News at a Glance
Two Minnesota Artists Honored
in National
Exhibit
“Driven,” an art exhibition by 15 emerging artists
with disabilities, is running at the Smithsonian Institution’s
S. Dillon Ripley Center until December 31. The D.C. exhibition illustrates
the motivational force behind the artists’ personal visions—what
moves them to create.
“Faun.” E. Brooke
Lanier, 23, of Rochester, Minnesota, received the 2nd prize in the
exhibit. Lanier was awarded $6,000 for her entry, “Staring,” an
archival inkjet print on photo rag paper. Another Minnesota artist,
Holly Schuh, 21, of Altura, Minnesota, received an award for excellence
and $2000.
The $20,000 grand prize
went to Jacolby Satterwhite, 21, a student at the Maryland Institute
College of Art in Baltimore, for an oil-on-canvas titled, “Remission & Resilience.” The
jury awarded Laurel Ebenal, of Ellensburg, Wash., 1st prize of
$10,000 for her digital photograph.
“Driven” is
the largest awards program for emerging artists with disabilities
ages 16-25. ![]()
Source: VSA
arts
Special Ed Victory for New
York Parents
In 2005, the U.S. Supreme
Court held that parents have the burden of proof in cases brought
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Prior
to this ruling, the school had to prove that the placement was appropriate.
This ruling has put an unreasonable burden on parents. If you request
a due process hearing because you disagree with the school’s
proposed placement of your child, you have to prove that the placement
they propose is inappropriate.
Now, however, parents
in New York state have scored a huge victory in getting legislation
passed and signed that shifts the burden of proof back to school
districts in most cases. This new law
once again puts the burden on the school district to prove that
it is satisfying its legal obligation to provide an appropriate
individualized education program for a student with a disability.
At
the same time, the law strikes a balance between parents’ desires
for private placements and a school district’s obligation
to pay for costly out-of-district services by requiring parents
to prove that a private placement outside of the school district
is more appropriate for their child.
Under the federal IDEA,
every child with a disability is entitled to receive a “free
appropriate public education.” IDEA
protects children’s rights by giving parents and school
districts the right to an administrative hearing if they cannot
agree on which services the child needs.
Source: NDSC
High Court Hears Case on Limits of FAPE
Earlier this
month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on whether all children
with disabilities, including those who are enrolled in private
programs, are entitled to a free appropriate public education. The
case New York City Board of Education v. Tom F., on Behalf of Gilbert
F., a Minor Child, is an effort to decide whether all children with
disabilities, including those who are enrolled in private programs,
are entitled to a free appropriate public education. The decision
will have significant implications for parents, school districts,
and children with disabilities who receive special education services.
The case came before
the Supreme Court after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second
Circuit vacated and remanded the decision by
the District Court. The Second Circuit held that the IDEA was not
meant to deny reimbursement to students who have never been enrolled
in public school. To rule otherwise would require parents to enroll
their children in inappropriate public school programs before they
could be eligible for tuition reimbursement.
If the Supreme Court
affirms the decision by the Second Circuit, parents will have the
right to obtain reimbursement from the school district, even if
their child was never enrolled in a public school special education
program. If the Supreme Court reverses the
Second Circuit, parents will have two choices: they can place
their child in an appropriate private program and forfeit any chance
to obtain reimbursement; or they can place their child into an inappropriate
public school program so they can later remove the child from that
program and seek reimbursement.
For a summary of the NYC
v. Tom F., go to: www.wrightslaw.com/news/07/nyc.tomf.htm
Source:
wrightslaw.com
VSA arts of Minnesota Presents
Annual Awards
Five
Minnesotans have received Arts Access Awards from VSA arts of Minnesota.
These statewide awards are funded by VSA arts to recognize outstanding
accomplishments that help make the arts more accessible to people
with disabilities. The tenth annual awards were presented in Minneapolis
on Sunday, Sept. 23 at Macy’s
Sky Room, which hosted the presentation during VSA’s Autumn
Auction and Cabaret.
Over the past ten years,
VSA arts of Minnesota has recognized 34 artists, educators and
individuals, and 15 organizations. Each has received an original
work of art called the Jaehny, after co-founder and performing
artist Jaehn Clare, who traveled from her current job at VSA arts
of Georgia to attend this year’s ceremony.
