Concord SPED PAC Website updates Aug 2003 to Sept 2002

August, 2003

• Updated National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association, found at www.ndmda.org, before 4/2003 was known as, now goes by Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) on the Disability Organization Page. 
• Updated Pine Ridge School information on the School Page (thanks to email from Josh Doyle, Director of Admissions).
• Updated the Request Evaluation page, with our new sped directors contact information.
• Added Reading index to given a quick access to all parts of reading, decoding (sounding out words), fluency (reading rate), comprehension (meaning) to  Specialize Education Methods page.
• Updated the Autism links, updated the "What is Autism?" link to the Disabilities Links.
• Updated the Therapy page to include fine motor program, Callirobics (CALLIgraphy and aeROBICS). 
• Updated Brookline PAC, with their new address (.org to .net) on the Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page.

July, 2003

• Updated the State and Federal Special Education Laws Webpage, to include state and federal regulation for Access to Student Records.
• Added  6 new definitions: DSM, NOS, DD-NOS, CD-NOS, LD-NOS, and NVLD/NLD to the Definitions page.
• Added a new heading MD, for Dr. Margaret Bauman, MD and Kathleen (Katie) West, MA, CCC-A on the Evaluators page, Neurological Evaluations, Pediatric Neurologist and Audiologist.
• Updated the Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page, by adding a "site down" graphic.
• Add the new home button to this webpage and any web pages that are being updated.
• Updated the Tutors page with Scottish Rite Masons Learning Centers.
• Updated Massachusetts Advocacy Center for Children (MACC) name and contact information on the Massachusetts Organizations to the Mass Organization page.
• Added  2 new definitions: OTR/L and SIPT to the Definitions page.
• Updated the Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page, descriptions of sites, added Attleboro, and Harvard website, new address for Foxboro.  Brookline site is down. update link for Winchester Children books link.
• Updated the Favorite Web Sites with graphics.
• Added new catalog for Anxiety Disorders and three new links to the Disabilities Links.
• Created a new button for our Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page.
• Added a new link to the Disabilities Links, 1 under Bi-polar (Pendulum website).  Added two new organizations (The Association for persons with Severe Handicaps (TASH) and Schwab Learning).     
• Rename our Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page, from "MassPACs" to "Pacs-in-Mass", to prevent any confusion with Masspac membership organization.
• Updated the Tutors page with reading tutor, Fran Perlman, lives in Sudbury.
• Updated the Therapy page to include more ABA links (thanks to MassPAC member Tonya B. for posting these on their list.) .
• Added recommended book: "Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science - Based Program for Overcoming Reading Problems at Any Level", by Sally Shaywitz to the Disabilities book page.
• Updated the State and Federal Special Education Laws Webpage, to include state regulation for Physical Restraint (thanks to IEP_Guide member T.K. for posting the Mass regulation on their list.)
• Added "ENABLE: People with Disabilities and Computers" video to the Recommended Videos page. 

June, 2003

• Updated our Summer Camp page, added more detail about Easter Seals two over night camps, Agassiz Village, in West Portland, Maine and Camp Hemlocks in Hebron, Connecticut.
• Update the homepage with IDEA reauthorization status and moved the 2002-2003 Calendar page.
• Update the photo on our homepage to give it a summer look and update IDEA reauthorization.
• Added to the IEP Vision Statement Examples  webpage, where are these listed on IEP (thanks to our PAC members for submitting these and Anne Wagner for her formatting and grammar editing.).
• Updated our Concord SPED PAC Who's who page, updated our liaisons (middle school) and new SPED Director.
• Update Thoreau Schools' special education staff, Who's Who page with information from the staff member (G.M.).
• Updated the Time Factors page, there was an error under heading: Independent Evaluation; the regulation state: School days, that was corrected on the webpage.
• Added the Jewish Community Day School (JCDS) to the School Page.
• Updated the IDEA changes webpage.
• Updated the In-the-News, with a newspaper and PDF graphic.
• Updated the Behavior Management Plan (BMP) page with link to Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice.
• Updated Types of evaluations page , to include more Related Assessments: Audiologist, Physical Therapy (PT), Home Assessment, and Teacher Assessment/Observation.  To include all the evaluations listed on the DOE, Evaluation Consent Form (N 1A).
• Updated the Accommodations webpage, accommodations for middle school & high school students, for 
  Changing Classes (Thanks to J.L. and T.K. of the IEP_Guide yahoo group, for sharing these accommodations)
•  Added a new SPED PAC that how has a website: Winchester SpedPAC website to the Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page

May, 2003

• Added a detailed Bell Curve webpage, with a link at the bottom of the Type of Tests Webpage. (thanks to R. Flores-Hurlbert for supplying this chart and Wrightslaw conference teaching parents how to use it.).
• Added 2 advocacy books to our  Recommended Books page. Just released and updated Barbara Bateman book: Writing Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives and Measuring Instructional Results by Robert F. Mager.  We learned about both of these at Wrightslaw conference in Springfield, Mass. (from Peter and Pam Wright).
• Added "Why Johnny Doesn't Behave: Twenty Tips for Measurable BIPs" book to our  Recommended Books page.

