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OFFICE OF HANDICAPPED CONCERNS
WILL'S CORNER, OKLAHOMA
(Serving the Disability Community of Oklahoma)
Volume 7, Issue 4
October, 2006
Tech-Now — A Program for Schools
Tech-Now is an after school, during school, and summer program
funded by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability
Employment Policy, the Oklahoma State Department of Education
and the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. The
program focuses on giving students with disabilities (and
increasingly students without disabilities also) the opportunity
to access cutting edge technology and encouraging them to
explore potential educational and employment opportunities.
Tech-Now began as an after-school program in 1999 for kids who
were in Special Education to help them use modern technology to
become aware of career fields and to plan for their future in
how they would make a living. It has become so successful that
some schools have decided they wanted to teach this in their
regular curriculum.
Not only did they want to expand the times this curriculum was
offered, but schools have decided that planning for one’s future
is good not only for students in Special Education but for
everybody. Maybe that’s part of what schools should do. So how
does Tech-Now go about challenging students to prepare for their
future?
The program begins with an interest inventory which when
completed targets a cluster of careers which a student may be
interested in. For instance, the careers of minister, teacher,
and social worker might be together in a career cluster. If a
student feels the career cluster which appeared to agree with
their interest does not accurately reflect their interest, the
student is free to choose another career cluster.
With a specific career in mind, the student creates a career
poster researching information for that poster which might
include education and preparation necessary, how much such a
career pays, and other valuable details. In the process of
gathering information for the career poster, the student will
gain valuable knowledge about what his or her chosen career is
really all about.
Next the student will prepare a radio announcement for their
career of choice using some important computer programs such as
desktop publisher, audio engineering, and multi-media
production. Kids are interested in technology and readily use
this technology in preparing for their future.
Using computer graphics, animations, and audio/video technology,
students are challenged to prepare a video/movie book about
their career of choice. All of these student projects serve to
familiarize the student with a job which they may be interested
in when they get out of school.
But there is more than this. Tech-Now challenges its students to
get together in groups and form a mock company. This company is
going to produce an automobile—actually a paper automobile
weighing less than two ounces—but it is the product that counts.
The company has to decide who is going to be in management, who
is going to be on the production line, and who is going to
design this automobile. Students have to decide how much they
are going to pay their staff and what they will charge for the
automobile they are creating.
All of a sudden it becomes real to the students that if for
instance you pay your workers $25 per hour to assemble tacos
that your tacos are going to sell for so much that nobody will
buy them. Students see that it is wise to come to agreement
about their product and learn skills in good communication.
Academic skills that students learn in school begin to show
practical application in the adult world.
Tech-Now projects to be in almost three dozen schools in
Oklahoma in this school year. These schools and their students
compete for awards in an annual awards ceremony held in the Blue
Room of the Oklahoma State Capitol each April. Scholarships,
cash, and donated products are incentives for students to excel.
Talk to Rick DeRennaux who is the person who brought Tech-Now to
Oklahoma way back in 1999. His energy and enthusiasm will
inspire you, I promise, as he shares his vision of what this
program can do for young people in Oklahoma. Programs in each
state are structured differently, but thanks to Rick our program
is the second largest in the nation.
Rick DeRennaux began as the sole employee of Tech-Now, and he
now has three part-time staff with almost 100 contracted
teachers and teacher aids who actually teach the program in
schools all over the state. One positive outgrowth of Tech-Now
which nobody anticipated is its widespread appeal.
It began as an after-school program for Special Education
students in a handful of schools, but schools began to notice
that the program would benefit students without disabilities as
well. Rick shares that in many schools the Tech-Now program has
about 20% students without disabilities, and this percentage
stands to increase.
The truly strange thing is that in many cases it is the special
education students who are the mentors to students without
disabilities on the technical computer programs such as desktop
publishing and audio engineering. Since the program began in
Special Education, it is these veterans who have mastered the
skills which the kids without disabilities are eagerly wanting
to learn. What a role reversal. Integration of kids with
disabilities and those without comes so naturally.
Schools have found that the program is beneficial to them,
especially after the State Department of Education began
requiring two credits in a technology subject required to
graduate. Schools have begun to teach Tech-Now in the classroom
during school hours as it satisfies this state requirement.
Tech-Now is a win/win program for school systems, teachers, and
students alike. The technical aspect holds a special attraction
for kids and provides a seemingly effortless means to the
wonderful end of preparing for their future.
