eNEWS072208

							            e-NEWS                                     July 22, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

Protection & Advocacy, Inc. and Exceptional Family Resource Center are
teaming up to provide Special Education, You Can Do It! These are 4
FREE training sessions on special education law, geared for parents so
that they can become strong advocates for their children throughout
the entire special education process. The goal of this series will be to
educate parents and others about their legal rights by dividing the legal
topics into manageable sessions.
July 29 - What is Special Education?
August 5 - Eligibility and Assessments
August 12 - Demystifying the IEP process
August 19 - Ongoing Advocacy, Discipline, Due Process, Compliance
Complaints.
All sessions will be presented from 7:00-9:00pm at San Diego City
College, 1313 Park Blvd. Rm. A-15, San Diego, CA 92101. Come to all
sessions or any sessions of your choice! Materials and parking will be
provided at no cost. If you need accommodations, parking, or interpreters
please call at least one week before each training. RSVP by calling 619-
239-7861. View details at
http://efrconline.org/admin/files/Special%20Education%20Training.JulyAugust%202008.d
oc

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In this eNEWS Issue You Will Find Information on:

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
For event details go to http://www.efrconline.org/calendar/maincal.cfm
By clicking on an Event link you may view the event details.

7/26/08 10:00am - 12:00pm
Social & Recreational Opportunities for Youth and Young Adults with
Developmental Disabilities workshop presented by the Center for
Emerging Leaders with guest speaker from San Diego Parks and
Recreation. For more information, contact Janice at 619.594.1758 or
jgoforth@interwork.sdsu.edu

Other Local Events:
7/23/08 Augmentative Communication
7/24/08 Problem Solving and Communication
7/26/08 Social and Recreational Opportunities for Young Adults with
Developmental Disabilities
7/30/08 Basic Rights
8/17/08 Walk for Developmental Disabilities
9/27/08 FAACT Conference

Regional:
10/08/08 Supported Life Institute 22nd Annual Conference will be held
in Sacramento. There is also a slight discount for registering by June 30th,
and a professional group discount for organizations (buy 5, get one free).

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UPCOMING EFRC SUPPORT GROUPS:
For details: http://www.efrconline.org/efrc.cfm?pid=Support_Groups
Some support groups do not meet during the summer months, so please
be sure to call and verify before attending any meeting.

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INPUT NEEDED FROM DISABILITY COMMUNITY:

Openings available for families of children with special needs for
Operation House Call. View details at
http://www.efrconline.org/admin/files/Operation%20House%20Call%20Flyer%20091107.
pdf

McMillin Elementary (Chula Vista/South San Diego) needs volunteer
presenters (who experience disability) to come and share about their
lives with the students. Their Annual Ability Awareness Celebration, a 2-
day event will take place on: Wednesday and Thursday, August 13th and
14th, from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm. If you can come present either for all or
part of the event (or if you don’t have a disability, but know of someone
else who might be interested), please contact Diana Pastora Carson at
Diana@AbilityAwareness.com or 619.370.2789. Topics of discussion will
include: Disability History, Disability Rights, Accessibility, Universal
Design, Assistive Technology, Attitudes & Assumptions,
Respectful/Dignifying Language and Possibilities!

The PACER Center in MN is asking teens from all over the country to
submit their stories on PACER's new national bullying prevention
web-site to help teens figure out how to deal with the issue. Videos,
real-life stories, etc. will give middle-school and high-school
students practiced ways to respond when they see bullying or it
happens to them. Teens: How did it feel? What worked and didn't?
Were parents or other adults helpful? What ideas for preventing bullying
do you have? Tell a story, draw it, record it, videotape it - in your own
words. Send it, along with your phone number and parental permission
(download form at www.pacer.org/bullying/mhs/index.asp). Send entries to
bullying411@PACER.org or mail to : Bullying Prevention Project, PACER
Center, 8161 Normadale Blvd., Bloomington, MN 55437. Your story can
be anonymous.
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OPPORTUNITIES:

Grants Available for Families Struggling with Child Health-Related
Expenses
The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) has announced
that new grants are available to help children who need critical health care
treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their
parents' health benefit plans. UHCCF provides grants to families to help
pay for child health care services such as speech therapy, physical
therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical
equipment such as wheelchairs, and eyeglasses. Parents and legal
guardians may apply for grants of up to $5,000 each for child medical
services and equipment. Children must be 16 years of age or younger,
families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States, and
be covered by a commercial health benefit plan. (Not available to
Medicaid/SCHIP recipients). Details can be found at http://uhccf.org/

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REFERENCE POINTS:

