Scoop on Nashville Convention

July 8, 2002

Hi

OK all that went to the Nashville convention fill me in on what I missed

Im so sad I didn't get to go and at least meet all of you

Kathy mom to Sara 10

July 9, 2002

I am back from Nashville. First, let me say that I never knew such a giant

hotel/convention center existed .... holy cow the place is HUGE! Second, let

me say I am thankful my daughter was around to help me find my way back to

our room several times when I was lost!! ;-)

I don't think I met anyone on this list but I met four moms and their lovely

daughters from the teen list! ;-)

There was quite a crowd at the convention, I believe they said 870 people

attended.

Very large group of young adults and teens, apprx.130. From what the three

young adults with my group told us, they enjoyed all their workshops. Stef

took notes, I haven't read them yet. They loved the riverboat cruise and

magic show ... a young lady in Nashville from the DS teen list performs with

the magic show group and the show was most impressive and entertaining from

what my young adults told us.

We were really, really busy!! Plus, this place was so big, we walked miles

and miles every day!!! Everything stayed on schedule, so we were

breakfasting at 7:30, workshops from 8:30 until 5:30 or 6:00 each night, rush

to dinner and then the young adults went dancing until 11:00.

Our group stayed over Sunday night and flew home yesterday. I am resting and

doing laundry today! This was Stefanie's first time flying and she enjoyed

it. Even though in the middle of our trip on Friday,in Baltimore, we were

evacuated from the terminal and then moved far away from the terminal because

of a fire!!! They had to make sure it was just a fire .... ;-( You know how

scarey that was, after all the headlines about the LA incident!

Cheryl

July 9, 2002

Cheryl,

I agree with you about the hotel. I never did figure it out!! We enjoyed our

time in Nashville, it was great to network with all of the families.

loved the dancing and I enjoyed the self advocates! I am looking forward to

the NDSC conference that is in my home state (CO) in August!

Mom to 10 (DS) and Noah 2 (DS)

July 9, 2002

I am telling you, we need little computer stickers to put on our nametags ...

ok, maybe we need BIG computer stickers to put on our nametags!! Does anyone

else feel funny staring at people's chests trying to read their names to

determine if you know them or not?? ;-)

We are going to have to design some sort of sticker or ribbon and ask these

convention people to give them out on request when our list members get their

registration packets .... don't you think that would be an easy way to do

this?

Then I could have at least stopped and chatted with someone from our list

while I was wandering around trying to find my way back to the Cascade

section!

I did get to watch two weddings while I was wandering ... very cool! ;-)

Cheryl, back in VA

July 9, 2002

Yes on some ID! I looked all over for Cheryl. Dr. Leshin described you to

me and I went searching, but you were not in the ballroom where he had last

seen you. My friend Maureen and I did have a fun dinner with ,

and her sweet sister.

Lori

Mom to Will, 6 1/2 yrs. and , 3 1/2 yrs. (Child w/DS)

Family website: http://hometown.aol.com/lorimarque/MarquetteFamily.html

July 9, 2002

In a message dated 7/9/2002 11:31:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

Lorimarque@... writes:

> Dr. Leshin described you to

> me and I went searching, but you were not in the ballroom where he had last

> seen you.

I don't think I stayed anywhere for very long! ;-) Did he tell you to

look for the woman with the curliest hair? Hey I did see a young adult with

DS who had hair as curly as mine!!

And whomever stayed till the very end, at the closing ceremony, where

they had the very handsome country singer that had everyone up and dancing

.... guess what ... when Stef went up to have her photo taken (she LOVES good

loooking men!) he told her Va. Beach was his hometown! Of course, she didn't

tell me that until he had left or else I would have gone up to that good

looking man and at least had a conversation with him!! ;-)

Cheryl in VA

July 9, 2002

Oh yes! Kym and I did meet Elaine, what a sweetie. was adorable and

having such a good time. Watching all the kids dancing and having such a good

time is one of the highlights. I totally agree about the problems with the

hotel. Hopefully next year in St. Louis will be better.

