In the News

Assessment of Services for Virginians with Autism Spectrum Disorders (JLARC Report--Report of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia)

The 2008 General Assembly directed JLARC staff to examine the services available to Virginians with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Commonwealth and this is the report they recently submitted.

JLARC staff found that while several public programs exist to diagnose, treat, and manage ASDs, those tend to be inadequately coordinated and cannot fully meet the needs of Virginians.

Although the research literature indicates that ASDs can be diagnosed between ages two and three, many children in the State are diagnosed later. Early intervention programs frequently do not provide the intensity of services needed to maximize outcomes and minimize costs, and many Virginia schools lack the tools and training to fully address the needs of students with ASDs. Limited supports exist to help adults with ASDs achieve independence.

If Virginia chooses to improve its system of care, priority could be given to ensuring that resources are used efficiently and services are delivered effectively. Service gaps could then be alleviated, starting with early intervention.

To read the report, go to http://jlarc.state.va.us/reports/Rpt388.pdf (You may be interested in reading the summary, which begins on page 9--the complete report is very long!)

New Special Education regulations for Virginia are finalized! (Click here to read them)

Visit the Department of Education website to read the new regulations for special education that will be in place for the next few years. Want to know more about them? Have questions you would like answered? Come to the October 5th session at Old Christiansburg Middle and hear what the Virginia Department of Education has to say. The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)in northern Virginia is sponsoring this event, one of several that will take place across the state. Registration is encouraged.

Author Recalls the Teacher that First Understood her Dyslexia (online Video)

Click above to watch a short video from LD Online that was made by author Patricia Polacco, who recalls the life-altering day when a teacher discovered her dyslexia.

Selecting a Toy for a Child who has Disabilities

Here are the questions the play experts at the National Lekotek Center ask when choosing developmentally appropriate toys for kids with special needs. Use these questions to guide you in making the right match between the child for whom you are buying and the toys in the store. Toys "R"Us has a Guide for Differently-Abled Kids that has various suggestions. Click here to see the video with Whoopi Goldberg that introduces the guide and more information about the guide.

Making it Stick: Memorable Strategies to Enhance Learning

What do you do when you need to remember a phone number? Do you repeat it over and over in your head? Make up a song with the digits? Visualize it in writing?

We all use strategies throughout the day to help us remember things and learn. Our brains do best when they are able to organize information into meaningful parts. Read Making it Stick: Memorable Strategies to Enhance Learning for an overview of how memory works and tips on using repetition, imagery, and patterns to help students improve their memory.

IEP Guide for Parents--from the National Association of School Psychologists (February 2009)

IEP Team Meetings: a Guide to Participation for Parents was developed "to provide an introduction to the IEP process so you will have an idea of what to expect, feel more comfortable in the meeting, and be better able to advocate for your child's (or your own) educational needs." Click here to read the PDF file (Adobe Reader is required and can be downloaded here for free.)

Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders in Children: Information for Parents (from the National Association of School Psychologists--February 2009)

"Anxiety is a normal developmental pattern that is exhibited differently as children grow older. All of us experience anxiety at some time and cope with it well, for the most part. Some people are anxious about specific things, such as speaking in public, but are able to do well in other activities, such as social interactions. Other people may have such high levels of anxiety that their overall ability to function is impaired. In these situations, counseling or other services may be needed." Click here to read the PDF file (Adobe Reader is required and be downloaded here for free.)