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Groups > Diffabled, Mental Health, related issues, advocacy, and professionals > Discussions > Topic: Issues related to kids, diffability + mental health, relatives, caregivers, et al
Topic: Issues related to kids, diffability + mental health, relatives, caregivers, et al

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James M N.	Life Without Limits: It's Official- UCP Announces November 02, 2009 4:12 AM Life Without Limits: It's Official- UCP Announces This Action, on Change.org, the url :) myChildWithoutLimits.org :) http://healthcare.change.org/actions/view/mychildwithoutlimitsorg http://www.change.org/profile/189788/actions http://www.MyChildWithoutLimits.org :) Forward to a Friend \| Donate Online \| Visit UCP.org October 2009 Inside this Issue» It's Official: UCP Announces MyChildWithoutLimits.org, An Online Resource for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Delays» My Child Without Limits Teams Up With Including Samuel: A Film Documentary About Inclusion For People With Disabilities» Disability Advocates Meet at the White House in Late August» Guest Post: A Life Without Limits Because of UCP of New York City» Ask Lara: Information on Swine Flu and Children with Disabilities It's Official: UCP http://www.ucp.org :) Announces MyChildWithoutLimits.org, An Online Resource for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Delays United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) today announced the launch of My Child Without Limits (MyChildWithoutLimits.org), UCP's pioneering initiative that provides parents of children with disabilities an online resource with critical information that also connects parents to a vital social network of parents of newly diagnosed children ages 0 to 5. The first realization that your child is going to face the many challenges and obstacles encountered by those who live with a developmental delay or disability can be a lonely, frightening and confusing time. Many parents who have been assisted by UCP have reported that finding the organization and receiving the information and advice our affiliates provide has been a very significant turning point for them. My Child Without Limits is a place for parents worried that their child is not developing like other children, to find answers to their questions. It is a place where parents know they are not alone after their child has been diagnosed with a developmental delay or disability. The authoritative site and online community are designed to be resources for families and their caregivers and professionals. The Web site provides access to accurate, user-friendly and relevant disability-related information, resource guides, and experts on early intervention and family support in three basic areas: Understand Help families answer the questions: What are Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome?Plan Provide guidance about where to go for early intervention services, treatments and therapies, assistive technologies, and expert direction and advice.Act Direct parents and caregivers to where they can explore issues surrounding disability awareness, advocacy and lifespan planning. The community section of My Child Without Limits also offers a venue for parents to communicate with each other, ask questions of professionals and service providers and receive support through the critical period of initial diagnosis. "I can't think of a better way to reach parents of children with disabilities who are so desperately seeking credible information they can trust," said Stephen Bennett, President & CEO, United Cerebral Palsy, Inc."My Child Without Limits will be the one-stop shop for parents and professionals, and help children with disabilities start achieving a life without limits at an early age." For more information, please visit www.MyChildWithoutLimits.org. My Child Without Limits Teams Up With Including Samuel: A Film Documentary About Inclusion For People With Disabilities Before his son Samuel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, photojournalist Dan Habib rarely thought about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Now he thinks about inclusion every day. Shot and produced over four years, Including Samuel centers on the efforts of Habib and his family to include seven year-old Samuel in all facets of school and community. The film also features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with dozens of teachers, young people, parents and disability rights experts. Including Samuel is a highly personal, passionately photographed film that captures the cultural and systemic barriers to inclusion. Says Habib, "Four years ago, I sat at my son Samuel's hospital bedside at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center as he lay in a medically-induced coma. He was four years old and had developed pneumonia from complications following surgery. Samuel's neurologist, Dr. James Filiano, encouraged me to be a photojournalist in the midst of my fear." The result is this documentary that accounts for Habib's experiences with his son. Including Samuel comes to public television in September and October (Disability Awareness Month) with support from the National Inclusion Project and CVS Caremark All Kids Can. Disability Advocates Meet at the White House in Late August On August 27, as follow-up to the meeting that President Obama had with disability community representatives on July 24, a group of advocates for home- and community-based long-term services and support, met with Nancy-Ann DeParle and other senior staff at the White House to discuss the Community First Choice (CFC) Option. The disability representatives thanked the President's staff for his strong leadership on enacting comprehensive health reform that will help advance the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act by eliminating disability-based discrimination in health care coverage and barring pre-existing condition exclusions. Guest Post: A Life Without Limits Because of UCP of New York City By Christine Rudd, UCP supporter and past consumer of UCP of New York City services. I have never thought of myself as different. That's just not the way my family has ever treated me or how I see myself. So, when I was little and couldn't walk because of my Cerebral Palsy (CP) and wanted to play with one of my toys, I remember [ send green star]
James M N.	[PsychRights] Conference on Stopping Kids Psychiatric Abuse October 13, 2009 11:26 AM [PsychRights] Conference on Stopping Kids Psychiatric Abuse This Action, on Change.org, the url :) Kids Psychiatric Abuse :) http://womensrights.change.org/actions/view/kids_psychiatric_abuse http://www.change.org/profile/189788/actions Conference on Stopping the Psychiatric Abuse of Children Huffington Post, September 27, 2009 Dr. Peter Breggin http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-peter-breggin/conference-on-stopping-th_b_301272.html Millions of our children are being labeled with false and stigmatizing psychiatric diagnoses. Then their brains are being blunted and disabled by psychiatric drugs. Want to find a way to do something about the plight of our children at the hands of drug companies and misguided mental health professionals? Want to learn more about what our children really need from us? In less than two weeks, you can attend the annual meeting of the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.icspp.org) at the Renaissance Syracuse Hotel. The two-day conference takes place on Friday and Saturday, October 9-10, 2009 in Syracuse, New York. It features international experts on the adverse of effects of psychiatric drugs and better ways of helping children and families. The public is welcome. For the sake of our children, please attend. This year's conference comes at a tragic turning point in the psychiatric abuse of children. In the past, the main threat has come from the widespread use of stimulant drugs like Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Focalin, and Concerta for children labeled with ADHD. These drugs work by crushing spontaneous behavior. Frequently this leads to depression, as well as insomnia, anxiety and psychosis. The stimulants suppress the growth of children, cause abnormalities in their brains, induce sudden cardiac death, and predispose children to cocaine abuse in young adulthood. As bad as this is, the situation of our children has recently become even more desperate. In the past year, the FDA has unleashed a crisis of epidemic proportions by approving lobotomizing antipsychotic drugs for the control of behavior in children. Diabetes. Pancreatitis. Pathological obesity. The abnormal growth of breast tissue and even lactation in young boys and girls. Heart disease. Permanently disfiguring tics and other abnormal movements (tardive dyskinesia). Agonizing muscle spasms that also defy treatment and last indefinitely (tardive dystonia). These are a few of the drastic disorders caused by antipsychotic drugs such as Zyprexa, Risperdal, Abilify, Seroquel, Geodon, and Invega. The antipsychotic drugs work by flattening the emotions and causing docility, so that the children no longer make trouble, at least for a while. With their frontal lobe function suppressed, the kids become more robotic in their behavior, and their mental and emotional growth is stunted. Often these drugs will turn them into lifelong mental patients whose enslaved brains will continue to deteriorate under toxic assault. Great speakers and workshop presenters will cover these and many other subjects about psychiatry and about how to help children and families in distress with caring and effective psychological, education, and social approaches. Stephen A. Sheller is one of the lead attorneys in two of the largest billion-dollar settlements ever made as a result of civil and criminal actions brought by the federal government against drug companies Pfizer and Eli Lilly. Both legal actions involved psychiatric drugs. I will be honored to introduce attorney Sheller at the conference. As the Founder Emeritus of ICSPP (I've passed the mantle onto younger professionals), I will be making two presentations, one on how to inspire the psychiatric reform movement and another on better approaches to helping children and families. Attorney James Gottstein from Alaska is the world's most active civil rights attorney on behalf of psychiatrically abused children and adults. Graham Dukes, a physician and a lawyer, is a leading expert on international drug regulation. Critiques of ADHD and better approaches to children and families will be presented by many experts in psychiatry, pediatrics, psychology, and education. Registration can be made on-line (www.icspp.org) http://icspp.org/ or at the meeting at the Syracuse Renaissance Hotel, Friday and Saturday, October 9-10, 2009. Tickets are available for one or both days. For hotel reservations, call 315-479-7000. If you care about our children, this is the place for you to be. It's always a great and inspiring conference. Even if you don't know anyone else at the conference, you will feel at home. You will meet many new friends with similar concerns. Our children need our protection and support in these dire times. Peter R. Breggin, M.D. is a psychiatrist in private practice in Ithaca, New York. The observations made in this column are scientifically documented in his medical book, Brain-Disabling Treatments in Psychiatry, Second Edition (2008) as well as his popular book, Medication Madness: The Role of Psychiatric Drugs in Cases of Violence, Crime and Suicide (2008). Dr. Breggin's website, loaded with scientific information and interesting radio and TV reports, is http://www.breggin.com. On Dr. Breggin's website you can purchase a bonus edition of ICSPP's new book, The Conscience of Psychiatry: The Reform Work of Peter R. Breggin, MD (2009). if you have any questions about this list, e-mail contact@psychrights.org. [ send green star]
James M N.	Building back better in Myanmar :) September 03, 2009 1:21 AM This Action, on Change.org, the url :) building in Myanmar :) http://genocide.change.org/actions/view/building_in_myanmar http://www.change.org/profile/189788/actions Lessen effects of genocide, discuss and advocate for the Burmese people; read: building back better in Myanmar :) "I love this school! I love the space, the colors, my desk—everything." That’s what fifth grader Aye Nandar Win says about the brand-new school built by UNICEF http://www.unicefusa.org/news/news-from-the-field/unicef-rebuilds-a.html and Myanmar’s Ministry of Education. When Cyclone Nargis swept through Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta last year, UNICEF went into action immediately—delivering pre-positioned supplies like medicines, vaccines, oral rehydration salts and health kits to save children's lives. But UNICEF’s emergency response in Myanmar didn't end when the new coverage did. UNICEF also aimed to “build back better,” ensuring children’s long-term recovery http://www.unicefusa.org/news/news-from-the-field/unicef-rebuilds-a.html by creating safe places for them to learn, play and support each other. With generous donor support, UNICEF helped set up "child-friendly spaces" for more than 17,000 children in the cyclone’s aftermath and is now planning construction of 46 new schools. http://www.unicefusa.org/ Click here to learn more. Humanitarian action at mid-year In the first half of 2009 we've seen some improvements in several long-standing humanitarian crises. But millions of children and women continue to be affected by ongoing conflicts, protracted displacement and natural disasters such as earthquakes, droughts, floods, cyclones and hurricanes. For a thorough overview of the crisis facing children around the world, we encourage you to read the "UNICEF Humanitarian Action Report 2000 Mid-Year Review," which assesses progress to date for children in 36 countries and outlines needs for the coming months. Click here to learn more about the mid-year review. With hurricane season underway, we’re reminded of the devastating impact natural disasters can have on the most vulnerable among us—children—and of UNICEF's lifesaving relief efforts in countless emergencies around the world. Relief efforts made possible by the generous support of friends like you. “Building back better” is a key aspect of UNICEF’s disaster relief efforts, and the story of a new school in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar is a great example of the principle in action. We hope you’ll share this heartening story with friends and family. And we thank you, as always, for your commitment to children. Sincerely, Alisa Aydin U.S. Fund for UNICEF A teen journalist reports on food insecurity in Southern Sudan. LEARN MORE Zambia's Child Health Week reaches out to over 2 million with lifesaving interventions. LEARN MORE Fighting malnutrition in Guatemala with "Sprinkles." LEARN MORE Copyright © 2009 U.S. Fund for UNICEF 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038 All rights reserved. Privacy Policy [ send green star]
James M N.	Citizen Direct: Rallying for single-payer and more :) August 06, 2009 9:42 AM Citizen Direct: Rallying for single-payer and more :) This Action, on Change.org, the url :) advocate / singlepayer :) http://healthcare.change.org/actions/view/advocate_singlepayer http://www.change.org/profile/189788/actions Advocate for singlepayer healthcare, with CCA, Community Choice Act; HR 676 is best of the lot, so far :) http://citizenvox.org/2009/07/30/the-birthday-celebration/ In This Issue: - Take action! - Public interest law - Rallying for single-payer - Health clinic - Latest blog posts - Press room updates Featured Story: Dangerous Dialing August 2009 Take Action Climate bill must work for consumers: Public Citizen is calling on the Senate to improve climate legislation by stripping out corporate giveaways and include strong protections for struggling energy consumers and the environment. Tell the Senate to stand up to special interests and take care of consumers! >>Take action today and restore consumer protections to the climate bill. Public Interest Law Dangerous dialing: Public Citizen recently obtained documents showing that since 2003, the government has known that drivers talking on their cell phones experience the same potentially deadly distraction whether they are using a handheld device or hands-free technology. By doing so, the government has endangered even more lives and led consumers to believe that it is safe to talk on their cell phones while driving if they kept both hands on the wheel. In fact, motorists talking on a phone are four times as likely to crash as other drivers and are as likely to cause an accident as someone with a .08 blood alcohol content. Learn more. Rallying for Single-Payer Health Care Everybody in, nobody out - single-payer now! What a time it was! More than 2,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to show Congress and President Obama the kind of support single-payer health care has in America. With the Capitol looming in the background, our own Dr. Sidney Wolfe spoke, as did Obama's former physician, Dr. David Scheiner. Also attending were doctors, nurses, lawyers, politicians, activists, seniors, faith groups, students - all calling loudly for a better system. They came from New York, Pennsylvania, California, Wisconsin, Georgia and many other states, all bearing a common desire: a single-payer system. Read more about the rally. View the photos and watch a video of Dr. Wolfe speaking. Public Citizen Health Clinic Study adds to case that FDA should ban Avandia: New research Public Citizen published in July reinforces the case that the diabetes drug Avandia can cause death from liver failure and should be banned immediately. We petitioned the Food and Drug Administration in October to ban the drug because its risks, which include heart attack and heart failure in addition to liver toxicity, far outweigh its benefits. Learn more. Medical malpractice payments fall to record low: Medical malpractice payments were at record or near-record lows in 2008, but the decline almost certainly indicates that a lower percentage of injured patients received compensation, not that health safety has improved. Learn more. Public Citizen Blogs Imagine buying a home and understanding your contract: Wouldn't that be great? It's a commonsense priority of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency that President Obama has proposed creating. The likelihood that the agency could ensure you don't need a law degree to understand your mortgage - and stamp out predatory lending and forced arbitration in home contracts in the process - would be great news for consumers. Learn more at Citizen Vox. Will the real new Dems please stand up? The (New) Democratic Leadership Council has just put out a 14-page brief called "Toward a New Trade Agenda," and it offers anything but. It starts off with some relatively unobjectionable material but then takes a weird turn. Learn more at Eyes on Trade. Whistleblower rights advance: After many months of advocacy and negotiations, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved a bipartisan bill that would dramatically strengthen and modernize protections for federal government whistleblowers. Learn more at the Watchdog Blog. Texas coastal wind production: One type of wind power that is being developed extensively and contributing to Texas' renewable generation assets is coastal wind. In 2009, several new wind projects have been brought online and are continuing to be developed. Learn more at Texas Vox. From the Press Room Clunkers: Still not enough answers: Even if current "cash-for-clunkers" fund has been exhausted, this is not an indication that the program is meeting its goals of reducing harmful emissions and stimulating the economy. The Senate should not rush to provide additional funding. Public Citizen is demanding records from the government that are needed to assess the program's value. Learn more. Fair elections bill stands best chance in decades for passage: Public Citizen applauds the rapid and solid support building for passage of the Fair Elections Now Act. While Congress grapples with the nation's most pressing problems, the House Committee on Administration recognizes that the overwhelming influence that money has over politics must be as high a priority for Congress as it is for the American people. Learn more. Socialize With Us @: ______________________________ Was this message forwarded to you? Sign up to receive regular updates from the Public Citizen Action Network and stay in-the-know on the issues and actions you care about most. Reply to Editor \| Citizen Direct Archive \| Link to Us Copyright © 2009 Public Citizen. All rights reserved. Public Citizen 1600 20th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20009 [ send green star]
James M N.	Tell Congress, 'Support Single-Payer Health Care!' :) July 21, 2009 5:17 AM Tell Congress, 'Support Single-Payer Health Care!' :) This Action, on Change.org, the url :) healthcare = singlepayer :) http://healthcare.change.org/actions/view/healthcare_singlepayer http://www.change.org/profile/189788/actions Support NOW's Work \| July 14, 2009 \| Tell a Friend Action Needed http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=13735376 Background All NOW Actions Can We Cure the Ailing U.S. Health Care System? Tell Congress, 'Support Single-Payer Health Care!' On Wednesday, July 15, or thereabout, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is expected to offer an amendment to health care reform legislation that would permit states to establish their own single-payer (Medicare for all) type health care plans. In the Senate, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is expected soon to introduce a similar amendment during mark-up session of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Support Single-Payer Health Care! http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=13735376 After taking action, please support our work! Action Needed: NOW activists should contact their Congress members, particularly those who are Democrats, and ask them to support this amendment. You can use our formatted message below or craft one of your own. But please do this right away! Take action NOW! http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=13735376 Background: As Congress moves forward with reform of our costly and dysfunctional health care system, it looks increasingly less likely that a single-payer plan (like the Canadian system) has a chance. The health insurance industry and other large corporate health care providers are heavily lobbying Congress to preserve the current system, with a few reforms that will allow them to continue doing business. One ray of hope, though, is that we can advance the opportunity for those states -- like California -- who want to adopt this most efficient and affordable approach to universal health care. NOW passed a resolution in support of a national single-payer plan in 1993. Under a single-payer system, there would be government funding and administration, with private delivery of services. Patients could choose their providers, and doctors could determine treatments without first having to get permission from insurers, as currently is the case in our mostly private, for-profit system. Individuals would pay for their health care through payroll contributions -- just like they currently do with their Social Security and Medicare payroll deductions. No one would be denied care, no exclusions based on pre-existing conditions would be allowed, and women could not be charged higher rates because they use the system more for maternity and preventive care -- as happens currently in the private individual market. A handful of states -- California, Pennsylvania, Illinois and others -- may be ready to seriously consider state legislation that would establish just such plans. California has already passed two separate single-payer bills, but Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed both. Advocates promise that they will pass another single-payer bill once the governor leaves office. Take action NOW! http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=13735376 Rep. Kucinich wants to make sure that states can adopt their own single-payer plans. His amendment indicates that the single-payer system would "provide comprehensive health benefits to all residents of the State using progressive financing and provides measures to assure free choice of providers for covered services, to promote quality..." Private insurers would not be able to offer insurance duplicating benefits provided under the state single-payer plan, and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) would have to be non-profit entities. Sen. Sanders' amendment, reportedly, is similar to the House amendment, which currently has 65 supporters. Support in the Senate is uncertain, but earlier this year 37 senators signed a statement supporting a "public plan option." It is difficult to predict exactly when these amendments will come up in committee, but please send your messages now http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=13735376 urging your Congress members, especially the Democratic members of the House and Senate, to vote for these amendments and let their colleagues know of their support. More Information: Can We Cure the Ailing Health Care System?, NOW President Kim Gandy's Below the Belt column The Time for Single-Payer, Universal Health Care Coverage is Now!, Statement by NOW Vice President Executive Olga Vives Single-payer resources and facts, Physicians for a National Health Plan and then SUPPORT NOW: Support NOW's Work for Equal Rights \| Join NOW \| Monthly Giving \| Catalog \| Shop Amazon TAKE ACTION: http://www.now.org/actions/ Get Involved \| Find Your Nearest Chapter \| Tell a Friend \| Learn More [ send green star]
James M N.	Read how to re-engage the disengaged students, etc. :) June 08, 2009 12:55 PM These actions, on Change.org, the url :) reengage kids :) http://education.change.org/actions/view/reengage_kids 4 Steps to Reengaging Disengaged Students :) School Climate Matters keeps you informed about important school climate issues and trends nationwide. Archive \| Send Feedback \| Read the Blog \| We've moved: http://www.schoolclimate.org March 2009 Register Now! CSEE's 12th Annual Summer Institute The institute will have a dual focus: promoting school climate reform efforts and effective bully prevention/pro-upstander behavior. During the 3-day event, school teams and individuals will: [read more ] 4 Steps to Reengaging Disengaged Students Over the last 50 years, psychological scholarship has brought renewed attention to motivation as a central concept in understanding learning and attention problems and student disengagement from classroom learning. With specific respect to working with disengaged students, there are 4 strategies we recommend: [read more ] Lessons From the Field: Conflict Resolution at Work Through discussion and exercises with after-school leaders from Good Shepherds, I learned a lot about what inspires today's youth and the factors that derail learning. Here are 3 guidelines for engaging, affecting and invigorating disaffected youth: [read more] 1 in 4 students feels unsafe in school. Help turn this statistic around. 100% of your donation to the School Climate Counts fund will go directly to schools in need. For every $2 donation, one child's voice will be heard. Resources: Student Engagement Explore these useful articles, books and web resources culled from experts from the field. All are designed to promote student engagement. [read more ] Funding Support: Small Initiatives with Big Potential With shrinking budgets and tough times ahead, many school principals are reluctant to use valuable financial resources to support programs that, in the long run, can have a significant impact in student learning and achievement. So, how can you find support for your projects? [read more ] Communing for a Cause In January, CSEE supporters, board members and staff gathered together in the regal dining hall of New York's Spence School for our annual fundraising event, Bully Buster 2009. Thanks to your support the event was a huge success. You can still make a difference-visit us online to bid on exciting auction items such as cruises and internships! [ read more] Share Your Experience What activities do you use to engage disaffected students? National School Board Association: The Future of School Climate CSEE's President Jonathan Cohen recently moderate a panel discussion with the NSBA on the current state and future plans of school climate reform. To learn more about this pivotal event and download the full presentation, visit our blog. FAQ's about School Climate What is school climate? Why is it important? Why measure school climate? Use these FAQ's to better explain school climate measurement and improvement to your community. [ read more] Schools in Action Watch Castle Hill's anti-bullying and PBIS videos, and read about Greece Central School District's positive youth development projects. Also grab the featured free service learning program designed to promote literacy and character development. [ read more] Our work in schools would not exist were it not for your support. Please consider getting involved in our mission by making a donation or telling a friend about our service: This email was sent by: Center for Social & Emotional Education (CSEE) 1841 Broadway, Suite 1212, New York, NY, 10023, USA [ send green star]
James M N.	IMM Update - Vol. 14, No. 1 -- 39 new articles June 08, 2009 12:23 PM Actions, on Change.org, the url :) Read Diverse :) http://www.change.org/actions/view/read_diverse Art Changes / Rural America / Education Rights / In Defense of Affirmative Action / Global Eyes / Photo of the Week / Autonomy: Chiapas - California / Human & Civil Rights / Email, Opinions & Discussion / Healthcare All recent articles can be reached at http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/new.html Here are the new articles (listed by magazine section): 1. Education Rights http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/er.html The Change We Need Future of Education Policy in the Obama Administration http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/er/pn_change09.html by Pedro Noguera New York, New York Getting Ready for the New Majority: How Schools Can Respond to Immigration and Demographic Change http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/er/pn_newmaj09.html by Pedro Noguera New York, New York "Me in the Making: One Man's Journey to Becoming a School Superintendent" A Review http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/er/faw2.html by Fadhilika Atiba-Weza Troy, New York 2. In Defense of Affirmative Action http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/pr.html How Colleges and Universities Can Promote K-12 Diversity http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/idaa/pn_aa_k12d.html Response to: A Modest Proposal by J. Chambers, J. C. Boger and W. Tobin by Pedro Noguera New York, New York 3. Art Changes / From Where I Stand http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/art.html praise the lowly ones (poetry) http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/ac09/ac_forever.html Alice Lovelace Atlanta, Georgia 4. Autonomy: Chiapas - California http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/chiapas.html The Militarization of Politics http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/opin/lhn_calderon.html by Luis Hernández Navarro Mexico City, Mexico La militarización de la política http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/opin/lhn_calderon_esp.html por Luis Hernández Navarro Ciudad de México, México The Zapatista Horizon http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/opin/lhn_horizonte.html by Luis Hernández Navarro Mexico City, Mexico El horizonte zapatista http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/opin/lhn_horizonte_esp.html por Luis Hernández Navarro Ciudad de México, Mexico Chicano Artists and Zapatistas Walk Together Asking, Listening, Learning: Part 2: Findings -- Centrifugal Motivation http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/auto/rf_informal2.html The Role of Transnational Informal Learning Networks In the Creation of A Better World by Roberto Gonzaléz Flores Los Angeles, California 5. Rural America http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/rural.html New Report Exposes Subsidies to Factory Farms Family Farm Groups Demand Reform Of Environmental Quality Incentives Program http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/ra08/tgibbons_subsidies08.html by Tim Gibbons Columbia, Missouri Health Care Costs Take a Toll on Missouri's Farms and Ranches MRCC Releases New Report, "Healthcare in the Heartland" http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/ra08/rperry_heart08.html by Tim Gibbons Columbia, Missouri CAFOs vs Rural Communities http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/ra08/ikerd_cafo08.html by John Ikerd Columbia, Missouri 6. Global Eyes http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global.html The Soils of War: The real agenda behind agricultural reconstruction in Afghanistan and Iraq http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/grain_soil09.html by GRAIN Barcelona, Spain Seized: The 2008 Landgrab for Food and Financial Security http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/grain_land08.html by GRAIN Barcelona, Spain Interview with Diogenes Lucio of FENOCIN The National Confederation of Peasant, Indigenous, and Black Organizations Agroecology and the Andean Cosmovision http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/dl_int_eng.html Quito, Ecuador Entrevista de Diógenes Lucio de FENOCIN Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Campesinas, Indígenas y Negras La agroecología y la cosmovisión andina http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/dl_int_esp.html Quito, Ecuador Food Sovereignty: A Glimpse of the Peasant and Small Farmer Association Movement in Mozambique http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/npc_moz_assoc.html by Nic Paget-Clarke In Niassa and Maputo Provinces, Mozambique Interview with Diamantino Nhampossa of the União Nacional de Camponeses / National Peasants' Union Organizing Food Sovereignty in Mozambique http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/d_nhampossa_int.html Matola, Mozambique Interview with Julio dos Santos Pessego of UNAC and UCASN An Understanding of Associations http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/jds_pessego_int.html Lichinga, Niassa, Mozambique Interview with Henry Saragih General Coordinator of La Via Campesina and Chairman of the Indonesian Peasant Union Not Wait for the Changing of Our Society Through the Government http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/h_saragih_int.html Matola, Mozambique The Global Food Crisis and the Right to Food Via Campesina Statement at the UN General Assembly http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/h_saragih_un040609.html Henry Saragih New York, New York Interview with Yoon, Geum-Soon of the Korean Women Peasants Association Women's Rights Are A Precondition to Food Sovereignty http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/yoon_gs_int.html Matola, Mozambique Interview with Kalissa Regier of the National Farmers Union, Canada Control Over the Farm http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/k_regier_int.html Matola, Mozambique Interview with Cosma Bulu of Tanzania's MVIWATA The Role of Local Markets, the Life of Rural Women "We exchange ideas, we exchange seeds" http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/c_bulu_int.html Matola, Mozambique Interview with Logan Perkins of the organization Food For Maine's Future Local Economies and a Just Food System http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/global/l_perkins_int.html Matola, M... 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James M N.	An Opportunity for Teachers April 18, 2009 11:16 AM An Opportunity for Teachers These Actions on Change.org, the url :) Opportunity / Teachers :) http://education.change.org/actions/view/opportunity_teachers Dear Subscribers, I'm writing to announce a special opportunity for K-12 teachers from the Favorite Poem Project. If you're not a teacher, but would like to help us spread the word, please forward this email to an educator you know. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, in cooperation with the Boston University School of Education, is accepting applications from teachers and teacher/administrator teams across grade level for a remarkable week of poetry in Boston, July 13-17. Participants will read and discuss poems with renowned practitioners of the art, five award-winning American poets. Past faculty include Frank Bidart, Mark Doty, Louise Gluck and Heather McHugh. Teachers will work in groups to develop lesson plans to share with each other and bring back to their classrooms. Visit the Favorite Poem Project website (link below) to learn more, or to download an application. http://www.favoritepoem.org/forTeachers.html Best wishes, Maggie Dietz Director, Favorite Poem Project *** The Favorite Poem Project sends email rarely, and only to those who've subscribed to our email list via our Web site. [ send green star]