Lori

Mom to Will, 6 1/2 yrs. and , 3 1/2 yrs. (Child w/DS)

Family website: http://hometown.aol.com/lorimarque/MarquetteFamily.html

July 9, 2002

Ya know, some of us were probably in workshops together and didn't even know

it!

We met some parents we had met from previous workshops in other cities, that

was nice too!

I know I will be unable to go to St. Louis for the next NDSS and I believe

the one after that will be in DC, to celebrate their 25th anniversary. So,

in two years we should have a great plan for identifying and meeting each

other!

Cheryl

July 9, 2002

In a message dated 7/9/2002 1:23:39 PM Central Standard Time,

wildwards@... writes:

> Ya know, some of us were probably in workshops together and didn't even know

> it!

> We met some parents we had met from previous workshops in other cities,

> that

> was nice too!

> I know I will be unable to go to St. Louis for the next NDSS and I believe

> the one after that will be in DC, to celebrate their 25th anniversary. So,

> in two years we should have a great plan for identifying and meeting each

> other!

>

> Cheryl

HI Cheryl

I sat in an Inclusion conference class with Carolyn (Darren's Mom) once

heehee we made eye contact and later we both were wondering if we knew each

other from online. We got a giggle on that lol

So did someone say it was in St. Louis next year? That's not to far from me

so maybe next year I can attend I suffered all day Saturday wondering what

classes you all would be attending, Pat's math class was one I wanted to see

and also go to Len's class. Did anyone see the dance performers " Night Fever "

or something like that? they are a group of teens who formed a dance group

here, I know most of the teens and they are pretty good

Kathy mom to Sara 10

July 9, 2002

It was certainly nice to get to meet the folks that I did get to meet. I knew

there had to be more of us there, but hated checking out name tags and having

people give me the stink eye every time I did:)) It is great to put names with

faces. We attended a lot of the adult workshops and did actually learn some new

stuff. This was our 11th conference and the first with NDSS. The hotel was

terribly disorganized. There were so few chairs at the reception Friday night,

none at Sunday's breakfast. Some of the workshops were packed and we had to

borrow chairs and some were empty with tons of chairs. Registration (at the

hotel) was slow and they closed an entire section when we got there. I was

disappointed that few people attended Pat Oelwein's math workshop. She would

have helped all the people with young kids. Jo Ann Simons gave the most

positive workshop that gave us a little hope with regard to 's prospects

in the future. Most of the workshops on jobs had speakers whose position was,

you either have academics or you have them employed. Jo Ann didn't like that

perspective and neither did (dh) or I. Pasternak would not have

liked the discussion at our table while he was speaking. He is the head of

OSERS (Office of Special Education Rights and Services). He was telling us all

the wonderful things that are going to happen--for instance 40% funding for

IDEA. I would like to see rhetoric become reality but I'm not holding my

breath.

had the most fun of all of us. The girls outnumbered the boys

significantly and he was prime real estate. LOL He had five girls all trying

to dance with him Friday night and one even kissed him on the neck. He did find

Moira though whom he has known since he was 5 (now 16) and they pretty much

stayed with each other. They were ready to marry when we left Sunday. )) It

was fun watching them but her dad was having a real duck when and Moira

(pronounced Morah--long o) would kiss in public. I thought it was hilarious

myself. They were really cute. It was great seeing her parents again after 4

years. Now that this is a Russian novel. I'll say I wish you all could have

been there.

Elaine

Re: Scoop on Nashville Convention

Yes on some ID! I looked all over for Cheryl. Dr. Leshin described you to

me and I went searching, but you were not in the ballroom where he had last

seen you. My friend Maureen and I did have a fun dinner with ,

and her sweet sister.

