also work with Georgia officials to develop its community mental health system to carry out the requirements of the agreement. “This settlement is a model for states in meeting their ADA obligations to eliminate unlawful institutionalizatio n and provide adequate community alternatives,” said OCR Director Winston Wilkinson. “To combat ongoing disability discrimination, the HHS Office for Civil Rights will continue its enforcement efforts, along with promoting voluntary compliance and technical assistance to ensure states comply with the ADA and Olmstead decision.” A copy of the settlement agreement, along with more information about this settlement and OCR’s ADA and other civil rights enforcement activities can be found at www.hhs.gov/ ocr ### Kim Musheno Director of Legislative Affairs Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) 1010 Wayne Ave, Ste. 920 Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-8252, ext. 210 kmusheno@aucd.orgwww.aucd.org
State spending $5.6M on private schools vouchers
By BRIDGET GUTIERREZ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitutio n
Published on: 11/16/07
State officials will spend about $5.6 million this school year to
send former public school students to private schools under a new
tuition voucher program, according to financial figures released
Friday
According to the state Department of Education, more than $1.3
million already has been spent on the government-backed vouchers
being doled out to 899 recipients on a quarterly basis.
State lawmakers created the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship program
earlier this year to provide children with disabilities and other
medical needs more schooling options. This summer, about 5,700
families applied for the scholarships, which are available for
kindergarten through 12th-grade students who received public special
education last year.
Although state lawmakers repeatedly said the average award would be
about $9,000, the actual average is $6,273, according to department
figures. Scholarship amounts — calculated individually for each child
and based on the cost of services received in public school — ranged
from a low of $2,536 to a high of $15,324.
Find this article at:
http://www.ajccom/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/11/16/scholarships_1117_web.html Please share the following information with families of students receiving early intervention and special education services in Georgia! _____________________________________________________ The New Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) in Georgia Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) are a funded program by the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) as authorized in Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Parent Training Information Centers (PTIs) ensure that children with disabilities and their parents receive training and information on their rights, responsibilities, and protections under IDEA in order to develop the skills necessary to cooperatively and effectively participate in planning and decision making related to early intervention, educational and transitional services. Navigation to Connections for Improved Student Outcomes (N2C) is the new PTI for Georgia. N2C is a program of Parent to Parent of Georgia. N2C staff at Parent to Parent of Georgia assists families of children with disabilities (0-26) with education issues by providing a variety of supports, activities, resources and trainings. Levels of assistance vary based on individual needs. For more information about N2C, call 1-800-229-2038 or 770-451-5484 or visit: www.parenttoparentofga.org
 "The Corrupt Business of Child Protective Services"
by Georgia State Senator Nancy Schaefer
November 16, 2007
See attachment
Senator Nancy Schaefer
50th District
P O Box 294
Turnerville, Georgia 30580
706-754-1998 Phone
706-754-1803 Fax
302 B Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg
18 Capitol Square, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404-463-1367 Phone
404-657-3217 Fax
Please view this new article out of Georgia-- And Georgia has just had a shake up in its Atlanta Office of Civil Rights-- WE are hoping that is a good thing.
The Forsyth Advocacy Group in Georgia is trying to keep this story alive in Georgia.. Please please comment in support of our special ed director who was demoting for informing special ed families of their rights.. and the petition:
www.petitiononline.com/0928
We hope there will be a 'shake up' at the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The Governor of Georgia finally lead a crackdonw of the university system of Georgia on overspending tax dollars through expense accounts. Many university system employees have been fired.
By their own admission the Georgia Professional Standards is understaffed and does not investigate all ethics complaints/violations- we hope there is a shake up soon--- we are taking the issues to the governor, the attorney general of georgia,
Also, the Forsyth County Parent Teacher Coalition has identified three Georgia state senators that care about education:
Chip Pearson chip.pearson@senate.ga.gov or his assistant
donna.yeomans@senate.ga.gov Senator Nancy Schaefer -- is working on school districts in Georgia that use calls to DFACS as a measure of retaliation or harassment or overstepping boundaries.
