Obama supports 'the right' for ground zero mosque

By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer Pauline Jelinek, Associated Press Writer 

 

Obama commented during a trip to Florida, where he expanded on a Friday night White House speech asserting that Muslims have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else in America.
The president's statements thrust him squarely into a debate that he had skirted for weeks and could put Democrats on the spot three months before midterm elections where they already were nervous about holding control of the House and maybe even the Senate. Until Friday, the White House had asserted that it did not want to get involved in local decision-making.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has been a strong supporter of the mosque, welcomed Obama's White House speech as a "clarion defense of the freedom of religion."
Gov. Charlie Crist, R-Fla., who was among those who met with Obama on Saturday, lauded the president's position.
"I think he's right — I mean you know we're a country that in my view stands for freedom of religion and respect for others," Christ said after the Florida meeting with Obama and other officials. "I know there are sensitivities and I understand them. This is a place where you're supposed to be able to practice your religion without the government telling you you can't."
Others were quick to pounce.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene of Florida took Obama's Friday speech to mean the president supports the construction.
"President Obama has this all wrong and I strongly oppose his support for building a mosque near Ground Zero especially since Islamic terrorists have bragged and celebrated destroying the Twin Towers and killing nearly 3,000 Americans," Greene said. "Freedom of religion might provide the right to build the mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero, but common sense and respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones gives sensible reason to build the mosque someplace else."
The mosque would be part of a $100 million Islamic community center two blocks from where nearly 3,000 people perished when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
The proposed construction has sparked debate around the country that included opposition from top Republicans including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich as well as the Jewish civil rights group the Anti-Defamation League.
Obama's Friday comment was taken by some to mean that he strongly supports the building of an Islamic center near the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, something he never actually said.
Speaking to a gathering at the White House Friday evening to observe the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Obama said that he believes "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country."
"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," he said. "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."
Asked Saturday about the issue during his trip to Florida, Obama said: "I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right that people have that dates back to our founding."
Obama said that "my intention was simply to let people know what I thought. Which was that in this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion."
Some relatives of people killed in the Sept. 11 attacks supported Obama's comments.
The mosque is "in many ways ... a fitting tribute," said Colleen Kelly of the Bronx, who lost her brother Bill Kelly Jr. in the attacks.
"This is the voice of Islam that I believe needs a wider audience," said Kelly, who is Catholic. "This is what moderate Islam is all about."
Opinions are mixed among family members.
Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son was killed at the World Trade Center, has said the president's comments show "a gross lack of sensitivity to the 9/11 families and to the people who were lost."

Pastor Terry Jones Changes His Mind, Says Koran-Burning May Still Happen

Florida Pastor Terry Jones, who announced Thursday he was canceling plans to burn 200 copies of the Koran in a protest against Islam, back-pedaled on Thursday night and said he was just putting his plans "on hold" for the time being. On NBC's "Today" show Friday he restated that the matter is up in the air and contingent on a meeting he expects to have soon with the planner of an Islamic center near Ground Zero in New York City.

The preacher, who caused an international uproar when he said he would burn Korans on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, said Thursday he had been promised that the center would be moved.

But that night, he said he'd been given false information. Outside his church in Gainesville, Jones said that the imam he thought he had reached a deal with "clearly, clearly lied to us," according to Newser and other sources.

Jones drew inspiration for his plan to burn copies of the Koran from the Bible, and for a short time on Thursday, it appeared he may have found in those same Scriptures an exit strategy for an increasingly untenable stance.

Jones, pastor of a small (50 members at most) Pentecostal-style, fundamentalist church, had drawn so much heat for his vows to burn the Koran to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks that even Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck were telling him it was a bad idea -- a rare point of agreement between Tea Party conservatives and President Obama.

(In yet another twist to the story, the website for Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau, Mo., points out that Jones and conservative firebrand radio host Rush Limbaugh were both members of the Class of 1969.)

When Jones said he was backing down from the Koran-burning event at a news conference late Thursday afternoon, he portrayed his shift as a strategic victory by claiming that the leader of the controversial plan to build an Islamic center near ground zero had agreed to move its location.

Immediately, there were conflicting accounts of whether Jones' claim had any validity.

