Education Consulting, Advocacy & Legal Services, LLC

Is your student/child a struggling reader but the school district is not recognizing their need for further evaluations and is letting a Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) influence their decision?

Benchmark Assessment System reading test is widely used and often wrong “Flipping a coin would actually be better” for identifying struggling readers, one researcher said of the test created by influential curriculum developers Fountas and Pinnell.

Coffee Talk with Attorney Pamela Milman coming soon near you! What would you want her to talk about???

It is nice to see places creating vacation spaces to accommodate families with children on the autism spectrum.

BEACHES® First-ever Autism All-Inclusive Week Event Enjoy a week of amazing activities for all! ✓ Advanced certified camp ✓ Dedicated one-on-one buddy per family ✓ Sunrise yoga and more. RSVP Today!

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We need to do better. We work on doing it one family at a time.

Disability Service Provider Crisis Worsening, Survey Finds Disability service providers across the nation are overwhelmingly turning away new referrals, shutting down programs and services and struggling to maintain standards and there's no relief in sight.

"You build back trust by getting the little things right."

If I had a dime for every family that has said to me..."I just don't trust them. If they can't even get the small things right, how do I expect them to get the bigger things right."

Trust in the world of education and care of our children with special needs is paramount to all other success in learning.

From The Boston Globe editorial published today – "Ultimately, 'unless your child’s bus comes on time and you can rely on the fact your child is going to get to school and have a great, full day there, none of the big-picture stuff matters.' Those are the words of Wu as told to The New York Times Magazine. 'You build back trust by getting the little things right.'

When should parents, especially those who joined the complaint, expect Wu and the district to get things right?"

Read the full editorial from the Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/21/opinion/too-many-bps-kids-wheels-bus-are-still-not-going-round-round/

Applications for 2022 are open from October 14th to October 31st, 2022.

Under the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the Autism Division runs the Autism Waiver Program for children with autism who experience behavior, social and communication challenges. Eligible children are enrolled in the service on a lottery basis, which provides one-on-one interventions in the child’s home or other natural settings. These services are conducted by trained clinical staff and are offered for three years. Upon completion of the three years, children may access step-down services until they reach ten years of age.

2022 Autism Waiver — Massachusetts Advocates for Children Under the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the Autism Division runs the Autism Waiver Program for children with autism who experience behavior, social and communication challenges. Eligible children are enrolled in the service on a lottery basis, which provides one-on-one interventions in...

What an amazing program at Berklee School of Music in Boston. Check it out!! "Celebrate what makes people different and encourage these young artists to be themselves," Ben Tan, graduate and instructor at Berklee (and proud to say a friend).

Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education The Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education is a catalyst for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of visual and performing arts ...

Last day to donate!! Thanks in advance.

Cabin 25.5 Help us meet our fundraising goal for Friends of Fatima

Cabin 25.5 Help us meet our fundraising goal for Friends of Fatima

EC Week is totally funded by donations and run on volunteers' time. Recent fundraisers have allowed for accessible cabins and roads to be built and most recently the addition of an electric tandem trike and even an e-bike that accommodates wheelchairs so that some campers can take their first ever bike ride!
I could go on forever about this place and what it means to me, but if you know me, you probably already know that. The link below is to my fundraising effort ahead of the Fatima 5k on September 24. Any donation amount is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Cabin 25.5 Help us meet our fundraising goal for Friends of Fatima

Great opportunities to bid on services.....

Our Summer Advocacy Auction is OPEN NOW! 🎉
Register with the link below, browse the available 2-hour sessions of advocacy or mentorship support, and place your bid!
Click here to register: https://bit.ly/3yCYQkw
All proceeds from the auction will go towards supporting our mission. Thank you for helping us help everyone!
Special Needs Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations to us are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

** Offer only valid in Massachusetts **

Last week to get your votes in!! Thanks to everyone for your support!!

Boston Family Favorites Ballot - Boston Parents Paper Are you a finalist? Click here to register for your badge! Do you have a business? Would you like to be a Family Favorites sponsor? Click here to find out more! About Boston Parents’ Family Favorites Boston Parents’ Family Favorites was born with the idea to give readers in Greater Boston and th...

Summer program at Berklee in Boston for musical individuals with disabilities.

ABLE (Arts Better the Lives of Everyone) Day Sessions Summer Music Program for Musicians with Disabilities | Berklee College of Music ABLE (Arts Better the Lives of Everyone) Day Sessions Summer Music Program for Musicians with Disabilities At Berklee, we believe that the arts better the lives of everyone. That's why we offer the ABLE Day Sessions program for musicians with disabilities. Study your instrument in group lessons. Pla...

