May 2005

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Issue 10 • • www.pluk.org

Extended Workshops Popular By Dennis Moore, Executive Director

Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids (PLUK) continues to move for-

ward with providing a variety of services for parents through-

out Montana. This month marks the one-year anniversary

of PLUK’s day-long Extended Workshops (EWS). We’ve now

held fifteen workshops throughout the state and have been

extremely pleased with both the participants’ interest and

the success of the sessions. Some of the most recent ses-

sions have included: a workshop on bullying in Miles City (Dr.

Marlene Snyder of Whitefish offered this session); Stephanie

Luehr, a PLUK staff member presented workshops on ADHD in

both Bozeman and Kalispell; and Doug Cochran-Roberts of

Missoula provided a session in Kalispell on “Staying Cool.” We

still have several extended workshops scheduled for the remainder of the season and PLUK will

be offering, for the first time, some EWS to additional sites via video conference. See inside for

details and registration form.

The EWS are a wonderful way to provide high quality training on a variety of topics of interest

for parents of kids with disabilities, and for school and agency personnel as well. We have a full

slate of sessions on the burner for planning for the fall, and we welcome any suggestions for

new topics and/or speakers.

The EWS do not replace other

forms of training and PLUK

continues to do all the basic

formats: video conferenc-

ing, face-to-face training forDr MarleneDr Marlene SSnyder parents (on Special Education presentedpresented on “Bullyingon “Bullying basics, Preparing for IEPs, etc.),

Prevention”Prevention” telephone conference and at Miles Cityat Miles City other formats. The EWS give usCommunityCommunity College in AprilCollege in April an opportunity to provide in-

depth training on hot button

topics. PLUK continues to pro-

vide that one-on-one contact

for parents as well.

Something else that we

have started, or at least a revamped, recently is PLUK’s Parent-to-Parent component. We have

changed both our training format and how the volunteers will be involved in the program.

We are holding regional training sessions for volunteers. Anyone who is interested in helping

should call PLUK’s office and express interest in the Parent-to-Parent component. ���

Contents 2 Pluk the Chicken Caught

at Events in Billings 2 Softball Tournaments

Planned for Summer 3 Upcoming PLUK Training

Events 4 Universal PLUK Training

Registration Form 5 Montana Training and

Events Calendar 6 Training and Events

Outside Montana 7 In the News 11 Ideas and Answers 12 Kids at Heart Gala Set 12 Concert Celebrates and

Supports

2 Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org

Monthly UpdateMedia Director: Roger Holt

Story Editor: Elisabeth Mills,

Emerald Scribe, http://www.emeraldscribe.com

Design & Layout: Rosanna

Buehl, QBMM Publishing,

http://www.qbmm.comCirculation: 7,500

This is a publication of Par-

ents, Let’s Unite for Kids (PLUK),

a private, nonprofit Montana

organization founded in 1984 by

a group of parents of children

with special needs. Monthly

Update is available in alternative

formats by request.

Principal Office

Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids

516 N 32nd St

Billings MT 59101-6003800-222-7585 (toll free in Mont.)406-255-0540 (voice, TT)406-255-0523 (FAX)

plukinfo@pluk.orghttp://www.pluk.org

Pluk the Chicken Caught at Events in Billings

Yes, PLUK’s mascot — Pluk the Chicken — contin-ues to be seen at hockey games, events and parades around town. Pluk has shown wonderful interaction with children at Billings Bulls Hockey Games and other events. Yes, it’s true, Pluk recently won another dance contest at a hockey game. He ran down the aisles of the Metra and danced with kids. Yes, it’s true, Pluk sparred with Boris the Bull and was followed around by the Pizza Guy. It’s rumored, but not veri-fied, that Pluk may be visiting other events and offices around Billings, and possibly coming to other areas of the state. When asked about PLUK the Chicken’s mis-behavior, Dennis Moore, PLUK Executive Director, commented, “Pluk the Chicken is often totally out of control. We’ve tried, but we just cannot seem to find the magical solution.” ���

Softball Tournaments Planned for SummerAt least three Associate Boards (Billings, Miles City and Kalispell (Flathead Valley), so far) are

planning softball tournaments for the summer. The tournaments will be made up of teams mostly from companies in the regions, and everyone is excited about holding the events.

Be warned: these tournaments are not the normal type of sporting event. Last year the Bill-ings group held the first “Fixed and Finagled” Softball Tourna-ment. The “fixed” part comes from bonus cards that are issued depending on the amount of funds the team donated to PLUK. It is rumored that these cards, widely used by teams at the event, were also available for purchase. The bonus cards includ-ed cards for “extra strikes,” “extra outs,” “extra runs,” and more.

The event was a great success and fun for the teams. The 2004 Tournament winner was ExxonMobil Refinery and the Montana-Dakota Utilities team came in second. Other teams included KULR 8 TV, Farmers Insurance, the Billings Gazette, KTVQ 2 TV, US Bank, and representatives from the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office, and Max Baucus’ Office. For more information on the Tournament in your area, call PLUK’s office at 406-255-0540 or 800-222-7585. ���

Pluk the chicken and friends

Everyone plays at PLUK softball tournaments!

Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org 3

Upcoming PLUK Training EventsFor the most current information, visit http://www.pluk.org/training.

Our Featured Event

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Teleconference

May 17, 2005, 9:00 AM – noon

Where: Great Falls, VisionNet classroom,

1309 NW Bypass

Video Conference Sites: Lame Deer, Indi-

an Health Service; Billings, Mansfield Center:

Burns East. Additional sites may be added by

contacting the PLUK office.

Presenters: Jill Plumage, Fort Belknap

Reservation FAS Coordinator and other

speakers to be announced. Jill counsels

women about the dangers of drinking while

pregnant, using her own life story as an ex-

ample. She works with a grant from the Uni-

versity of New Mexico to study the problem

of FAS on the Fort Belknap reservation.

Visit http://www.pluk.org/training/

FAS.htm for detailed information and on-

line registration. ���

More EventsMay 19, 2005 • Financial Planning for Families

Teleconference with Bruce Larson, Jason Harkins, and a parent panel, teleconference from the Mansfield Center in Billings, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Professionals in the field of financial plan-ning will present information on wills and trusts, guardianship, Special Needs trusts, and issues surrounding financial security for families of children with special needs. The parent panel will discuss real world issues and their experience in financial planning. Visit http://www.pluk.org/training/Fi-nancial.htm for detailed information and online registration. Video conference sites: Contact the PLUK of-fice for information.

June 2, 2005 • Financial Planning for Families Teleconference with Nancy Gibson, Chris Siegler, and a parent panel, a teleconference from Ruby’s Convention Center in Missoula 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Visit http://www.pluk.org/training/Fi-nancial.htm for detailed information and online registration. Video conference site: Saint James Hospital in Butte

June 16, 2005 • Special Educa-tion in Montana Telecon-ference with Kathy Manley Coburn, teleconference from the Mansfield Center in Billings 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. This one-day workshop on Special Education in Mon-tana covers key topics and cases under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504. Visit http://www.pluk.org/training/SPEDlaw.htm for detailed information and online registration. Video conference sites: Contact the PLUK of-fice for information. ���

Above: Jill Plumage and “babies”

Inset: Missoula attorney and teacher, Kathy Manley Coburn.

4 Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org

Universal PLUK Training Registration FormVisit http://www.pluk.org/training for detailed information and for online registration.

Training Opportunities

May 17: Teleconference, “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome” 9 AM–noon

Billings, Mansfield Center, Burns East (video conference site)

Great Falls, VisionNet classroom, 1309 NW Bypass

Lame Deer, IHS (video conference site)

May 19: Teleconference, “Financial Planning for Families” 10 AM–4 PM

Billings, Mansfield Center

June 2: Teleconference, “Financial Planning for Families” 10 AM–4 PM

Butte, St. James Hospital (video conference site)

Missoula, Ruby’s Convention Center

June 16: Teleconference, “Special Education in Montana” 10 AM–4 PM

Billings, Mansfield Center

Tuition

$50 for May 17 half-day registration

$99 for single registration

$75 each for two or more registrants

$50 special rate for full-time students

Please consider me for one of the limited number of parent scholarships. (Must be a parent.)

