News at a Glance
A
Book Review: Learning vs. Testing
Pat Wyman, of HowtoLearn.com, has just answered the prayers of parents
who want their children to get higher grades and test scores. She
is also the author of Learning vs. Testing: Strategies to Bridge
the Gap. It is really a must-read for any parent whose child is a
hands-on or auditory learner that needs higher grades and test scores.
You and your kids can
experience personal and educational success with help from some
of the world’s foremost experts for less
than the cost of taking your family out for lunch.
Learning vs. Testing
draws on Pat’s 30 years of experience
teaching kids how to learn and offers simple, effective strategies
that will make sure that your child’s test scores truly reflect
what your child knows. She’s already changed the lives of over
200,000 children using the strategies described in this book!
Does this sound familiar?
You spend all night helping your child study for a big test. You
KNOW they understand the material. And yet you’re both devastated when they bring home another awful
test score. Learning vs. Testing will help you understand what’s
happening and CHANGE this vicious cycle of failure into SUCCESS for
your child!
To get more information
about the book go to: www.howtolearn.com/learningvstesting.html Here’s
to greater learning success and a big boost in your child’s
self-esteem level.
New Book
on Chronic Illness
Meeting the Challenge of Chronic Illness, Robert Kane, Reinhard
(Jake) Priester, and Annette Totten. The Johns Hopkins University
Press, 2005.
Chronic conditions such
as arthritis, heart disease, and Parkinson’s
disease are the principal cause of all sickness and death in the
United States and account for the vast majority of health care expenditures.
Although we now live in a world dominated by chronic conditions,
health care is still organized around a commitment to treating acute
illnesses.
Meeting the Challenge of Chronic Illness examines current deficiencies
in chronic illness care and explores ways to improve it. Addressing
the challenges of shifting from the primacy of acute illness to the
predominance of chronic conditions, the authors identify the components
necessary to reorganize and reform health care: properly prepared
health care workers; involved patients and families; appropriate
use of new technologies, especially information systems; an appropriate
role for prevention; and the creation of funding approaches that
will provide necessary incentives.
This book calls on policymakers, health care providers, and educators
to address one of the greatest challenges facing the health care
system.
More information and
order form can be found at: www.press.jhu.edu/books/title_pages/8840.htm
Mental
Health Legislative Caucus Recognized
The National Alliance
on Mental Illness of Minnesota (NAMI-MN) recognized 67 legislators
this year for their ground-breaking efforts in forming the Minnesota
Mental Health Legislative Caucus, the first of its kind in the
country. The Caucus provides legislators with an opportunity to
learn more about the many aspects of the mental health system and
the problems faced by both children and adults with mental illness.
NAMI-MN invited co-chairs of the Mental Health Legislative Caucus
Senators Linda Berglin and Steve Dille, and Representatives Mindy
Greiling and Bruce Anderson to accept the awards on Nov. 12, 2005
at the organization’s annual state conference. In addition,
all members of the caucus were sent special recognition awards. For
more information contact Chuck Krueger at 651-645-2948 or via e-mail
at ckrueger@nami.org.
New School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
in MN
Holy Cross Institute is a brand new high school of ecumenical and
international learning to open in the Fall of 2006 in the Twin Cities
Metro.
We have included a program
for deaf and hard-of-hearing students who wish to study the arts—dance,
drama, studio art and music.
Our school curriculum
is humanities based and arts strong. We do not ignore the sciences,
math or technology at all—but we intend
to integrate the arts into all subjects. We take history, music and
art as our strong points.
We want to invite deaf and hard of hearing students and their families
from the Metro to consider joining our community. We will accept
ninth grade students next year. We will add a class a year. We have
a unique offering which makes Holy Cross (named after the St. Croix
River) a very different school and community. We require religion
among the graduation requirements and handle the curriculum from
an Interfaith point-of-view. We emphasize school community-building,
social skills, and moral and ethical development.
Our school-wide meetings
for “connections” create an
excellent venue for our spiritual-social-emotional learning program.
Discipline in the school will be firm, but fair and uniforms are
required. We will have a sports program as well. The students will
have to take a one semester course in ‘Life Skills’ in
which we teach manners, how to make a simple meal, how to balance
a checkbook, etc. Seniors will have a chance to travel for three
weeks in January for a special academic project.
We will open the school
if we have 60 or more students. There is some scholarship help
and discounts for early registrations. Applicants should notify
us by early February. Parents can call us at 651-379-5202 or email
us at hcshamrocks@yahoo.com and
read our website which is www.holycrossinstitute.org/cover.htm -
besides local students, we also welcome students from a distance
and will find them host families. We also have a program and counselor
for hard-of-hearing and deaf students who wish to participate in
the arts.