_________________________________________
 Forsyth citizens protest mistreatment of special ed students
BOE lauds Midway evacuation efforts
by Christine Braden
September 20, 2007
Following the recent demotion of the former director of special education for Forsyth County Schools, several concerned citizens voiced their opinions on the matter at the Forsyth County Board of Education regular meeting Thursday Sept. 20.
In a show of solidarity, parents and citizens filled the board chambers to protest the alleged mistreatment of students in Forsyth special education programs.
“There have been many reports made to school officials, principals, human resources, a human resource director and others about reported abuse and, or, harassment or mistreatment of children either by an educator or somebody else,” said Terry Baradine, a concerned Forsyth citizen and parent. “I would hope the human resource office takes these complaints seriously. You have it on your Web site where people can complain and we don’t get a response back. It’s pretty typical and it’s very frustrating for the parents.”
Parents demanded that the board “reign in” an out of control school administration. The most prevalent belief being that administrators did not have any remorse for the way special needs children have been treated in Forsyth, because they have never been held accountable for their actions.
“Forsyth Schools may not be effectively addressing or investigating reported child abuse or reported child mistreatment,” said Baradine.
Currently, there are several cases pending against the county involving allegations of abuse against students with special needs. Because of the litigation Forsyth County School Board Chairwoman, Nancy Roche, reminded the five citizens signed up to speak before the regular meeting that their comments must not include anything that would later be heard in court. That restricted parents and citizens from speaking about specific students, personnel or incidents.
“Disabled children are having their rights taken from them [in Forsyth County Schools] and disabled children are being run out of the school system,” said Dennis Jarrard, father of a special needs student in Forsyth.
Parents were also present to silently protest the reassignment of Sharon Purdie. Reportedly, Purdie was demoted after advocating for the rights of special education students and informing parents about their options when she felt they were being mistreated.
“It concerns us all when teachers advocate for their children and they get retaliated against. That is unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable,” Baradine said. “Can’t a parent speak up for their child in this school system?”
Electronic reminders were e-mailed out over the last week encouraging citizens to attend and speak out against misuse of power by administrators who are accused of not only doing nothing for special needs children, but also inflicting mental abuse and wielding their power against anyone who tries to stop them.
Several citizens complained that their pleas for the school board to step in and do something have been ignored and even carefully concealed.
“Does the school board have a political will to address this or will the school board investigate school officials who continually brush things under the carpet?” asked Baradine.
Beyond waiting for legal action to take place, parents asked the board to step in and deal with the alleged problems.
“I’m here today to ask this school board to stop the cancer from growing anymore in this district,” said Jarrard. “Our system has many fine educators, dedicated that all children are treated fairly. It’s because of them that this system can again become one of the top systems in the state.”
In other business, the board also applauded the efforts of emergency planning staff for the quick evacuation of Midway Elementary School to Vickery Creek Elementary on Monday after a nearby gas main broke.
“Because we practice drills monthly, everyone was calm,” said Midway Principal Todd Smith.
Within seven minutes of pulling the fire alarm, 20 buses pulled up to help transport students to Vickery Creek. Twelve minutes later, all 609 students had left the premise by bus.
“It was a textbook operation,” said Bruce Wagar, director of school safety. “I’m very proud of all the faculty and staff at Midway. Everyone worked together.”
The board will meet next on Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. at the Forsyth County Board of Education and Professional Development Center at 1120 Dahlonega Highway in Cumming.
MOM OF AUTISTIC CHILD WRONGLY ARRESTED -- GEORGIA! PLEASE SUPPORT BETSY!! tHIS STORY WILL BE UP FOR 2 WEEKS http://www.macon.com/197/story/88265.html Betsy's Case has not been dropped and it may be moving forward to a jury trial.. Please blog in support of this parent and circulate EVERYWHERE!!! To your email lists.. This blog stays up for 2 weeks and it has been sent to the EVERYONE, governor, school board-- everybody.. Please support this mom after the article --- Many of us have posted the laws applicable and resources available as this case moves closer to trial. How Pathetic Houston County School District Is-- People -- we need an outcry for this parent!! She is innocent and provided all the documents for a Medical Excuse-- This can happen to anyone-- Let's stop this nonsense-- Together we can. Please keep abreast of this case-- The people responsible must be held accountable--- And this story needs to be talked about to our legislators-- AS IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY OF US.... Next legislative session the issue of wrongful truancy will be brought to the attention of the CApitol in Georgia!!! Terry Baradine Forsyth Parent Teacher Coalition Houston County --Georgia!