Role Parent Educator Professional Other

Organization ________________________________________________________________

Name ______________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________

City _________________________________ State _________ Zip Code _______________

Telephone ___________________________ E-mail ________________________________

Special Accommodations _____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Total amount due: $ _________

Check [Payable to PLUK; send to: 516 N 32nd St, Billings MT 59101-6003]

Credit Card [Payable by telephone; call the PLUK Office at 406-255-0540 or 800-222-7585]

Purchase Order

FAX registration to 406-255-0523

General Comments or Questions for Presenters:

Send registration to PLUK, 516 N 32nd St, Billings MT 59101

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Montana Training and Events Calendar The following is a listing of training activities and events happening around Montana. Par-

ents who need financial assistance in order to attend trainings may apply for parent training grants through the PLUK office. For the most up-to-date calendar of training, visit the online calendar at http://www.pluk.org/Calendar.htm.

Getting Students Past the “Gatekeeper”

Courses in Math—Creating Success in Pre-

Algebra and Algebra, May 5, Missoula

Effective instruction, especially at the

middle school level, is a critical component

for laying the foundation for higher-level

mathematics. This one-day workshop focuses

on the “big picture” concepts and those top-

ics necessary for algebra success. By tackling

the important topics and modeling the “big

picture” concepts for students, teachers and

students can “tear down” these roadblocks to

algebra success.

To register, or for further information, please

go to http://www.cspd.net. ���

Self-Employment Part 2, May 6,

Teleconference via METNET in Billings, Glendive,

Glasgow, Lewistown, Miles City, & Missoula

Topics covered include assessing business

feasibility and developing business plans.

1:00–4:00 PM.

For information, contact Kim Brown, Transi-

tion Project Coordinator, at 406-243-4852 or

brown@ruralinstitute.umt.edu. ��

A Family Learning Weekend for the Visually

Impaired, June 10–12, Great Falls

This free three-day weekend in Great

Falls, hosted by the Montana School for the

Deaf and the Blind and located on the MSDB

campus, is designed specifically for families

with children who are visually impaired. This

weekend is packed with ideas. A nationally

renowned keynote speaker, Judith Lesner

from the National Association of Parents of

the Visually Impaired (NAPVI), will be speaking

to families about the importance of parent

advocacy. She will present with her son, Jacob

Lesner-Buxton, who will be addressing the

current issues in the education of the blind.

Both Judith and Jacob will be working with

our parents to design a Montana chapter of

NAPVI. For more information, please contact

MSDB at 800-882-6732 or Barb Rolf, Outreach

Vision Consultant at 406-251-5674. ���

MASP Summer Institute, June 12-14, Billings

Jack M. Fletcher, PhD (Professor in Depart-

ment of Pediatrics at the University of Texas

Health Sciences Center—Houston and Associ-

ate Director for the Center for Academic and

Reading Skills (CARS)), will present “Neuropsy-

chology of Developmental Disorders.” Explore

the origins of brain dysfunction, review the

behavior systems model, discover the current

concepts behind the behavior-brain relation-

ship, and investigate learning disabilities iden-

tification, intervention, and research.

The Institute will be held from Sunday eve-

ning, June 12, through Tuesday afternoon,

June 14, at the Mansfield Health Education

Center in Billings. Continuing Education Units

(CEU) are available for educators and others.

Fees vary ($110-$145).

Download the MASP Summer Institute bro-

chure at http://www.pluk.org/MASP_Sum-Inst_2005.pdf. ��

Power Mobility Camp, June 13-17, Billings

Located at the MSU-Billings campus, the pur-

pose of the camp is to allow any individual an

opportunity to try power mobility. Several ses-

sions are encouraged for evaluation. For more

information, please call Mary O’Connell, PT, ATP

at 800-732-0323 or 406-243-5688. People of all

ages, with any disability, are welcome. ���

Natural History Camp for Students with Visual

Impairments, June 20-23, Bitterroot Valley

The Montana Conservation Science Institute

is sponsoring a Natural History Camp for Stu-

dents with Visual Impairments. To learn more

about this exciting opportunity, go to http://

www.msdb.mt.gov/summer_programs. htm, scroll down, and click on “2005 Summer

Program Schedule, Camp Eureka.” ���

Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org 5

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Training and Events Calendar: Outside Montana The following is a listing of upcoming training activities and events taking place around the

country. For a complete listing, see http://www.pluk.org/Calendar.htm.

