Re: on the topic of vouchers and TEA laughing

[Guest guest]

I have been in the world of education for the past 16 years. I know many of

you have too. I advocated for my son now 19 with AS for yrs! I know hundreds

of families in my support group and outside my group that fight every single

day of their lives. It is not RIGHT. To fight daily for an APPROPRIATE

EDUCATION.

I see youn g adults with college degrees that CAN NOT get jobs. They were

not given proper training in the schools. This has been going on for years and

years in the public schools here in Texas and yes elsewhere.

My energy and health has been compromised by FIGHTING for our children.

I served on the autism rule study committee with tough parents. We so far

have got NOTHING for our imput!

OLur community needs to bond TOGETHER. If you want change get hundreds of US

TOGETHER to storm TEA and the regions. I still feel in my heart that will

not help. The schools would rather spend MILLIONS to fight OUR CHILDREN, in

getting a FAPE.

I feel that our education system has failed all of us, yes maybe a FEW get

good services but that is not RIGHT.

I would leave texas in a heartbeat but my husbands practice is here. I even

have considered moving myself and my kids and having a commuter marriage.

It is just so frustrating when we have many ADVOCATES on this LIST who have

gotten very little from schools and fought very hard for a tiny drop of help.

The system is BROKEN. It will take years to FIX IT. I attend ARDS and I

attended a mediation recently. The hearing officer told me that I can tell

parents why WE NEVER WIN. Because the " bad problems " school knows they are at

fault, SETTLE out of court. The burden of proof is on the parents.

I am frightened for us, the parents. If we put all our energy into fighting,

it will impact our health. Who will care for our ASD loved ones?

Respectfully

Nance

_www.aspergerinfo.org_ (http://www.aspergerinfo.org)

[Guest guest]

It's in my backyard as well --- and you bring up good points...

I think parents of children receiving special education services need to start

attending School Board Meetings and asking those questions...

I know I plan to in the New Year.

Another good question would be how much money from what the school gets from

billing medicaid from students who have disabilities - actually goes back into

Special Education Programs???????????????????????????????

Sincerely,

Guppy

e Slatton wrote:

Well-said, ....I agree 100%. I'm also not 100% against

vouchers, but I am afraid of what new problems may be created with them....and

then we have another battle on our hands, and more kids falling through the

cracks because the schools will say " just take your voucher and go elsewhere " to

parents who still can't afford private schools even with the vouchers....ideally

the funding for schools and cracking TEA, as you put it, are what we and the

legislators need to focus on.

I did read somewhere that the huge new facility, the Berry Center (which is

practically in my backyard) is starting to rent that facility big-time, which

means income....I know that an Arena Football farm team has contracted to use

the stadium there, and that's no small change. The very facility that costs so

much has the potential to generate some income, and I'd love to know where that

money is going....

e

" M. Guppy " wrote:

Liz and all...

I guess I'm still not getting it...

If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to create change and

opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us crack TEA and increase

public school funding?

Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the school systems

and create change for everyone that way?

Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational Service Centers

step up and do something worthwhile - make the Special Education Due Process

Procedures more independent so parents actually have a chance when they go to

Due Process - etc?

I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are going to ban

together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together with us to fix what's

currently broken as well...

Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for vouchers - or

nothing gets fixed....

Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or anything - but I

just don't understand why if they see there's a problem - especially with the

recent FOX News Reports - why they can't step in with us and pressure TEA and

ask them those hard questions about what it will take, how much money, etc. AND

make the Due Process, process, more equitable and FAIR for parents, etc......

Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another system?

Sincerely,

Guppy

M. Guppy

Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

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. "

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You have to force a system to change; it will not do so on its own. You

also can not just throw money into a system to fix it. If you can't

threaten or remove either some power or money from a system you will not

create change. Even forcing change will take years, most probably decades.

How many years does your child have before the window of opportunity slams

closed? Scholarships are the only thing on the table right now that can

force the TEA and school districts to rethink how they operate. It is a

powerful way of letting them know we are collectively pissed with the job

they are doing. Consider this: no one will use a scholarship if their

district is doing a good job. Only those who aren't doing a good job should

be affected. I see scholarships as the fist baby step to fixing the TEA (by

placing choice in parent's hands); it is not an either/or situation.

Sadly, I have not seen one single thing offered up on this list or others

that we can rally around to change education in Texas, except scholarships.

You give me something real; not " we just gotta change the system " or " keep

fighting till you drop dead or divorce " . What exactly do we need to change?

How will we make the change happen? What are we using for a 'stick' or a

'carrot'? We are a bunch of Don Quixotes tilting at individual windmills.

We aren't going to change education in Texas because we can't get organized

around ANY idea and present a united front.

Somebody please tell me what specifically has to change at TEA and how we

are going to force that change and how long it will take to make a real

difference. Please.

p.s. I've not seen any draft of the proposed scholarship bill, and neither

has anyone else. Can we stop with all the speculation until such a draft is

presented?

_____

From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

[mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of M.

Guppy

Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 10:13 AM

To: texas-autism-advocacy

Subject: on the topic of vouchers and TEA laughing

Liz and all...

I guess I'm still not getting it...

If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to create change

and opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us crack TEA and

increase public school funding?

Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the school

systems and create change for everyone that way?

Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational Service

Centers step up and do something worthwhile - make the Special Education Due

Process Procedures more independent so parents actually have a chance when

they go to Due Process - etc?

I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are going to ban

together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together with us to fix

what's currently broken as well...

Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for vouchers - or

nothing gets fixed....

Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or anything - but

I just don't understand why if they see there's a problem - especially with

the recent FOX News Reports - why they can't step in with us and pressure

TEA and ask them those hard questions about what it will take, how much

money, etc. AND make the Due Process, process, more equitable and FAIR for

parents, etc......

Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another system?

