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Articles include: SPIN is co-sponsored by the Disability & Communication Access Board and the Special Education Section of the Department of Education. Services include a phone line for information referral and support, a quarterly newsletter, an annual conference and community workshops. Guiding SPIN is our Advisory Committee: Ruth Akiona, Maggie Baxter, Mike Fahey, Amy Hogan, Laura Kealaiki, Steve Laracuente, Thalia Lehano, Donna McLanahan, Scott O'Brien, Christina Pilkington, Millie Rogers, Richele Thornburg & Lori Tokuhama. SPIN PHONE FAX E-MAIL WEB Congress is scheduled to revise and renew the legal authority of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act this year. Many consider IDEA to be the greatest civil rights legislation for children with disabilities ever passed, so when Congress begins to tinker with it, parents and advocates take notice. Part C of IDEA (Infants & Toddlers) and Part D (National Activities to Improve Education of Children with Disabilities) expire the end of September and need to be reauthorized. Part B, which provides special education services to preschool and school age children, is permanently authorized, but Congress is already gearing up to propose changes there, too. Some of the areas expected
to be hotly debated are: Although these debates will likely stretch into 2003, disability organizations like the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) are encouraging parents and other folks intent on preserving the rights in IDEA to become active now. If you would like to become more informed and involved, here are some options: SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL (SEAC) The Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) requires that each state establish and maintain
an advisory panel for the purpose of advising the State special
education staff regarding the education of all eligible children
with disabilities. In Hawaii that advisory panel is the Special
Education Advisory Council. SEAC is made up of a diverse group of individuals with expertise on all aspects affecting special education and related issues. The majority of members are parents of children with disabilities or consumers, and each school district is represented. SEAC invites the public to participate. We want to hear your success stories and the issues that concern you. Feel free to write, call or visit. Our meetings are held at the Library of the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind (3440 Leahi Avenue in Honolulu) and are open to the public. You may receive minutes of our meetings by contacting us, or you may view them electronically on the SPIN website: www.spinhawaii.org. SUPPORT GROUPS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES The Army Exceptional Family Member Program is host to two great information and support groups for families in the military: Contact Janet Bamford, 655-2400, regarding other Army programs. The Center on Disability Studies is looking for high school graduates, 19 - 21, for a study Graduates must have received special education services while in school and be a member of one of the following groups: The study will be a 30 to 45 minutes survey that will either be done over the phone or in person. $25 will be given to each participant for helping. The survey will be done between August and October 2002. If you know of someone who
would like to participate, please have them contact David Leake
at the Center on Disability Studies. TO SIGN OR NOT TO SIGN - Signatures and the IEP Parents are often under the
impression that their signature is required before their child's
IEP can be carried out. If they don't agree with any portion
of it, they believe that all they have to do is not sign it,
and it won't go into effect. This is not true. If you ask the school to do
any of the things above and they refuse, they must also give
you a written notice to explain their decision. If you receive
a PWN after the IEP that tells you the school is planning to
go ahead with something you object to, or refuses to do something
you suggested, then the ball is in your court. For instance,
if you asked for more of a related service (like physical therapy)
and the school responded with reasons why it thinks the amount
of therapy currently provided is appropriate, then you can ask
for mediation or file for due process. A third option is to file
a written complaint with the DOE's Complaints Office and cite
where your child's rights under IDEA are being violated. Many of our readers are aware of the attempt by legislators to reduce the fine for parking illegally in a disabled parking stall. Luckily, the Governor is planning to veto their legislation, so the fine will remain at $250. Parents who have parking placards because their child has a disability that affects walking may not know that this fine can be imposed on them, too, if they forget to hang their placard or if they forget to bring along the identification card that was issued with the placard. Just a reminder: ALWAYS CARRY THE I.D. CARD WHENEVER YOU USE YOUR PARKING PLACARD WITH YOUR CHILD. GROUP SWIMMING CLASSES SwimHawaii, a private swimming
school, offers group swimming classes for children with special
needs. The pool is heated and located at La Pietra, Hawaii School
for Girls, on the slopes of Diamond Head. Class times are Tuesdays,
4:00 - 4:50 p.m. for $10/class (payable by the month). The goal
is to help the swimmer develop coordination and self-sufficiency
