Visitor Information Available Through TDD People who are hearing impaired may obtain visitor information through TDD 307-344-2386. Accessibility Coordinator Facilities in Yellowstone are being made physically accessible as quickly as possible within funding limitations. Most facilities described in this guide have been judged to be negotiable by wheelchair users without assistance. Those facilities that require assistance for wheelchair users are indicated. Facilities described as accessible do not necessarily comply fully with federal standards.

HELENA — A legislative committee will meet April 26-27 to learn how health care legislation passed this year by Congress may affect Montanans.

Speak It! is an application for iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad which lets you enter text via the regular keyboard and then speak the words via the built-in speaker, or save them to an audio file to email to others.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced grants to 41 health programs operated by the Indian Health Service; tribes and tribal organizations; and urban Indian organizations. The grants will help improve outreach and enrollment of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) uninsured children eligible for, but not enrolled in, their state’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).

Blackfeet Tribe, Po'Ka ProjectMontana$300,000Indian Health Board of Billings, Inc.Montana$300,000

There is no question that the incidence and prevalence of autism are on the rise. Starting in the early 1990s and continuing to today, there has been a steady rise in the number of children diagnosed with autism. Prior to 1990 the estimates of autism prevalence were about 3 per 10,000. The most recent estimates from the CDC and elsewhere now have the number at about 100 per 10,000, or 1%. The burning question is – why are the rates increasing steadily? There are those, particularly in the anti-vaccine community, who conclude that the increase in prevalence is a real biological effect – an epidemic – and is evidence for an environmental cause (which they believe is vaccines, even though the scientific evidence does not support this position). However, the evidence strongly suggests that the rising prevalence of autism is largely an artifact of broadening the diagnosis and increased surveillance.

Do you know an educator who demonstrates exceptional instructional ability, is inspiring and exhibits professional leadership? Each year, the Office of Public Instruction asks for recommendations of outstanding educators and administrators for the Superintendent's Talent Pool. Please take a moment to submit names of remarkable people from your area to be included.

Looking for engaging ways to introduce your child to reading or to encourage your teen to write? Need some age-appropriate book suggestions or rainy day activities? The materials here are your answer—all of them created by experts to be fun, educational, and easy to use outside of school.

More and more websites are coming online to give students the ability to unleash their creativity in new and innovative ways.  From abstract art to pointillism, students now can click and draw their way into original works of art, and today’s freebie gives you a great list of places to begin. 

The percentage of American students in special education grew significantly between the 1970s and now, though numbers have remained relatively stable in recent years, according to newly released statistics.

The 2010 Case for Inclusion report (medicaid.ucp.org), ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC) for Medicaid services provided to intellectual and developmental disability (ID/DD) populations.

In a typical classroom, a teacher may find many students who are struggling readers, whether they are beginning readers, students with language-based learning disabilities, or students who are English language learners (ELLs). One motivating, engaging and inexpensive way to help build the reading skills of students is through the use of closed captioned and subtitled television shows and movies.

This Resource Guide was written to support service providers in their work with parents, caregivers, and their children to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. The guide includes information about protective factors that help reduce the risk of child maltreatment, strategies for changing how communities support families, and evidence-informed practices. It also offers suggestions for enhancing protective factors in families, tools to build awareness and develop community partnerships, information about child abuse and neglect, a directory of national organizations that work to strengthen families, and tip sheets in English and Spanish on specific parenting topics.

When she was born, her feet could have fit into a tablespoon, and her first meal was a single drop of breast milk.

The Maryland State Department of Education has unveiled a powerful video debunking the myths of gifted education; rebutting misconceptions that students who are gifted will excel without addressing their unique learning needs.  Spearheaded and performed by students, the Top Ten Myths in Gifted Education eight minute video provides insight into the challenges that many students with gifts and talents address in accessing services and supports. 

Hawaii, like all but four states, is experiencing an extreme fiscal crisis. As a partial response, Hawaii and its teacher’s union agreed to a contract for the 2009-2010 school year with 17 fewer days, dubbed “Furlough Fridays.” This cut stood to save the state thousands of dollars, but also meant that all students in Hawaii would lose approximately 10% of instructional time. Parents of students with disabilities sued to prevent the state from implementing this plan, arguing the lost time was a change of placement and violated IDEA’s stay put provision. The State went forward with the cost cutting measure, which began regardless of the suit in October of 2009. Late last week, the Ninth Circuit disagreed with parents and ruled that “system wide changes are not meant to be covered by IDEA’s stay put provision.”

To answer parents' questions about autism spectrum disorders, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers a collection of interviews with pediatricians, researchers and parents.

Through Crisis Intervention Team training, about 40 Montana officers were in Billings to practice interacting with someone with a mental health crisis

You and your husband are the people primarily responsible for your son's health care and education, so do not ever feel that you must turn this decision making process over to someone else. This may be a source of your confusion and anger. If things feel out of control, then take your control back.

The ink was hardly dry on the health-care overhaul law when foundations, industry groups and consumer advocates began putting together guides to the new rules. Here are some Web sites worth keeping an eye on: