Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency

The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) operates five integrated and interdependent statutory programs that share a primary goal – to help people with disabilities become fully productive members of society by achieving independence and meaningful employment.  GVRA has highly-skilled, trained teams of professionals, including Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs), who offer the following services for Georgia residents:  Counseling…

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,…

Facilitating Emotional Regulation Supplemental Resources

On Thursday evening, January 27, 2017, LifeLine families came together at our northwest Georgia FamilyShare support group and discussed ways to facilitate our children’s emotional regulation at home and at school. Lisa Mattheiss shared ideas and resources that she and Michal Jones had collected in their years of working with families in Chattanooga and northwest…

What Families with Special Needs Wish Their Pastors Knew

Last week Sandra Peoples published an article on Key Ministry’s blog entitled “What Special Needs Families Wish Their Pastors Knew”.   In that article, she shared five main points: We are lonely. We wish we could do more. We know you can’t control every church member’s reaction to our family, but you do set the…

Meaningful Ministry for Those with Disabilities

Stephanie Hubach, author of Same Lake Different Boat, is also mom to Tim.  Stephanie took the month of October to share some thoughts about Down Syndrome and various ways that it has impacted Tim as well as ways Tim has effected people’s view of  the abilities of someone with Down Syndrome. Post #8:  Down Syndrome…

10 Ways to Show the Love of God to Families Touched by Disability

KATIE MCVAY CAMPBELL·FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 John 9:2-4 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.…

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…

Key Elements of Inclusion

“What is Inclusion?The term inclusion implies a certain educational placement philosophy, interdisciplinary team planning approach, instructional method and attitude.” “Inclusion DOES NOT necessarily mean that a student never leaves the class and is never paired with another student who receives special education services. Rather, it means that the student is truly a member of a…

Questions & Answers on Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Requirements of IDEA

When discussion of placement arises in an IEP meeting, often how much “inclusion” will be accessible for a student becomes a topic of conversation.  Where is “inclusion” in IDEA?  Is that term actually there?  Or is it a concept?  Least Restrictive Environment is the term IDEA uses to define placements.  The United States Department of Education,…