PACK THE COURTHOUSE FOR BETSY LOIACANO'S ARRAIGNMENT
Betsy Loiacano was arrested for truancy (when not really truant) for keeping her AUTISTIC son home with a medical excuse -- all documents were provided to Houston County School District-- but they proceeded to file a truancy charge with the courts anyway. Betsy has been working as a special ed advocate in the School District for many years-- Was this a way for them to get her to shut up? The people must take an interest in this case. School systems cannot do this to families!
202 Carl Vinson Parkway
Warner Robins, GA 31088
Houston County Georgia
From Special Education Advocate, Carmen Allen--
Allowing government employees and administrators of Georgia Public
Schools to abuse their power and legally sanction the continued
unethical practice of retaliation and bullying of innocent parents of
children with disabilities into home schooling their children or face
fraudulent criminal charges for Truancy only perpetuates the Fraud,
Waste and Abuse of local, state and Federal tax dollars and makes a
mockery of Justice in America.
Please try to attend Betsy's arraignment on Friday, July 13, 2007 at
8:30am. If you can not attend please call AND fax a letter
referencing Elizabeth Loiacono Warrant #200713530 to:
Judge Robert Richardson
202 Carl Vincent Parkway
Warner Robins, Georgia 31088
Phone: 478-542-2013
Fax: 478-542-2077
Email to Assistant: lwaddell@houstoncountyga.org
Solicitor Robert Tawse
Asst Solicitor Gina Staut
Phone: 478-542-2100
Fax: 478-542-2142
Kelly R. Burke, District Attorney
Houston County District Attorney
201 Perry Parkway
Perry, GA 31069
478) 218-4810
Governor Sonny Perdue
Office of the Governor,
Georgia State Capitol,
Atlanta, GA 30334
Office Phone: 404-656-1776
Please send a copy of your communications to BetsyLoiacono@yahoo.com
Thank you in advance for your support on this very important issue.
Any of your suggestions and recommendations are welcomed and make
sure to pass this on to others for the sake of ALL of Georgia's
Children.
Carmen Allen
 Thank you so much to IPUT"s new friend in Georgia, Terry Baradine! Thank you so much to Terry for the following list serves and info! Here are some listservs and advocates -- . Mine is a listserve that has advocates on it and we are more investigative and grassroots activists and get information out to the public in the political realm, but we help parents too in dealing with the convoluted system - we work to change the attitude of school districts toward special needs kids and families. Root out corruption too and solve issues in the public forum of the Board of Education meetings. Feel Free to give out my email baradine@bellsouth.net -- education forum
Please consider supporting Amy Wilbourne- Teacher and parent of sp.ed.
student in Forsyth County bringing case vs. Forsyth School District
This court case I have mentioned is being stalled by the school system
attorneys. The taxpayers are so tired of this burden....We are paying
hundreds of thousands out in legal fees for the defense of a school system
that continuously messes up.
I am trying to get the community to write our school board, to tell their
attorneys to stop billing us so much, its taking money away where it rightfully
belongs-- to the kids in the classrooms. And stop attempting to stall this case
and have it move forward to trial as it rightfully should.
I am hoping some parents can write something on the Blogsite in support of
Amy Wilbourne who went to the district about abuse on her sp. ed. child that
was ignored.
GA Special Needs Kids Score With Vouchers
By Linda Bryant Butler http://tinyurl. com/27e6ra
This is the story of a 6-year-old kindergartner who, at this age,
should not be earning any poor marks in school.
