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Close Topic OptionsAlaska Special Needs Programs For Autistic Kids
Alaska Special Programs Autistic Kids - Psychology, Special Needs, Health - Posted: 9th Sep, 2008 - 4:14am
Posts: 3 - Views: 942
Sponsored Links:
Kids Autistic Programs Special Alaska
**If it is not okay to post the links to these websites, let me know and I will send them to you privately. I just thought this is valuable information for anyone who has a child with special needs. Sometimes it can be very frustrating trying to navigate the system.**
Any state that accepts federal funding for special education must provide a free education to all children with disabilities. According to Alaska statutes the criteria for eligibility in the Special Education Programs for public education is:
| QUOTE |
| The qualified individual is a person with mental retardation, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), deaf-blindness, serious emotional disturbance (hereinafter referred to as "emotional disturbance"), orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, other health impairments, or specific learning disabilities. In addition, for individuals from birth to age 2 and individuals between the ages of 3 and 9, the qualified individual may be one who is experiencing developmental delays, as defined by the state and as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in one or more of the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, or adaptive development; and one who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services. |
Once it is determined that they meet qualifications an IEP (Individual Education Plan) is developed in a meeting of specialist, school personnel and parents. The IEP is developed using the National guidelines (https://www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/iepguide.doc)
The state has also created an awesome website "The Alaskan Autism Resource Center." I hope it's okay to post the link here, there is too much information for me to just quote what is available. Source 2
There is a great organization called the Stone Soup Group. Source 4 They provide support and education to families of children with special needs.
| QUOTE |
| Stone Soup Group is a statewide non-profit agency based in Anchorage, Alaska that provides assistance and support to families of children with special needs. We operate several programs, each with a specific focus on different ways we can help families supporting children with special needs to become informed, experienced, self-sufficient advocates for their children and themselves. There is no charge to families for the services we provide. Our agency is funded by state and federal grants, as well as donations from community partners and supporters. Stone Soup Group is proud to be the nationally recognized, federally funded Family-to-Family Health & Information Center and Parent Training & Information Center for the state of Alaska. |
When I worked in child protection I referred several of my families to Stone Soup. They really do some good things for these families and provide support and education that is very valuable.
The Self-Determination Toolkit Project is something I think you may find interesting. Source 6
I know you are fighting an uphill battle, but this site gives a step-by-step training outline how to advocate for change. (Check out the Speak up! Guide)
This site provides a list of some of the resources available to parents in Alaska with special needs children: Source 4
The state of Alaska has developed a Parent Guide to Education and the Exceptional Child. Source 2
The bottom line is this - If you live in Alaska and you cannot find the program to meet the needs of your child, they will develop a program. That is what the IEP is all about. They create a program to meet the special needs of each child. Sometimes it is main streamed into the regular classroom. Sometimes the child is pulled out for special groups or individual teaching time. Whatever works best. The classes I have been in everyone was patient, caring and genuinely concerned about the child. I substituted one year in a class for severely disabled children. These children had major birth defects. Some of them could not speak well, could not walk, some could not see. None were treated poorly or less than any child without disabilities. And it was great for the "normal" kids. The disabled kids would get some time in the regular classrooms and the other kids would love to be their helpers. It helped them to develop compassion and learn that just because some kids are different they are still people with feelings and deserving of respect.
I have mentioned before the boy I was an aide for, Ethan. He is in middle school now and a couple weeks ago I was driving by his school. I saw Ethan and about 6 or 7 other special ed kids and a their teachers. They were walking down the sidewalk going on a field trip and having a wonderful time.
There is a lot more I can post, but this will do for now. I hope I have given you some resources that will help you in Trini. Or at least give you some hope that things can get better. (Or you & JB could always move to Alaska
)Alaska Special Needs Programs For Autistic Kids Health & Special Psychology
Wow, sounds like you all have well organized programs. I was telling JB the other day that even if I home school abroad, there are so many chances for our child to develop friendships (extra curricular activities, field trips, home school groups, church related activities, etc). Alaska seems to be doing a wonderful job taking care of special needs children. That's very impressive.
Rather off topic, but...
I won't mind at all, just provide me with the green card. |
TOPIC: Alaska Special Needs Programs For Autistic Kids