MCIL Upcoming Workshops
and Events
Workshops - Date/Time
Individual
Advocacy, Dec 1: 10:30 - 11:30 am
American Sign Language, Dec 8: 10:30 - 11:30 am
Ramps/Modification, Dec 15: 10:30 - 11:30 am
Event
Disability/Culture &Community, Dec 9: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Support
Groups
Traumatic Brain Injury w/disability Dec 15: 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Chemical Dependency
w/disability Dec 14: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Chemical Dependency
w/disability Dec 21: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender
w/Chronic illness w/ disability Dec 20: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
All of the above are being held at the Metropolitan Center
for Independent Living 1600 University Ave. W, #16, St. Paul,
MN, 55104-3834. For more information contact Laura Borton at
651-646-8342 or by e-mail at laurab@mcil-mn.org.
Choosing Medicare Prescription Drug
Plans:
Be aware of possible scams during enrollment period
As of November 15, 2005 Minnesota seniors should have made important
decisions about the new prescription drug plans known as Medicare
Part D. Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Glenn Wilson is reminding
seniors and their families to beware of dishonest people that may
attempt to carry out fraudulent schemes during the enrollment period.
“There is an abundance of information on the new prescription
drug plans. Before you make a decision, take your time and do the
research. It is the best way for you to protect yourself from scams,” said
Commissioner Wilson. “Insurance regulators can’t always
stop fraud before it starts and people are not always able to get
back the money they lose through deception. Make sure the company
and the plan are legitimate.”
Do not give out your personal information until you are certain
that the person you are working with is from Medicare or a private
insurance company participating in the Medicare program. Your Medicare
number is just as important as your Social Security number. Be sure
to protect it along with the rest of your personal information.
There is no way to enroll in a drug plan over the telephone - unless
you call the company. Do not give out your information to a solicitor.
Also, payments cannot be made over the telephone. The plan you choose
must send you a bill if you do enroll via telephone or Web. Sales
associates of Medicare Part D cannot call after 9 pm or before 8
am by federal law.
Though you will have to pay premiums and deductibles, no one should
charge you for assistance in filling out the forms. Make sure you
know where your money is going.
Medicare Prescription
Drug Plans will have the “Medicare approved” stamp
on each piece of material they send you. Any mail you receive regarding
Part D without the seal is not approved by Medicare.
Government agencies are on the lookout for fraudulent companies
and individuals. Please report any suspicious sales activities or
phone conversations as soon as possible. To report fraudulent activity:
• 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048)
• Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General at
1-800-447-8477
• Federal Trade Commissions ID Theft hotline at 1-877-438-4338
• For suspected fraudulent activity of insurance agents, contact
the Minnesota Department of Commerce Consumer Response Team at (651)
296-2488 or 800-657-3602.
Enrollment began on November 15, 2005 and runs through May 15, 2006.
If you wait to enroll until after May 15, 2006, you may be assessed
a 1% per month penalty for every month of delayed enrollment. There
is no limit on this monthly late enrollment penalty, so the longer
you wait after May 15, 2006 to enroll, the greater the premium can
be.
For more information
regarding Medicare Part D – Prescription
Drug Plans: Contact the Minnesota Senior Linkage Line for free health
insurance counseling for people on Medicare. They can be reached
at 1-800-333-2433 or on the web at www.mnaging.org. Or for additional
help, call 1-800-Medicare or visit www.medicare.gov.
The Minnesota Department
of Commerce also has a brochure entitiled What You Need to Know:
Medicare and Medicare Supplemental Insurance which is available
at www.commerce.state.mn.us that summarizes Medicare coverage,
identifies the gaps in coverage, and describes the choices available
for supplementing Medicare insurance in Minnesota.
Different Ramps
Twin Cities welcomes
new ramp franchise owners. Steve and Beth Gildersleeve are the
new local franchise owners of American Ramp Systems. American Ramp
Systems specializes in temporary to permanent steel ramps. These
ramps can be ordered and installed in a shorter time than conventional
ramps due to their modular construction. In most applications, they
also do not require a permit to install. For more information, contact
Steve or Beth at 651-399-3075
Support
Group for Families
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota NAMI-MN sponsors
free support groups for families who have a relative with mental
illness. Led by trained facilitators who also have a family member
with mental illness, the support group helps families develop better
coping skills and find strength through sharing their experiences.
Minneapolis: A family support group meets in Minneapolis at 6:30
pm on the first and third Fridays of the month. For information,
call Lee or Laurie at 952-894-9109.
Roseville: A family
support group meets in Roseville at 6:30 pm on the second Wednesday
of the month. For information, call Anne Mae at 651-730-8434 or
Sue at 651-736-2291.
