On DPS Stays Open During Bad Weather, Transportation, Hypothermia, ADA Mediation for Complaints, Autistic Chef, Nutrition, and Other New Links Added

Good Morning Everyone!

There is a lot of info in today's blog.

Facts on Hypothermia can be found at Medline Plus- A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine at  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hypothermia.html 
and at the Mayo Clinic website.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothermia/DS00333/DSECTION=causes

According to Transport Workers Solidarity Committee report on Detroit Bus Safety at http://transportworkers.org/node/1668

"44% of Detroit DPS buses unsafe after privatization/outsourcing
Submitted by solidarity on Thu, 2010-11-25 02:12. Health and Safety | Rail and Bus | Texts | USA 44% of Detroit DPS buses unsafe after privatization/outsourcing including to anti-labor First Student
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20101124/SCHOOLS/11240360/1026/local/44--of-DPS-buses-unsafe
Last Updated: November 24. 2010 2:07PM"

Note: Please keep in mind that while Steve Wasko in the following Detroit News article stated "...sidewalks and parking lots were well salted," the reality that most parents and Detroiters experienced on December 13, 2010 was full of UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THAT BY 9:00 A.M. MOST DETROIT STREETS HAD NOT BEEN PLOWED OR SALTED AND WERE COVERED WITH FREEZING SNOW AND ICE!!!!  Freeways and streets that were salted into slush began re-freezing into patches of ice and black ice. Woodward, East McNichols (6 Mile), Conant, and 8 Mile had hazardous conditions. While parents with students that rely on DPS transportation called schools and the transportation department, no one had an accurate report on whether the schools were officially closed.


Therefore, last week's Bad Weather and Special Education complaints were about Transportation-
During our monthly DPS Special Ed -WRESA meeting, parents discussed transportation problems that occurred on Monday Dec 13; Tuesday, Dec 14, and Wed Dec 15 due to the snow storm and icy conditions. While Detroit has a "history" of keeping schools open, parents find that they are constantly blamed for either 1. Keeping children home during bad weather and preventing them from learning, or, 2. Sending them to school in spite of confusing or no "official" reports regarding school closures in Detroit. The complaints of parents whose students rely on DPS transportation and some of the data parents decided to collect to show why DPS should change its policy concerning bad weather and school closures are as follows:

1. Complete Chaos: While most districts in Metro Detroit, Wayne County, Oakland,  Washtenaw counties...the State of Michigan...closed due to bad weather and icy roads,  no one in the Detroit district could verify whether the Detroit Public Schools would be closed. Some buses picked up students and returned them home when they found schools were closed. Other students were kept on buses to stay warm at a closed school while the Transportation department and its drivers were on "standby" "waiting for word from downtown" because administrators could not be reached for a decision. Students were either picked up 2-3 hours late or not picked up at all for up to three days.

2. One parent reported that she called Transportation several times and was told that Robert Bobb fired Detroit Public Schools bus drivers, therefore "three bus routes were off," and, there were only 3 people working as dispatchers at the terminal. This resulted in students being left at one of the schools until after 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, until bus drivers and buses became available. Parent reported that she was told that "there were no buses available" on Monday, Tuesday, and late Wednesday afternoon. No one from the terminal called her back to tell her when her daughter and other students would be picked up. By Wednesday, new drivers and aids were late picking up and delivered students home after 6 pm because they were unfamiliar with the routes. At 6:15 p.m. Wednesday evening, I received a call from the parent stating that her daughter had just arrived at home.

3. One parent reported that her daughter was picked up on Monday and returned home by 8:46 a.m.

4. One parent reported that her son was picked up on Monday and then the school called and asked her to pick her child up because he was the only child in his class room. Therefore, mom had to drive on icy roads to get her child.

5. None of the dispatchers are bi-lingual so non-English speaking parents could not gain information.

6. Concern:  Exposing students to hypothermia and icy road conditions:  Parents want to know why the safety of our childrens lives mean nothing to Robert Bobb and the administrators over special education and general education when there were snow emergencies declared all over the State of MI, and temperatures dropped due to wind chill factors, thus exposing students to weather conditions that could cause hypothermia, and, unsafe travel on icy side streets and roads that were not salted.

