Gwinnett County :: Meeting 2007-04-20: ACLU Sponsored School to Prison Pipeline Project..

WHAT: The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) is sponsoring a "School to Prison Pipeline Project in Gwinnett County, Georgia..

WHO: For parents and community members interested in learning more and making a difference in Gwinnett County

WHEN: Friday, 2007-04-20, 7-8:30pm

WHERE: Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, Conference Room B, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville , GA 30045

DIRECTIONS (From South of Gwinnett)

• Take I-85 North to Hwy. 316 (splits to the right)
• Exit Hwy. 316 at Hwy. 120 (Duluth-Lawrenceville exit) and go right approximately 1.5 miles
• Turn right at the 6th light (Langley Drive)
• Go approximately .5 miles and the complex will be on your right

Resource: Member post at GA-ChildrensNetwork, Yahoo! group (semi-high traffic, in-depth application process to join)

Georgia Special Education Petition :: Keep parents in the know, in the loop..

There is currently an online petition circulating concerning special education in Georgia.. It is being forwarded by parents of children with disabilities (CWDs).. They want to make the message clear that they are very serious about staying involved in the education of their children, our Future.. Please pass it on quickly..

Cyberhoused at The Petition Site: Educate Georgia Petition (#600878749)..

The Educate Georgia Petition states:

Children with Special Needs and their Parents want to be "equal" partners in the education of "their" children.

Recently, Georgia Dept. of Education, Division of Exceptional Students has proposed changes to the Special Education Rules, which will be effective July 2007, unless we speak up! Many of the proposed changes will negatively affect Children with Special Needs, their parents and education in our communities throughout Georgia.

The following petition is the collected voice of Concerned Public Citizens and Parents of Children with Special Needs. We the undersigned, hereby agree by adding our signature to this petition, that we are not in agreement with the 2007 Proposed changes to Special Education Rules and Regulations, as proposed by the Georgia Department of Education, Division of Exceptional Students.

The proposed changes will NEGATIVELY affect the education of Children with Special Needs and communities in Georgia. In addition, we, the concerned Public Citizens and Parents of Children with Special Needs propose the following changes: Adoption of Proposed changes, as contained in this petition, to improve the educational results for Children with Special Needs throughout Georgia.

Make Parents “equal” partners in education. Give us a place at the table when making decisions about our Children with Special Needs. Georgia Leaders, we are asking you to change the course of Georgia’s Education!

Georgia: Disability Day at the State Capitol and Freight Depot..

Join a thousand plus other individuals on Thursday, February 22, 2007, for Disability Day at the Georgia State Capitol.. This yearly advocacy and self-advocacy event is featured first and foremost by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD)..

From these fingertips: This is an opportunity to personally drop off something regarding each our every Life's stories.. Hard copy of what Life with your disability brings along with personal pictures as an introduction and a reminder later bring it on Home to our state legislators..

Special Note: According to the GCDD website, it appears registration has already been closed for lunch.. Breakfast registrations are still open..

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Tentative Agenda

• 9:30am :: Breakfast at the Depot
• 11:00am :: "Make It Real!" Rally at the Capitol Steps
• 12:30pm :: Lunch at the Depot (Registration is closed for lunch as of 1/29/2007)

Registration is required to attend breakfast or lunch. Due to limited space, early registration is recommended. While registration is closed for lunch, we encourage people to register for breakfast and attend the rally.

For travel assistance for people with disabilities and family members, contact Hilary Elliott at disABILITY LINK, (404) 687-8890 Ext. 106.

Hotel rooms are available at a reduced rate at the Holiday Inn Select Atlanta Capitol Conference Center. To make reservations, call the hotel directly at 1-800-442-6011 and ask for the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities hotel block.

Resource: GCDD website, (888) ASK-GCDD.

"A Hidden Shame": AJC Investigation into Georgia Mental Health Care Hospitals..

***HIGH Trigger warning on this lead for consumer or psychiatric survivors***

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PLEASE NOTE: The reporters and those who assist them are putting together a very extensive investigation into Georgia's mental health care hospitals.. In several places, they give readers the opportunity to provide feedback, either through online comment forms or a phone number for one on one contact..

Overwhelming amount of information regarding the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's newest investigation(s) into what they state as "at least 115 patients from Georgia's state psychiatric hospitals who have died under suspicious circumstances during the past five years".. The reporters have presented so much information, it would be taking a huge chance on copyright infringement with respect to reposting from this keyboard..

Theoretically, this series of articles all starts here:

A HIDDEN SHAME: About this series
www.ajc.com/news/content/health/stories/2007/01/04/0107meshabout.html.

Links to the related articles so far are provided on the left of the screen.. You'll most likely need an AJC free, somewhat lengthy online subscription to view while the information is up there..

For my friends who wish to have alternative formats available, you will need to inquire of AJC directly.. The reporters offer the following phone number for those wishing to contact them regarding this series of articles in particular:

404-526-2640

Crossposted at: Six. Almost Seven...

Event: 2007-01-08/09 Georgia Independent Living Network Meeting

Direct from the SILC (Statewide Independent Living Council) homepage..

SILC of Georgia / Georgia Independent Living Network Meeting Schedule

The Council meets quarterly in conjunction with the Georgia Independent Living Network in various locations around the state. Details on specific locations and times will be disseminated at least 14 days prior to each meeting. Check back [at the SILC website] for info, or if you would like to be on [their] public notice list, please call or email the SILC office. Unless otherwise noted, meeting times are 9am-5pm.

Attendance and participation by the public is encouraged. Please RSVP by phone or email to ensure adequate seating and refreshments as well as materials, which will be made available in alternate formats upon advance request.

Next Meeting: Monday, January 8, 2006, 1pm-5pm
Tuesday, January 9, 2006 9am-Noon
Renaissance Atlanta Hotel
590 W. Peachtree St, NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
Hotel Phone Number: (404) 881-6000