testimony for Sen.

[Guest guest]

If you haven’t got Thursday set aside to bring your

testimony to Sen. Dan , then please, please please take a few minutes to

jot down some thoughts about a problem you have along with what would make that

problem better.

For example:

My son’s teacher is not implementing my child’s

BIP and he keeps getting suspended. . . .I propose requiring the principals to

have more required training as a part of the principal and vice principal

certification process.

OR

I propose making not following a child’s IEP an

ethical violation for which an educator can lose their license.

OR

Some other solution that might come to mind.

Please folks, I know it takes a little time to get it on

paper, but this is really important!!!!

So far only 37 people are thinking that the situation

requires change in Texas.

There are over 7,000 families affected by autism in the

Houston area. Have you personally called and invited the people that you

know to come or send testimony????

If you can’t find the time to let your voice be heard,

then don’t bother complaining about the problems.

S.

" You're a shining star, no matter who

you are.

Shining bright to see, what you can truly

be. "

Earth Wind & Fire

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[Guest guest]

I have the new 2008 State Autism Report printed and in Senator 's folder....

Any other state report that should be included that has to do with Special Education?????

M. GuppyMy autism journey isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.... Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

"There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must."

Subject: testimony for Sen. To: "Autism List" <Texas-Autism-Advocacy >Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 3:11 PM

If you haven¢t got Thursday set aside to bring your testimony to Sen. Dan , then please, please please take a few minutes to jot down some thoughts about a problem you have along with what would make that problem better.

For example:

My son¢s teacher is not implementing my child¢s BIP and he keeps getting suspended. . . .I propose requiring the principals to have more required training as a part of the principal and vice principal certification process.

OR

I propose making not following a child¢s IEP an ethical violation for which an educator can lose their license.

OR

Some other solution that might come to mind.

Please folks, I know it takes a little time to get it on paper, but this is really important!!! !

So far only 37 people are thinking that the situation requires change in Texas.

There are over 7,000 families affected by autism in the Houston area. Have you personally called and invited the people that you know to come or send testimony??? ?

If you can¢t find the time to let your voice be heard, then don¢t bother complaining about the problems.

S.

"You're a shining star, no matter who you are.

Shining bright to see, what you can truly be."

Earth Wind & Fire

No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG.Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.8.6/1766 - Release Date: 11/4/2008 8:26 AM

[Guest guest]

To all:

I posted this in my blog on Fox 26 Houston. Hopefully we'll pick up some people who will see this. The blogs were so bogged down with political issues, it just wasn't going to get any attention until today.

Hope it helps. I still don't know if I will be able to come.

Hilda

I have the new 2008 State Autism Report printed and in Senator 's folder....

Any other state report that should be included that has to do with Special Education?????

M. GuppyMy autism journey isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.... Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

"There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must."

Subject: testimony for Sen. To: "Autism List" <Texas-Autism-Advocacy >Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 3:11 PM

If you haven¢t got Thursday set aside to bring your testimony to Sen. Dan , then please, please please take a few minutes to jot down some thoughts about a problem you have along with what would make that problem better.

For example:

My son¢s teacher is not implementing my child¢s BIP and he keeps getting suspended. . . .I propose requiring the principals to have more required training as a part of the principal and vice principal certification process.

OR

I propose making not following a child¢s IEP an ethical violation for which an educator can lose their license.

OR

Some other solution that might come to mind.

Please folks, I know it takes a little time to get it on paper, but this is really important!!! !

So far only 37 people are thinking that the situation requires change in Texas.

There are over 7,000 families affected by autism in the Houston area. Have you personally called and invited the people that you know to come or send testimony??? ?

If you can¢t find the time to let your voice be heard, then don¢t bother complaining about the problems.

S.

"You're a shining star, no matter who you are.

Shining bright to see, what you can truly be."

Earth Wind & Fire

No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG.Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.8.6/1766 - Release Date: 11/4/2008 8:26 AM

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[Guest guest]

Here is my testimony, since I'm 50/50 on being there tonight. It is mostly cut-and-paste from an email I posted to the list, but I did add some points. Let me know if I should send it elsewhere...thanks!