James M N.	PsychRights: Ak- "incapable of protecting kids in it's care" [PsychRights] Alaska Admits It Is Incap April 16, 2009 1:36 AM PsychRights: Ak- "incapable of protecting kids in it's care" [PsychRights] Alaska Admits It Is Incapable of Protecting Children and Youth in It's Care from Harmful Psychiatric Drugging FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jim Gottstein 907-274-7686 jim.gottstein@psychrights.org Alaska Admits It Is Incapable of Protecting Children and Youth in Its Care from Harmful Psychiatric Drugging Today, responding to the State of Alaska's admission in PsychRights v. Alaska that it was incapable of protecting the children and youth in its care from improper and harmful psychiatric drugging, the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights®) told the court it must step in. PsychRights v. Alaska was filed last Fall to halt the State of Alaska's practice of administering and paying for psychiatric drugs being given children and youth without safeguards being in place to make sure proper decision making occurs. In trying to get PsychRights v. Alaska "thrown out of court" the State admitted it was incapable of protecting the children and youth in its care as follows: A reading of the Complaint makes obvious that the true subject of plaintiff's grievances is not the Department, but prescribers of psychotropic pharmaceuticals, the pharmaceutical companies which produce and market them, and the overall culture of pediatric psychiatry. The implication that the Department possesses meaningful authority and control over these matters-or is in any realistic position to administer the relief requested even if the court were to order it-is a fiction. "The point is the State has the responsibility to properly care for the children and youth in its care regardless of the 'culture of pediatric psychiatry,'" according Mr. Gottstein. Today's court filing tells the court, "It is shameful the State is abdicating its responsibility when it should be working to correct the problem." In the absence of the State being willing to address the problem without court intervention, the lawsuit seeks to solve it by obtaining a court order prohibiting the psychiatric drugging of children and youth by the State unless and until (i) evidence-based psychosocial interventions have been exhausted, (ii) rationally anticipated benefits of psychotropic drug treatment outweigh the risks, (iii) the person or entity authorizing administration of the drug(s) is fully informed of the risks and potential benefits, and (iv) close monitoring of, and appropriate means of responding to, treatment emergent effects are in place. Practically every day brings revelations that pediatric psychopharmacology is the result of illegal drug company actions to improperly influence psychiatrists to prescribe extremely harmful drugs to children and youth, in spite of there being no real evidence of their efficacy. "Rather than meeting its mandate to properly care for and protect these children and youth from harm, the actions of the State are reprehensible," Mr. Gottstein declared, adding "The State is also trying to hide its complicity by stopping the discovery process." The defendants in the lawsuit are the State of Alaska, its Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), and responsible officials, Sarah Palin, Governor, William Hogan, Commissioner of DHSS, Tammy Sandoval, Director of the Office of Children's Services (OCS), Steve McComb, Director of the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Melissa Stone, Director of the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH), Ron Adler, CEO of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API), and William Streur Deputy Commissioner and Director of Medicaid. All of the substantive filings in the lawsuit are available on the Internet at http://psychrights.org/States/Alaska/PsychRightsvAlaska.htm. The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights is a public interest law firm devoted to the defense of people facing the horrors of unwarranted forced psychiatric drugging and electroshock. PsychRights is further dedicated to exposing the truth about psychiatric interventions and the courts being misled into ordering people subjected to these brain and body damaging drugs against their will. Extensive information about these dangers, and about the tragic damage caused by electroshock, is available on the PsychRights web site: http://psychrights.org/. # # # -- James B. (Jim) Gottstein, Esq. President/CEO Law Project for Psychiatric Rights 406 G Street, Suite 206 Anchorage, Alaska 99501 USA Phone: (907) 274-7686) Fax: (907) 274-9493 jim.gottstein[[at]]psychrights.org http://psychrights.org/ PsychRights® Law Project for Psychiatric Rights The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights is a public interest law firm devoted to the defense of people facing the horrors of forced psychiatric drugging. We are further dedicated to exposing the truth about these drugs and the courts being misled into ordering people to be drugged and subjected to other brain and body damaging interventions against their will. Extensive information about this is available on our web site, http://psychrights.org/. Please donate generously. Our work is fueled with your IRS 501(c) tax deductible donations. Thank you for your ongoing help and support. You have been sent this e-mail because we think you are interested in PsychRights' mission to mount a strategic litigation campaign against forced psychiatric drugging and electroshock. If this is incorrect or you otherwise want to be removed from this list, or if you have any questions about this list, e-mail contact@psychrights.org. [ send green star]
James M N.	NOW Acts: Hurry, kid's Health Plan Up / Vote in Senate January 24, 2009 6:37 AM NOW Acts: Hurry, kid's Health Plan Up / Vote in Senate [NOW Actions] Hurry! Children's Health Plan Up for Vote in Senate Support NOW's Work \| January 23, 2009 \| Tell a Friend Action Needed http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=12497951 Background All NOW Actions More about SCHIP Urge Senate to Vote for Children's Health Plan and Include Legal Resident Immigrant Children Action Needed: On the heels of the House's reauthorization (289-139) of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), the Senate will take up their version of the bill (S. 275, Baucus, D-Mont.) which expands coverage to include an additional four million low-income children who have no health insurance. We anticipate that the Senate will vote early next week and we are asking you to contact both of your senators right now and urge them to vote for SCHIP and especially to oppose any attempt to dilute or strip the coverage for immigrant children who are legal residents (known as ICHIA, the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act). This legislation also includes coverage of pregnant immigrant women whose children will be born as U.S.citizens. ACT NOW! Background: As one of its first votes in the new 111th Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted on January 14 to expand the health insurance program for children in families who earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid and yet can't afford private health insurance. This expansion of SCHIP will prevent children in such circumstances from 'falling through the cracks' and having to rely on the emergency room for their health care. Part of the House-passed bill was the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA), which rectifies the current injustice that legal immigrants are barred from accessing health care through SCHIP or Medicaid for five years after arrival. Five years is unacceptable to deny any child health care because of a lack of health insurance. As a result of this unjust restriction, states are forced to spend scarce non-federal dollars to provide safety net programs for low-income immigrants. ICHIA allows legal immigrant children and pregnant women to access health benefits under Medicaid or SCHIP. In the face of our current economic crisis, health care coverage for an additional four million children of struggling families is more important than ever. George W. Bush vetoed an expansion of SCHIP twice, but now with a supportive president, Barack Obama, advocates are hoping that this critical health care bill will be signed into law. TAKE ACTION Contact your Senators now and urge them to support SCHIP and oppose any attempts to undermine or eliminate the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA) provisions. Or call the U.S. Capitol switchboard number, 202-224-3121, and ask to be connected to your senators' offices. Ask to speak to the staff person who handles health care issues. SUPPORT NOW: Support NOW's Work for Equal Rights \| Join NOW \| Monthly Giving \| Catalog \| Shop Amazon TAKE ACTION: Get Involved \| Find Your Nearest Chapter \| Tell a Friend \| Learn More [ send green star]
James M N.	Childhood is not a disease January 11, 2009 10:23 PM Childhood is not a disease Letters to the editor: editpage@ledger.com The Patriot Ledger How many more Rebecca Rileys? To diagnose a 2-year-old as bipolar by adult standards is crazy By Jacob Azerrad Jan 10, 2009 QUINCY — In a 2007 “60 Minutes” episode, Katie Couric focused on the short life of 4-year-old Rebecca Riley of Hull. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 3, she was dead one year later from an overdose of a psychotropic drug cocktail. At one point, Couric asks Rebecca’s mother, who has been charged with her daughter’s murder, if she thinks her child’s behavior might have been normal. That in fact, maybe little Rebecca was just exhibiting Terrible Two’s behavior. Couric might well ask mental health professionals: Whatever happened to the Terrible Two’s? We use a medical model developed by Freud, not a behavioral model, to measure behavior. Freud believed that if a behavior works, it’s healthy, and if it doesn’t, it’s sick. So if a 3-year-old is drawing inside the lines of the coloring book, parents don’t have a thing to worry about, but if he or she is drawing on the wallpaper, the stage is set for a clinical diagnosis. And there’s a pill to fix it. There are pills for yelling, biting, throwing, kicking, cursing, punching, name-calling and lying. There are pills for whispering in class, for when grandma dies and for bad habits. There are pills for daydreaming. There’s a big difference between using medicines to treat genuine mental illness and designing new drugs to medicate perfectly healthy children. Today, as the mental health industry systematically pathologizes more and more childhood behavior, we see a raft of drugs aimed at “curing” them. But the medical model of behavior overshot its target. Now it’s treating learned responses as though they were diseases, and almost all human behavior is based on learned responses. Studies in the 1970s and ’80s concluded bipolar disorder was rare in children, but between 1994 to 2003, there was an astounding 40-fold increase diagnosing bipolar disorder in children. Children as young as Rebecca are now given powerful drugs not approved for children. In Massachusetts alone, from 1988 to 2003, the prescription of stimulants, antidepressants and anti-psychotics given to children rose more than 300 percent, and the number of teenage users is even greater. From 1993 through the first three months of last year, 1,207 children who were given Risperdal suffered serious problems, including 31 who died. Among the deaths was a 9-year-old who suffered a fatal stroke 12 days after starting therapy with Risperdal. A key issue is the misuse of psychiatric diagnostic labels to explain bad behavior in children. This has resulted in the drugging of young children to a degree unprecedented in our history. To diagnose a 2-year-old as bipolar by adult standards is crazy. The behavior of a 2-year-old is filled with curiosity about everything and anything. The young child has extraordinary ability in terms of emotions and cognitions. They can be very upset very quickly, very angry, very depressed, because their emotions are so fluid, so available. When a guy in the Terrible 50s tries to diagnose the Terrible Two’s on an adult level, that is craziness and dangerous. By prescribing strong medicines instead of teaching children new choices using proven behavioral methods, we short-circuit a child’s learning process and, even worse, lay the tracks for a lifetime habit of responding to challenge and disappointment with avoidance, denial and chemical dependency. Growing up is not a condition. Childhood is not a disease. Children act up and defy authority and they need adults to teach them how to manage difficult feelings and handle disappointment appropriately. There are ways for parents to do this that are quite effective and don’t involve drugs, but they do involve parents being teachers. Our preschool children are far too young to defend themselves. It’s up to parents to “say no to drugs” and teach their children that life is meant to be learned and experienced – it’s not just a pill to be swallowed. Jacob Azerrad, a clinical psychologist in Lexington, is the author of “From Difficult to Delightful in Just 30 Days,” published by McGraw-Hill. Source: http://www.patriotledger.com/opinions/x946309370/JACOB-AZERRAD-How-many-more-Rebecca-Rileys -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28,067 Signatures Against TeenScreen. Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfU9puZQKBY [ send green star]
James M N.	Foster Kids speak out against Psych Drugs November 21, 2008 2:02 PM Below is a story from Alaska where foster kids are speaking out against psych drugs. And here http://tinyurl.com/6o747r are a few videos where Texas foster kids are speaking out too. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor: http://www.adn.com/help/letters/ Anchorage Daily NewsFoster kids say medication is overprescribedLEGISLATIVE MEETING: Youths and graduates of the system offer alternatives.By LISA DEMERNovember 15th, 2008Before a roomful of important adults, foster kids and graduates of the system talked about being put on powerful psychiatric drugs and undergoing "treatment" when what might have helped more was a chance for a regular life with sports and clubs and jobs. Friday's day-long legislative meeting drew a number of state officials, lawmakers and advocates, and focused on how to improve Alaska foster care. In May, a group of foster care youth and those who have aged out came up with eight ways to improve the system. Among the identified problems: Overprescribed psychiatric drugs. Too many foster children are prescribed psychiatric drugs, the kids said. They are labeled as disturbed, defiant or anxious when in reality they are just reacting to the trauma of their broken families and the difficulties of living in state custody. Candice Tucker remembered when she first went into foster care two years ago, at age 15, because her mother couldn't take care of her. "I was freaking out because I had just gotten into care. I was having a hard time so they thought I needed residential," Tucker, now 17, said. For her, the treatment center helped, but she questions all the drugs doctors put her on. "There are natural things in life that stress you out. You get depressed. You get sad or you get angry or anxious. They are natural emotions. I feel being in foster care and being on as many anti-psychotics and anti-depressants that I've been on -- they see me for a week and they assume that's the way I've always been," Tucker said, her voice soft but her manner open. Later she explained that she's shy, but wants to make life better for other foster children if she can. Now, as she's preparing to start at the University of Alaska Anchorage in January, Tucker wants to ease off the powerful medications. "I need to have my mind with me. I need to be alert," she said. Slade Martin is 20 now, but he spent 15 years in Alaska's foster care system and shuffled through, by his count, 21 different foster homes, emergency placements and treatment centers. He once was treated at a local psychiatric hospital and said every kid there is put on psychiatric drugs. The kids want the medications cut back and think that will help them focus better on school and function better in the world. "I don't think meds are always the best option," Martin said. A NEED TO BE NORMAL Counseling is traumatic to some kids -- telling your story to one stranger and then another, said Becca Shier, now 18 and a UAA student in social work who has been in foster care nearly six years. Some, like her, will never open up. Instead of making them feel like something is wrong with them, Shier told the legislators, why not get them involved in extra curricular activities so they can be part of a regular school experience? "So they could be normal." Teens in foster care too often end up in treatment centers because the state has no other home for them; they are the "foster homeless," Shier said. Martin said he spent 2 1/2 years at an Anchorage treatment center because no foster family would take him in. "Some crazy people up in there," he told legislators. He said he was "diagnosed with everything under the rainbow" but doesn't think anything was really wrong with him. Other kids stabbed people and punched holes in the walls and were scary, he said during a break. Tammy Sandoval, director of the state Office of Children's Services, said later that she was taken with what the youths had to say. The idea of kids spending months or years in residential treatment centers for lack of a family is troubling and she wants to look into the matter. But the fact is, the state doesn't have enough foster homes, especially for teenagers, she said. Sandoval said she planned to discuss the medication issues with the state's director of behavioral health. The foster kids and alumni at the meeting are especially articulate and successful, said state Rep. Les Gara, an Anchorage Democrat who grew up in foster care in New York state and was one of the main organizers of Friday's session. Foster kids too often struggle in school, end up homeless and are unemployed as young adults, according to studies presented at the meeting. The kids who spoke Friday have been finding their voice through an advocacy group called Facing Foster Care in Alaska that now numbers about 140 statewide, said its president, Amanda Metivier, who at 24 helped organize the conference and is weeks away from graduating from UAA with a social work degree. She'll be one of the first to graduate on a special tuition waiver specifically for foster kids. The foster care group wants all foster kids to be offered that benefit. Now just 10 foster kids a year get that at UAA. At their May meeting, they also agreed to push for Medicaid health benefits to age 21, Medicaid-paid braces, and money to help older foster kids live on their own. But state Sen. Johnny Ellis, an Anchorage Democrat at the meeting, said even sympathetic legislators may have trouble getting new programs into the state budget with the recent dramatic drop in the price of oil. Source: http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/589914.html Only 59 More Signatures Needed: 28,000 Against TeenScreen! Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfU9puZQKBY [ send green star]
James M N.	TeenScreen Lawsuit and No Child Left Undrugged June 27, 2008 1:51 PM All of the documents filed in the TeenScreen lawsuit can be found here: www.psychsearch.net/teenscreen_lawsuit.html The last entry is from Teresa Rhoades' attorney (plaintiff) asking for a trial by jury "to be held as soon as is expeditiously available on the Court's calendar" The Rutherford Institute filed the lawsuit in federal court in Indiana on behalf of the Rhoades' family whose 15- year-old daughter, Chelsea Rhoades, was subjected to a mental health screening examination at her school without her parents' knowledge or consent and then was diagnosed with two mental "disorders". Institute attorneys charge that school officials violated Michael and Teresa Rhoades' constitutional right, as parents, to control the care, custody and upbringing of their daughter when Chelsea was subjected to TeenScreen withouth their knowledge or consent. Rutherford InstituteNo Child Left UndruggedBy John W. Whitehead 6/9/2008 According to autopsy reports, 4-year-old Rebecca Riley died from an overdose of psychiatric drugs. At age 2, Rebecca was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). At 3, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. By the time she died on Dec. 13, 2006, little Rebecca was taking Clonidine, as well as the anti-convulsant Depakote and the anti-psychotic Seroquel. John WhiteheadWhat were some of the symptoms that prompted such treatment plans? As her mother described it, Rebecca was "constantly getting into things, running around, not being able to settle down." Rebecca's diagnosis was not a medical aberration. Her 10-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister were already being treated for manic depression. Indeed, nearly one million children are reportedly diagnosed as bipolar, making it more common than autism and diabetes combined. From 1994 to 2003, the number of children treated for bipolar disorder increased 40 percent, a jump that many experts attribute to more doctors aggressively applying the diagnosis. An increasing number of medical officials are voicing the concern that children are being misdiagnosed. Dr. John McClellan, who runs a children's psychiatric hospital in the state of Washington, suggested that the bipolar diagnosis has become a catch-all for aggressive and troubled children. Likewise, child psychiatrist John Holttum believes that the definition of bipolar disorder is expanding. Whereas children who were seen as troubled or irritable 10 or 15 years ago might have been treated with counseling, parental training for their caregivers or other social interventions, children with similar symptoms today are being diagnosed as bipolar and treated with medication. Unfortunately, for many families, therapy is not even an option. According to Dr. Michael Brody, a child psychiatrist at the University of Maryland, since insurance companies often do not support therapy, most parents opt for medication. Not surprisingly, the pharmaceutical companies are reaping the rewards, aided by the medical community and the media. Bipolar disorder medication is typically three to five times more expensive than medications prescribed for other disorders, such as depression or anxiety. As the News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash., points out, "Furthering the trend is extensive marketing of atypical anti- psychotics by the companies that make them, and media coverage of bipolar disorder as a childhood disease." Yet many of the anti-psychotic drugs being prescribed for children have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use on them. Of the two that have been approved for children, Risperdahl and Abilify, they've only been approved for short-term use. Nevertheless, as the News Tribune points out, because these drugs have been approved for adults, "doctors are free to prescribe drugs to anyone and in any way they see fit once they have been approved for some purpose." What this means is that in addition to being misdiagnosed, there is an increased likelihood that children are also being overdrugged. Concern about this scenario has prompted Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, chief medical officer for the Washington state Medicaid program, to provide more stringent guidelines to ensure that anti-psychotic drugs are prescribed to Medicaid children only when truly needed and at proper dosages. While Thompson's actions signal a move in the right direction, at least for minor-aged Medicaid recipients in his state, it will do little to help children in private care and in other states. When confronted with the numbers of children being diagnosed with bipolar disorder—about 800,000 in 2003, and likely much higher now— it is hard to know how to respond. Could that many young people truly be suffering from this disorder? It is tempting to lay the blame on an over-zealous medical community or a greedy pharmaceutical industry. There is no doubt that they have benefited financially from the sharp rise in bipolar cases among young people. Is it more a case of kids just being kids—noisy, rambunctious, hyperactive, disorderly? Or is there something else going on here? Curiously, one study released in 2007 indicated that among children diagnosed with bipolar disorder, two-thirds of them were boys. While there are undeniably cases where children are actually suffering and are helped by diagnosis and medication, I have to wonder about the majority. Little is said in the studies I have read about the impact that family life and the environment may have on the behavior of children diagnosed as bipolar, or even ADHD, yet they can't be ruled out. Society as a whole has become irresponsible in its duty to young people. Obsessed with materialism, we have handed over our young people to marketing mavens and corporations eager to make a quick buck. Distracted by entertainment, we have relinquished our children to t [ send green star]
James M N.	SPSSI Digest - 25 May 2008 to 26 May 2008 (#2008-110) June 01, 2008 2:24 PM There are 2 messages totalling 1159 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. psychrights.org: Important Alaska Supreme Court Stay Order 2. FW: [COR] ASPP To Give Student Travel Award: Learn How APA Governance Works ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 09:54:57 -0700 From: James M Nordlund Subject: psychrights.org: Important Alaska Supreme Court Stay Order Important Alaska Supreme Court Stay Order Hi Everyone, You may know that PsychRights has been battling with the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) over its forced drugging of Mr. Bill Bigley since December of 2006. An out of date narrative is at http://psychrights.org/States/Alaska/CaseSeven.htm. To summarize, API has been drugging him against his will since 1980 in at least 75 admissions. Until last week, the hospital never got to a forced drugging hearing when PsychRights was representing him. In last week's trial, through the tremendous written testimony of Robert Whitaker, Ron Bassman, Sarah Porter, and even Loren Mosher of blessed memory, and through the written and live testimony of Dr. Grace Jackson, we put on what I think is fair to say a compelling case against the forced use of these drugs in general, and Risperdal Consta in particular, which was the drug the hospital intended to inject into Mr. Bigley against his wishes. There was unrebutted evidence about the tremendous harm the drugging causes, including brain damage, as well as the physical harm, and how they prevent people from recovering. The hospital's response was basically "that's what we do." In other words, "that's the standard of care." On Monday, the trial court ruled against us and in response to our motion for a stay pending appeal, gave us just 48 hours to get a stay from the Alaska Supreme Court. What a stay means is that the order allowing the forced drugging is put on hold and the hospital can't act on it. We filed an Emergency Motion for Stay Pending Appeal on May 20th and API asked for and was given more time to respond on the condition they not drug Mr. Bigley in the interim. Today after considering our motion and API's opposition, the Alaska Supreme Court granted our Emergency Motion for Stay Pending Appeal. I am writing because I think this Order from the Alaska Supreme Court is potentially very important in potentially forcing the hospital to use means other than forced drugging. It is also very important in establishing the right to prevent forced drugging during the pendency of an appeal when a trial court orders that the forced drugging is allowed. As we know, especially for people who haven't been on these drugs for a long period of time, just allowing them to avoid the drugs for such a period of time can be crucial in allowing them to get through a bout of psychosis and recover. The whole set of documents, including transcripts are available at http://psychrights.org/States/Alaska/CaseSeven.htm#08-00493 -- James B. (Jim) Gottstein, Esq. President/CEO Law Project for Psychiatric Rights 406 G Street, Suite 206 Anchorage, Alaska 99501 USA Phone: (907) 274-7686) Fax: (907) 274-9493 jim.gottstein[[at]]psychrights.org http://psychrights.org/ PsychRights® Law Project for Psychiatric Rights The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights is a public interest law firm devoted to the defense of people facing the horrors of forced psychiatric drugging. We are further dedicated to exposing the truth about these drugs and the courts being misled into ordering people to be drugged and subjected to other brain and body damaging interventions against their will. Extensive information about this is available on our web site, http://psychrights.org/. Please donate generously. Our work is fueled with your IRS 501(c) tax deductible donations. Thank you for your ongoing help and support. You have been sent this e-mail because we think you are interested in PsychRights' mission to mount a strategic litigation campaign against forced psychiatric drugging and electroshock. If this is incorrect or you otherwise do not want to be removed from this list, or if you have any questions about this list, e-mail contact@psychrights.org. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 12:55:14 -0700 From: Allen Omoto Subject: FW: [COR] ASPP To Give Student Travel Award: Learn How APA Governance Works This is a multi-part MIME message. --=_reb-r289B48C1-t4839C45D Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="=_reb-r6997CC9A-t4839C45D" This is a multi-part MIME message. --=_reb-r6997CC9A-t4839C45D Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Please help advertise this award notice to students who might be interested= in attending the Feb meeting of the APA Council of Representatives and lea= rning more about APA governance. The deadline for application is July 30, = 2008. Allen M. Omoto, Ph.D. SPSSI representative to APA Council of Representatives From: Assembly of Scientist/Practitioner Psychologists, American Psychological Association Linda C. Sobell, Ph.D., ABPP Chair, Assembly of Scientist/Practitioner Psychologists (ASPP) =20 Date: April 18, 2008 The Assembly of Scientist/Practitioner Psychologists (ASPP), a caucus of the Representatives of APA, is providing an expense paid trip to the February 2009 Council meeting in Washington DC for a doctoral student in psychology to become familiar with the governance structure of the APA Council and the caucuses and how they work. At the Council meeting the student who receives the award will be mentored by the Chair of the ASPP. The ASPP Board will review all submissions, select a student and announce th [ send green star]
James M N.	STOP MANDATORY MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING OF SCHOOL KIDS May 01, 2008 11:32 PM RUSH!!! URGENT!!! Please sign and forward this petition Please sign and forward this petition: Click here: http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html STOP MANDATORY MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING OF AMERICAN SCHOOL CHILDREN More about TeenScreen: TEEN-SCREEN PROTESTS (PICTURES) http://www.teenscreen-locations.com/photos.htm Have you picketed the psychiatric facility that is pushing TeenScreen in your schools? Have you protested against child drugging? SCREENING CHILDREN http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061501984.html ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft- com:office:smarttags" />New York plans to start screening 400,000 children a year SCREENING THE ELDERLY http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR.2629 ..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> SCREENING NEW MOTHERS - POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=257314 SCREENING SOLDIERS http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc- mental0623.artjun23,0,4967227.story?coll=hc-headlines-nationworld [ send green star]
James M N.	[cupeaction] CUPE 4823 - Kids and Company - needs your support! November 24, 2007 3:11 AM le francais suit l'anglais About 120 early childhood educators and assistants at Kids and Company -- members of CUPE 4823 -- are fighting for a first collective agreement. They have a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m., Thursday, November 29. Kids and Company is one of Canada's largest private child care providers, catering to corporate clients who want to provide workplace child care. Kids and Company is expanding rapidly, while claiming not to have the financial means to pay their employees a fair wage and provide them with WSIB coverage. You can help the members of CUPE 4823 win a fair collective agreement by sending a message to their employer through http://www.4823.cupe.ca/action/quality Please take a moment to send an email today -- and then forward this message to your contacts. --- La section locale 4823 –Kids and Company – a besoin de votre appui! Environ 120 éducatrices et aides-éducatrices de la petite enfance chez Kids and Company – membres de la section locale 4823 du SCFP – luttent pour leur première convention collective. Leur délai de grève a été fixé à minuit et une, le jeudi 29 novembre. Kids and Company, l’un des plus importants fournisseurs privés de services de garde à l’enfance au Canada, propose ses services aux entreprises qui offrent des garderies sur place. Kids and Company grandit rapidement mais affirme ne pas avoir les moyens de verser à ses employées un salaire équitable et de leur fournir la protection de la CSPAAT. Vous pouvez aider les membres de la section locale 4823 du SCFP à obtenir une convention collective équitable en faisant parvenir un message à leur employeur à: http://www.4823.cupe.ca/action/quality Veuillez prendre un instant pour envoyer ce courriel dès aujourd’hui et faites-le parvenir à votre liste de contacts. [ send green star]
