News

Public resource for transition planning and career preparation

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program assists individuals with disabilities obtain and maintain employment, including planning during high school for life after graduation. From its webpage:
“MRC’s VR program can help an eligible person with a disability:

• Work with his or her special education counselor to develop their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and receive VR counseling;
• Plan for a career;
• Identify college and vocational training choices and help with financial aid applications;
• Participate in paid work experiences and on-the-job training;
• Get training to achieve work goals;
• Work with employers or colleges to ensure needed reasonable accommodations, assistive technology and other supports are received;
• Find a job that matches their abilities, interests and needs: page for parents and page for high school students.

(A number of relevant pages may be perused by going to www.mass.gov, selecting the “for residents” tab and clicking on Disabilities for a menu of various services for people with disabilities.)”

Upcoming Events

Heath School parents’ gathering

Thurs, Dec. 3, 8:00 am, cafeteria

Heath School parents of children on IEPs and 504 plans will meet. Coffee provided.

Meet the Administrators

Wed., Dec 9, 7-8:30 pm, Town Hall Room 103

[please note corrected time]

What is the picture of special education in Brookline in 2009? What concerns do you want Sped administrators to know about? What is the “chain of command” if you have a problem you feel is not being addressed? What and where are dedicated, specialized classrooms for autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, and other special needs? What’s happening with the Landmark initiative at the Lawrence School?

Come hear from our new Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Dr. Denise Rochlin, Director of Special Ed Lisa Lamont Harris, Early Education Principal Vicki Milstein, Out-of-district Coordinator Karen Shmukler and others. Learn about the administrative restructuring of special education, change in leadership, special ed data, development of a manual standardizing policies and procedures, chain of command, Landmark at Lawrence and more. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions or offer comment directly to special education leaders. Light refreshments served, please bring your own cup. Brookline SEPAC is a Brookline 2010 partner.

SEPAC Liaison Meeting

Wed., Dec 9, 6:40 pm, Town Hall Room 103

SEPAC liaisons will meet before our Meet the Administrators event to share updates and make plans for the rest of the year. SEPAC parents who want to get more active in the organization are welcome to join us see how you can get involved.

December SEPAC-SPED Monthly Meeting devoted to autism spectrum issues

Fri., Dec 8, 8:30-9:30 am, Town Hall Room 5th floor

Our regular monthly meeting with SPED administrators for December will focus on concerns raised by Coalition of Brookline Autism Parents (COBAP). Topics include summer programming and social skills programming for Brookline students with ASD. The meeting takes place on Friday, December 18, at 8:30-9:30 a.m. (please note change from usual meeting time), Town Hall 5th floor (or as posted). Everyone is invited, but please RSVP to Beth Kaufman to let COBAP know that you will be attending.

Knowing Your Legal Rights & Responsibilities

Wed., Jan. 27, 6:30-8:00 pm, MLK Room at BHS

Dan Ahearn of Landmark School Outreach gives his bright and engaging presentation on basic legal rights in special education. Light refreshments; bring your own cup!

SEPAC-SPED Monthly Meetings

Fri., Dec. 18, 8:00 am

SEPAC chairs meet with SPED administrators monthly at Town Hall on the third Friday starting at 8:00 am in Town Hall. Meetings are open to all. If you have an issue you wish to address, please come, or you may submit it to SEPAC. We like to submit an agenda in advance to the administrators. December’s meeting on Dec. 18 will be devoted to autism spectrum issues and will start at 8:30 a.m. The schedule for the remainder of the school year is as follows: January 15, February 26, March 28, April 16, May 21 and, tentatively, June 18.

Guest column

Vicki Milstein, Principal of Early Education Programs

Brookline has a long history of support for young children. The Public Schools of Brookline were committed to the 3-5 year olds in the community long before other similar communities. Brookline was also a community that offered to pilot an inclusion program studied by the State. “Project Impact” was the starting point for the Brookline model of inclusive early education and we have never looked back.