Jones told reporters that the head of the group hoping to build the Islamic center, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, assured him he would move the mosque, and Jones said he would fly to New York on Saturday for the ninth anniversary of 9/11 and meet with Rauf.

"The American people do not want the mosque there, and, of course, Muslims do not want us to burn the Koran," said Jones, who heads the Dove World Outreach Center. "The imam has agreed to move the mosque. We have agreed to cancel our event on Saturday."

Related stories on Politics Daily:

A Case for Opposing Koran Burning and the Mosque Near Ground Zero

Sarah Palin on Facebook: Don't Burn the Koran

Patraeus Urges Florida Church Not to Burn Copies of the Koran

Obama to Florida Pastor: Call Off Koran-Burning 'Stunt'

Who Is Pastor Terry Jones, and Why Is he Burning the Koran?

Terry Jones Cancels Koran Burning, but NYC Mosque Move Disputed

Jones said an imam who heads the Islamic Society of Central Florida, Muhammad Musri, was the intermediary with Rauf, though Musri said only that Rauf agreed to meet with him and Jones on Saturday "to discuss and come to a decision on relocating the mosque in New York."

And shortly after Jones spoke, Rauf released a statement insisting there was no deal to move the Islamic center, known as the Cordoba House, or Park51, from its proposed site several blocks from ground zero.

"I am glad that Pastor Jones has decided not to burn any Korans," Rauf said. "However, I have not spoken to Pastor Jones. I am surprised by their announcement. We are not going to toy with our religion or any other. Nor are we going to barter. We are here to extend our hands to build peace and harmony."

But Jones was insistent that he heard what he heard. "I asked him three times, and I have witnesses," Jones said of his conversation with Musri and Rauf. "If it's not moved, then I think Islam is a very poor example of religion. I think that would be very pitiful. I do not expect that."

Earlier, Jones had said he would cancel the book burning if he were to receive contact directly from the White House or the Defense Department, and on Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates called Jones, the Pentagon told The Associated Press.

Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Gates expressed "his grave concern" that the burning of the holy book of Islam would put the lives of U.S. troops at risk, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. Morrell would not characterize Jones' response.

The week's back-and-forth has given Jones cover for backing away from what was looking like a disastrous move for all sides. And he may have Palin and Beck and other conservatives to thank for that cover, given that they have recently made comparisons between the ground zero mosque and Jones' plan to burn Korans, arguing that both Rauf and Jones have the right to build or burn, but that neither move is the right thing to do.

Jones himself had never made moving the Islamic center (it is projected to be a community center that will contain prayer spaces for all religions) a condition of halting his plans, and indeed had never indicated he was looking for any concessions. (Also, many dispute any parallels between an Islamic group building a community center three blocks from ground zero to promote interfaith healing and a Christian pastor burning Korans expressly to offend Muslims.)

Still, if Jones does not succeed in forcing Rauf to move the mosque further away from ground zero, the Bible and Jones' interpretation of God's will could provide a more high-minded excuse for his retreat.

For the past few days, in fact, it had appeared as though Jones was giving himself some wiggle room by noting that "If God told us to do it" -- burn the Korans -- "then I guess he could tell us to do something different," as he said on NBC on Wednesday.

That same day, Wayne Sapp, an associate pastor at the Dove World Outreach Center, said the church is "still in prayer over the whole thing" and could cancel. Sapp cited the watershed moment in the Hebrew Bible when God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. An angel stops Abraham at the last second, but this was considered a test of Abraham's faithfulness to God.

"God is leading us right up to the moment," Sapp said Wednesday of the Koran-burning plan. "It's no different than Abraham and his son. God didn't tell him, 'Go right up to the point where you might sacrifice him.' He wanted him to be fully committed. We're prepared to do what we're called to do."

But God, through an angel, stayed Abraham's hand, and delivered a ram to be sacrificed instead (Genesis 21). And Isaac went on to become the father of the nation of Israel, as God promised Abraham.

It is notable, however, that in the Islamic tradition, it is Isaac's half-brother, Ishmael, who was nearly sacrificed and then spared by God. Jewish tradition, on the other hand, holds that Ishmael was banished along with his mother, Hagar, an Egyptian-born servant.

Some Christians believe -- along with the Apostle Paul -- that this rejected son represented Christianity's rejection of Judaism.