Disability Law Resource Project Webcast:

IDEA 2004, May 18, Internet

IDEA 2004 becomes effective July 1, 2005. In

this Webcast, Troy R. Justesen, Acting Deputy

Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special

Education and Rehabilitative Services (OS-

ERS) in the U.S. Department of Education will

provide an update on the development of the

implementing regulations for IDEA 2004. He

will outline the next steps in the process as

well as opportunities for the public to provide

comment. He will address some key issues

raised during the comment period to help us

understand some key changes introduced in

this latest version of IDEA as well as what those

changes may mean for students, parents, and

schools. Please submit questions for the pre-

senter ahead of time to webcast@ilru.org.

To link to this Webcast and download ac-

companying materials visit: http://www.ilru. org/online/calendar.html.

For instructions on how to access a Webcast

visit: http://www.ilru.org/online/instruc-tions.html.

Please visit this site ahead of time to test

and ensure your computer is configured and

updated to participate in the Webcast.

For technical assistance, please check out

our FAQs (frequently asked questions) at:

http://www.ilru.org/online/FAQ.html or contact a Web cast team member at

webcast@ilru.org or 713-520-0232 (v/tty). �

Building Brighter Futures for People

with Developmental and Learning

Disabilities, May 9-13, New York City

Dive into one of the largest conferences of

its kind at the 26th annual YAI/National Insti-

tute for People with Disabilities Network inter-

national conference. This event features more

than 120 sessions and 2 full-day post confer-

ence workshops.

Cost: Varies $195-$545

Visit http://www.yai.org for conference de-

tails, including a full agenda, & to register. ���

Autism One Conference, May 26-29, Chicago

As always, Autism One 2005 features four

major tracks to help parents and profession-

als make the most informed choices and

decisions: Biomedical Treatments; Behavior/

Communication/Education Therapies; Com-

plementary/Alternative Treatments; Govern-

ment/Legal/Personal Issues. Each track offers

three days of presentations focusing on par-

ticular treatments, research, or issues of that

field. All presentations are open on a walk-in

basis—one registration covers them all.

Learn about the most effective treatments

and therapies, how to obtain services, and

how to deal effectively with schools. Learn

what to expect in future for the fields of medi-

cine, education, government, and law.

Register securely online at https://www. exporeg.com/autismone. ���

2005 National Association for Rural Mental Health

(NARMH) Annual Conference, August 4-6, Honolulu

With more than 60 sessions planned, this

year’s conference stretches beyond the cus-

tomary and traditional mental health program

areas, extending explicitly into the areas of

dual diagnosis and forensic mental health

services, with an emphasis on culturally based

deliveries of care. Conference organizers hope

to create greater dialogue among participants

from the many sectors that touch people in

need of mental health and substance abuse

care and treatment, and to aide in dissolv-

ing some of the barriers to collaboration and

integrated service development and delivery.

NARMH is seeking proposals for presentations

that offer a wide spectrum of effective ap-

proaches addressing mental illness and/or

substance abuse concerns. Proposals for pre-

sentations should indicate one of the planned

specific conference tracks.

Conference information is available at:

http://www.narmh.org or by calling 320-

202-1820. The conference brochure will be

available in May. ���

6 Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org

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In the News

Resource for Psychological Services in Missoula One resource for low income children who

are not eligible for CHIPS or Medicaid is the Clinical Psychology Center.

The CPC is operated by the Department of Psychology at The University of Montana and provides confidential assessment and psycho-therapeutic services for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. The CPC is a free-standing clinic, staffed by graduate students, that serves as the primary location for clinical training. All services are provided under the direct supervision of licensed clinical psy-chologists. The Clinic facilities include private counseling rooms, observation rooms, group therapy rooms, and seminar rooms.

Visit http://www2.umt.edu/psych/clini-cal/cpc.html for more information. ��

National Autism Association’s Helping Hand Program Provides One-Time Grants

NAA’s Helping Hand Program is now award-ing a grant of up to $1,500 to families in need of financial assistance in getting biomedical treatments, supplements, therapies, basic liv-ing expenses, etc. for their child with autism. Priority is given to single parents.