Sincerely,

Guppy

M. Guppy

Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

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. "

[Guest guest]

Gosh - great questions. I would be happy to collect information from folks

around the state who request this sort of financial information from their

school districts. We have requested information on Child Find from various

districts around Dallas with some interesting results. Several districts sold us

a bunch of blank pages with very little financial data. Dallas gave me a bunch

of forms, some Child Find flyers, a few pages of enrollment numbers and not one

bit of financial info. Not much for the $24.10 the district charged me, and I

had to go through the school district attorney just to get this big pile of

junk. It's pretty clear that the districts don't want us to know what they are

doing with any of the money - special education money in particular. Guess what

- special education is big bucks, and if they're not opening the books to us or

anyone else, the schools could very well be shifting money that is supposed to

be used to educate our children to the general fund where it could be used for

football, to hire a janitor, to pay lawyer fees when families have finally had

enough.... Let's get those books open. I can get a copy of a sample letter to

use for requesting Child Find information from the school districts. Anyone who

is interested, please let me know.

Re: on the topic of vouchers and TEA laughing

It's in my backyard as well --- and you bring up good points...

I think parents of children receiving special education services need to start

attending School Board Meetings and asking those questions...

I know I plan to in the New Year.

Another good question would be how much money from what the school gets from

billing medicaid from students who have disabilities - actually goes back into

Special Education Programs???????????????????????????????

Sincerely,

Guppy

e Slatton wrote:

Well-said, ....I agree 100%. I'm also not 100% against vouchers, but I

am afraid of what new problems may be created with them....and then we have

another battle on our hands, and more kids falling through the cracks because

the schools will say " just take your voucher and go elsewhere " to parents who

still can't afford private schools even with the vouchers....ideally the funding

for schools and cracking TEA, as you put it, are what we and the legislators

need to focus on.

I did read somewhere that the huge new facility, the Berry Center (which is

practically in my backyard) is starting to rent that facility big-time, which

means income....I know that an Arena Football farm team has contracted to use

the stadium there, and that's no small change. The very facility that costs so

much has the potential to generate some income, and I'd love to know where that

money is going....

e

" M. Guppy " wrote:

Liz and all...

I guess I'm still not getting it...

If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to create change and

opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us crack TEA and increase

public school funding?

Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the school systems

and create change for everyone that way?

Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational Service Centers

step up and do something worthwhile - make the Special Education Due Process

Procedures more independent so parents actually have a chance when they go to

Due Process - etc?

I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are going to ban

together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together with us to fix what's

currently broken as well...

Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for vouchers - or

nothing gets fixed....

Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or anything - but I

just don't understand why if they see there's a problem - especially with the

recent FOX News Reports - why they can't step in with us and pressure TEA and

ask them those hard questions about what it will take, how much money, etc. AND

make the Due Process, process, more equitable and FAIR for parents, etc......

Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another system?

Sincerely,

Guppy

M. Guppy

Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

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. "

[Guest guest]

,

That is a great question, if we want to help kids with autism, let's

help the education system so at th least the majority of these kids

will get helped. Let's fix TEA, make them more accountable and

efficient, get more money for teacher training, teacher support in

the classroom. Training days are not only good for helping teachers

learn new things, they also give them a break from the classroom,

which is something they need as well. Let's take the recommendations

of the Council and turn them into legislation and make them a reality.

These are not complaints, they are real solutions that we need to

push for, get a legislator to sponsor bills for etc....

These solutions will help the majority of kids with autism. If we

can't get a legislator to listen, then there is always the 'class

action law suite' avenue, like the ARC did with the medicaid waiver

waiting lists. Truly the way things are done is discriminatory

against people with disabilities.

Nagla

>

> Liz and all...

>

> I guess I'm still not getting it...

>

> If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to

create change and opportunities for our kids - then why can't they

help us crack TEA and increase public school funding?

>

> Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the

school systems and create change for everyone that way?

>

> Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

>

> Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational

Service Centers step up and do something worthwhile - make the

Special Education Due Process Procedures more independent so parents

actually have a chance when they go to Due Process - etc?

>

> I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are

going to ban together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together

with us to fix what's currently broken as well...

>

> Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for

vouchers - or nothing gets fixed....

>

> Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or

anything - but I just don't understand why if they see there's a

problem - especially with the recent FOX News Reports - why they

can't step in with us and pressure TEA and ask them those hard

questions about what it will take, how much money, etc. AND make

the Due Process, process, more equitable and FAIR for parents,

etc......

>

> Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another

system?

>

> Sincerely,

> Guppy

>

>

> M. Guppy

> Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

> 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. "

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, attending school board meetings and making these folks familiar

with your face, your children's needs is an excellent way to get

their ear when problems occur and you need help.. You won't be so

easy to dismiss once they know who you are, and you've shown them

that you are involved.

Liz is absolutely right, we can't just sit back and complain, we have

to become active and vocal and offer solutions. That is a big part

of advocating for our children.

Nagla

> Liz and all...

>

> I guess I'm still not getting it...

>

> If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to create

change and opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us

crack TEA and increase public school funding?

>

> Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the

school systems and create change for everyone that way?

>

> Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

>

> Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational

Service Centers step up and do something worthwhile - make the

Special Education Due Process Procedures more independent so parents

actually have a chance when they go to Due Process - etc?

>

> I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are going

to ban together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together with

us to fix what's currently broken as well...

>

> Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for

vouchers - or nothing gets fixed....

>

> Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or

anything - but I just don't understand why if they see there's a

problem - especially with the recent FOX News Reports - why they

can't step in with us and pressure TEA and ask them those hard

questions about what it will take, how much money, etc. AND make the

Due Process, process, more equitable and FAIR for parents, etc......

>

> Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another

system?

>

> Sincerely,

> Guppy

>

> M. Guppy

> Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

> 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. "

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I wish that we could change the TEA from where it is right now, but

will every ISD make these changes. I don't think so. So then you

have this one family who has no other option but to " take what is

given " or home-school (let's say private schools are too expensive

or not interested in Autism families).

All this talk about " demanding change " and forcing it to occur is

like said " quixotic " . We can not expect change to occur

quickly and even now slowly.

