By Pam McLoughlin Published 4:46 pm, Monday, January 1, 2018 NEW HAVEN — Chapel Haven, an award-winning school for adults on the autism spectrum and with other special needs will hold a workshop on internet safety Jan. 19 that is open to the public. Entitled “Autism & The Internet: Sabotage, Safety & Strategies,” the free workshop will feature internationally renowned autism expert Laurie Sperry from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will be followed by an opportunity to tour the campus at 1040 Whalley Ave. The campus is undergoing a major expansion. Sperry, in an interview from her home base in Colorado, said she’s “passionate about the issue and said she and other legal, forensics experts believe there is a “perfect storm” that puts those with special needs at greater risk than ever. Sperry’s research focuses on people with autism spectrum disorders who come in contact with the criminal justice system to ensure their humane … [Read more...] about Workshop will focus on internet safety for those with autism, other disabilities
Disability
Teachers Mistakenly Mock Disabled Student In Voicemail To Mother, Lawsuit Says
Three teachers mistakenly left a voicemail mocking a student’s disability on the phone of the fifth grader’s mother, a lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania alleges. The trio of teachers in Washington County’s McGuffey School District allegedly mocked Beth Suhon’s daughter struggles with Turner’s Syndrome, a chromosomal condition that targets women and causes developmental as well as learning disabilities, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported. The West Alexander, Pennsylvania, mother filed the suit last Sunday in federal court citing infractions against the Americans With Disabilities Act. The bullying complaint filed in U.S. District Court claims the McGuffey School District created a special-needs teaching program for her daughter in third grade but discontinued it in 2013 without telling parents. Suhon alleges that she called her daughter’s school in 2015 and left a message for her fifth grade teacher. The teacher called back and left Suhon a … [Read more...] about Teachers Mistakenly Mock Disabled Student In Voicemail To Mother, Lawsuit Says
Cicero: A serious gap for disabled students
Unless students with disabilities can meet the same achievement levels as their non-handicapped peers, they will have little chance of pursuing higher education opportunities. Photo Credit: iStock Updated January 1, 2018 4:19 PM It has been more than 40 years since President Gerald Ford signed into law mandatory provisions for handicapped children to receive an appropriate public education. The basic requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act remain, including an emphasis on educating these children in the least restrictive environment alongside their non-handicapped peers. However, this has not been working very well if you consider student achievement. In fact, the data suggest students with disabilities are failing miserably. Students with disabilities represent a significant number of school-age students in New York State. In fact, the 2014-15 state report “Promoting Inclusion of Students with Disabilities” noted that the number of … [Read more...] about Cicero: A serious gap for disabled students
‘If I run over your toes, it’s on purpose. I know where my wheels are,’ disabled lawyer says
Mindi and Mike Lobuzzetta were foster parents ready to accept a newborn child into their care two years ago when the birth mother delivered the baby at Women and Children's Hospital under an assumed name and took off with him as soon as she was ready to leave the hospital. The frantic Buffalo couple turned to Shannon Filbert for help finding the infant. Filbert, the Legal Aid lawyer assigned to protect the baby's interests, assured them she would do everything she could to find the mother and child. She reached out to police, had arrest warrants drawn up and contacted the Lobuzettas day and night with updates. "She was relentless," Mindi Lobuzzetta said. Filbert has lived as a quadraplegic since her spine snapped when she 16, but as the Lobuzzettas and others who have dealt with her know, that has not affected what they call her determined and powerful presence. "I could sleep knowing she was doing everything she needed to do," Lobuzzetta said. Filbert, 35, spent years … [Read more...] about ‘If I run over your toes, it’s on purpose. I know where my wheels are,’ disabled lawyer says
Cubs fan who uses wheelchair sues, says Wrigley Field violates disabilities act
A 20-year-old Cubs fan who uses a wheelchair is alleging in a lawsuit that Wrigley Field renovations have eliminated or excluded some handicapped-accessible seating at the stadium in violation of federal law. David F. Cerda, who has muscular dystrophy and has used a wheelchair since age 10, says in his federal lawsuit that the Cubs owners’ $750 million renovation project removed wheelchair-accessible sections in the right-field bleachers where he had long enjoyed watching games and replaced them with a bar. The team also pushed the accessible seats behind home plate back several rows, making it impossible to see the “whole field of play” when spectators in front of him were standing, according to the lawsuit. The owners’ decisions seem driven more by profits rather than concern for the law or accommodating all of their fans, said Cerda’s father, David A. Cerda, an attorney known for handling police misconduct litigation, who filed the lawsuit on his … [Read more...] about Cubs fan who uses wheelchair sues, says Wrigley Field violates disabilities act