James M N.	Thanx :) October 10, 2007 7:07 AM Glad to read it, very cool. Thought and feeling :) I post on those issues in Canada as well, and look forward to doing it in your group. Recently, I stsrted posting the urls to some of the sites I moderate, Because I found people don't do as much as one might think they would; so, I put urls o make it easier to do some advocacy, increasing the possibility that they might. What do you think? From the heart in the heart of the heartland. Some of the groups I moderate :) Disabled Greens News and discussion, Group :) http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/ Abuse in Therapy, Group :) http://www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/ Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and professionals: Invite link: http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880 , Homepage: http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action reality's 360 page and blog :) http://360.yahoo.com/jamesmnordlund reality's My Space page, blog :) http://myspace.com/jamesmnordlund Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities: United to Demand Justice and Social Change: http://rippdnycnetwork.ning.com/profile/realiteee Prison Abuse Social Network! Welcome to all Abolitionists: http://sdicks4msnetwork.ning.com/profile/realiteee reality's Windows Live Space :) http://jamesmnordlundreality.spaces.live.com/default.aspx?owner=1&wa=wsignin1.0 reality's geocities website :) http://www.geocities.com/jamesmnordlund/index.html Poets For Human Rights :) http://groups.google.com/group/Poets-for-Human-Rights/web/realitys-twigs-of-poetree-pour-vous "Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci. Enjoy an estival eve' as you can. Lest "we" forget, if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese twin sister, freedom, will wither, like a muscle, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized before its exercised. Viva la evolution! Matutinally Yours, james m nordlund reality (aja) :) Music is life's song accompanying the abundance of joy's Spring. For those interested :) "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating to or happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal), (Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess of the dawn.)". I look forward.... Copy, share, as you will. Ciao. [ send green star]
	Hi Everyone October 08, 2007 5:55 AM Hi All: In Canada each province has its own medical program and most provinces have a specialized program to ensure the children are covered for most issues. This is an issue when it comes to some things as most families on low to mid income are still required to pay some on some services and some items, but for the most part kids are covered up to the age of at least 12 in most provinces. Talk to you all soon.l sure hope that everyone is doing well, and that they are looking after themselves. Alice Daniels [ send green star] [ accepted]
James M N.	April Breath & Shadow, Vol.4, No.4, Parents & Children June 09, 2007 3:18 PM Volume 4, Number 4, the new issue of Breath & Shadow, ROSC's Journal of Literature and Disability Culture, is now online. This month's theme is "Parents and Children." This month we take a long-overdue look at Parents and Children, using fiction, poetry, and theater to tell diverse stories. Taking the form of an email is our featured short story, Terry Sanville's, "First Contact." With detail and intimacy, Sanville draws us in and leads us through the narrator's life, from childhood to adulthood. Poet Abby Astor shows the perilous side of childhood in her powerful pieces, "Death by Numbers" and "Normal." Then, some theater! Lauren J. Bies's short play, "A Parental Good-Bye," is a quirky stew of your typical family: dysfunctional. Throw in a few plots twists, let simmer, and see if it drives you coconuts! Following is Nichole Hirt's contemplative and poetic short story, "Through a Small Window," which examines parenthood through the eyes of one parent who yearns for her partner to be the father she and her children need him to be. Finally, don't miss the hilarious photo accompanying our StaffShot this month of poetry editor Arden Hill, written by John Allen. Arden discusses his identities and memberships in multiple communities, his views on language and perceptions about psychiatric disability, and what he does for fun. To read Breath & Shadow, go to http://www.abilitymaine.org/breath, or use the link at the bottom of this post. Breath & Shadow News of Note â?¢ Thank you to our readers who have made pledges for the Write-a-Thon! It's a real thrill for the writers to get your vote of confidence in their work and for all of us to know that you support Breath & Shadow. You still have time to sponsor your favorite writer. We really mean it when we say no amount is too small. â?¢ More Writers Have Joined the Write-a-Thon! The names of writers who have recently taken up the challenge to participate in the Breath & Shadow Write-a-Thon are below. Following their names are the type of work they plan to write -- and in some cases the theme they've chosen. Following that, in parentheses, are the titles of their most recent work to appear in Breath & Shadow. David Bolt -- Prose ("The Silent Treatment") Carolyn Burns Bass -- Prose (future contributor) Linda Cronin -- Poetry ("Treatment," "Normal") Petra Kuppers -- Poetry (future contributor) Louise Norlie -- Fiction ("The Mascot") Margaret Price -- Poetry/What I Don't Know ("Gratitude and Cancer," Grief for Dummies") Kari Pope -- Prose ("Conversation with Lynn Manning: Strive toward Making That Opportunity") Kathi Wolfe -- Poetry/What I Don't Know (future contributor) For the complete list of 'thonners and more information on our Write-a-Thon, please see the bottom of this post. â?¢ Upcoming issues: With spring upon us, our thoughts turn to love and lust -- at least, that's the theme for May, which will include writing by Erika Jahneke, Sharon Wachsler, Stephe Irving, Chris Kuell, and Thomas Gagnon. June's theme is still to be determined. July and August are our summer hiatus, and then in the fall (September, October, and November) we will be publishing the Write-a-Thon pieces on the themes of Spirit, Naked, and What I Don't Know. â?¢ Long-Overdue Changes to Our Staff Page. See who does what behind the scenes. The biggest change is that we now have a new managing editor: Chris Kuell. When I became too sick to keep up with all my usual work for the journal in December, the rest of the editorial staff really stepped up to take on the extra lad. Chris, in particular, took over a big chunk of my job, including handling submissions (keeping track of them, sending them to other editors to read, sending out acceptance and rejection letters, etc.). Since my illness exacerbation has continued, and Chris has continued to do an excellent job, he is now officially managing editor. Kudos to Chris! You can read his bio (and my updated one), along with learning who the rest of our staff is, at http://www.abilitymaine.org/breath/staff.html. â?¢ Missed last month's issue? Check it out in our archives! You can read the last few issues by pasting in http://www.abilitymaine.org/breath/archive.html. or by clicking on "Past Issues of Breath & Shadow" from our index page. â?¢ Please forward the contents of this email to friends, family, and colleagues and let them know that they can sign up for a free, monthly subscription by emailing breathandshadow@aol.com and putting "subscribe" in the subject line. â?¢ Thank you for your patience. If you've sent submissions, queries, revisions, or other correspondence and haven't heard back, it's probably because we haven't had a chance to open the email yet. We receive hundreds of emails and our all staff are all disabled and/or chronically ill. It's not unusual, especially if several of us are having health problems at the same time, for it to take two or more months before you receive a reply. Please wait at least two months before you email a follow-up. If your email is time-sensitive, please write "Urgent" in the subject line, along with the topic of your post. Thank you! Your email really is important to us. â?¢ The Write-a-Thon Scoop: Complete List of Write-a-Thon Participants: John Allen -- Prose/Spirit ("the man," "cans," "you called") Abby Astor -- Poetry/Naked ("Death by Numbers," "Normal") David Bolt -- Prose ("The Silent Treatment") Ina Mae Brooks -- Prose ("Lessons From a Four-Footed Tutor") Carolyn Burns Bass -- Prose (future contributor) Linda Cronin -- Poetry ("Treatment," "Normal") Eric Gadzinski -- Poetry/Spirit ("Jim," "Ecdysis") Todd Austin Hunt -- Prose ("Dr. Plato's Surprise") *Erika Jahneke -- Prose ("Stamped") Sharon Wachsler Editor, Breath & Shadow www.abilitymaine.org/breath breathandshadow@aol.com [ send green star]
James M N.	thepeacealliance.org: Special Call: Hope and Healing for Virginia Tech April 23, 2007 4:40 AM thepeacealliance.org: Special Call: Hope and Healing for Virginia Tech Special Call: Hope and Healing for Virginia Tech Special Conference Call www.thepeacealliance.org Hope and Healing in Response to Virginia Tech April 19, 2007 6:00 PT / 9:00 ET Dear Department of Peace Campaign Supporters, You are invited to join a special conference call for all supporters, Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 6:00 pm Pacific, 9:00 Eastern. We will come together for one hour. It will be a time of connection, meditation, prayer, sharing, and anchoring the vision of peace that we all hold in our hearts. This call will not be recorded. We will spend 20 minutes in silent meditation, at the beginning from 6:05 - 6:15 Pacific / 9:05 - 9:15 Eastern, and at the end from 6:50 - 7:00 Pacific / 9:50 - 10:00 Eastern. If you cannot join the call, we invite you to join us in meditation at these times, anchoring the feeling and vision of peace. Call-in number: (605) 772-3001, access code is: 470821# Thank you, The Peace Alliance The Peace Alliance PO Box 70095 -- Rochester Hills MI 48307 USA Tel & Fax 248.813.8950 www.ThePeaceAlliance.org -- Info@ThePeaceAlliance.org [ send green star]
James M N.	Next LD Talk: LD & the Juvenile Justice System January 22, 2007 6:34 PM Save the Date! Next LD Talk Tuesday, January 23, 2007 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT, 1:00 AM - 2:00 PM CT) LD & the Juvenile Justice System: Understanding At-Risk Behavior and Ensuring Effective Services and Supports Individuals with learning disabilities (LD), and especially teenagers and young adults, are at increased risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system. Many people with LD (and ADD/ADHD) struggle to stay focused and well-organized, have trouble with expressive and receptive language, are poor listeners and experience delays or deficits in listening and reading comprehension, and are prone to process information too quickly or too slowly and inefficiently. It is especially important to know how to recognize features associated with LD in matters involving juvenile justice so the actions and intentions of these teens and young adults can be properly understood so they can be provided the services and protections they deserve. Join us on January 23rd at 2:00 p.m. for an hour-long live online discussion with Peter Leone and Lili Garfinkel, two national experts on this topic, who will answer questions and reflect upon the specific types of behaviors that place kids with LD at-risk. The chat will provide information and resources about how parents, schools, mental health providers, juvenile justice professionals and others can provide options, appropriate treatment, solutions and resources. How to Participate: Submit advance questions for the discussion now or join in at discussion time to http://www.ldtalk.org/ . No special equipment other than Internet access is needed to participate in this text-based discussion. A transcript will be posted shortly after the discussion. About the experts: Lili Garfinkel is the coordinator of the Juvenile Justice Project at the PACER Center in Minneapolis (www.pacer.org). PACER is a parent center for families of children and young adults with physical, emotional, cognitive and learning disabilities. PACER provides workshops, resources, individual advocacy, training and technical assistance for parents and professionals both in Minnesota and nationally. Educated at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, with some post graduate work in Minnesota, Mrs. Garfinkel has worked with underrepresented groups in Canada and Minnesota. She coordinated the Lets Prevent Abuse project for PACER in 1984-87, and started the Juvenile Justice Project in 1994, the first in the United States to consider the relationship between Juvenile Justice and the presence of disabilities. From 1999-2006 she was a member of the National Center on Education Disability and Juvenile Justice, a unique partnership which provided research, training and technical assistance as well as parent advocacy in this emerging field. Mrs. Garfinkel has been published widely and has presented across the country on a variety of topics pertaining to mental health, juvenile justice, special education and working with families. She has developed a handbook on Juvenile Justice and Mental health titled "Unique Challenges, Hopeful Responses," which is currently being revised and expanded to include more disability information, new IDEA regulations and issues including competency in court. She also co-authored a book with Dr. Andrew Slaby, "No One Saw My Pain" (Norton, 1994). Peter Leone is a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Maryland. A former middle school special education teacher, Peter has spent a number of years studying the challenges faced by youth with disabilities who come into contact with the juvenile and criminal justice systems. He has directed the National Center on Education, Disability, and Juvenile Justice (EDJJ.org), worked with the courts and advocates in ensuring that incarcerated youth receive services to which they are entitled, and has published studies and reports related to school discipline, exclusion, and prevention. Dr. Leone received his B.A. in history and M.A. in Special Education from the University of Iowa and received his Ph.D. in special education at the University of Washington. He and his wife Diane have three children, Andrew, 19, Kimberly 16, and Matthew 10. Our discussion will be moderated by Laura Kaloi, Director, Public Policy at the National Center for Learning Disabilities. How to Participate Submit advance questions for the discussion now or join in at discussion time to http://www.ldtalk.org/ . No special equipment other than Internet access is needed to participate in this text-based discussion. A transcript will be posted shortly after the discussion. Transcripts of previous discussions are available for your review at http://www.ncld.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=899 . The National Center for Learning Disabilities brings you LDTalk.org, the Internet's only Web site featuring discussions on issues critically important to people with learning disabilities. Funding for LD Talk is provided by the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, a nonprofit which also supports SchwabLearning.org and SparkTop.org, resources that provide parents of kids with learning difficulties, and kids themselves, with practical information, empathic support, and trustworthy guidance. -------------------------------------------------- Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. http://ga3.org/join-forward.html?domain=ldnews&r=PdqEZZ61_YFi If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for NCLD E-newsletters at: http://ga3.org/ldnews/join.html?r=PdqEZZ61_YFiE [ send green star]
James M N.	Rest :) URGE THE SENATE TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM FORCED DRUGGING! December 14, 2006 11:41 PM sudden death. A study < http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/364/31/> of ADHD drugs in preschoolers released by the National Institutes of Mental Health revealed that, "About 40 percent of children developed side effects and roughly 11 percent dropped out because of problems including irritability, weight loss, insomnia and slowed growth." ACTION: Please call Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist at 202-224-3344 and ask him to put the Child Medication Safety Act (HR 1790) on the unanimous consent calendar (the list of non-controversial bills) and pass it this week. Please call your two US Senators < http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm> and ask them to support this bill and urge the same with Senator Frist. This bill is supported by groups on all points on the political spectrum, from the NAACP to Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum. With all of the new research on the dangers of the Ritalin class of drugs and given that there is ongoing funding for mental health screening of all ages of children, the basic protections for K-12 students in this bill that have already passed in the special education law should be passed without a moment's hesitation. Ask these elected officials whose interests they will support - those of parents and children, including minority children, or those of the psychopharmaceutical and education cartel? Contact: Dr. Karen Effrem, Board member of AHRP kreffrem@pro-ns.net 763-476-4884 (home) _______________________________________________ Infomail1 mailing list to unsubscribe send a message to Infomail1-leave@ahrp.org James B. (Jim) Gottstein, Esq. Law Project for Psychiatric Rights 406 G Street, Suite 206 Anchorage, Alaska 99501 USA Phone: (907) 274-7686) Fax: (907) 274-9493 jim@psychrights.org http://psychrights.org/ Psych Rights ® Law Project for Psychiatric Rights The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights is a public interest law firm devoted to the defense of people facing the horrors of unwarranted forced psychiatric drugging. We are further dedicated to exposing the truth about these drugs and the courts being misled into ordering people to be drugged and subjected to other brain and body damaging interventions against their will. Extensive information about this is available on our web site, http://psychrights.org/. Please donate generously. Our work is fueled with your IRS 501(c) tax deductible donations. Thank you for your ongoing help and support. [ send green star]
James M N.	URGE THE SENATE TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM FORCED DRUGGING! December 14, 2006 11:39 PM URGE THE SENATE TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM FORCED DRUGGING! Hello, This is being sent to my big e-mail list that I only use a few times a year and it will even go to some people who don't live in the United States, but I urge everyone who does to contact their Senators urging them to vote yes on the Child Medication Safety Act (HR 1790). This is really important. If you want off this list, let me know. ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP) Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability http://www.ahrp.org FYI / ACTION Urge your Senators to VOTE YES for the Child Medication Safety Act (HR 1790)!!! This bill will protect children from the mental health industry under the influence of, with financial ties to, the prescription drug industry. Help STOP mental screening of healthy children whose vulnerability is being exploited by those who have financial interests in increasing the use of psychotropic drugs. Schools have a financial incentive to label children as having a "mental disability" --they get extra federal funding. Children who are labeled as ADHD are being forced to swallow toxic mind-altering drugs, such as Adderall, whose label now carry Black Box warnings. "AMPHETAMINES HAVE A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE. ADMINISTRATION OF AMPHETAMINES FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME MAY LEAD TO DRUG DEPENDENCE." "MISUSE OF AMPHETAMINE MAY CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR ADVERSE EVENTS." See: http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2006/011522s034s037,021303s013lbl.pdf : But those label warnings are NOT seen by parents. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that children prescribed psychostimulants--such as, Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall--suffered serious adverse events that landed them in hospital emergency rooms! http://www.psych.org/edu/other_res/lib_archives/archives/890004.pdf FDA drug safety specialists have acknowledged that stimulants trigger hallucinations in children See: Review of Postmarketing Safety Data. MEMORANDUM RE: Psychiatric Adverse Events Associated with Drug Treatment of ADHD, March 3, 2006. Worse yet, children are being subjected to harmful psychotropic drug cocktails that have NEVER been TESTED for safety or efficacy in either adults or children. Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav 212-595-8974 veracare@ahrp.org URGE THE SENATE TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM FORCED DRUGGING! The lame duck Congress has decided not to deal with the federal budget bills including the mental health screening issues < http://www.edwatch.org/updates06/111006-mhtw.htm> . They plan instead to do a "continuing resolution" which will fund these programs at their current levels until February when the Democrats will then have to deal with the budget. Since they do not have to pass the individual spending bills, they can work on other things. Of the bills they could pass in their last week, one that should be a "no-brainer" is the Child Medication Safety Act (HR 1790). The bill was passed < http://www.edaction.org/2005/111805-cmsa.htm> for the second Congress in a row by the US House by the overwhelming majority of 407-12 < http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll590.xml> in November of 2005. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) introduced this common sense bill in September of 2006 right before the election. This legislation protects families from being coerced into administering psychotropic medications that are on the controlled substances list to their children in order to attend school. These are the Ritalin class of drugs used to treat ADHD, the most common psychiatric label given to children. It is identical to the legislation that passed in 2004 to protect students in special education from this same kind of forced drugging. The bill that would have protected all K-12 students died in the last session of Congress due to a blockade by Senator Edward Kennedy < http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/07/02/kennedy_ties_up_drug _ bill/> (D-MA) at the behest of pharmaceutical and psychiatric groups. This bill is supported by a broad spectrum of groups. The NAACP < http://www.naacp.org/programs/bureau-dc/109_legislative_priorities.pdf > (p.22) promoted this bill as part of its legislative priorities list for the Congress about to end. A variety of consumer, professional and grassroots political groups < http://www.libertycoalition.net/sites/libertycoalition.net/files/CMSA - Liberty Coaltition.doc> all support this bill. Pediatrician Dr. Karen Effrem has presented testimony < http://edaction.org/2003/030827.htm> to Congress on this bill. She found that the medical literature demonstrates that these medications are overused, ineffective, and have dangerous, if not fatal, side effects. Most importantly, she reported that the "disorders" these drugs are supposed to treat are admitted by experts to have no scientific basis -- that there are many other reasons for behavior and learning disorders that do not require medication. Children have died < http://www.ritalindeath.com/> from the dangers of these drugs forced on them by the schools. Since that testimony was presented, study after study has appeared continuing to show the dangers and lack of effectiveness of these medications. For instance, all in 2006: The Oregon Drug Effectiveness Review Project < http://www.ohsu.edu/drugeffectiveness/reports/documents/ADHD Final Report Update 1.pdf> , analyzed 2287 pieces of research -- virtually every investigation ever done on ADHD drugs up to 2006 - to reach its conclusions: it found no evidence to support the claims about these drugs' safety, effectiveness, or the legitimacy of the ADHD diagnosis. The FDA strengthened its warnings < http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/323/28/> on these drugs, finally acknowledging that these drugs cause dependency and addiction, hallucinations, psychosis, and heart problems, including su [ send green star]
James M N.	Rest :) Essai: Short, replies on education, kids, society, knowledge, etc.. November 12, 2006 1:29 PM so the story goes, though, you might know that they actually came first for the mentally ill, elderly, handicapped, diffabled, foreigners, poor (Gypsies, Roma, et al); homeless, like the republicans are doing now. Defend yourself by defending them, one for all, all for one! Remember the lessons of WWII, if you're not taking bullets, you're making them, etc.; I'm bleeding every moment, are you? What do you think? From the heart in the heart of the heartland. Some groups I moderate: Disabled Greens News and discussion, home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/ , Abuse in Therapy, homepage: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/ Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and professionals: Invite link: http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880 Homepage: http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action reality's webpage, blog :) http://360.yahoo.com/jamesmnordlund "Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci Enjoy an autumnal eve' as you can. Copy, share, as you will. Lest "we" forget, if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese twin sister, freedom, will wither like a muscle, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized, before its exercised. Viva la evolution! Matutinally Yours, james m nordlund reality (aja) :) For those interested "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating to or happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal), (Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess of the dawn.)" Music is life's song accompanying the abundance of joy's Spring. I look forward to hearing from you. Wa alaykum as' salaam. [ send green star]
James M N.	Essai: Short, replies on education, kids, society, knowledge, etc.. November 12, 2006 1:27 PM As' salaam alaykum. Very cool posts, responses and group, thanx! I hope you and yours are well and will continue to be. I've been an advocate/activist on all issues, et al, for 31 years of my 47; please, do what you can for humanity. Dylan Thomas' poem line comes to mind, "...and death (murder) shall have no dominion..."; as others might say, "we, the people...", can make it so! Nurwangi, Well said, I would just add some hues to the picture you painted. Yes, yet, knowledge starts from before birth, in trhe womb, as well, to a lesser degree, before; though, all evolutionary knowledge of life is contained in almost every cell of our beings, and is accessible by each of us. Why do I say..., because, in many cultures, especially in the West, kids are told and drilled with the false notion that they don't know, and what they do know isn't, and they must replace it with memorization by rote- or, in a word, ignorance. It is, therefore, natural for them to rebel against that, at least on an instinctual level, and not be successful in the game of memorization, they call education. As well, the delusional constructs based on the delusional construct of materialism, etc., can cause the extinction of humanity and large mammals by themselves; even though they don't, actually, exist. As well, this supposed duality, of material and theological, dichotmously attempts to replicate itself, and the more it's projected, the more it seems to succeed in manufacturing the schism, supposed separation between those two supposed sides- neither is this a question of dialectics, as some suggest. I.m.h.o.. neila, Well said, though, I'd tweak with, experiential knowledge is the key to success, knowledge can't be equated with technology, as technology has been developed into a panacea of autocratic, imperialist, patriarchal society, through the religion of supposed science, its centralization and dominance. I've said for decades, science used to be a tool in man's hand, now, science is the hand, and man the tool; while the technocracy grows in everyway, humanity devolves, day by day. The mechanization of life, devolving most, especially in the West, into biological automatons, is a root of that; and the Newtonian definition of time being hoisted on humanity, shackling it, is an example of a sociological process manufactured by technology, devolving humanity. The corporate structure, 'la machine', must be dismantled, yet, until we dispel humanity of the delusional constructs that manufactured its dominance, it won't even be possible, for, as Audre Lourdes said, "you can't dismantle the man's house with the man's tools". Also, even the shadow speaks of the light. shams110, Yes, "...knowledge is power.", yet, what does one define as knowledge, and power? Fascists dictate that there is no such thing as knowledge, just information and its control, who has access, who doesn't, who controls the flow of information, etc.. They determine that information and its use or misuse can readily kill people, and that knowledge, since it is more likely to be based on experience, reality, and, therefore, more likely truth, is just a matter of opinion; this lubricating their dominance and control, for, if you disagree with the status quo's ever increasing hegemony, etc., then, according to them, you're only 'using' opinion against them, and they, therefore, can 'use' information to destroy and/or murder you. Power has been defined in many ways, our Western societies, especially, define it as the delusional profits and delusional pleasures they supposedly garner from all inter locking and laced levels of: manipulation to the causing of extinction of humanity and large mammals (destruction to murder, predominantly), any and all thought and action that takes part in "la machine's", the corporate structure's convolution's direction of devolution, plans, and do play a part in the ever increasingly centralizing and cyclical patterns (scarcity based systems, like the economic one of "vacuum-up", etc., instead of realities' abundance based ones) they replicate. In a few words their direction of devolution, as opposed to life's of evolution, et al. kashifshaikh, Ah, yes, "Knowledge is everything...", yet, your emphasis on learning is more accurate, as the nurturing of natural curiosity, and the actuation of self actuation, et al, is the source of the elemental discernments, as relates to the embracing of learning as a lifelong study, desire, part of evolving life, et al. Still, "la machine", the corporate structure, and their ever increasing and increasingly interlocking systems of premeditated mass-destruction-murdering programs are all just linx in the chains on humanity, attempting to stop us from breaking free, we can break the chain of murder, the chain of death; by abolishing the over use of fossil fuels and being most alive! That's also why I think allowing evolution as a common language, as it's the thread that links every, in the fabric of life, is a good place to start. For, the corporate structure has made a trap of this world, yet, all life is in it, so "we..." can't underestimate our responsibility; that generations past have heaped on our heads and shoulders by not acting on theirs, then. Dylan Thomas' poem's line comes to mind :) "...and death (murder) shall have no dominion...", as others might say, "we, the people..." can make it so! Will you? By the by, "In Germany they [the Nazis] came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up. - Pastor Martin Niemoeller, 1946", [ send green star]
James M N.	Rest :) Fwd: Disabled Homeless: Has It Come To This? (+ lots of linx) October 08, 2006 12:30 PM Texas Low Income Housing Information Service http://www.texashousing.org/ Washington Low Income Housing Network http://www.wlihn.org/ http://www.naehcy.org http://www.ruralhome.org http://www.nhchc.org United Nations Human Settlements Programme http://www.unhabitat.org http://www.citiesalliance.org http://www.calltorenewal.com National Alliance of HUD Tenants http://www.saveourhomes.org The National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness http://www.nscahh.org http://www.cesr.org Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions http://www.cohre.org http://www.communityactionpartnership.com http://www.nesri.org American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness & Poverty http://www.abanet.org/homeless http://www.chn.org Congressional Hunger Center http://www.hungercenter.org The National Network to End Domestic Violence http://www.nnedv.org Shelter UK http://england.shelter.org.uk Hope House, New Orleans (LA, USA) http://www.hopehouseneworleans.org http://www.thenewlifeproject.org Stand Up For Kids http://www.standupforkids.org The Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia http://www.cfnwg.org Center for Urban Research and Learning, Loyola University Chicago http://www.luc.edu/curl/ Disabled Greens News and discussion: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/ Abuse in Therapy: http://www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/ Diffabled, Mental Health, activism and advocacy, for all...: http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action reality's webpage/blog :) http://360.yahoo.com/jamesmnordlund james m nordlund [ send green star]