If you are interested in learning more about Tech-Now, email
tech-now@hotmail.com. You may also call 405-640-7606. Tech-Now’s
fax number is 405-912-7978. Check it out and see what you think.
Rick reminds us, “I want to help bring the 21st century into
today’s classrooms.”
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Tech-Now is a win/win program for school systems, teachers, and
students alike.
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OHC web site:
www.ohc.state.ok.us
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Special Education and You
I had heard the State Department of Education, Special Education
Department no longer processed Due Process complaints within the
department. The complaint procedure—at least in the area of
filing Due Process—has been taken out of the State Department of
Education and placed in the Special Education Resolution Center
in Tulsa. This happened in December of 2005, and I have been
meaning to interview Jo Anne Pool about how to grieve an issue
in special education when a parent and a school system do not
agree about what would be best for a child. I went to a
conference in Oklahoma City in September, and guess who was one
of the major speakers? You guessed it—Jo Anne Pool. The
following information was taken from her presentation at the PTI
Conference in Oklahoma City on September 19.
There are four ways to make a complaint about the special
education which your child receives. You may contact the LEA
(Local Education Authority). You may contact the SEA (State
Education Authority). You may seek Mediation through one of the
Early Settlement Centers in the state. Finally, you may seek Due
Process to formally resolve an issue. These ways to grieve an
issue are not mutually exclusive—that is, just because you do
one of them, you are not excluded from using the other methods.
Mediation may always be used at any stage of resolving your
issue. Due Process is generally the final stage of appeal in
resolving your concern.
Your Local Education Authority is generally your first avenue
when you have an issue with special education in your school.
You will have an opportunity to voice your concerns at your
child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan). You may contact the
principal at the school where your child attends. You may also
contact the School Board of the school district in which you
reside. To address the School Board at a regularly-scheduled
meeting, you must call in advance and request to get on the
agenda of the board meeting. If you are not on the agenda, you
will not be allowed to speak.
To address the State Education Authority, you must file a
formal, written complaint with the Oklahoma State Department of
Education, Special Education Department. They have several
compliance coordinators who may talk with you about the process.
Call 405-521-4871 to speak to one of the compliance
coordinators. As a rule of thumb, your complaint should not be
over a year old.
In your written complaint to the SEA, you should include your
child’s name, date of birth, and current educational placement.
You should also cite how the Local Education Authority has
violated one of the requirements of federal law. The federal law
governing the delivery of special education services in the
United States is the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act) which was most recently reauthorized in 2004. The
State Department of Education will send you its written decision
regarding your complaint within 60 calendar days of the receipt
of complaint in most circumstances.
If you are interested in resolution of your concern through
Mediation, contact the Early Settlement Center to ask that a
mediation session be arranged. In central Oklahoma, call
*405-521-6677 or 877-521-6677 statewide. Who are mediators?
Mediators are community volunteers trained in mediation and
basic special education issues. They are certified by the
Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts and screened
to ensure neutrality.
Mediation is scheduled at a convenient time for all parties. It
is fair and impartial. It is voluntary. (Both the school and the
advocate must agree to Mediation.) It is confidential. More
importantly, Mediation is legally binding on all parties in its
decision.
There were roughly 94,000 IEP’s (Individualized Education Plans)
operating in the State of Oklahoma to serve the needs of
children with disabilities in 2005. Of those 94,000 IEP’s, 30
Due Process proceedings were filed in that same year. Due
Process is a procedure which usually only occurs after other
efforts have been made to resolve an issue.
A Due Process may be filed in writing using either a form or a
letter in which you include your child’s name, address, school,
a description of the facts and your idea of how the issue could
be resolved satisfactorily. Your request will be assigned to a
hearing officer. The hearing date will be set tentatively within
42 days. A resolution period begins to allow time for the
parties to attempt resolution of their issues themselves.
During the resolution period of a Due Process, the parties may
come to an agreement. If the parties do come to an agreement,
they must put this agreement in writing and sign it. At this
point their agreement becomes legally binding, enforceable in
state or federal district court.
A hearing occurs after a resolution period if no agreement is
reached. The hearing officer is expected to be fair and
impartial. The hearing will produce a decision within 45 days
unless one of the parties has requested an extension. The
hearing decision is final unless an appeal is requested within
30 days of the decision. If an appeal is requested, an appeal
officer will examine the entire hearing record, seek additional
evidence and give the parties the opportunity for oral or
written argument.
Any party in the Due Process procedure has the right to bring a
civil action if they disagree with the decision of the appeal
officer. This action must be brought within 90 days from the
date of the decision of the appeal officer. The court will base
its decision on the preponderance of the evidence and grant
relief it determines appropriate.
