Friday, August 31, 2007

WIS TV Spotlight!

NBC - WIS TV will spotlight Dr. Janice Washington (teacher), Joshua Mayer (RFB&D student) and Joshua's mother, Lavonda Mayer, on Friday, August 31. Please watch WIS TV news on Friday evening to view the special on RFB&D and hear firsthand how the RFB&D Learning Through Listening program has impacted Joshua's life! Joshua is just one of the 55,000+ students in South Carolina who learn through listening. Currently RFB&D is only serving a little more than 4,200 of these SC students so we have a ways to go to reach all these students who so desperately need the proper tools that science has now proven supports their learning style.

WIS TV will also be present at our media conference on Wednesday, September 5, 10:30am at Alcorn Middle School. Also attending the media conference will be The State Newspaper, The Columbia Star, WLTX and hopefully WOLO. Our media release is attached.

We hope you will tune in to WIS TV on Friday evening and make plans to join us for our media conference on Wednesday, September 5, 10:30am-11:00am at Alcorn Middle School.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Tourette Syndrome Conference

logo of Pro-Parent

Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) and PRO-Parents of South Carolina
Presents:

Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders in the Classroom

Two Free Workshops for Educators, Allied Professionals and Parents
.
LOCATIONS: (2 different locations)

Friday, October 26, 2007 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Solomon Conference Room - Room 125
114 Doughty Street Building, MUSC Thurmond / Gazes Research Building, Charleston, SC
OR
Saturday, October 27, 2007 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

MUSC Institute of Psychiatry - Auditorium, 67 President Street, Charleston, SC

Children with Tourette Syndrome present unique challenges in the classroom. Participants will learn how the condition is diagnosed and how it can be managed at school.

Topics include:
Criteria for diagnosing Tourette syndrome
Disorders often associated with Tourette syndrome
(ADHD, OCD, and Learning \ Disabilities)
Impact of these disorders in the classroom
Classroom strategies and techniques
The need for positive behavioral accommodations
** Much of the information presented in this workshop is beneficial to persons working with children, who have ADHD, LD, Emotional and other disabilities. **

CEU’s will be available through the University of South Carolina.
Online Registration Available!

Pro-Parents September 2007 Calendar

logo of Pro-Parents
SEPTEMBER 2007 CALENDAR OF WORKSHOPS
THESE WORKSHOPS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ACCOMMODATIONS WHEN REGISTERING.TO SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP IN YOUR AREAPLEASE CALL: 1-800-759-4776


9/05/2007 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Positive Behavioral Interventions (PBI) WorkshopSponsored by: Greenwood DDSNNorthside Baptist Church409 Northside DriveGreenwood, SC
Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SCRegion 3, Education CoordinatorTo register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/06/2007 12:00 am - 2:00 pm
Individualized Education Program (IEP) WorkshopSponsored by: Family Helping Families (Family Connections)Cherokee DDSN959 East Oneal StreetGaffney, SC 29340
Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SCRegion 3, Education CoordinatorTo register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/08/2007 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Transitioning In and Out of Special Education WorkshopSponsored by: Clarendon County DDSNClarendon MemorialCypress CenterSuite 5(The Zone - Kitchen Education Center)10 Hospital StreetManning, SC
Shawntel Green, PRO-Parents of SCRegion 1, Education CoordinatorTo register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/10/2007 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Individualized Education Program (IEP) WorkshopBluffton High School12 North East McCracklin CircleBluffton, SC
Shawntel Green, PRO-Parents of SCRegion 1, Education CoordinatorTo register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/10/2007 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Overview of PRO-Parents of SC WorkshopSponsored by: Parents of Bipolar Children (PBC)Henry Chiropractic Clinic3101 South Highway 14Greenville, SC 29615
Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SCRegion 3, Education CoordinatorTo register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/11/2007 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Individualized Education Program (IEP) WorkshopChild Haven112 Rutherford RoadGreenville, SC
Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SCRegion 3, Education CoordinatorTo register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/11/2007 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Individualized Education Program (IEP) WorkshopChesterfield County DDSNFamily Support Services Annex960 Chesterfield HighwayCheraw, SC 29709
Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents of SCRegion 2, Education CoordinatorTo register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/11/2007 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Individualized Education Program (IEP) WorkshopSpecial Service Building305 Burroughs AvenueBeaufort, SC
Shawntel Green, PRO-Parents of SCRegion 1, Education CoordinatorTo register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/11/2007 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Transitioning Out of Special Education Seminar
Topics Include:
Transition Out
IDEA Requirements
State responsibilities
State Performance Plan – Indicator 13
Age appropriate transition assessment *
Representation from the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs and SC Vocational Rehabilitation.
Presenter: Larry Kortering
9/11/ 07 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm*
Positive Behavior Interventions (PBI) WorkshopSponsored by: Horry County Foster Parent AssociationDSS Office1951 Industrial Park RoadConway, SC 29526
Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SCSouth Carolina Special KidsDSS Project CoordinatorTo register call: 1-866-863-1512