James M N.	Fwd: Disabled Homeless: Has It Come To This? (+ lots of linx) October 08, 2006 12:29 PM "Disabled Homeless: Has It Come To This? "...John Knight, 60, spends his days wheeling to dialysis treatments, soup kitchens and the freeway ramp where he begs for change. A hospital has become his primary residence, but he sometimes scours the city for "a hole to climb into before it gets dark."....." Homeless men are aging on the streets By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer Sat Oct 7, 4:13 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO - So where does he go, this aging veteran, now that his legs and kidneys don't work and everything he owns fits inside the pair of pajama pants tied to his wheelchair? John Knight, 60, spends his days wheeling to dialysis treatments, soup kitchens and the freeway ramp where he begs for change. A hospital has become his primary residence, but he sometimes scours the city for "a hole to climb into before it gets dark." "I have one thing on my mind â€” that's to eat, sleep and stay out of the way," said Knight, a former manual laborer who has been homeless for nine years. Older men like Knight once made up a comparatively small share of the nation's homeless. But researchers say seniors now represent its fastest-growing segment, byproduct of an aging Baby Boom generation. University of California, San Francisco, researchers who tracked the city's transients found that between 1990 and 2003, their median age rose from 37 to 46 â€” aging at a rate much faster than the nation as a whole. Those 50 or older represented 11 percent of the participants at the beginning of the study and 30 percent at the end, according to Judith Hahn, the lead author. Hahn and her colleagues found similar trends in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and New York. That has implications for governments, which may find housing the chronically homeless is cheaper than treating the health problems exacerbated by aging on the streets. Without regular medical care, conditions such as hypertension and diabetes easily can degenerate into strokes, blindness and other infirmities that require more intensive treatment, if not around-the-clock inpatient care. But Hahn noted another finding of their research that gave hope: While the homeless population is aging, it is not growing. "If it's a static population, it's something you can solve," she said. "Something can be done right now for the people out there who really need help and are going to become more and more expensive to the system." Margot Kushel, an internist at San Francisco General Hospital who specializes in treating homeless adults, already sees the ramifications of untreated disease in her patients. Many are in their 50s and 60s but have the bodies of people in their 70s and 80s, she said. SF General often admits homeless people for illnesses that would have gotten them a prescription, bed rest and a follow-up appointment if they were properly housed, Kushel said. Expecting someone to recover from pneumonia or follow a diabetes-restricted diet while sleeping on the sidewalk "creates an almost absurd situation," she said. "It's heartbreaking, not to mention immoral, to discharge a debilitated 60-year-old with heart failure to the street, knowing they would be exposed to all the elements," Kushel said. "We can perfect our medical treatments as much as we can, but it's not addressing the problem." People older than 65 generally don't wind up on the streets or in shelters because they qualify for Social Security and Medicaid, said Stephen Metraux, an assistant professor at Philadelphia's University of the Sciences who studies homelessness. But those slightly younger, like Knight, don't yet get retirement benefits. Baby Boomer homeless also include Vietnam veterans suffering with psychological effects. And they are living with the legacy of government efforts to close state-run mental institutions and last-resort, single-occupancy hotels, according to Metraux. "This is not the first time this has happened," he said. "There was a relatively sizable population of hobos and tramps that exploded during the Depression. The postwar economy allowed a lot of those homeless men not to be homeless anymore. Those that were left were on skid row, got older and died." San Francisco and other cities are creating permanent housing with onsite health and social services geared toward chronically homeless seniors. Such facilities often have case managers who can help residents apply for benefits, or nurses who can check vital signs, dress wounds and monitor blood-sugar levels. Dennis Ragar, 66, was homeless for three or four years before he moved into the Raman Hotel, San Francisco's newest city-subsidized hotel specifically for homeless seniors. A former truck driver who suffers from diabetes and needs a hip replaced, Ragar pays $470 a month to rent a room. He says it's better than a shelter, yet not the retirement he looked forward to in his youth. "I thought it would be a lot better than this," he said. Bdpoe" Thanx Bdpoe, here's some linx on homeless and related :) The National Low Income Housing Coalition http://www.nlihc.org/ The National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness http://www.npach.org National American Indian Housing Council http://www.naihc.net/index.asp Housing Authority of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma http://www.apachehousing.org/ The Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH) http://www.carh.org/ Rural Housing Services (In Spanish too) http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/ Affordable Housing Resource Center http://www.novoco.com/low_income_housing/index.php Housing Information Gateway http://www.colorado.edu/plan/housing-info/ Community Resource Guide (NYC) http://www.unhp.org/crg.html Housing California (In Spanish too) http://www.housingca.org/ NEWSED (Denver) http://www.newsed.org/ [ send green star]
James M N.	[mosaicteachers] Digest Number 1531 August 12, 2006 1:14 PM There are 3 messages in this issue. Topics in this digest: 1a. Good news from my corner of the world (long) From: BilsCntsa@aol.com 1b. Re: Good news from my corner of the world (long) From: Lisa Voelkel 1c. Re: Good news from my corner of the world (long) From: BilsCntsa@aol.com Messages _____________________________________________________________________ 1a. Good news from my corner of the world (long) Posted by: "BilsCntsa@aol.com" BilsCntsa@aol.com lpsterry Date: Sun Aug 6, 2006 9:39 am (PDT) Dear Mosaic Groups: It is really amazing to me as I look back and realize how long it has been since I first dove in with the strategy work...6 years ago. I remember the big question in my mind was how do you teach a child to comprehend? I had heard of the book Mosaic of Thought several times...and finally 6 years ago this summer I read it. My eyes were opened, and I was excited to find the answer to my haunting question...and scared because I knew I was diving in alone. I did not know of anyone at my school, or my district for that matter, who was teaching in a reader's workshop format and/or focusing on the strategies in the way I was going to try. But I knew I had to try it. I am very thankful that I found an outstanding group of people on the yahoo mosaic group and later Ginger's group. They walked me through that year and still do each year, since it is a constant learning process. I could not have done it without their help, guidance, understanding and motivation. As my teaching and my student's thinking evolved, I continued to share in my school. I brought my charts, my notes and yes my test scores. I began book studies and used the videos available. At times it was very frustrating thinking it would never catch on. I would hear great feedback from admin. and other leaders, but it stayed there. It was never "blessed" in front of staff. Well, last week it finally occurred. My principal did "bless" it in front of staff and said she believed if we wanted to bring our kids to the next level this was the way to go. As I posted before, we are bringing in Heinemann to do a seminar in October. After she spoke, the list filled quickly, almost all of our staff signed up to attend voluntarily. I cannot tell you how excited I am, even though I know there is still a road ahead to travel, I feel like this is such a breakthrough. I also now have a great team of teachers on staff who are teaching the strategies, and it has made such a difference to have someone to talk to and learn with right there with you. I posted this for two reasons, one to thank all of you who helped me with my journey and continue to help me. Two to encourage others to keep going, keep sharing, and come back to these groups for support. It will pay off over time. Now I am hoping that the seminar is as good as I am believing...I have never found anyone who had the seminar come to their school. I will keep you posted. Forever grateful, Terry/Fl/looping to 3 Messages in this topic (3) ________________________________________________________________________ 1b. Re: Good news from my corner of the world (long) Posted by: "Lisa Voelkel" lvoelkel@houston.rr.com teachersecondgrade2000 Date: Sun Aug 6, 2006 9:54 am (PDT) Watch for a revison of Mosaic of Thought being published by the author in the spring. Watch for Comprehension Toolkit for the lower primary to be published. lisa Who is coming to your school? I have seen Ellen Keene, Ellen Beers, Carl Anderson, Debbie Miller, and Fountanas and Pinnnell. I was only disappointed with the last three speakers. Debbie presented new books and Fountanas and Pinnell were very dry speakers. ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Cc: Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 11:38 AM Subject: [mosaicteachers] Good news from my corner of the world (long) > Dear Mosaic Groups: > It is really amazing to me as I look back and realize how long it has been > since I first dove in with the strategy work...6 years ago. I remember the > big > question in my mind was how do you teach a child to comprehend? I had > heard > of the book Mosaic of Thought several times...and finally 6 years ago > this > summer I read it. My eyes were opened, and I was excited to find the > answer to > my haunting question...and scared because I knew I was diving in alone. I > did > not know of anyone at my school, or my district for that matter, who was > teaching in a reader's workshop format and/or focusing on the strategies > in the > way I was going to try. But I knew I had to try it. > I am very thankful that I found an outstanding group of people on the > yahoo > mosaic group and later Ginger's group. They walked me through that year > and > still do each year, since it is a constant learning process. I could not > have > done it without their help, guidance, understanding and motivation. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mosaicteachers/ To visit your group on the web, go to: [ send green star]
James M N.	On Writing for Children: Arthur A. Levine, Francesca Lia Block, Henning May 14, 2006 11:59 PM On Writing for Children: Arthur A. Levine, Francesca Lia Block, Henning Mankell & Other Stars of International Literature for Youth PEN PODCASTS Can't attend the Festival? Listen to new episodes of PEN World Voices programming posted daily. >> Click here to subscribe today! WORLD VOICES MEDIA LIBRARY Be sure to visit our web site as we continue to post photo galleries and audio downloads from this week's World Voices Festival! >>More --------------------------------------------------------------------- PEN American Center 588 Broadway, Suite 303 New York, NY 10012 Tel. (212) 334-1660 Fax. (212) 334-2181 www.pen.org If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please click here. ON WRITING FOR CHILDREN: SUNDAY, APRIL 30 Please join us at Pace University this Sunday for FREE events featuring Arthur A. Levine, Francesca Lia Block, Henning Mankell, and other stars of international literature for youth. Free events do not require tickets and are seated on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to arrive early for all World Voices events. 2:00 p.m. Conversation: Henning Mankell & Vera B. Williams Pace University: 3 Spruce St., Lecture Room North 2:00 p.m. Conversation: Hanna Jansen & Tonya Bolden Pace University: 3 Spruce St., Lecture Room South 4:00 p.m. Suitable for Children Francesca Lia Block, Tonya Bolden, David Grossman, Hanna Jansen, Anne Provoost; moderated by Arthur A. Levine Pace University: 3 Spruce St., Multipurpose Room http://pen.org/page.php/prmID/1096 Visit the PEN web site for a full schedule of all World Voices events, including additional children's literature programs. [ send green star]
James M N.	Here's some groups for ADA, diffability rights, news and views, et al :) February 04, 2006 5:25 PM Dear All, Hello. Here's some groups for ADA, diffability rights, news and views, et al. U.S. :) ADA-EMPOWERMENT · Empowering people with disabilities by using the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the purposeful mission of this list. Description :) Empowering people with disabilities by using the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the purposeful mission of this list. This list will discuss all titles of the ADA, which are: Title 1: Employment, Title 2: State and Local Government Activities, Title 2: Public Transportation, Title 3: Public Acommodations and Title 4: Telecommunications. Another important thing that will be clarified on this list is the three prong definition of the ADA, which are: past, present and preceived disability. Also, what is a qualified disability under the ADA will be clarified for the members of this list. This is a list where anyone can get vital informaton on the ADA, share ideas to force ADA compliance with businesses and other identities in the world today. We will also talk about legislative updates to the ADA and reflect on what these updates mean to people with disabilities ability to gain equal access in the world. The ADA is a very empowering law that people with disabilities are using as a tool in the forefront of the Disabilities Civil Rights Movement. Group Email Addresses :) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ADA-EMPOWERMENT/ Post message: ADA-EMPOWERMENT@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: ADA-EMPOWERMENT-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ADA_LAW_IMPACT · THE ADA LAW IMPACT DISCUSSION GROUP Description :) This is a group to discuss disability information. The primary focus is the LAW of disability ADA, 504, IDEA, The Rehabilitation Act, but it is also a medium to encourage networking and empowerment of people with disabilities. The 11 commandment -on this list- is no flaming of posters. We can agree and also disagree. The emphasis is discussion of disability issues in a positive manner. Group Email Addresses :) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ADA_LAW_IMPACT/ Post message: ADA_LAW_IMPACT@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: ADA_LAW_IMPACT-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Advocates_For_People_With_Diffabilities · diffability issues Description :) This is a list to keep abreast of ADA issues. Post news, question issues, answer queries, but do not flame or you are INSTANTLY gone. Activism is strongly encouraged. We will work together and appreciate each others differences. Support for each other is expected and appreciated. This is not a place to judge each other. This is a place to empower each other. If you can be part of a movement that puts the "whole" above the "individual", you are welcome here. Please do not forward people's personal comments or words or any parts of list conversation. News, notices and URLs are free for the taking. Also, please do not post parts of conversation from other lists. Group Email Addresses :) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Advocates_For_People_With_Diffabilities/ Post message: Advocates_For_People_With_Diffabilities@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: Advocates_For_People_With_Diffabilities-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Global and U.S. :) Disability-Rights-News-and-Views · Disability-Rights-News-Views-Discussion Description :) We are a Worldwide disability civil rights, ADA, advocacy, support, information and discussion group. We try to make the people aware of the needs and laws of the disabled. We share newsletters and discuss them. Our members are kept well informed. We also try to assist each other to the best of our abilities. We welcome members who are either disabled with any disability, caregiver, advocate, professional or non-disabled. Our members are welcome from throughout the United States and Worldwide. We have our own archives, chatroom, photo albums, link sites and polls. Feel free to research or add to any of these resources. This group was founded on July 5, 2002. The reason I founded it was because of the horrible manner other people and myself were being treated in other groups. I decided I wanted to help others as much as I could so my group would not be like the others and that I would treat others the way I would want to be treated... Group Email Addresses :) Related Link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Disability-Rights-News-and-Views/ Post message: Disability-Rights-News-and-Views@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: Disability-Rights-News-and-Views-subscribe@yahoogroups.com What do you think? From the heart in the heart of the heartland. Some of the groups I moderate :) Disabled Greens News and discussion, Group :) """"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/"""" , Abuse in Therapy, Group :) """"http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/"""" Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and professionals: Invite link: """"http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880"""" Homepage: """"http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action"""" "Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci Enjoy a festive eve' as you can. Lest "we" forget, if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese twin sister, freedom, will wither like a muscle, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized before its exercised. Viva la evolution! Matutinally Yours, james m nordlund reality (aja) :) Music is life's song accompanying the abundance of joy's Spring. For those interested :) "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating to or happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal), (Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess of the dawn.)". I look forward to hearing from you. Copy, share, as you will. [ send green star]
James M N.	End: Invitation to Disability Caucus of Green Party + Happy New Year's January 08, 2006 12:24 PM Group home page "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/" , Abuse in Therapy, Group homepage "http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/" Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and professionals: Invite link: "http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880" Homepage: "http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action" "Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci Enjoy a festive eve' as you can. Copy, share, as you will. Lest "we" forget, if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese twin sister, freedom, will wither like a muscle, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized before its exercised. Viva la evolution! Matutinally Yours, james m nordlund reality (aja) :) For those interested "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating to or happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal), (Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess of the dawn.)" Music is life's song accompanying the abundance of joy's Spring. I look forward to hearing from you. Goodbye. [ send green star]
James M N.	Invitation to Disability Caucus of Green Party + Happy New Year's All January 08, 2006 12:21 PM Hello. Good Day. Very cool responses, thanx! I hope you and yours are well and will continue to be. Happy holidays! I've been an advocate/activist on all issues, et al, for 31 years of my 46; please, do what you can for humanity. Dylan Thomas' poem line comes to mind "...and death (murder) shall have no dominion...".; as others might say, "we, the people...", can make it so! "Invitation to Join the Disability Caucus of the Green Party The Disability Caucus is an Identity Caucus of the United States Green Party. Once we are accredited, we will have the same status as state parties do within the Green Party (except that we can not cast a vote for our presidential nominee). There are several other Identity Caucuses, including Black, Latino, Women, and Lavender. Verified Members: Please join us by becoming a verified member aka a voting member. We need 100 verified members, spread out over at least 15 states, in order to be accredited as a Caucus. As of September 2004, we have 84 people in 23 states. To be a verified member you must meet the following requirements: 1. Be registered to vote as a Green in your US State; OR (if your state does not have a Green Party or you are not eligible to vote) be connected to the Green Party in some tangible way (fairly flexible). 2. Be a person with a disability. We may allow some non-disabled voting members but so far have not made that decision. 3. Agree to follow major discussions and participate in votes. 4. Send your information to our Membership Committee at greencaucus@.... We will need your legal name, snail mail address, email address, phone number, date of birth, connection to the Green Party (are you registered Green?), and if you are disabled or a friend of the disabled community. This information is for internal Green Party use only and will not be made public. If you are joining as an adjunct member (a nonvoting friend of the Caucus), please let the membership committee know. If you aren't sure if you want to become a verified member, just let them know that too. Adjunct Members: If you do not qualify as a verified (voting) member but want to be part of the Caucus, we welcome you to join the mailing list and participate in the discussions. Please let the Membership Committee know who you are and that you are an adjunct member. We require your real name and a brief description of why you are here. Adjunct members include people living outside the United States, those whose hearts are Green but who are not part of the Green Party at this time, and people who are not themselves disabled (or do not qualify if we offer expanded membership). Disabled Greens Mailing List: Our discussions and votes take place on the Disabled Greens mailing list. If possible, please join this list. We average 1-4 messages a day, but this can vary a lot. The list is to discuss Caucus business and related activism work only. We are not a disability support group. To join the Disabled Greens mailing list: Please go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/disabledgreens/ Or send email to disabledgreens-subscribe@yahoogroups.com For more information, contact Cyndi Norman at cyndi@... Disabled Greens Votes Mailing List: This is an announcement list for official caucus business only (no discussion). This is where votes and other important items will go. Only the list moderators can post. Nothing will go here that won't also be on Disabled Greens. If you do not have the energy to keep up with the regular Disabled Greens list, you can join Disabled Greens Votes to make sure you won't miss anything important. If you join this list, please also join Disabled Greens as at least a Special Notices subscriber so you will be able to read posts on the webpage (or switch back to receiving posts) when you wish to follow a particular discussion. To join the Disabled Greens Votes mailing list: Please go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/disabledgreensvotes Or send email to disabledgreens-subscribe@yahoogroups.com For more information, contact Cyndi Norman at cyndi@... Non-Internet Members: We recognize that some potential members will not be able to have internet access, either for financial reasons or due to their disability. We encourage everyone who can get internet access (it's free at the public library) to take advantage of it, but if you can't, we would still like to have you be a member of this Caucus. To join as a non-internet member, please use one of the following contact people and give them all the information for verification (see list above). You will be able to choose phone, TTY, or snail mail contact, though it will make it easier if you are able to do more than one. You will be assigned another member (if you don't already know one) who will keep you up to date on discussions and send in a proxy for your votes. We are still working out these details so please be patient. Contact People: Email (mailing lists, website, general questions): Cyndi Norman at cyndi@... Email (membership committee and verification questions): Erica Freeman at greencaucus@... Voice Telephone: Ruthanne Shpiner at (510) 524-9680 (Pacific Time). Weekdays late morning/noon, weekends anytime before 5 PM. Heidi Friedman at 617-666-7816 (Eastern Time). Noon-8:00 pm. TTY Telephone: Sharon Wachsler at (413) 625-9820 (Eastern Time). TTY calls only. Includes TTY answering machine. Please allow time for me to switch over from voice to TTY. Snail Mail: Green Party Disability Caucus, attn: Heidi c/o Havurat Shalom 113 College Ave, Somerville MA 02144 Website: http://immuneweb.org/dg/ Feel free to forward this announcement to appropriate individuals or groups." What do you think? From the heart in the heart of the heartland. Some groups I moderate: Disabled Greens News and discussion, Group home page "http://group [ send green star]
James M N.	Opt Out of New Pentagon Database (avoid uber-recruiting of your kids) July 29, 2005 8:13 AM (please forward this email to parents, grandparents, teachers and anyone else concerned about protecting high school students' privacy from unwanted military recruitment)Dear Friends, Thank you for taking action to protect our children and students from unwanted military recruiting. August and September are crucial months for organizing around opt-out issues. We've expanded the LeaveMyChildAlone.org site with a new look and additional resources. We'll be updating you throughout the summer on our progress and with opportunities to get involved. Over 9,500 kids opted out. Working Assets mailed letters to over 12,500 school district superintendents suggesting optimum opt-out policies. Follow up by planning a school board outing now.National Educators Association supports student privacy. Click here to read the NEA's statement on No Child Left Behind's Sec. 9528. http://lmca.leavemychildalone.org/cgi-bin7/DM/y/hg750GoAGS0P4N02jR0EBOver 110 "opt out" events held in June. Save the date for Back-To-School events planned for Sept. 7-30 New Pentagon databaseThe Pentagon, in violation of the Privacy Act, has compiled and put into use a mega-database of private information on 30 million 16-25-year-olds. Even if you have opted your child out of the lists public schools turn over to local military recruiters, you or your child must also contact the Pentagon directly to get off this new national military recruiting list. For more information go to: www.leavemychildalone.org/jamrs Think that this is an illegal invasion of privacy? To send a letter to the Pentagon telling them to shut down this database go to:www.leavemychildalone.org/actTeachers Stand Up for Student PrivacyThe National Education Assocation (NEA), an organization made up of 2.7 million teachers, has taken an official stand opposing No Child Left Behind's mandate that schools turn over private student information to military recruiters without explicit written permission from parents. To read more about the NEA's official position, go to: www.leavemychildalone.org/NEA Please share the NEA official position with other teachers, school administrators, and any PTA groups you know, by forwarding them this link: www.leavemychildalone.org/NEASend us information on your next School Board MeetingHelp us put pressure on school boards to adopt optimum opt-out policies. There are over 12,500 school districts across the U.S. If you do a little research and find out the time and location of your community's upcoming school board meetings through September, we'll post them online at LeaveMyChildAlone.org. Looking up your local school board meeting schedule should be easy. It's often found on your local school Web site. Once you have the info, you can post it online at www.partylaunch.com/workingassets/ or email your school district name, school board meeting time and location to jsonnenfeld@workingassets.com. Be sure to include your phone number in the email just in case we have questions and need to follow up. If you want to go further and plan a school board outing in your community, go to www.leavemychildalone.org/schoolboard to download sample resolutions, flyers, and scripts that make it easy to make a difference in your school district. If you live in Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, New York, Houston, Fresno, Philadelphia, DC area, Atlanta or Detroit and want to help us organize participation in local School Board meetings, call or email Josh at 415-369-2112 or jsonnenfeld@workingassets.comSpread the wordDo you know school principals, parent group officers, school board members or other folks in a position to change school policy on military opt-out procedures? Tell them to visit LeaveMyChildAlone.org for organizing resources or simply call or email Catherine (cgeanuracos@workingassets.com) to find out how we can help them make a difference in their district. Thank you for helping to build a better world. Catherine Geanuracos Campaign Organizer Leave My Child Alone Coalition/ Working Assets PLEASE SEND QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO: leavemychildalone@workingassets.com. http://lmca.leavemychildalone.org/cgi-bin7/DM/y/hg750GoAGS0P4N0yo80Ez [ send green star]
James M N.	Fwd: Please network far & wide! PSYCHIATRIC DRUG for our kids! March 07, 2005 7:06 AM "Please network far & wide! PSYCHIATRIC DRUG for our kids!This is a very important issue for us all. This is only the first oflegislationwanting to force pharmaceuticals on our children. I have a son thatwasprescribed ritalin in elementary school and he was sent home fromschoolif they found he had not taken it. We had to go to court to stop it ! This was sent to me by a lobbyist I know. Indiana TeenScreen - NINE DAYS TO GO! A briefing on the Indiana situation and the e-mail address forthe superintendent and school board can be found at the endof this webpage: http://www.psychsearch.net/TEENSCREEN.HTML Please write to them! Get everybody to write to them! Here's the audio from last night's Annie Armen radio show on theIndiana TeenScreen situation: Dangers of Psychiatric Drugs Part 8 - aired 2/17/2005http://www.anniearmenlive.org/psychiatric_drugs.htm In loving service and gratitude, Paddy McAlisterDirector, Energy Medicine Association281-463-1026 " [ send green star]
James M N.	Fwd: "[global] three" (kids and M.H.) December 05, 2004 6:35 PM Fwd: "[global] three" (kids and M.H.)"Global surge; Rep. Paul tries again; anti-screening editorial by> Phyllis Schlafley...>>see below,>>laura>------------------------------------------------->http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm/cmi_756436>>Surge in use of mind drugs for children>>November 24, 2004>>PARIS, Nov 18 (AFP) - Western countries saw a huge increase in the use>of powerful antidepressants and other mood-altering drugs for children>in the first years of the century, according to a study published>Thursday.>>The rise was the most spectacular in Britain, where doctors issued>around 750,000 prescriptions for psychotropic drugs for patients aged>under 18 in 2002, a rise of more than two-thirds over 2000.>>Other nations with large increases during this period, but smaller ones>than in Britain, were France, Spain, the United States, Argentina,>Brazil and Mexico. There were lower increases in Canada and also in>Germany.>>Germany had the lowest increase of the nine surveyed countries -- a rise>of 13 percent, also to around 750,000 prescriptions -- over the three>years.>>The biggest user of all was the United States, where 15 million>prescriptions were written in 2002.>>The category of drugs includes anti-depressants, stimulants,>antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and other anti-anxiety medications.>>"The use of psychotropic medications in children is a global health>issue," the study says. "Children are not small adults.">>Medication to treat mood or behavioural disorders is one of the most>controversial in medicine today.>>Campaigners say psychotropic drugs are being pushed by pharmaceutical>companies as a solution for behavioural or social problems among>children such as poor concentration, hyperactivity, aggression or even>bedwetting.>>But in many cases, these drugs are not licensed for use among children,>they say.>>The medications are approved by authorities on the basis of safety and>efficacy on adults, and the dose is correspondingly reduced for>children.>>In 2003, pharmaceutical companies were obliged to scrap or scale back>prescribed use among children of an antidepressant called selective>serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), with the exception of the drug>Prozac.>>That move was hasted by evidence of an apparent link between those drugs>and hostility, harm and obsession with suicide among patients aged under>18.>>The latest study is lead-authored by Ian Wong of the School of Pharmacy>at the University of London. It appears in Archives of Disease in>Childhood, published by the British Medical Association (BMA).>>ri/ns>>Health-children-drugs-antidepressants-X%>>COPYRIGHT 2004 Agence France-Presse. All rights reserved.>>>http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41606> ON CAPITOL HILL>Attempt to stop mandatory mental screening fails>Congressman pushed language requiring parental consent>Posted: November 24, 2004>1:00 a.m. Eastern>>>© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com>>An attempt by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, to add language to the omnibus>spending bill in Congress to require parental consent for any>mental-health screening done to children with federal money has failed.>>The language was proposed to blunt the effect of a program proposed by>the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, which President Bush>established in 2002. The New Freedom Initiative recommends screening not>only for children but eventually for every American.>>As WorldNetDaily reported, in September Paul attempted to have the>program removed from Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Act. His>amendment failed the House of Representatives by a vote of 95-315.>>The language he hoped to have added to the omnibus bill, which passed on>Saturday, was:>>"None of the funds made available for State Incentive Grants for>Transformation should be used for any programs of mandatory or universal>mental-health screening that performs mental-health screening on anyone>under 18 years of age without the express, written permission of the>parents or legal guardians of each individual involved.">>Though Paul had support from House leadership for the language, senators>who were part of the conference committee overseeing the final bill did>not want it added.>>"We believe the drug companies and the psychiatric establishment>convinced Sens. Arlen Specter and Bill Frist to block it," said Kent>Snyder, executive director of the Paul-founded Liberty Committee. "We>are>extremely disappointed that the conference committee ultimately rejected>Dr. Paul's language and that it was not added to the omnibus spending>bill.">>Critics of the mental-health screening plan say it is a thinly veiled>attempt by drug companies to provide a wider market for high-priced>antidepressants and antipsychotic medication, and puts government in>areas of Americans' lives where it does not belong.>>Snyder says Paul won't give up on thwarting the screening and will take>up the issue again in January when the new Congress convenes.>http://www.townhall.com/columnists/phyllisschlafly/ps20041123.shtml>>No child left unmedicated>Phyllis Schlafly (archive)>>November 23, 2004>>Big Brother is on the march. A plan to subject all children to mental>health screening is under way, and pharmaceutical companies are gearing>up for bigger sales of psychotropic drugs.>>Like most liberal big-spending ideas, this one was slipped into the law>under cover of soft semantics. Its genesis was the New Freedom>Commission on Mental Health created by President George W. Bush in 2002.>>The commission recommends "routine and comprehensive" testing and mental>health screening for every child in the United States, including>preschoolers. The president has instructed 25 federal agencies to>develop a plan to implement the commission's recommendations.>> The commission proposes using electronic medical records for mental>health interrogation of both children and adults for mental illnesses in>school and during routine physical exams. The commission also recommends>integrating electronic health records and personal health information>systems.>>It recommends "linkage" of these mental examinations with>"state-of-the-art treatments" using "specific medications for specific>conditions." That means prescribing more expensive patented>antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs.>>Illinois became the first state to jump on board. By near-unanimous>votes in 2003, the General Assembly passed the $10 million Illinois>Children's Mental Health Act creating a Children's Mental Health>Partnership, which is expected to become a model for other states. The>partnership's plan, released July 16, calls for periodic social and>emotional developmental examinations to be administered to all children,>and for all women to be interrogated for depression during pregnancy and>up to a year postpartum. When the partnership showcased this plan with>five public hearings stacked with bureaucrats and social service>workers, a political tempest erupted, with state legislators saying they>had no idea this was what they had voted for.>>Illinois legislators were shocked to hear the details. The plan includes>periodic developmental exams for children ages 0-18 years, a statewide>data-reporting system to track information on each child,>social-emotional development screens with all mandated school exams in>kindergarten, fourth grade and ninth grade, and report cards on>children's social-emotional development.>>The plan is to add mental health assessment to the state's physical>examination certificate, along with mandatory immunization records. All>children in Illinois, unless religiously exempt, are required to have>up-to-date health examinations and immunizations for school entry.>>The partnership requires the Illinois State Board of Education to>develop and implement a plan that incorporates social and emotional>standards as part of the mandated Illinois Learning Standards, which are>due on Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's desk by Dec. 31. This>inevitably opens up screening for politically incorrect attitudes and>nonconformity with liberal attitudes of tolerance.>>Mental health diagnoses are inherently subjective and social>constructions, as even the diagnostic manuals admit. Many thousands, if>not millions, of children would receive stigmatizing diagnoses that>would follow them for the rest of their lives.>>"State-of-the-art treatments" will result in many thousands of children>being medicated by expensive, ineffective, and dangerous drugs. The>long-term safety and effectiveness of psychiatric medications on>children have never been proven.>>The side effects of suggested medications in children are severe. They>include suicide, violence, psychosis, cardiac toxicity, and growth>suppression. Several school shooters, such as Eric Harris (Columbine)>and Kip Kinkel (Oregon) had been on antidepressants or stimulants when>they committed their crimes.>>The validity of much scientific research has lost its credibility>because the Food and Drug Administration has allowed the pharmaceutical>industry to withhold data not favorable to their products and because>people in the pay of the pharmaceutical companies are the ones>recommending medications.>>The current controversy about links between suicide and antidepressant>drugs that have not been adequately tested has contributed to the>uproar. The FDA posted an analysis in August that some antidepressants>pose a risk of suicide in children.>>Parental rights are unclear or nonexistent under these mental screening>programs. What are the rights of youth and parents to refuse or opt out>of mental screening?>>Will they face coercion and threats of removal from school, or child>neglect charges, if they refuse privacy-invading interrogations or>unproved medications? How will a child remove a stigmatizing label from>his records?>>A Columbia University pilot project of screening students called>TeenScreen resulted in one-third being flagged as "positive" for mental>health problems, and half of those being turned over for mental health>treatment. If this is preview of what would happen when 52 million>public school students are screened, it would mean hanging a libelous>label on 17 million American children and putting 8 million children>into the hands of the psychiatric/pharmaceutical industry.>>©2004 Copley News Service>>Contact Phyllis Schlafly \| Read Schlafly's biography " [ send green star]