Other Christians contend that Ishmael went on to found the nation of people that are today's Muslims -- hence the lasting enmity between Muslims and Jews and Christians.

What Terry Jones thinks about all this is not hard to figure, given his sworn opposition to Islam as a "false religion." But trying to guess his next move is a risky game to play since it's not clear who the pastor is listening to these days, or what he is hearing.

*) From : Politics Daily
    By : David Gibson

Why Pastor Terry Burning to Torch the Koran ??????

Pastor Terry Jones sure seems like an unlikely fellow to become America's most inconvenient man.

A grizzled 58-year-old who packs a .40-caliber pistol on his hip, Jones heads a small congregation -- maybe 50 members in all -- on a pine-studded tract of land in Gainesville, Fla. The Dove World Outreach Center, as the church is known, is in fact the kind of local, spirit-filled, Pentecostal-style church that is found in cities and rural areas across America, and have been since the earliest days of the Republic.

Think Robert Duvall in "The Apostle," the 1997 Oscar-nominated film about the downfall and redemption of a Texas minister.

But Terry Jones is preaching a much different message than the pastor in "The Apostle," and at a different moment in time. And that is why Jones' mission to burn copies of the Koran to mark the 9/11 anniversary this Saturday has managed to dominate the news -- and global politics -- even in a wildfire media cycle already ablaze with suspicions (false) that President Obama is a Muslim and that jihadis are building a victory mosque at ground zero (also a myth).

On Thursday, Jones surprised the media with news that he was canceling the Koran-burning event. He said he had reached an agreement with Islamic officials in New York City to move the planned Islamic center from a site near ground zero, implying that this concession had softened him and had changed his mind about the need to burn Korans.

But Islamic officials immediately said they had reached no such agreement. Within hours after that Thursday, Jones stood outside his church and told reporters he had been "lied to" and said he was putting any decision on Koran burning "on hold."

Jones believes that Islam is a "false religion" that is "of the devil" and therefore must be defeated. But Islam, he believes, is also threatening to take over in the United States. Hence his justification, reiterated earlier this week, for the Koran-burning: "We must send a clear message to the radical element of Islam," Jones said. "We will no longer be controlled and dominated by their fears and threats. It is time for America to return to being America."

Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, this week said the plans by the Dove World Outreach Center to burn up to 200 copies of the Koran could endanger U.S. troops in the country and Americans worldwide. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the proposed book burning "disrespectful and disgraceful" at an iftar dinner for Muslims ending their daily Ramadan fast. And Attorney General Eric Holder called Jones' plan "idiotic and dangerous."

Even Angelina Jolie weighed in -- surely a leading benchmark of media buzz. "I have hardly the words that somebody would do that to somebody's religious book," the 35-year-old actress told reporters in Islamabad after visiting refugees camps in flood-ravaged Pakistan. Jolie is a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.'s refugee agency.

An effigy of Jones -- wrapped in an American flag -- was burned in Afghanistan, and Muslims in Indonesia have rallied outside the U.S. embassy threatening violence if any Korans are burned.

A growing number of Christian leaders are also raising their voices as Jones seems determined to go ahead with his plan. "Please do not judge all Christians by the behavior of one extremist," the National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson said. And the Vatican's interreligious office on Wednesday denounced "Burn a Koran Day" as an "outrageous and grave" plan.

Yet even as efforts are made to minimize Jones' profile and limit the damage he could cause -- Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe called the Dove Center "a very tiny church" that does not represent "the true nature of Gainesville" -- the pastor and his flock are also very much a part of the American religious past, and present.









*) By David Gibson Politics Daily

rubella

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

rubella or German measles, acute infectious disease of children and young adults. It is caused by a filterable virus that is spread by droplet spray from the respiratory tract of an infected individual. Rubella is a much milder infection than rubeola (measles) and the rash, appearing after an incubation period of two to three weeks, rarely lasts more than three days. The lymph nodes behind the ears become tender and swollen, but otherwise German measles is almost always uncomplicated. However, during the first trimester of pregnancy it is associated with an increased risk of congenital damage to the fetus, producing stillbirths, abortion, low birth weight, and such malformations as cardiac defects, eye defects (especially cataracts), and mental retardation. During the first 16 weeks of pregnancy the infection has been estimated to carry a risk of fetal damage of between 30% and 35%. Pregnant women who have been exposed to rubella are given gamma globulin in an effort to prevent the disease. Research to develop a vaccine that would confer immunity was spurred by an epidemic of rubella in 1964 and the evidently related rise in the number of birth deformities. A live attenuated vaccine has been developed and is given to girls from 15 months to puberty and often to boys as well. Approximately 13% to 15% of women develop acute arthitis from vaccination. Before the vaccine can be administered to an adult woman it must be determined that she is not pregnant, and the test for the presence of rubella antibodies (which would indicate immunity to the disease from previous exposure) is given. Birth control should be practiced for at least three months after receiving the vaccine.