7. A Board member confirmed on Monday that the Detroit school Policy on bad weather is that schools will not close unless there is 6 inches of snow and below zero temperatures.

Overall, after discussing complaints, parents feel that the DPS school policy and procedures concerning school closures, bad weather emergencies, and school building emergencies should be changed. During the discussion, school building emergencies were added to the list to address after parents discussed the gas leak at M.L King High School on Sept. 24, 2010...Even though the school closed, as you can see from the Channel 7 Action News report, students are seen standing on the sidewalk outside of the school instead of away from the school at http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/martin-luthor-king-jr.-senior-high-school-closed-for-the-day

According to the December 14 Detroit News article by Shawn D. Lewis, "Closure reports add to storm chaos at DPS: District stayed open, but some broadcasts said otherwise; other schools sent kids home":  
"Detroit —Confusion reigned at Detroit Public Schools after the first major storm of the year Monday, amid mixed messages from broadcast reports and some principals about whether classes were in session. Officially, the district was one of a few in Metro Detroit to remain open. But some broadcast reports included DPS on lists of more than 400 other districts that canceled classes because of frigid weather and icy roads. And some principals took it upon themselves to cancel school on a day that saw wind chills dip below zero." According to Steve Wasko, "The decision was made based on real-time information for weather conditions, which are different for each municipality"...

"All the sidewalks and parking lots were well salted," he said. "And we called in certain key staff, like building custodians to start the boilers early to make sure there was enough heat."
Wasko said the final decision whether students should attend school in frigid temperatures rests with parents"  From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20101214/SCHOOLS/12140350/Closure-reports-add-to-storm-chaos-at-DPS#ixzz18aBG0vRr
  
Parents asked, "Why weren't administrators concerned about icy road conditons?" There were no boilers on at schools where principals decided to close the schools because there were very few teachers or no teachers... which leads to a staffing issues and another concern...

" If DPS teachers don't live in Detroit, but in the suburbs, and the suburbs are closing schools, if those teachers have children in suburban schools, where do you think the DPS teachers are going to be? At home with their children." This question and statement led parents to discuss the possibility of DPS instituting a residency clause into its hiring practice and policy...If you teach in Detroit, you must live in Detroit... back to the data...


AND according to WXYZ at http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/washtenaw_county/several-communities-in-metro-detroit-have-declared-a-snow-emergency-

Posted: 12/13/2010
"(WXYZ) - Several communities in Metro Detroit have declared a snow emergency.
This means you cannot park on the street. Violators could be ticketed or towed.
The following communities have declared a snow emergency:
Armada
Beverly Hills
Clawson
Dearborn"  AND according to

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1736685/Michigan.News/School.Closings.Monday..December.13th

Michigan Radio (2010-12-13)

"ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - We're getting word of schools closings across the state this morning. They include Ann Arbor Public Schools, Jackson Public Schools, Kalamazoo Public Schools and Lansing Public Schools.

Be sure to check your child's school to see if it's closed due to winter weather.

The following websites have detailed school-closing information: http://www.wxyz.com/

http://www.woodtv.com/subindex/weather/closings  http://www.clickondetroit.com/closings/index.html

Please be sure to refresh the above websites in your browser to get the most updated closings. "
© Copyright 2010, Michigan Radio

AND according to http://www.neccel.com/2010/12/school-closings-in-detroit-460-closingsdelays-have-been-reported-in-michigan/
Neccel > Articles > School Closings in Detroit 460 Closings/Delays Have Been Reported in Michigan 
School Closings in Detroit 460 Closings/Delays Have Been Reported in Michigan

December 13th, 2010 by mystique | posted in Articles

School Closings in Detroit and Delays Have Been Reported in Michigan. Submitted at: 5:43 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13 by an anonymous source.
Abt Elementary
WAYNE County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 6:04 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13

