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Here are some recommended blog articles you might have missed this summer. This is divided into three separate categories: special education, employment law, and animal law.

Special Education issues:

Kate Ahern’s Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs is among my favorite blogs. This summer, Kate published a few excellent blog articles about the latest assistive technologies, including :

• “iPossibilities for Those with Significant Specials Needs and Their Teams”;
• “iPad Case Options for Significant Needs”; and
• “Internet Based AAC Options.”

The WrightsLaw Way churn out high quality blog posts every single week about special education matters. This summer was no exception. You shouldn’t miss reading these outstanding articles:

• “‘Dyslexia is Not a Learning Disability’”;
• “Does Medication Make A Child Ineligible for an IEP?”;
• “Going Ballistic in a Public Forum — Not Good Form!”; and
• “When Teachers Bully.”

The Phoebe Prince case was in the news again this summer. I previously discussed the lessons of the Phoebe Prince case and why bullying issues should be addressed as quickly as possible. Slate’s blog article “What Really Happened to Phoebe Prince?” provides very provocative perspectives in a massive 18 page report (also available in pdf format here). My colleague Jennifer Laviano, a special education attorney in Connecticut, also chimes in: “Phoebe Prince, Bullying, Disabilities, and the Eggshell Skull.”

Since I’m an attorney who practices education and special education law in New Jersey, these two New Jersey based articles were illuminating: the New York Times’ “Little As They Try, Students Can’t Get A ‘D’ Here” and Christine Samuels’ “New Jersey’s High Numbers.”

Employment law issues:

Molly DiBianca and her colleagues on the Delaware Employment Law Blog are always keeping an eye out on the intersection between technology and employment law. Check out:

• “Blog Comments as Trial Evidence”;
• “Are you Monitoring Your Employees’ Facebook Pages?”; and
• “Notice to Job Applicants of Intent to Search Social Networks.”

This summer has seen some really fascinating employment law issues, including (1) whether employers must accommodate “stressed” or “anxious” employees and (2) whether employees who are bald might win a case under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

Animal law issues:

Animal lawyer, Daniel Meek, always stresses the importance of including pets in wills and establishing trusts for pets. This summer, Daniel Meek blogged, “Do You Have A Pet Power of Attorney?” He also blogged about whether a service animal is a pet or property in “Is A Guide Dog Property or Pet?”

Just a few weeks ago, the Justice Department revised the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. One of the key changes in the regulations was the definition of a ‘service animal,’ which I previously blogged about. Another important change in the ADA regulation is the prohibition of breed specific dog discrimination in “Justice Department Rules Against Dog Discrimination,” which is a victory for individuals with disabilities who depend on German Shepherds, rottweilers, and pit bulls as trained service dogs.

On April 29, 2010, a very special event took place at the Congregation B’nai Jeshurun synagogue in Short Hills, New Jersey. Actor Henry Winkler and actress Marlee Matlin stood next to each other on a raised podium and discussed how they first met, how their friendship had grown, and how each learned to overcome their own obstacles.

The evening was filled with wisdom, life stories, Jewish parables, jokes, and many laughs.

Two funny quotes got the audience roaring in laughter:

• When Henry played the ‘Fonz’ on the Happy Days television series, he received 50,000 fan mail each week. Many girls sent Henry jewelry, such as crucifixes. Henry learned something important: “Jewish girls do not give away jewelry.”

• A television director quipped: “Marlee is great! Is she going to be deaf the entire series?”

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New Jersey may be a small state, but there is clearly no shortage of attorneys, advocates, health care professionals, support groups, and disability organizations here. Below I have provided a listing of helpful links that will help parents of children with disabilities locate professionals and support groups efficiently. As of April 2010, none of these links are “deadlinks.” Click on the link below to see the list of NJ resources.

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I discovered Ellen Seidman’s blog, Love That Max, about two months ago. Upon learning that Ellen’s son Max has cerebal palsy and unspecified cognitive impairments, I read some of the articles that Ellen had published and found them interesting.

