Press Release
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September 26, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Kane
(301) 933-8844
communications@ccse-maryland.org
www.ccse-maryland.org
CCSE AWARDS $65,000 TO SERVE STUDENTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
The Catholic Coalition for Special Education, Inc. (CCSE) based in Kensington, Md. awarded its first two grants totaling approximately $65,000 to two Catholic high schools in Maryland at a signing ceremony on Saturday, September 23, 2006 held at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C.
Margaret Billy, Inclusion Coordinator and Colleen Fogarty, Resource Teacher, accepted the grant on behalf of The Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington to expand the School’s Partial Inclusion Program for young ladies with developmental disabilities and to create a mentoring program.
Brother James Kelly, President of Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore accepted a grant for the St. Giles “Come, sit by me” program to expand the school’s services to young men with developmental disabilities. Cheryl Hall, Special Education Teacher and Kevin Kearney, Director of Development also represented the school.
Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, hailed the announcement and said that “this is a very important milestone in the provision of special education instruction and programs in the greater Washington area. Ms. Pellegrino and her colleagues have already worked with Special Olympics and I can attest to their commitment to the needs of children with disabilities.” Francesca Pellegrino, CCSE President notes that “CCSE’s funding priorities will focus on schools initiating or expanding special education instruction for students with developmental disabilities”.1
Additionally, priority will be given to those schools initiating or expanding special education instruction to students with significant learning needs, such as learning disabilities, who are atrisk of not receiving a diploma.
CCSE is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2004 to advance, support and promote the implementation of special education services in Catholic schools in Maryland and Washington, DC by awarding grants and providing technical assistance to Catholic schools. To advance its mission CCSE relies on donations from individuals and local businesses, as well as pro-bono services. To make a donation, to volunteer or for more information, please visit the CCSE website www.ccse-maryland.org or contact them at info@ccse-maryland.org
Note
1 Maryland State Law [Health General ' 7-101(e)] defines developmental
disability as:
A severe chronic disability that:
-
is attributable to a physical or mental impairment, other than the sole diagnosis of mental illness, or to a
combination of mental and physical impairments; -
is manifested before the individual attains the age of 22;
-
is likely to continue indefinitely;
-
results in the inability to live independently without external support or continuing and regular assistance;
and -
reflects the need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment,
or other services that are planned and coordinated for that individual.
An individual is eligible only for support services if he/she has a severe chronic disability that:
-
is attributable to a physical or mental impairment, other than the sole diagnosis of mental illness, or to a
combination of mental and physical impairments; -
is likely to continue indefinitely.