Below are links to information relevant to my law practice involving children.

See Education page for issues directly related to education.

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Academy of Special Needs Planners Featured on CBS TV News - November 27, 2008
ASNP Co-founder Harry S. Margolis appears in a segment titled "Families with Special Needs Kids Seek Advice" on CBS Boston's affiliate News Channel WBZ TV. Follow link above to see the video. Type in "Special Needs Families" in the search field. The story originally aired on the November 27th nightly news program. Click here to read the text version "Special Needs Planners Help Families Get Care".

Better Mental Health for Kids (Boston.com - Oct. 1, 2007)
Children with serious mental illnesses have been waiting for years for the state to honor its responsibilities to them under federal law.

Bush Veto of Children's Health Bill Sets Stage for Political Confrontation (The Commonwealth Fund - Oct. 9, 2007)
President Bush vetoed legislation to expand a children's health insurance program, drawing immediate fire from congressional Democrats and setting up an override showdown that could be politically perilous for some Republicans.

Chance at Childhood
School Personnel Guide for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect.

Children with Autism
The Government Accountability Office conducted a study on educating children with autism and quotes information from the NRC study.

Community Resource Guide - 2007-2008 (The Guidance Center)

Creating a Path to Employment - (Office of Disability Employment Policy - 9/08)
Tips for parents with children with disabilities.

Diabetes and the Law (American Diabetes Assn.)
Real life examples of problems that children with diabetes have faced.

Diabetes Medical Management Plan for a Student with Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
The above links provides samples of both the Section 504 Plan and Diabetes Medical Management Plan which detail typical medical and academic needs of a child with diabetes at school. More info on Section 504 by Claudia Lowe.

Diagnostic Criteria for Attention Deficit Disorder
From David Rabiner, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist at Duke University.

Financially Preparing for Special-Needs Kids (Elder Law Attorney - 10/20/08)
A good, simple overview of planning for a child with disabilities.

Funding a Special Needs Trust: How Much is Enough? (Academy of Special Needs Planners - Sept. 2007)
As a parent or guardian, you want to ensure that your child with special needs will remain financially secure even when you are no longer there to provide support.

Girl, 10, Who Could Die From Shock Just by Watching a Scary Film (Daily Mail - Feb. 6, 2008)
Jennifer is one of just six known sufferers of polyglandular Addison's disease, which causes her to become ill whenever she is surprised or shocked.

Go to the Back of the Bus! (One Dad's Opinion Blog - Sept. 2007)
Regulations Proposed to Eliminate Federal Medicaid Reimbursement to Schools - an opinion from a dad raising an autistic child.

Impact of Early Intervention on Outcome After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (American Academy of Petiatrics)
A basic article on mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and early intervention.

Justice Department Settles Disability Rights Case With National Provider of Retirement Housing
Announcement of settlement agreement with the owners of Phoenix Village Apartments in Fort Smith, Arkansas. They had refused to rent apartments to families with children. The defendants will pay up to $165,000 to compensate the victims of discrimination and $20,000 in civil penalties to the United States. Note that Michigan is one of the states involved.

Planning Matters: How to Provide for Special-Needs Children (The Times Herald.com - 12/28/08)
You may have a special-needs child who is developmentally disabled or legally incapacitated. This child also may be on some form of governmental assistance, such as Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Income or Medicaid.

Planning with Special Needs Youth Upon Reaching Majority: Education and Other Powers of Attorney
An education power of attorney as an appropriate, but simple planning tool for an adult, mentally competent, disabled child.

QuickRamps for Kids (United Cerebral Palsy of Metropolitan Detroit)
This program provides portable wheelchair ramps to families of children with Cerebral Palsy and other paralysis-causing conditions. Click here for application.

Researcher Helps Develop Computer Game for Children Recovering From Malaria (MSU Today - 10/26/07)
The computer program Captain’s Log – originally used with individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, brain injuries or learning disabilities – is being adapted to rehabilitate Ugandan children who are survivors of cerebral malaria.

Some Gifts Take More Than They Give (Register-Herald - 12/19/08)
Donors could inadvertently be imposing a burden, particularly if the family receives any kind of special financial benefits such as Social Security or money provided by the Department of Health and Human Resources.

Special Needs Trusts Helps Provide for Disabled Children (STL Today )
Nearly all parents of disabled children have worried about the day they won't be around to help care for their sons or daughters, whether the children are 6 or 60.

Summer Camp '08 (Family Center on Technology and Disability)
I know nothing about this camp, so this in not an endorsement of any kind. If any of you have had good or bad experiences with this camp or others you would like to post, please feel free to do so. There are valuable resources at the back of the newsletter re: how to choose the best camp for your child.

The Next Attention Deficit Disorder? (Time.com - 11/29/07)
Info on Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

Thousands of Kids with Special Needs are Living in Nursing Homes (Wall Street Journal - 7/07)
While the Medicaid program guarantees long-term care for the disabled, many states have insufficient resources to pay for care at home. As a consequence, families with children who have severe disabilities are often forced to place their children in nursing homes primarily meant for the elderly in order for the children to get the care they need. An online subscription to the Wall Street Journal is required to read the full article.

Writing a Memorandum of Intent for a Special Needs Child (Donald D. Vanarelli Blog - 11/7/08)
How can you ensure that your special needs child will remain well cared for and secure once others assume the role of guardian or caregiver?

Arizona Foundation for Burns and Trauma
The Yuma Child Burn Survivor Campaign is part of this great organization. Read about their "Camp Courage" program and the opportunity to help sponsor this worthwhile event.

Camp Sancta Maria
Camp Sancta Maria offers young men ages 8 to 16, a summer full of fun, personal growth, and spiritual development.

Care House.Org (The home of the Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County)
A leading resource in the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and the protection of children through advocacy, education, intervention, research, and treatment, in collaboration with the community.

Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
Vital information on Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, resources at your fingertips, and a network of parents and experts who can help.

Children's Defense Fund
The voice for all the children of America.

Children's Issues

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
A national voice for special education rights and advocacy.

Detroit Institute for Children
Care for children with disabilities.

Guidelines: Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities

National Assn. of Counsel for Children
The practice of law for children is a relatively recent development.

National Center for Youth Law
Using the law to improve the lives of poor children.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
A central source of information on disabilities in youth, related laws and information.

QuickRamps for Kids
A program from United Cerebral Palsy of Metropolitan Detroit that provides free portable wheelchair ramps to families of children who experience Cerebral Palsy and other paralysis-causing conditions.

SCHIP and Medicaid Serve as Lifeline for Children with Chronic Conditions
A report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that uninsured children are three times more likely not to visit a doctor's office in the course of a year than are insured children.

School Behavior
Learn about a variety of conditions and get helpful tips for accommodations and strategies for students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety disorders, tics and Tourette's Syndrome, Depression, Bipolar Disorder and more.

Southern Poverty Law Center
School to Prison Reform Project to help at-risk children get special education services, avoid incarceration.

Special Needs Children Site (Bella Online)
Valuable articles and info.

Uniquely Gifted
A collection of resources for families with gifted/special needs children and professionals who work with them.

Xeroderma Pigmentosum Support Group
A UK charitable trust founded parents of a child with XP. It aims to relieve the needs of persons with Xeroderma Pigmentosum and other related conditions and their families.