HCDE’s 3 Year Plan for System Changes in Exceptional Education

For 15 years LifeLine has advocated for systems change on behalf of thousands of Hamilton County students with special needs.  With the formation of the Chattanooga Inclusive Ed Working Group a couple of years ago, we joined many others in documenting the needs of the county and offering solutions to meet those needs.  On Thursday evening,…

Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee

Epilepsy and seizure disorders are defined as neurological disorders marked by sudden, recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, and/or convulsions and are associated with abnormal electrical surges in the brain. Epilepsy Facts: 1 in 100 people have active epilepsy in the United States There are over 20 types of seizures 1 in 26…

Eagle Home Care

“Soaring Above the Others” Family owned and operated in Cleveland, Tennessee we offer private non-medical care in Bradley, Polk, Hamilton, McMinn, Meigs, Rhea & Monroe counties. We specialize in caring for senior citizens, the disabled, as well as those with chronic disabilities and debilitating illnesses. Caring for a disabled loved one, or someone who can no longer…

Tennessee Poison Center

Tennessee Poison Center (TPC) is a comprehensive poison resource center located on the campus of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. They are the statewide poison emergency information and resource center for the public and health care professionals.  Each year, opioid medication poisoning causes more than 300 deaths in children and teens. Every 45 minutes, poison control centers…

Legal Aid of East Tennessee

The mission of Legal Aid of East Tennessee is to ensure equal justice for elderly, abused, and low-income people by providing a broad scope of civil legal assistance and advocacy.  Serving Bledsoe, Bradley, Blount, Carter, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, and many more counties. read more www.laet.org. This agency might help…

Addressing Behavior in the IEP

This month the United States Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services published a Dear Colleague Letter intended to help clarify the use of Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports in the IEP.  A copy of the guidance can be found here: Dear Colleague Letter-on-PBIS-in-IEPs–08-01-2016  Of course, as a governmental document, it was a little…

Is Inclusion Possible for Students with Disabilities in Hamilton County?

Chattanooga Inclusive Ed recently provided a requested white paper to Chattanooga 2.0 outlining current deficiencies in inclusive best practices in the Hamilton County Department of Education, a summary of evidence on the benefits of inclusion for children with and without exceptional needs, and concrete recommendations for reform. Here’s an excerpt from the white paper on…

School Behavior – Strategies & Resources

The website www.schoolbehavior.com holds a host of resources on multiple diagnoses and their related behaviors.  Suggestions for classroom and home abound.  Leslie Packer has compiled a valuable list of recommendations for various scenarios and situations related to behaviors based in neurological conditions.  Parents and educators, you’ll want to bookmark this one! From Leslie Packer –…