The complaint to the LEA, the complaint to the SEA, Mediation
and Due Process are the four avenues open to grieve an issue in
special education in Oklahoma. Parents must follow procedure in
each of these methods. Failure to follow procedure will result
in dismissal of the grievance before it has the chance to be
heard. Schools may file Due Process against a parent although in
most situations it is the other way around. If you have a
concern about the special education of your child, you may
contact Jo Anne Pool at the Special Education Resolution Center
in Tulsa. Their local number is 918-712-9632 or 800-267-0028
statewide. The website of the Special Education Resolution
Center is Http://serc.okstate.edu. Jo Anne Pool will provide you
information on the procedure you must follow to grieve your
issue. She will not provide legal advice on your concern.
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*Alternative Dispute Resolution - Early Settlement Mediation
www.oscn.net/static/adr/
*Corrected phone number and added web site after printed
mailing.
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WAR AND PEACE
Many young Americans are serving their country in Iraq and
Afghanistan. As in all wars, some of those men and women are
returning to their homes with mental and physical disabilities.
Will’s Corner, Oklahoma visited the Veterans Administration
Hospital in Oklahoma City to get some information on returning
veterans who may have acquired a disability.
There are similarities with Operation Iraqi Freedom and
Operation Enduring Freedom as the war in Iraq and Afghanistan
are called and all wars in which we have been involved. There
are also differences.
The current war places people in situations of great stress
where they must be on guard at all times. Soldiers are required
to make life and death decisions instantly, and a wrong decision
has immediate results.
This war is different than some wars in that there are no front
lines. Soldiers have no truly safe place to be. Some civilians
are friends and some are not, and it is difficult to know the
difference.
In this war we have administered the latest in medical care
promptly where many of our wounded are saved who would not have
lived with their injuries in previous conflicts. We have new
technology in body armor and helmets which is bringing greater
protection to our armed forces.
Our VA Hospital in Oklahoma City and VA hospitals across the
country are preparing to serve returning veterans whatever their
needs may be. Support groups began in July, 2005 at the VA
Hospital in Oklahoma City for both returning veterans and their
families.
Some of the skills that soldiers need to fight a war have to be
unlearned when they return to their families and their jobs. To
survive, military personnel must learn quickly not to trust in a
war zone. It’s better to assume that everyone is the enemy until
proven otherwise. At home, mistrust and suspiciousness severely
damage most important relationships, including marriage.
One third of returning veterans are taking advantage of programs
to help them make the adjustment to civilian life, and they are
doing it sooner than in previous wars. This is good.
While soldiers are still on active duty, they are served through
military hospitals both in this country and abroad. The new
Balad Hospital has recently opened in Baghdad, and small local
military hospitals are available to meet immediate medical
needs.
The Veterans Administrations has set up several polytrauma
centers across the nation to serve returning veterans who may
have experienced multiple injuries. The polytrauma center
serving Oklahoma is the VA Hospital in Houston.
The VA in Oklahoma City is preparing to serve returning veterans
who have experienced a traumatic brain injury or who have lost a
limb in the line of duty. In previous wars, many of these people
would not have survived.
We are prepared to provide these returning men and women with
the latest technology in artificial limbs to assist them to live
fuller, more-productive lives. Artificial limbs have computers
which are activated through nerve impulses and simulate real
arms and legs in what they can do.
Returning veterans may actually miss the excitement of
deployment for awhile. Spouses of returning veterans may feel
the service member has changed. Small children of returning vets
may have no memory or little memory of their dad or mom.
A tip sheet for returning veterans suggests they take time to
listen and talk with loved ones. It takes time to re-adjust to
family and friends. Civilian life is different, and the rules
necessary in wartime are no longer necessary.
Spouses of returning vets are encouraged to not schedule too
many activities which may overwhelm the adjustment the returning
veteran is making. Families have assumed the responsibilities of
their deployed members, and the returning husband or wife needs
to be reassured they are still needed. Children of returning
vets may be encouraged to talk about what happened during the
time mom or dad was away.
If a person returning from Iraq or Afghanistan or their family
members would benefit from support or information, contact Dr.
Ursula Bowling or Dr. Dutch Doerman at 405-270-5183 at the VA
Hospital in Oklahoma City. We support our troops who have risked
their lives in service of their country.
Information for this article comes from an interview with Dr.
Ursula Bowling, Dr. Dutch Doerman, and Dr. William Leber who are
professionals working at the Veterans Administration Hospital in
Oklahoma City.
