GHAEA Voice

Looking for something to do on April 30? Why not join the Council Bluffs Autism Support Group for an Autism Awareness 5K Run/Fun Walk! The fun begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Lied Center on the Iowa School for the Deaf campus. Check out more information here . 

Last Thursday (April 21), Chief Administrator Lane Plugge spoke with KMA about the proposed budget cuts to AEAs. Then on Friday, the Iowa AEA Legislative Update reported that the Senate restored $1.25 million of the $5 million cut .  We appreciate those of you who took  time to contact your legislators ( see related story ) and/or asked families and educators you serve to voice support for AEAs. We will keep you abreast of further developments.

Congratulations to Seth Piro , school psychologist, Avoca, for being named the recipient of the 2016 Carla J. Nigro Spirit Award.        Quotes from his multiple nominations include the following: "Seth has so much energy, so much knowledge, and so much enthusiasm in his work. He completely devotes his time, attention and brain power to every single person he speaks to no matter how simple the problem or how many other things he has going on. He literally does the job of at least three  people and manages to do it all with excellence."       The award is named for Carla, a school psychologist at AEA 13 who had enthusiasm for life. She lost her life to cancer in September 2010, but will always be remembered for her great spirit in the way she demonstrated a positive outlook, a friendly nature, a selfless attitude and a passion for helping others.     The Carla J. Nigro Spirit Award acknowledges a Green Hills AEA special education rep...

Marilyn Kay (Mau) Lee, wife of GHAEA board member Kenneth Lee , passed away on April 11 at the age of 71.  She graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in home economics education.  While there, Marilyn met and married Ronald Kenneth Lee.       For seven years, Marilyn taught home economics before becoming a stay-at-home mom. She worked various part-time jobs before she focused on a nursing career. In 1991, she graduated from Iowa Western Community College with an LPN degree, and in 1993, she received her RN degree from Southwestern Community College. Marilyn loved taking care of people during her 20-year career at the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital.      Survivors include her husband of more than 49 years, Ken; three sons and five grandsons, Chad Lee and wife Shannon and their sons, Parker, Preston, Pierson and Patrick of West Des Moines, IA, Mark Lee and wife Amanda of West Des Moines, IA and Brian Lee and wife Erin and...

The walls of a 1918 barn that were once filled with laughter and music from neighborhood barn dances, and saw a thriving dairy operation, has found new life! Several boards from this barn now grace the interior of Flagship Commons , Westroads Mall in Omaha.      The barn was built by Landon Torneten's great-great-grandfather Bill Torneten. Landon, the son of Beth Torneten (early childhood specialist, Halverson), recently wrote a paper for a 4-H project. To gather information, Landon interviewed his grandparents and did research about the purchase of the land and farm located at 19858 245 St., Council B luffs.        Landon's great-great-grandfather hand cut the lumber for the barn's gambrel roof which allowed for more hay storage.  The barn ended up being 80' long, 32' wide and 36' from the eaves to the peak.        The barn was originally built with the intent of having a cattle business. Instead it became home to a dairy f...

“If you have a child and in your gut you feel like something is not right with their development, don’t delay.  Early intervention is key. I can’t stress this enough.”  Those are the words of a parent, Nancy Van Dyke, whose child has received services from Green Hills AEA Early ACCESS staff.       Van Dyke and another parent, Audrey Wheeler, were interviewed by Amy Hansen for an article in the Ocsecola Sentinel-Tribune. The article highlights the struggles of the two's children who have been diagnosed with apraxia.        Read the entire article here . 

What does occupational therapy look like in the school setting? According to the American Occupational Therapy Assoc., o ccupational therapy practitioners (OT’s) are related service professionals who provide a continuum of  services and support under IDEA.       OT’s address a student’s ability to participate in desired daily life  activities or “occupations.” Services take place in school settings during the natural routines of the day.  OT’s collaborate with students, parents and school staff to promote participation through: . Adapting activities and environments so students can participate .  Offering instructional strategies .  Increasing independence in daily living skills .  Supporting transition .  Increasing attention by recommending motor breaks and alerting activities .  Addressing sensory or motor needs that impact access or participation in the curriculum .  Recommending simple assistive technology to...