Sunday, April 29, 2012

Kirk Martin at Ill. home-school convention, plus

Kirk Martin and his son, Casey Martin, will present two free parent workshops in the Chicago area, while they are here to participate in the 2012 Illinois Homeschool Convention.

Their workshops will be

Wednesday, May 9     6:30pm - 8:30pm  
Sayre Language Academy, 1850 North Newland Ave., Chicago, IL 60707

Thursday, May 10      7:00pm - 9:00pm
Jefferson Middle School, 1151 Plum St., Aurora, IL 60506  
(Kirk will focus on Defiance, Yelling & Motivating Strong-Willed Tots, Tweens & Teens) 

See the flyer for these workshops at http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101440021553-298/Flyer-IL+May+9-10+Multi+Dates.pdf

and more information at www.celebratecalm.com

For information about the Convention, go to http://www.chicagohomeschoolexpo.com/home/2012-workshops

Convention dates are Thursday and Friday, May 10-11, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, Ill. Advance registration has closed, but you can register at the door.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The story of Stuart Chaifetz is all over the internet. Stuart wired up his son, Akian, who has autism, and sent him to school. The recording proved that Akian was being verbally abused by his special ed teacher and the teacher's aide.

The aide was fired; the teacher was re-assigned, not fired.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/23/stuart-chaifetz-father-wire-son-records-teacher-abuse_n_1447330.html?ref=mostpopular

We entrust our children to schools and staff for important hours every day.

I have witnessed verbal abuse of a child in Special Ed. My stepson experienced it in Woodstock District 200. He took a tape recorder to school in eighth grade and promptly got in trouble for it. It was a worse "crime" to take a tape recorder to school than it was for the bullying to occur.

Then, a year later and in summer school after a change in placement, he didn't want to go to school because of bullying. After he missed the bus one day, he agreed to go to school, if I would drive him there. So I left Woodstock, drove to Wonder Lake to pick him up and drove him to the therapeutic day school on the north side of Elgin, near I-90 and Illinois Route 31.

He wanted to take a tape recorder to school and record the bullying. Now, this is from a 9th Grade student. Pretty savvy, right?

To get him out of the house and into the car, I agreed to his taking a tape-recorder. On the 40-minute drive to school, we discussed what was happening at school, and I suggested that there might be a school rule about tape-recording. When I suggested that we ought to talk with the principal upon arrival about the use of a tape-recorder, he agreed that this would be a good idea.

When we arrived, we asked to meet with the principal, and the special ed director and she came to the school entrance. I explained about the tape-recorder and the rule I suspected was in place. Instead of listening and complimenting my stepson on coming to school and asking for permission, they went ballistic. Right in front of me.

I let him stand up for himself and he did a good job of remaining polite. Finally, they went "over the top" and I intervened and called a halt to their bullying. Even so, I hated to think what was likely to occur after I left.

No wonder he didn't want to go to school.

How do we protect our kids from bullying by teachers and staff?

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Autism Fair - this Friday, April 20

Like to know more about autism? Interested in finding new or additional resources? Want to meet other parents who have (or need) information to support living with those affected by autism?

There will be a fair this Friday evening, April 20, from 5:30-7:30PM at Spectrum Support, located at 1575 W. Lake Shore Dr., Woodstock. Spectrum Support is located just east of Woodstock on U.S. 14 across from Culver's Restaurant. Turn north at the traffic light and then take the first left. Then it's the first building on the right. Got that?

Spectrum Support is teaming up with Options & Advocacy and Crystal Lake District 155 for Friday's event. Approximately 30 organizations and vendors will be represented, so you can get  most or all of your questions answered.

And it's free.

For information about Spectrum Support, visit www.spectrumsupportllc.com/