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Speeches

Michael Churchill
Jennifer R. Clarke
Thomas Gilhool
Judith Gran
Barbara Ransom

Babara Ransom
NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME CONGRESS (NDSC)
The Law Center's own Barbara Ransom was a keynote speaker at the 34th National Down Syndrome Congress in Atlanta, Georgia that was held July 21st through July 23, 2006. Her address to the audience of 2000 people was entitled "IDEA: Make no Mistakes, It's About Politics"

Dr. Samuel Francis Ninth Annual School Law Symposium
On Wednesday, June 14, 2006, Tri-State Area School Study Council, Administrative and Policy Studies, School of Education, and The University of Pittsburgh School Law presented the Ninth Annual Dr. Samuel Francis School of Law Symposium.
During the symposium, The Law Center's Barbara Ransom, had an opportunity to speak to an audience of Attorneys and Educators about the Challenge of Implementing the Gaskin Settlement.

After the Gaskin Settlement - Least Restrictive Environment Mandate and Inclusion Practices for Students with Disabilities in Pennsylvania
On Wednesday, May 31, 2006, Barbara Ransom and Education Law Center conducted a free audio-teleconferenced training.
The training was intended to help understand how the Gaskin Settlement and other recent court decisions impact the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) mandate and inclusive practices for students with disabilities in Pennsylvania. The audio-teleconferenced training was focus on: the nuts and bolts of the Gaskin Settlement; how are parents and students better off?; the "Inclusion Report Card" for PA's School Districts, and other recent issues affecting LRE.

To read more about our Disabilities Project, click here.
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Judith Gran
Competence and Confidence- Inclusive Education
On October 28, 2006, Judith Gran presented at a conference on special education inclusion sponsored by a project at Temple University's Institute on Disabilities entitled, Competence and Confidence: Partners in Policymaking (C2P2). Judith informed an audience of special education teams (instructors, their administrators, and the parents of their students) from 15 schools across Eastern Pennsylvania. She spoke on the legal history of special education inclusion in Eastern Pennsylvania with specific reference to the Gaskin settlement. The conference achieved substantive results by requiring each team to complete an Inclusion Action Project.
C2P2brochure
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Jennifer R. Clarke
On October 18, 2007, Jennifer Clarke, the Law Center's Executive Director, was the Distinguished Guest Speaker at Philadelphia's Naturalization Ceremony. She was honored to address 99 new citizens from 37 countries following the administration of their Oath of Citizenship. The Ceremony was held at the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.
Read her speech here.
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Michael Churchill
On April 24, 2008, Mr. Churchill participated in a panel discussion entitled "All Children Left Behind" at the Philadelphia Bar Association's Minority Attorney Conference. The other panelists were Donna Cooper, PA Secretary of Education, and Sandra Dungee-Glenn of the Philadelphia Reform Commission. Mr. Churchill's portion of the presentation was entitled "Pennsylvania's Unequal School Finance System: It Can Be Changed." Click here to view the powerpoint presentation that accompanied his speech.

On October 17, 2007 the Law Center's Chief Counsel made a statement to the School Reform Commission urging them to take responsible action with regard to the Philadelphia Public Schools in corrective action. At the time of his statement, 64 schools are identified in this category. In particular, Mr. Churchill strongly cautions against turning to independent contractors for help when they have not proven to be successful in improving performance at other schools.
Read his speech here.
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Thomas Gilhool
Syracuse University Commencement
On May 12, 2007 Tom received the honorary degree of Doctor of Education from Syracuse University. Nancy Cantor, Syracuse's Chancellor and President said of Tom, "Mr. Gilhool's role as architect of the landmark right-to-education case (PARC v. Pennsylvania) and involvement in groundbreaking litigation to enable people with disabilities to live in the community will be an inspiration to our students and their families, for inclusion has long been a hallmark of our School of Education."
Read the full text of Tom's speech here
Read the Honorary Degree Citation here


Holy Family University Commencement
As Tom received the Doctor of Humane Letters from Holy Family University in February 2007, he urged the graduates to action: "Our globe has grown now very small and the inequalities of income and schooling and health that beset most members of the human family have become easier for us to see and the cost of wars, suffering, and pestilence harder to ignore. Thus, for educators, nurses, young business leaders, rising thoughtful people, you...there are crucial fields for courage, for thought, and for action, wide open to you as professionals and as citizens."
Read the full text of Tom's speech here

Andrew Hamilton Award
On December 5, 2006, the Public Interest Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association presented Tom with the coveted Andrew Hamilton Award at their 15th Anniversary Celebration. This prestigious award is given annually to a lawyer who has demonstrated a personal vision and commitment to the mission they serve, innovation in their work, and clear results achieved throughout their career.
Click here to listen to an audio recording of the presentation.
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