Lori

Mom to Will, 6 1/2 yrs. and , 3 1/2 yrs. (Child w/DS)

Family website: http://hometown.aol.com/lorimarque/MarquetteFamily.html

Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

July 9, 2002

I went to Len's talk. It was good. I can now put a face to him! I did

learn that I need to have tested for Celiac disease since it should

be done at 3 years, and it can be nonsymptomatic.

Lori

Mom to Will, 6 1/2 yrs. and , 3 1/2 yrs. (Child w/DS)

Family website: http://hometown.aol.com/lorimarque/MarquetteFamily.html

July 10, 2002

In a message dated 7/9/2002 11:32:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

Lorimarque@... writes:

<< Yes on some ID! I looked all over for Cheryl. Dr. Leshin described you

to

me and I went searching, but you were not in the ballroom where he had last

seen you. >>

So what WAS Dr. Len doing in the Ladies' Room?

Kathy, Liam's mom(4)

July 10, 2002

suggested maybe a color coded name tag ( I remember her saying blue).

Or a tag that says first, then the name under it. Maybe we can

have a logo designed (any interested artists out there?????) and then make

up buttons to wear or ribbons or something - but I think need to be

on something!

Hey I might actually be able to make the one in 2 years if its in DC. That's

driving distance - only about 5 hours for me!

~ Mom to 11 DS and Diabetes Type 1 and 8 NY

July 16, 2002

<< Elaine, we might be able to learn from Pat Oelwein, but she comes across

so dingy that I think alot of people who heard her for reading didn't go back

for math.>>

I was afraid that I was the only one of this opinion! I was there for the

reading, and I did not get to see the math, but I figured that I will see it

next year.

< >>

Wow, I was impressed. He and Bev were excellent. I am going to talk to our

school district about his summer program for teachers. I also bought their

book, have not dug into it yet.

Lori

Mom to Will, 6 1/2 yrs. and , 3 1/2 yrs. (Child w/DS)

Family website: http://users.psln.com/sharing/Marquette

July 16, 2002

Hi! I have been too busy to write earlier, and this will be brief because I

am at work, but I was at the conference, it was alot of fun, but the hotel

was awful, way too big. I've taken my kids to Opryland at Christmastime to

see the decorations, which are pretty, but its one of those places where you

need to plan on more than an hour just to get around it all to see it. I've

been there before and I got lost more than once.

I got the biggest kick out of how I met Elaine. I had walked into a

conference being conducted by someone I have worked with at the ARC, and

when I walked in (late) he said " Hello, Amy Petulla! " Well this woman

towards the front does a doubletake, jumps up and hustles back to where I

sat down, and introduced herself! It was so funny that he would say that

when someone I " knew " but had never met was in the room.

The workshops were good, alot of repetition from past years. Elaine, we

might be able to learn from Par Oelwein, but she comes across so dingy that

I think alot of people who heard her for reading didn't go back for math. I

hope everybody got to hear Mike Remus while they were there. He is local,

the spec ed director in on County (suburb of Nashville, richest

county in the state), and was also previously the head of the ARC US-- how's

that for a combo? He talked about inclusion and how to access the general

curriculum and adapt it. I would definitely recommend ordering the tapes of

his 2 sessions at the conference, even if you heard it-- I always lend that

kind of thing to teachers.

I also got to see Deb G again, I don't know if she is still on this list,

but we had met at the DC conference a couple of years back and really hit it

off, so it was great to see her.

Well, back to the drudgery, lol.

Amy P.

July 16, 2002

Hi,

Can anyone tell me why you thought Pat was " dingy " ? I've heard her twice and

thought she had some excellent things to say. She comes across as a very warm

and caring person toward our children.

Barbara (mom of Mark, 14, DS)

Re: re: scoop on Nashville convention

<< Elaine, we might be able to learn from Pat Oelwein, but she comes across

so dingy that I think alot of people who heard her for reading didn't go back

for math.>>

I was afraid that I was the only one of this opinion! I was there for the

reading, and I did not get to see the math, but I figured that I will see it

next year.

< >>

Wow, I was impressed. He and Bev were excellent. I am going to talk to our

school district about his summer program for teachers. I also bought their

book, have not dug into it yet.

