Hotel Centered Around Workers With Special Needs Set To Open

From day one, at least 20 percent of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel’s 129-person workforce will be people with developmental and other types of disabilities, according to Sally Morris with The Arc of Indiana, which spearheaded the project.

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/12/18/hotel-special-needs-open/21708/

Tim’s Place set to close, couple opens up about decision to leave

“I’m going to miss it here but I’m doing for it love,” Tim says. 

Tim says he is most thankful for his customers and family. He is planning to open a “Tim’s Place” in Denver but make it a little different.

http://krqe.com/2015/12/17/tims-place-set-to-close-couple-opens-up-about-decision-to-leave/

People With Down Syndrome Pose as Music Icons in Rockin’ Photo Series

“I would love to have people look at these photos and walk away either with a more positive outlook on Down syndrome or special needs in general,” Zook told The Mighty. “I hope it brings joy and comfort, but I also hope that it will provide a more positive reminder of the great potential there is for all these individuals with special needs.”

http://themighty.com/2015/12/people-with-down-syndrome-pose-as-music-icons-in-rockin-photo-series/

Surprising idea for special education students: Go to college

It turns out that, at least for a small segment of the Portland area's young adults with intellectual disabilities, college will in fact be possible. Some college officials say such programs will prompt society to stop automatically writing off people with intellectual disabilities as "not college material."

College attendance by people with intellectual disabilities has been shown to translate into better jobs with better pay and greater independence.

http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2015/11/surprising_idea_for_students_w.html

ESEA Rewrite Passes

Hear that collective whoop from the Capitol? That's the sound of education advocates and lawmakers cheering at the finish line as the first rewrite of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in more than a dozen years sails through Congress and on to the White House. 

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved the rewrite of the withering No Child Left Behind Act—the current version of the ESEA—by a huge bipartisan margin, 85 to 12, mirroring the vote of 359 to 64 in the U.S. House of Representatives just days earlier. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill Thursday.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2015/12/esea_rewrite_headed_to_obamas_.html?cmp=eml-contshr-shr