November 2007

Laura Holgate provided this update for upcoming meetings and support groups that will assist parents of children in Special Education, some of whom are gifted.

Events:

CHADD meetings at Scottsdale Horizon Park Community Center, 15444 N. 100th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Upcoming meeting on Tuesday December 11th. chaddvos@schwartzplace.com,  dana@ottaz.com,  www.chadd.org

Asperger Parent Network Monthly meetings on the third Thursday of every month except July and December. Contact Carolyn Warden at 480.759.6329 or visit website http://apn.150m.com.

SEPACS meeting: Special Education Update in the Scottsdale Unified School District. Wednesday, November 28th- 6:30- 8:30pm Mohave District Annex 8505 E. Valley View Rd. Scottsdale. Speakers include: SUSD superintendent Dr. Baracy, Lois Healey special ed administrator, etc. www.sepacs.org

Institute for Multi-sensory Education. February 25-29, 2008– – A training program developed to provide educators with the knowledge necessary to teach reading based on reliable research. It is a multi-sensory approach to reading, writing, and spelling. Imse@orton-Gillingham.com  or www.orton-gillingham.com

Class schedule at Melmed Center: Social Skills classes, handwriting classes, ADHD ask the experts (Meet with professionals who are experts in their fields, in a relaxed, comfortable setting to hear about strategies that work with children who have attention and learning challenges). Melmed Center $$$:

An overview of the IEP process and 504 plans (for parents and professionals). Thursday Nov. 29, 1:30-3:30pm  Also on Tue., Dec. 11, 1:30-3:30pm www.raisingspecialkids.org

Dad’s Network For men, by men. For fathers, grandfathers, uncles of children with special needs. Shiloh Community Church Activity Center 19021 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ. Call Ray Morris 602-569-7011

From the 2e group chair, Laura Holgate:

We are a parent group that meets on a regular basis (approximately every month at the Scottsdale Mustang Library) to discuss the challenges we face as parents of gifted children with learning differences such as ADHD, emotional disabilities, Asperger’s, Autism, Dyslexia, and other learning disabilities.  We provide support and information through seminars and workshops related to IEPs, 504s, how to advocate for your child, psycho-educational evaluations, and other topics.  We keep you up to date on seminars, workshops, and other resources in the Phoenix Metropolitan area via our email list serve.  Even if you are not certain and/or you don’t have a diagnosis for your child, this is an excellent place to come explore how you can best meet the needs of your child.  It can be a very confusing and overwhelming time when you first start discovering that your child has these challenges.  It is helpful to talk to other parents who have been through or are going through similar struggles.  In addition, if you are unable to make our meetings, our email “family” is a wonderful way to ask questions of others who are having similar challenges.

2E or Twice-exceptional children are intellectually gifted children with special needs such as AD/HD, learning disabilities, Asperger’s Syndrome, sensory integration disorder, etc.  Many people don’t even realize that a child can be both gifted and learning disabled.  These children have a hard time in our education system – because their giftedness can mask their special needs and their special needs hide their giftedness.  They are often labeled as “lazy”, “unmotivated”, “not trying”.  The problem for twice-exceptional children is that they learn an even more damaging lesson — that if they cannot do a task right away, they won’t be able to do it at all.  Everything in school is either too difficult or too easy — nothing is “just right.”  This is exacerbated by the frequently occurring problem of under-identification; that is, because highly gifted children are so good at compensating for their special needs their problems often go undetected until they finally “hit the wall.”  By this time, a great deal of emotional and academic damage may have been done.  Many eminent individuals throughout history have shown evidence of a learning disability in conjunction with giftedness.  Albert Einstein was four years old before he was able to talk and seven before he could read.  Thomas Edison was told by his teachers that he was stupid and Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade.

Websites:

http://www.twicegifted.net/index.htm

http://www.uniquelygifted.org/

http://www.gt-cybersource.org/Record.aspx?NavID=2_0&rid=11330

At the next 2E support group meeting, Denise Cooke, school psychologist, will explain how to interpret the results of psycho-educational tests.  

When:     Saturday November 10, 2007 from 10am-12pm

Where:    Mustang Library, Book Discussion Room,  10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, Az 85258

Phone: 480-312-6061

Cost:     No Charge

You are encouraged to bring your child’s psycho educational test results so your specific questions can be answered.  Questions? or for additional information please contact me.

Hope to see you there.