The inclusive classroom model was so successful and teachers were so enthusiastic, that it changed the priorities of the Early Education Department. From that time forward BEEP has represented all of Brookline’s children. No child was served outside of Brookline because of an identified need except when there was a strongly compelling reason. This was not only the right thing to do for children with a specific need, it was the right thing to do for all children. When each child is included, everyone benefits.

What made the Brookline model successful and why did that success carry well into adulthood? Compelling aspects of the original BEEP research included an organized environment, a focus on individual growth and highly trained teachers. Initially, organizational skills were considered to be of great importance and were included in every aspect of the program. A goal for each student was to be able to approach a task and bring it to completion. The task could range from simple to complex, but the skills are universal. As we know, the ability to organize oneself is as important to young learners in the classroom as it is to young adults in the workplace. Second was a focus on social competency. Learning is long lasting when children refine their thinking as they play. The child who can solve a social problem during play has mastered several objectives at one time, breaking down a task and adapting to manage change. The ability to work effectively in groups requires this practice in flexible thinking and is supported by language and creativity. Again, these skills are important to everyone and last a lifetime. Finally, there is the team approach.

Whether it is the team of professionals working in the classroom, sharing observations across domains, or teachers and parents working on strategies across home and school, the integrated and multi-disciplinary commitment to each child is critical for success. The child who hears the same language and experiences a consistent world is better able to focus on task, content and concept at school. Organization, social connection and a team commitment are all components of a successful school experience and are a foundation to a successful future. We continue to believe in this comprehensive plan and yet we know that new research and innovation are what maintain an effective program over time.

What are we doing now to keep up with an ever-emerging field? Brookline Early Education is always changing. We have expanded and extended the opportunities to practice social skills and develop effective social strategies. We have implemented an authentic assessment system in order to document student progress over time, and we have aligned our curriculum in literacy and math to ensure successful transitions into kindergarten and beyond. These efforts are critical in the evolution of a successful early education classroom. We know how lucky we are in BEEP to have the support of families, administration and a community that believes in working on behalf of all children. At this season and always, we are grateful!

— Vicki Milstein, Brookline Commission for Women’s 2008 Woman of the Year, has responsibility for all of early education, which includes pre-school and kindergarten classes in the elementary schools as well as at the Lynch Center, some 275 children, all integrated in an inclusive setting of regular and special education. She has introduced innovations in pre-reading and math literacy and early identification of children with challenges in those areas. In her guest article, Vicki describes the inclusion model and how its implementation has proved beneficial for all students.

In the Community

Pre-Chanukah workshop

Sun, Dec. 6, 3-4:30 pm, Watertown Home Depot

The Friendship Circle (see Networking, below) invites children and their siblings to a pre-chanukah workshop at Home Depot. Come make your own menorah, play dreidel and have fun with your friends! The Watertown Home Depot is located at 615 Arsenal St. For more information or to RSVP, email or call 617-378-5765. The event is sponsored by Home Depot.

Chanukah Toy Drive

The Friendship Circle First Annual Chanukah Toy Drive (In Loving Memory of Alta Shula Obm) for children with special needs is going on now. Toys may be donated at Friendship Circle locations (see below); toys purchased at Magic Beans, Israel Book Shop and Learning Express can be left there for collection. All Toys should be new and unwrapped.

Toys can be dropped off at the following Friendship Circle locations:

105 St. Paul Street, Brookline
32 Loring Street, Newton
163 Bellingham Road, Chestnut Hill
38 Banks Street, Cambridge
472 High Rock Street, Needham

If you are unable to purchase toys you may donate money to The Friendship Circle who will purchase the toys for you. For mre information, call 617.378.5764.

Federation for Children with Special Needs Transition Conference

Fri-Sat, Feb 5-6, Federation's Boston office, 1135 Tremont St. Suite 420, Boston

Please see the October issue of Special Edition or visit FSCN website for more information.