Sebuah catatan dari autism.info-situs informasi seputar autis

Mengembangkan Kelebihan Anak Autis

TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta: Kini Adihutama Wirasatya, 9 tahun, sudah mahir memainkan gamelan. Bahkan ia sudah bisa mencari nada sendiri dari alat musik tradisional itu. Kemudian murid kelas III Sekolah Dasar Negeri I, Ngemplak, Klaten, ini memiliki pemahaman konsep abstrak yang tidak kalah dengan teman sebayanya. Padahal tidak banyak yang bisa dikerjakan Wira--panggilannya--saat usianya beranjak lima tahun. Kala itu bocah laki-laki ini cuma bisa mengamuk dan menangis. Dia tidak bisa duduk tenang, berbicara, bahkan kesulitan untuk buang air besar.

"Yang jelas, saraf motorik kasar dan halusnya tidak bisa berfungsi sebagaimana mestinya," ujar sang bunda, Lucy Catherine Isabella, 38 tahun, kepada Tempo saat dihubungi melalui telepon selulernya kemarin. Menurut Lucy, pada usia 18 bulan, Wira divonis dokter telah mengidap gangguan spektrum autistik.
Nah, pasca-vonis itu, Lucy mencoba beragam pilihan pengobatan demi anaknya. Awalnya, dokter menawari operasi anus buatan di perut Wira sebagai solusi kesulitan buang air besarnya. Padahal semua organ pencernaannya normal dan asupan seratnya pun tinggi. Karena itu, Lucy memutuskan tidak menuruti tindakan medis tersebut. Selain dokter, alumnus Sastra Inggris Universitas Gadjah Mada 1996 ini mencoba terapi psikiater untuk membantu kemampuan bicara dan pengendalian emosi Wira. Tapi hasilnya, si kecil tidak mengalami kemajuan berarti.
Hingga suatu kali, saat Wira berusia 5,5 tahun, Lucy tertarik mendatangi Arogya Mitra Akupuntur, yang terletak di Dukuh Ngemplak, Kalikotes, Klaten, Jawa Tengah. "Ternyata hasilnya luar biasa," Lucy mengungkapkan. Baru dua bulan terapi tusuk jarum oleh Eko Tunggono, anaknya sudah mengeluarkan suara. Kemajuan pun terus diraihnya. Memasuki bulan keenam, Wira bisa bicara layaknya anak normal. "Buang air besarnya juga sudah bisa secara alami," mantan wartawati media harian di Ibu Kota ini memaparkan.
Seiring terapi, Lucy menjelaskan, dia selalu menumbuhkan persepsi positif terhadap anaknya. Ia pun selalu mengembangkan diri agar bisa memahami anaknya dengan baik. Yang terpenting, ia yakin kepada segala kemungkinan terbaik dan tidak pernah menyerah. Walhasil, kini Wira tumbuh menjadi anak sehat secara fisik maupun mental. Dan sebagai apresiasinya terhadap Eko Tunggono, Lucy menulis buku berjudul Dari Pulau Buru Menjadi Penyelamat Anak-anak Autis Hiperaktif pada Maret lalu. Apalagi di Klinik Arogya Mitra, Eko berusaha keras untuk mengembangkan kemampuan anak autis dan hiperaktif.
Sebetulnya, tidak cuma Lucy yang menghadapi problematika seperti ini. Masih banyak orang tua lain yang mencari solusi demi penyembuhan anak mereka sebagai pengidap autistik. Satu di antaranya adalah presenter televisi, Muhammad Farhan, 39 tahun. Anak pertamanya, Muhammad Ridzky Khalid, 10 tahun, divonis dokter mengidap autistik pada usia 18 bulan.
Sejak itu, bagi Farhan, yang terpenting adalah memberi pendidikan mengenai aturan dasar bagi Ridzky. "Paling tidak dia tahu norma dan sopan santun yang sudah berlaku umum," katanya saat ditemui seusai acara peduli autisme sedunia di Graha Sucofindo, Jakarta, Kamis pekan lalu, misalnya, seperti cara membersihkan diri setelah dari kamar mandi, memakai pakaian, dan cara makan yang benar. "Kan tidak mungkin saat usianya 20 tahun, (dia masih) dicebokin bapaknya."
