Free screening of BULLY, the movie

Do you know that individuals on the autism spectrum:

Ø  Are at a higher risk for victimization because of deficits in social skills, communication, and restrictive and repetitive behavior

Ø  Fewer friendships is a also a risk factor

Ø  Of all reported bullying events, individuals on the autism spectrum are bullied three to four more times than their peers

Please join SARRC to learn more about issues and solutions specific to bullying and autism.

Ø  Attend a  free screening of the documentary film Bully on Weds. April 17, 6:00 p.m.  An  RSVP is required due to limited seating.    RSVP at SARRC@studiomovie.grill.com.

       For more information, http://www.autismcenter.org/event_details.aspx?id=752. 

Ø  Attend a  conference Bullying & Autism: What We Know & What We Can Do About It, April 26 & 27. For more information or to register, go to http://www.rsvpbook.com/sarrcbullyautismconf

Arizona passes bill regulating "scream rooms"

Because of our clients and their brave little boy who wanted to tell his story, Arizona students are a little safer today.  Now the work begins to shut down these barbaric scream rooms.  Now the work begins to shut down these barbaric scream rooms.
http://www.kpho.com/story/21875745/az-governor-signs-bill-regulating-so-called-scream-rooms

Seminar on Autism and Bullying

Seminar on Autism and Bullying

Friday, April 26 - Saturday, April 27, 2013

Scottsdale Public Library Civic Center Auditorium, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Register online at www.rsvp.com/sarrcbullyautismconf

Included in the conference:

Friday, April 26, 2013:

4:15 - 5:15 p.m. 

Legal Issues & Current Policies in AZ

Hope N. Kirsch and Jennifer MacLennan 

One lawyer represents the school system & the other lawyer represents families. Together, they will
address legal and ethical issues on bullying as it relates to the bully, victim, & school.

Bullying Conference

KGK's Hope Kirsch, parent/child attorney, will be joining with Jennifer MacLennan, a school attorney, at the SARRC conference, Bullying & Autism: What We Know & What We Can Do About It, to present Legal and Ethical Issues & Current Policies related to bullying. 


Who Should Attend:  Families, School Faculty & Administrators,Professionals, Policymakers, Providers & Others with an interest in this topic.

When:  Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27, 2013

Where:  Scottsdale Public Library Civic Center Auditorium, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ

Register online at www.rsvp.com/sarrcbullyautismconf
Registration (prior to April 15) $35/day $50/two days
Late Registration (April 15 or later) $50/day $70/two days
Contact: Sheri S. Dollin, M.Ed. 480.603.3283 training@autismcenter.org

Is your high schooler ready to graduate??

With graduation coming upon us, some of you are asking if your child with an IEP is entitled to received special education services after graduating from high school.  The short answer is no, unless of course the school district or charter school is obligated to provide compensatory services.  But absent such an  obligation,  special education and related services are terminated when a student with an IEP receives a high school diploma.  However, your child may be entitled to receive special education and related services until their 22nd birthday if he or she requires such services.  Therefore, you must know if your child is ready and able to graduate, which will terminate special ed and related services.  Otherwise, beware that your child will lose those services if he or she graduates despite continuing to require special ed and related services. 

If your child is scheduled to graduate this year, make sure there is an IEP meeting to review your child's IEP in sufficient time before your child is to receive the diploma.  At the meeting, make certain that graduation requirements will be met, and that the goals and objectives in the IEP will be completed.

SPORTSMANSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS is Sportsmanship!

Bullying can amount to denial of FAPE under 504

In some instances, students with disabilities who are bullied are being denied FAPE under 504.  School disricts deny FAPE to students with disabilties who are bullied when the school district, or charter school, is deliberately indifferent to disability-based bullying.
  While mere occasional light teasing of a student with a disability might not warrant a response from the school to disability-based harassment, ongoing teasing, especially when accompanied by acts of physical harassment, is likely severe enough to trigger a school district's / charter school's duty to respond under Section 504.  In a recent case, a student with Asperger syndrome was allegedly verbally teased and physically harassed on an ongoing basis by his high school classmates.  Testimony that the student reacted to the harassment by engaging in self-destructive behavior helped demonstrate that the harassment was severe enough to trigger an investigation and response by the district.

To establish discrimination for disability-based bullying, a parent must show:
(1) the harassment was sufficiently severe or pervasive that it altered the condition of the student's education and created an abusive educational environment;
(2) the school district, or charter school, knew about the harassment; and
(3) the school district, or charter school, was deliberately indifferent.

Ongoing bullying may be sufficient to demonstrate that the harassment is severe and denies the studentqual access to education.