New Resource Available on Academic and Career Readiness
The National Collaborative on Workforce & Disability for Youth has
released "Preparing All Youth for Academic & Career Readiness:
Implications for High School Policy and Practice". The paper identifies the
challenges in practice and policy for successful post-school outcomes and
it offers recommendations on how states, local school districts and
individual high schools can prepare all youth, including youth with
disabilities, with academic and career readiness skills. Based on two
symposia and a year-long research effort, this paper identifies five broad
policy and practice areas: (1) Instruction, Curriculum and Structure; (2)
Assessment Practices; (3) Graduation Requirements; (4) Community and
Family Connections; and (5) Data Quality Challenges. View document
at http://www.ncwd-
youth.info/assets/reports/preparing_all_youth_for_academic_and_career_readiness.pdf

Family Caregiver Resources
Family Caregiver Alliance Releases NEW FAMILY CARE NAVIGATOR
Family Care Navigator is a tool developed for Family and Informal
Caregivers as well as Professional Caregivers. This new tool provides
state specific resources and suggestions for a variety of issues pertinent
to challenges of caregiving.
http://caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/fcn_content_node.jsp?nodeid=2083

More Training Needed for Family Caregivers
A recent Institute of Medicine report said family members are not properly
trained to provide increasing levels of medical care for patients who are
sent home from the hospital or rehab in worse physical condition than ever
before, creating a big gap in the U.S. health care system. Experts say the
U.S. needs a system to offer and pay for caregiver training, which some
groups are beginning to offer. Reported in USA Today; to read the article,
go to http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2008-05-18-your-health_N.htm

Financial Planning Tools for Families of Children with Special Needs
The "Special Needs Planning Guide: How to Prepare for Every Stage of
Your Child's Life" is written by authors who also have family members with
special needs (John W. Nadworny & Cynthia R. Haddadis). Also included
is a CD-Rom which contains a helpful Financial Planning Timeline and a
printable Letter of Intent that lets parents communicate key information,
concerns, and desires to future caretakers. The book is available through
Brookes Publishing. For more information go to
http://www.brookespublishing.com/store/books/nadworny-68028/index.htm

REFERENCE POINTS was launched with the initial support from the National Center on
Secondary Education and Transition www.ncset.org. REFERENCE POINTS is
administered by the TATRA Project at PACER Center www.pacer.org, and funded by the
U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration.

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IN THE NEWS:

Gene discoveries yield autism clues - CNN.com
 Study: Genes suggest autism happens in brains that can't form proper
  connections
 Some genes may have been stuck in "off" position, respond to therapy
 Study reveals wide variety, almost a custom set, of gene defects in
  each patient
 Genetic cause is known for only about 15 percent of autism cases
Read article at
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/07/10/autism.genes.ap/index.html

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RESEARCH STUDIES:

Seeking children 16-18 months old for a research study being conducted
in the Child Language & Cognitive Processes Lab at SDSU. We hope to
learn more about how young children learn to communicate. The study
entails a number of fun activities and will require approximately 1½ hours
of your (and baby’s!) time. Babies must be exposed only to English in
order to participate. $50 Compensation for your time.
Contact Erica Ellis at (619) 594-8684 or emellis@ucsd.edu

New sleep research study
Participants are needed to take a survey about their child’s sleep behavior
as part of a research study about the sleep habits of children by the
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. This survey will
help us better understand typical sleep behavior in children and guide
parents in regards to normal childhood sleep behavior.
The survey consists of questions pertaining to your child’s sleep habits
and previous medical history. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to take the
confidential online survey. To reach the survey, click on the link below:
http://www.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?B195F9E1B2F3EDE3
(If clicking on the link does not work, copy and paste the whole link text
into your web browser.) A printable version can be requested by
contacting Laura deSouza at 713-500-3236 or
laura.desouza@uth.tmc.edu.

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RECREATION:

8/02/08 Greater San Diego SPORTS Festival at Tierrasanta Park &
Recreation Center, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd San Diego 92124. Visit
http://www.s4ea.org/ SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes is a San Diego-
based alternative sports program serving athletes with developmental
disabilities ages 5 through adult. Call 619-379-8422.

For the third year there will be a vacation bible school class geared for
children with special needs. Please contact Tonya Langdon at 619-885-
8315 or blestby3@cox.net.

8/16/08 DSA Family Social Summer Fiesta

Ability Dances is a program founded to enrich and enhance the lives
of children between the recommended ages of 6-8 with disabilities
through music & dance. It is an adaptive dance program tailored for
children with Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, Spina Bifida, and other
physical disabilities. Location: The Dance Place San Diego at 2650
Truxton Rd Studio 105, San Diego 92106 (in Point Loma). Session runs
from September 17- November 26 on Wednesdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
There will be a Free Workshop/Info session on Saturday August 23rd
from 10-11:30am. For more information, please contact Anna Dewey at
aadewey@hotmail.com or (617) 571-2446.

