a nice email

[Guest guest]

Focus not on how old or how young you are. Instead, fill your

mind with thoughts of how great life can be at any time.

Think not about how much or how little money you have.

Consider the opportunities that are always available for

creating true living and lasting value.

Don't spend time dwelling on the differences between you and

others. Look instead at how you can make a positive

difference in the lives of those around you.

Don't become mired in resentment over your shortcomings and

limitations. Instead, find new ways to gratefully explore

the magnificent possibilities that are open to you.

You can choose the way you relate to what has been and what

is now. Choose to move forward with the very best of it all.

Let go of the shallow labels and limiting expectations that

you or others may have attached to your life. Today, right

now, be every good thing you know you can be.

BEST REGARDS.....ALAN

apraxia network meeting notes nov 2006

> Apraxia Network Meeting Notes 11/29/06

> Jeanne Buesser, President, introduced Carolyn Haye, an advocate from SPAN,

> Statewide Parent Advocacy Network. Ms. Hayer canvassed the audience to

> determine the interests of those present. She bagan the workshop with a

> distribution of booklets describing the needs that parents of apraxic

> children

> should be aware of before entering an IEP interview. She urged the parents

> to keep an ongoing record of progress reported at each session, looking

> for positive progress in terms of 2.2, or 5.6 grade levels, as oposed to

> " your chld is doing just fine " . Ms. Hayer reminded the parents to ask

> questions

> of teachers and case managers, if there are areas that seem fuzzy.

> Her power-point presentation covered transition from pre-school to grade

> school,

> then grade school to high school. She mentioned the requirement that

> several

> experts should be present at all IEP meetings, in order to comply with

> state

> regulations that will guarantee that the children will be the best

> opportunity

> for growth in the public school system.

> One parent discussed the success that her child had attained, and was now

> a senior

> in high school. They were investigating opportunities in preparation for

> college entry.

> Another parent expressed a lack of cooperation in his school district in

> getting the necessary

> help for his child. He is currently working with a lawyer about this

> issue.

> Docherty a member of the parent-to-parent support group within SPAN,

> invited the

> audience to sign up with her group to get help if they are overwhelmed

> dealing with the

> difficulties of raising a special child.

> As the parents gathered around Ms. Hayer after her talk, the key advice

> seemed to stress:

> be involed, ask questions, know your rights, be optimistic and follow

> through.

> Jeanne closed the meeting with the announcement of the next meeting at

> Temple Sholom,

> on December 6th at 7pm, with a talk by Dr. Berkowitz, discussing behavior

> problems.

> She also mentioned the upcoming LDANJ Conference on March 30 2007 in the

> Sheraton

> at Eatontown. Interested parties please contact ldanj@... with

> your contact info