Thanks all

Its supposed to be 500 to 600 words I believe.

I have no clue how many I even have.

Donna

you have room to play. i just plopped it into MS Word and did a word count:

431 words as is, unedited.
433 words substituting in the bit that Di edited.

~ waves ~

Donna,
I think I made this shorter without meaniing to. I tried to make it smoother. I provided to suggestions to make it longer.
I am assuming that someone else is writing a section about disabilities and the law. Your piece is supposed to be about your experience. Is that right?

Anyway, I hope this gives you some ideas of what you can do.

Mari

My son started having seizures in the first grade. When the seizures began our family felt overwhelmed. (add two or three sentences here about how bad things were) I became dispirited to learn exactly what a toll uncontrolled seizure and epilepsy would take on his learning. Later I learned how other students with epilepsy also face difficulty learning in school. The seizures affect behavior, attendance, and noticeable difficulty in other areas such as reading, comprehension, math, and IQ. My son’s IQ dropped 15 points after he started having seizures.

We know that taking even one medication can cause concentration problems; now consider the affect of how taking a combination of two , three, four or more medications can have on concentration levels. It is hard for us to watch children who were A and B students face the disappointment of low grades of C’s and D’s after the onset of debilitating seizures. Without intervention from advocates who can promote tolerance as well as specific teaching and learning strategies, these students might fall further behind. When schools fail in their responsibilities to their students by sending them home becauseo f the seizures, they fail in their responsibilities to their students and to all of us in the community.

(Perhaps add a paragraph about what schools can do,)

As advocates and parents, we need to remember how these young people are left behind. It’s imperative to work together to find good plans for these young people . For example if a student at one point wanted to be a veterinarian but cannot get a diploma, he or she could work as a veterinarian assistant in the office performing such tasks as cleaning, walking the animals, and other valued duties. Perhaps a student wants to be a chef but cannot because of not being able to use a stove. He or she can still do satisfying work in the kitchen by preparing the ingredients, getting things ready, and assisting the other people in the kitchen.
Together we act to ensure that all students can reach their dreams.

Can't remember what we call this section.

But its a monthly newsletter and each month we are spotlightling
for lack of a better word. A specific area.

This is the one my co-worker that is sperheading the newsletter
now. Thought I would be good for.

I believe there is one for ADA in another month.

I can't remember.

Donna

Well its a final copy, don't have a copy yet.

But will soon.


It was liked pretty much like it was. With some help from my
friends here.

Thanks Di, and the rest.

Cant remember who all. You can though.

Donna

First I had emailed Derrick's teacher about him being gone tomorrow
for a doctor's appt. I got back more than I expected.

It seems he isn't having a good start to the year. He is irritated and
short with the adults and the kids. I can totally understand why one
of the kids. But I'm worried. This is the worse, he doesn't seem
like he wants to be there.

I'm hoping its more because he has the allergies reaction than anything
else.


Then of course I can't seem to get my husband out to work, or the
other two boys. Its irritating, I just want them to all go to work.

I didn't think it was asking that much. ugh, thanks for letting me vent.


Donna

I hear you loud and clear!
maybe you need a family meeting?
bizi

They all sound as if could be suffering from a significant depression. Are they?

Hmmm,

Dale, yes
Danny, Yes and no, he goes back and forth. And has always with
depression. Right now though he wants a job. Has even put in
a application or two.

Waiting for his dad to go start the jobs right now.

Devin, Well he is depressed about the job situation. But I don't think
anything else.

But I don't know how to help him. I know he needs to apply to get a job.
But he doesn't feel like he is getting anywhere trying right now.

So its going to take him, finally being ready again. Also he doesn't like the work for my husband as well, so when that starts it will be better.
For him going out and finding.

His is a wave, he just needs the next to start. But our area needs to pick up for regular people to get jobs again. I think he is burned out on temp places.
And I know he will go back there. But its going to take a while.


Derrick, NO, He is just Derrick.

It will clear, I think he just is feeling everything. Even my pressure from life.
Things need to take a change for the better.
He also is needing to make a decision for a job choice and he doesn't know.

So its hard, but so is life.

donna

Dear Donna,
Remind him that he is going to have more than one job in his life. The decidion does not have to be perfect. It had to be good enough for how.

M.