Will 2017 finally be the year for paraeducators?

So we found this news startling. We knew paraeducators provided most of the learning time to Washington kids most affected by the opportunity gaps (including students with disabilities), but we weren't aware of the rates of increase.

Washington relies on 25,000-plus paraeducators to work with students who most need instructional assistance and support. Paraeducators provide more than 62 percent of instruction time to students learning English, students who have been identified as needing learning assistance, or students who have disabilities. Yet they receive virtually no training and there are no state standards for them.

Paraeducators are an integral part of the instruction process and must be recognized as partners. A training program and career ladder for them would go a long way towards giving kids who most need support the quality education they deserve. 

You can download a flier with more information here.
You can read recommendations that the Paraeducator Work Group made to the state in 2016 here.

Civil rights: Federal guidelines for schools

The U.S. Department of Education and its Office for Civil Rights published several guidelines at the end of 2016 that disability rights advocates, particularly K-12 students and their families, may find helpful. These documents are intended to help educators as well as families and students understand schools' legal obligations under anti-discrimination law.






Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

• This details obligations that school districts have under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Dear Colleague Letter: Restraint and Seclusion of Students with Disabilities

• This outlines limitations on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools, warning that the practices could be discriminatory

• ALSO: Released in 2012: Restraint and seclusion: Resource Document

• ALSO: Release in 2014: Dear Colleague Letter on the Nondiscriminatory Administration of School Discipline 

Advocacy Days 2017

The Washington State legislative session kicks off January 9, 2017, and once again The Arc of Washington is organizing weekly, themed advocacy days in Olympia. This year they start in February and run weekly to the first week in April.

Here at The Arc of King County we are lining up shuttles for several of the days (dates TBD).

Be sure to aave the dates; your presence makes a difference!

• February 1 – Employment Day (co-hosted by the Community Employment Alliance)

• February 8 – Disability Protections

• February15 – Supported Living Day (co-hosted by Community Residential Services)

• February 22 – Multi-cultural Day

• March 1 – Meet Your Legislators

• March 15 – Family Services

• March 22 – Budget Overview

• March 29 – Self-advocates/Autism, Down syndrome

• April 5 – Take Note!

We will be supporting family members from our Parent to Parent programs and the King County Parent and Family Coalition, as well as self-advocates and activists from our Community Change Champion program. Information about buses will be posted once we confirm dates and pick up locations.

Save the date! Community Summit 2017

Shared by the state's Developmental Disability Administration and GoWise:

Community Summit 2017: Impact Our Futures
June 13th- 15th, 2017
Registration opens in early 2017!

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The 2017 Community Summit is primarily sponsored by DSHS Developmental Disabilities Administration's Roads to Community Living Grant.
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We hope you will join us at this year's Community Summit. A positive future relies on actions that help us engage each other, invest in building inclusive communities, and innovate from hope and possibility.

JAN 21: Grassroots training for disability awareness and inclusion

Protect your lifeline; promote awareness and inclusion

• Saturday, January 21; drop-in training and action activities, 10 am to 4 pm
• The Arc of King County, 233 6th Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109
• Why? Because access to insurance, health care and services could change dramatically

Big changes could be in store this year for services you or a loved one rely on. The Arc of King County is hosting an open house for advocates and activists to get grounded and develop messaging. Come for an hour, or several.

This event is free, but please RVSP here so we can plan accordingly.

We will provide beverages and light snacks. Please bring a lunch if you will stay for the day. Read on for complete lineup of the day's activities.

Civil rights complaints

Access to a free and appropriate education tops civil rights complaints for students with disabilities. Cases filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights give us a glimpse into challenges individuals face in our public schools. Here is the most recent report.

Nearly half of all complaints to the civil rights office continue to involve students with disabilities, with sex- and race-discrimination complaints making up a lesser part of the caseload.

Please come! 27th Annual King County Legislative Forum

YOU are invited!

Please join us Monday evening, November 21, 2016, for the 27th Annual King County Legislative Forum.

The Arc of King County hosts this annual event for the King County Board for Developmental Disabilities. The event is part "DD 101" and all community building. Come hear individuals share their stories and help policy makers understand how their decisions affect our lives.

The King County Board for Developmental Disabilities - an citizen advisory board that provides oversight for county community services - will also share its legislative recommendations for 2017.

Here is a flier with details. Directions are on the back.
Flier in Spanish.
Flier in Vietnamese.

Details:

• Monday, November 21, 2016
• DoubleTree Suites
• 16500 Southcenter Parkway, Seattle, WA 98188
• Sign-in starts at 6:30 pm. Program starts promptly at 7 pm. Event wraps up at 8:30 pm

Free and all are welcome!