The creator of this year’s Jaehny is Mankato artist Marlene
Olson.
The 2007 VSA arts Access Award
recipients are:
Most Active and Visible Minnesota
Artist with a Disability – Alissa
Hullett, Faribault artist;
Outstanding Arts Educators
of Students and Adults with Disabilities – Danelle Griner, St. Paul, art
teacher and facilitator for Rise and Courage Center; Jeff Tornquist,
Eden Prairie, co-advisor to the Y’s Act social inclusion drama
club at Eden Prairie High School;
Outstanding Individuals Actively
Promoting Access to the Arts for People with Disabilities – Gail
Burke, Woodbury, Executive Aide, Human Resources Manager/Accessibility
Coordinator, for the Minnesota State Arts Board; Jon Skaalen, Stillwater,
board member for the Minnesota Association of Community Theatres,
Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts; volunteer accessibility
coordinator for the Minnesota Fringe Festival; Access to Performing
Arts Coordinator for VSA arts of Minnesota.
Source: VSA Arts
Megabus
Adds Accessible
Double-Decker Buses
Megabus.com, a daily, express
bus company that offers $1 fares, recently began service of the
first wheelchair-accessible, double-decker buses to carry passengers
intercity in the United States. The inaugural trip from Chicago to
Minneapolis was on September 7.
Megabus.com purchased seventeen wheelchair-accessible double-decker
buses and will integrate them into already scheduled routes in Ann
Arbor, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas
City, St. Louis and Toledo by January 2008.
The 79-passenger double-decker buses are 13 feet high and are equipped
with seat belts for every passenger and two wheelchair spaces. The
buses have two doors; the low ground-level entry allows passengers
in wheelchairs to enter curbside at the second door.
The megabus.com double-decker bus trips will always have $1 tickets
available for a limited number of seats. Passengers are encouraged
to book early to receive these low fares. After all $1 tickets have
sold, prices increase incrementally.
Purchase tickets and check
schedules at www.megabus.com
Source:
Megabus.com
Grants Available to Artists with Disabilities
VSA arts of Minnesota
will award six $1,000 grants to Minnesota artists with disabilities
through its Artist Recognition Grant Program, funded for the 12th
straight year by the Jerome Foundation. The program’s goals
are to: recognize excellence in arts produced by persons with disabilities;
provide financial awards and tangible encouragement to artists with
disabilities so their work in the arts might continue; and identify
Minnesota artists with disabilities who are dedicated to making arts
production and/or presentation a central part of their lives.
The program is open to individuals in all art disciplines, whether
visual, performing, written, media or other. Grant recipients from
2005-06 and persons whose artwork was prepared for educational credit
are not eligible.
Since the program’s
inception, 65 grants have been awarded to 27 visual artists, 17
writers, 13 performers or composers, four sculptors/ceramicists,
two photographers, one mask maker and one computer graphics designer.
Nine artists have received two grants. Applications must be postmarked
by Friday, Nov. 9, 2007. For an application go to www.vsaartsmn.org,
call 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883, or e-mail
jon@vsaartsmn.org. Please
specify if you need a format other than print or e-mail (PC diskette,
audiotape, Braille or large print.)
Source: VSA arts
Volunteers Needed for Social Event
Guild Incorporated is asking for
help in organizing a variety of events for those who would enjoy
social get-togethers. Host a birthday/bingo bash, coffee club,
travelogue, arts and crafts activity or any other event that a group
of adults would enjoy. Your group can volunteer one time or on a
regular basis. In addition, the event calendar is established at
least one month in advance so your group can plan ahead. Youth groups
(ages 16 and up) can help when accompanied by a chaperone. A variety
of volunteer positions are available for individuals, too. Guild
Incorporated is a nonprofit organization which helps people with
mental illness lead quality lives in Ramsey and Dakota counties,
but we welcome volunteers from the entire area!
Learn more by contacting the
Volunteer Coordinator at Guild Incorporated at 651-450-2220 ext.
18, e-mail at volunteer@guildincorporated.org,
or visit www.guildincorporated.org
Source: Guild Incorporated
