How to Use the Brandywine Special Needs PTA Forum

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Student Rights under IDEA and Section 504
Wed., Feb.13, 2008

Mr. Charles Weiner, Esq. - an attorney in private practice.
Ms. Fran Fletcher - from Special Education Partnership for the Amicable Resolution of Conflict (SPARC)

About 35 attendees, including parents and BSD staff - including Superintendent Jim Scanlon.

Coping with the Crisis in Child Mental Health

Dr Doug Tynan Ph.D., ABPP, A.I. duPont Hospital for Children Division of Pediatric Behavioral Health

Alex Rittberg opened with a few PTA annoucements.
The PTA had given Waggie dog biscuits to all the principals who have dogs. Waggies are natural dog biscuits made by a small startup in Wilmington run by young adults with cognitive disabilities. More details on www.waggies.org. Principals without dogs were given gourmet jelly beans.
Alex asked how people heard about the meeting - BSNPTA email, PIC email, Flyers via US Postal service, word of mouth.

Dr Tynan gave two presentations and gave out one handout.

By: W Douglas Tynan, PhD, Chief Psychologist, Nemours Health and Prevention Division Programs; Director, Primary Care Mental Health Program, A I duPont Hospital for Children; Consulting Psychologist, Nemours Clinical Management
Source: WebMD

Synonyms and related keywords: oppositional defiant disorder, ODD, conduct disorder, disruptive behavior, defiant behavior, negativistic behavior, hostile behavior, disobedience, stubbornness, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, irritability, impulsivity, harshly punitive behaviors, peer rejection, noncompliance with commands, overreaction to life events, antisocial actions, learning disorders, parent management training, maladaptive parent-child interactions

Source: Mayo Clinic

Work problems, getting married, going away to school, an illness — any number of life changes can cause stress. Most of the time, people adjust to such changes within a few months. But if you continue to feel stressed, hopeless, worried or even reckless, you may have an adjustment disorder.

Making Sure the Curriculum is Accessible to All Students

Mark Holodick, Concord High School Principal
Beth Mineo and Marvin Williams, Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative
Lynne Robinson, Executive Director of Paws for People

Wilmington News Journal: Perspective
By PAT HEFFERNAN
Posted Sunday, February 18, 2007

It's the fifth anniversary of No Child Left Behind and we can consider the law a success despite serious flaws.

The federal education law is based on a yearly benchmark test that can't possibly measure real learning for all students accurately. The law is full of underfunded and onerous mandates. The achievement targets are unobtainable and the accountability component has too many problems to even list here.

How, then, can this law be considered a success?

Dealing with Bad Behavior! Successful Strategies for Parents and Teachers

Dr Douglas DiRaddio PhD, BSD School Psychologist
Dr Kristen Herzel PhD, private practice

The following resolution was passed unanimously by the Brandywine School Board on October 20, 2006:

WHEREAS, the Brandywine School District Board of Education is dedicated to embracing, challenging, and inspiring students of every race, with and without limited English proficiency, with Individualized Education Plans, from each socio-economic level/status, and of all academic achievement levels;

WHEREAS, all students are able to make academic growth when provided high quality instruction, staff support, and sufficient time regardless of race, limited English proficiency, disability and socio-economic level/status;

The topic of our October meeting was "What does the Future Hold - Post Secondary options for Students with Disabilities?"

The panelists were:
Mark Chamberlin - from the Delaware Department of Education
Jan Abrams - from the Department of Labor
Joyce Kaufmann - from the Brandywine School District
Liz Murray - from the University of Delaware
Cory Nourie - from the University of Delaware
Gary Berg - from Brandywine School District
Lauren Padgett - from Lucasworks
Beverly Stewart - from Back to Basics Learning Dynamics.