Volume 07                                                                     Issue 23                                                    June 11, 2007              

Welcome to Monday Morning in Washington, D.C., published weekly by The Arc of the United States. We will bring to you news of interest to self advocates and their families, volunteers, professionals, and supporters of the disability movement. Please send any comments to mmwdc@thearc.org. You are welcome to reproduce and distribute items from Monday Morning in Washington, D.C., but please credit Monday Morning in Washington, D.C. (The Arc of the United States, 2007).

The Arc of the United States advocates for the rights and full participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Together with our network of members and affiliated chapters, we improve systems of supports and services; connect families; inspire communities; and influence public policy.

[NOTE: Having trouble reading this newsletter?  Read it online.] [Past Issues]

IN THIS ISSUE:

• June News from NICHCY

• News You Can Use: Resources and More

• National Evaluation of Early Reading First: Final Report to Congress

• Part C Technical Assistance: State Approaches

• Materials and Webcast from the National Summit on America's Children

• Supporting Growth and Development of Babies in Child Care: What Does the Research Say?

• Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children with Hearing Loss

• Interview with Early Literacy Expert Susan B. Neuman

• Moderately Premature Birth Can Mean Problems in Kindergarten and Grade School

• New EEOC guidance on caregiver discrimination

• RESOURCES

• New products have been published

• Institute for Community Inclusion National E-News 6/5/07

• Web Conference--Ready to Work? Partners in Youth Workforce Development

• Learning Disabilities Resource Kit: Specific Learning Disabilities Determination Procedures and Responsiveness to Intervention

• Fact Sheet:  Customized Employment Q & A: Assisting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families 

• The Condition of Education 2007

• ACTION:  National Council on Disability Public Consultation - May 31, 2007

• 'Workers with Disabilities: Talent for a Winning Team!' is 2007 National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme

• CQL's Fall 2007 Community Life LENS Conference

June News from NICHCY

Here's a sample of what you'll find:

• IDEA 2004 Part C Proposed Regulations issued.

• English and Spanish versions of:  Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children With Hearing Loss, from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.

• New RtI Article on Early Intervening Services, from Project Forum.

• Additional reports on Beginning Reading and English Language Learners, from The What Works Clearinghouse, and...

• Conferences galore, too many to choose from! Check out what's happening this summer and make your plan.

Read all about it and more, at: http://www.nichcy.org/newsuse.htm

Oh, and don't forget about NICHCY's training modules on IDEA 2004. More are comin' all the time, all through the summer. See what's available for download, at: http://www.nichcy.org/training/contents.asp

Incenter Strategies, an affiliate of the Maternal and Child Health Policy Research Center, has recently released a new report profiling innovative programs delivering integrated primary care for adolescents. Under One Roof: Primary Care Models that Work for Adolescents, by Marian Sandmaier, Alyssa D. Bell, Harriette B. Fox, Margaret A. McManus, and Jane E. Wilson, describes a comprehensive, interdisciplinary model of physical, behavioral, and reproductive health care that operates in different health care settings – a hospital-based adolescent medicine clinic, a private practice, and a federally qualified community health center. Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center (NYC), Wake Teen Medical Services (Raleigh, NC), and Erie Teen Health Center (Chicago) tailor their services to adolescents' unique needs through multidisciplinary staffing, team-based approaches, staff sensitivity, teen-friendly environments, and a focus on positive youth development. This report also describes the financing challenges associated with providing integrated care and the strategies all three programs pursued to obtain additional funding support. For more information on this report, visit www.incenterstrategies.org or contact Stephanie Limb at slimb@incenterstrategies.org.

Second Edition of "Tips for First Responders" Tip Sheets Released
 

The Center for Development and Disability at the University of New Mexico, with support from the New Mexico Department of Health, Office of Health Emergency Management, the American Association on Health and Disability, the New Mexico Governor's Commission on Disability, and the Research and Training Center on Independent Living, has released the 2nd Edition of a series of tip sheets for first responders. These sheets, while not meant to be comprehensive, can be read either before or while responding to an incident. To view these sheets or to find out how you may order copies, go to http://cdd.unm.edu/products/.

