Six Flags announced all 26 of its parks will earn the Certified Autism Center designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This means at least 80 percent of staff who work with guests at each park will receive autism awareness training that includes strategies for communication and safety.
At a New Hampshire town hall, Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer said that he would fight discrimination against people with disabilities by fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which would give students with disabilities a better chance to succeed. A high school student who is Deaf asked the question. IDEA calls for the federal government to pay 40 percent of the extra cost associated with special education, but its current contribution is about 15 percent.
The substance use disorder and mental health advisory panel Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium reported that it had met the majority of its first year goals. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, who leads the group of health and legal professionals, policymakers and community members, said it had focused on combating stigma and helping with insurance issues, targeting populations – including people with disabilities – disproportionately affected by substance use
Sunday marked the annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics Delaware, when more than 3,700 volunteers took the plunge into the Atlantic Ocean from the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. The number of volunteers and the money raised – $1.02 million – are both records in the 29-year history of the event.
Delaware received a five-year, $1 million federal grant to prepare better-trained educators for special education leadership roles ensuring school environments promote high expectations. Called the Special Education Administrative Leadership (SEAL) program, it is a collaboration between several UD centers, including CDS, and the Delaware Department of Education that will offer four 18-month courses with a total enrollment of about 55.