For more information, please visit http://

www.nationalautismassociation.org/help-inghand.php. (Courtesy of NAA) ���

IDEA Public Meetings John H. Hager, assistant secretary of the Of-

fice of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Educa-tion, announces a series of public meetings to receive comments on proposed rules to implement programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. o Monday, June 6, 2005, San Antonio, TX

o Friday, June 17, 2005, Nashville, TN

o Wednesday, June 22, 2005, Sacramento, CA

o Friday, June 24, 2005, Las Vegas, NV

o Monday, June 27, 2005, New York, NY

o Wednesday, June 29, 2005, Chicago, IL

o Tuesday, July 12, 2005, Washington, DC

The Sibling Slam Book: What It is Really Like to Have a Brother or Sister with Special Needs!

Over two years in the making, The Slam

Book was a labor of love. It features the can-

did, funny, and insightful observations of 80

teen sibs of kids who have wide range of spe-

cial developmental and health needs from five

countries. The book also features an introduc-

tion by David Gallagher, star of WB’s Seventh

Heaven, brother to a young man who has

autism, and CAN Youth Ambassador.

To learn more about the book, please visit

http://www.woodbinehouse.com/main. asp_Q_product_id_E_1-890627-52-6. ��

The Medicated Child

About 13 million children in kindergarten

through 12th grade take medication in any

two-week time period, according to a study

by Ann Marie McCarthy, an associate professor

at the University of Iowa—and the number of

children who take medication at school con-

tinues to grow. At the same time, the number

of school nurses is falling.

For more information, go to http://

www.asbj.com/specialreports/

0305SpecialReports/S1.html. (From Health

Care Transition for Youth Digest) ���

SAMHSA Family Guide Web Site

The Family Guide Web site ( http://family. samhsa.gov ) offers ideas and support for

adults who interact with youth to promote

mental health and prevent substance abuse.

SAMHSA developed “A Family Guide To Keep-

ing Youth Mentally Healthy & Drug Free” to

support adults/parents, family members, care-

givers, teachers, and other youth mentors in

their efforts to help children aged 7 to 18 make

good decisions, feel safe and protected, and

have successful lives. The ultimate goal is to

promote youth mental health and discourage

youth drug use. (Courtesy of Monday Morning

in Washington, DC) ���

Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org 7

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Introducing Max and Friends, Skill-building Program for Children with Autism

Max and Friends: Volume 1 is a multimedia skill-building program for children with au-tism and related disabilities. The innovative package uses a children’s television program (on DVD), storybooks and music to present proven therapy-based exercises in a fun, simple format for children with special learn-ing needs.

“Max and Friends is a wonderful product. So many videos and children’s programs go by at breakneck speed. Max has a wonderful pace for all children, especially those with ASD, for whom the slower learning pace is es-sential,” said Diane Twachtman-Cullen, PHD, CCC-SLP, Editor-in-Chief, Autism Spectrum Quarterly. Developed by a team of autism therapists and children’s media profession-als, Max and Friends can be used to help children with special learning needs develop core skills, but is fun and entertaining for children of all developmental levels. Max and Friends is organized into volumes of related skills. Volume 1 focuses on imitation, com-mands, and matching. Each skill is the focus of a DVD and an accompanying storybook. The package also includes an instructive manual designed to train parents in teach-ing, maintaining and generalizing the skills as well as a CD of eighteen children’s songs. To order, visit http://www.launchintolearning. org or call 800-559-9751. ��

Overboard—New Software for Communication Symbols

Overboard, the alternative to Boardmaker, is available now. Overboard is a communica-tion board design package containing over 5,500 high-resolution communication symbols Create professional looking communication displays in minutes. Quickly search over 55,000 words in the keyword library and instantly re-trieve the respective communication symbols.

Age appropriate for children, teenagers and adults. No stick men. Re-size symbols and pic-tures to fit any page size.

Print your work or save it to disk, flash drive, or floppy disk. Print displays in black & white or color (requires a color printer). Copy and paste symbols to or from Boardmaker. Make

worksheets, symbol instruction sheets, books, journals, or calendars. Paste in digital photo-graphs or any of Microsoft 130,000 clip art im-ages and symbols.