Local curator talks art, disability
LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - Wearing khaki pants, a plaid dress shirt and tortoise-shell glasses, 31-year-old Paul Dufrene’s taste in clothing doesn’t exactly match his taste in music, which he described as “hippie chic.”“I’m sort of a straight-laced guy, but I like hippie culture - like, true hippie culture,” Dufrene said.Diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia as a teen, Dufrene now uses a wheelchair full time. He sat in the middle of his records room surrounded by about 1,500 vinyls - a testament to his life-long love of collecting.Dufrene has found success over the last several years compiling weekly music mixes on his Mixcloud blog “Platter Playlists,” which features folk songs from the 1960s and 1970s.His account, at close to 2,000 followers, was recently nominated for Best Online Music Show by Mixcloud’s Online Radio Awards - news that “dumbfounded” him, he said, considering the other nominees had at least … [Read more...] about Local curator talks art, disability
Suburban academy’s mission: Help adults with disabilities get career training
A colorful compass lies in the center of a new career center in west suburban Hillside — a symbol of its mission to help adults with developmental disabilities navigate their way into the workforce. At the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Career Academy, which the nonprofit Aspire opened in October, adults with autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy are trained in simulated work environments so they can get jobs and be included more in society. “There are so many young people out there with autism and other disabilities who are just sitting at home and they’re not able to find a job because they haven’t been able to connect with the world of work,” said James Kales, chief executive officer for Aspire, which provides supportive services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. “This is giving us a chance to link employers who need good team members who can do skills in these different industries.” Nearly 11 percent of adults ages 21 … [Read more...] about Suburban academy’s mission: Help adults with disabilities get career training
Woman dies after car strikes her disabled car on I-75 in Marietta
A 27-year-old woman died Sunday morning after her car became disabled on I-75 North in Marietta, police said. The woman’s name has not been released pending notification of next of kin. She was outside her car when another car struck her car, pinning her between her car and the median, Marietta police spokesman Chuck McPhilamy said. A total of three crashes were involved in the incident near Allgood Road, McPhilamy said. Please return to AJC.com for updates. … [Read more...] about Woman dies after car strikes her disabled car on I-75 in Marietta
Colorado Springs’ Resource Exchange spearheading disabled care research
0 View Comments One research project uses a pen-and-paper survey to help improve the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Another is a web-based program combating obesity. And still one more seeks new ways to help patients' doctors better coordinate their care - a simple request that too often goes unfulfilled. They're all being tested at a first-of-its-kind research center for the Pikes Peak region - one spearheaded by The Resource Exchange, a Colorado Springs nonprofit that's growing fast and on the move. Its goal: Lend fresh insight into health care conundrums facing adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the nation. Related: Colorado Springs youth treatment center uses yoga to help felons And it's doing so outside the "petri dish" of hospitals or academic institutions. "We are in the community," said David Ervin, the nonprofit's CEO. "We've got to face everyday community challenges and embrace … [Read more...] about Colorado Springs’ Resource Exchange spearheading disabled care research
Fire sweeps through housing for elderly, disabled in NH
DOVER, N.H. (AP) - Firefighters say a blaze in a housing complex for the elderly and disabled in Dover, New Hampshire, forced several residents to be evacuated into the frigid night.Fire Chief Eric Hagman said one occupant was taken to the hospital Saturday night with chest pain, but that no one else was hurt. Displaced residents were placed on a bus, and temporary housing was lined up by the Dover Housing Authority.Fire officials said they called in reinforcements Saturday night because frigid temperatures created a challenge for fire firefighters.The housing complex, 3 Edgar Bois Terrace, is comprised of 20 units. Officials believe the fire started on the first floor of one of the units. … [Read more...] about Fire sweeps through housing for elderly, disabled in NH