The-Leader_2006-03-23

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YOUNG FREEPORT ARTISTS
in grades K-6 have their, work on display at the Freeport IVlemorlal Library until March 29.
Freeport
family accuses
school district
of violating
child's civil
rights
by Laura Schofer
A notice of intent was filed last week by a Freeport mother claiming that the Freeport School District has violated her 17-year-old son's civil rights at an out-of-state facility' for special education which used electric shock therapy as a form of behavior modification. The school is the Judge Rotenberg Center located in Canton, Massachusetts.
According to Ken Mollins, the attorney representing the family, the notice of intent also claims that Freeport district has violated its own rules and regulations concerning cor­poral punishment. '"Furthermore it violates New York state education laws which ban the use of corporeal punishment," said Mr. Mollins, "as well as violating the boy's civil rights when corporeal punishment is used."
Barbara Behrens, a spokesperson for the Freeport School District, told The Leader that the district cannot comment because of pending litiga­tion. The district provided The Leader with information on protocols and procedures for the placement of stu­dents with disabilities which' will appear in an article in next week's Leader.
Michael Flammia, the attorney rep­resenting the Rotenberg Center, said that the mother gave her consent to the treatment. "It was explained to her in detail. For this treatment we also have to go to court,'! he said, "where a judge also approved the therapy."
The boy has been at the Judge Rotenberg Center for three years. He remains at the school but is no longer receiving the electric shock therapy. "The school says he is regressing but now he's not complaining of being shocked," said Mr. Mollins.
MIX IT UP! Freeport High School students visited Atkinson School students recently to "Mix It Up" and experience a school day that teaches kids how to interact in situations outside of customary boundaries. Atkinson's Rosemarie Allerio and FHS's Wendy Lindner arranged the event. .
All about Meillcafe Part D
by Laura Schofer
Twelve miUion Americans are now eligi­ble for Medicare Part D, a prescription drug plan that offers coverage for brand name and generic drugs to anyone eligible for Medicare.
You are eligible for Medicare if. you are 65 years or older or are permanently dis­abled. Coverage is provided through private insurance plans and began January 1. This year senior citizens may enroll until May 15 without any penalty.
But only "three to four miUion [eligible] Americans have signed up so far," Lynn Stryker recently told a group of senior citi­zens at the Freeport Recreation Center. Why?
"There has been a lot of confusion about this program and recently [in January] we've heard a lot of horror stories," she said. Ms. Stryker is an employee for the Social Security Administration in Freeport and came to the center to speak with seniors about their concerns. "No program of this size is going to run smoothly [righf away]. You need to make informed decisions," she said, referring to the 47 different plans avail­able to New York State residents.
Sheila Corrigan, a representative from the county Department of Senior Affairs, thinks that Medicare Part D and all the available plans make for a "good program," she told a second group of seniors at the Jewel Quinn Senior Center in North Merrick. This pro­gram
was sponsored by county Legislators Norma Gonsalves and David Denenberg.
"You've heard it's highly confusing, but what you need to do is think about your own situation. If you spend $3,000 ori medica­tions and have .no insurance, then this is great. Twenty-four percent of Medicare ben­eficiaries presently have no [drug] insurance at all. What do they do?
"Even in wealthy neighborhoods we have seen quite a few seniors who need this sort of coverage," she told The Leader.
"Many people pay full price, they borrow their friends' medications, they save medica­tions they haven't used up or they ask their doctor for samples," said Ms. Corrigan. "Some just go without and the government recognized that. Their basic goal was that anyone eligible for Medicare can have drug insurance."
- Not all the seniors were convinced. One man complained that "the government is' supposed to look out for us. This was aU about politics. Look who's in charge," he said, referring to the fact that the drug plans are offered by private insurance companies. "They [the government] know this isn't going to work."
In Freeport, Roy Wolfe complained about some of the glitches in the program. "Quantities [of drugs] can be Umited. Some plans only allow you 20 pills a month and you need 30 pills and you'll have to pay [out of pocket]. And, what happens if they take your medications off their list?"
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