in the water. C & C SUMMER FUN It may not be too late to sign
your keiki up for the Oahu City and County Parks & Recreation
Department's Summer Fun Program. Most programs run from June
12th - July 31st. Check with your district park for the exact
dates. And if your child needs a little closer supervision, the
City & County can provide an Inclusion Aide to help him or
her participate alongside peers. MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY CAMP The Muscular Dystrophy Association is holding its annual summer camp from June 20-26 at Camp Erdman on Oahu's North Shore. All campers must be over 6 years old and registered with MDA as having a neuromuscular disease. The camp is FREE, and there are plenty of volunteers and medical personnel on hand to guarantee a safe adventure. Call Audrey at 548-0588, ext. 12 for more information. ASTHMA SPORTS DAY CAMP The American Lung Association is sponsoring a special camp at Kailua Beach Park for children 5-12 to learn how to manage their asthma. Children will enjoy three fun filled days of outdoor recreational activities, sports clinics and crafts in a camp like atmosphere. The camp is scheduled for Friday, July 19th to Sunday, July 21st. Cost is $20 per child and includes lunches snacks, beverages, T-shirt and gifts. (Financial assistance to attend the camp is available, if needed). For more information, or to volunteer, please call the American Lung Association at 537-5966 or e-mail them at asthma@ala-hawaii.org. CAPTAIN'S CLUB Now in its 6th year, the Captain's Club offers free sailing lessons to wannabe sailors aged 10-16 who are in foster care or at risk. The "Introduction to Sailing" program runs five Mondays (July 29-August 26) from 4-6 p.m. Volunteer mentors provide support and guidance while the young sailors learn basic sailing skills, ocean safety and teamwork development. The primary mission of the Captain's Club is to enhance the child's self image by learning and experiencing life at sea. All it takes is a good attitude and a desire to have fun! For more information call Rich Marshall at 456-5103. CONGRATULATIONS TO SPIN'S 2002 AWARD WINNERS PARENTS OF THE YEAR Martha Guinan is an awesome mom who is often behind the scenes making things happen for families and children. Her knowledge of video production and her extensive understanding of how assistive technology can open doors for kids and adults with disabilities are a few of her many talents. A long time volunteer for the Aloha Special Technology Access Center, Martha has also worked as an assistive technology consultant, first at Zero to Three and currently at the Center on Disability Studies. Martha has had an opportunity to influence the attitudes of countless professionals and university students far beyond assistive technology. As a longtime volunteer for the Hawaii Down Syndrome Congress, she has also been an active and effective advocate for inclusive education and self determination for persons with disabilities in our community. Through her membership on the Access Council of the City & County Parks and Recreation Department, Martha has helped to improve recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. She is a governor appointed member of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, a graduate of Partners in Policymaking and an active member of the Po'ohala Council. Martha is a modest and truly inspirational parent whose actions and advocacy have benefited so many. Jasmine Williams is a high visibility parent advocate who dedicated herself to learning the intricacies of special education law and our system of services here in Hawaii. This passion and commitment lead her to a position with the Assisting with Appropriate Rights in Education (AWARE) Project and then on to the Supervisor of Advocate Services under the Learning Disabilities Association roof. She is currently the Chair of the Special Education Advisory Council. What has made her an effective systems advocate is her willingness to ask difficult questions. She is always prepared and ready for the challenge. Jasmine does her homework, because she wants children and families to receive the services and supports they need to be successful. As tough as she is on system barriers, she is incredibly kind, compassionate and thoughtful to every family that she helps. Rather than solve problems for parents, she seeks to empower them to think and act on their child's behalf. In this endeavor, there is hope in the lives of our children and a brighter future for us all because she has made a difference. FAMILY CHOICE AWARDS Karen Kameenui has been involved in Early Intervention since it began in Hawaii in the mid 1970's. She first came as a parent of a child with special health care needs. Sadly, Hiram passed away several years later. She then began her career as an Educational Assistant in the Sultan infant program at Easter Seals, and later accepted the position as Parent Worker where she helped to counsel hundreds of families. In addition to individual counseling, Karen held regular Mother's Support Groups where moms could look forward to a safe place to share their fears and their successes. Karen has a big heart and is
able to share that warmth and caring with others. She provides
hope, especially in those critical early years as parents' initial
dreams and hopes for their child change, and they adjust to having
a child with a disability. Karen has worked diligently to help
new parents chart a new course with new dreams and new support.