James M N.	Families USA: Health Action 2005, 10th Annual Grassroots Meeting December 05, 2004 5:45 PM Image: Health Action 2005, January 27-29, 2005Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DCRegister now for Health Action 2005. This will be the 10th annualgathering of people working for social justice and health care for allof us, just like you. And this year -- more than most -- we need togather old friends and make new friends, to share our knowledge, buildour skills, and pull together.The conference brochure is on it's way to your mailbox, but if youknow you're coming to the conference, you can click here to registeronline now. To see the latest on the conference agenda, click here.(Be sure to check back regularly for updates.)http://www.familiesusa.org/site/R?i=5d3aBPB7xNcDRYvcWDDmjg..http://www.familiesusa.org/site/R?i=PE0mW5t-neEDRYvcWDDmjg..NEW THIS YEAR! - USAirways and United are the official airlines forthe Health Action 2005 conference. Click here for details. Alsoconsider, using Families USA's official travel agency, CarlsonWagonlit/Avenue Travel, 888-548-5554 to make your reservations forplane or train.http://www.familiesusa.org/site/R?i=JNl_oYv-YYMDRYvcWDDmjg..http://www.familiesusa.org/site/R?i=Cu_5xPGT90YDRYvcWDDmjg..You have until January 2 to reserve your hotel room at the RenaissanceMayflower Hotel at the conference rate of $159 per night (single ordouble) plus taxes. Call 1-800-HOTELS! or 202-347-3000 to reserve. Besure to tell them you're with the Health Action 2005 conference or youwon't get the special conference rate!We look forward to seeing you in January. [ send green star]
James M N.	"Indian NGO helps disabled children move into Mainstream" December 05, 2004 5:35 PM "Indian NGO helps disabled children move into Mainstream"Submitted by:Virginia L. Caraway RN BSN PHN CDDNJoint Speaker, NDPNational Disability PartyCourtesy of Maureen FitzgeraldCommunications coordinatorcarforchoice@aol.com http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=43169Note: In reading the article I could not determine what the acronym "NGO"stands for.----- NGO is the acronym for Non-Governmental Organization "ed'snote"Indian NGO helps disabled children move into the mainstreamIndian NGO helps disabled children move into the mainstream:[India News]: Bhubaneshwar, Nov. 17 : Over a 1,000 physically and mentallychallenged children found love and acceptance at a special camp inBhubaneshwar as a voluntary organisation brought them together with theirable-bodied counterparts for a five-day talent extravaganza.The event has children from across nine Indian provincies participating inthe workshops ranging from development of artistic skills, music, dance anddrama to interactive sessions with the mainstream children.Recent studies indicated barely half of disabled children reach adulthoodand no more than twenty percent survive to cross the fourth decade of life.Most remain isolated in what psychologists describe as "nonexistence."Organisers said the project "Anjali," their latest endeavour, aims to changeall that."The reason we started it in 2001 was to showcase the potential of disabledchildren to society. Every child irrespective of his disability is the storehouse of genius and has to be harnessed properly. After being so successfulin our endeavour, we decided why limit ourselves to disabled only? Why notbecome broad-based and open the doors of the camps to all children? So nowwe say - integration and inclusion - say yes to all children," said ShruthiMohapatra, herself a disabled."There are a number of mentally handicapped children also in the camp. Buteverybody is participating with full vigour. The disabled people have shownthat we are no less than anyone else, " added Pushpa Desai, a handicappedparticipant.(ANI) [ send green star]
James M N.	NMHA Leg: Action Needed Prevent 200,000 Children from Losing SCHIP November 23, 2004 7:48 AM NMHA Leg: Action Needed Prevent 200,000 Children from Losing SCHIPUrgent NMHA Leg. Alert: Legislative Action Needed to Prevent 200,000Children from Losing SCHIP Health CoverageUrgent NMHA Legislative AlertNovember 15, 2004Legislative Action Needed to Prevent 200,000 ChildrenFrom Losing SCHIP Health CoverageUrge Members of Congress to Restore $1 Billion in SCHIP FundsUrgent RequestPlease contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to restoremore than $1 billion of unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program(SCHIP) funds that were returned to the U.S. Treasury at the end of thefiscal year. Because we expect the upcoming "lame duck" session of Congressto conclude as early as the end of this week, we urge you to contact yourcongressional representatives as soon as possible.SummaryIf SCHIP's funding shortfalls are not addressed, 200,000 children are likelyto lose health coverage, and many more needy children who are not yetenrolled in SCHIP will be denied coverage. Estimates show that in 2005, sixstates are likely to have insufficient SCHIP funding to cover all of thechildren enrolled in their programs, and by fiscal year 2007 as many as 18states would face SCHIP funding shortfalls. This would be particularlydevastating for both children with mental illness who rely on SCHIP toaccess critical mental health care and the many eligible children withmental health needs who have not yet been enrolled in SCHIP. We are urgingCongress to restore the $1.07 billion in expired SCHIP funds- an approachthat has been successful in the past. Because the SCHIP program isextremely popular among Republicans and Democrats, we are hopeful thatCongress will respond favorably to our request.BackgroundThe State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was established in1997 to reduce the number of uninsured children. The program has been anunqualified success, directly contributing to the reduction in the number ofchildren without health insurance. Last year, 5.8 million children wereenrolled in SCHIP. However, the continued success of the SCHIP program isin serious jeopardy. A number of states are projected to have insufficientfederal funding to sustain their existing SCHIP programs over the nextseveral years because more than $1 billion in federal SCHIP funds expired onSeptember 30, 2004, the end of the fiscal year.Specific Action NeededNMHA urges affiliates to use or adapt the sample letter below to contactyour Senators and Representatives. We are including a target list ofSenators and Representatives whom it will be particularly important tocontact. These Members of Congress come from states that will run out ofSCHIP funding in the next few years.Targeted SenatorsAlaska Lisa Murkowski, Ted StevensArizona John Kyl, John McCainGeorgia Saxby Chambliss, Zell MillerIowa Tom Harkin, Chuck GrassleyIllinois Richard Durbin, Peter FitzgeraldMaryland Barbara Mikulski, Paul SarbanesMassachusetts Edward Kennedy, John KerryMaine Susan Collins, Olympia SnoweMichigan Carl Levin, Debbie StabenowMinnesota Norm Coleman, Mark DaytonMississippi Tad Cochran, Trent LottMissouri Christopher Bond, James TalentNebraska Chuck Hagel, Benjamin NelsonNew Jersey Jon Corzine, Frank LautenbergNew York Hillary Rodham Clinton, Charles SchumerRhode Island Lincoln Chafee, Jack ReedSouth Dakota Thomas Daschle, Tim JohnsonWisconsin Russell Feingold, Herb KohlTargeted RepresentativesAlaska Don YoungArizona Rick Renzi , Trent Franks, John B. Shadegg, Ed Pastor, J. D. Hayworth, JeffFlake, Raúl M. Grijalva, Jim KolbeGeorgia Jack Kingston, Sanford D. Bishop Jr., Jim Marshall, Denise L. Majette, JohnLewis, Johnny Isakson, John Linder, Mac Collins, Charlie Norwood, NathanDeal, Phil Gingrey, Max Burns, David ScottIowa Jim Nussle, James A. Leach, Leonard L. Boswell, Tom Latham, Steve KingIllinois Bobby L. Rush , Jesse L. Jackson Jr., William O. Lipinski, Luis V.Gutierrez, Rahm Emanuel, Henry J. Hyde, Danny K. Davis, Philip M. Crane,Janice D. Schakowsky, Mark Steven Kirk, Jerry Weller, Jerry F. Costello,Judy Biggert, J. Dennis Hastert, Timothy V. Johnson, Donald A. Manzullo,Lane Evans, Ray LaHoodMaryland Wayne T. Gilchrest, C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Benjamin L. Cardin, Albert,Russell Wynn, Steny H. Hoyer, Roscoe G. Bartlett, Elijah E. Cummings, ChrisVan HollenMassachusetts John W. Olver, Richard E. Neal, James P. McGovern, Barney Frank, Martin T.Meehan, John F. Tierney, Edward J. Markey, Michael E. Capuano, Stephen F.Lynch, William D. DelahuntMaine Thomas H. Allen, Michael H. MichaudMichigan Bart Stupak, Peter Hoekstra, Vernon J. Ehlers, Dave Camp, Dale E. Kildee,Fred Upton, Nick Smith, Mike Rogers, Joe Knollenberg, Candice S. Miller,Thaddeus G. McCotter, Sander M. Levin, Carolyn C. Kilpatrick, John ConyersJr., John D. DingellMinnesota Gil Gutknecht, John Kline, Jim Ramstad, Betty McCollum, Martin Olav Sabo,Mark R. Kennedy, Collin C. Peterson, James L. OberstarMississippi Roger F. Wicker, Bennie G. Thompson, Charles W. ``Chip'' Pickering, GeneTaylorMissouri Wm. Lacy Clay, W. Todd Akin, Richard A. Gephardt, Ike Skelton, KarenMcCarthy, Sam Graves, Roy Blunt, Jo Ann Emerson, Kenny C. HulshofNebraska Lee Terry, Tom OsborneNew Jersey Robert E. Andrews, Frank A. LoBiondo, Jim Saxton, Christopher H. Smith,Scott Garrett, Frank Pallone Jr., Mike Ferguson, Bill Pascrell Jr., StevenR. Rothman, Donald M. Payne, Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, Rush D. Holt, RobertMenendezNew York Timothy H. Bishop, Steve Israel, Peter T. King, Carolyn McCarthy, Gary L.Ackerman, Gregory W. Meeks, Joseph Crowley, Jerrold Nadler, Anthony D.Weiner, Edolphus Towns, Major R. Owens, Nydia M. Velázquez, Vito Fossella,Carolyn B. Maloney, Charles B. Rangel, José E. Serrano, Eliot L. Engel, NitaM. Lowey, Sue W. Kelly, John E. Sweeney, Michael R. McNulty, Maurice D.Hinchey, John M. McHugh, Sherwood Boehlert, James T. Walsh, Thomas M.Reynolds, Jack Quinn, Louise McIntosh Slaughter, Amo HoughtonRhode Island Patrick J. Kennedy, James R. LangevinSouth Dakota Stephanie HersethWisconsin Paul Ryan, Tammy Baldwin, Ron Kind, Gerald D. Kleczka, F. JamesSensenbrenner Jr., Thomas E. Petri, David R. Obey, Mark GreenDear Senator/Representative:As an organization committed to addressing all aspects of mental health andmental illness, the _________ Mental Health Association urges you to work toensure restoration of $1.07 billion in State Children's Health InsuranceProgram (SCHIP) funds that expired at the end of fiscal year 2004 andreverted back to the U.S. Treasuryl. Please contact your leadership inCongress to urge them to include restoration of these funds in the FY 2005omnibus appropriations measure. If these SCHIP funds are not restoredbefore Congress adjourns for the year, over 200,000 children could losetheir health coverage between now and FY2007. This would be particularlydevastating for children with mental illness who rely on SCHIP to accesscritical mental health care and the many eligible children with mentalhealth needs who have not yet been enrolled in SCHIP.According to the final report of the President's New Freedom Commission onMental Health released last July, 5-9% of children (6 million to 9 million)in this country have serious emotional disturbances. Yet over two-thirds ofchildren with mental and emotional disorders do not receive treatmentaccording to a report on Children's Mental Health by the Surgeon General inJanuary of 2001. Lack of health insurance is one of the key barrierspreventing families from getting their children the mental health servicesthey need. By restoring the $1.07 billion in expired SCHIP funds, Congresswould help maintain the progress that the SCHIP program has made inlessening the number of uninsured children and improving children's accessto needed mental health services.Improving access to health care coverage for uninsured children with mentalhealth needs is vitally important. As the report of the President's NewFreedom Commission on Mental Health points out "[i]f the system does notappropriately screen and treat [mental disorders in children] early, thesechildhood disorders may persist and lead to a downward spiral of schoolfailure, poor employment opportunities, and poverty in adulthood. No otherillnesses damage so many children so seriously."Without congressional action, hundreds of thousands of children stand tolose their health insurance and states will be financially unable to offercoverage to more eligible youths. There is widespread agreement that wemust improve children's access to mental health services. Restoration ofthe $1.07 billion of SCHIP funding to secure health care coverage for needychildren is key to achieving this goal.Thank you and your staff for your attention to this urgent issue.Sincerely, [ send green star]
James M N.	UN YOUTH FLASH November 23, 2004 7:05 AM UN YOUTH FLASH Service of the United Nations Programme on Youth 19 November 2004 WELCOME to the UN Youth Flash, a service of the UN Programme on Youth,keeping you up to date on the youth agenda of the UN and partneringyouthorganizations around the world. We encourage you to forward YouthFlash topeople in your network. Below you will read more on:- News from UN Headquarters in New York- News from UN Agencies around the world- Feature: Toolkit report from the Democratic Republic of the Congo- Upcoming events- Interesting websites- Our contact information ***********************************News from UN Headquarters in New York********************************* >> The General Assembly devotes 2 plenary meetings to Youth! <<On 28 October, the Third Committee of the General Assembly unanimouslyadopted the draft resolution "Policies and programmes involving youth:tenth anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth to theYear2000 and Beyond", with explicit support from 95 member states. Theresolution needs to be adopted by the plenary of the General Assemblytobecome definite.Some highlights:1) In 2005, two plenary meetings of the General Assembly will bedevotedtoreview the situation of youth and achievements attained in theimplementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth.2) Prior to the plenary meetings, an informal, interactive round-tablediscussion will be held on the theme "Young people: making commitmentsmatter", which will be open to the participation of Member States,observers, organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmentalyouth organizations.3) Member States are urged to consider being represented by youthrepresentatives to address the plenary on this occasion, as well asin theabove mentioned informal round-table discussion.4) The Secretary-General is asked to provide an overview of the inputbyyouth organizations to the review of the World Programme of Action forYouth.The full text of the draft resolution is available at:http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/ares59l18rev1.pdf >> Deadline to submit WPAY reviews extended to April 2005 <<The deadline for youth organizations, to hand in their review of theWorldProgramme of Action for Youth (WPAY) is extended to 30 April 2005.Thisbecame possible as the newly adopted resolution (see previous newsitem)allows the UN Secretariat to present the inputs from youthorganizationsina separate report. Submissions can be sent to the Programme on Youthviaemail: youth@un.org, or post: DESA/DSPD/YOUTH, DC2-1318, 2 UN Plaza,NewYork, NY 10017, USA. >> Additional printed copies of the Toolkit "Making CommitmentsMatter"available <<The printed versions of the guide "Making Commitments Matter: atoolkit toevaluate national youth policy" are available again. This toolkitoffersyoung people support in evaluating their country's progress towardstheimplementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY).The toolkits can be ordered for free in English, Spanish and French,bysending your name, full postal address, the preferred language and thenumber of copies (5 maximum) to: youth@un.org. For more info, seealso:http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/wyr/index.html#toolkit >> UN Youth Delegates at work <<This year, 11 countries sent youth delegates to the General Assemblysession: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Denmark, El Salvador, Fiji,Finland,Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. They participated in theactivities of the Third Committee, where they lobbied to put youthhigh onthe agenda. Their main focus was to increase the number of youthdelegatesto future UN meetings. Most of them made official statements onbehalf oftheir countries. The way youth delegates are nominated, their tasksandtheissues they bring to the table differ in all countries.If you wish to read more about their experiences, visit:http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/news/youthdelegates04.htm >> World Youth Report 2005 <<The report of the Secretary-General, called "World Youth Report2005",willbe presented at the Commission for Social Development in February2005.This report will contain an overview of the achievements made in theimplementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY)since itsadoption in 1995. Besides achievements in the implementation of thetenpriority areas of the WPAY, progress towards the five new issues willbepresented. After this report is discussed by the Commission for SocialDevelopment, it will be presented to the General Assembly in October2005.The report should be available on-line by early January 2005.Visit http://www.un.org/youth >> 2005: International Year for Sports <<On 5 November, the UN Secretary General launched the InternationalYearforSports, celebrated in 2005. Kofi Annan said in his speech that "Sportis auniversal language. At its best it can bring people together, nomatterwhat their origin, background, religious beliefs or economic status".RogerFederer, tennis player, and Margaret Okayo, New York Marathon winner2004,are two of the ambassadors, who will reach out with this message,particularly to the young people of the world.More information can be found at: http://www.un.org/themes/sport **********************************News from UN Agencies around the world********************************** >> UNDP: Young leaders receive the 2004 Poverty Eradication Award <<On 22 October, during the 8th Poverty Eradication Awards ceremony,UNDPhonoured five young leaders from developing countries for theiroutstandingcontributions to the eradication of poverty in their communities andcountries. The five 2004 award winners are:- Samuel Magassosso, Association Leader Chekwaedzera FarmersAssociation,Mozambique;- Bader Zama'rah, Project Coordinator, Sharek Youth Forum, theoccupiedPalestinian territory;- Edith Castillo Nuñez, Director Youth Policy, Ministry of Youth,Women,Childhood and Family, Consejo Nacional de la Juventud (National YouthCouncil), Panama;- Bessie Maruia, Counseling Trainer Supervisor, National AIDS CouncilofPapua New Guinea;- Mirzokhaydar Isoev, Deputy Chairperson, District DevelopmentCommitteeofIsfara District, Tajikistan.You can read more about their work and the Poverty Eradication Awardsat:http://www.undp.org/idep >> UNDP: Results of the Pan-Asian Youth Leadership SummitFrom 19-22 September 2004, young leaders from some 30 Asian andPacificcountries gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, for the Pan-Asian YouthLeadershipSummit. They discussed possible ways to work together to tackle urgentchallenges facing their region, including poverty, HIV/AIDS, andenvironmental degradation. The Summit was organized by UNDP, theGlobalPeace Initiative for Women and the UN Millennium DevelopmentCampaign. Formore information and the adopted declaration, visit:http://www.asiapacific2015.org >> ILO/YEN: Subscribe to the YEN newsletter <<The Youth Employment Network (YEN) is a partnership under theleadershipofthe United Nations, the World Bank and the International LabourOrganization, which aims to tackle the issue of youth employment attheglobal, national and local levels.You can keep updated on YEN news by subscribing to its bi-monthlynewsletter that is sent out by email. To subscribe, send an email toJustinSykes: sykes@ilo.orgMore info on the YEN: http://www.ilo.org/yen ********************************Feature: putting the toolkit to use!******************************** The African Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (Centre Africain derecherche interdisciplinaire, CARI), of the Democratic Republic of theCongo, has submitted its contribution to the review of the WorldProgrammeof Action for Youth (WPAY) by using various sections of the MakingCommitments Matter toolkit. The Center used the Toolkit to specifically evaluate the threepriorityareas of Education, Girls and Young Women, and HIV/AIDS, while notingthatthe entire Programme is very relevant to the situation of youngpeople inthe Democratic Republic of the Congo. In its evaluation, CARIexamines thecontributions of both the Government and of non-governmentalorganizations(NGOs) in the realization of WPAY and recognizes several reasons whytheProgramme has not been fully implemented in the country. Theseinclude:lack of resources, conflict and regional instability, the burden offoreigndebt, and the lack of participation of young people in thedevelopment ofthe programmes and policies that affect them most. Within the priority area of education, CARI notes that this subjecthasreceived the attention of both Governments and civil society. Eachhasbeenworking with UNESCO to raise awareness and provide training aroundthegoalof education for all. There has also been substantial rehabilitationofschools which were built during the colonial period. Legislation hasbeenpassed to ensure free pre-school and primary education and to make theprofessional training of teachers a priority. Yet, these changes haveyetto take place on the ground for various reasons. Currently parents arecharged for schooling, causing exclusion of children whose parentscannotpay. Poverty causes many families to send only boys to school,accentuatingthe higher prevalence of illiteracy among girls. CARI reports that the priority area of girls and young women lacksspecificprogramming support in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Youngwomenparticularly suffer unequal access in the economy, including access toemployment and equal remuneration. The submission also notes thatthere isa void both in governmental and NGO activity around programmes thatprotectgirls and young women from all forms of violence, exploitation andinfanticide, and provide access to sexual and reproductive healthservices. CARI notes that there exists a national programme and financialplanningfor fighting HIV/AIDS and that young people are an integral part ofthiswork. There is political commitment to this plan and it consists ofbothprevention and treatment for HIV/AIDS. Government services tend toconcentrate on schools, while NGOs run projects that target the mostvulnerable children who do not attend school. CARI recommends thatyouthand youth organizations be more included in the planning andimplementationof HIV/AIDS programmes and notes that conflict is the largest threattothegain made in reducing the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate to an estimated 5%. The UN Youth Programme will review submissions received from youthorganizations and representatives using the Making Commitments Mattertoolkit and summarize the findings in a report to the next session oftheUnited Nations General Assembly in the fall of 2005. Submissions canbesent until 31 April 2005 via email: youth@un.org , or post:DESA/DSPD/YOUTH, DC2-1318, 2 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA. ********************Calendar of Youth Events******************** NB: Some events are open for participation by invitation only >> 9-18 February 05: "Commission for Social Development"UN Headquarters, New York. The ECOSOC Commission for SocialDevelopmentwill meet for its 43rd session in February 2005. The review of theWorldProgramme of Action for Youth will be on the agenda, as theCommissionwilldiscuss the Secretary-General's World Youth Report 2005, before it issubmitted to the General Assembly in the fall of 2005. It is expectedthata panel discussion on the global situation of youth will be held onMonday14 February 2005.To keep updated on their schedule:http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/csocd2005.htm >> 15-19 June 05: "African Development Forum V devoted to youthissues"UNCC, Addis Ababa. The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) bringstogether stakeholders in Africa's development - including heads ofstate,ministers, heads of international organizations, civil societyleaders,research institutes and Nobel Laureates - to debate and discuss policyalternatives and emerging strategic issues for Africa's development.Inorder to put the issue of youth on the African development agenda, thefifth African Development Forum will be devoted to youth developmentissues.For more information, please contact: Kwabia Boateng, Office ofPolicy andProgramme Coordination, UN ECA, tel. 251-1-443571 ext 33571;kboateng@uneca.org. >> 30 July - 08 August 05: "3rd World Youth Congress"Stirling, Scotland. Peace Child International (PCI ), together withitsworldwide network of some 700 partner groups in 155 countries, willorganize a third World Youth Congress on the theme: "Young peopleworkingfor a sustainable world community". The first Congress was held inHawaiiin 1999 and the second in Morocco in 2003. The Congress seriesprovides aforum for young people who are active in development/povertyeradication,to meet and develop their network. Anyone between the ages of 18 and25canapply and attendance is free!For more information, please visit http://www.scotland2005.org/ >> October 05: "Evaluation of the World Programme of Action for Youth"UN Headquarters, New York. The UN World Programme of Action for Youthwillbe evaluated by the General Assembly during two plenary meetings. Moreinformation can be found at: http://www.un.org/youth. ****************Interesting websites**************** >> Journal of a Vietnamese youth advocate for the MDGs <<Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai is 23 years old and travels through Vietnam tobringthe message about poverty reduction to young people. Mai is thewinner ofthe United Nations Volunteers (UNV) contest in Vietnam, a youthinitiativeto promote volunteerism for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).Withher prize she could sponsor her 3-month trip.Follow Mai's travels and adventures on her website:http://www.un.org.vn/mai/indexe.htm >> The Global Youth Network against drugs and crime <<The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has updated the site ofitsGlobal Youth Network. On the site, you will find various tools, suchas:Coaches' Guide for Using Sport to Teach Healthy Life Skills (6languages);and Let's Talk about AIDS (in Farsi). Under the link "GoodPractices", youwill find Good practices on monitoring and evaluating substance abuseprevention among youth.Please visit: http://www.unodc.org/youthnet/index.html ***************Contact information***************** UN Youth Flash is a free service of the UN Programme on Youth, of theDivision for Social Policy and Development, within the Department forEconomic and Social Affairs (DESA) at the United Nations SecretariatinNewYork. Currently working with the programme are Joop Theunissen (Focal PointonYouth), Fred Doulton (Associate Social Affairs Officer), Julie Larsen(Associate Social Affairs Officer), Charlotte van Hees (AssociateExpertonYouth Policies and Programmes) and Eyyub Hajiyev (intern). To subscribe and unsubscribe to the information service, please sendanemail to: youth@un.org, with 'subscribe' or 'unsubscribe' as thesubjectline.>>>>>>>>>>> VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http://www.un.org/youth [ send green star]
