Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC)

The following article was in the Tucson Daily Star’s on-line paper this morning.  I have no additional information or status of proceedings, so if any readers do, please add to the comments below.
Opinion: Parents deserve choice on schooling for disabled

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Another parent on Twitter pointed me in the direction of a new drawing tool on Google:
Children with Autism Architect Their Ideas Using 3D Design Software
Project Spectrum was developed by the SketchUp Team at Google to help people with autism take advantage of their visual and spatial gifts.
The idea for Project Spectrum originated when we began getting phone [...]

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An Update from our Summer Program Expo:
Lions Camp Tatiyee would like parents to know that they do take some children with autism, and in the future they plan to expand.  For more information contact the Executive Director of Camp Tatiyee, Pam Swanson, 480-380-4254.
 

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I’ve been asking around about Second Life as a possibility of being a training tool for my son, and have discovered that there is a Second Life for Teens, which may be a possibility.
This morning, I found an article on msnbc.com that shows that other therapist and teachers are already exploring the use of virtual worlds for [...]

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Forwarded from Lisa Meyerson Marshall, SEPACs VP - Strategic Relationships:

The ASA-Greater Phoenix Chapter’s Annual Conference will be May 3-4, 2008 in Phoenix.  This year’s conference will feature Jenny McCarthy, Kathleen Ann Quill and many others…
The conference brochure is available for download from our website (http://www.phxautism.org/conferences.html) and online registration is coming soon!

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Definitely worth reading - Opinion by high school freshman with Aspergers
IN MY OPINION: Knowing autism is knowing me
By: Amanda Phillips

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Summer recreation program registration starts next week, and programs do fill up fast. If your child needs additional support from Adapted Recreation Services, be sure to contact Deanna Zuppan as soon as you’ve decided on the programs you’d like your child to attend. She will need this information to staff appropriately.  Deanna’s phone number is [...]

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From the Scottsdale Unified School District’s Special Education web site - April is Autism Awareness Month:
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) include:

Autism
Asperger’s Syndrome
Pervasive Developmental Disorders/Not Otherwise Specified (PDD/NOS).

Did you know that today 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with an ASD?
A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes resulting in 67 children being diagnosed per day.
There [...]

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Please join us for our final meeting of the school year:
How to help your child prepare for transition from:

Pre-School to Elementary

Elementary to Middle to High School

High School and Beyond

Transition Introduction

Lois Healey, Director of Special Education, SUSD

Transition Workshop Leaders

Jan Brusca, SUSD

Jill Castle, Parent Information Network

Judy Merrill, SUSD

Jill Pearns, Raising Special Kids

Barb Rechlin, SUSD

Kim Yamamoto, Raising Special [...]

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Arizona TASH Presents:
Everyone Belongs Together!
The 4th Annual Arizona Inclusive Schools Conference
National speakers include:

Carol Tashie will present on the importance of meaningful friendships.
Deborah Chen will present on inclusive practices for preschools.
Elizabeth Kozleski will present on supporting systems change for administrators in inclusive schools.
Kathie Snow will present a full-day strand on family partnerships for inclusive schools.
Lou Brown [...]

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