My son is 19 and there was no way on earth I could ever have changed

the life he endured in school (I had to deal with

personalities/misunderstanding/and even archaic ideas). The fact

that Autism is so misunderstood and left to our kids in " working it

out " is absolutely frustrating. It is a shame. I say this for my

son who is Asperger/HFA, but I well understand that autism across

the spectrum is understaffed, unsupported and without expertise or

funds for most schools (those who are so blessed I say that is

wonderful :>)

How can you change the status quo?

I say change can occur, but the parents who are here now need to

shake the very roots of the ISDs in Texas. They have the power and

the money.

We only have our kids. Maybe with an OPTION, we can change the

course for some families soon. Is it not worth a try? Why slam a

door on a possibility?

I dislike and find " fighting " such a negative force in my life. It

surely does not bring harmony and peace.

Mark

>

> Liz and all...

>

> I guess I'm still not getting it...

>

> If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to

create change and opportunities for our kids - then why can't they

help us crack TEA and increase public school funding?

>

> Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the

school systems and create change for everyone that way?

>

> Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

>

> Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational

Service Centers step up and do something worthwhile - make the

Special Education Due Process Procedures more independent so parents

actually have a chance when they go to Due Process - etc?

>

> I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are

going to ban together for vouchers - why they can't just ban

together with us to fix what's currently broken as well...

>

> Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for

vouchers - or nothing gets fixed....

>

> Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or

anything - but I just don't understand why if they see there's a

problem - especially with the recent FOX News Reports - why they

can't step in with us and pressure TEA and ask them those hard

questions about what it will take, how much money, etc. AND make

the Due Process, process, more equitable and FAIR for parents,

etc......

>

> Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another

system?

>

> Sincerely,

> Guppy

>

>

> M. Guppy

> Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

> 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. "

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Very specifically, looking at TEA's budget. Finding out why they

sent 8 million dollares back to washington, and why they were fined

money last year for not meeting the special education testing

exmption quota. Very quick solutions would bwe firing the people

responsible and hiring more responsible persons that is not just a

political affliation to someone and really doesn't know what they are

doing. Looking at the Council on Autism recommendations and finding

out why is TEA not implementing them, they are good recommendations

and need to be inacted quickly.

I have seen very quick changes in DADS in the last year just through

the law suite ARC filed, and their new director. Same thing needs to

happen with TEA. File a class action law suite on behalf of parents

of special education students, based on the fact that IDEA is not

being followed and enforced properly in Texas schools, and due

process is not fair.

Nagla

>

> Hi ,

>

> You have to force a system to change; it will not do so on its

own. You

> also can not just throw money into a system to fix it. If you can't

> threaten or remove either some power or money from a system you

will not

> create change. Even forcing change will take years, most probably

decades.

> How many years does your child have before the window of

opportunity slams

> closed? Scholarships are the only thing on the table right now

that can

> force the TEA and school districts to rethink how they operate. It

is a

> powerful way of letting them know we are collectively pissed with

the job

> they are doing. Consider this: no one will use a scholarship if

their

> district is doing a good job. Only those who aren't doing a good

job should

> be affected. I see scholarships as the fist baby step to fixing the

TEA (by

> placing choice in parent's hands); it is not an either/or

situation.

>

> Sadly, I have not seen one single thing offered up on this list or

others

> that we can rally around to change education in Texas, except

scholarships.

> You give me something real; not " we just gotta change the system "

or " keep

> fighting till you drop dead or divorce " . What exactly do we need to

change?

> How will we make the change happen? What are we using for

a 'stick' or a

> 'carrot'? We are a bunch of Don Quixotes tilting at individual

windmills.

> We aren't going to change education in Texas because we can't get

organized

> around ANY idea and present a united front.

>

> Somebody please tell me what specifically has to change at TEA and

how we

> are going to force that change and how long it will take to make a

real

> difference. Please.

>

>

>

> p.s. I've not seen any draft of the proposed scholarship bill, and

neither

> has anyone else. Can we stop with all the speculation until such a

draft is

> presented?

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

> [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of

M.

> Guppy

> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 10:13 AM

> To: texas-autism-advocacy

> Subject: on the topic of vouchers and TEA

laughing

>

>

>

> Liz and all...

>

> I guess I'm still not getting it...

>

> If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to create

change

> and opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us crack

TEA and

> increase public school funding?

>

> Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the

school

> systems and create change for everyone that way?

>

> Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

>

> Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational

Service

> Centers step up and do something worthwhile - make the Special

Education Due

> Process Procedures more independent so parents actually have a

chance when

> they go to Due Process - etc?

>

> I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are going

to ban

> together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together with us to

fix

> what's currently broken as well...

>

> Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for

vouchers - or

> nothing gets fixed....

>

> Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or

anything - but

> I just don't understand why if they see there's a problem -

especially with

> the recent FOX News Reports - why they can't step in with us and

pressure

> TEA and ask them those hard questions about what it will take, how

much

> money, etc. AND make the Due Process, process, more equitable and

FAIR for

> parents, etc......

>

> Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another

system?

>

> Sincerely,

> Guppy

>

> M. Guppy

> Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

> 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. "

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Good question! I heard from an inside source about a Sp Ed Coop getting

some Medicaid money " freed up " and giving $100,000 to the school to

renovate the gym. Sure our kids will use the gym too, but is that

really the best use of that money???!!!!

Tonya

Re: on the topic of vouchers and TEA

laughing

It's in my backyard as well --- and you bring up good points...

I think parents of children receiving special education services need to

start attending School Board Meetings and asking those questions...

I know I plan to in the New Year.

Another good question would be how much money from what the school gets

from billing medicaid from students who have disabilities - actually

goes back into Special Education Programs???????????????????????????????

Sincerely,

Guppy

e Slatton <primadoxyahoo (DOT) <mailto:primadox%40yahoo.com> com>

wrote:

Well-said, ....I agree 100%. I'm also not 100% against vouchers,

but I am afraid of what new problems may be created with them....and

then we have another battle on our hands, and more kids falling through

the cracks because the schools will say " just take your voucher and go

elsewhere " to parents who still can't afford private schools even with

the vouchers....ideally the funding for schools and cracking TEA, as you

put it, are what we and the legislators need to focus on.