And she has worked quietly and without fanfare. Debbie Uyeda is a dedicated social worker with the Developmental Disabilities Division who is seemingly unaware of her HUGE popularity with families. In her eleven years as a case manager with the Division, Debbie's personal enthusiasm and professional commitment to individuals and families has never faltered. Debbie embraces the person centered planning process in the truest sense, making certain that the person is always at the center of the planning process. Her tireless energy is often the catalyst to the realization of life goals and dreams for the individuals she serves. Parents love her because she's always willing to go to bat for their child and she has earned their trust. Despite raising a young family, Debbie is always available when she is needed. One mom described her as being 1000% committed in a world of 100% commitment. Another says that she always has a positive attitude, even when everything seems bleak. It's obvious that Debbie goes way above and beyond her duties as a case manager. We're glad she's no way near retirement age! PROFESSIONALS OF THE YEAR Dr. James Little, or "Jim" as most of us know him by, is what every professional in the field of disabilities should aspire to be: dedicated, sincere, hard working, forward thinking, and in for the long haul! Jim, who retired this past year after teaching adaptive physical education for the past three decades, was not only a fine professor, but someone who truly believed that a teacher's commitment to his or her students did not cease at the end of the school day. He taught his university students by example, organizing after-school programs, community athletic events, weekend camps and the adaptive gym and fitness program. Long before it was fashionable, he stressed the importance of community and natural supports for people with disabilities. Dr. Little encouraged inclusive physical education programs in our schools through his workshops, courses and individual advocacy. It is no coincidence that the first regular education teachers to welcome students with disabilities into their classes were the physical education teachers. Jim lives his beliefs and models his commitment by personally supporting individuals with disabilities in their quest for quality lives in the community. Jennifer Schember-Lang is a wonderful, devoted and compassionate individual. She has helped countless families and children through her advocacy and leadership and seemingly never runs out of energy. A former staff attorney with the Protection & Advocacy Agency (now the Hawaii Disbility Rights Center), Jennifer has a complete grasp of federal and state special education statutes, but she also has the ability to treat all parties with respect and a calm professionalism. As the Executive Director of the Learning Disabilities Association of Hawaii, she has provided wonderful leadership. In this position, Jennifer has been a tireless systems advocate, helping to craft the changes to our local special education statutes and playing an active role in the State Community Children's Council, the Felix Staff Service Training Institute and the State Improvement Grant. She is also an accomplished trainer, able to take complex law and regulation and make it understandable to parents and teachers. Now school districts are asking for her help in training principals and teachers. She can diffuse a tense moment with her wit and wonderful sense of humor. Anyone who has ever appealed to Jennifer has a deep respect for her knowledge and advocacy skills. They also know that she is a terrific listener with a warmth that puts all at ease. No one can question her integrity or commitment. This award was long overdue! MAHALO to all of our
readers who sent in nominations! Hawaii Families As Allies Workshops 7/29 Pediatric Brain Injury
8/12 I.D.E.A. Workshop 9/7, 9/14, Sexuality Awareness
Building 9/21 Annual Foster Parent Care
Conference 10/4 & Leadership Symposium 10/12 Beyond the Blues Festival:
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