April, 2003

•  Update the homepage with IDEA Alert, Nationwide Call-in Day on Tuesday, April 29, 2003.
• Created a webpage on house bill, H.R. 1350, the page includes information contain in the bill, contact information, link to the petition, and sample letters.  IDEA changes.
• Added a new SPED PAC that how has a website: Wachusett Regional School District Special Education Parent
  Advisory Council (SEPAC) to the Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page. (posted event on MassPAC).

March, 2003

• Update the homepage with our second March 18 th, Identifying Learning Difficulties presentation.
• Updated the In-the-News, with new DOE memo on 50/50 program, February 12th and DOR memo in html format January 2003.
• Updated Doctors page, added the phase "requires an" to "(M.D. degree)" in parentheses to the Psychiatrist definition.  (Based on email from Dr. Bonetzky) and changed the color of the bars.
• Added ten new SPED PAC that are on-line: Auburn, Bridgewater/Raynham, Foxborough, Groton, Linclon, Needham, Pentucket, Shirley, Westborough, and Winchendon to the Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page (thanks to M. Hangis).
• Updated homepage took off the winter background and added the spring flowers.
• Updated the In-the-News, added the new DOE memo on 50/50 program, March 12th.
• Updated our Calendar 2002 - 2003 added "Other local events" for the month of April, since we are not running a presentation.
• Updated the Who are our Representatives?, with the current precincts and towns, added their party affiliation, updated the towns they over and their contact information.
• Added to the Accommodations webpage, the link to the Federation newsletter (now on-line).
• Added reading booklet to  Specialize Education Methods, "Put Reading First: The research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read", by National Institute for Literacy and added some reading program definitions (i.e. OG,  Wilson and Project Read.). We learned about at our Parenting the LD presentation (from Lisa Brooks, Ed.M. of the Commonwealth Learning Center presentation.).
• Update Peabody Schools' special education staff, Who's Who page.  (thanks to M. Diskin)
• Added new catalog for Tourette Syndrome and three new links to the Disabilities Links.
• Updated the Favorite Web Sites list, deleted out-of-date link.   

February, 2003

• Update the homepage with our second March 4 th, Assistive Technology Workshop.   
• Added  "Parenting a Struggling Reader", by Susan L. Hall, Louisa Cook, Ed.D. Moat (2002) to our  Recommended Books page.
• Fix the Amazon keyword search tool on the Recommended books for Disabilities book page.
• Added a new link to the Disabilities Links, 1 under Bi-polar (The Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation).
• Fix the "Concord SPED PAC Join our email list" button on the homepage.
• Updated our Calendar 2002 - 2003. added the flyers for the two March events, Assistive Technology Workshop and Identifying Learning Difficulties presentations.
• Updated the Therapy page to include links to Academy North main office located in Reading and locations in Danvers and Lexington.
• Updated the State and Federal Special Education Laws Webpage, rearranged the information so the Special Education Regulations were the first on the page and IDEA register stood out.
• Added a list of 15 frequently referred to Federal regulations to the State and Federal Special Education Laws Webpage. 
• Updated the homepage, added "Tell A Friend" button, so visitors can send an email from our website. Update the counter with new code from our host, Doteasy.
• Updated the IEP Reviewing page, (IEP 2 & 3) added the number section on each.
• Added to the Accommodations webpage, where are these listed on IEP (thanks to R. Flores-Hurlbert).

January, 2003

• Updated the IEP Reviewing page, (IEP page 7), an updated version of the  MCAS reference manual, " Requirements for the Participation of Students with Disabilities in MCAS" (Spring 2002 to Spring 2003).
• Updated our list of Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page.  North Attleborough PAC has been updated and expanded.  The Winchester PAC has a well design site with lots of information is now down.
• Added  "Myth of Laziness" by Dr. Mel Levine book to our  Recommended Books page.
• Update Type of Tests Webpage, with CELF-3 - Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals 3. 
  Key Math Diagnostic Arithmetic Test - Revised (Key Math-R), Test of Mathematical Abilities (TOMA).  Added the nine subtests to the Test of Phonological Awareness (TOPA)
• Added The 90 Minute Dysgraphia Evaluation, Neuropsychology of Dysgraphia, written by Steven G. Feifer, Ed.S, NCSP and Philip A. Defina, Ph.D., ABPdN, dated November 2002 (thanks to M. Taber), to the Which Test Webpage.
• Updated our Calendar 2002 - 2003. added the directions to Sudbury for the March presentation.   
• Updated our Calendar 2002 - 2003. added the date of March 4, Tuesday to the Assistive Technology workshop, that we are Co-Sponsored with Minuteman ARC Minute Man Arc for Human Services.
• Updated our Calendar 2002 - 2003. changed the time and location of our March 18 business meeting and the time of the June.
• Updated our list of Pac's On-line in Massachusetts page.  Billerica PAC has a brand new website, (including photos')
• Added a webpage called In-the-News, in response to the front page article on state funding in our local paper on January 9th.
• Added a new webpage on Accommodations, list by different catalogues.
• Updated our Summer Camp page, added Camp Good Time  located in Waltham.  
• Updated the colors and bars on the following pages:  Specialize Education Methods, Concord SPED PAC Who's who page.
• Reformatted the Disabilities Links, added a table with updated colors. 
  

