PLUK eNews

3 year old boy born with a disabled hand gets a gift from his grandmother that makes him feel like a super hero.

With many schools now back in session, you may have observed a child/student having difficulty using typically printed instructional materials to participate and make progress in the classroom. Perhaps you are wondering if accessible instructional materials (AIM) might be needed?This special Back to School edition highlights AIM Center resources that will help answer this and other questions frequently asked by families and educators as they enter the new school year. Also in this issue:Webinar Offering: Making a Measurable Difference with AIM, September 16, 3-4PM EDTPolicy Brief on Fair Use - UpdatedAIMing for Success Videos - New

Developing effective, real-world-ready approaches to providing early diagnosis, treatment, and supportive services for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the goal of 12 research grants awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). These grants are part of a broad research effort to provide models for the delivery of needed services to children, youth, and adults with ASD, across different communities and care settings, appropriate to each age and individual. NIMH is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

GREAT FALLS - West Elementary is one of 86 schools in Montana to serve free meals to all of their students under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. The program provides free breakfast and lunch to students that may otherwise go without.

Quick, name the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States. I bet you didn't say dental caries, or as any kid who has heard the ominous whirring sound of a dentist's drill would call them, "cavities." Fifty-nine percent of kids between 12 and 19 have at least one cavity, and poor and minority children are disproportionately affected, according to this study by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Some novel programs are addressing a growing gap in health care: helping the millions of survivors of serious childhood diseases find treatment when they grow up. Thanks to medical advances, there are a growing number of survivors of childhood cancers as well as patients living longer with diseases like cystic fibrosis and spina bifida. More children have diseases like diabetes and asthma that will follow them into adulthood. Nearly 25% of children have at least one of a list of 18 chronic conditions, according to federal survey data.

Student absenteeism in Montana is the worst in the nation, and it’s off the charts among the state’s American Indian students, according to a new national study of student attendance and test scores.

We are a nonprofit foundation created to help families acquire items beneficial to their children that insurance companies don't cover. We also provide educational items such as sensory friendly school supplies to families and emergency kits with sensory items for evacuations to schools. Each family can fill out one application per calendar year and can request up to $500 (including shipping costs) worth of materials. All items will be ordered directly from the vendor and no funds will be sent to the families. Please see our family application for guidelines.

New gadgets and mobile apps introduced in the past few years are making reading, writing and math more accessible to students with learning disabilities.

Local candidates for the state Legislature gathered at a forum Wednesday to discuss the challenges facing disabled Montanans. Held at Eagle Mount in Bozeman, the forum drew 16 candidates from both major parties who asked and answered questions about the issues facing disabled people and their families. Most told stories of disabilities in their own families.

The proposal would expand on a set of pilot youth crisis diversion programs around the state. In the last year, four programs -- serving Helena, Missoula, Yellowstone County and Eastern Montana, have been having some "good results," said Jani McCall of the Yellowstone Youth Crisis Network, who works with the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

The panel unanimously endorsed the draft legislation, setting it up for discussion in the 2015 Legislature.

I’ve always believed that as a parent I am the best advocate for my children. If I don’t do it, who will? I also believe in giving back and paying forward so I joined the Bozeman Area Special Education PTA to help advocate for families who are still in need. Please join me in helping to raise awareness regarding disability issues in the community at the Legislative Candidate Forum on Disabilities on August 27. The forum will be held at Eagle Mount at 6901 Goldenstein, at 6:30 p.m., with a reception to follow. Childcare, accommodations, and transportation will be provided. This event is sponsored by The Arc Montana, Disability Rights Montana, Bozeman Area SEPTA, NAMI Bozeman, and PLUK and hosted by Eagle Mount Bozeman. For more information and transportation, please contact Mary at 406-461-2384.

State House and Senate candidates from Gallatin and Park counties will listen to and discuss the needs and rights of people with disabilities at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eagle Mount. Candidates from both parties will take part in the forum, organized by state and local advocacy groups: the Arc Montana, Bozeman Special ED PTA, NAMI Bozeman, Parents Let's Unite for Kids, and Disability Rights Montana.

My twin boys, Alex and Blake, were about 7 weeks premature. Alex cried all the time. When Blake began to talk, he pronounced the letter "r" like the letter "w." Little did I know I would soon begin the journey of my life. I would cry oceans of tears for my children before I began a path of discovery that would forever change my life.

Susan contacted Wrightslaw in 2006. In an email she ranted (her words) about her children's school system. When she received our auto-response, she replied with "thanks for another door slammed in the face of my child." Then Susan received a personal reply from Pam Wright. Pam suggested that she stop playing the victim and do what was necessary to be an effective advocate for her children. And that's exactly what she did!

A major pediatricians’ group is issuing new guidelines for physicians diagnosing intellectual and other developmental disabilities. In a clinical report published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations, which were first released in 2006. Specifically, the new report emphasizes advances in genetic testing in recent years that can aid in providing a more precise diagnosis for children with various delays.

With new teachers and classmates, bigger classrooms, new routines and more schoolwork, the beginning of a new school year can be an exciting and stressful time for children. This time can be particularly overwhelming for children who are facing major transitions such as moving to a new city, or entering elementary or middle school for the first time. As a parent there are important steps you can take to support your child as he or she heads back to school.

I am an almost 60-year-old autistic woman who can navigate the world in a way that surprises some people when they find out I have autism. My teen years were spent in an institution because people did not know what to do with my “behaviors” or with me. Today I am a self-employed author, speaker, consultant and artist with a master’s degree in Social Work. Question: Did I lose my autism diagnosis? Official Answer: Yes and No

It is not often you see a young man with such a passion for inclusive education. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Miles Kredich, a teenager with a twin brother who has autism. Watch this short (8 minute) documentary that gives a history of special education and gives a great case for inclusive education. Share this widely with your social networks.

Mental health issues like depression, anxiety and substance abuse often start in adolescence, then peak in young adulthood. But for young people who don't have steady jobs or stable paychecks, getting help can be tough. A popular provision of the Affordable Care Act that took effect in 2010 aimed to make it easier for young adults to get access to health care, by allowing them to stay on their parents' insurance until they turn 26. So, are more young adults getting help with mental health issues because of the provision? Maybe, suggests a study published in the September issue of Health Affairs.

How to create, implement, and maintain an IEP or 504 Plan that secures school accommodations for your child with ADHD or LD. Click on each step below for detailed expert advice.