I did read somewhere that the huge new facility, the Berry Center (which

is practically in my backyard) is starting to rent that facility

big-time, which means income....I know that an Arena Football farm team

has contracted to use the stadium there, and that's no small change. The

very facility that costs so much has the potential to generate some

income, and I'd love to know where that money is going....

e

" M. Guppy " <michellemguppy@ <mailto:michellemguppy%40yahoo.com>

yahoo.com> wrote:

Liz and all...

I guess I'm still not getting it...

If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to create

change and opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us

crack TEA and increase public school funding?

Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the school

systems and create change for everyone that way?

Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational Service

Centers step up and do something worthwhile - make the Special Education

Due Process Procedures more independent so parents actually have a

chance when they go to Due Process - etc?

I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are going to

ban together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together with us to

fix what's currently broken as well...

Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for vouchers -

or nothing gets fixed....

Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or anything -

but I just don't understand why if they see there's a problem -

especially with the recent FOX News Reports - why they can't step in

with us and pressure TEA and ask them those hard questions about what it

will take, how much money, etc. AND make the Due Process, process, more

equitable and FAIR for parents, etc......

Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another system?

Sincerely,

Guppy

M. Guppy

Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

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. "

[Guest guest]

You can find the state plan for autism on this website:

http://www.autismcouncil.org/stateplan/index.html

Putting some muscle (like that of Shapiro's or any other legislatoe,

preferrably many of them) behind this plan would definitely be a good

and immediate beginning to change.

Nagla

> >

> > Hi ,

> >

> > You have to force a system to change; it will not do so on its

> own. You

> > also can not just throw money into a system to fix it. If you

can't

> > threaten or remove either some power or money from a system you

> will not

> > create change. Even forcing change will take years, most probably

> decades.

> > How many years does your child have before the window of

> opportunity slams

> > closed? Scholarships are the only thing on the table right now

> that can

> > force the TEA and school districts to rethink how they operate.

It

> is a

> > powerful way of letting them know we are collectively pissed with

> the job

> > they are doing. Consider this: no one will use a scholarship if

> their

> > district is doing a good job. Only those who aren't doing a good

> job should

> > be affected. I see scholarships as the fist baby step to fixing

the

> TEA (by

> > placing choice in parent's hands); it is not an either/or

> situation.

> >

> > Sadly, I have not seen one single thing offered up on this list

or

> others

> > that we can rally around to change education in Texas, except

> scholarships.

> > You give me something real; not " we just gotta change the system "

> or " keep

> > fighting till you drop dead or divorce " . What exactly do we need

to

> change?

> > How will we make the change happen? What are we using for

> a 'stick' or a

> > 'carrot'? We are a bunch of Don Quixotes tilting at individual

> windmills.

> > We aren't going to change education in Texas because we can't get

> organized

> > around ANY idea and present a united front.

> >

> > Somebody please tell me what specifically has to change at TEA

and

> how we

> > are going to force that change and how long it will take to make

a

> real

> > difference. Please.

> >

> >

> >

> > p.s. I've not seen any draft of the proposed scholarship bill,

and

> neither

> > has anyone else. Can we stop with all the speculation until such

a

> draft is

> > presented?

> >

> >

> >

> > _____

> >

> > From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

> > [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of

> M.

> > Guppy

> > Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 10:13 AM

> > To: texas-autism-advocacy

> > Subject: on the topic of vouchers and TEA

> laughing

> >

> >

> >

> > Liz and all...

> >

> > I guess I'm still not getting it...

> >

> > If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to

create

> change

> > and opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us

crack

> TEA and

> > increase public school funding?

> >

> > Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the

> school

> > systems and create change for everyone that way?

> >

> > Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

> >

> > Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational

> Service

> > Centers step up and do something worthwhile - make the Special

> Education Due

> > Process Procedures more independent so parents actually have a

> chance when

> > they go to Due Process - etc?

> >

> > I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are

going

> to ban

> > together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together with us

to

> fix

> > what's currently broken as well...

> >

> > Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for

> vouchers - or

> > nothing gets fixed....

> >

> > Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or

> anything - but

> > I just don't understand why if they see there's a problem -

> especially with

> > the recent FOX News Reports - why they can't step in with us and

> pressure

> > TEA and ask them those hard questions about what it will take,

how

> much

> > money, etc. AND make the Due Process, process, more equitable and

> FAIR for

> > parents, etc......

> >

> > Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another

> system?

> >

> > Sincerely,

> > Guppy

> >

> > M. Guppy

> > Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

> > 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. "

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Just those few changes would not amount to real change any time soon. You

are talking decades of dedicated, ORGANIZED, assaults on a government

institution. Who is going to make all these changes and who gets to decide

what is done and how? What can you really determine from the TEA budget?

It is more complicated (disguising expenditures, etc...) than the local

school district budget. How are you going to fire people and how do you

decide who gets the axe? We as parents, caregivers, and advocates do not

have any structure in place to push for these changes. You only have to look

at the vaccine class action suit to realize how long it would take to work

an IDEA class action suit through the channels. None of the children living

today would be of an age to benefit by the time it was resolved.

Government moves at the speed of glaciers, not avalanches. Meanwhile

thousands of children should just wait??? And hope it all comes together by

some miracle??? It won't happen, not in my lifetime.

_____

From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

[mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of asccnagla

Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 12:49 PM

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

Subject: Re: on the topic of vouchers and TEA

laughing

,

Very specifically, looking at TEA's budget. Finding out why they

sent 8 million dollares back to washington, and why they were fined

money last year for not meeting the special education testing

exmption quota. Very quick solutions would bwe firing the people

responsible and hiring more responsible persons that is not just a

political affliation to someone and really doesn't know what they are

doing. Looking at the Council on Autism recommendations and finding

out why is TEA not implementing them, they are good recommendations

and need to be inacted quickly.

I have seen very quick changes in DADS in the last year just through

the law suite ARC filed, and their new director. Same thing needs to

happen with TEA. File a class action law suite on behalf of parents

of special education students, based on the fact that IDEA is not

being followed and enforced properly in Texas schools, and due

process is not fair.

Nagla

>

> Hi ,

>

> You have to force a system to change; it will not do so on its

own. You

> also can not just throw money into a system to fix it. If you can't

> threaten or remove either some power or money from a system you

will not

> create change. Even forcing change will take years, most probably

decades.

> How many years does your child have before the window of

opportunity slams

> closed? Scholarships are the only thing on the table right now

that can

> force the TEA and school districts to rethink how they operate. It

is a

> powerful way of letting them know we are collectively pissed with

the job

> they are doing. Consider this: no one will use a scholarship if

their

> district is doing a good job. Only those who aren't doing a good

job should

> be affected. I see scholarships as the fist baby step to fixing the

TEA (by

> placing choice in parent's hands); it is not an either/or

situation.

>

> Sadly, I have not seen one single thing offered up on this list or

others

> that we can rally around to change education in Texas, except

scholarships.

> You give me something real; not " we just gotta change the system "

or " keep

> fighting till you drop dead or divorce " . What exactly do we need to

change?

> How will we make the change happen? What are we using for

a 'stick' or a

> 'carrot'? We are a bunch of Don Quixotes tilting at individual

windmills.

> We aren't going to change education in Texas because we can't get

organized

> around ANY idea and present a united front.

>

> Somebody please tell me what specifically has to change at TEA and

how we

> are going to force that change and how long it will take to make a

real

> difference. Please.

>

>

>

> p.s. I've not seen any draft of the proposed scholarship bill, and

neither

> has anyone else. Can we stop with all the speculation until such a

draft is

> presented?

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: Texas-Autism- <mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy%40yahoogroups.com>

Advocacy

> [mailto:Texas-Autism- <mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy%40yahoogroups.com>

Advocacy ] On Behalf Of

M.

> Guppy

> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 10:13 AM

> To: texas-autism- <mailto:texas-autism-advocacy%40yahoogroups.com>

advocacy

> Subject: on the topic of vouchers and TEA

laughing

>

>

>

> Liz and all...

>

> I guess I'm still not getting it...

>

> If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to create

change

> and opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us crack

TEA and

> increase public school funding?

>

> Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the

school

> systems and create change for everyone that way?

>

> Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

>

> Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational

Service

> Centers step up and do something worthwhile - make the Special

Education Due

> Process Procedures more independent so parents actually have a

chance when

> they go to Due Process - etc?

>

> I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are going

to ban

> together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together with us to

fix

> what's currently broken as well...

>

> Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for

vouchers - or

> nothing gets fixed....

>

> Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or

anything - but

> I just don't understand why if they see there's a problem -

especially with

> the recent FOX News Reports - why they can't step in with us and

pressure

> TEA and ask them those hard questions about what it will take, how

much

> money, etc. AND make the Due Process, process, more equitable and

FAIR for

> parents, etc......

>

> Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another

system?

>

> Sincerely,

> Guppy

>

> M. Guppy

> Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

> 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. "

>

[Guest guest]

Now that is something I could get behind 110%!

Tonya

on the topic of vouchers and TEA

> laughing

> >

> >

> >

> > Liz and all...

> >

> > I guess I'm still not getting it...

> >

> > If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to

create

> change

> > and opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us

crack

> TEA and

> > increase public school funding?

> >

> > Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the

> school

> > systems and create change for everyone that way?

> >

> > Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

> >

> > Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational

> Service

> > Centers step up and do something worthwhile - make the Special

> Education Due

> > Process Procedures more independent so parents actually have a

> chance when

> > they go to Due Process - etc?

> >

> > I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are

going

> to ban

> > together for vouchers - why they can't just ban together with us

to

> fix

> > what's currently broken as well...

> >

> > Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for

> vouchers - or

> > nothing gets fixed....

> >

> > Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or

> anything - but

> > I just don't understand why if they see there's a problem -

> especially with

> > the recent FOX News Reports - why they can't step in with us and

> pressure

> > TEA and ask them those hard questions about what it will take,

how

> much

> > money, etc. AND make the Due Process, process, more equitable and

> FAIR for

> > parents, etc......

> >

> > Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another

> system?

> >

> > Sincerely,

> > Guppy

> >

> > M. Guppy

> > Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

> > 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. "

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

>>You can find the state plan for autism on this website:

>>http://www.autismcouncil.org/stateplan/index.html

<http://www.autismcouncil.org/stateplan/index.html>

Thank you for that pointer Nagla! Maybe I'm the only one, but I had

never seen or read that plan. Just finished the whole thing. It's

great. Balanced, actionable recommendations that would be a great start

for Texas.

The second education recommendation (I.2, pages 16-17), which would

require zero legislation, was stunning to me because it seems to show

just how incompetent Texas is at supporting special ed. Texas is the

only state in the US which has never even applied to receive a State

Improvement Grant from the federal Office of Special Education to

provide more professional development for special education teachers.

They have a map of the US showing every other state shaded by what year

they received SIG funding. Only Texas is blank. There are many other

more comprehensive recommendations in the areas of education, adult

services, family protective services, even transportation... But this

one relatively small and simple suggested action struck me as a complete

no-brainer - and proof that the TEA is asleep at the switch.

How do we get more people rallying behind this plan? As a first step I

logged into the TEA site and sent them a message specifically about why

hadn't they taken action on that one recommendation to ask for $$.

Here's the site to send comments to the TEA

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/tea/contact.html

<http://www.tea.state.tx.us/tea/contact.html>

What else can we do?

Jonna

[Guest guest]

We can unite behind this plan, request that our legislator and

governor enforce its recommendations and pressure TEA to abide by the

educational recommendations, DADS to start implementing the adult

services, maybe hire an attorney to see what else we can do.