Kemudian suami Nani Rubiyani ini selalu menumbuhkan sifat percaya diri kepada anaknya. Caranya dengan membawa Ridzky ke tempat-tempat umum, seperti pusat perbelanjaan. "Ada beberapa orang tua malu membawa anaknya ke luar rumah. Bahkan sampai ada yang disembunyikan," katanya. Hal itu semakin membuat si anak terasing dari lingkungannya. Selain itu, dia tidak membebani target bagi si kecil harus bisa apa dalam beberapa bulan setelah sekolah. Ridzky sendiri adalah siswa sekolah inklusi di Sekolah Global Mandiri, Jakarta.
Saat ini, Ridzky ahli dalam pengetahuan tentang klasifikasi hewan dan tumbuhan. Tidak itu saja, dia juga hafal letak kota setiap negara yang terpampang di peta dunia. "Sebab itu, kalau ke Singapura atau Bali, kami selalu menyempatkan pergi ke kebun binatangnya," ujar pria kelahiran Bogor ini. Yang jelas, kata Farhan, jika diarahkan ke jalur yang benar, anak autis berpotensi memiliki keahlian yang melebihi orang normal.
Hal itu sudah ada contohnya. Lihat saja kiprah seorang anak autis, Oscar Yura Dompas, 29 tahun, yang mampu menyabet gelar sarjana Sastra Inggris dari Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan Universitas Katolik Atma Jaya, Jakarta. Oscar berhasil mempertahankan scientific writing berjudul Plot Analyzes of Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet On The Western Front. Selain itu, pemuda berkepala plontos ini telah menelurkan buku berjudul Autistic Journey pada 2004.
"Ke depan, saya lagi nulis naskah film mengenai anak autis sedang jatuh cinta," katanya saat ditemui Tempo di Graha Sucofindo, Jakarta, Kamis pekan lalu. Menurut sang ayah, Jeffrey Dompas, 52 tahun, sedari kecil Oscar tidak pernah mendapatkan terapi apa pun. Dia meyakini bahwa yang dibutuhkannya hanya naluri dasar orang tua untuk memahami dirinya. "Jadi, bagaimana memperlakukan dia layaknya anak normal saja," ujarnya dalam kesempatan yang sama.
Profesor Komaruddin Hidayat pun menyebutkan, anak autis bisa berkembang lebih optimal lewat pendidikan. "Pendidikan dapat membangkitkan rasa percaya diri anak autis," katanya pada kesempatan yang sama. Untuk itu, ia menekankan, peranan keluarga sangat dibutuhkan bagi kemajuan kognitif si anak. "Keluarga adalah solusi bagi anak autis," ia menegaskan.


Penulis : HERU TRIYONO
Sumber: www.autism.info.com 

Drawing and Sketching can be one of the simplest ways to begin a lifelong love of art

Drawing and Sketching can be one of the simplest ways to begin a lifelong love of art. Even if you later move on to painting, learning how to sketch and draw can make you a better painter in many cases. And best of all, the tools are simple, clean-up is non-existent, and you can draw even if you only have ten free minutes a day!

Where to Start:

Attending a local community class on drawing is an excellent way to begin. Books also help, and you might consider Sketching and Drawing (First Step Series). It gives examples of different techniques and is excellent for beginners exploring different methods of drawing and sketching.
Once you've tried drawing a few different subjects, you might discover that you have a specific interest in drawing landscapes, people or cartoons.

