State Advocacy Group Fights District

ALBANY — An organization charged with safeguarding disabled New Yorkers is locked in legal combat with the North Colonie school district over whether the group should be allowed to investigate allegations that special education students suffered abuse and neglect in their elementary school.

According to court filings, Disability Rights New York last June approached the district, seeking to enter Blue Creek Elementary School after receiving allegations that several youngsters in a special "Academic Skills" class were inappropriately isolated in time-out rooms and restrained.

Young Adults with Autism Struggle with Isolation, Study Finds

Tossing a high school graduation cap into the air typically signals the launch of a bigger life. But for many young adults with autism, summer after senior year is when the world begins to narrow.

Lacking the structure high school provides, they too often fall into isolation. Too much unscheduled time can produce anxiety, leading to reclusive routines, according to Sharon Spurlock, who’s worked with people with developmental disabilities for more than 30 years.

Community-Bound and Breaking Isolation

WOODSTOCK, Ore. -- A year ago Kerry Pinney, a Woodstock resident and Development Coordinator for UCP, was meeting with colleagues at the UCP office near the airport. They began to discuss ways that UCP participants could reduce their isolation, and get out into the community.
How could people with developmental disabilities explore different neighborhoods, and connect with businesses? Slowly the idea for a program evolved. The program would be called "Neighborhood Waves" — the name implying friendliness between businesses and people with disabilities.