Dr. Marie Lewis, CEO of the National Special Education Advocacy Institute, provides essential information for parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals working with families of children and adults with special needs. This institute is open to the public on Wednesdays in Newtown Square, PA. In addition, I will provide you with a series of information from NSEAI for review and application. More insight on NSEAI can be found at www.nseai.org. RELATED SERVICES 300.34 (a) General. Related services mean transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education, and include:  speech-language pathology  audio services  interpreting services  psychological services  physical and occupational service  recreation, including therapeutic recreation  early identification and assessment of disabilities in children  counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling  orientation and mobility service  medical series for diagnostic or evaluation purposes Lewis, Marie, RN, Ph.D. NSEAI Evaluations II- Related Services, © 2016 p4

ZOOM Sessions: The Alternative Classroom As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adults, especially those who have special needs, experienced a major change in their daily routine. For the past several months, getting ready for school or for adult programs did not required leaving home. Instead students are receiving scheduled classroom sessions utilizing Zoom or another video communication tool by computer. There is no contact with peers, no face coverings or other COVID-19 health and safety adjustments required. Zoom like technology allows the viewing of the teachers and classmates on the screen while enabling interactive participation. This, in effect, becomes the student’s safe zone. Although parents and caregivers contemplate the eventual public regathering of their children or adults with special needs, there now exists a viable and hopefully temporary alternative. This “new normal” as its been described by some, offers continued emotional stability compared to the many adjustments that will be thrusted upon children or adults when they physically re-enter their school or work program facilities. If remaining at home is not an option, then parents and caregivers want to give serious thought to the support within the school or vocational programs that may be needed to help their loved ones adjust to the new practices. Paradigm Shift consultants are available to assist you in processing this information relative to your specific circumstances. Simply send an email or call to chat. You can find us at: https://www.paradigmshiftllc.com/services/

 

Safe to Ride? : Covid-19 Concerns

 

Transporting our children and adults with special needs is a major issue to address with regards to the covid-19 pandemic. If schools and work programs open up in the fall, many children and adults depend on public and community transportation companies to carry them to their designated places. Before the pandemic, there was probably little thought given to how these individuals entered a vehicle, took their seat (that was sometimes quite close to another passenger) and were carried off to their destinations. What will this transporting process look like now? Have parents and caregivers been notified by their school districts or the transportation company about the precautions for health and safety that are being planned? Before the fall reopening date, parents hopefully will have information addressing new policies and procedures for transporting their loved ones. These policies and procedures should answer such questions as:

   ·        How are drivers protecting themselves and their passengers?

   ·        What health and safety measures facilitating social distancing for passengers have been established?

·        Will there be available hand sanitizers and tissues with a location to dispose of them?

·        Will face coverings be required? If so, how will exceptions for children and or adults with special needs who have low tolerance to face coverings or other health challenges be serviced?

·        Will there be a bus monitor to assist with the health and safety processes implemented to ensure they are carried out?

There may be more questions to consider as you dialogue with representatives from your school district and community transportation companies. Paradigm Shift consultants are prepared to assist you as you explore these critical items regarding the health and safety of your loved ones. Just drop us an email or call to chat at: https://www.paradigmshiftllc.com/services/