How to Use the Brandywine Special Needs PTA Forum

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By: Author: Browder, Diane M.; Wakeman, Shawnee Y.; Spooner, Fred; Ahlgrim-Delzell, Lynn; Algozzine, Bob
From: Exceptional Children June 22, 2006

This article presents the results of a comprehensive review of 128 studies on teaching reading to individuals with significant cognitive disabilities. The review compared these studies against the National Reading Panel's components of reading; although it revealed an inadequate consideration of the components of reading, it found strong evidence for teaching sight words using systematic prompting and fading. The reviewers considered not only the number of studies, but also indicators proposed for evidence-based practice and effect size. This study identified some high quality studies with strong effect size for comprehension and fluency, but only one phonics study was strong in both quality and effects. Additional research is needed to promote broader skills in literacy for this population.
[Note - The test formatting of this version of the article makes the table difficult to follow. If you are interested in the tables, you'll need to get a hard copy of the magazine or see if you can find the original format of this article online.]

IEP Changes Coming Next Year: What You Need to Know
Wed., Apr 16, 2008

Brian Touchette- Delaware Department of Education, Exceptional Children & Early Childhood Education

About 75 attendees including around 18 teachers, 1 principal, 1 BSD School Board member, many parents and staff.

Brian introduced the new IEP forms that will be in use within a year. It is the DOE plan for all new IEPs going forward to use the new forms so that within a year all IEP teams will have met and used the new form. There are no plans to rewrite an existing IEP on the new form - only to create new IEPs using the new form.

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