Source: Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education - June 4, 2007
The National Evaluation of Early Reading First: Final Report to Congress describes the impacts of the Early Reading First program on the language and literacy skills of children and on the instructional content and practices in preschool classrooms. The main findings show that the program had positive, statistically significant impacts on several classroom and teacher outcomes and on one of four child outcomes measured. The program had no effect on children's phonological awareness or oral language. For more information and to download the report go to http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20074007.asp

Part C Technical Assistance: State Approaches

Source: Project Forum at NASDSE - June 5, 2007
The Center to Guide Personnel Preparation, Policy and Practice in Early Intervention and Preschool Education recently conducted a study of technical assistance systems for personnel working with infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. Project Forum has summarized the Center's findings as they pertain specifically to Part C of IDEA. The document is available online at http://projectforum.org/docs/PartCTechnicalAssistance-StateApproaches.pdf

Materials and Webcast from the National Summit on America's Children

Source: National Summit on America's Children - June 8, 2007
The National Summit on America's Children took place on Tuesday, May 22nd on Capitol Hill. The day-long session convened national experts and academics on recent scientific findings and how they relate to early childhood development. The purpose was to look at how federal policies can take advantage of and support the most relevant research on how children grow and learn. A webcast and materials from the Summit are now available online at http://speaker.gov/issues?id=0032

Supporting Growth and Development of Babies in Child Care: What Does the Research Say?

Source: Center for Law and Social Policy - June 8, 2007
A new brief from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and ZERO TO THREE outlines research to demonstrate that state policies can promote the quality and continuity of early childhood experiences and positively impact the healthy growth and development of babies and toddlers in child care. It is available online at http://www.clasp.org/publications/supporting_babies.pdf

Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children with Hearing Loss

Source: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education - May 30, 2007
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) recently released an updated version of Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children with Hearing Loss, and a new Spanish version, Que se abran las puertas: Opciones de tecnología y comunicación para los niños con pérdida auditiva. These publications provide background on early intervention, the use of technology and other support available to children with hearing loss and their families. They are available online at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/products/opening_doors/index.html

Interview with Early Literacy Expert Susan B. Neuman

Source: Reading Rockets - June 8, 2007
In a recent interview with Reading Rockets, early literacy expert Susan B. Newman argues that just reading often with young children is not enough -content is important, too. She discusses her recent publication, A Parent's Guide to Reading with Your Young Child, and offers tips for choosing books. A transcript of the interview is available at http://www.readingrockets.org/articles/15573

Moderately Premature Birth Can Mean Problems in Kindergarten and Grade School

Source: Stanford News - May 9, 2007
A new study from the Stanford University Medical Center shows that children born four to eight weeks premature are more likely than full-term peers to struggle in kindergarten and grade school. Researchers used the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort to compare 1,000 premature children with 13,000 children born full term. For more information go to http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2007/may9/med-premature-050907.html .

New EEOC guidance on caregiver discrimination
EMPLOYMENT LAW - 6/5/07
How agency-enforced antidiscrimination laws can apply to workers who care for children, elderly parents and individuals with disabilities is the subject of a new guidance document issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The document - Unlawful Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities - provides examples of discrimination against caregivers that may constitute illegal disparate treatment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Congress has not legislated protection for caregivers, so claimants must rely on other statutes to prove "family responsibility discrimination." The EEOC was careful to state that the guidance does not create a new class of protected employees. "This document is not intended to create a new protected category but rather to illustrate circumstances in which stereotyping or other forms of disparate treatment may violate Title VII or the prohibition under the ADA against discrimination based on a worker's association with an individual with a disability," the guidance states.

Commissioner Stuart J. Ishimaru said, "This guidance recognizes the connection between parenthood, especially motherhood, and employment discrimination. An employer may violate Title VII when it takes actions or limits opportunities for employees because of beliefs that the employer has about mothers and caretakers that are linked to sex."

The EEOC issued the guidance along with a companion question and answer fact sheet on May 23, 2007, the same day it held a meeting focusing on work/family balance. The guidance presents a wide range of circumstances that could implicate disparate treatment, including: sex-based stereotyping and subjective decision-making regarding working mothers; assumptions about pregnant workers; discrimination against working fathers and women of color; stereotyping based on a worker's association with a person with a disability; and hostile work environments affecting caregivers.

The full text of Unlawful Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities is posted on the EEOC's website at: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/caregiving.html The companion question and answer fact sheet on the guidance is posted at: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_caregiving.html For more information on this and other topics, consult CCH Employment Practices Guide - http://onlinestore.cch.com/default.asp?ProductID=156 or CCH Labor Relations - http://onlinestore.cch.com/default.asp?ProductID=154

Visit our News Library to read more news stories - http://hr.cch.com/news/employment/library.asp

FVND/Share the Wealth Week of June 4th

RESOURCES

Evidence Base for Cultural and Linguistic Competency in Health Care-This Commonwealth Fund report reviews the evidence base for the impact of cultural and linguistic competence in health and mental health care on health outcomes and well-being.  The authors conducted a structured search of Medline from January 1995 to March 2006 to identify primary research articles on health outcomes and well-being. Please click on this link to view the report Evidence Base for Cultural and Linguistic Competency in Health Care