**********************************************************

A success story...sort of...

My name is e Slatton, and my son has high functioning autism/ADHD, and is in the 5th grade at Copeland Elementary school in the Cy-Fair ISD. We moved to Cy-Fair from New Jersey 4 years ago. We researched districts and individual elementary schools before moving since we had such great services up there, and ended up at Copeland Elementary. It has been an absolute blessing for my high-functioning son...the district has the resources (at least for what my son needs), and my school staff hasn't been afraid to ask for them; they've actually recommended some services/evaluations he needed without me having to request them. He has thrived and grown at Copeland, and has even made honor roll a few times. What has been important in his development is not only the professional intervention, but the love and support he's gotten...when I drop

him off, every teacher who is unloading kids will say hello to him, other teachers let him do things like change their calendars each month (a reward for him), and the environment is one of acceptance and support, especially from the other kids (he's mainstreamed in a co-teach classroom, with pull-out for speech). The kids argue over who gets to sit next to Connor next; some of his classmates were at a VBS with him this summer and literally took him under their wings and helped him have a great time...those relationships are because of the supportive environment he had; that support was learned from the other kids, and I've had parents tell me what a great experience it's been for their kids to be a "helper" for Connor. I'm not sure what middle and high school will hold for him, but I know I'll miss having him at Copeland, and I feel like they've done so much to make sure he is prepared for middle school.

Before moving here, I did hear some great reports on some schools in Cy-Fair ISD, and some reports that were scary. I can only speak for myself in terms of the district and my own experiences, but I have to say that it's been absolutely great for my son and I, and I hate to see his time at Copeland Elementary come to an end this year....I hope middle school is just as supportive. But I don't know if it will be...

And that is the point of my testimony...my son has had a fantastic experience in his 5 years at Copeland. That is great, and I'm always giving that school and staff the credit. What is NOT great is that other parents have had horrid experiences in other elementary schools WITHIN THE SAME DISTRICT. What is NOT great is that I am worried sick about how he'll be received and supported at middle school and in high school. I should be confident, not worried, that he'll get the support he needs in middle school; I should have the trust in my school system that no matter where he goes, he'll be "fine". EVERY special education student in the district should have the same fantastic experience that my son has had, regardless of their needs, and regardless of the school they attend. I cannot stress enough that this type of support and environment should be expected at ALL Cy-Fair schools, at all

levels, and not just at a random few. We shouldn't be hearing someone say that they're disappointed in the special ed services their Cy-Fair student is receiving; our district, as the third largest in the state, should strive to be the LEADER in providing the education and support our autistic kids need, especially now. I want to read reports like mine, not reports of services denied while the district spends money in court to DENY these very services, instead of just providing what the child needs to begin with. Let's be a leader in the state for special education; when someone from out of state asks "what school system should I send my autistic child to?", let the answer overwhelmingly be "Cy Fair ISD". I want ALL parents of special ed students to have the same experience that my son and I have had. It's an embarassment to the district if they don't.

e

Subject: testimony for Sen. To: "Autism List" <Texas-Autism-Advocacy >Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 3:11 PM

If you haven¢t got Thursday set aside to bring your testimony to Sen. Dan , then please, please please take a few minutes to jot down some thoughts about a problem you have along with what would make that problem better.

For example:

My son¢s teacher is not implementing my child¢s BIP and he keeps getting suspended. . . .I propose requiring the principals to have more required training as a part of the principal and vice principal certification process.

OR

I propose making not following a child¢s IEP an ethical violation for which an educator can lose their license.

OR

Some other solution that might come to mind.

Please folks, I know it takes a little time to get it on paper, but this is really important!!! !

So far only 37 people are thinking that the situation requires change in Texas.

There are over 7,000 families affected by autism in the Houston area. Have you personally called and invited the people that you know to come or send testimony??? ?

If you can¢t find the time to let your voice be heard, then don¢t bother complaining about the problems.

S.

"You're a shining star, no matter who you are.

Shining bright to see, what you can truly be."

Earth Wind & Fire

No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG.Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.8.6/1766 - Release Date: 11/4/2008 8:26 AM