James M N.	"USA youth inmate abuse" October 27, 2004 10:16 PM "USA youth inmate abuse""From: "Cat >^. .^<" <nopsychiatry@yahoo.com>Subject: Re: [Sci-psych] forward: USA youth inmate abuseTo: members-sci-psych list <sci-psych@efn.org>Message-ID: <20041023055050.26687.qmail@web20709.mail.yahoo.com>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-asciiTwo of my best friends had this happen to them. One was taken toSamoa, the other to Utah. They both endured most of the thingsdescribed below... and more. Rape, forced abortions, no access toneeded medical care, watching animals being tortured to death, notbeing told who the kidnappers are after being thrown in the back of avan... These places are truly horror shows.Cat--- "David Oaks - www.MindFreedom.org" <dendron@efn.org> wrote:> Below is forwarded, feel free to forward:>> ~~~~~~>> From: mysticoutkast@hotmail.com> Subject: American parents pay to put kids in prison camps!> Date: October 22, 2004 8:42:48 PM PDT>> PLEASE FORWARD WIDE AND FAR!!!>> I received permission from the author to reprint this account.>>________________________________________________________________________>> _______> Sunday - 10/18/04>> Yesterday I attended a meeting that left me stunned.>> It was a meeting of former prison camp inmates. There were people> who> had been in about 7 different camps throughout the United States> and> other countries who, while listening in rapt attention to the> stories> each told, often looked to each other to say, "Wow. That happened> at my> camp too!" Those present had not known each other, but had heard> about> the different camps. They shared information about what they had> been> told. Some said that they had "wished" they could have been in the>> other camp, as the rumors were that conditions were better over> there.> They were not. They learned, yesterday, that talk of better> conditions> were all lies.>> These prison camps were all under a single authority. Sanctioned by>> their government, these camps operate without any regard for human>> rights. Here is what I learned.>> There were "rule books" given to the inmates upon their arrival at> the> camp. Rules that included severe punishment for minor infractions,> such> as moving your little finger, or scratching your hand. There were> punishments meted out for engaging in normal conduct such as> talking to> others. You were not allowed to talk to other prisoners or "staff"> at> any time without permission. On the other hand, talking and certain>> statements were required in the mandatory meetings. At those> meetings,> one person sat in the middle of a circle and led by the staff> "forced"> to admit to having been a victim or perpetrator of various acts> including abuse, drug use, and other criminal behaviors. Whether or> not> these were part of the prisoner's experience made no difference,> you> had to say they were> or else.>> Capture was reported to have been carried out by 2 or 3 captors> (large> males and females) in the dead of night who at the hands of another>> were allowed into your bedroom, usually in a middle or upper class>> neighborhood. You were taken - duct tape over the mouth, forced> into a> vehicle and transported, some handcuffed, to a remote location.> Some> locales were in remote areas within the USA while others were in> other> countries or territories. These include Samoa, Jamaica, Mexico,> Costa> Rica, and the Cayman Islands.>> Intake included a brief interview, removal of all clothing and> jewelry,> and a humiliating de-lousing procedure. After this, you were given>> prison garb to wear. All personal belongings were taken away. No> shoes> were allowed. The request for shoes was said to signal a plan to> attempt an escape.>> All camps were surrounded by 12 or 15 foot fences, or by natural> barriers such as crocodile filled lakes observed by 24 hour guards.>> Besides these conditions, all inmates reported that there was filth> and> unhealthy and inhumane conditions, including cockroaches, other> bugs> and rodents as constant companions. Scabies were rampant.>> Sleeping quarters were barren. Steel 3 tiered bunks, with 4 to a> bunk> making 12 to a room plus a guard. Use of toilets was regimented,> controlled, and observed by staff. Showering was infrequent, also> observed by staff. Food was sparse as well. Small portions of cold> rice> and beans, with water to drink. Yet, daily activities were long and>> rigorous> and meaningless.>> One panel (prior inmates of each camp were grouped according to the>> camp) spoke of being forced to move many huge rocks from the bottom> of> a hill or mountain to the top> then back down to the bottom then back to the top. The> meaninglessness> of the activity was almost as spirit breaking as the task was> physically exhausting. A daily exercise in futility. The work> continued> for 14-16 hours per day, in blistering heat, no shoes, little food.>> There were many physical injuries, as no protective wear was> provided> .no gloves, no sunglasses, no protection from the heat, no shoes to>> protect the feet. Many scars were shown to us on the hands, arms> and> feet. Injuries would turn to infections due to lack of hygiene,> showers> and medical attention.>> Others at another camp had more meaningful work. They reported that>> upon arrival at the camp, there were no buildings or facilities. It>> would be their job to build their own prison. Again, no shoes, no> protective equipment, no protection from the elements. Chiseling> rocks> and cement, moving heavy materials, using saws, hammer and nails.> Again, injuries went unattended, no medical or hygienic treatment> was> made available. Injuries turned into painful infections, yet there> was> no reprieve from work detail. Work was 14-16 hours per day.> Prisoners> suffered severe weight loss, anemia, sickness, wounds not treated> became infected, yet they were forced to continue to work. These> were> in areas of hot temperatures (jungles and deserts), so each step> was> painful on dirt with no shoes that was hot and filled with> construction> materials.>> Others reported on how the "program" worked. There were levels or> classes. One "graduated" from one level to the next by compliance> with> the rules, which changed serendipitously and often had nothing to> do> with improved behavior or any lesson or goal.>> These reminded me of tactics used against Prisoners of War that> were> reported after the World Wars, Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.>> Mind and body numbing cruelty carrying out the orders of> Administrative> authority by sadistic and cruel guards and "staff".>> Rules that were essentially meaningless and strictly enforced by> cruel> punishments if broken, only to change to other meaningless rules a> day> or week later.>> Not only that, was the familiar ring of those revelations. That> various> "staff" or "guards" meted out the consequences - or favors- based> upon> "favorites" they had among the inmates. Some would not be punished> at> all for a particular infraction while another was severely> punished.> What were the punishments? These included, for both males and> females,> tortured physical positions that had to be maintained for hours or>> days. Being "hog tied" (the hands tied behind the back tied to the> feet> bent up to them), face down in the hot desert sand for many hours> or> days. Skin was burnt off. Eyes swollen. If there was resistance,> guards> weighting about 300 pounds would sit on the resistant inmate, for> hours. Shoulders were twisted out of the socket by this method.> Bones> were broken ("I heard a couple of "pops" when this happened, and I> knew> my bones were broken", said one former inmate".)>> No medical attention was provided for any of these injuries or> conditions. One recalled that an injured and later infected> prisoner> became so ill that she was finally taken to a hospital, where the> medical staff said that without treatment, she'd have been dead> within> 30 minutes.>> Was there sexual abuse? The women reported that they personally> were> raped or knew of others who were. Gang raped by staff, single> repeated> rapes, forced sexual behavior. All accompanied by threats of severe>> consequences if they told anyone about the rapes. Public> humiliations> and seductions were commonplace.>> While I listened to each person speak of the horrors they had> endured,> the words that have been recently splattered repeatedly on our news>> programs and print media rang in my head: terrorism, terrorists,> War on> Terrorism, Homeland Security, Abu Ghraib.>> The US President's words, "We're gonna find the terrorists and> bring> them to justice"; "We're gonna rid the world of terrorism", "We> have> declared war on terrorism"; "We want people around the world to be>> safe, to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy here in America". "We want to>> spread the freedoms we have to other countries". "We're gonna hunt> down> the evil-doers and do away with them.">> Well guess what, Mr. President. These prison camps are operating> right> here in Indiana, Utah, Iowa, Montana, Florida, and other states.> Some,> after kidnapping the prisoners, send them to camps they operate in>> Mexico, Costa Rica, Samoa, Jamaica and other countries. These camps> are> under your authority. They operate with impunity under your> jurisdiction. You have the power to close them down. You want to> "hunt> down the terrorists"? You have their addresses! You have the> complete> power of whether the abuses described stop or continue. What do you>> choose?>> As FDR said, as President, "the buck stops here". At the> President's> desk. You are the President. There are records that show that you> have> been given and chosen to accept money from the owner/operators of> these> terrorist camps.>> I am asking you, as President, all members of Congress, all those> in> the Department of Justice to immediately Stop Trafficking in> Abducted> Teens. All of the prisoners described above, are American children,>> ranging from 9-19 years of age. Stop Terrorism in our Homeland.> When> you say, "the freedoms we enjoy right here in America", I want all>> Americans to enjoy the freedoms, but as you can see, the children> in> these terrorist camps do not enjoy the freedoms you assert. Don't'> you?>> The terrorism, permitted and supported by loopholes in legislation>> could be closed off if you cared. If we really cared about human> rights, these camps would be closed immediately. You could do it in> one> day, if you wanted. If you cared. There is no difficulty in> locating> these terrorist camps> their addresses, staff members are easily located> just go there! I'm sure that as President, they would let you in.>> Who are the prisoners? They are our nations children. CHILDREN!!!> Children as young as 9 and kept prisoners after their 18th> birthday. So> long as their parents continue paying (about $4,00 per month) for> the> capture and imprisonment of their children, the children are forced> to> stay. How do the kids escape?>> 1. Parents run out of money> then the child is released.> 2. They turn 18. If parents can still pay, then,> a. They stay until the "complete the program", meaning until> parents> can no longer pay or> b. They are allowed to leave and given an "exit plan". An example> of> the exit plan is> i. that the child is given a bus ticket to a location far from the>> parental home;> ii. A nominal amount of money ($5 to $40)> iii. Told not to contact their parents> c. At the same time, the parents are contacted and told that under> no> circumstances should they allow the child back into the home or be>> given money, or else all of the progress the child has made will be>> undone. They are told to use a perverted "Tough Love" approach,> which> has nothing to do with love, or even the "Tough Love" program and> philosophy.>> Thus, the child is left on the streets of an unknown city, with no>> money and no resources. A terrifying experience for a person of any>> age.>> And what are the physical, social, emotional, psychological and> spiritual outcomes? All reported being damaged, severely, in each> of> these spheres.>> 1. an impaired physical growth and development, due to severe> malnutrition during the developmental years;> 2. the natural physical scars and malfunctions due to the effects> of> malnutrition, torture, injury and untreated infections> 3. mental confusion due to constant exposure to systematic mental> torture> 4. poor academics and educational achievement due to a complete> lack> of, or inadequate exposure to education. One girl reported that as> a> gifted student prior to her incarceration, the use of remedial> texts by> uneducated, unqualified "teachers" was intellectually demeaning,> draining and damaging. She was left completely unprepared for adult>> life as well as intellectually debilitated during the process. She> was> required to "dumb down" and was punished, humiliated and ridiculed> for> using words natural to her. Being academically prepared was "a big>> no-no" (using the approved dumbing down vernacular that would have> been> approved in the prison camp). WHAT HAPPENED TO "NO CHILD LEFT> BEHIND"???> 5. Because no radio, TV or print media was allowed, the inmates> were> left completely unaware of world events. Or any events for that> matter.> For those who were incarcerated prior to 9/11 and who exited some> time> after, none of that world-changing information was known> they all have to learn now, the important changes that have> occurred,,,for example, that there was a war in Afghanistan, a war> in> Iraq was begun and continues.> 6. All described symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, severe>> depression, severe anxiety. Symptoms such as frequent night> terrors,> nightmares, severe anxiety every day, an anxiety whenever around> other> adults, being in a room (always surveying for an exit option),> feelings> of continued brainwashing, not being able to think straight, self> doubt> self-loathing, lack of purpose, needing permission for everything,>> thought control, lack of social skills, personal skills, skills> needed> for independent living, difficulty in intimate relationships. And> without funds, unable to acquire proper therapy> along with fear of therapists, as "staff" purporting to be> therapists> had worked with them extensively. None of these survivors have a> sense> of trust, either of others, themselves, or their environments. None> of> what they experienced and survived has been charged against their> perpetrators as crimes, so they cannot qualify for assistance from> the> Victims of Crime Assistance Act.> 7. Family relations are bankrupt. Many of the survivors reported> that> their parents do not believe the conditions they describe. The> parents> continue to believe the perpetrators.>> The industry of trafficking in children is a 100 million dollar a> year> industry. The parents are told that their children are being sent> to a> luxury "boarding school" with wonderful amenities, therapists, a> fine> educational program, recreation including beach trips, horseback> riding. The truth is the exact opposite. For the parents not to> believe> their own children, is a huge betrayal for the children. What is> more> important in life than our family, our children? Do we really> revere> children? Do we honor our children? No, we place our trust in> strangers> who take our money, and deny our love and trust in our children.> Why?> Well, to be the parent of a tortured child would be heartbreaking,> of> course, and one would of course feel great guilt and remorse for> putting one's child in a terrorist camp. But to admit to having> done so> is at this time beyond the emotional capability of many parents.> So,> the survivors of these camps have also lost what is most important> to> them. Their parents and immediate family.>> Survivors are left on their own, abandoned and rejected by their> family, to survive economically, socially, psychologically and> spiritually. There is no "Veteran's Hospital" to which they can go> for> recovery. There is no program to assist them as they make their way>> into adulthood.>> Who will stop this practice? Who will stand up for the rights of> children to be loved and treated with respect? Who will stop the> possibility of continuing or new terrorist camps for kids? Who?>> I was involved in the rescue of one child who was kidnapped and> hidden> away in one of these camps in Montana. The local sheriff and other>> local authorities are in bed with the camp. I have personal> knowledge> that their "medical staff" is not qualified to practice in the> state.> They have no qualified teachers, although they advertise themselves> to> be a "boarding school". Their mental health director and staff have> no> degrees or qualifications in mental health. They probably walk in> off> the street, having been cashiers somewhere and get a job as a> therapist, teacher, guard or staff.>> Who will step up to close these terrorist camps for kids? Who will> pull> back the curtain of the lies they tell parents and the public to> get> their money, then torture their children? Who will close the> loophole> of education for these children, so they can get a proper education> to> prepare them for adulthood? Who will allow them conversations with> each> other, so needed for building proper social skills? Who will say> that> torturing children is bad for America? Will you?>> N.D.>>>> More info here:> http://www.isaccorp.org>> This organization is collecting testimonies and evidence including>> video footage for presentation to Congress.>> Help out by contacting congresspeople here> http://www.isaccorp.org/action.html>> there is also a petition to sign.>> WASHINGTON -- A California congressman urged Secretary of State> Colin> Powell on Thursday to apply additional scrutiny of several overseas>> schools for troubled teens run by a southern Utah company.> "I am very concerned about the adequacy of existing policies of the>> U.S. State Department for assessing serious allegations of improper>> conduct towards American children in overseas facilities," wrote> Rep.> George Miller, the senior Democrat on the House Education> Committee.>> Rep. Miller has focused attention on this issue because hundreds of>> American children were dropped off in San Diego by the Mexican> authorities.> It is an American governed facility housing American citizens,> teenagers!> Read on>>> 2 U.S.-Affiliated Academies Abroad Are Shut Down> By TIM WEINER> Published: September 13, 2004> New York Times>> The overseas programs of one of America's largest behavior> modification> associations for teenagers were shuttered yesterday after> authorities> closed one program in Mexico holding more than 500 youths and> Hurricane> Ivan struck a second in Jamaica, with 300 youths.>> The Casa by the Sea program in Ensenada, Mexico, and Tranquility> Bay,> in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, were two of the largest and most> profitable> programs of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and> Schools, or Wwasps, of St. George, Utah.>> Mexican immigration officials said teenagers at Casa by the Sea> showed> signs of mistreatment> in an inspection on Friday. Teenagers at Tranquility Bay, on> Jamaica's> southern coast, were sent to a hotel nearby after the guests had> been> evacuated as the hurricane approached.>> In interviews with The New York Times last year, scores of> teenagers> and many of their parents said the techniques Wwasps used in Mexico> and> Jamaica included physical abuse, long solitary confinement and> little> professional treatment.> Program officials in Mexico and Jamaica, who could not be reached> for> comment over the weekend, said last year that the programs were> tough> but not abusive.>> Casa by the Sea, which opened in 1998, and Tranquility Bay, founded> in> 1996, were the overseas flagships of Wwasps. A program in Costa> Rica> closed last year after a government> inspection led to a revolt by teenagers against the administration.>> The Wwasps overseas programs paid less, charged lower fees -> roughly> $35,000 a year - and faced lower licensing and legal hurdles than> similar programs in the United States. Several thousand American> teenagers had been enrolled in the overseas programs in the last> eight> years.>> Wwasps says it is one of the fastest-growing groups of its kind.> Casa> by the Sea, which is housed in a hotel 60 miles south of San Diego,> had> nearly 600 youths enrolled last year. Mexican officials who closed> it> after a surprise inspection on Friday could not be reached by> telephone.>> Some children were picked up by their parents in Ensenada and> Tijuana,> Mexico, and others were being taken to a hotel in San Diego,> parents> said. Many may be transferred to Wwasps affiliates in Utah,> Montana,> New York, California, Iowa and South Carolina, which have a total> of> about 1,500 youths.>> Tranquility Bay, also housed in an old hotel by the sea, was struck> by> Hurricane Ivan hours after the raid in Mexico. Parents said they> were> told that the 300 children there would be moved to another hotel> nearby.>>> Robert Lichfield, founder of Wwasps, the network of schools for> troubled teens, contributed $60,000 to Republican Jon Huntsman Jr.,>> who's running for Governor of Utah.>> There are more articles such as the one below, here:> http://www.isaccorp.org/articles.html>>> More sexual abuse allegations lead to boys' removal from camp> Web Posted: 08/13/2004 04:41 PM CDT> Joseph S. Stroud and Guillermo Garcia> Express-News Staff Writer> SMITHVILLE -- Weeping boys were driven away in vans from the> Woodside> Trails wilderness> camp today after new allegations of sexual abuse against children> prompted state officials to> remove 22 children from the Bastrop County facility.> The new allegations led to the arrest within the last month of two>> former staffers at the therapeutic> camp on charges of sexually assaulting children. And Geoff Wool,> spokesman for the Texas> Department of Family and Protective Services, said the agency had> received two new calls on its> abuse and neglect hotline related to other staffers at the camp> within> the last two weeks.> Wool declined to say whether those calls involved abuse or neglect>> allegations or who made the> complaints about the facility, which has been the target of intense>> media and legislative scrutiny> since Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn criticized> conditions> there in "Forgotten> Children," a report she issued in April.> But he said officials decided they couldn't wait any longer."We> have 22> kids that are placed there,> and with recent allegations that we have received, what we have> seen> there, law enforcement> involvement, we felt like it was the appropriate thing," Wool said.> "We> were concerned about the> safety of the kids."> The agency stopped short of taking emergency action to suspend the>> facility's operating license,> and the possibility remains that other agencies and private> individuals> responsible for boys at the> camp will leave them there. Woodside Trails, founded in 1982, takes> in> male juvenile sex> offenders and other boys with serious emotional issues.> Along with the 22 boys sent there by Child Protective Services, the>> state agency's child-placement> entity, the facility housed 10 juvenile probation clients and three>> "private pay"> residents. Wool said the state notified county juvenile probation> officials and others responsible> for those residents of its decision but did not move to suspend or>> revoke the facility's operating> license.> Under Texas law, the state licensing division may invoke a 10-day> emergency suspension or> close a facility altogether if officials feel conditions there pose> a> serious threat to the health and> safety of children. But Wool said the agency would wait until the> allegations have been> investigated further before taking that step.> That prompted criticism from Lee Spiller of the Citizens Commission> on> Human Ri ghts, an> organization that has raised concerns about the quality of care at>> Woodside Trails."The bottom> line is keeping children safe, and I don't think it's enough that> they> removed the agency's> children," Spi ller said. "If it's not safe for the agency's> children,> what makes it safer for anybody> else's children?"> The boys wept and sobbed openly as they were escorted into about a>> dozen vans and sport utility> vehicles lined up near the camp office today. State officials> planned> to take them to the Austin> Child Protective Services offices to begin the process of placing> them> elsewhere.>>> ISAC Watch List>> ISAC has received credible complaints about the following facilites>> alleging child abuse, criminal activity and/or ties to known cults.>> Victory Christian Academy, also called Genesis Ministries - Jay,> Florida> New Beginnings Rebekah Academy - Pace, Florida> The Elan School - Maine> CEDU High School - California> CEDU Middle School - California> Bethel Boys/Girls Academy - Mississippi> Thayer Learning Center - Missouri> Kids Helping Kids - Ohio> Growing Together - Florida> Second Chance - Tennessee> Phoenix Institute - Georgia> Devereux Foundation - multiple centers nationwide> Operation Par - Florida> Tranquility Bay - Jamaica> Carolina Springs Academy - South Carolina> Academy at Ivy Ridge - New York> Casa By The Sea - Mexico CLOSED By Mexican Authorities> Majestic Ranch Academy - Utah> Cross Creek Schools - Utah> Spring Creek Lodge - Montana> Browning Academy - Does not physically exist!!!> Midwest Academy - Iowa> Provo Canyon School - Utah> Ascent Therapeutic Adventure Program - Idaho> Boulder Creek Academy - Idaho> King George School - Vermont> Northwest Academy - Idaho> Rocky Mountain Academy - Idaho> Milestones Transitional Living Program - Idaho> Pathway Family Center - Indiana and Michigan> SAFE (Substance Abuse and Family Education) - Florida> AARC (Alberta Adolescent Recovery Center) - Canada>>> The following facilities were on our watch list and have since> closed> following investigations into possible child abuse. They are listed>> here because ISAC believes they may re-open in another location.>> Mountain Park Academy - Missouri> Palm Lane Academy - Florida> DeSisto School - Massachusetts - Students moved to Mexico facility.>> News reports indicate that the facility may attempt to reopen in> Vermont.>> ____________________________>>> David Oaks, Director> MindFreedom International> 454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284> Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA>> http://www.mindfreedom.org> email: oaks@mindfreedom.org fax: (541) 345-3737> phone: (541) 345-9106 toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE>> MIND YOUR FREEDOM: United Action for Human Rights.>> join here: http://www.mindfreedom.org/join.shtml>> MindFreedom Support Coalition International is an> independent non-profit uniting 100 sponsor groups> to win human rights & alternatives in mental health.> Accredited by the United Nations as a> Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with> Consultative Roster Status.>> _______________________________________________> This list is for current MindFreedom members. Please only copy and> forward posts off list with the explicit permission of the poster.> Thanks. http://www.MindFreedom.org.>> Sci-psych mailing list> Sci-psych@efn.org> http://mailman.efn.org/mailman/listinfo/sci-psych>=====Can't sleep... psychiatrists will eat me." [ send green star]
James M N.	Kids Before Profits E-News: 10/14/04, Vol #8 October 15, 2004 7:19 PM Kids Before Profits E-News: 10/14/04, Vol #8 Greetings James, With Halloween just around the corner, I've spent some time in the last few days explaining to my two-year-old that all those scary decorations aren't real. I wish I could say the same thing about what the tobacco industry is up to. With an election just weeks away, Big Tobacco is shoveling cash out the door as they hope to gain influence over candidates even before Election Day. In this edition of E-news, we'll tell you how you can fight back against Big Tobacco's campaign cash. We've launched a new website that allows voters to send messages to candidates about tobacco issues. You can read more about it below and you can visit the site at www.KidsBeforeProfits.org Enjoy this month's e-news! Sincerely, Carter Headrick If you have questions, comments or suggestions about how we could make our work better, please feel free to write us at: TobaccoFreeKids@tobaccofreekids.org Action of the Month Help put Tobacco on the Front Lines of this Election As the November elections approach, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids would like to announce the launching of its newest effort: Kids Before Profits. In what is predicted to be one of the closest elections in history, we have the opportunity to bring the issue of tobacco control to the forefront. To this end, the Kids Before Profits campaign will provide the means for candidates to distinguish themselves on the issue of tobacco control, and will also give the voters a means by which to measure their candidates. Through our website, KidsBeforeProfits.org we will provide candidates with talking points on tobacco so that they can make their position on the issue clear to voters. We will also give you, our E-champions, opportunities to take action. In addition to our regular E-alerts, the website gives you the ability to volunteer whenever you would like. These volunteer opportunities include writing a letter to your editor about a specific candidate or ballot initiative and a list of questions to ask candidates at local forums or town hall meetings. Our goals for this new campaign include generating 30,000 letters to candidates running for public office; recruiting 25,000 new E-Champions; and raising the profile of tobacco-control in this year's election. We can't achieve these goals without your help. The website launched October 4, and we hope you will visit it and take action. Together we can make tobacco control one of the key issues of this election! Click below to take action. Take Action Capitol Hill Update U.S. Congress Fails to Give U.S. Food and Drug Administration Authority over Tobacco A conference committee consisting of Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, voted recently to remove language that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate manufactured tobacco products from a corporate tax bill. The bill has now passed both houses of Congress, even though it was missing this important language. This is a huge loss for the health of all Americans, and especially for our children. The failure of the conference committee to reign in Big Tobacco means more deaths from tobacco use, and thousands of more kids becoming addicted to tobacco products. Read more about FDA at: http://tfk.grassroots.com/News04/CapitolHillUpdate-Oct04/ In the Courts Department of Justice Begins Trial Against Big Tobacco On Tuesday, September 21st, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) began argument in its case against some of the largest tobacco companies in the country. The lawsuit, originally filed in 1999, has survived many attempts by the tobacco industry to have it dismissed. The Bush administration has also tried to get rid of the case, attempting to settle it in 2001 and to deny funding for the suit. Thanks to tobacco control advocates like you around the country, the efforts to stop this historic lawsuit were thwarted, and we are on our way to seeing Big Tobacco held accountable for their crimes. Read more about the trial at: http://tfk.grassroots.com/News04/IntheCourts-Oct04/ Voices Against Tobacco Story of the Month Jane T. from Mesa, Arizona My Papa, Ira Daniel Bainbridge, started smoking Lucky's at a young age. He was a farmer and in construction and then a teacher of woodworking and building at a vocational school. He had a wife and 3 daughters that he loved very much. He fought against many problems such as back surgery; they said he would never walk again. Many broken bones, 4 years in body casts, many, many surgeries later and he proved them wrong. He walked again and walked right into college when I was 15 and became a teacher. He taught school days and went to college at night and finally by age 60 had his degree. He could conquer anything. Then they found cancer in his lungs and back. He went through radiation and chemo and all that goes with the treatments and never complained. He knew he would win again. He quit smoking when he found out he had cancer. He died at the young age of 67. Read more about Jane's story at: http://tfk.grassroots.com/News04/Voices-Oct04/ For more stories like Jane's, and to share your own stories, please visit www.VoicesAgainstTobacco.org Stat of the Month Big Tobacco Campaign Contributions Since 1997, tobacco interests have given more than $28 million in political donations to federal candidates, national parties and non-party political action committees. ~From the Federal Elections Commission (http://www.fec.gov) For more information on campaign contributions, please visit www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/contributions/. You are receiving this email message from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. If you'd prefer not to receive any additional email from us, please click here to unsubscribe from our list. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids1400 I Street NWSuite 1200Washington, DC 20005 [ send green star]
James M N.	20/20 Vision: Tell Bush: Don't Play Politics With Our Kids! October 14, 2004 2:12 PM 20/20 Vision: Tell Bush: Don't Play Politics With Our Kids!We are currently upgrading our activist system to bring you better action alerts, so please excuse the technical difficulties we encountered yesterday. Dear 20/20 Vision Member: The Bush campaign’s spin machine has created another election-year ploy: Children’s Health Month in October. Bush’s Children’s Health Month web site advises parents on how to protect their kids from a dirty environment. How nice. But if President Bush were serious about children’s health, he would clean up the environment by strengthening air pollution laws and controlling toxics like mercury. Instead, he’s repeatedly let polluters off the hook and watered down environmental protections. The health of our kids is too important to be used as a political prop. If Bush won't protect our kid’s health, at least he shouldn’t get away with claiming that he is! Tonight's debate gives us an important opportunity to hold Bush accountable. Please send an email to George Bush’s campaign right now, criticizing his environmental record. Call on him to speak at this debate about how he would improve our children’s health. http://democracyinaction.org/2020vision/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=189 For more information about the Bush administration’s environmental record and children’s health month, click here http://cta.policy.net/childrenshealthmonth/ Together, we can make a difference! Best, Tom and RebeccaYour online team at 20/20 Vision Take Action http://democracyinaction.org/2020vision/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=189 Tell A Friend http://democracyinaction.org/2020vision/thankYou.jsp?campaign_KEY=189 Sign Up For Alerts http://democracyinaction.org/2020vision/signUp.jsp [ send green star]
James M N.	FW: PsychoFascism Alert: GWBush's grossly misnamed New Freedom October 14, 2004 2:09 PM Subject: PsychoFascism Alert: GWBush's grossly misnamed New FreedomCommission Friends: Please read this declaration of refusal and if you like to, sign itNOW. We are going to work this thing in the press and in the politicalarena. Again if you like it, Spread the word, and get it posted on as many websitesas possible. Let's see how many THOUSANDS of signators we can get to let itbe known that the Bush Administration's New Freedom dragnet (Thanks to theurging of the psychopharmaceutical and psychiatric industries) through theschoools seeking more of our precious children to drug will NOT go forward. In solidarity,John Breeding (Message above and below edited slightly by Gary G. Kohls, MD) Texans for Safe Education in Conjunction with Ablechild have Launched aPetition Drive in Response to Bush and Company’s “New Freedom Commission”and Its Recommendations to “Screen” all U.S. Citizens for “Mental Illness.” Recently the Cheney/Bush administration's New "Freedom" Commission on MentalHealth (NFC) has initiated what we call a government sponsored “intrusion”program that would mandate all U.S. Citizens (to include every man, womanand child) to be “screened” for “mental illness” (with the obvious referralfor dangerous, potentially neurotoxic and often addicting syntheticchemicals that are euphemistically called psychotropic drugs). To Read More on this Initiative and the Direct Threat on Our Privacy andHealth Click Here http://www.ablechild.org/declaration%20of%20refusal.aspx<http://www.ablechild.org/declaration of refusal.aspx> We Strongly Urge You to Say NO to Mandatory Mental Health Screenings andSign this Petition! America's children and their precious and precariousbrains are at stake. Thank You for taking a stand for freedom!Texans for Safe Education Ablechild.ORG [ send green star]