Need for and Use of Family Leave Among Parents of Children With Special Health Care Needs-This article the Need for and Use of Family Leave Among Parents of Children With Special Health Care Needs is in Pediatrics 2007; 119 e1047-e1055 and is written by Paul J. Chung, MD, MS , Craig F. Garfield, MD, MAPP, Marc N. Elliott, PhD Colleen Carey, BA Carl Eriksson, MD, MPH and Mark A. Schuster, MD, PhD. Parents of children with special health care needs are especially vulnerable to work–family conflicts that family leave benefits might help resolve. The researchers examined leave-taking among full-time-employed parents of children with special health care needs. This article is available at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/119/5/e1047

Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (UCEDD) Enhanced its Web Site-The Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (UCEDD) is pleased to announce that it has enhanced its web site.  Check out the following features: An "In My Own Words" page contains stories written by people with developmental disabilities from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and their families about their life experiences. The stories are available in both English and Spanish, and more will be posted soon. A "Health Articles" page that contains downloadable fact sheets. A Legislative Updates page. Many resources, publications and links.  Training materials on cultural and linguistic competence in developmental disabilities are under development and will soon be posted. To view their web site click on this link Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development UCEDD

The National High School Center has released a new set of resources focusing on how to support and guide a smooth transition into high school. "Ninth grade is a critical make-it-or-break-it year for many students and we wanted to highlight some of the best practices that are backed by research, as well as examples of what states and districts are doing now to ensure that entering high school students are well-supported," said Joseph R. Harris, Ph.D., Director of the National High School Center at the American Institutes for Research.  For more information go to http://www.mdrc.org/announcement_hp_129.html or http://www.betterhighschools.org/ 

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools is offering a 1.5 day training to provide schools and school districts with information and resources on emergency management. The Emergency Management for Schools training is primarily designed to provide an opportunity for school personnel to receive critical training on emergency management issues, resources and practices. The trainings present an opportunity for school-based staff and administrators from Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) or nonpublic schools to acquire requisite knowledge to help develop effective, all-hazards emergency management plans.  For additional information on the Emergency Management for Schools training, go to: https://www.sei2003.com/ERCM/ERCM_PA_MO/index.htm 

Breaking the Silence on Crime Victims with Disabilities-Addressing the long-neglected needs of crime victims with disabilities is the focus of a new partnership announced today by the National Council on Disability, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, and the National Center for Victims of Crime. The ultimate goal of this partnership is to foster greater public awareness about crime victims with disabilities and to forge a national commitment to better serve this particularly vulnerable population. More information can be found at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/news/2007/crime_victims.htm

The National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative at ZERO TO THREE recently updated its State Child Care Map, which provides demographic information about children birth to three and their families, the child care system that serves them, and each state's use of Child Care Development Funds. It is available online at http://www.nccic.org/itcc/states/index.htm

A HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS AND PROVIDERS ABOUT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, AGES 0-5  Link: Busy Box - http://www.melodyaronscenter.org/busy_box_eng.html#parents  Our goal is to facilitate dialogue and understanding between the partners of the decision-making team: families, service providers, legislators, child care agencies, Head Start, Medicaid, and all others who may become involved. Each is a member of a unique team whose purpose is to provide free, appropriate, and individualized services to young children and their families.  May 18, 2007 in Early Intervention - http://pluk.mt.typepad.com/pluk_news_feed/early_intervention/index.html , Resources - http://pluk.mt.typepad.com/pluk_news_feed/resources/index.html | Permalink - http://pluk.mt.typepad.com/pluk_news_feed/2007/05/a_handbook_for.html

Quality Mall website:

New products have been published

"Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, and Congregations"
http://www.qualitymall.org/products/prod1.asp?prodid=3882

Institute for Community Inclusion National E-News 6/5/07

Two New Guides for the New Minimum Wage
On May 24 Congress passed a federal minimum wage rate increase, which will raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 in three stages over two years. This rise is the first for the national minimum wage in this decade, the last having occurred in 1997. Given that many individuals with significant disabilities earn wages at or near the minimum wage, they are likely to be impacted by these changes. While the increase provides a wonderful opportunity for many individuals, questions may arise.

Check Out the Two New Publications!

Until Next week

The Arc of the United States, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Ste. 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 3015653842, Fax: 301-565-3843, Email: mmwdc@info.thearc.org, Web: www.thearc.org