*) From www.findmeahobby.com

Articles:

One Womans Journey Into The Drawing World
Beyond The Pencil

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Assistive Technology / Special Education Software for Schools, Kids, and Adults with Special Needs

ISER is now offering this directory of software and assistive technology for special needs kids and adults. We are a new directory and we will categorize the software by type as the directory grows. We will be listing software for people with many learning disabilities, including dyslexia, ADD/ADHD issues, vision problems, auditory problems, as well as other disabilities.
Tips for Parents -- Software for your Special Needs Child
List your special needs software or assistive technology tools and get found by Google!

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AtKidSystems --teaches color recognition, spatial awareness, directional awareness, numbers, and shapes to preschool kids with autism, developmental delays, CP, and motor challenges.
eSpecialNeeds -- a premier provider of therapeutic & special needs toys, software, strollers, learning tools and adaptive equipment for special needs children
Hotels Combined -- Compare accessible hotels from top reservation websites
Rock N Go-- Learn math and school skills through music with Rock N Go software, music and other products
Byonetics-- an "In Home" program proving successful in enhancing speech, behavioral, and occupational therapies for autistic children
SEO / Acorn Information Systems -- search engine optimization for web sites related to special education, special needs, schools, and physical and mental health professionals
Canvastic Desktop Publishing --student focused graphics/text publishing tool for schools. Perfect for Special Needs Students because its capabilities "Grow with the User's" abilities
Chester Creek Technologies -- Computer Keyboards and Mice for Children and Adults with Special Needs
Click'N'Colour -- coloring software promotes fine-motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and a calming sensation
Cognitive Enhancement Systems--COM is a subscription website providing online cognitive enhancement applications for all children ranging from gifted to those with learning disability, attention deficit, processing problems and developmental disability.
Custom Keyboarding Software -- Unique software and typing books for students with Cerebral Palsy, missing fingers, Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, Visually Impaired, etc. on all grade levels. (Real Human Voice)
Special Education Data Tracking Software-- DDtrac eases the burden of tracking, reporting, and analyzing special education student data
Digital Voice Technologies -- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices for children with autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and traumatic head injuries
Dynavox Mayer-Johnson -- Augmentive Communications Devices (AAC) for people with Autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, stroke, brain injury and other and other Speech Related Conditions
Equidel Computhera --CompuThera offers a seven-step gradual discrete approach for teaching reading for children with Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, and others who are visual learners.
Google Local Listings Help, from AIS to develop Google Local, Yahoo! and Bing Local listings inexpensively
Handwriting Problem Solutions, LLC --resource guide for Handwriting Solutions -- Equipment, Teaching Strategies and Educatioal Resource Recommendations for Kids with Writing Disabilities. Consultation also available

Ghotit On-line Free Spell Checker -- free access on-line context iterative spell checker for people with dyslexia or dysgraphia, or who are not native-English speakers
Innovative Speech Therapy -- helps you maximize speech therapy outcomes with the help of assistive technology and family coaching
Intellitools --IntelliTools, Inc., a pioneer in learning solutions for preK-8 classrooms and homes, producing software and adaptive hardware products for kids with learning challenges
K12 Curriculum--America's largest online education provider for grades K-12 with individualized programs
Laureate Learning Systems --specially designed for individuals with Autism, Language-Learning Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, Physical Impairments, Traumatic Head Injury, and Aphasia.
Mobile Thinking® --mTrial® is a software program that parents of autistic children, agencies, clinics, and consultants can use to record and report discrete trial, cold probe, and verbal behavior data.
special education advocate Julie Swanson helps children and teens find the right assistive technology for their disabilities

Murphy & Associates--Comprehensive Evaluations & Instructional Technology Designs for Individuals with disAbilities
N2Reading, Inc. --Dyslexia testing, and a vision training program for children with via the internet that can reduce reading difficulties
Phonics Plus Five--the only reading system that teaches your child ALL SIX skills needed for reading success. Great for kids with dyslexia and ADD
Practice Effective Guidance Strategies (PEGS) --Software to help teachers and homeschooling parents with effective teaching strategies
Proportional Reading -- Reading Skills Remediation Software and Tutoring Help For Special Needs (LD, ADD/ADHD, Low Vision, ESL, S/L, Trauma, Anxiety). Free initial consult and help.
PST Educational Consultants --CDs for kids, parents, professionals involved with neurocognitive disorders (learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, closed head injury, etc.)
SpellingCity.com -- free award-winning online spelling and vocabulary program
SEAS Special Education Automation Software--SEAS is a proven web-based, special education data management system designed to ease the constantly changing demands of state and federal regulations
Smart Tutor --An Effective Online Supplemental Reading and Math Software Program for Children with Special Needs

TEXTHELP Software --Accessibility software, dyslexia software and text to speech software
Time 4 Learning --Student-Paced Online Learning for Special Needs education, Preschool through 8th Grade
The Total Transformation® Program-- A guided training program to help parents manage challenging behaviors in children and teens.

