The Friday Fax

a weekly news bulletin from the National Parent Network on Disabilities
NOVEMBER 8, 1996 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Number 17

Bright Consumers, Bright Families, Bright Futures

Time is running short, but it’s not too late to get involved in this exciting free event! The Bright Consumers, Bright Families, Bright Futures Video-Conference will air on November 21, 1996 from 1:30 - 3:00 pm EST. Presenters such as Dr. Berry Brazelton, Dr. Judy Palfrey, along with Dr. Audrey Nora, Director of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and Assistant Surgeon General Woodie Kessel will lay out the present Health Care scene, and help define the issues parents need to think about to assure the health of themselves and their children. The second half of the Video-Conference will focus on giving families tools with which to map out their health care needs, and how to work with doctors and health providers to assure those needs are met. Participants in the various sites across the country will have the opportunity to call in and ask questions directly of the presenters.

This worthwhile Video-Conference is for anyone who is concerned about the health of their family. It is not too late to establish a site in your community. Downlink coordinates are included here, but Video-Conference staff and producers are available to help you find and set up a free downlink site. Call today for more information! We’d love to have you!

The Technical Stuff
Date: 11-21-96
Satellite test time: 1:00pm EST
Program time: 1:30-3:00pm EST
Satellite: Galaxy 6
Transponder Number: 18V
Band: C Band
Orbital Slot: 74 degrees West
Frequency: 4060 Vertical
Band Width: 36 megahertz

Don’t forget to let us know you’re joining up, so we can send you the conference materials, including a reference tool to use when mapping out your health care needs! Call Today! Ask for Emily:703-684-6763; 836-1232-fax; npnd@cs.com

Election Implications: Have You Mailed Your IDEA Petition?

The New Congress has been chosen, and the President re-elected. Congratulations to all the winners! Congratulations also to the many parents and advocates who worked so tirelessly to educate candidates about special education issues and disability concerns. Your efforts will allow us to move forward in the 105th Congress with better informed political allies.

Where do we go from here? Gird yourselves for another fight!

We need to learn from the recent IDEA reauthorization attempt and use that knowledge to develop and implement a strategy to see an acceptable bill that doesn't erode rights and protections for our children.

We had an enormous controversy during the 104th Congress, but in the end we were able to stop bad things from happening to IDEA. At this time the parent/advocate community needs to achieve greater unity around common issues.

In order to prepare NPND for the next phase of reauthorization in the 105th Congress, it is crucial to build upon our experiences.To that end, NPND has asked Madeleine Will, our legislative counsel, to write a column on a periodic basis aimed at educating parents, and others interested in IDEA, and discussing the issues of passionate concern to all of us. She will review the issues in light of the current political environment.

She will also interview key policy makers and parent leaders on a wide range of subjects.

If you have ideas, or suggestions about how to use the Friday Fax and the IDEA column to arm parents for the upcoming IDEA reauthorization in the 105th Congress, contact Madeleine Will at NPND.

Action for November: Get your NPND petitions signed, and send them to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Please also send a copy to NPND.

The Honorable Trent Lott/US Senate/Washington DC 20510

The Honorable Newt Gingrich/US House of Representatives/ Washington DC 20515

NPND * 1727 King Street, Suite 305 * Alexandria, VA 22314
(703)684-6763 (V/TDD) * (703)836-1232 (fax) * npnd@cs.com * www.npnd.org