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Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:
An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment
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Your Personal Health Record (PHR) Making It Work for You
(Edited text for this article was taken from Deresa
Claybrook, MS)
We all hate to hear those dreaded words after an examination by
our physician. We hate to hear that our physician recommends
that we go over to the hospital for surgery or a test. Those
words can be some of the scariest, most frightening words heard
in an examination room. The words themselves just send thoughts
of fear into a frenzy and confusion clouds our minds when we
really should be asking important questions about our upcoming
surgery or test. For most people, it is usually in the car on
the way home that we think about all the questions that we
should have asked.
You might be wondering is there anything that we, the health
care consumer with a disability can do to be better prepared for
an office visit that leads to the hospital front steps. The
answer is yes, there are several things that we all can do to
prepare. First bring a friend or family member along for an
extra set of eyes and ears to ask those questions that you might
otherwise forget.
The second thing that needs to be done is to prepare a personal
health record. You might ask, what is a personal health record?
A personal health record is a collection of important
information about your health or the health of someone you’re
caring for.
You can start out purchasing a three-ring binder to compile your
health information from your different physician offices.
Request your medical records from all physicians you have used
and place this information in your binder. Add new information
to your personal health record after each doctor’s visit. Why is
your complete personal health record so important?
The more complete and accurate your health information, the
better tool you have to help you play an active role in your own
quality of health care. Having information like an updated
medication list in your possession can prevent the risk of a
drug reaction when this information is shared with your
physician.
If a physician can visit with you about your past health care
experiences prior to surgery or testing, your physician can
assure that they will not duplicate the same test you had
recently at another doctor’s office. That can save you time and
money.
The next question is, “What should a personal health record
contain?” A personal health record should include several
things, and below is a list with some of the items that you
might want to consider.
•Personal identification that includes name, birth date and
social security number
•Person to contact in case of emergency
•Names, addresses, and phone numbers of your physicians,
dentist, and other specialist
•Health insurance information
•Living wills and advance directives
•Organ donor authorizations
•Current medications and dosages
•A recent physical examination
This is just a partial list. Put in your personal health record
whatever is pertinent to you and your health care.
If your physician does recommend surgery or special testing for
you, what kind of information do you need to add to your
personal health record? Here are a few things to consider.
•What do you need to do prior to the surgery or test?
•Can you eat or drink anything prior to surgery/test?
•What time do you need to arrive at the hospital/facility?
•Do you need to bring someone to drive you home?
•What paperwork do you need to complete before arrival?
•How long with the surgery/test last?
•Will you be able to visit with the doctor before the surgery?
•Do you need to bring current medications?
•What is the recovery process?
•When can you resume normal activities?
I had a personal experience on that next to the last bullet
concerning the recovery process. I had a procedure which
required complete anesthesia in an operating room about three
years ago. I had a driver to take me home and was feeling very
good that everything went well. Nobody told me to watch what I
ate for several days, especially spicy foods after anesthesia.
Thursday night is pizza night at my house, and early Friday
morning was almost emergency room morning. Ask about your
recovery process. Get information on all the above bullets, and
put that in your personal health record where you can access it
easily. It will come in very handy.
If you have questions about a personal health history, ask your
doctor. You may want to ask if your doctor feels this
information gathering would be useful for you to do and what
they think would be good information to have in your history.
Nowadays we may have a general practitioner who we use in
routine medical situations and one or two specialists. We may
have a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, and/or a
speech therapist. None of these medical personnel may be aware
of what the others are doing to better your health.
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...an updated medication list...can prevent the risk of a drug
reaction when this information is shared with your physician.
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Something to think about…
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 20, 2006 Frontier City and Make Promises Happen camps
have teamed up for this 16th annual Halloween celebration in
Oklahoma City. Call 800-299-2811 or 405-282-2811 in Oklahoma
City for more information.
October 25, 2006 National Respite and Caregiving Conference in
Omaha, Nebraska. For more information call 405-996-8444 or email
respitecenter@yahoo.com.
November 11, 12, 2006 Statewide conference for People First at
the Doubletree Warren Place Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For more
information, contact Elma Rodd at 405-275-3624.
December 5, 6, 2006 Oklahoma Turning Point will host their 9th
annual Conference at the Clarion Meridian Conference Center in
Oklahoma City. You may register online at www.okturningpoint.org/tp2006.
If you have an event coming up relating to disability, let us
know at 800-522-8224 and we’ll help you publicize.
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State of Oklahoma
www.ok.gov
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