There are so many great disability organizations in our state, if we

can all form a coalition behind this plan and innundate our

legislators, form a voting block according to who supports this and

who won't, let them know we mean buisness. We can do it.

This is truly something we can all agree on.

Nagla

>

> >>You can find the state plan for autism on this website:

> >>http://www.autismcouncil.org/stateplan/index.html

> <http://www.autismcouncil.org/stateplan/index.html>

>

> Thank you for that pointer Nagla! Maybe I'm the only one, but I

had

> never seen or read that plan. Just finished the whole thing. It's

> great. Balanced, actionable recommendations that would be a great

start

> for Texas.

>

> The second education recommendation (I.2, pages 16-17), which would

> require zero legislation, was stunning to me because it seems to

show

> just how incompetent Texas is at supporting special ed. Texas is

the

> only state in the US which has never even applied to receive a State

> Improvement Grant from the federal Office of Special Education to

> provide more professional development for special education

teachers.

> They have a map of the US showing every other state shaded by what

year

> they received SIG funding. Only Texas is blank. There are many

other

> more comprehensive recommendations in the areas of education, adult

> services, family protective services, even transportation... But

this

> one relatively small and simple suggested action struck me as a

complete

> no-brainer - and proof that the TEA is asleep at the switch.

>

> How do we get more people rallying behind this plan? As a first

step I

> logged into the TEA site and sent them a message specifically about

why

> hadn't they taken action on that one recommendation to ask for $$.

> Here's the site to send comments to the TEA

> http://www.tea.state.tx.us/tea/contact.html

> <http://www.tea.state.tx.us/tea/contact.html>

>

> What else can we do?

>

> Jonna

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Liz and all...

Hi , I am going to try and answer quickly, my family needs a Mom... If

I don't

make sense ask again...

>

> I guess I'm still not getting it...

>

> If we have some Legislator's ears - and they are wanting to create change

and

opportunities for our kids - then why can't they help us crack TEA and increase

public

school funding?

What does " crack TEA " mean exactly? and, when the only offered solution is more

money,

then folks have stopped looking for solutions to their problems. Both will fall

on deaf

ears...

>

> Why can't they just join with all of us and pressure TEA and the school

systems and

create change for everyone that way?

What kind of change do we want? It is too general... We will never create

change for

everyone or make everyone happy.

>

> Why does it have to be " vouchers " only?

It does not and should not be.

>

> Why couldn't they break up TEA - make the Regional Educational Service

Centers step

up and do something worthwhile - make the Special Education Due Process

Procedures

more independent so parents actually have a chance when they go to Due Process -

etc?

Due process? Didn't Advocacy Inc. work on that issue last legislative session?

What

happened? I don't know enough about due process issues to even comment or

advocate

for the change needed, but from what I hear it is needed. Is someone working on

that

issue?

correct me if I am wrong but I believe a few years back the TEA was gutted and

more

responsibility was given to the ESC and less responsibility in Austin.

>

> I guess I'm not seeing how if Shapiro and probably others are going to ban

together for

vouchers - why they can't just ban together with us to fix what's currently

broken as well...

I would never speak for Senator Shapiro, but lets not forget last legislative

session where

she authored the autism supplement study committee legislation, which was

certainly a

piece of " fixing our public education " puzzle. Some may wonder, where we are

with that

puzzle piece? Well, in layers of a bureaucratic nightmare! Not Shapiro's fault

and not

necessarily the TEA's fault but just the snails pace and the miles of red tape

one deals with

when working with the Government... I don't think our legislators sit around

thinking

about how to make our schools unproductive or how to make families with disabled

children lives miserable. I also don't think the TEA sits around plotting ways

to ruin our

childrens lives. But I do think people get compfortable in their job and don't

necessarily

like change and therefore have no urgency to change. You can't really write

legislation to

fix that... Big smiles.

>

> Why does it have to be an either or - either we all ban for vouchers - or

nothing gets

fixed....

It doesn't. I am not sure why people think that this is an either/or issue, and

where in the

world is that coming from????

>

> Not trying to be argumentative - I'm not against vouchers or anything - but

I just don't

understand why if they see there's a problem - especially with the recent FOX

News

Reports - why they can't step in with us and pressure TEA and ask them those

hard

questions about what it will take, how much money, etc. AND make the Due

Process,

process, more equitable and FAIR for parents, etc......

>

> Why do we just have to ignore that problem and create another sys

tem?

I know you are not being arguementative. What is the concrete solution to the

current

system problem? Remember we cannot just say, 'there is a problem, fix it'.

Autism

scholarship program is not whole new education system, it is a program within

the

system.

Sorry, about the very short, lack of depth answers. I am not sure I even

answered your

questions very well...

Liz

>

> Sincerely,

> Guppy

>

>

> M. Guppy

> Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas!

> 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. "

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Nagla all of what you said about the state plan is wonderful. Who

is currently working on fulfilling all those recommendations? Is it

being worked on today and what in the actual plan of action can bring

immediate relief for families who desperately need help now? Again,

I like everything you said Nagla but you have been advocating for our

children for a long time, why is it all of the sudden time to

advocate for the Autism state plan? Did the thought of a scholarship

program bring on a sense of urgency? Hmmm, wonder if the same sense

of urgency would hold true across systems?

I am all for change, moving forward, solving problems and chipping

away at the state plan but I am not waiting anymore nor am I sitting

around and waiting for whoever it is that is going to get the job

done. Mason was diagnosed at 2 and he is now 8. In that 6 six years

what has been done on all the previous state plans? Again, I would

support the person, persons or groups who are going to go in like a

bulldozer to accomplish all of those wonderful ideas. But, who and

how are they going to get the job done? Show me an actual time

frame and a drawn out plan of action so I can be assured that we are

just not talking but rather we are actually acting. My child is

growing up quickly! I can't just throw out an real plan of action

like a scholarship program that will actually accomplish something

immediate for our families on the hopes that we will all get together

and work on the state plan.

