Author: Patsy Crawford | Posted: 5. April 2012 00:10
Based on a March 30, 2012 report analyzing 2008 data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 88 U.S. children has been identified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). According to the report, this is an overall increase of 78 percent from 2002 to 2008. According to the Executive Summary, the report’s key findings regarding [More]
Author: Patsy Crawford | Posted: 5. April 2012 00:04
On March 26, 2012, a Florida U.S. District Court judge ordered the State Medicaid agency to “provide, fund, and authorize Applied Behavioral Analysis treatment … to all Medicaid-eligible persons under the age of 21 in Florida who have been diagnosed with autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder as prescribed by a physician or other licensed practitioner.” [More]
Author: Patsy Crawford | Posted: 3. February 2012 01:24
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), among other things, requires federally-funded school districts to provide a free appropriate public education to each student with a disability. An appropriate education includes the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services that are designed to meet the needs [More]
Author: Patsy Crawford | Posted: 24. January 2012 00:40
A January 19, 2012 New York Times article reported that a new study proposes changes in the definition of autism that could significantly decrease the number of individuals diagnosed with the condition. The rate of autism diagnoses has significantly increased since the 1980’s; current estimates are as high as one in 100 children in some areas. [More]
Author: Patsy Crawford | Posted: 20. May 2011 02:27
The bullying and harassment of students continues to receive national attention. On May 9, 2011 a bill (S.B. 919) was introduced in Congress which would, among other things, authorize the U.S. Education Secretary to award $1 billion in competitive grants to states in FY 2012 to implement “comprehensive programs that address conditions for learning in schools.” [More]
Author: Patsy Crawford | Posted: 21. August 2010 00:02
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Author: Patsy Crawford | Posted: 2. April 2010 00:42
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Author: Patsy Crawford | Posted: 26. August 2009 19:24
Sue Gamm's article "How to Avoid the Perfect Storm" addresses the challenges school districts face in implementing educational initiatives. She writes "School districts across the country are racing to implement Response to Intervention (RtI) to promote general education interventions and support eligibility decisions for students suspected of having a learning disability (LD); however, conditions are ripe for a “Perfect Storm” that could lead to higher incidence rates, more racial/ethnic disproportionality and failure to identify claims based on IDEA and Section 504/ADA. What are these conditions and how can school districts avoid this Perfect Storm?" [More]
Author: Ryan Paiva | Posted: 29. July 2009 20:29
In Decision No.1924, dated June, 14, 2004, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) ruled that the “free care principle”, as that term has been defined and applied to school districts by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is not valid and that CMS cannot enforce the principle against school districts. DAB decisions are binding on CMS until appealed to and overturned by the DAB or a federal court. In response to CMS's request for reconsideration, the DAB denied the request and affirmed Decision 1924. [More]
Author: Ryan Paiva | Posted: 29. July 2009 00:40
In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Bowen v. Massachussets, 487 U.S. 879, that established that school districts may receive Medicaid reimbursement for health services provided to Medicaid-eligible special education students. Subsequently, Congress amended the Social Security Act at Section 1903(c) as follows. [More]