9/13/2007 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm*
Transitioning into Special Education WorkshopSponsored by: Chester County Foster Parent AssociationChester County LibraryLearning CenterChester, SC
Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SCSouth Carolina Special KidsDSS Project CoordinatorTo register call: 1-866-863-1512

9/13/2007 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm*
Individualized Education Program (IEP) WorkshopSponsored by: Colleton County Foster Parent AssociationCoastal ElectJefferies HighwayWalterboro, SC
Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SCSouth Carolina Special KidsDSS Project CoordinatorTo register call: 1-866-863-1512

For more events, please click title above.

2007 Lowcountry Buddy Walk

image of people walking

Take steps for a brighter tomorrow by joining the Lowcountry Buddy Walk!

The 2007 Lowcountry Buddy Walk will take place on Sunday, September 30.

Schedule: Registration and festivites will begin at 2:00 PM with the actual walk taking place at 3:00 PM. After the walk, the fun will continue until 5:00 PM.

This year’s walk will be an afternoon filled with fantastic fun for the young and old. Everything at the walk is included in the cost of your registration. Rest on your blankets under our tents. Enjoy delicious hotdogs prepared by our wonderful friends with the Knights of Columbus as well as snow cones and snacks provided by local businesses. Take home a free t-shirt, have your face painted, and enjoy tons of fun activities including multiple jump castles from Ready Set Jump! At the end of the day, you will take home many fond memories as well as a new or renewed appreciation for all the amazing people in our community with Down syndrome.

By participating in the Buddy Walk, you will help make a difference in the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. Each step you take and each dollar you contribute will help the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry (DSAL) provide important services enhancing the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

To see why we walk, click here to view our DREAMS video. Then, get involved with the Buddy Walk and make every step count!

Even if you are unable to be in Charleston for the Buddy Walk, you can make a charitable donation to help support the Buddy Walk program, the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry (DSAL) and the National Down Syndrome Society.

Please pre-register by September 14, 2007 to ensure you recieve your t-shirt(s).

For questions regarding special pricing for groups of 10 or more, or to pre-order additional Buddy Walk t-shirts (1 t-shirt is free with each registration)- please e-mail buddywalk@hometelecom.com or call (843) 553-DSAL and leave a message.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

EdCeptional Kids Month at EdVenture!

image of museum

September 2007 - EdCeptional Kids Month
Join us at EdVenture in September for EdCeptional Kids Month, as we celebrate children with disabilities and special needs. Special activities will be going on all month, including a visit from Rolling Thunder Wheelchair Basketball team on Sept. 11 and performances by Orisirisi, a storytelling group straight from Disney World! All field trips booked by teachers bringing students in self-contained, special needs classrooms will be admitted to the museum for FREE during the entire month of September. To book your field trip, call 803-400-1138 or email us. This project is funded by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Sponsored by NetBank.

