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Speak Out!
Parents Reaching Out is encouraging you to speak out! As you know, the legislature is in session right now and there are several bills that will affect families of children with disabilities. See below for a separate article on a few of the bills that PRO has a particular interest in. We encourage you to contact your legislator to express your views. If you need help finding your legislator, log on to the state legislature`s "Find Your Legislator" web page, http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislatorsearch.aspx
Contact information can be found on that page. You may also want to explore the easy-to-use legislative website on your own - www.nmlegis.gov
In addition to the legislature, Parents Reaching Out invites you to learn about other opportunities for you to share your viewpoint with policymakers.
If you live in the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) district, you may already be aware of the Families United for Education group that has been working hard to develop a family engagement policy for the district. This policy has truly come from the community and represents the passion, the dedication, and the hard work that families can bring to the educational system! APS is paying attention and there is substantial support from other organizations as well.
If you are interested in supporting the APS family engagement policy, or would like to develop a plan for your community, we can help! Contact Alethea First: afirst@parentsreachingout.org
You can get involved in a variety of advisory councils and commissions pertaining to health care, services for people diagnosed with developmental disabilities, education (school health, special education, etc.) and other issues. If you are wondering how to get started, contact Johnny Wilson: jwilson@parentsreachingout.org
As you prepare to speak out on the issues that are important to you and your family, here`s an opportunity to learn more. The 2012 New Mexico Family Leadership Conference is April 12 - 13, 2012 at the beautiful Isleta Conference Center. The conference will feature over 30 workshops on education and school systems, health, special education, early childhood, family engagement and fatherhood! Go to the following link to learn more and to register: http://www.parentsreachingout.org/flan/
2012 New Mexico Legislature
We here at Parents Reaching Out know that policy is important and has an impact on the lives of families every day. The big statewide policy party that happens every year is the meeting of the state`s legislature. New Mexico is unusual in that our legislature meets for only 30 and 60 day sessions, in alternating years. This year is a 30 day session.
Below are some of the issues being considered at this year`s legislative assembly that we thought you might be interested in. There is more, so we encourage you to go to www.nmlegis.gov and investigate whatever might interest you. The site is quite easy to use!
Please talk to us. Let Parents Reaching Out know what you think about what the legislature is considering this year. Reach on out to us by contacting Johnny Wilson at: jwilson@parentsreachingout.org
At the 2012 New Mexico Legislature: The House Appropriations and Finance Committee
This committee has agreed to spending parameters for this year`s budget. These include $3.35 million designated for the Developmental Disabilities Waiver, intended to get over 100 people off the waiting list.
Senate Bill 261(fully fund the DD Waiver)
This bill proposes to spend $129.7 million additional dollars on the Developmental Disabilities Waiver in order to get all people who are waiting for services the supports that they need.
Acknowledging that a fully funded DD Waiver is a long-shot, Senate Joint Memorial 39 (plan to meet the needs of people on the DD Waiver waiting list) calls upon the Department of Health`s Developmental Disabilities Support Division to make a three-to-five year plan for meeting the needs of the people on the DD Waiver waiting list.
House Bill 82 and Senate Bill 98 ($2.1 million for the Family, Infant, Toddler Program)
The $2.1 million is new money for this important program. This bill has received "DO PASS" recommendations from the first committees to hear it in each chamber.
House Bill 65 and Senate Bill 31 (private school scholarships for special needs students)
Parents Reaching Out (like you) is supportive of families being able to make informed choices for their children. This is why we are concerned about this bill. Once children with disabilities move from the public system, with all its protections and mandated information provided to parents, to private schools, there is a significant risk that important services will not be available and that documentation and communication with parents regarding the child`s needs will be inadequate.
House Joint Resolution 15 and Senate Joint Resolution 9 (Proposed amendment to invest money from the state`s $10 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF) in early childhood education)
Senate Memorial 20 (plan for access to autism evaluations and services)
This memorial would require the state to develop a comprehensive plan for providing access to autism evaluation and services.
House Joint Resolution 23 and Senate Joint Resolution 5 (Proposed amendment to recognize health care as a fundamental human right)
Save the Date! The 8th Annual Family Leadership Conference will be April 12-13, 2012
The 8th Annual Family Leadership Conference, presented by the Family Leadership Action Network (FLAN) will be take place on April 12-13, 2012 at the Isleta Conference Center. Keep checking our website for updates and registration information. www.parentsreachingout.org/flan
Attention - Exhibitors
Last year over 300 families, educators, administrators, and service providers from around the state attended our family leadership conference. We invite you to join us this year by advertising in our conference program and/or by joining us at the conference. For more information, please contact Dolores Wansa at dwansa@parentsreachingout.org, or call her at 505-247-0192 or 1-800-524-5176.
The deadline for reserving your space is March 9, 2012.
The Family Leadership Action Network (FLAN) is a network of families working to promote the voices of families in order to influence the policies and the programs that affect them. FLAN builds on each family`s strengths and knowledge and celebrates diversity. FLAN works for positive, family-friendly changes to systems that eliminate stereotyping and assumptions about the families they serve. FLAN promotes the importance of collaboration and relationship building to create positive outcomes for families, children, and communities.
Family Leadership Conference Page
Governor Martinez Announces Completion of Autism Plan
On Tuesday, July 26, 2011 Governor Susana Martinez announced the completion of new Public Education Department rules that will require 11 specific strategies to be considered when Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are written for children who have autism. IEP teams will now need to consider strategies such as positive behavior supports, parent/family training and support, and educator/staff support when developing the education program for students with autism. PRO Executive Director Johnny Wilson and staff members Kendra Morrison, Shannon Van de Riet, and Jacquelynn Gipson attended the public announcement which was held at the Santa Fe Children`s Museum. Afterwards, they had an opportunity to talk with Governor Martinez and Public Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera. "We were pleased that the Governor honored her promise to address the needs of students identified as having autism," Wilson said after the announcement. "These rules appear to move New Mexico schools in a positive direction in meeting the needs of these students."
During the past legislative session Martinez vetoed a bill that contained the same rules because that bill changed the federal definition of autism. Adoption of that bill would have jeopardized $90 million in federal funding. Martinez remarked that the new rules will make it easier for the parents of children with autism, estimated at over 1300 in New Mexico, to create the best education plan to fit the unique needs of their children.
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