Summer pragmatic language program

The Drama-Play Connection offers a 6-week pragmatically-based drama workshop designed to teach pragmatic language skills and foster the development of social skills through the art of drama, along with traditional camp activities. The program serves children and young adolescents who function well in most areas but struggle with social skills and peer relationships. Counselor-in-training positions are also available. For more information, visit The Drama-Play Connection.

Legal Corner

What do all those names and numbers mean?

IDEA stands for “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act”, the federal special education law reauthorized by Congress most recently in 2004 (hence also referred to as IDEA-2004). IDEA requires FAPE.

FAPE stands for “free, appropriate, public education”. The FAPE standard requires school districts to provide, at public expense, instruction tailored to the individual student’s needs with sufficient support services to assist the student to make meaningful educational progress.

Chapter 766 refers to the state special education law, passed in 1972. Massachusetts “FAPE” provides that students with disabilities, like all students, are entitled to the opportunity to learn the material that is covered by the academic standards in the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.

Section 504 refers to the part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (a Civil Rights law) related to accommodations by schools to assure that disabled students have the same access to education as non-disabled students.

Know your rights Want to learn more about your and your children’s rights under federal and state law? Come to Knowing Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities on Wed., Jan. 27, 2010 (see Upcoming Events, above).

Studies

Volunteers needed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder study.

McLean Hospital is seeking both subjects and controls for a study of ADHD. Their ad:
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
Have you wondered if your child may have ADHD? Has your child been diagnosed but you still have questions? Can your child also seem moody sometimes? Children ages 6-17 with possible ADHD are needed for research study. Free evaluation takes 2 visits (some on Saturdays). Monetary compensation provided. Parents call Cindy for study details at 617.855.2973.

Networking

Read a good book lately?

If you have found a book related to children with special needs especially informative, please share! Tell us at SEPAC and we can spread the word in our next issue. Please include author and title and feel free to add descriptive information or a few words about how you found this book helpful.

Disability Policy Consortium (DPC)

From the DPC website:
“The Disability Policy Consortium, Inc. is an organization of volunteer disability rights activists who share a common goal of equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities. The DPC’s mission is to promote inclusion, independence, and empowerment by guiding statewide development of policies that ensure that programs and services enable people with disabilities to participate in the political, economic, and social mainstream of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. DPC is the only non-profit, statewide, cross-disability organization that actively engages the lawmakers and policy-makers in the Massachusetts government to fight for people with disabilities. Membership is free; sign up to receive notices and action alerts.”

Friendship Circle

Friendship Circle is a Jewish organization that provides programming for children with special needs. FC partners with teenagers and college students for weekly visits with children as well as special monthly events. In addition, the organization provides a special bi-monthly program for teenagers and young adults at Harvard University. Visit website, email them or call 617-378-5765 for more information.

Coalition of Brookline Autism Parents (COBAP)

COBAP is a group of Brookline parents who meet bi-monthly to discuss issues related to helping their children diagnosed with PDD-NOS, Asperger's or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Membership is open to any person who is the parent or guardian of a child who lives in Brookline and has an autism spectrum disorder, or who lives elsewhere but attends school in Brookline and has an autism spectrum disorder.

To join COBAP or for more information, please contact Beth Kaufman or Pam Palmucci. We welcome Brookline ASD parents join our Yahoo group entering "COBAP" in the box that says "Find a Group."

Brookline QUEST (Quality Unique Enrichment for Special Needs Teens)

Brookline QUEST supports traditional and innovative recreational, leisure and cultural activities for Brookline teens with special needs. Visit www.brooklinequest.org to learn about their extensive schedule of activities.

ADD/ADHD Support Group

Periodic meetings of parents and guardians of children with a suspected or confirmed ADD/ADHD diagnosis. For more information contact Valerie at 857.272.2164.

Miscellany

The Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston seek an individual to direct their overnight camp in Maine for children with special needs. This is a part-time position in Newton, MA from November to mid-June and then full-time from mid-June through August in Bridgton, ME. For more information contact Kathy Jonas at 617.558.6528 or 617.650.4169. Camp website may be viewed at Kingswood and JCC websites.