Roger Holt's Public Library

AT for kids with LD is defined as any device, piece of equipment or system that helps bypass, work around or compensate for an individual's specific learning deficits. Over the past decade, a number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy of AT for individuals with LD. ¹ AT doesn't cure or eliminate learning difficulties, but it can help your child reach her potential because it allows her to capitalize on her strengths and bypass areas of difficulty.

The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247) was introduced by Congressman George Miller (D-CA), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference and Co-Chair of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus.

At the same time, Senator Chris Dodd has introduced a companion bill, S.2860, declaring, “The tragedies associated with the inappropriate use of seclusion and restraint are not only unacceptable, they are unconscionable.” The two bills are almost the same, with only two differences, noted below.

The bipartisan House bill will be considered by the full Committee early next year (called “marking up.”)  If the Committee votes in favor of the bill, it will go to the full House for a vote.

The Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership In Research and Education (AASPIRE) brings together the academic community and the autistic community to develop and perform research projects relevant to the needs of autistic adults. Our partnership will adhere to the principles of Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR), whereby researchers and community members serve as equal partners throughout the research process. Additionally, researchers may be drawn directly from the community. Partners are expected to learn from each other and respect each other's areas of expertise.

TRENTON - Not everyone gets a state senator to write their
excuse for missing school.

But Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, was
happy to accommodate Samantha Ravelli, of Ocean City, and her
sister, Roseann, on Thursday when the two missed school to attend a
Senate session during which Van Drew's bill to form a statewide
Reading Disabilities Task Force was unanimously approved.

Thanks to Hunt Of A Lifetime, a nonprofit organization that grants hunting and fishing adventures to children who have life-threatening illnesses, Daric had the chance last month to take his love of the great outdoors to Montana.

ScienceDaily (Dec. 4, 2009) — In the United States, caring for a child with special health care needs usually means higher medical expenses for a family -- particularly for low-income families, who spend a disproportionally large share of their income on their child's care. Yet the amount of financial burden for these families also depends on their state of residence, says Paul T. Shattuck, Ph.D., professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis.

"The percentage of low-income families in a given state with out-of-pocket expenses that exceeded 3 percent of their income varied considerably according to state and ranged from 5 percent to 25. 8 percent (District of Columbia and Montana, respectively). Families living in states with more generous Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) benefits report less financial burden," Shattuck says.

Class teaches parents to cope with children's mental illness

NAMI Basics consists of six classes, each 2½ hours long and offered weekly. They are specially designed for parents and caregivers of children with mental illnesses.

Roughly one in ten children struggle with dyslexia, a condition that affects young learners' ability to read and spell. These six books, aimed at parents of dyslexic children, cover a gamut of topics, from advice on navigating the public school system to tips for coping and becoming an effective advocate for your kid.

FamilyConnect™ has a number of resources for parents of children and teenagers who are blind or visually impaired. If you are looking for fun, accessible games and activities for the holiday season, we hope you will find the following links helpful.

You might be surprised to learn there's been an increase in the number of children born with Down syndrome in recent years. The conventional wisdom holds that with more prenatal screening, the rate at which children would be born with Down syndrome would have fallen.

Amazon is making some enhancements to its Kindle electronic reader, aimed at improving the reading experience for people who are blind, visually impaired, or dyslexic.