But, again I support the person, persons, advocacy groups who will

actively work on implementing the state plan. It needs to be done

and I hope their work was started two years ago.

Liz

tscillian@...

[Guest guest]

Liz,

- In Texas-Autism-Advocacy , Liz and Troy

wrote:

>

> Nagla all of what you said about the state plan is wonderful.

> children for a long time, why is it all of the sudden time to

> advocate for the Autism state plan? Did the thought of a

scholarship

> program bring on a sense of urgency? Hmmm, wonder if the same

sense

> of urgency would hold true across systems?

I have been asking people to support this plan all along, it seems I

have their ears now that we are discussing vouchers.

>

> I am all for change, moving forward, solving problems and chipping

> away at the state plan but I am not waiting anymore nor am I

sitting

> around and waiting for whoever it is that is going to get the job

> done. Mason was diagnosed at 2 and he is now 8. In that 6 six

years

You have not waited, you are doing great things for your son in your

chosen method of educating him. Mason is getting exactly what you

want him to get, lots of one on one therapy which is great.

> what has been done on all the previous state plans?

We got the autism supplement out of them (teacher to student ratio,

EYS,structured daily schedule,parent training, in home

training,transition services) which now have to be discussed in every

ARD at every school for every child diagnosed with autism.

Again, I would

> support the person, persons or groups who are going to go in like

a

> bulldozer to accomplish all of those wonderful ideas. But, who

and

> how are they going to get the job done? Show me an actual time

> frame and a drawn out plan of action so I can be assured that we

are

> just not talking but rather we are actually acting. My child is

> growing up quickly! I can't just throw out an real plan of action

> like a scholarship program that will actually accomplish something

> immediate for our families on the hopes that we will all get

together

> and work on the state plan.

I can't answer this, but you have set a great example in how to get

things done, and I am following that example by asking people to

write letters, form voting blocks, innundate their legislators with

these letters, show up in Austin etc...We can really use your

expertise Liz, you seem to be a great organizer, lots better than me.

>>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Liz,

I just wanted you to know that I support this effort completely. I

find that is unreasonable to be shooting down an idea that can

benefit other Autism families.

If there is PROOF that thisis whole scholarship idea is going to

hurt Autism families then I can see merit in opposing it.

It does absolutely nothing to speculate and throw out opposition

against a plan that provides a SOLUTION. All solutions should be

given a fair chance.

Many families have advocated hard and long, but look at our results

now. A new idea often encounters resistance, but I don't think it

should be from our own.

We all have enough struggling to do. Thank you for keeping it

going. I enjoy your spirit and your desire to take an idea forward.

Like you say......looking forward to 2007 :>)

Mark

>

> Nagla all of what you said about the state plan is wonderful.

Who

> is currently working on fulfilling all those recommendations? Is

it

> being worked on today and what in the actual plan of action can

bring

> immediate relief for families who desperately need help now?

Again,

> I like everything you said Nagla but you have been advocating for

our

> children for a long time, why is it all of the sudden time to

> advocate for the Autism state plan? Did the thought of a

scholarship

> program bring on a sense of urgency? Hmmm, wonder if the same

sense

> of urgency would hold true across systems?

>

> I am all for change, moving forward, solving problems and

chipping

> away at the state plan but I am not waiting anymore nor am I

sitting

> around and waiting for whoever it is that is going to get the job

> done. Mason was diagnosed at 2 and he is now 8. In that 6 six

years

> what has been done on all the previous state plans? Again, I

would

> support the person, persons or groups who are going to go in like

a

> bulldozer to accomplish all of those wonderful ideas. But, who

and

> how are they going to get the job done? Show me an actual time

> frame and a drawn out plan of action so I can be assured that we

are

> just not talking but rather we are actually acting. My child is

> growing up quickly! I can't just throw out an real plan of

action

> like a scholarship program that will actually accomplish

something

> immediate for our families on the hopes that we will all get

together

> and work on the state plan.

>

> But, again I support the person, persons, advocacy groups who

will

> actively work on implementing the state plan. It needs to be

done

> and I hope their work was started two years ago.

>

> Liz

> tscillian@...

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Do you want people to write letters in support of the whole state plan in

general or more

specific part of the plan? I think I missed that during the holiday

craziness...

Liz

> >

> > Nagla all of what you said about the state plan is wonderful.

>

> > children for a long time, why is it all of the sudden time to

> > advocate for the Autism state plan? Did the thought of a

> scholarship

> > program bring on a sense of urgency? Hmmm, wonder if the same

> sense

> > of urgency would hold true across systems?

>

>

> I have been asking people to support this plan all along, it seems I

> have their ears now that we are discussing vouchers.

>

>

> >

> > I am all for change, moving forward, solving problems and chipping

> > away at the state plan but I am not waiting anymore nor am I

> sitting

> > around and waiting for whoever it is that is going to get the job

> > done. Mason was diagnosed at 2 and he is now 8. In that 6 six

> years

>

>

> You have not waited, you are doing great things for your son in your

> chosen method of educating him. Mason is getting exactly what you

> want him to get, lots of one on one therapy which is great.

>

>

> > what has been done on all the previous state plans?

>

>

> We got the autism supplement out of them (teacher to student ratio,

> EYS,structured daily schedule,parent training, in home

> training,transition services) which now have to be discussed in every

> ARD at every school for every child diagnosed with autism.

>

>

> Again, I would

> > support the person, persons or groups who are going to go in like

> a

> > bulldozer to accomplish all of those wonderful ideas. But, who

> and

> > how are they going to get the job done? Show me an actual time

> > frame and a drawn out plan of action so I can be assured that we

> are

> > just not talking but rather we are actually acting. My child is

> > growing up quickly! I can't just throw out an real plan of action

> > like a scholarship program that will actually accomplish something

> > immediate for our families on the hopes that we will all get

> together

> > and work on the state plan.

>

>

> I can't answer this, but you have set a great example in how to get

> things done, and I am following that example by asking people to

> write letters, form voting blocks, innundate their legislators with

> these letters, show up in Austin etc...We can really use your

> expertise Liz, you seem to be a great organizer, lots better than me.

