Friday, February 28, 2014

Upcoming PRO-Parents Workshops




Transitioning Out of Special Education
When: 03/18/2014, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Where: Family Connection SC, 2712 Middleburg Drive, Columbia SC 29204


Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD&ADHD) Workshop
When: 03/20/2014, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Where: Beaufort County School Parent/Community reach Centre, Robert Smalls Middle School, 43 W.K alston Road, Room J-1, Beaufort, SC


Transitioning Out of Special Education Workshop
When: 04/10/2014, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Where: Beaufort County School Parent/Community reach Centre, Robert Smalls Middle School, 43 W.K alston Road, Room J-1, Beaufort, SC


Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
When: 04/16/2014, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Where: Lancaster DDSN, 1126 Campcreek Road, Lancaster, SC 29020


To register for any of these workshops please call 1-800-759-4776 or 803-772-5688.


To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Executive Order Increases Federal Contractor Minimum Wage, Includes People with Disabilities


Executive Order Increases Federal Contractor Minimum Wage, Includes People with Disabilities

February 12, 2014

Andrew J. Imparato, JD
Executive Director
aimparato@aucd.org

Kim E. Musheno
Director of Legislative Affairs
301-588-8252
kmusheno@aucd.org

 The White House announced that President Barack Obama will sign an Executive Order raising the minimum wage to $10.10 for all future federal contract workers, including workers with disabilities. Under the current law, workers with disabilities may be paid significantly less than the wage paid to workers without disabilities doing the same job. This Executive Order, which covers all new federal contracts, will end that practice among contractors beginning in 2015.
AUCD applauds the President for increasing wages for hardworking Americans, and especially for including people with disabilities in his Executive Order. "By ensuring that people with disabilities receive equal pay for equal work, the President is allowing individuals to secure competitive, integrated employment," said Andy Imparato, Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). "AUCD believes that this new law will assure equality and opportunity for all and eliminate any policies of discrimination on the basis of disability. We continue to urge Congress to take further action and increase employment opportunities for all by passing the Senate bill to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act."
Learn more information about the Executive Order on AUCD's website here or on the White House page here.
About AUCD
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. Through its members, AUCD is a resource for local, state, national, and international agencies, organizations, and policy makers concerned about people living with developmental and other disabilities and their families. AUCD Network members consist of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), 43 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Programs, and 15 Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Centers (IDDRC). For more information and directory of University Centers, see www.aucd.org.
To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Major Step Forward in Improving Safety of Children in Schools with Legislation to Restrict the Use of Restraints and Seclusion


Major Step Forward in Improving Safety of Children in Schools with Legislation to Restrict the Use of Restraints and Seclusion


Andrew J. Imparato, JD
Executive Director
aimparato@aucd.org

Kim E. Musheno
Director of Legislative Affairs
301-588-8252
kmusheno@aucd.org

AUCD applauds Senator Tom Harkin who announced that he will introduce legislation today to reduce the use of restraints and seclusion in schools. Representative George Miller (D-CA) introduced a similar bill by the same name last July.
There is an urgent need for Federal protection, an allocation of resources and assistance to States to develop plans to reduce the use of these dangerous techniques. Currently, no federal guidelines exist regarding the use of restraints and seclusion. Risk of injury and harm is significantly increased when seclusion and restraints are implemented by staff who are not sufficiently trained.
"School personnel need training in the use of evidence-based techniques in crisis reduction and de-escalation and the use of Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports," stated Dan Crimmins, PhD, Director of the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University (a Georgia UCEDD), who testified at a Senate hearing on the issue in 2012. "Research by many of our University Centers has shown Positive Behavioral Supports as an effective intervention for children with disruptive or challenging behaviors across a broad age range and spectrum of behaviors."
Evidence shows a disproportionate use of these techniques on students with disabilities, violating their right to nondiscrimination in accessing education. A majority of problem behaviors that are used to justify seclusion and restraint could be prevented with early identification and intensive early intervention. The need for seclusion and restraint procedures is, in part, a result of insufficient investment in prevention efforts.
Robert Bacon, MA, Director of the Iowa University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, stated, "The disability community in Iowa, as well as nationwide, is grateful for Senator Harkin's continuing leadership on issues critical to the wellbeing of children in our schools, especially those children receiving special education. He truly recognizes the importance of evidence-based practices in schools for children with disabilities."
AUCD looks forward to reviewing the bill and working with the House and Senate to do whatever it takes to move this long-overdue legislation quickly through Congress.


