Uncategorized

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.

Click here to continue reading this article

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.

Click here to continue reading this article

In 2006, a cheesesteak delicatessen in Philadelphia made waves when the proprietor hung up a sign that read: “This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING PLEASE ‘SPEAK ENGLISH.’” Reported in national and international news outlets, Geno’s Steaks received the ire of many people and bloggers around the world. Philly Future has a list of Philadelphia bloggers who have expressed their outrage against Geno’s Steaks. Bloggers outside of Philadelphia, like American Humanity and Jewish World Review, have not been shy to share their feelings of dismay.

When the news broke in the summer of 2008 that the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) was going to require that all of its players pass an English skills test or face possible suspension, journalists scratched their heads and bloggers around the world, particularly those based in South Korea, reacted strongly and negatively. Reacting to the hullabaloo and bad publicity, the LPGA rescinded its plan to suspend LPGA players for not communicating “effective” English.

What’s going on here?

Click here to continue reading this article