>

> >>

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Mark, Liz and others,

I do not have CONCRETE proof that vouchers will hurt those of us in the

rural areas and the folks with lower incomes. Instead, I'm speaking

from 9 years of advocating in that arena for children with various

disabilities, not just autism and not just my kid. I can assure you

with quite a bit of certainty that if the smaller schools see a way to

get out of teaching a challenging or difficult child they will jump at

it; especially if it doesn't impact their bottom line. Some of the

larger schools do too. Look how many children in the AEPs and Juvenile

programs have a disability. I believe the last statistic I read was

that over 1/3 of them have a 3rd grade reading level or less. If

schools are handing off someone with a learning disability think what

they would love to do with our kids if given the opportunity.

Tonya

[Guest guest]

This is very true and regardless of what I did or how many experts were brought

in at the districts expense, the staff refused to implement what they where told

to do. It is very frustrating and demeaning to the child.

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately it seems some of our districts are handing off their challenging

student

problems ALREADY and we don't even have a scholarship program... These

districts can

hand off their problems, without any recourse - " my way or the highway "

mentality.

However, would these schools really be so inclined to push a student out of

school or

hand off their problem if that student was going to leave with a scholarship???

If money is

such an issue like we are hearing in these debates, then maybe a district would

try and

work a little harder instead of pushing a student out...

I feel like we have competing arguements. First folks say schools will loose

money

because of a scholarship program and it will hurt all students, then we hear

schools will

push out students if there is a scholarship program. But if they push those

students out

on a scholarship then they will lose money... I am not sure which arguement we

have

here? money? or pushing out the students with a scholarship? Does that make

sense?

Ho hum-

>

>

>

> Mark, Liz and others,

>

> I do not have CONCRETE proof that vouchers will hurt those of us in the

> rural areas and the folks with lower incomes. Instead, I'm speaking

> from 9 years of advocating in that arena for children with various

> disabilities, not just autism and not just my kid. I can assure you

> with quite a bit of certainty that if the smaller schools see a way to

> get out of teaching a challenging or difficult child they will jump at

> it; especially if it doesn't impact their bottom line. Some of the

> larger schools do too. Look how many children in the AEPs and Juvenile

> programs have a disability. I believe the last statistic I read was

> that over 1/3 of them have a 3rd grade reading level or less. If

> schools are handing off someone with a learning disability think what

> they would love to do with our kids if given the opportunity.

>

> Tonya

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> >

> >

> > Mark, Liz and others,

> >

> > I do not have CONCRETE proof that vouchers will hurt those of us

in the

> > rural areas and the folks with lower incomes. Instead, I'm

speaking

> > from 9 years of advocating in that arena for children with various

> > disabilities, not just autism and not just my kid. I can assure

you

> > with quite a bit of certainty that if the smaller schools see a

way to

> > get out of teaching a challenging or difficult child they will

jump at

> > it; especially if it doesn't impact their bottom line. Some of

the

> > larger schools do too. Look how many children in the AEPs and

Juvenile

> > programs have a disability. I believe the last statistic I read

was

> > that over 1/3 of them have a 3rd grade reading level or less. If

> > schools are handing off someone with a learning disability think

what

> > they would love to do with our kids if given the opportunity.

> >

> > Tonya

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Yes, people need to write letters supporting at least the educational

recommendations of the state plan 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5. Letters

reiterating these 5 recommendations to all their legislators, and to

the governor.

That would be a great start, next we can make appointments with the

legislators when they are in their home office, try and get to speak

with them about supporting these 5 recommendations, posibly drafting

legislation that puts the recommendations into law.

Nagla

> > >

> > > Nagla all of what you said about the state plan is wonderful.

> >

> > > children for a long time, why is it all of the sudden time to

> > > advocate for the Autism state plan? Did the thought of a

> > scholarship

> > > program bring on a sense of urgency? Hmmm, wonder if the same

> > sense

> > > of urgency would hold true across systems?

> >

> >

> > I have been asking people to support this plan all along, it

seems I

> > have their ears now that we are discussing vouchers.

> >

> >

> > >

> > > I am all for change, moving forward, solving problems and

chipping

> > > away at the state plan but I am not waiting anymore nor am I

> > sitting

> > > around and waiting for whoever it is that is going to get the

job

> > > done. Mason was diagnosed at 2 and he is now 8. In that 6 six

> > years

> >

> >

> > You have not waited, you are doing great things for your son in

your

> > chosen method of educating him. Mason is getting exactly what

you

> > want him to get, lots of one on one therapy which is great.

> >

> >

> > > what has been done on all the previous state plans?

> >

> >

> > We got the autism supplement out of them (teacher to student

ratio,

> > EYS,structured daily schedule,parent training, in home

> > training,transition services) which now have to be discussed in

every

> > ARD at every school for every child diagnosed with autism.

> >

> >

> > Again, I would

> > > support the person, persons or groups who are going to go in

like

> > a

> > > bulldozer to accomplish all of those wonderful ideas. But, who

> > and

> > > how are they going to get the job done? Show me an actual

time

> > > frame and a drawn out plan of action so I can be assured that

we

> > are

> > > just not talking but rather we are actually acting. My child

is

> > > growing up quickly! I can't just throw out an real plan of

action

> > > like a scholarship program that will actually accomplish

something

> > > immediate for our families on the hopes that we will all get

> > together

> > > and work on the state plan.

> >

> >

> > I can't answer this, but you have set a great example in how to

get

> > things done, and I am following that example by asking people to

> > write letters, form voting blocks, innundate their legislators

with

> > these letters, show up in Austin etc...We can really use your

> > expertise Liz, you seem to be a great organizer, lots better than

me.

> >

> > >>

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I feel like we are going around in circles... unfortunately, when

the only offered solution is more money the solution solving process

has stopped.

Moving forward-

Liz

tscillian@...