September 22-30 2007
EdCeptional Kids WOW Week
Join us at EdVenture in September for EdCeptional Kids Month, as we celebrate children with disabilities and special needs. Our WOW Week will feature even more themed activities. Hands-on exhibits will help children experience what it is like to have a disability and assistive technology demonstrations will show how special equipment helps children with disabilities. Families can visit Art Alley, stop by interactive exhibits, learn sign language and enjoy student performances on Saturday, September 22 and even more drama, art and musical performances on Saturday, September 29. Orisirisi, storytellers from Disney World, will perform Sept. 22 and 23 and animal assistance dog demonstrations will be held Sept. 23. This project is funded by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Sponsored by NetBank. Call 779-3100 for more information.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Trainings by the SC Interagency Deaf-Blind Project

For additional information, please contact: Martha Veto - SC
Interagency Deaf-Blind Project, mveto@scsdb.org, 843-665-2415

Training Opportunities SPONSORED BY THE SC INTERAGENCY DEAF-BLIND PROJECT

Teaching to the Standards in Math for Students with Significant Disabilities
Presenters: Dr. Diane Browder, Ph.D., Katherine Trela, M.Ed, Vicki
Knight, M.Ed, Pam Mims, M.Ed
Monday, September 24, 2007
9:00-3:30
SC History and Archives Building
8301 Parklane Road Columbia, SC 29223. Tele: (803) 896-6100

Target audience: Teachers of students with moderate to severe mental
or multiple disabilities including deafblindness, or autism
Workshop overview: IDEA and NCLB require access to the general
education curriculum and the state academic content standards. Some
standards, like those that can be related to the use of money are
easy to incorporate within functional activities. Others can be
difficult to develop in ways that are feasible and meaningful for
students with significant cognitive disabilities. This workshop will
provide ideas for defining skills students can master and
instructional methods that give context and meaning to the skills.
----------------------------------

Teaching to the Standards in Science for Students with Significant
Disabilities
Presenters: Dr. Diane Browder, Ph.D., Bree Jimenez, M.Ed, Vicki
Knight, M.Ed, Tracie-Lynn Zakas, M.Ed
Friday, October 26, 2007
9:00-3:30
Walker Hall, SC School for the Deaf and the Blind
355 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302 Tele: 1-888-447-2732 Voice/TTY

Target audience: Teachers of students with moderate to severe mental
or multiple disabilities including deafblindness, or
autism
Workshop overview: For many students with significant disabilities,
learning science is a new endeavor. This workshop will describe how
to teach students scientific inquiry and offer multiple examples of
using an inquiry-based approach to teach science concepts.
------------------------------------

Dr. Browder is a nationally recognized expert, having published
several books and articles including: Aligning IEP's to Academic
Standards and Curriculum and Assessment for Students with Moderate
and Severe Disabilities. Dr. Browder and her team at the University
of North Carolina at Charlotte, are involved in General Curriculum
Access Projects in association with the National Alternate Assessment Center.

To register for these workshops you must use SDE on-line
registration. Go to http://ed.sc.gov/scopd/eregister.html and
follow the directions. The course number is ININ23104 for Math and
ININ23105 for Science If you need assistance to register please
call: Katina A. Brown 803-734-5454 Marlene M. Sellars 803-734-8210
Trishun Pittman 803-734-6516, Brenda Turner 803-734-8211

Friday, August 17, 2007

Attention! Columbia Area Wheelchair Basketball Season!


All HOME games are played at Denny Terrace Community Center
http://www.richlandcountyrecreation.com/dennyterrace.asp
6429 Bishop Avenue, Columbia, SC, 29203 (803) 754-5290

Call or email Catherine Leigh Graham for further information.
(803) 434-3189 or (803) 419-5150
Catherine.graham@palmettohealth.org

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Up and Coming Workshop!


Winston's Wish, a Foundation of Love for Children with Autism, is proud to
announce Dr. Vincent Carbone's return to South Carolina!

As the first presenter in the Foundation's groundbreaking Education Series,
Dr. Carbone will return to Columbia, South Carolina September 19-21, 2007 to
present his Workshop 1, Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Autism or
Other Developmental Disabilities.