James M N.	Fight childhood hunger; Halloween fun that gives back October 14, 2004 2:08 PM Fight childhood hunger; Halloween fun that gives back Dear james m, With kids back in school, and the recent celebration of The Child Health Site's second anniversary, now is an important time to reach out to children whose basic needs aren't being met. America's Second Harvest, our domestic partner in the fight against hunger, is doing just that. Read on to learn about its Kids Café program and how you can help. Plus, you can automatically send support to America's Second Harvest and Mercy Corps by shopping where it matters. Our specials to the right and below, and our fun Halloween accessories, are great examples of the unique jewelry, gifts and clothing you'll find in The Hunger Site store where every purchase gives food to the hungry. Kids Café Reaches Out to Fight Childhood Hunger In Savannah, Georgia in 1989, two young brothers were discovered late one night in the kitchen of their housing project's community center. The older brother had broken into the kitchen to feed himself and his younger brother. In response to this glaring example of childhood hunger in their local community, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia started the first Kids Café. In 1993, America's Second Harvest launched the national Kids Café program. Today, Kids Café is one of the nation's largest free meal service programs for children. Since its inception, Kids Cafés have become an important tool in the effort to end childhood hunger with more than 1,000 Kids Cafés in operation in the U.S. The primary goal of the Kids Café program is to provide free and prepared food and nutrition education to hungry children. Kids Cafés across the country achieve this goal by utilizing existing community resources, such as Boys and Girls Clubs or schools -- anywhere children already naturally congregate. In addition to providing hot meals to hungry kids, some Kids Cafés programs also offer a safe place where, under the supervision of trustworthy staff, a child can get involved in educational, recreational and social activities that draw on existing community programs and often include family members. Your clicks and shopping at The Hunger Site support the vital work of America's Second Harvest, including the Kids Café program. To increase your impact, click here to make a direct contribution to support America's Second Harvest and its network of more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations. Halloween Fun That Gives Back This Halloween, give kids more than sweet treats -- give them important nutrition. Every purchase in The Hunger Site store generates funding for some of the billion people suffering from hunger and malnutrition worldwide... many of them are children. Our sparkling Crystal Pumpkin Earrings and colorful Halloween Socks are just two examples -- each will generate 25 cups of food with your purchase! Click here to check out all our Halloween treats. We appreciate your efforts! Sincerely, Greg Hesterberg & Tim KuninThe Hunger Sitegreg@thehungersite.comtimkunin@thehungersite.comwww.thehungersite.com RE-USE AND REJOICE This winter, keep warm in colorful comfort with our Knitted Recycled Silk Hat. Vibrant silk pieces from recycled fabric scraps have been re-used to create this brilliant accent. Handmade in Nepal and fair trade imported. $14.95 (Int'l shipping) STEP UP THE SEASON WITH RED HAT SPARKLE Add a twinkle to your step and Red Hat sparkle to your tree, window or lamp all year round. Each effervescent ornament also makes a great gift for a Red Hat sister! Bright feathers, glitter and sparkling beads make these ornaments dance with color and Red Hat holiday cheer. $9.95 (Int'l shipping) WEAR AN OM NECKLACE FOR BEAUTY WITHIN AND WITHOUT Our Om Necklaces with Chakra Stone is the perfect accessory for the woman seeking balance and peace. Om, a sacred symbol translated to mean "everything," is enhanced by your choice of seven meaningful chakra beads. The gemstone color is believed to represent traits such as awareness, creativity, energy, communication and will. $19.95 (Int'l shipping) HANDWOVEN SHAWLS PROVIDE GORGEOUS COMFORT Rich, woven textures and cozy Indigo or Natural colors bring this scarf to life. You'll love to drape our Handwoven Cotton Shawls around your shoulders as the weather gets chilly, or use it to accessorize dressy or casual outfits. Its length and incredible warmth add to the obvious beauty of this handcrafted piece. Fair trade imported. $14.95 (Int'l shipping) COUNT DOWN 2005 WITH "EARTH FROM ABOVE" The stunning photographs of Yann Arthus-Bertrand allow us to discover Earth from above! Clear, glossy aerial photographs showcase the splendor of Earth's most beautiful places and the changing evolution of our planet. 14 pages, including the front and back cover. $12.95 (Int'l shipping) More ideas below More great ideas from The Hunger Site store... Prayer Necklace Jungle Chocolate Nativity Ornament Messenger Bag Claddagh Ring Search Our Store: Prices and availability subject to change. For more information or to make a direct contribution to our hunger relief partners, please visit the Web sites of Mercy Corps or America's Second Harvest [ send green star]
James M N.	mandatory mental-health screening for everyone by bush September 30, 2004 5:38 AM ACTION ALERT© 2004 Rich MartinPermission to repost in full, or in part, is granted.In other words, please forward to a friend or list. From: csrs2003 <csrs2003@y...> To: <bushlied@yahoogroups.com>Subject: [bushlied] ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT September 7, 2004 The American tradition of parents deciding what isbest for their children is, yet again, under attack. Thepharmaceutical industry has convinced President Bushto support mandatory mental-health screening for everychild in America, including preschool children, andthe industry is now working to convince Congress aswell. But mandatory screening alone is not what thepharmaceutical industry wants. The real payoff for thedrug companies is the forced drugging of children thatwill result -- as we learned tragically with Ritalin --even when parents refuse. Congressman Ron Paul, an OB/GYN physician for over 30years, is desperately trying to keep the drugcompanies, politicians and federal bureaucrats from becomingparents to your children. Dr. Paul will introduce onWednesday afternoon or Thursday morning (whenever thefloor schedule allows) an amendment to the Labor, HHS,and Education Appropriations Act for FY 2005 that willwithhold funds for this new federalmental-health-screening program. He will urge his congressionalcolleagues to support his effort in a letter to bedistributed tomorrow morning. Dr. Paul's letter says in part: "As you know,psychotropic drugs are increasingly prescribed for childrenwho show nothing more than children's typicalrambunctious behavior. Many children have suffered harmfuleffects from these drugs. Yet some parents have evenbeen charged with child abuse for refusing to drug theirchildren. The federal government should not promotenational mental health screening programs that willforce the use of these psychotropic drugs such asRitalin." If you think this action alert is about something that"can't happen here," think again. In 1995, the stateof Texas launched the Texas Medication AlgorithmProject. (WorldNetDaily.com, June 21, 2004) The state of Illinois has also approved a mentalhealth screening program. The Illinois legislature passedthe Children's Mental Health Act of 2003 which willprovide screening for "all children ages 0-18" and"ensure appropriate and culturally relevant assessment ofyour children's social and emotional development withthe use of standardized tools." In addition, allpregnant women in Illinois are to be screened fordepression. Dr. Karen R. Effrem, another physician and leadingopponent of mandatory screening recently stated,"Universal mental health screening and the drugging ofchildren, as recommended by the New Freedom Commission[presidential commission], needs to be stopped so that manythousands if not millions of children will be savedfrom receiving stigmatizing diagnoses that would followthem for the rest of their lives. America's schoolchildren should not be medicated by expensive,ineffective, and dangerous medications based on vague anddubious diagnoses." Dr. Effrem warns of the following: 1. Parental rights are unclear or non-existent underthese screening programs.2. Parents are already being coerced to put theirchildren on psychiatric medications and some children aredying because of it.3. Mental health screening does not prevent suicide.4. Mental health diagnoses are "subjective" and"social constructions" as admitted by the authors of thediagnostic manuals themselves.5. Most psychiatric medications do not work inchildren.6. The side effects of these medications in childrenare severe.7. The untoward influence by the pharmaceuticalindustry, or at least the impropriety, is abundantly clearin two important aspects of this issue.8. Merging screening with the academic standardsrequired by No Child Left Behind, as is happening inIllinois, will lead to diagnosis for political reasons.School mental health and violence prevention programsfunded by NCLB and government counterterrorismoperations are already using such criteria as "homophobia" and"defenders of the US Constitution against federalgovernment and the UN" to label school children and UScitizens as mentally unstable and violent. Texas first...Illinois second...and the rest ofAmerica to follow if we aren't successful within the next 24to 36 hours. We'll be calling on House members'offices tomorrow asking for votes in favor of Dr. Paul'samendment to stop this forced, federal mental-healthscreening. Join concerned citizens from Eagle Forum, Gun Ownersof America, the Association of American Physicians andSurgeons, Concerned Women of America, Freedom 21, theAlliance for Human Research Protection, and theInternational Center for the Study of Psychiatry andPsychology to get Dr. Paul's amendment passed. One last note...if mental-health screening for everyAmerican child isn't bad enough, how about mandatorymental-health screening for every American adult? Yes,that's coming too. The final report of thePresident's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health states,"Both children and adults will be screened for mentalillnesses during their routine physical exams." Please help. Urge your U.S. representative to supportthe Paul amendment and ask family and friends to dothe same. To send your message, go tohttp://capwiz.com/liberty/issues/alert/?alertid=6333001&type=CO After you've sent your message, forward to your familyand friends the following page:http://www.thelibertycommittee.org/update09.07.04.htm Kent SnyderThe Liberty Committee Details of Dr. Effrem's Points:http://edaction.org/2004/082704.htm- To join/quit this list,send a blank email tojoin-SlickMisc@l... [ send green star]
James M N.	Public Citizen Alerts: [CHILD_SAFETY_UPDATE] Backover + Window Deaths Up, etc. September 04, 2004 5:07 PM [VEHICLE_SAFETY_UPDATE] Fatality Statistics Smacks of Politics; Rollover Rating System Still FlawedPublic Citizen Auto Safety's VEHICLE_SAFETY_UPDATE ListProviding the latest information about Vehicle Safety Update============================================================ Vehicle Safety Update IN THIS UPDATE:1. Presentation of Fatality Statistics Smacks of Election-YearPolitics2. Rollover Rating Information System Still Fatally Flawed3. New Poll Shows Strong Support for More Stringent Auto SafetyStandards4. Rollover Survivor and Wife Petition Congress for Improved AutoSafety5. Child Deaths From Backovers and Power Windows Increase;Americans Express Strong Support for More Car-Safety Standards toProtect Children PRESENTATION OF FATALITY STATISTICS SMACKS OF ELECTION-YEAR POLITICS On August 10, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the 2003final fatality statistics, trumpeting a drop in the number of fatalitieslast year and a "historic low" in the highway death rate. While anyimprovement in the highway death toll - which seems to be due mostly toless alcohol-related crashes and greater safety belt use enforcement -is a good thing, the DOT press conference smacked of electoral politics. The 0.8 percent improvement in the highway fatality rate is part of adecades-long trend and was not broadcast with such fanfare in the past.Over 42,000 people died on our highways last year and yet the DOTpublicizes the numbers in a upbeat spin-fest. SUV rollover fatalitiesincreased almost 7 percent, and the gap between passenger car and SUVdeath rates is the greatest it has been since the government startedtracking vehicle-type specific fatality rates. IN-DEPTH:Follow this link to read PC's press release:http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1769 Follow this link to read the 2003 Annual Assessment:http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/PPT/2003AARelease.pdf TAKE ACTION!Send a letter and tell the head of the federal traffic safety agency,Administrator Jeff Runge, shame on him for spinning the figures ontraffic deaths. Just click here:http://capwiz.com/pc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6318776 ROLLOVER RATING INFORMATION SYSTEM STILL FATALLY FLAWED Early this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) released new vehicle rollover scores and a new presentation ofrollover data, which no doubt improves the level of safety informationavailable to consumers. However, significant problems with the rolloverrating program remain. The rollover scores - which lists the chance ofrollover in a single-vehicle crash and reveals whether the vehicletipped during the test - are only available on a NHTSA web site, ratherthan presented on a sticker on the vehicle at the point of sale.Moreover, the scoring system, which uses one to five stars to ratevehicle rollover propensity, creates overly broad categories that lumptogether vehicles with significantly varying tippiness. Moreover, theon-road (or "dynamic") vehicle testing strangely counts little towards avehicle's score and can only enhance it, not reduce it. Shockingly, therollover rating system has allowed some vehicles that tipped up on twowheels during testing to still receive three or even four star ratings. IN-DEPTH:Follow this link to read PC's press release:http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1768 Follow this link to read the NHTSA announcement:http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/pressdisplay.cfm?year=2004&filename=pr34-04.html NEW POLL SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR MORE STRINGENT AUTO SAFETY STANDARDS On July 12, nonprofit safety group Advocates for Highway and AutoSafety (www.saferoads.org) announced that nine of ten Americans say theysupport the federal government setting stronger uniform auto safetystandards, according to a new Lou Harris Poll. The national poll alsofound that over three-quarters of Americans - including 8 of 10 SUVowners - favor the U.S. government requiring manufacturers to make allmotor vehicles, including SUVs, more stable and less likely to roll overin crashes. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety pressed Congress tohelp reduce highway deaths and improve safety by adopting theSenate-passed motor vehicle safety provisions that would reduce deadlyrollover crashes, occupant ejection, vehicle roof crush, the violentmismatch of crashes between SUVs and cars, improve child safety and atthe same time provide consumers new vehicle safety rating stickerinformation at the point-of-purchase in dealership showrooms. IN-DEPTH:Follow this link to read Advocate's press release and about otherfindings of the Harris Poll:http://www.saferoads.org/press/press2004/pr_HarrisPoll7-12-04.htm ROLLOVER SURVIVOR AND WIFE PETITION HIGHWAY SAFETY AGENCY FOR IMPROVEDAUTO STANDARDS Speakers at the Advocates press conference included Dena and PatrickParker, who drove over 1,500 miles all the way from Childress, Texas, toattend the event and present a petition to the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration. Three years ago this August, Patrick tragicallybecame a quadriplegic at age 37 from a rollover crash involving his FordF350. Swerving to avoid a deer, his truck hit a second deer and rolled,the cab roof collapsing and breaking Patrick's neck. The Patrick'spetition - signed so far by nearly one thousand people - urges Congressto improve vehicle safety standards, enhance safety information forconsumers, and raise enforcement and penalties for companies whocontinue to provide dangerously defective vehicles. PETITION:To sign the Patrick's petition, follow this link:http://www.citizen.org/action/petition/index.cfm?id=4 CHILD DEATHS FROM BACKOVERS AND POWER WINDOWS INCREASE;AMERICANS EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR MORE CAR-SAFETY STANDARDS TOPROTECT CHILDREN On July 20th, child safety advocates Kids and Cars(www.kidsandcars.org) released new statistics showing a sharpincrease in the number of children killed and injured in backover andpower window incidents. In 2003, at least 91 children were fatallybacked over - often by a family member - a 57 percent increase from2002. Kids and Cars founder and president Janette Fennell called theincrease in deaths "unnecessary and very disturbing" and called onCongress to "act now in the transportation bill to approve these autosafety measures" in the Senate-passed SAFETEA bill and help preventfurther tragic deaths. At the same press conference, Consumers Unionreleased a new poll showing that 80 percent of Americans want morecar-safety regulations to protect children. More than 80 percent ofrespondents would choose vehicles with backup warning devices and safepower window switches, and 70 percent said that the government shouldmake installation of these devices by automakers mandatory. IN-DEPTH:Follow this link to read Kids and Cars' press release:http://www.kidsandcars.org/PressRelease7_20.pdf TAKE ACTION!To send a letter to your representatives in Congress, urging them tosupport approval of safety provisions for kids in and around cars,follow this link: http://www.safecarsforkids.org ============================================================Public Citizen fights for the rights of the individualcitizen in the halls of power and leads the battle tostrengthen public health, safety, and environmentalprotection. To retain our independence, Public Citizen doesnot accept government or corporate funds. For moreinformation about Public Citizen, visit www.citizen.org. If you are not already a member of our VEHICLE_SAFETY_UPDATE listand would like to be added, please go tohttp://www.citizen.org/email/enteremail.cfm and sign up. [TRUCK_UPDATE] Government Attempts to Stay Hours of Service RulingPublic Citizen Auto Safety's TRUCK_UPDATE ListProviding the latest information about Truck Safety Issues============================================================ Truck Safety Update IN THIS UPDATE:1. Hours of Service Decision a Win for Truckers, yet theAdministration Attempts to Undermine It2. Critical Safety Problems with Opening U.S.-Mexico Border RemainUnresolved HOURS OF SERVICE DECISION A WIN FOR TRUCKING, YET THE ADMINISTRATIONATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE IT On July 16, Public Citizen won a major victory for highway safety whena federal court unanimously rejected a dangerous regulation by the Bushadministration that increased the consecutive hours and weekly hoursthat truck drivers are permitted to drive without rest. The U.S. Courtof Appeals for the District of Columbia said the Federal Motor CarrierSafety Administration (FMCSA) had failed to fulfill its legal obligationto consider the effect of the new standards on the health of truckdrivers. The court ordered a full revision of the regulation. Public Citizen, along with Parents Against Tired Truckers(www.patt.org) and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways(www.trucksafety.org), challenged the rule promulgated by the Bushadministration in April 2003, after first suing the agency in 2002 fornot issuing five truck-safety regulations proposed under the Clintonadministration in 2000. The FMCSA agreed to issue the "hours of service"rule after the first suit but significantly revised the original,proposed standard. The case was argued by Public Citizen LitigationGroup attorney Bonnie Robin-Vergeer. Advocates for Highway and AutoSafety (www.saferoads.org) filed an amicus brief on the winning issue ofdriver health. Large truck crashes are particularly lethal because they usuallyinvolve much smaller passenger cars. In fact, 98 percent of those killedin truck vs. passenger vehicle crashes are in the smaller cars. Nearly700 truck drivers die in crashes each year. Truck driving is one ofAmerica's most hazardous occupations. IN-DEPTH:Follow this link to read Public Citizen's press release on thehours-of-service win:http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1751 TAKE ACTION!While the court decision mandates FMCSA to completely rewrite theregulation so that it complies with statutory mandates and is supportedby research demonstrating both the limits on the number of hours thattruck drivers can drive safely without rest and the need for drivers toobtain sleep of sufficient length and quality, Public Citizen is stillclosely watching for FMCSA's next moves. The agency has just asked the court to permit it to keep its invalidhours-of-service rule(http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/contactus/press/2004/s090204.htm) in placepending the development of a new rule - so then the agency can try todevelop "junk science" from data on the invalidated rule in order tosupport a minimal rewrite. Failing this, it is also possible that FMCSAwill attempt to convince Congress to support passing legislation topermit the dangerous rule. It is crucial for the safety of motoristsand truck drivers that this not happen! Send a letter to FMCSA Administrator Sandberg urging her to comply withthe court decision, to rescind her agency's request for a stay, and nottry to convince Congress to legislatively circumvent the court and oursafety. Just follow this link:http://capwiz.com/pc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6318836 CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH OPENING U.S.-MEXICO BORDER REMAINUNRESOLVED On August 13, Public Citizen and four other safety groups sent a letterto Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Norman Mineta, callingattention to significant differences between U.S. and Mexican highwaysafety laws have yet to be addressed by government officials preparingto open the U.S. border to Mexico-domiciled trucks. The letter listed six areas in which vital safety policies must bereconciled before the border opens to long-haul truck traffic:commercial driver license requirements, alcohol and drug testingsystems, rules for the transport of hazardous materials, the lack of amotor carrier information database, the lack of compliance by Mexicancarriers with U.S. safety standards, and the verification of insurance.In addition to Public Citizen, the groups signing the letter were theCenter for Auto Safety, Consumer Federation of America, Parents AgainstTired Truckers, and the Trauma Foundation. In response to a ruling from a tribunal established under the NorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), President Bush in 2001 orderedthe border to open to long-haul trucks (short-haul trucks from Mexicoare currently allowed to enter the country and remain in a 20-milezone). Congress then imposed a number of requirements to ensure thatMexico-domiciled carriers met the same safety and operating standards asU.S. carriers. During debate on this legislation, Mineta promised that"every Mexican firm, vehicle and driver that seeks authority to operatein the U.S. … must meet the identical safety and operating standardsthat apply to U.S. and Canadian carriers." The border opening wasdelayed after Public Citizen and other organizations filed an lawsuitover the administration's lack of an environmental study on emissionsfrom trucks from Mexico, in which the Ninth Circuit Court of Appealsheld for us but was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court (addlink to case-ask me if you need it) Significant differences between U.S. and Mexican law, regulations, andprocedures remain, however. For instance, the U.S. requires criminalbackground checks for commercial driver licenses; the Mexican governmentapparently doesn't. The U.S. also uses passenger vehicle licensesuspensions and revocations as disqualifying offenses for a commercialdriver license; Mexico doesn't. In addition, compliance by the Mexicangovernment with U.S. drug and alcohol testing standards cannot beensured under the current system because the U.S. government hasn'tdetermined whether drug and alcohol testing facilities in Mexico meetU.S. standards. The letter was sent in anticipation of a report by the DOT InspectorGeneral (DOTIG) on the status of safety and border infrastructureissues, which is expected to be issued soon. The DOTIG is certain to beunder intense political pressure to discount unresolved safetydifferences between the U.S. and Mexico. IN-DEPTH:To read the full press release for the letter, follow this link:http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1772 Follow this link to read the letter to Secretary Mineta:http://www.citizen.org/documents/Letter_Mineta.pdf To read the press release on the Supreme Court's June 7 decision onPublic Citizen's attempt to block the opening of the U.S.-Mexico borderon the basis of the environmental damage it would cause, follow thislink: http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1725 To read the Supreme Court decision, follow this link:http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/03pdf/03-358.pdf ============================================================Public Citizen fights for the rights of the individualcitizen in the halls of power and leads the battle tostrengthen public health, safety, and environmentalprotection. To retain our independence, Public Citizen doesnot accept government or corporate funds. For moreinformation about Public Citizen, visit www.citizen.org. If you are not already a member of our TRUCK_UPDATE listand would like to be added, please go tohttp://www.citizen.org/email/enteremail.cfm and sign up. [CHILD_SAFETY_UPDATE] Backover + Window Deaths Up, Americans Support Public Citizen Auto Safety's CHILD_SAFETY_UPDATE ListProviding the latest information about Child Safety Issues============================================================ Child Safety Update IN THIS UPDATE:1. Child Deaths From Backovers and Power Windows Increase;Americans Express Strong Support for More Car-Safety Standards toProtect Children2. Presentation of Fatality Statistics Smacks of Election-YearPolitics3. Rollover Rating Information System Still Fatally Flawed4. New Poll Shows Strong Support for More Stringent Auto SafetyStandards5. Rollover Survivor and Wife Petition Congress for Improved AutoSafety CHILD DEATHS FROM BACKOVERS AND POWER WINDOWS INCREASE;AMERICANS EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR MORE CAR-SAFETY STANDARDS TOPROTECT CHILDREN On July 20th, child safety advocates Kids and Cars(www.kidsandcars.org) released new statistics showing a sharpincrease in the number of children killed and injured in backover andpower window incidents. In 2003, at least 91 children were fatallybacked over - often by a family member - a 57 percent increase from2002. Kids and Cars founder and president Janette Fennell called theincrease in deaths "unnecessary and very disturbing" and called onCongress to "act now in the transportation bill to approve these autosafety measures" in the Senate-passed SAFETEA bill and help preventfurther tragic deaths. At the same press conference, Consumers Unionreleased a new poll showing that 80 percent of Americans want morecar-safety regulations to protect children. More than 80 percent ofrespondents would choose vehicles with backup warning devices and safepower window switches, and 70 percent said that the government shouldmake installation of these devices by automakers mandatory. IN-DEPTH:To read Kids and Cars' press release, follow this link:http://www.kidsandcars.org/PressRelease7_20.pdf. TAKE ACTION!To send a letter to your representatives in Congress, urging them tosupport approval of safety provisions for kids in and around cars,follow this link: http://www.safercarsforkids.org. PRESENTATION OF FATALITY STATISTICS SMACKS OF ELECTION-YEAR POLITICS On August 10, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the 2003final fatality statistics, trumpeting a drop in the number of fatalitieslast year and a "historic low" in the highway death rate. While anyimprovement in the highway death toll - which seems to be due mostly toless alcohol-related crashes and greater safety belt use enforcement -is a good thing, the DOT press conference smacked of electoral politics. The 0.8 percent improvement in the highway fatality rate is part of adecades-long trend and was not broadcast with such fanfare in the past.Over 42,000 people died on our highways last year and yet the DOTpublicizes the numbers in a upbeat spin-fest. SUV rollover fatalitiesincreased almost 7 percent, and the gap between passenger car and SUVdeath rates is the greatest it has been since the government startedtracking vehicle-type specific fatality rates. IN-DEPTH:To read PC's press release, follow this link:http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1769 Follow this link to read the 2003 Annual Assessment:http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/PPT/2003AARelease.pdf TAKE ACTION!To send a letter and tell the head of the federal traffic safetyagency, Administrator Jeff Runge, shame on him for spinning the figureson traffic deaths, follow this link:http://capwiz.com/pc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6318776 ROLLOVER RATING INFORMATION SYSTEM STILL FATALLY FLAWED Early this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) released new vehicle rollover scores and a new presentation ofrollover data, which no doubt improves the level of safety informationavailable to consumers. However, significant problems with the rolloverrating program remain. The rollover scores - which lists the chance ofrollover in a single-vehicle crash and reveals whether the vehicletipped during the test - are only available on a NHTSA web site, ratherthan presented on a sticker on the vehicle at the point of sale.Moreover, the scoring system, which uses one to five stars to ratevehicle rollover propensity, creates overly broad categories that lumptogether vehicles with significantly varying tippiness. Moreover, theon-road (or "dynamic") vehicle testing strangely counts little towards avehicle's score and can only enhance it, not reduce it. Shockingly, therollover rating system has allowed some vehicles that tipped up on twowheels during testing to still receive three or even four star ratings. IN-DEPTH:To read PC's press release, follow this link:http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1768. NEW POLL SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR MORE STRINGENT AUTO SAFETY STANDARDS On July 12, nonprofit safety group Advocates for Highway and AutoSafety (www.saferoads.org) announced that nine of ten Americans say theysupport the federal government setting stronger uniform auto safetystandards, according to a new Lou Harris Poll. The national poll alsofound that over three-quarters of Americans - including 8 of 10 SUVowners - favor the U.S. government requiring manufacturers to make allmotor vehicles, including SUVs, more stable and less likely to roll overin crashes. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety pressed Congress tohelp reduce highway deaths and improve safety by adopting theSenate-passed motor vehicle safety provisions that would reduce deadlyrollover crashes, occupant ejection, vehicle roof crush, the violentmismatch of crashes between SUVs and cars, improve child safety and atthe same time provide consumers new vehicle safety rating stickerinformation at the point-of-purchase in dealership showrooms. IN-DEPTH:To read Advocate's press release and about other findings of the HarrisPoll, follow this link:http://www.saferoads.org/press/press2004/pr_HarrisPoll7-12-04.htm ROLLOVER SURVIVOR AND WIFE PETITION HIGHWAY SAFETY AGENCY FOR IMPROVEDAUTO STANDARDS Speakers at the Advocates press conference included Dena and PatrickParker, who drove over 1,500 miles all the way from Childress, Texas, toattend the event and present a petition to the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration. Three years ago this August, Patrick tragicallybecame a quadriplegic at age 37 from a rollover crash involving his FordF350. Swerving to avoid a deer, his truck hit a second deer and rolled,the cab roof collapsing and breaking Patrick's neck. The Patrick'spetition - signed so far by nearly one thousand people - urges Congressto improve vehicle safety standards, enhance safety information forconsumers, and raise enforcement and penalties for companies whocontinue to provide dangerously defective vehicles. PETITION:To sign the Patrick's petition, follow this link:http://www.citizen.org/action/petition/index.cfm?id=4 ============================================================Public Citizen fights for the rights of the individualcitizen in the halls of power and leads the battle tostrengthen public health, safety, and environmentalprotection. To retain our independence, Public Citizen doesnot accept government or corporate funds. For moreinformation about Public Citizen, visit www.citizen.org. If you are not already a member of our CHILD_SAFETY_UPDATE listand would like to be added, please go tohttp://www.citizen.org/email/enteremail.cfm and sign up. [ send green star]
James M N.	Woman hopes to make difference for Greek Disabled Orphans August 14, 2004 3:35 AM Woman hopes to make difference for Greek Disabled Orphans Courtesy of Carforchoice@aol.com Maureen Fitzgerald Submitted by: E & V Carraway Kyrene's Crider hopes to make difference for Greek orphans 08/11/04 Kyrene's Crider hopes to make difference for Greek orphans By Georgann YaraStaff Writer When Karin Crider first saw the children that call the Agios Nektarios Institution home, it took a while for everything to sink in. Upon entering the building, the Kyrene School District administrator talks about being greeted by the odor of unwashed bodies and stale remnants of human waste that resist countless scrubbings. She recalls boys and girls never leaving their mattresses and noticing the fortunate ones who had sheets and blankets. There was the girl confined to her metal crib and the locked cover that never allowed her stand up."I found out she was 34 years old. She looked so young," the Chandler resident said."I thought I was going to be seeing all these small children. When I got there, there were adults living there, too. They had lived there all their lives." Crider chose to use half of her vacation volunteering at the orphanage and spent two weeks in June with the ones society shoved in a cluttered building perched high upon a hilltop at the treacherous end of a steep, unpaved road in the town of Sidirokastro, Greece. Now she hopes Kyrene will follow suit through the development of a summer day program that would send teachers, therapists and principals to Agios Nektarios for two weeks in an effort to change living conditions, educate about special needs individuals and offer some compassion to those who don't receive it. "I played with them, got them to clap their hands," Crider said of the people ranging from babies to adults." They were looking for someone to look them in the eye. They wanted to feel attention; they wanted to feel love and care; they wanted your time; that's all. "With its cramped spaces, lack of resources to provide proper care and a location that keeps its 50 or more residents from rarely stepping beyond the facility's doorway, the government-operated Agios Nektarios resembles more of a prison than care home. And inhabitants' only crime is being disabled. In that area of Greece, Crider discovered that there were no options for children born with developmental disabilities. It was not unusual for parents to send their special needs babies off to an institution because they lacked the resources and education needed to care for them. Despite the great religious presence in the town, a feeling of shame was bred against families with a disabled member. In fact, Crider was shocked to find out that the bishop of the area refuses to allow these people into the community and administrators of Agios Nektarios have faced obstacles when attempting to obtain funding or other resources. "Many of them were a twin," Crider said, referring to the common practice of k eeping the typical baby and giving away the other. This was a far cry from what Crider had known, both professionally and personally. The director of auxiliary student services for Kyrene, Crider knows the value of educating children Â even those who are afflicted with physical or mental disabilities. All through school, her younger sister Courtney, 19, was active in sports and school activities despite being mentally and physically challenged. "I can't imagine not having her in my life. I can't imagine just sending a member of your family off somewhere like that," she said, holding a photo of Courtney and her boyfriend. Ahwatukee Foothills resident Maureen Magurany has spent the last five years recruiting volunteers like Crider to go to Agios Nektarios. After seeing a Dateline episode about the filthy and inhumane treatment of the people, she dedicated her life to making a difference."You can't imagine why they look this way and you want to change how the children are treated. They look like they're dying. They don't leave their beds. They're disabled, they don't have cancer, but that's how they're treated," she explained." Some of it is ignorance. ... In many parts of Europe that's how disabled people are thought of. People accept it as being good enough for 'those people. '"Magurany connected with Kyrene after discovering Superintendent Maria Menconi was a high school classmate of hers from Florida. "I brought it up to her, and she was more than happy to get involved," Magurany said. Crider hopes to begin fund-raising efforts so that Kyrene staff would be able to go to Agios Nektarios next summer. The goal is to send 20 to 25 volunteers and raise $3,500 for each person to cover airfare, lodging, transportation and teaching equipment and toys for the students. Although she looks forward to returning, Crider's eyes get watery when talking about the ordinary sites at the orphanage: Children restricted to beds and wheelchairs that never move from their spot against a wall; helpless people who are only bathed once a week; young adults with twisted or deformed bones resulting from being tied down over the years. "We know we might not be able to change things, but if we can make their lives better for one day, then that's worth it," Crider said. For information about the program or to get involved, e-mail Crider at karin_crider@hotmail.com, or call (480) 899-1865.The reporter can be reached at (480) 898-7917 or gyara@aztrib.com. [ send green star]