Herman & Associates--southern California psychological corporation provides evaluation and sessions to try out specialized computer programs that may help circumvent specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia (reading problems) and dysgraphia (writing disorder)

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Disclaimer: Bright Media provides this information in an effort to aid parents in finding special education software to help their children. Bright Media does not recommend or endorse any product. These decisions are for parents to make. Please do your research carefully.

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Respond SBY Cancellation Action Fuel Quran

Mas Fherry, Friday, September 10, 2010

Respond SBY Cancellation Action Fuel Quran Respond SBY Cancellation Action Fuel Quran - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to give a statement Friday afternoon following the cancellation of planned arson of Al-Qur'an 11 September next. Crazy plan initiated by Terry Jones, a radical evangelical sect pastor in Gainesville, Florida, USA. Jones dropped its plan, after the condemned various circles.
According to presidential press bureau, Yudhoyono will give a statement at the State Palace, today, Friday, September 10, 2010, along with a number of interfaith leaders. Based on information received, Yudhoyono is likely to offend the cancellation of Jones' plan.
However, recent information from the Associated Press news agency said that Jones corrected the word "cancel," but rather "suspend" until there is agreement "barter" regarding the transfer of projects from the Islamic Center near Ground Zero in New York.
Earlier, President Yudhoyono has delivered a special message to U.S. President, Barack Obama, about the concerns of the Indonesian Nation of Jones's plan and urged the U.S. Government to prevent the action.
As is known, Jones Dove World Outreach church leaders Center, eventually cancel the burning of al-Quran ceremony on 11 September. He admitted that he had received instructions from God in order not to burn the Muslim holy book, that. "We, of course, opposes the action of burning the Koran," said Jones, Thursday local time.
The decision came after a plan of burning the Koran was received rejection from many quarters, including in the U.S. alone - from President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton's Foreign Minister, to the U.S. military commander in Afghanistan as well as other religious leaders. In addition, there appears a wave of demonstrations across the world oppose the plan. (Kd)

Angelina Jolie Speaks Out Against Quran Burning

Angelina Jolie has spoken out about a Florida church’s threat to burn copies of the Quran to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
“I have hardly the words that somebody would do that to somebody’s religious book,” the 35-year-old actress shared while on a trip to Pakistan to raise awareness about the disastrous floods.
Angie also spoke out about the floods and the lack of media attention about the devastation.
“There’s lots of speculation about why this one has not gotten the attention it deserves,” she shared. “Even all of the wonderful coverage … is not getting the response that usually it’s able to get.”

Photos: Claire Truscott/AFP/Getty
Posted to: Angelina Jolie

Read more: http://justjared.buzznet.com/2010/09/08/angelina-jolie-speaks-out-against-quran-burning/#ixzz0z6oeKdc5

Qur'an burning CANCELED ??????

The leader of a small Florida church that espouses anti-Islam philosophy says he is canceling plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11.
Pastor Terry Jones announced Thursday at a chaotic news conference that he decided to cancel his protest, claiming that he struck a deal with the leader of a planned Islamic Center near Ground Zero who agreed to move its controversial location.
However, Imam Rauf, the leader of the proposed center did not make a deal and has never talked to Pastor Terry Jones, Park51 officials tell Huffington Post, adding that they are open to all solutions and that the proposed Islamic center is open to dialogue and reconciliation with the community in lower Manhattan.
Jones's plans to burn Islam's holiest text Saturday sparked an international outcry.
President Barack Obama, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan and several Christian leaders had urged Jones to reconsider his plans. They said his actions would endanger U.S. soldiers and provide a strong recruitment tool for Islamic extremists. Jones' protest also drew criticism from religious and political leaders from across the Muslim world.


*) AP / Huffington Post First Posted: 09- 9-10 05:06 PM   |   Updated: 09-10-10 02:30 AM