Twice Exceptional (2e) Parent Group twoeparents@yahoo.com

Laura Holgate, Chair
Affiliated with Scottsdale Supporters of the Gifted (SSG)
http://azgifted.org/ and SEPACS http://sepacs.org/

Election results from the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office:

SCOTTSDALE UNIFIED QUESTION 1
100% (29 of 29) precincts reporting
% VOTES
BUDGET INCREASE, YES – 62.81%
BUDGET INCREASE, NO – 37.19%

SCOTTSDALE UNIFIED QUESTION 2
100% (29 of 29) precincts reporting
% VOTES
BUDGET INCREASE, YES – 60.98%
BUDGET INCREASE, NO – 39.02%

Please vote or drop off your early ballot so that your voice can be heard.

Vote Yes! for Teachers.

Vote Yes! for Textbooks.

Vote Yes! for Technology.

To find your polling place, visit www.recorder.maricopa.gov  or call 602-506-1511.

Autism/Asperger’s Conference
All Ages and Abilities
Nov. 16-17, 2007 at ASU-West

For Parents, Teachers, SLPs, Other Professionals and Individuals
on the Spectrum. CEU’s for Speech-Language Pathologists and
Audiologists and Certificates of Attendance available

Featuring top national speakers:
Keynote: Cathy Pratt, Ph.D.
Keynote: Rick Clemens, M.A

Please See the November Conference Page for more information on Speakers and Conference agenda.

The Special Olympics Athlete Oath is:

“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

As many of you know, Scottsdale parent Sidney Fox, is on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ).  She has been instrumental in bringing Special Olympics to the younger age groups to Scottsdale.  Working in conjunction with Lois Healey in the Scottsdale school district, Deanna Zuppan in the City of Scottsdale’s Adapted Recreation program, and other officials, a swimming team for participants 8 and older trained and competed this fall.  More programs are planned.

This past Thursday, I attended the First Annual Special Olympics Breakfast with Champions at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort in Scottsdale.  Part fundraiser, part motivation, and definitely a celebration of the Special Olympic athletes, especially those who just returned from competing in the Bejing World Games.

Turnout for the event was excellent, and the expansive dining hall was packed.  Our table included Dr. John Baracy, Lois Healey, and a number of Scottdale parents. Hundreds more were in attendance, including Sheriff Joe, local legislators, the Thunderbirds, and business people from all over the valley.

The event was MC’d by Daron Sutton, voice of the Arizona Diamondbacks who has a great voice, commanding presence, and plenty of funny stories about his sports and journalism career.  Followed by NFL referee Jim Tunney, inspired us with his history, as an educator,  referee, writer, and as a Special Olympic volunteer of almost 30 years.    The title of his latest book, “It’s the Will, Not the Skill” was a perfect match for the morning.  Closing out the morning program, “The Positive Side of Sports” host Roy Garibaldi, interviewed families, athletes, and service providers, while drawing the audience into the vision of athletes, volunteers, and community support. 

Some of the facts about Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) include:

• More than 9,100 athletes
• 24 sports
• Over 170 competitions help annually
• SOAZ pays for all training and competition costs
• 50% of Special Olympic athletes are employed where as only 10% of intellectually disabled who do not participate are employed
• Special Olympics Arizona is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization solely supported by donations
• 76% of every dollar goes to programs for the Special Olympics Arizona athletes

From the SOAZ web site:

Special Olympics Arizona reaches for the highest ideals of sportsmanship. A definition of sportsmanship is character demonstrated through observation of the rules of fair play, respect for others, and graciousness. The Special Olympics Athlete Oath is: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” Each Special Olympics Athlete recites these words before each competition. The oath is a pledge, or promise, to try to achieve the highest level of good sportsmanship at trainings and competitions.

As Special Olympics programs are added, we’ll post information so that your child will have a chance to participate in this great program.

“Special Education Update in the Scottsdale Unified School District”

Please join us for our next meeting on November 28th.

Guest speakers include:

Dr. John Baracy
SUSD Superintendent

Lois Healey
Special Education Services Administrator

Jan Brusca
Pre School and Elementary Self-Contained Coordinator

Dr. Barbara McLoone
Elementary Resource Coordinator

Calli Greenbaum
Middle School and High School Coordinator

Wednesday, November 28th
6:30-8:30 pm

Mohave District Annex
Kachina Room
8505 E. Valley View Road, Scottsdale

All are welcome. Free.

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