Academy of Lathrup Village
OAKLAND County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 5:34 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Academy of Sacred Heart K12
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:28 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Academy of Southfield
OAKLAND County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 5:37 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Academy of Warren
MACOMB County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 5:37 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Academy of Waterford
OAKLAND County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 5:40 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Academy of West Detroit
WAYNE County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 6:13 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Academy of Westland
WAYNE County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 5:40 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Ace Academy
WAYNE County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:43 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Adat Shalom Early Childhood Center
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:46 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Airport District
MONROE County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:55 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Akiva Hebrew Day
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 6:22 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Al-Ihsan Academy
WAYNE County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 6:37 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Al-Ikhlas Training ACD
WAYNE County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 6:19 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Alex & Marie Manoogian
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:07 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Algonac District
ST. CLAIR County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 4:28 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Allen Academy
WAYNE County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 6:46 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Allen Park District
WAYNE County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 6:16 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
American Montessori Academy
WAYNE County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:19 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
American Montessori Acd. Upper
WAYNE County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:19 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Anchor Bay District
MACOMB County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 4:25 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Ann Arbor Christian
WASHTENAW County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 5:40 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Ann Arbor District
WASHTENAW County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:31 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Ann Arbor Learning School
WASHTENAW County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:40 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
ARC Dearborn
WAYNE County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:55 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Aress Academy
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 8:28 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Armada District
MACOMB County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 4:58 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Arts & Tech Academy – Pontiac
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:52 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Arts Academy In The Woods
MACOMB County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:19 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Avondale District
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 4:52 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
B.E.S.T. Academy
WAYNE County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 5:52 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Baldwin Road Church Academy
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:25 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Ben Ross Academy
MACOMB County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 6:07 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Berkley District
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 9:16 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Bethany Christian School
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:34 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Birmingham District
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:01 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Bishop Foley High School
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:52 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Bloomfield Hills District
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 4:55 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Bloomfield Maples Mont.
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:31 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Bradford Academy
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:49 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Bridge Academy
WAYNE County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 7:22 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Brookfield Academy – West Bloomfield
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:22 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Brookfield Acd-Roch. Hls.
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:31 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Brookfield Acd. – Troy
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:16 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Brookfield-Waterford
OAKLAND County
CLOSED
Submitted at: 5:22 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Brother Rice High
OAKLAND County
CLOSED-TODAY
Submitted at: 5:16 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13
Submitted at: 5:43 AM EST on Monday, Dec 13 by an anonymous source. School Closings in Detroit/ Michigan School Closings

AND according to  http://www.sapu.net/school-closings-michigan:

"Detroit news, weather, sports and video from WXYZ-TV Channel 7, the ABC-TV affiliate in Detroit, Michigan. WXYZ provides live coverage of Detroit breaking news from the . School Closings Detroit, Michigan WXYZ-TV Very bad weather conditions that could threaten the implementation of schools in Michigan on Monday. Reportedly, most schools in Michigan will be closed because the air temperature continues to decline at Sunday night but the wind speed . School Closings Michigan Urban Literature"

This Morning Dec. 19, 2010

I was dream thinking about my loved one and the children of other parents who are stuck in vocational school buildings that have ADA violations on them. What are our options? What can we do? were two of the questions that I woke up with this morning. As usual, I made my pot of coffee and began research around 7:30 a.m.

Here are some new links that I discovered during this morning's research. Just click on the links:

Legal/Mediation:  Real Life Complaints that have been mediated by the ADA:
http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/ada/ada-mediation.php

Information about disabilities: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability

Article on diet, nutrition, and fitness: http://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/

Article on kitchen mobility aids and assistive kitchen devices:
http://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/cooking/disability-kitchen-aids.php

http://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/household/kitchen-products.php

Since my nephew loves cooking and wants to be a chef, I took a chance and put "Autistic Chef" into the search engine and I found a cool site called "Autistic Chef" at  http://autistic-chef.blogspot.com/

Article: Disability and the Culinary Arts: A case study....  from The Alliance for Students with Disabilities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM):
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Stem/articles?239

Access STEM Resources: http://www.washington.edu/doit/Stem/resources.html

Article: Gluten and Casein (GFCF) Diet Advice from The Autism Chef, Paul Cimins
http://www.grapplersquest.com/forums/gluten-and-casein-gfcf-diet-advice-autism-chef-paul-cimins

Assistive devices for autistic students: http://www.specialed.us/autism/assist/asst10.htm

Have a wonderful day-