James M N.	MANITHAM: SIGN ONLINE PETITION: Abolishing Corporal Punishment in Schools August 13, 2004 8:00 AM SIGN ON-LINE PETITION - Abolishing Corporal Punishment in Schools/MANITHAM To: manithaam@yahoo.com Dear Sir, You are a supporter of Human Rights and you are one of our signatory of URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME. We request you to sign on-line petition to "Abolishing Corporal Punishment in Schools" in Tamil Nadu/India. Also forward to your friends for on-line signature. The Details are below : With Regards Agni Subramanian Executive Director, MANITHAM ---------- URGENT APPEAL : Abolishing Corporal Punishment in Schools Sign on-line petition : http://tamilinfoservice.com/manitham/form/petition/5.php#SIGN Signatories : http://tamilinfoservice.com/manitham/form/petition/school.htm Ref: ua/5/2004 Date : 10-08-2004 To Thiru. Naresh, M.Sc. M.Ed. Chief Educational Officer Raja Street Coimbatore - 641 001 Dear Sir, Sub: Abolishing Corporal Punishment in Schools - Immediate action requested. --------------- We are extremely pained to bring to your immediate notice the way in which school going children are put to emotional harassment and physical torture. As there is a mad 'rat race called learning process' schools [both Aided and Government] resort to use mean methods to 'groom' their students. Sporadic episodes of suicides of adolescent learners do add spice to sensational newspapers. But like an ice berg, the enormity of inhuman treatment inflicted upon young helpless kids remains hidden. Transfer Certificate is the cheapest trump card used to keep the victims stay mute. It has been brought to our notice through oral messages, through phone calls and letters that in spite of the "BAN" against Corporal Punishments it is being generously unleashed upon students by 'strict' educators. This crime is continuously committed by Heads of Institutions and Physical Education teachers and Physical Directors. Even a Secretary of an aided Institution in Coimbatore performs such heartless beastly acts under the pretext of 'disciplining the students'. Prayer assemblies are the arena for public display of physical punishment of the students in schools. 'Poor performers', 'disobedient students', 'late comers', 'fee - defaulters', are those who get special treatments. Concentration camps of Hitler's Germany would not have been this cruel. We appeal to the authorities to look into this matter very urgently, because India's destiny is decided in her class rooms. It is time that we collectively learnt to look at our children as young individuals who have the birth-right of living their childhood days sans, fear and anxiety. Humanity is betrayed through corporal punishments inflicted upon the youth. Beast liners leave an indelible mark of anguish in the minds of the victims. Thanks Yours Sincerely, Sd. Subramanian.G Executive Director, MANITHAM - Promoting Human Rights & Protecting Environment. Copy to: 1. The Secretary, Department of Education, Fort St. George, Chennai. 2. Director of School Education, Office of the Director of School Education, College Road, Chennai 3. Joint Director of Secondary School Education, Office of the Director of School Education, College Road, Chennai 4. Joint Director (Elementary Education) Directorate of Elementary Education Chennai 600 006 5. Honourable Chief Minister, Chief Minister Special Cell, Fort St. George, Chennai. 6. Honourable Education Minister, Chief Minister Special Cell, Fort St. George, Chennai. 7. The District Collector, Coimbatore Collectorate Huzur Road, Coimbatore Web : www.tamilinfoservice.com/manitham Email: manitham@tamilinfoservice.com [ send green star]
James M N.	More On Risperdal: 1 in 3 Foster Kids Drugged August 07, 2004 8:57 AM MIAMI HERALD, Posted on Sat, Jul. 24, 2004 CHILD WELFARE, Maker of drug admits hiding its risks http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/9231611.htm?1c BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER cmarbin@herald.com The maker of a billion-dollar antipsychotic medication has acknowledged misleading doctors and other healthcare providers about the safety of its product, minimizing potentially deadly side effects. The drug, Risperdal, has been commonly prescribed to Florida children in state care, including to a handful of boys who developed lactating breasts after taking it. On Wednesday, drug maker Janssen Pharmaceutica wrote a two-page letter to doctors, warning them that the company, in promotional material, had ''minimized potentially fatal risks, and made misleading claims'' that the medication was more safe in treating mental illness than other drugs in the same category. Most physicians received the letter Friday. Risperdal is the leading drug used to combat schizophrenia and other types of psychotic disorders, earning Janssen about $2.1 billion in annual sales. The drug was first marketed about eight years ago, and is prescribed to more than 10 million people worldwide. The ''important correction of drug information'' came shortly after federal regulators had accused Janssen of ''disseminating'' advertising and marketing material that was ``false or misleading.'' A letter from Janssen to doctors, dated Nov. 10, 2003, claimed Risperdal did not increase the risk of diabetes among consumers compared with other similar drugs, called neuroleptics or antipsychotics. But an April 2004 letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Janssen asserts quite the contrary. Research indicated ''an increased risk of hyperglycemia-related adverse effects and diabetes with Risperdal,'' the letter stated. A TROUBLED HISTORY In 2001, The Herald published a series of stories about the common use of Risperdal among children in state care. Child-welfare advocates said the drug routinely was being used by foster care providers as a ''chemical restraint'' on children whose unruly behavior was a frustration to caretakers. ''I had clients who were displaying severe side effects, and I tried to alert the Department of Children & Families both as to the local problem and the growing national concern about a range of psychotropic medications, Risperdal and other antipsychotics in particular,'' said Coral Springs attorney and children's advocate Andrea Moore. ''They listened, but they did not hear me,'' Moore added. Broward Circuit Judge John A. Frusciante, who must approve requests from doctors before they can prescribe mind-altering drugs to children whose cases he oversees, said Risperdal continues to be used frequently by doctors who treat children in state care. ''It is not uncommon,'' Frusciante said. ''This whole psychotropic drug issue is a problem for us,'' Frusciante said. ``It's a very scary area to be in, because we know medication can be a tremendous help for a number of children. But we also know that there are risks to the children who are taking these medications.'' Friday, DCF officials told The Herald they would review the new material and ask doctors who care for foster children to re-evaluate their medication options. ''We will make this information available to all our districts, program supervisors, community-based care agencies and partners,'' said DCF spokesman Bill Spann. ``In addition, we will provide this information to all the physicians who care for the children in foster care, and ask them to review the cases of any children who are on the drug. ''We will ask them to take the appropriate action,'' Spann said. ONE IN THREE TREATED The state Agency for Health Care Administration, which pays the drug bill for most children in state care, as well as needy children who are insured by Medicaid, could not say Friday how many Florida Medicaid recipients are being administered the drug. In 2001, after The Herald's series, DCF reviewed the records of most foster children. Records showed about about one in three foster children taking a powerful mood-altering drug. Many were taking untested combinations, or ''cocktails,'' of the drugs. Infants and toddlers were being given psychiatric drugs, according to a 2003 study by the Florida Statewide Advocacy Council. Antoinette R. Appel, a Plantation neuropsychologist, studied the records of about 50 South Florida foster children who had been prescribed Risperdal. She said many of the children developed severe side-effects, including obesity, lethargy, lack of concentration, hormonal disorders and the inappropriate development of secondary sexual characteristics, such as lactating breasts in boys or young girls. Carolyn Salisbury, associate director of the University of Miami's Children & Youth Law Clinic, has pleaded with child welfare authorities for about five years to curtail the widespread use of mood-altering drugs among foster kids, who often complain the drugs make them more ill. VICTORY IN COURT One of the clinic's most high-profile clients, identified in court papers as M.W., won a Florida Supreme Court ruling that child welfare authorities cannot lock up foster kids in psychiatric hospitals without a hearing. M.W. had developed lactating breasts after doctors forced him to take Risperdal, court records show. One of Salisbury's clients, a 15-year-old girl, begged her to prevent the child welfare agency from forcing her to take Risperdal, Salisbury said. The girl had become obese and suffered from dramatic mood swings, alternating between feeling agitated or very depressed. ''I always object to my foster child clients being placed on Risperdal . . .,'' Salisbury said. ``However, DCF continues to place children in their care on the drug, even though DCF knows full well the horrible side effects foster children continue to suffer on this drug.'' [ send green star]
Angela M.	Special Education Laws August 02, 2004 9:27 AM Special Education Laws The following Special Education laws will be addressed in this section: The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, 1975 »1986 Amendments: Preschool and Infant/Toddler Programs »1990 Amendments: IDEA »1997 Amendments In addition to assurances of civil rights of students with disabilities, other legislation exists that addresses their educational rights. The first major law that guaranteed the right to a public education for all children, ages 5 to 21, was the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. The Education for the Handicapped Act (EHA) (P.L. 94-142) The Education for all Handicapped Children Acts is more commonly known as the EHA; it had as its purpose: To guarantee a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for all children with disabilities, ages 5-21 Special Education and related services must be free, provided by the public agency at no cost to the parents Appropriate education is the provision of regular and special education and related services designed to meet students' individual educational needs. To develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each child eligible for special education and related services; plan is based on multi-disciplinary assessment and includes a statement of specific special education and related services to be provided to the child To the maximum extent appropriate, all children and youth with disabilities will be educated in the least restrictive education (LRE) environment Parents have the right to participate in every decision related to the identification, evaluation, and placement of their child. Parents must give consent for any initial evaluation, assessment or placement decision. Due process procedures assure parents rights to appeal. EHA Amendments 1986 Amendments (P.L. 99-457) Preschool and Infant/Toddler Programs In 1986, an amendment to the EHA, extended the purpose of EHA to include children ages 0-5 and included: To extend the guarantee to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to children with disabilities, ages 3-5. To establish Early Intervention Programs (EIP) for infants and toddlers with disabilities, ages 0-2 To develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for each family with an infant/toddler with disabilities AT Definitions 1990 Amendments (P.L. 101-476) In 1990, amendments were again added to EHA, considerably adding components to the law: To rename the EHA as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The amendment also replaced the phrase "handicapped child" with "child with a disability". To provide Transition Services for students by age 16 To extend eligibility to children with autism and traumatic brain injury To define Assistive Technology Devices and Services for children with disabilities for inclusion in the IEP To extend the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) to require the child, to the maximum extent appropriate, be educated with children without disabilities -- in the same class s/he would have been but for the disability 1997 Amendment 1997 Amendments (P.L. 105-17) 1997 amendments further strengthened the rights of students with disabilities. To extend LRE as an assurance that all students would have "access to the general curriculum" To "consider" Assistive Technology Devices and Services on the IEP's of all students. Use of school-purchased AT in a child's home or other settings is required if the child needs access to those devices to receive FAPE. To include orientation and mobility services to the list of related services for children who are blind or have visual impairments, as well as for other children who may also need instruction in traveling around their school, or to and from school. Civil Rights Special Ed AT Laws \| Home \| Contact Us \| Search \| Print Page \| Print Module \| \| AT Basics \| Tutorials \| Resources \| Project Info \| © 2000-2002 Assistive Technology Training Online Project [ send green star] [ accepted]
James M N.	Continued from my latest reply :) August 02, 2004 5:26 AM "Copies of the CCLE's "Pharmacotherapy and the Future of the Drug War" > can be obtained at > http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/issues/pharmacotherapy.html > > To view the original article in The Independent (25 July 2004): > http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=544439 > > > For more information, or to speak with the authors of the report, please > contact: > Stephanie Anderson, Communications & Publications Coordinator > Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics (CCLE) > Phone/Fax: 530-750-7912 > E-mail info@cognitiveliberty.org > Website: www.cognitiveliberty.org > > ---------------------------------------- > You are subscribed to this list as will@freedom-center.org. To > unsubscribe, send email to > unsubscribe.4023.5452773.7792975398416034467-will_freedom+2Dcenter.org@en.groundspring.org. > > > PO Box 73481 > Davis, California 95617 > United States -- Freedom Center P.O. Box 623 Northampton, MA 01061 (413) 582-9948 Freedom Center is the only Pioneer Valley group run by and for people labeled with severe 'mental illnesses.' We work for human rights, true informed consent, and holistic alternatives, and we believe all treatments should be voluntary. email info@freedom-center.org website http://www.freedom-center.org discussion board http://www.freedom-center.org/discussionboard/ email discussion list www.topica.com/lists/massfreedomcenter or sign up by emailing massfreedomcenter-subscribe@topica.com" [ send green star]
James M N.	"UK plans "anti-drug" vaccines for children" August 02, 2004 5:25 AM "From: CCLE To: will@freedom-center.org Subject: BREAKING NEWS: UK plans "anti-drug" vaccines for children Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 16:11:03 -0700 (PDT) > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, JULY 26, 2004 > > UK GOVERNMENT REVEALS PLANS TO VACCINATE CHILDREN AGAINST DRUGS > > Children may be "vaccinated" against the effects of cocaine and other > drugs in a plan recently revealed by the UK government, reports the > well-regarded British newspaper, The Independent. The article explains > that "Doctors would immunize children at risk of becoming smokers or > drug users with an injection" and that the program would operate in a > way similar to the "current nationwide measles, mumps and rubella > vaccination programme." Further, the authors reveal that "such > vaccinations are being developed by pharmaceutical companies and are due > to hit the market within two years." > > Earlier this month, the US-based Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics > published a relevant and timely report, which addresses the imminent > emergence of these same "pharmacotherapy" drugs into the US market. > Among other well-documented information, the report notes that the US > National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has allocated $12 million > dollars to Xenova, the UK-based pharmaceutical company running trials on > the "anti-cocaine" vaccine mentioned in the article. > > The plan currently being researched and debated in the UK is therefore > of concern to those monitoring trends in US drug policy. The CCLE's > policy report, "Pharmacotherapy and the Future of the Drug War" is the > first publication to address the ethical and legal dimensions of this > new breed of pharmaceuticals. The report acknowledges potential benefits > if these drugs are used voluntarily, but warns that coercive or > compulsory use of such drugs to "immunize" drug abusers or "at risk" > potential users would violate a number of legal rights and trample the > fundamental human right to freedom of thought. > > Richard Glen Boire, a legal scholar at the CCLE, believes that > vaccinating children with "anti-drug" drugs would be "alarming and > unlawful, and would signal the first time that neuropharmaceuticals were > overtly used to enforce government policy." > > Aside from the human rights concerns, the UK plan raises serious health > questions regarding the long-term effects of these drugs on the complex > neurochemistry of the brain. > > The CCLE pharmacotherapy report directly addresses the potential legal > and health consequences of US implementation of a compulsory "anti-drug" > vaccination program, which now seems closer to reality than ever before > in light of the UK government's recent announcement." Continued in my next post :) [ send green star]
Angela M.	July 26, 2004 10:33 PM Strange Movements May Signal Asperger's [By Maggie McKee for NewScientist.com.] http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996201 Strange body movements may reveal whether infants have a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome, say researchers in the US. Earlier diagnosis may one day lead to a better prognosis for children with Asperger's syndrome. As many as one in 200 children in the US suffer from either autism or Asperger's Syndrome, which both appear to have genetic roots. The conditions are marked by difficulty relating to other people and repetitive behaviour. But autism is usually diagnosed much earlier than Asperger's - by the age of three - because it hinders language development. Asperger's Syndrome, however, has more subtle effects on language and usually does not become apparent until the age of seven. So researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville, US, set out to see if body movements could betray the disorder in infants. They asked parents of children who were later diagnosed with Asperger's for videos of the children when they were less than a year old. The researchers then scrutinised the videos of 16 children frame by frame. Certain physical characteristics stood out, such as falling to one side while walking. Eight of the infants had a "Moebius mouth", a sign of neurological damage that appears as a tented upper lip and flat lower lip. And the infants had trouble sitting and standing upright. They fell without extending their arms to protect them or keeping their heads perpendicular to the floor, as most infants do. The results backed earlier observations made by the team on autism in 1998. Tilting test "They didn't have the protective reflexes of any normal child - they fall like a log," says Osnat Teitelbaum, first author of the study and an expert in movement notation. She cautions that individual symptoms, such as the Moebius mouth, cannot be used to diagnose Asperger's Syndrome. But if a child shows a cluster of symptoms, she says, they may have the syndrome. She suggests parents do the "tilting test", in which they tilt a child from an upright position by 45 degrees right or left. By eight months of age, a normal child will try to keep his or her head perpendicular to the floor, while a child with autism or Asperger's tends to keep it aligned with the body. Catherine Lord, director of the University of Michigan's Autism and Communication Disorders Center, says the work is "very interesting" but points out weaknesses in the study method. These include the lack of a control group and the fact that no standard definition of Asperger's syndrome was used for all the children. "But that doesn't take away from the interesting technique," Lord told New Scientist. "The unusual ways that people with autism hold their bodies is something we see frequently in the clinic." If the research is borne out, Lord says, an early diagnosis may help children by exposing them to more social interactions, which could help reduce their symptoms. "Families might deliberately engage their child more," she says. Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (DOI 10.1073/pnas.0403919101) * * * Meeting the Needs Of The Develop. Disabled: How Doctors Offer Treatment Physicians and advocates for adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities are working to ensure that these patients do not fall through the cracks. [By Victoria Stagg Elliott for AMNews.] http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/08/02/hlsa0802.htm Chris Prater, MD, a family physician in Chattanooga, Tenn., gets part of his pay in hugs. As the medical director of the Orange Grove Center, an agency serving patients with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, he provides thousands with much-needed primary care services. "I've been here two hours today, and I've already gotten probably 20 hugs and kisses," he said one morning. "I can't stand it. They love me. I love them." Many of his patients can't communicate very well. Some might have significant co-morbidities related to their disabilities. And sometimes they must be driven to the door several times before they'll come into the office. It could take several more visits after that before they'll let him actually examine them. "We gradually work them into the lobby of our place, and then into the waiting room and then into the office," Dr. Prater said. "And once we get them in, for a lot of them, this is their favorite place to go, because we baby them so much." Dr. Prater is part of a growing cadre of physicians attempting to deliver high-quality primary care in a specialized clinic setting because of a recognition that the needs of adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities is so great and, for the most part, unmet. "This patient population has not had equal access," said Steven D. Lowe, MD, an internist at Premier HealthCare, a New York City center providing primary health care services to this population. "I know this because I've seen countless patients who have fallen through the cracks with such severe medical problems you can't believe that they haven't come to the attention of the medical community." Forty years ago, these people would have been cared for by physicians working in the institutions where most of them lived. Today, less than 1% are institutionalized, a number projected to drop to zero by 2025. Physicians and other experts are increasingly recognizing that this trend, accompanied by improvements in health care that allow more newborns with disabilities to survive into adulthood and even old age, mean that more of these people than ever are in the community. And they have health care needs similar to those around them. Meeting those needs, however, is a challenge. Pediatric care for this population is widely regarded as excellent, but several reports have suggested that care for adults with special needs is not quite as good. "It's a mess out there, because there's not a systematic approach," said Steven M. Eidelman, executive director of the advocacy organization The Arc of the United States. Some might not be able to convince a physician who cares for adults to see them. In some cases, this leads the adult patient to either receive no care at all or see a pediatrician long after nondisabled peers have moved on. "A lot of the burden of care is falling on the pediatrician," said Rick Rader, MD, director of the Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center at Orange Grove. "But there's nothing more inappropriate than a 45-year-old-woman getting her gynecological care from a pediatrician." Experts say that although access to care can be tricky and is important, there are other concerns. Most adults with developmental disabilities do seem to see a doctor fairly regularly. For example, a 2000 Special Olympics report, "The Health Status and Needs of Individuals with Mental Retardation," found that as many as 80% had seen a primary care physician in the past year, and those who sought health care averaged nearly three visits annually. But advocates say the quality is often less than ideal. "Just because you've been seen by a doctor doesn't mean necessarily that you've gotten good service," said Philip May, MD, an internist and president of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. "A lot of the customers for medical services wouldn't know good service from bad because they've had no service in the past." And this lack of quality can be just as dangerous as no care at all. According to the same report, those who have mental retardation or developmental disabilities have a preventable mortality rate that is four times the general population. Also, while the general population had a life expectancy of 77 years in 2000, those with mild to moderate mental retardation were expected to live for only 66 years. Those with severe retardation could only be expected to live until age 53. + Article continues: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/08/02/hlsa0802.htm [ send green star] [ accepted]
James M N.	"Having a disabled child" July 26, 2004 2:14 PM "I am one of those people who has taken care of a mentally ill person for 27 years.He started out at 6 with childhood schizophrenia, then as a young adult he had undifferentiated schizophrenia, and now as a 33 year old man he was just diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.It has been a long and arduous struggle.My family and friends are no help since they do not understand and they think that movies like " beautiful mind" can make them experts.They should watch "The Snake Pit" It is closer to reality and how archaic the mental health care system in this country is.Nami told me the USA is 14th in the world!!!How terrrible!!! Here are some sites that will help: http://www.webnow.com/parentsforchildren this is my site on my experience and it has an online petition listed for better laws for mental health care in the US. http://www.bazelon.org this site is the mental health care advocacy online.You can sign up for their newsletter. http://www.nami.org This site is the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.You can email them with questions. http://www.webmd.com this is a medical site with good info on medical conditions and drugs and problems and u can email the doctors who post there. Hope this will help. Katherine" [ send green star]
James M N.	kids groups: education July 24, 2004 3:40 AM "australianunschoolers · SUPPORTING FREEDOM IN LEARNING: Are you new to 'home' education? Are you thinking about 'home' educating? Would you like to help others in need of your experience? This group welcomes all 'home' educators but focuses in particular on 'natural' - child controlled - learning and help with government 'requirements' for those living in N.S.W., Australia. For more information: http://www.geocities.com/adelecarrall Subscribe: australianunschoolers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com " "australianhomeschoolers · Australian Homeschoolers: The Australian Homeschoolers group was founded for the purpose of providing parents who are educating their own children and others who are interested in following this path with a comfortable site where they can interact with fellow group members and post regarding any matters whatsoever without apprehension that the messages they post will be met with nitpicking or other discourteous or inconsiderate responses. For more information: http://www.geocities.com/adelecarrall Subscribe: australianhomeschoolers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com " [ send green star]
James M N.	Posts on Autism by a Parent and Rep., as well as member :) July 24, 2004 2:39 AM "Hello Monday, 10:54 PM i am a mom of a 6 yr child with autism as well as an Unlocking autism rep for my state mental health issues definatly affect my life daily nice to be a part of the start of this group Thanks Angie" "Wednesday, 4:55 PM i run 2 online suport groups for familys of children with autism if you would like i would be happy to add your links to 1 of the message bords in my groups although most of the diffabled in my groups are children we do have 2 or 3 adults with asperger,s snydrom who kind of guide us as to why are kids are doing certain things its nice that they take the time to try to help us understand our kids better Always Codysmommy, Angie" "Angela M. Wednesday, 9:06 PM http://groups.msn.com/AutismOutofControlEpidemic the top link is a link to my online suport group for autism the bottom link is to our petition http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/312229626 " " Angela M., Thursday, 1:26 AM Thank you for your kind words about my group and my petition the other group i am running actually belongs to another parent of an autistic child and due to family problems she hasnt been able to keep it updated so i have been temp manager for her till things get back on track for her feel free to use anything you think relevent as long as its not a profit thing i have permission from all my sources because some of it is copy righted :) always Angie " [ send green star]
James M N.	"Peace to the Children" (advocate for kids rights to education) July 24, 2004 2:33 AM "Peace to the Children, Michael E. Robinson, Sr. US Civil Rights Lobbyist, DC, CA, DoD Peaceforkids2005@hotmail.com Dir, The Office of Advocacy for Autistic Children Lil Mikey's Daddy i thought this might be of help for anyone in need of an advocate for due process IEP help he is the best of the best and a bulldog when fighting for kids rights to education. Angela" [ send green star]
James M N.	Issues related to kids, diffability + mental health, relatives, caregivers, et al July 24, 2004 2:21 AM Dear Craig, Hi. Hope that you are fine and doing well. Thank you for your participation. This thread will be for all issues that relate to kids, diffability and mental health issues, relatives and caregivers, et al. childprotectionreform · Child Protection Reform - Support when children are taken unjustly by CPS: This is a place for parents who have been harassed by child welfare services, distressed by false accusations, who may have had their children detained in foster care, who have had their lives turned upside down and possibly their finances depleted by injustice in the child "welfare" and juvenile court systems. Others interested in helping to change the juvenile justice system laws are also welcome to join the group. For more information: http://www.familyrightsassociation.com Subscribe: childprotectionreform-subscribe@yahoogroups.com LearningCommunities · Creating LearningCommunities: The purpose of this list is to discuss deschooling society by " Creating Learning Communities." That is, forms onf non -school collaborative learning. Like Learniing Circles, Learning Co-ops, Homeschool Support Groups, and Cooperative Life-Long Learning Centers(CCL-LLCs). Read about them on: http://www.CreatingLearningCommunities.org If you are now actively involved professionally or full time or developing such a center you may meet others on the listserv. For more information: http://www.yahoogroups.com/CCL-LLCs Subscribe: LearningCommunities-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Children in Cambodia: Awareness of the problem of child prostitution in Cambodia has thankfully increased in the West due to increased media coverage of the issue. This terrible commercial sexual exploitation of children takes on a human face as images are shown of shirtless and barefoot boys pimping girls as young as six to eager foreign tourists. Home: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Children_in_Cambodia/?yguid=62987550 Subscribe: Children_in_Cambodia-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and professionals: Invite link: http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880 Group Homepage: http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action Thanx! Enjoy an estival eve' as you can. I look forward to hearing from you. For those interested :) "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating to or happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal), (Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess of the dawn.)" Disabled Greens News and discussion, Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/ , Abuse in Therapy, Group homepage: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/ "Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci Matutinally Yours, james m nordlund [ send green star]

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Topic: Issues related to kids, diffability + mental health, relatives, caregivers, et al