In a recent article that could only come from the heart, “I stared at an adult with disabilities, and wondered if I was seeing Max’s future,” Ellen is brutally honest and shares with her readers one of her greatest fears: Where will Max be after he graduates from school? What will become of Max when he reaches adulthood? These are very important questions.

In due time, I will write special education articles about the importance of IEP transition planning, but in the meanwhile, I want to share with Ellen and all parents who have children with disabilities a collection of weblinks that I’ve put together. These links will direct you to a list of famous people with disabilities; they are role models for any parent and child with a disability. May these links and resources always keep your and your child’s dreams and hopes alive:

• Famous people with autism and Asperger’s
• Famous people with bipolar disorder
• Famous people with cerebal palsy
• Famous people with Down’s Syndrome
• Famous people with Deafness/hearing impairments
• Famous people with dyslexia
• Famous people with epilepsy
• Famous people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Famous people with Schizophrenia
• Famous people with Spina Bifida
• Famous people who stutter
• Famous people with Tourette Syndrome
• Famous people with vision impairments

On this blog, I usually write about legal issues related to service animals, special education, student rights, or disability discrimination. Once in a while, though, it’s always nice to get away and not need to think about issues associated with school, employment, or independent living. Kids, especially, need to have fun, a place to get away from the stresses of life, and meet new friends they can relate to and share interests with.

Whether it’s during the day for a week or two, or overnight for several weeks, summer camp can boost a disabled child’s confidence and self-esteem and help form life-long friendships. In the past two decades, there has been an explosion of summer camps for children with disabilities. The number of special needs camp is astounding. One website lists over 70 camps for those with Asperger’s, over 100 camps for those with developmental disabilities, and over 110 camps for those with learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD. There are special needs camps for children who are amputees, as well as children with autism, burns, cerebral palsy, deafness, dyslexia, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, muscular dystrophy, and visual impairments, among others.

These websites contain extensive listings of special needs camps across the country: Camp Resource, Family Village, Kids Camp, My Summer Camps, and Very Special Camps.com.

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A couple of days ago, I received a very cool email from Jennifer Laviano, a Connecticut Special Education attorney, informing me that my blog is among her list of 15 “lovely” blogs. To explore Jennifer’s awesome list and learn how “The Lovely Blog” originated, see her post: “I guess this is ‘One Lovely Blog!’”

I love writing, and blogging is a terrific way to share information, thoughts, and ideas. Dare I say it?–bloggers and those who read blogs are an intelligent and engaging bunch! Ruby at School’s Out is absolutely correct: “For a blogger … this is one of the best rewards of writing. To know that others are reading what I share, and that they are enjoying or learning or growing as a result, this is a tremendous feeling.” I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Many thanks to Jennifer. I am honored.

What does the “lovely” mean in “A Lovely Blog”? To those who can see with their eyes, blogs can be lovely because the design is colorful and creative. But blogs can also be lovely because the published content transmitted to the mind’s eye is meaningful and has value to those who read it for knowledge and enrichment. In my view, lovely blogs contain well written, well organized, and thoughtful articles that help us think and respond in positive ways.

One condition for accepting the “Lovely Blog” award is to nominate 15 other blogs for this award (see the three simple rules at the bottom of this post). I noticed that Jennifer and Ruth’s lists consisted of lesser known blogs many people may not be aware of. This is a great idea! There are so many good blogs out there, and I’ll gladly follow Jennifer and Ruth’s example. So, without further ado:

Click here to see the nominees for the

In the August 31, 2009 issue of the New Jersey Law Journal, I learned that there is a new identity theft scheme occurring in New Jersey (and possibly in other states as well). Unlike scams that typically occur over the telephone or via email, scam artists are pretending to work for the courts and visiting people in their homes!

I researched this scam on the internet and found the link to the official press release from the New Jersey Judiciary. According to the press release, the scam artists appear on your doorstep with fake identification that says they are Jury Managers who work for the New Jersey courts. The fake Jury Manager scares you into believing that you did not show up for jury duty. When you claim that you didn’t get the jury duty notice, the fake Jury Manager will then attempt to “verify your identity” by requesting your personal information, including your social security number and driver’s license number.

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