[Kids Together email newsletter] Email Newsletter March 2010
- From: "Kids Together, Inc." <staff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ktnewsletter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:13:49 -0400
Kids Together Email Newsletter
"promoting inclusive communities where all people belong"
MARCH 2010
This list consists of over 3000 people (and growing!)
Suggestions for newsletter items are welcome!
"Science may have found a cure for most evils;
but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all -- the
apathy of human beings."
~ Helen Keller ~
Waiting Lists and Budget Cuts
What Happens When Students Leave Schools?
In many states there remains a bias toward institutional
placement. Young adults, who throughout their lives, have participated to the
fullest in their schools and communities are suddenly cut off from supports,
services and inclusive practices they grew up knowing. The choice, once they
transition to adult life, is often one of either sitting at home with nothing
or being forced into a costly institutional placement. Sign the national
petition - http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/noewait.html
In Pennsylvania
Large Waiting Lists AND Proposed Cuts!
http://www.kidstogether.org/pabudget.htm
Visit the updates page for more info, sign the petition for
Pennsylvania, and look for the Facebook group "Oppose Pa budget cuts causing
isolation and life threatening situations!"
Pennsylvania Fosters Cruelty to Adults with Developmental
Disabilities
The state of Pennsylvania, Governor Ed Rendell and Harriet
Dichter, secretary of Public Welfare are ensuring that more adults with
developmental disabilities end up with NO supports, NO safety nets and NO
protective services as the already 18,013 on waiting lists. There is such a
lack of concern for our citizens with developmental disabilities that 17.3
million dollars budgeted for services are proposed to be cut!
The proposed cuts and growing waiting list makes it appear
that the goal of Pennsylvania is to increase isolation, abuse, neglect and loss
of skills for adults with developmental disabilities; to deprive people of
having even basic needs met; and to destroy any hope of achieving the desirable
outcomes planned during transition from school. The lack of community and
protective services all but guarantees the likelihood of abuse, neglect and
exploitation.
Students transitioning to adult life from years of
services, including Early Intervention and Special Education, will end up
sitting at home with NOTHING! Over 700 students this year alone, many who are
accustomed to being included and participating in their community with
supports, will suddenly be neglected by the state and left out of life.
What can you do? Tell your legislator the cuts and waiting
list are cruel, we can't afford to have people sit at home with nothing or
forced into extremely costly institutional settings. Ask them to support
funding for "Community-based waivers" that support individuals and families in
their communities. - Sign the petition! -
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/EndPAWaitingList
Additional links:
http://capwiz.com/thearc/issues/alert/?alertid=14696526&queueid=4682097971
ARC Action Alert
http://capwiz.com/par/issues/alert/?alertid=14688416&type=ST
PAR Action Alert
http://www.pawaitinglistcampaign.org/
Pennsylvania Waiting List Campaign
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Inclusion Advocates - Network and Unite!
Kids Together Networking Community Group!!
http://kidstogether.ning.com/
Check out the networking section on the Kids Together
website! Participants much register, it works similar to Facebook. There are
sections for groups, posts, photos, and events. Participants can invite people
to join, and also contact other members in the group one on one.
Kids Together, Inc. is also on Facebook
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=9703316004&ref=nf
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Videos of interest
On YouTube
World of Transition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mK_DEzbpTI
Create by the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania.
The video highlights the stories of four youth with disabilities who have
successfully transitioned from high school to either employment or
Post-Secondary education.
Through the Same Door
PART 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWnCVd2cBpA
PART 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tjtkcV4n2k
PART 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_0ayOc7EZA
Learn about Micah's experiences in college, view this award
winning video on college life. An inspiring film that documents the new
movement of fully inclusive education by exploring Micah's desire for a life
without boundaries. As a high school student, Micah wanted the college
experience and he got it. See how it's done, learn how it works, and witness
how Micah's journey challenges us all to reexamine what we believe possible.
On DVD
Rory O Shea Was Here (1 hour 40 min) Available on Amazon,
Netflix also check your local library. Originally released under the title
Inside I'm Dancing, a 2004 Irish film. Rory moves into a home for people with
disabilities with a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy and befriends a deeply
bored young man who has cerebral palsy. He infuses his pal's life with renewed
hope, even as he struggles with his own demons. Rory refuses to surrender to
the desperation of his life, choosing instead to embrace the potential in
everyday opportunities.
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Proloquo2Go: AAC in Your Pocket
Communication on iPhone and iPod touch
http://www.proloquo2go.com/
Proloquo2Go is the first full-featured communication
solution for people who have difficulty speaking not costing thousands of
dollars. Finally, powerful augmentative and alternative communication comes
within reach of consumers and schools without access to funding. Proloquo2Go is
not only a break-through in terms of price, but also in terms of technology and
ease of use.
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Bills to Remove R-word from Federal Laws
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.02781:/
S.2781 Senate
Title: A bill to change references in Federal law to mental
retardation to references to an intellectual disability, and to change
references to a mentally retarded individual to references to an individual
with an intellectual disability.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR04544:
H.R.4544 House
Title: To change references in Federal law to mental
retardation to references to an intellectual disability, and change references
to a mentally retarded individual to references to an individual with an
intellectual disability.
The Arc of the United States strongly supports legislation
(S.2781) introduced by Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland that would change the
term "mental retardation" or "mentally retarded" to "intellectual disabilities"
in several federal statutes such as education and employment laws. As advocates
for people with intellectual disabilities, we are waging a battle to change
hearts and minds and ensure that our constituency enjoys full inclusion and
participation in the community.
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The Parent Side (tm)
T-shirts, cards, magnets mugs, stickers & more!
It's a campaign for inclusion and against exclusion!
http://www.theparentside.com
Now you can use Paypal!
Products that promote inclusion. Gifts for parents,
teachers, self-advocates and others! Mugs, tote bags, buttons, posters, bumper
stickers, cards, t shirts, sweatshirts and lots more!
Keep voting at
http://funtshirts.top-site-list.com/vote182.html to keep the shop at the top!
Become a fan on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/The-Parent-Side/46673878497
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Resources are listed for general information purposes only
Kids Together does not endorse products, services, or
provide any legal advice
Kids Together, Inc. is an all-volunteer non-profit 501(c)3
organization
We support the belief that children with disabilities, like
all children,
have the need to be welcomed, cherished and embraced in our
communities.
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