Please join us to view a screening of Ethan & Jennifer on Thursday, May 21st at 7:00pm at Court Square Theater in Harrisonburg, VA. Ethan & Jennifer follows two children on two very different points of the autism spectrum, and it provides an intimate and honest glimpse into the lives of their families as they tackle everyday life. The event is FREE and open to the public. Donations are grately appreciated and will be accepted at the door.
Come join us for an afternoon of sharing, fun and friendship!! May 16, 2009 from 11:00 - 2:00pm at Westover Park, Shelter #2 in Harrisonburg, VA. SVAP will provide paper products, water, lemonade, mustard & ketchup, and charcoal/lighter fluid for grilling, AND 2 playground monitors. Please bring a side dish to share and your own meat to grill. Lawn chairs are also suggested!
We are dedicated
to improving the quality of life for all individuals with the autism spectrum disorder, including Asperger’s Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorders and other related disabilities.
We believe
that every person with a developmental disability has the right to live, learn and work in the most normal and least restrictive setting as possible.
A planning committee
consisting of parents and professionals meets to organize events that focus on topics related to the autism spectrum disorder. We also provide support, advocacy, networking and social opportunities for families and professionals.
We maintain
this website to disseminate information and may also hold fund raising activities as well as recruit new members. We welcome ideas and input from folks in the valley that support individuals with autism. Click here to contact us if you are interested in helping our new organization grow!
Join us
The yearly membership fee is $15 for individual or family. Here is the membership form to download and print.
Please send your membership form and payment to:
Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership
4181 Brown Roan Lane
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
There’s some good information on HB 1588, legislation on mandated insurance coverage for services related to the autism spectrum disorder, at http://autismadvocates1.blogspot.com. The posts are from James Madison University nursing students with an interest in the legislation.
We hope you can join us at our next Lunch Bunch meeting May 13, 2009 at the Lucy Simms Center in Harrisonburg, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Please bring a “brown bag” lunch and join others in this informal support group networking meeting. We want to hear your ideas about summer activities. We encourage both family members and professionals to attend who are interested in Autism Spectrum Disorders, (including PDD, autism, Aspergers or related disorders). NEW THIS YEAR!! Childcare will be provided during our meetings. Please call in advance if you will need childcare.
We hope you can join us at our next Waynesboro lunch bunch meeting on May 12, 2009 at the Westwood Baptist Church in Waynesboro from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Please bring a “brown bag” lunch and join others in this informal support group networking meeting. We encourage both family members and professionals to attend who are interested in Autism Spectrum Disorders, (including PDD, autism, Aspergers or related disorders). For more information contact Teressa Joiner at 540-649-1897 or Sally Chappel at 540-568-8095.
SVAP is pleased to announce our autism spectrum disorders scholarship program. Due to the generous community support for the first “Valley 5K Walk/Run for Autism”, we will be offering monetary scholarships on a limited basis for individuals on the Autism Spectrum. These funds might be used towards services such as respite, therapies, safety or sensory equipment. More information and an application are available for download (see above link).
Final Regulations Published; Notice of Suspension of Regulatory Process
Public comments may be submitted until 5 p.m. on May 13, 2009 .
Last week, the Virginia Register of Regulations published the proposed final State Special Education Regulations and the notice to suspend the process to allow for an additional thirty day public comment period. The Register can be viewed at http://register.dls.virginia.gov/vol25/iss16/v25i16.pdf.
Titles of Regulations: 8VAC20-80. Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia.
Statutory Authority: §§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-214 of the Code of Virginia; 20 USC §1400 et seq.); 34 CFR Part 300.
In accordance with §§ 2.2-4007.06 and 2.2-4015 of the Administrative Process Act, the Department of Education, on behalf of the Virginia Board of Education, has suspended the regulatory process pertaining to the repeal of 8VAC20-80 and promulgation of 8VAC20-81, Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia. The suspension is in response to requests from at least twenty-five people for an additional public comment period regarding those changes with substantial impact that were made to the regulations since they were published as proposed regulations. The proposed regulations were published in the Virginia Register of Regulations in 24:17 VA.R. 2360-2450 April 28, 2008.
The Virginia Department of Education will receive comments regarding 8VAC20-81 until 5 p.m. on May 13, 2009.
Comments may be submitted by mail, facsimile, or e-mail. All comments must include the name and contact information of the commenter. Comments may be submitted by mail to:
Special Education Regulations Revision Process
Office of Dispute Resolution and Administrative Services
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120;
by facsimile to (804) 786-8520;
or by email to ReviseSpedRegs@doe.virginia.gov.
For more information, contact:
Melissa Smith, Coordinator of Administrative Services
Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120
(804) 371-0524
melissa.smith@doe.virginia.gov
“Virginia’s Medicaid Waivers for Persons with Disabilities, Their Parents, and Caregivers.”
This guide focuses on five of the waivers currently available in Virginia:
a. Mental Retardation/Intellectual Disabilities (MR/ID) Waiver
b. Day Support Waiver
c. Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support (IFDDS or DD) Waiver
d. Elderly or Disabled with Consumer Direction (EDCD) Waiver
e. Technology-Assisted (Tech) Waiver ”
For the pdf version of this guide, click on the following link:
http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/valend/MEDICAID%20WAIVERS%20GUIDE%207-07.pdf
“This guide was created by Jessica Cann and Elaine Ogburn of the Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (Va-LEND), in collaboration with Terry Smith, Division Director, Division of Long-Term Care, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), and Maureen Hollowell, Director of Advocacy and Services, Medicaid Waiver Technical Assistance Center, Endependence Center, Norfolk, Virginia. Va-LEND is an interdisciplinary leadership training program at the Partnership for People with Disabilities, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (telephone 804-828-0073).”
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
Voice: 703 923 0010/1 800 869 6782 (toll free); Fax 1 800 693 351
Email partners@peatc.org