Xavier wakes up every morning facing challenges different from other
little boys. He battles attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and a form
of autism known as Asperger's syndrome.
He is pulled out of his general education class for occupational
therapy, speech and extra help in a resource room.
But when he starts first grade in August, he will be behind his peers
when it comes to using scissors skills, writing and other fine motor tasks.
Like hundreds of other frustrated Georgia parents, I recently made a
mad dash to the Georgia Department of Education Web site to sign up Xavier
for the new, state-funded, Georgia Special Needs Scholarship.
Gov. Sonny Perdue recently signed this school choice legislation into
law, and frustrated and eager parents are clamoring for the opportunity to
choose a more appropriate public or private school to meet their child's
individual needs. For Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilties in Georgia
National Disability Rights Network
900 Second Street, NE, Suite 211
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-408-9514
Fax: 202-408-9520
TTY: 202-408-9521
General inquiries: info@ndrn.org
Website feedback: webmaster@ndrn.org
Who to contact in Georgia
Address: Georgia CAP
123 N. McDonough st.
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: 404-373-3116
Fax: 404-373-4110
E-Mail: GaCAPDirector@GeorgiaCAP.com
Website: www.georgiacap.com
PADD/PAIMI/PAIR/PABSS/TBI/PAVA
Address: Georgia Advocacy Office, Inc.
One Decatur Town Center
150 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 430
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: 404-885-1234 Voice/TDD \ 800-537-2329 (nationwide)
Fax: 404-378-0031
E-Mail: info@thegao.org
Website: http://www.thegao.org October 25
"The Inclusive Classroom"
with Paula Kluth, Ph.D.
Participants will learn practical ways of supporting students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other significant disabilities. Topics addressed include defining ASD, differentiating instruction in the diverse classroom, encouraging literacy development, making the classroom comfortable for all learners, and supporting behaviors and bodies of students with a range of needs. This interactive presentation will focus on the importance of pushing beyond participation and inclusion to asking schools to understand every student as a complex and capable learner.
October 26
"Curricular Adaptations"
with Patrick Schwarz, Ph.D.
Considering the specific learning and support needs for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the inclusive classroom, participants of this workshop will learn processes to adaptively personalize and improve the quality of educational settings. Included will be how to provide rationales for curricular adaptations, differentiated instruction and universal design in the general classroom, how to set up an IEP-at-a-glance tool for supporting students, how to orchestrate a planning process so student needs are creatively met in a quality fashion and ideas for differentiation and universal design.
Our Company
http://www.spectrumtrainingsystemsinc.com/index.htmlSpectrum Training Systems, Inc.
2024 Jonathon Drive
Appleton, WI 54914
Phone: (920) 749-0332
Fax: (920) 882-0736
spectrumtrainingsystems@yahoo.com Location
Holiday Inn Airport North
1380 Virginia Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30344
(404) 762-8411
There is a limited block of rooms being reserved for our group at $82 plus tax per night. Call the hotel and make reservations soon!
Prices
Professional two day attendance:
$195 through Sept 3
$205, Sept 4-Oct 26
Professional one day attendance:
$130 through Sept 3
$140, Sept 4-Oct 26
Parent two day attendance:
$160 through Oct 26
Parent one day attendance:
$95 through Oct 26
Registration Form
Conference web page
http://www.spectrumtrainingsystemsinc.com/files/AtlantaInfo2.pdf
More Resources and Links for S.West Georgia! /Documents/Albany Georgia Respite Support and Therapists.doc Unlock The Waiting List in Georgia, a group dedicated to ending the waiting lists for services for persons with Disabilities and a complete rundown of all the Waivers in Georgia what services they cover, and the amount of people on the waiting lists! Join the fight!  The Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) is a nonprofit, community-based organization in Phoenix, Arizona, dedicated to research, education and resources for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and their families. SARRC undertakes self-directed research, serves as a satellite site for national and international projects, and provides up-to-date information, training and assistance to families and professionals about autism. http://www.autismcenter.org/research_partners_nih.aspx
Watch for more news, events, and much more!!
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