Download a free trial copy! You may download Overboard and evalu-

ate the full version at no charge by going to http://www.gusinc.com/Overboard/index. html (63 MB — 5 minute download with a cable or DSL connection). ���

Math Learning Disabilities Kate Garnett, PH.D., Division for Learning

Disabilities Journal of CEC. November 1998 While children

with disorders in mathematics are specifically includ-ed under the defi-nition of Learning Disabilities (Federal Register, August 23, 1977), seldom do math learning dif-ficulties cause chil-dren to be referred for evaluation. In many school systems, special education services

are provided almost exclusively on the basis of children’s reading disabilities (Badian, 1983). Even after being identified as learning dis-abled (LD), few children are provided substan-tive assessment and remediation of their arith-metic difficulties (Goodstein & Kahn, 1974).

Read the complete article at: http://www. ldonline.org/article.php?max=20&id=974

&loc=70. �

Free Web Hosting for US Public Schools Lunarpages, a provider of web hosting ser-

vices and support, today announced it will of-fer free web hosting to all K-12 public schools in the U.S., effective immediately.

“Educating our youth is extremely impor-tant and donating web space to schools is a small contribution that could potentially make a big impact on students, teachers and par-ents across the country,” said Ron Riddle, CEO

and co-founder of Lunarpages. “We welcome

8 Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org

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any district administrator, school principal or

classroom teacher to participate in this unique

program.”

Schools and districts can take advantage of

this program to create Web sites that serve a

variety of purposes, including:

• Increasing visibility for the school within its

own community and beyond

• Facilitating communication between teach-

ers and parents

• Sharing information between schools with-

in a district or classrooms within a school

• Providing valuable information about daily

schedules and events

• Serving as a bulletin board for homework

assignments and class projects

As part of the program, Lunarpages will pro-

vide 1000 MB storage, unlimited E-mail address-

es, 40 GB data transfer, and unlimited phone

and E-mail support for each new account.

There is no restriction on the use of the

account opened in conjunction with this

program, provided it is opened by a school

official and is used for educational purposes.

Private schools, colleges, churches, day-care

centers and schools outside of the United

States are not eligible to participate. (Dateline:

La Habra, California—January 18, 2005) ��

Rubella Eliminated from United States, CDC Says

Rubella, a virus that once caused tens of

thousands of birth defects and deaths in a

single outbreak, has been eliminated from the

United States, health officials said Monday.

But Americans still must vaccinate their

children, and women who might get pregnant

must still ensure they are immune because

the disease exists elsewhere, the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention said.

“A disease that once seriously harmed tens

of thousands of infants is no longer a major

health threat, thanks to a safe and effective

vaccine and successful immunization pro-

grams across the country,” CDC Director Dr.

Julie Gerberding told a Washington, DC news

conference.

Read the complete article at: http://www. reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healt hNews&storyID=7962919&src=rss/health-News. ���

Read the Newspaper over the phone with NFB-NEWSLINE®

Would you like a newspaper with your

morning cup of coffee? In 2004, NFB-NEWSLINE®

added its 140th newspaper in 2004 along with

its first two magazines, and it’s still growing.

The service handles thousands of phone calls

each day for individuals across the country

who can now access daily newspapers and

magazines as never before. The toll-free cen-

tralized call-in center provides service without

delay to any subscriber. This also enables

those who cannot read conventional print to

have access to all of NFB-NEWSLINE® when trav-

eling throughout the United States.

Visit http://www.nfb.org/newsline1.htm

for more information. ���

i-SAFE Provides Free Curricula on Internet Safety

The United States Congress has designated

i-SAFE America Inc, a non-profit Internet safety

foundation, to bring Internet safety education

and awareness to the youth of this country.

Founded in 1998, i-SAFE is a proactive pre-

vention-oriented Internet safety awareness

program. We provide age-appropriate K-12

curriculum to schools in all 50 states free of

charge.

Visit http://www.isafe.org/ for more infor-

mation. �

Preemie Magazine debuts

SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA - March 17, 2005 - Pree-

mie Magazine, LLC is pleased to announce the

launching of Preemie Magazine, a free print

magazine and online community for parents

of premature infants as well as the profession-

als that care for them.

