1. New York-specific: PICC, Parents Instructing Challenged Children
PICC LEAH is a network of parents home schooling, or thinking about home schooling, their handicapped child. The parents of any child who would be labeled by the Committee on Special Education of the public school system would be invited to join PICC. We have members who have children with a wide range of handicapping conditions (learning disabled, attention deficit, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, Downs Syndrome, microcephalous, etc).
Parents of children with handicapping conditions don't have a lot of time for extra meetings, so PICC LEAH doesn't have meetings. Instead, we have the PICC LEAH Directory and a bi-monthly newsletter. If a family joins PICC LEAH ($15 annual membership - check made payable to NYS LEAH; If you are currently an active NYS LEAH member in another NYS LEAH Chapter, membership to PICC LEAH is free, BUT you STILL MUST fill out this membership form and mail it to PICC LEAH.), they get a copy of the Directory. The Directory is completely confidential, not given to non-members. Then, when families need help or encouragement, they can call someone with a similar circumstance for encouragement or information. PICC LEAH members also get discounts of 15% off HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) membership, 20% off the LEAH Regulatory Manual, discounted admission to LEAH Conventions, and the quarterly LEAH Messenger newsletter.
PICC LEAH also has a lending library for use by its members. The lending library contains a wide variety of books, audio tapes and video tapes which can be borrowed for a small fee.
PICC LEAH is a source of legal information and an advocate for these families. PICC makes available information concerning current NYS regulations, curriculum, and resources for special needs children in New York State. For more information contact:
Mary Fratianni
167 Hickory St
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776-2117
piccleah@verizon.net
www.piccnys.com
The Fratianni's are raising a challenged child of their own, and know the IHIPs and IEPs very well, as well as helping a child.
2. Joyce Herzog, Christian educator, author, consultant, and speaker.
Biographical Information: Joyce Herzog has been a popular keynote and featured speaker at numerous homeschool conventions, including NY LEAH; the Hearth & Home in Arlington, TX; CHEA of CA; FPEA in FL; MassHope in MA; HEAV of Virginia; ICHE in IN; and many more! She has presented workshops to a wide variety of audiences at conventions, seminars, and conferences. She addresses general audiences, those with special needs, homeschoolers, and others interested in Christian education. Her workshops are full of gentle wisdom, practical ideas, and comforting helps. Many lives have been blessed through the implementation of the information given in her workshops. She has a master's degree with 25 years of experience teaching the learning disabled, as well as a Ph.D. in Humane Letters. She has been consulting with homeschooling families for more than a decade. She has authored Learning in Spite of Labels, The Scaredy Cat Reading System, History in His Hands Series, Choosing and Using Curriculum for Your Special Needs, Luke's List and Stepping Stones to Bigger Faith, as well as numerous magazine articles and other teaching aids. Joyce has pioneered programs, and taught special education and learning disabilities curricula in several states. She holds a permanent teacher's certificate in the state of Iowa, with a Learning Disabilities endorsement, and is listed in Who's Who In American Education.
Joyce also offers Phone Therapy for those who need help beyond the convention setting. If you would like more information on this service, please e-mail her at joyceoffice@aol.com and ask about the Phone Therapy kit.
Her Ministry is to families, primarily focused on homeschoolers. She strives to assist families in raising up a godly generation, in training up each child in the unique way he should go, and in seeing their children through their potential as God's servants, rather than through the daily struggle of life. Her role is as facilitator to families through books she writes, personal consultations (at conventions and via Phone Therapy), and speaking at numerous homeschool conventions around this continent. Her husband is the "Ways and Means Committee," as he gets her where she needs to be, with the materials and equipment she needs to carry out the mission, and as a living example of humility, service, and nurturing.
joyceoffice@aol.com
www.joyceherzog.com
3. HSLDA
HSLDA's attorneys have helped special needs families across the nation protect their right to homeschool when officials go out of bounds. HSLDA Members should contact us promptly if they encounter any difficulties. HSLDA's Special Needs Coordinators, Betty Statnick and Dianne Craft will be available for consultation. And HSLDA supplies our members with a list of resources and names of professionals qualified to assist in testing and/or setting up a plan for teaching.
Betty Statnick received her B.A. in Biblical Education and later earned 80 additional credit hours in elementary and special education (including diagnostic and remedial reading and reading clinic experience) from the University of Virginia and College Misericordia. She was awarded an M.Ed. with an emphasis in learning disabilities from Marymount University in Virginia. Betty has taught for more than 20 years at elementary through adult levels in both public and private school settings. Since 1990, she has been working exclusively with homeschool families as an educational diagnostician, consultant, and tutor. She has been HSLDA's Special Needs Coordinator since 1995.
Dianne Craft is a former homeschool mom who has 25 years experience teaching children who struggle with learning. Some children struggle because of a "glitch" in the processing of information, sometimes referred to as a learning disability. She also works with children who are experiencing struggles such as ADD/ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, Sensory Integration Issues, Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Down Syndrome, and Turner Syndrome. She approaches these problems in a unique way...looking for the "solutions" for the problem, along with the common compensations for the problem.
She received her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from St. Cloud State University, and her Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She also is a Certified Natural Health Professional. She uses that particular expertise to help parents deal with the biochemical upset that their children are experiencing, which contributes to the child's struggles with behavior, attention or learning.
Dianne will be one of our guest speakers at the 2008 Upstate Convention. For more information and her full biography go to Diane Craft's Bio
Check and monitor the Struggling Learners area of HSLDA's website (www.hslda.org/strugglinglearner) for information, and current legal issues and advice. Also check out the comprehensive resource listing available at www.hslda.org/strugglinglearner/sn_help.asp.
4. National Challenged Homeschoolers Associated Network (NATHHAN)
This is a national organization of parents who home school their special needs children. NATHHAN coordinators Tom and Sherry Bushnell publish NATHHAN NEWS-an easy-to-use internet magazine at their website. Also available at the website are discussion boards, book reviews, letters and articles, a lending library, and families to get or give encouragement.
NATHHAN'S Goal and Purpose: To encourage homeschooling families with special needs children, in ways that glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and equip parents to confidently raise their children with special needs or disabilities.
NATHHAN
PO Box 310
Moyie Springs ID 83845
208-267-6246
nathanews@aol.com
www.nathhan.com
5. Protection & Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD)
The Commission on Quality of Care contracts wih offices thoughout the state to provide free legal services to individuals with developmental disabilities (there are similar programs for other types of disabilities). These offices all have a wealth of experience in special education advocacy. To find the PADD office in your area go to: www.cqc.state.ny.us/advocacy/palist.htm#PADD.
6. Awana Club
Awana Club currently has a Friends Club Ministry for churches which includes story time, activity time, and Bible memorization. For more information, call 630-540-4680.