Information about Maryland school pilot program...

I was able to look up some more information about the Maryland school FC pilot program...

This is written in a parent blog...http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2014/08/guest-post-communication-is-human-right.html

Excerpt from blog regarding access to communication technology:
The problem of equal access to the program and even the strategies/technology in it  is significant. My hunch is that maybe there is a perception that kids who should have supportive typing technology available to them are ONLY those who are perceived as being more "high functioning" or  worse, have had to prove that they are!   

This is outrageous,  because communication is a human right, regardless of how "low or high functioning" someone is , and to deprive somewhat of the right to communicate in a way that might work for them is unethical and immoral.  It would be like not giving a kid with intellectual disabilities eye glasses when he needs them because he is perceived as "not smart enough"   Seeing is a human right, so is communicating.   Access to medical treatments for diseases are not withheld based on intellectual ability,  and neither should educational strategies be either.

Here is a newspaper article: http://www.gazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140806/NEWS/140809581/1261/helping-autistic-students-unlock-the-key&template=gazette
The boy in the picture was at the conference in Syracuse.

My personal opinion:  Communication is key...how can you teach someone that you cannot converse with???  It can be done but it is difficult...communication is so important on so many levels!!!

Today, Mark was very "cheeky" at first...he did finally calm down and focus.  He seemed to really enjoy looking into the video camera today and watch himself ...