Preemie Magazine’s print edition provides

parents and professionals with information

across the lifespan of the premature child,

from infancy to the school years. Its online

community allows the audience to connect

with one another through forums, scheduled

live chats with professionals, a large listing of

resources as well as a growing list of support

groups and playgroups. The online com-

munity went live in March 2005 and the print

edition’s first issue is slated for June 2005.

For more information, please visit http://

www.preemiemagazine.com. ���

Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org 9

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Infants Use Their Hands to “Talk” By Liz Nakazawa, contributor, The Christian Science Monitor

Sign language is attracting a new group of enthusiastic practitioners: parents and their infant children. The appeal of such com-munication has nothing to do with hearing

Read the report at http://www.asbj. com/specialreports/0305SpecialReports/

S3.html. ���

Partners in Employment Self-Study Course “Partners in Employment” is a self-study

course designed to help people with de-velopmental disabilities impairments. find meaningful jobs and Instead, it’s jump-start their careers. about getting in This course has been cre-touch with the ated to provide practical thought process skills needed to find real, of babies who competitive employment. can’t yet speak. Throughout the site, you’ll Jill and Jeff learn how other people Rupert of Port-with disabilities have over-land, Ore, have

learned 25 signs so they can teach them to their hearing baby, Joel. “We’re trying sign language to communi-cate with Joel sooner than we would be able to if we waited for him to talk,” says Jill.

The Ruperts are part of a national move-ment of hearing parents teaching their hear-ing babies and toddlers American Sign Lan-guage (ASL) to help increase communication.

Read the rest of this article at http://www. csmonitor.com/2005/0322/p14s01-legn. html. �

ASBJ Special Report—Depression: Ready or Not, Your Schools Must Face Children’s Mental Health Problems By Kathleen Vail

Twenty-five years ago, people believed it was impossible for children to be depressed. Now, of course, we know that’s not true. In fact, one in every 33 children and one in eight adolescents may be suffering from depres-sion, according to the federal Center for Men-tal Health Services. And while we’re getting better at recognizing depression in children and teens, a majority still are not getting help.

Up to 70 percent of children with diagnos-able mental, emotional, or behavioral disor-ders, are not receiving mental health services, according to the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health. Within that scope of disorders, depressed children are the least likely to get treatment. But some of the help they are get-ting is coming from their schools.

come common obstacles to find jobs and succeed in the workplace.

“Partners in Employment” is part of the continuing effort to create a new employment culture—one in which willing workers are welcomed and embraced by satisfied employ-ers and a supportive public. The design and development of this e-learning course was financed in part by a grant from the Depart-ment of Health and Human Services, Admin-istration on Developmental Disabilities. Learn more about the course at http://www.part-nersinpolicymaking.com/employment. (From Monday Morning in Washington, DC) ���

Individual Supports to Increase Access to an Inclusive College Experience for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (Online Training Module)

The purpose of this online training mod-ule is to provide guidance on developing an Individual Support Model (ISM) to increase access to inclusive college experiences and to improve chances for the success of students with intellectual disabilities. An ISM approach provides students with individualized services and supports (e.g., educational coach, tu-tor, technology, natural supports) in college courses, certificate programs, internships, or degree programs. This opportunity is offered by the On-Campus Outreach project at the University of Maryland and funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs. Learn more at http://www.education.umd.edu/

oco/training/oco_training_modules/Indi-vidualSupports/start.html. ���

10 Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org

Ideas and Answers

Q Is ESY just summer school?

A “ESY” stands for “extended school year” and must be considered for every student who

qualifies for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education

Act (IDEA). ESY services are designed to ensure a student maintains skills or behaviors learned

during the school year. They are not designed to assist in acquiring new skills or behaviors.

Extended School Year is not summer school. Summer school is supplementary to the regular

school calendar and curricula. With ESY a child participates because he needs to participate in

order to attain a “free appropriate public education.” The ESY services must be tailored to meet

the child’s individualized needs, as set forth in the child’s IEP.

Eligibility for ESY hinges on whether the student will or would be expected to experience a

substantial regression during the summer months in the absence of a summer program, plus

whether those skills could be recouped within a reasonable period of time after school starts

again in September.