Great News! We have advanced to the 2022 Family Favorite Finalists Round in Boston Parents Reader's Choice awards in one or more categories.

Voting in the Finalist Round for the Top Winners is now open thru May 31st. It's a clean slate from the first round so remember to vote for yourself and remind your followers to vote for you one last time!

Here's the link to vote: https://bostonparentspaper.com/boston-family-favorites-ballot/ #//

Please vote for us!!! THANKS!!

Boston Family Favorites Ballot - Boston Parents Paper Are you a finalist? Click here to register for your badge! Do you have a business? Would you like to be a Family Favorites sponsor? Click here to find out more! About Boston Parents’ Family Favorites Boston Parents’ Family Favorites was born with the idea to give readers in Greater Boston and th...

Incredible opportunities for your kid to get involved in expressive arts.

Groups and Workshops — The Artful Life More than a maker spaceExpressive Arts Programming Our brand new center in Salem, MA features a sunny nature-inspired art studio and a spacious creative movement studio where participants have plenty of room to spread out, explore the arts, be inspired and express their inner creative spirit. ** F....

A wonderful opportunity. Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs with programs for those ages 3-93!! Programs include private music lessons of many varieties, Rock Band Ensemble, Drumming, Music classes for young children, sensory friendly special performances (theater, music, dance) and much more....check it out...

Arts Education Programs for People with Special Needs | Berklee Arts Education Programs for People with Special Needs The Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs is deeply committed to providing educational opportunities in the arts for all learners. Our highly trained instructors tailor their teaching to meet each individual student's needs in a....

Implementation of MASK requirement from DESE August 25, 2021. This is what it is...for now.

www.doe.mass.edu

BREAKING NEWS:

https://twitter.com/boston25/status/1430175636228816911?s=21

Boston 25 News on Twitter “ : MA education officials have just voted to implement a mask mandate for all public K-12 students and staff in Massachusetts schools through October 1 --> https://t.co/mzPosOjylv”

This is an awesome story...

My Autistic Son Didn’t Have A Prom Date. What His Brother Did Next Was Beautiful. — HuffPost "While schools may be slow to find a place for families like mine, sometimes a good-natured big brother can make a difference."

Among other things in this email, Commissioner Riley is recommending to the Board of Education that the Class of 2022, this year’s 11th graders, if approved, will not be required to take the MCAS test. (Caution, do not let this 'force' a graduation for a student that has not received adequate transition services).

PRESS RELEASE DESE Makes Changes to MCAS Schedule, Graduation Requirements for 11th Graders

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education PASSED Commissioner Riley's emergency authority request for in person learning.

8 YES Votes
3 No Votes

Notes from meeting Riley's presentation
The time is now to bring students back. Referenced many scientific studies.
DESE recommending phased in approach -- Elementary starting April, Middle School and High School TBD
Parents will still have choice for their children
Waivers will be offered -- districts that have been fully remote can submit waiver for more incremental approach. Schools operate with k-4 configuration with grade 5 in another school. Operational constraints and feasibility issues.
Updated guidance document will be offered next week. Tech support teams will be available to offer ideas about physical spacing. Emergency licensure has been extended and superintendents have a database of substitutes. Funding continues (ESSER)
DESE will be rolling out mental health supports in the spring. Summer programming - state wide acceleration program to focus on gateway grades in key areas (literacy, math).
Fall - plan for a full return in person across all grades.
Notes from Physician comments:
Pediatrician: Shortage in mental health providers. Increase in depression, self harm, and su***de. Pandemic is making the mental health crisis far worse. 10+ day waits in the ER for children and adolescents to receive inpatient support. Increase in learning difficulties, particular with students with ADHD. Increase in BMI - school provides regular physical activities that students are not receiving. Increasing risk for diabetes.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Doctor: With multi-layered mitigation strategies, in person learning is safe. These strategies consist of masking. Studies from across the globe emphasize the effectiveness of masking. For students to thrive, students should return to in person learning with the urgency they deserve
Infectious Disease Doctor: Mitigation strategies work. Understand that many in the schools are fearful. CDC creates black and white guidance to know when to place someone in quarantine, but there are shades of gray. Where did the 6 foot standard come from?? It was set by the WHO for the global community. For many societies 3 feet distance is the standard at local levels. Our efforts to prevent COVID infection are causing more harm than good because children are suffering. Educators and children can be safe at 3 feet of difference.