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RESOURCES:

Housing & Mortgages for People with Disabilities
This is a simple and straightforward guide that describes the process. A
worthwhile read! http://www.mortgageloan.com/disabilities/

Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders: A Resource Guide for Parents
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/local/norcal/upload/Parent_Guide_HR_rev.10-30-
07%20(reduced%20file%20size).pdf

NEAT AT 2 is a free program funded by the First 5 of San Diego directed
by UCSD Community Pediatrics in collaboration with South Bay
Community Services, National City School District, Chula Vista School
District, and South Bay School District. The program aims to provide
valuable information/education for parents regarding the importance
of nutrition and physical activity in an effort to raise awareness about
childhood obesity.
     Qualification requirements:
        Family must have at least one child between 2-4 years of age and
       reside within target zip codes- 91910, 91911, 919132, 91950,
       92154, and 92173. Residents of other zip codes will be accepted
       depending on space availability.
      Classes meet once a week (2 hours) for total of 10 weeks
      Follow up consists of four individual meetings to review class
       material and provide additional information as needed.
      These are hands on classes (children included) in which
       participants will learn how to prepare healthy foods/snacks as well
       fun games.
      Childcare is provided for eligible child and siblings

Currently accepting new participants for the following classes:
Monday        12-2 at Montgomery Adult School
Wednesday 9-11 at Scripps Well Being Center in Chula Vista

Any one interested in participating should contact Hilda Carrillo at 619
336-8371

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth has
a guide called the Road to Self-Sufficiency: A Guide to
Entrepreneurship for Youth with Disabilities
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/entrepreneurship_guide.html

Employers: Looking for great employees who think outside the box?
Look At My Ability is a new video that focuses on the largely under-tapped
skilled labor pool of people with disabilities and addresses the work ethic
and skills they represent. View the video at http://www.obln.org/LAMA.htm

When You Become 18: A Survival Guide for Teenagers
The State Bar has updated and reprinted When You Become 18: A
Survival Guide for Teenagers, in English and Spanish. Free of charge to
the public, the guide is part of an ongoing three-part series published by
the bar and funded, in part, by the California Bar Foundation. The English
version can be found at http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/publications/Becoming-
18.pdf. Cuando Llegas a los 18 años una guía de supervivencia para
adolescentes – vea a http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/publications/Becoming-18-
Spanish.pdf

JobEnable.com is a web site where employers can post jobs for people
with disabilities and people with disabilities can post resumes and search
a database of job openings. www.JobEnable.com

Announcing a New Radio Talk Show on Autism - "Remarkably Able"
Hosted by Jackie Marquette Ph.D.
Promoting Quality of Life and Creating Tangible Outcomes for All Teens
and Young Adults with Autism and Related Disabilities. Listen, call in your
comments or questions, and/or email your questions, concerns or
requests for discussion topics to Jackie@drjackiemarquette.com –she will
address a new topic each week and invite an expert guest. Where to
Listen: KFNX News-Talk Radio AM 1100 on the dial, Phoenix, AZ or log
onto KFNX and listen live. When: Mondays 9-10 PM, Pacific, or Listen via
Internet Streaming - www.1100KFNX.com. The areas for discussion will
include: emotional, social, educational, vocational, medical, alternative
options, political and spiritual. Interviews with leading experts in the field
will be conducted as well as interviews with people who have ASD and
their families. Effective tools, collaboration strategies, and practical
everyday solutions are discussed to help dissolve the barriers and deliver
to youth community participation, inclusion, and personal growth. The
ultimate goal is to offer hope for a better life to individuals with ASD of all
ages and their families. For more information, email
info@independencebound.com.

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MILITARY RESOURCES:

Parenting in a Military Family
http://www.cinchouse.com/
http://www.connectforkids.org/
http://www.operationhomefront.net/
http://www.emilitary.org/index.html
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~wrc_sdsu/minors.htm
http://images.military.com/NL_WK/1,14845,5794,00.html
https://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/display.aspx?ModuleID=ae74eaa3-d1b6-
4dbd-b23e-354880172094&Mode=User&action=category&ObjectID=3af36530-4a38-
44e7-bb41-c766657163cf

Armed Services YMCA Family Programs - Operation Kid Comfort, Mom &
Tots Program, Spouse Support & Craft Groups, Healthy Living Walking
Group, Healthy Living Walking Group: Get active while you exercise with
other military families. For more information on these activities above, go
to: http://militaryymca.com

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INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK:

“Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy
simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed.”

                                     - Storm Jameson

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please contact us at info@efrconline.org
Visit http://www.efrconline.org or call 1-800-281-8252
July 22, 2008

Exceptional Family Resource Center does not promote or recommend any therapy, treatment, institution, etc.
and does not espouse any particular political, educational or religious views. Inclusion of information or
resources does not necessarily imply promotion or recommendation by EFRC. Content is provided for
informational purposes only.