The IEP team determines whether a student is eligible for services. The team should develop

a program that will assist the student in maintaining skills and behaviors in each area they have

determined there is likely to be regression.

The school district does not have to provide a full range of placement options. They must be

appropriate to carry out those portions of the student’s IEP where problems with regression

and recoupment have been identified. This means that placement could be at a park to work

on social skills or at home to maintain physical therapy goals, not necessarily in a classroom.

Planning for ESY services should begin at least several months before the vacation period

starts. Documentation of regression and recoupment should be presented at an IEP meeting to

consider ESY. Services should be written in the IEP if it is agreed upon to provide ESY, or a written

denial should be obtained if the school district refuses.

If you disagree with the school district’s refusal to provide ESY services or with the specifics of

an ESY program, you may request mediation, write a letter of complaint to the Montana Office

of Public Instruction or request a due process hearing before an impartial hearing officer.

For details on ESY in Montana, download the OPI handbook at http://www.pluk.org/Pubs/

MT/MT_ESY_2002_184K.pdf. ���

Q My child’s IEP team recently decided to exit him from Special Education Services, they

A feel he is doing so well that he no longer needs assistance. My fear is that he will not do

well if he is exited. What would you suggest I do?

There is no harm in exiting your child from special education services. Here are some

things for you to consider:

l You can exit him and see how he does, if he does not do well without the services in place,

and then you can call a CST meeting rather quickly review the existing data, and reinstate an

IEP if it is needed.

l You do not have to qualify for special education to receive accommodations and modifica-

tions within the classroom. If the teacher or teachers who work with your son are will to pro-

vide informal accommodations within the classroom, then great. However, I would get them

to write and sign the accommodation list that they have agreed to allow.

l If you disagree with CST team decision that he no longer qualifies for special education

you have the right to dissent the report and ask for an independent educational evalua-

tion (IEE). ���

Monthly Update May 2005 www.PLUK.org 11

PLUK Office516 N 32nd StBillings MT 59101-6003

Non-Profit OrgUS Postage PaidBillings MTPermit No 88

Address service requested

Kids at Heart Gala Set for Second Friday in MayLiz Miller has chaired the Planning Committee of the Kids At Heart Gala for several years and

just can’t seem to get enough. She’s the group’s fearless leader and couldn’t resist planning an event on Friday the 13th in May. “If anything goes wrong, we’ll just blame it on the day!” But,

not only is nothing going wrong, but everything is go-ing right for the event and it should be the “biggest and best yet!” This year’s Gala will be held at the Sher-aton in Billings on the 13th of May and will feature the band, the Mid Life Chryslers. This is a band of Billings’ area doctors who have a strong following and always provide a great performance. The Committee is excited about the Chryslers’ involvement and is looking for-ward to the Gala.

In addition to the band’s performance, the event will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, a live auction featuring Bill and Ramona Holt and much more.

For information on sponsorships or tickets, call PLUK’s office at 406-255-0540 or 800-222-7585. Visit the PLUK Web site at http://www.pluk.org for additional information and to preview

some of the items that will be up for auction. ���

Concert Celebrates and SupportsBenefit Concert for PLUK on May 20 in Kalispell

Flathead Valley Associate Board of PLUK presents:Rob Quist and the Great Northern Band with Jack Gladstone in

concert, present their newest collaboration May 20th at 7 PM at the Kalispell Christian Center. Quist and Gladstone, two of the West’s most celebrated entertainers and songwriters, have united in an unforgettable new show, Odyssey West, commemorating Lewis and Clark’s epic journey into the western frontier.

Jack Gladstone and Rob Quist bring the West to life with the rich historical content of their original songs and narratives, presented with dramatic live footage, as well as haunting photographic and ar-tistic images of the Old and New West.

Celebrate our heritage while supporting local children and adults with disabilities. Proceeds benefit Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids and the Special Friends Advocacy. For ticket purchases please call 406-756-6159.

For information on the show, visit: http://www.robquist.com/promopage.htm. ���

The Midlife Chryslers will entertain at the Kids at Heart Gala May 13 in Billings.

Celebrate the Power and the Legend of America’s First Jouney West with Rob Quist and Jack Gladstone in Kalispell