Lori

Mom to Will, 6 1/2 yrs. and , 3 1/2 yrs. (Child w/DS)

Family website: http://users.psln.com/sharing/Marquette

July 16, 2002

In a message dated 7/16/02 10:31:28 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

wildwards@... writes:

>

> Her presentation style is too loose and non-structured. She seems to get

> off target and then never gets back on, IMO.

> We had her here and many teachers left before she was done .... they wanted

> meat and potatoes, real concrete stuff and that wasn't how the presentation

> came out.

> I will agree with the caring about our children assessment, she sure does!

> Cheryl in VA

>

Another person who can come off " dingy " and disorganized, but who is really

gifted is Meyers. I've learned a LOT from her presentations.

- Becky

July 16, 2002

In a message dated 7/16/02 11:27:37 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

lowenthalrj@... writes:

>

> <<they wanted meat and potatoes, real concrete stuff >>

>

> This is something I've noticed increasingly about teachers and many

> parents. I think the touchy-feely approach to teaching children with

> special needs is on the wane in a big way. Unfortunately, the cookie

> cutter approach never worked either and that seems to be the result when

> things get too concrete.

>

> Judi

>

I think they often want the " magic bullet " too, that will be the one " true "

way to teach our kids.

But if you spend enough time around regular ed kids you learn that it takes a

combination of styles to teach everybody. Two of my other kids are excellent

examples. One is a wonderful whole language reader, and has always struggled

with phonics. The other is a terrific phonetic reader. So even in REGULAR ed

there is no " magic bullet. " Every few years there is a new gimmick that

comes out that is supposed to work for everybody but doesn't. Good teachers

are flexible and creative and adaptive.

The same is true with DS kids.

The thing I appreciate most about Pat Olewein's book, and Meyer's

lectures, is that they both emphasize the pragmatics of language. Both

encourage working from the " top down " , esp in older kids. Start with what

THEY want to write about and read about... whole sentences, whole

paragraphs... and then break down the pieces into words... and from words

into phonics. It's so much easier for a student to become motivated when

she/he sees a purpose for what he/she is doing. Spending week after week

memorizing phonics and Dolsch words that have no meaning unto themselves can

be a real motivation-killer.

- Becky

mom to (13, dyslexic, GT) (10, DS) (8.5, CAPD, GT)

July 16, 2002

Her presentation style is too loose and non-structured. She seems to get off

target and then never gets back on, IMO.

We had her here and many teachers left before she was done .... they wanted meat

and potatoes, real concrete stuff and that wasn't how the presentation came out.

I will agree with the caring about our children assessment, she sure does!

Cheryl in VA

July 16, 2002

<<they wanted meat and potatoes, real concrete stuff >>

This is something I've noticed increasingly about teachers and many

parents. I think the touchy-feely approach to teaching children with

special needs is on the wane in a big way. Unfortunately, the cookie

cutter approach never worked either and that seems to be the result when

things get too concrete.

Judi

July 16, 2002

>

> I've never attended any of her sessions...but I did talk to her once. That

> is why I have not purchased her books. I think Cheryl and Amy described

> her pretty well.

>

WHich is a real shame... because her book has looks of good ideas, are very

adaptable, and include templates.

If you are in a bookstore that has the book, take a look. I often go back

and read the intro/first chapter to get re-energized. She has so much

insight about how to make the material meaningful for the kids.

- Becky

July 16, 2002

Pat is an entire decade older since the last time I saw her. She kept saying

she is ready to retire. When I first listened to her, back in 1989, she was the

most phenomenal speaker I had ever heard. She made me BELIEVE that I could

teach anything and should expect him to learn, and also expect his

teachers to have HIGH expectations. You don't know what a gift that is. All

of you who have young kids don't know that a lot of the sight reading programs

are based on her program originally. She has been teaching kids with DS since

the 60s.

Elaine

re: scoop on Nashville convention