Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship

Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship! 
The Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship is a program designed to assist students with intellectual disabilities who have completed high school and enroll in a two-year individualized program at an eligible postsecondary institution.

The award amount is $4,000 per year. Awards are made in equal installments for the fall and spring semesters. Students and parents must complete the STEP UP Scholarship application and submit the completed application to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC). In addition, recipients must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To be eligible, the applicant must:
• Not be ineligible for the scholarship under § 49-4-904
• Have been a Tennessee resident for one (1) year immediately preceding the date of application for a scholarship or the renewal of the scholarship
• Complete high school in a Tennessee high school in accordance with the requirements of the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and receive a high school diploma or certificate, a special education diploma, a transition certificate, or an IEP certificate
• Be admitted to and enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution in an eligible postsecondary program no later than sixteen (16) months after completing high school; and
• Apply for a Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship

To apply or find out more, go to the following web address:http://www.tn.gov/collegepays/mon_college/stepup.shtml

Students with disabilities are finding new college options

ALLEN PARK, Mich. –  As he sits in class at Eastern Michigan University, a flood of images streams from Tony Saylor's vibrant, creative mind down through his pen and onto paper.

Often, his doodling features the 9-year-old character Viper Girl who battles monsters with her pet fox Logan. Saylor, 22, has even self-published three books of their adventures.

Saylor's professors didn't exactly welcome his constant drawing, but once he explained it was the only way he could hope to process their lectures -- and even to stay awake -- most let him continue.

For college students with autism and other learning disabilities, this is the kind of balancing act that takes place every day -- accommodating a disability while also pushing beyond it toward normalcy and a degree, which is increasingly essential for finding a meaningful career.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/15/students-with-disabilities-are-finding-new-college-options/#ixzz2fMrqoQ32

Kids’ Attitudes About Disabilities Improve With Exposure

By MICHELLE DIAMENT

August 30, 2013

Children who are exposed to people with disabilities — either directly or indirectly — have more positive attitudes about those with special needs, researchers say.

In a survey of 1,520 kids ages 7 to 16, researchers found that increased familiarity with those who have disabilities led to less anxiety and better attitudes.

“We have known for some time that integrating children with disabilities into the regular classroom can improve attitudes. What we have established here is just how much of a difference a greater presence in day-to-day life makes,” said Megan MacMillan of the University of Exeter Medical School in England who presented the findings Thursday at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference.

To read more, please visit this link:  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/08/30/kids-attitudes-disabilities/18615/

Keeping Students with Disabilities Safe from Bullying

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Michael Yudin

As Secretary Duncan has noted, the Department of Education is committed to making sure that all of our young people grow up free of fear, violence, and bullying. Bullying not only threatens a student’s physical and emotional safety at school, but fosters a climate of fear and disrespect, creating conditions that negatively impact learning—undermining students’ ability to achieve to their full potential. Unfortunately, we know that children with disabilities are disproportionately affected by bullying.

Factors such as physical vulnerability, social skills challenges, or intolerant environments may increase the risk of bullying. Students who are targets of bullying are more likely to experience lower academic achievement, higher truancy rates, feelings of alienation, poor peer relationships, loneliness, and depression. We must do everything we can to ensure that our schools are safe and positive learning  environments—where all students can learn.

Source:  http://www.ed.gov/blog/

TN education chief sharpens focus on special ed

As beleaguered Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman deflects public outcry over changes to teacher policies, he is already eyeing his next reform target: special education.

Huffman, who recently faced calls for his firing after changes to the state’s decades-old teacher pay plan, probably will face outrage again next week when revisions to the teacher licensing process are expected to be approved.

Even so, he is moving ahead with plans he hopes will make Tennessee the state with the fastest-improving schools by 2015, and special education is next on his list.

“Special education is a huge focus in Tennessee,” Huffman told The Tennessean editorial board and reporters Wednesday.

Read more at: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130718/NEWS04/307180039/TN-education-chief-Kevin-Huffman-sharpens-focus-special-ed

Ticket to Work: Advancing Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

Ticket to Work: Advancing Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities By Guest Blogger Bob Williams, Associate Commissioner, Social Security’s Office of Employment Support Programs July 26th marks the 23rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This landmark civil rights legislation guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications. With respect to employment, the ADA assures that people with disabilities have an equal chance to become and stay employed in two key ways: It prohibits employers from discriminating against anyone on the basis of disability in their hiring or employment practices, and It holds employers responsible for providing workers with disabilities reasonable accommodations in the workplace. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities continues to decrease, and government programs, like Ticket to Work, may be the answer for those individuals who receive Social Security disability benefits, but want to make more money through work. In 1999, the Ticket to Work program was established to advance employment opportunities for Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities. Read More about the Ticket to Work Program

With Fewer Kids Learning Braille, Schools Told To Step Up

Amid concerns that many with visual impairments are not learning to read Braille, federal officials are reminding schools that they have a legal obligation to teach the tactile writing system.

In a “Dear Colleague” letter this week, the U.S. Department of Education said that under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act schools must provide Braille instruction to students who are blind or visually impaired unless a thorough evaluation finds that teaching Braille would not be appropriate for the child.

Read more at:  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/06/21/with-braille-schools/18205/