Attached is a brochure with information and the registration for the
Workshop. Please feel free to pass this along to friends, family, therapists, other
educators - anyone who you think might be interested.

Space is limited so register early! The cost is $225.00 per person, but if
you register BEFORE AUGUST 19, 2007, it is ONLY $150.00! Our website,
www.winstonswishfoundation.com, is also accepting registrations. We will be updating
it often so check back frequently! You can register for Dr. Carbone's
workshop online and we will soon be posting more information on dining choices and
hotel accommodations should you need a place to hang your hat while you visit
us in Columbia!

While you are online, take a moment to read the PDD waiver Update Report
provided by DDSN today, August 7. It is located under Advocacy and Legislation.
It will provide you with a wealth of information regarding the history,
implementation and current status of the Medicaid/DDSN Pervasive Development
Disorder, along with a brief overview of what they are expecting in 2008.

Winston's Wish Foundation was established in the Fall of 2006 by the family
and friends of Winston Hagy Ridley. Our mission is to enable every child with
autism in South Carolina and their families to thrive! We will offer new
educational opportunities and resources while promoting a heightened awareness
and deeper understanding of autism in the greater community. In the future,
Winston's Wish Foundation, together with community partners, will create the
Palmetto Center for Autism, a state-of-the-art treatment clinic for children
with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Thanks so much for helping us get the word out! We are truly excited to
offer this opportunity to the education, medical and Autism communities.

Sincerely,

Marcella Hagy Ridley,
President,
Winston's Wish Foundation

email: winstonswish@aol.com
website: www.winstonswishfoundation.com
803.466.8189

Monday, August 13, 2007

Check it out!: SC Assistive Technology Exchange

The SC Assistive Technology Exchange is an online recycling database
to help citizens with disabilities and older people with functional
limitations find affordable assistive technology devices and
equipment. For more information or to buy, sell or donate, visit the
Web site at http://www.scatpexchange.net/ or email Janet Jendron at
jjendron@usit.net.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Call for Applications for 2008 Hearne and Betts Awards


CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: THE 2008 PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP
AWARDS (due: Sept. 21, 2007)

The Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards program was established
to identify and support emerging leaders with disabilities who
will carry on the disability rights movement. Administered by
AAPD and sponsored by the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation,
the 2008 Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards identifies up to
two emerging leaders with disabilities to each receive $10,000 to
help them continue their progress as leaders. These individuals
will also have an opportunity to meet and network with national
disability leaders at the annual AAPD Leadership Gala in
Washington, DC in the spring. Applications are available from
www.AAPD.com.

Apply by: Friday, September 21, 2007.

Questions and submissions for the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership
Awards program to: aapdhearne@aol.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: THE 2008 HENRY B. BETTS AWARD
(due: Tuesday, October 9, 2007)

The Henry B. Betts Award program, administered by AAPD, was
created by the Prince Charitable Trusts and the Rehabilitation
Institute of Chicago in 1989 to annually honor individuals who
have, in the course of their work, helped to lead the societal
transformation that is producing dramatically better outcomes and
higher expectations for the diverse groups that make up the
disability community in the United States and around the world.
Typically, one outstanding living individual is selected each year
to receive The Henry B. Betts Award with an unrestricted $50,000
cash award at AAPD's annual Leadership Gala in Washington, D.C.
Nominations are available from www.AAPD.com.

Nominations are due: Tuesday, October 9, 2007.

Questions and submissions for the Henry B. Betts Award program to:
aapdbetts@aol.com.

SOURCE: AAPD

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Zebrafish Study May Point Way to Blindness Cure


LONDON (Reuters) - The ability of zebrafish to regenerate damaged retinas has given scientists a clue about restoring human vision and could lead to an experimental treatment for blindness within five years.
British researchers said on Wednesday they had successfully grown in the laboratory a type of adult stem cell found in the eyes of both fish and mammals that develops into neurons in the retina.

To view the entire article, click on the title above.