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Accomplishments
Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Those members of the Pittsburgh chapter of
the Autism Society of America, represented ASA on the task force
that enabled the expansion of the Education for All Handicapped Act
to include individuals with autism and related disorders of behavior
and communication rather than only the mentally retarded as the act
was originally conceived to serve. Further in 1990, introduced
language defining autism clearly enabling appropriate addressing of
the special needs of autistic under the act originally as well as in
the re-enactment of "EHA" as IDEA.
First group homes in PA
Co-founded with Dr. Sidney Kaplan, the first group home east of the
Mississippi on Thomas Boulevard in Point Breeze, Pittsburgh, PA in
1970 and eight more immediately thereafter
HEED Parents Group
Help and Education for Exceptional Dependents - the first parent's
group in Pennsylvania to represent all individuals with
developmental disabilities including those with autism, cerebral
palsy, epilepsy, specific brain disabilities and mental retardation.
Camp Chippiwee
A product of the HEED Parents Group above in Monroeville, PA,
existing to this day, serving individuals with developmental
disabilities in a summer program of recreational activities -
founded in 1972 and replicated throughout the state.
Combined Parents Legislative Action Committee
Co-founded with other special interest parents group, to educate and
assist legislators in creating and passing legislation relevant to
better serving of the needs of all those with developmental
disabilities. Founded in 1969 through 1978.
Monroeville Developmental Center
Co-founded a program of pre-school experience for individuals with
developmental disabilities regardless of diagnosis or specific
label. It later became a licensed pre-school program, called the St.
Peter's Child Development Center.
Western Center Parents Group
Co-founded the first parents group at an institution in the state of
Pennsylvania, lead to the founding of parents groups at all
institutions in Pennsylvania, leading to institutional reform as
well as improvement of services and quality of life for individuals
receiving residential care, treatment and habilitation at such state
centers.
Senate Bill 50
Relief of parent's financial liability for developmentally disabled
family members in institutions or other out-of-home residential care
and treatment facilities or receiving treatment under various
Federal and State mandates for their specific impairments.
Autistic Children's Program
Co-founded, with Allegheny Intermediate Unit's Judy Cardmone and
Margie VanWert, of Pressley Ridge Schools. It was the state's first
specialized program of elementary and secondary education for
children with autism.
Nine special education centers
We co-founded, with various school districts, special education
schools for students with developmental disabilities, age 6 through
21, including jointure boards leading to construction and staffing
of these schools by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
Autism support classrooms
Individually, as well as in a consulting capacity, we have been
responsible for the creation of autism support classrooms throughout
the entire Allegheny County school districts as well as in the City
of Pittsburgh - addressing school boards as well as providing
information and support for parents and other professionals in the
school systems seeking to create such classrooms.
Summer Program for the Education of Autistic Kids (SPEAK)
Summer Program of education, recreation and community awareness
building for individuals with autism, ages 5 through 21, founded in
1974 that has served over 1500 students in a summer program with
prevents regression that attends such students in the summer months.
Founded initially for education and recreation, it is now recognized
as the premier extended school year Federally mandated program in
this area. (more...)
Spectrum Charter School
It is the first charter school of its kind in the country to combine
classroom, education with vocational instruction and training for
individuals with autism spectrum disorders, ages 14 through 21 - now
in its second year, it will have graduated seven individuals to
community-based employment by June, 2002; will expand to 30 students
in the coming 2002-03 school year. (more...)
Armstrong-Kline
The US Supreme Court decision requiring for extended school year
education for those individuals with disabilities determined as
likely to regress in learning during the summer months - the pivot
amicus curiae brief supporting this concept - having been proven
earlier in the SPEAK Summer Program - was written by Connie and Dan
Torisky of the Autism Society of Pittsburgh. Armstrong-Kline became
law in 1984.
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