BFD Educational Services

Safety in the home:

Safety in the Home for Children with Autism | OAR All parents have household safety concerns, usually starting when their child begins crawling around the house. Baby-proofing the home is at the top of any parent’s priority list. However, children with autism may face unique risks because of their tendency to fixate on certain items or display se...

Organization solutions for spring cleaning: http://madisonhouseautism.org/housing/spring-cleaning-organization-solutions-autism/.

Spring Cleaning: Organization Solutions for Autism - MHAF Spring cleaning: refresh your physical living space and gain mental clarity. Here are some great organizational strategies for autistic adults.

Ramadan begins this evening. Read more here: https://ing.org/resources/for-all-groups/calendar-of-important-islamic-dates/ramadan-information-sheet/.

Ramadan Information Sheet - Islamic Networks Group (ING) To learn more, check out our free public presentations on Ramadan and Muslim Americans and Their Faith. To view other important dates for Muslims, visit our Calendar of Important Islamic Dates Introduction Ramadan is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. In Ramadan, Muslim...

Upcoming Wrights Law training via Zoom!

VA via Zoom › The Wrightslaw Way This Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program featuring Pete Wright, Esq., is being sponsored by the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC). Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, ad...

Happy first day of spring!

First Day of Spring 2023: The Spring Equinox When does spring start? In 2023, the official first day of spring is Monday, March 20. This date marks the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. What IS the spring equinox and what happens on this day? Before you try to balance that egg, read on!

Coming Soon! Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, Third Edition

Twenty-five years have passed since Pete and Pam Wright posted the first articles on Wrightslaw and published the first book about special education law.

The new Third Edition of Wrightslaw: Special Education Law expanded to include other laws that affect the education of individuals with disabilities, from preschool through graduate school, and licensing exams.

In addition to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA), the new edition includes
* Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)
* Americans with Disabilities Act 0f 1990 (ADA)
* Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
* McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and
* Portions of the United States Code, Federal Rules of Procedure, and the U.S. Constitution.

We will post more info about Wrightslaw: Special Education Law (and how you can order it) soon!

From the Parents' Place of Maryland:
https://www.facebook.com/ThePPMD/posts/568345865323241

Are you the parent of a 14-year-old?

Join us for Pre-Guiding the Journey this April if you have a 14-year-old! During this training, family members will learn about the transition process and transition planning.

Click here to apply by April 3rd if you want to start planning for your 14-year-old’s transition! https://www.tfaforms.com/5048057

Art therapy is another alternative therapy for children with autism:

Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being. Art therapy practice
requires knowledge of visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms) and the creative process, as well as of human development, psychological, and counseling theories and techniques.

For additional information see

www.americanarttherapyassociation.org

Sometimes children with autism need alternative therapies such as this one:

Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be
helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people's motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.

For additional information see

American Music Therapy Association | American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) The American Music Therapy Association is a resource and organization dedicated to professional music therapists. Benefits gained from using music as a tool include help educating, reducing stress, and improve the general quality of life.

PA Autism Insurance Act (Act 62):

PA Act 62 changes to the way autism services are covered through the Medical Assistance program and private health insurers. If you have private insurance, it is important that you know whether or not Act 62 applies to your plan.

The Autism Insurance Act:
- Requires many private health insurance companies to cover the cost of diagnostic assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorder and services for children under the age of 21, up to $36,000 per year;
- Requires the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, DPW, to cover the cost of services for individuals who are enrolled in the Medical Assistance program and do not have private insurance coverage, or for individuals whose costs exceed $36,000 in one year; and
- Requires the Pennsylvania Department of State to license professional behavior specialists who provide services to children.

Who is covered by the Autism Insurance Act?

Children or young adults under age 21 with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder who:
- Are covered under an employer group health insurance policy (including HMOs and PPOs) that has more than 50 employees and the policy is not a "self-insured" or "ERISA" policy;
- Are on Medical Assistance; or
- Are covered by Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

For additional information, check out

www.paautisminsurance.org

International Women's Day:

10 Ways to Celebrate International Women's Day with Kids A collection of educational worksheets, books & activities to celebrate International Women's Day for kids - for the classroom or home

This seems like a fun list! Reading is so important!

Read Across America: 50 Kids' Books Set in 50 States | Macaroni KID South York Read Across America Day is a great chance to celebrate the joy of reading and come together to promote literacy. But what if we took it one step further and…