December 2002

• Updated the Directions to Acton, Grey Jr. High School, for our December presentation (from S.Lowe & L.Deutsch).
• Updated Acton/Boxborough PAC they now have a new website address, and redesigned website, on our Massachusetts SPED PAC's On-line page. 
• Added the subtest and cluster scores for The Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery-Revised (WJ-R), to Types of Educational tests page.
•  Added the subtest and cluster scores for The Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery-Third Edition (WJ-III)  to Types of Educational tests page.
  

November, 2002

• Update the Our PAC Mission page by adding the Special Education Regulations 603 CMR 28.00, that defines a PAC.
• Update the  homepage with our second November presentation on November 13, The Reauthorization of IDEA and Recent Changes in Special Education.
• Replace our homepage old counter "TheCounter.com" (our counter at the time was at 7120) with our hosting company counter.
• Updated the Request Evaluation page, to include what the Federal law supports, for requesting an independent evaluation (IEE).
• Add new Webpage on Taping Team Meeting .
• Updated the homepage , index of webpages, by changed the heading Tools and Technologies to Assistive Technology , moving Videos under heading "Parent Education", moving Assistive Technology under "Specialized Ed. Method".
• Updated  Specialize Education Methods to include four Lindamood-Bell™ programs (LBLP), listed under the appropriate heading.
• Update the  homepage with our fourth presentation in December 10th.Understanding your Basic Rights workshop, Co-Sponsored with Acton PAC.
• Updated all the appreciations and increased the size of left bar on the homepage. 
• Added a link on the homepage to benefit concert with Johnny Rivers, sponsored by many 
  special education organizations.
• Updated the homepage with snowflake background and picture of watercolor of two snowmen created by Minuteman ARC Art club and added a link to their photo of the artists and link Minuteman ARC order form for Holiday cards and Christmas wreaths.
• Updated the Measurable Goals page, to include refers to the Federal law and the DOE "IEP Process Guide".

October, 2002

• Updated the  homepage with change of presenter for the Basic Rights workshop on October 16th.
• Updated the directions to Minuteman ARC, when coming from the rotary (from L.Hopkinson ).
• Updated the DOE Reports page with a link to public schools and out-of-district schools reports.
• Added these books to our  Recommended Books page: Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy - The Special Education Survival Guide, by Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright , A Mind at a Time, by Mel Levine books.
• Added the Amazon keyword search tool to both Recommended books Main and Disabilities book page.
• Update the  homepage with our November presentation Out-of-District Placements: Know Your Rights on November 6.
• Updated the Tools & Technologies , with Easyer Reader and Math Pad, recommended by NVLD list ( from R.DeFilippis).

September, 2002

• Updated the Therapy page to include links to Academy Metro West , Academy of Physical and Social Development , and Dana Group Association.
• Added four new Massachusetts Organizations to the Mass Organization page.  They are: Massachusetts School Psychologists Association (MSPA), The New England Branch of The International Dyslexia Association (NEBIDA), Massachusetts Council for Learning Disabilities (MCLD) and moved Massachusetts Speech-Language-Hearing Association (MASHA) from the Disability Organization page.  These new organizations we included are conference sponsors of The Joint Conference on Specific Learning Disabilities,  taking place, October 2002 in Marlborough, MA.
• Updated Joann Frankhouser contact information on the Evaluators page , under Neuropsychological Evaluations section.
• Updated the IEP Reviewing page, added information from the DOE in regarding what is required to be listed under "Type of Personnel" .
• Updated four links to the DOE website, to their: forms, charts and IEP Process Guide (from R. Traub, Web Administrator Massachusetts Department of Education), Updated three links on the IEP Definition page and updated two links on the "Requesting Evaluation Letter " page.
• Updated our homepage, to display our first presentation, changed the way our users will access Goggle's world wide web search, add our new fall Calendar 2002 - 2003.  Moved last year information regarding the law to the What's Happening page.
• Moved our DOE Reports to a new page, under the heading "Schools".

	Last updated August 12, 2003 By Melody Orfei
o.mel@verizon.net