About AUCD
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. Through its members, AUCD is a resource for local, state, national, and international agencies, organizations, and policy makers concerned about people living with developmental and other disabilities and their families. AUCD Network members consist of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), 43 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Programs, and 15 Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Centers (IDDRC). For more information and directory of University Centers, see www.aucd.org.
To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Party With PAALS – Un-Gala 2014: Dog-aritaville


TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!

March 22, 2014. South Carolina State Museum. 7PM.

The theme has been set! The space reserved! The entertainment planned!
Don’t miss Columbia’s party of the year: Party with PAALS – UN-Gala 2014: DOG-ARITAVILLE
The 2014 UN-Gala will be at the same location as last year: The South Carolina State Museum. (Yes, we were surprised they wanted us to come back too!) The event will start at 7PM, so don’t be late!
As usual there will be plenty of food, music, fun & games, silent and live auctions and — of course — an open bar with adult beverages.
We have made some major changes this year for event check-in and for auction purchase check-out. We think you will be pleased how much more quickly and smoothly both of these processes will move in 2014.
So start planning your costume now. The possibilities are endless. Just look deep into your closet for your best (i.e. most outlandish beach/Caribbean wear) and putTusnami Wave Ridderstogether your outfit. Or  just come as you are. We won’t care. And you’ll have fun no matter how you are dressed!
Music for Dog-aritaville will be provided by Tsunami Wave Riders.
Tickets are $60 per person. However, advance purchase tickets are available through March 8th are only $40 per person.
Special pricing is available for PAALS volunteers. If you are a volunteer and haven’t received your special invitation, let us know and we’ll get you the information.

If you have a regular (not emailed) ticket, you can pre-register for the event HERE. By pre-registering your ticket number, you can avoid the line at event check-in.

Purchase UN-Gala Advance Tickets Using Your Credit Card

To purchase UN-Gala Advance tickets using your credit card, please click HERE.
(Volunteers should have received a link to a special website for credit card purchases.)

Purchase UN-Gala Advance Tickets Using PayPal

To purchase UN-Gala Tickets using your PayPal account, please click HERE.
(Volunteers should have received a PayPal discount code in a special email.)

Purchase UN-Gala Advance Tickets by Personal Check

Please mail your check (no cash please) to PAALS, PO Box 25679, Columbia, SC 29224. Write “UN-Gala Tickets” on the memo line of the check. If you are purchasing tickets for persons in addition to yourself, please also include a list of the guest names and  email or phone #.

Please Support our UN-Gala Sponsors

If you are interested in being a sponsor of Party with PAALS: An Un-Gala 2014 – DOG-ARITAVILLE, please email Sandra Gaines at sgaines@paals.org.
To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Get Excited! The Columbia, SC NEDA Walk


The Columbia, SC NEDA Walk is this Saturday, March 1st at 1PM! Take part in NEDAwareness Week and form a community of those supporting friends and family in the fight against eating disorders!


There is still plenty of time to fundraise! If you haven't already you can register online and help NEDA spread the news- send out those last minute fundraising emails and utilize your social media network to help us set a great precedent for next year! Pre-registration closes at 5pm EST on Friday so be sure to register online right away! Unable to attend the walk? You can still make a donation!

Be sure to take a look at our NEDA Walk Participant Packet! It has plenty of useful information about the day of the walk. The packet also has fundraising tips to help you make sure NEDA reaches its goal!

To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

South Carolina Assistive Technology Expo 2014


Free and open to the public! No preregistration required!


Make sure you don't miss 'Apps offered by Web Browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer.'


There will be an explanation of the difference between a browser app, add-on, extension, and plug in. Overview of browser extensions that can enhance online reading and learning. Overview of extensions for text-to-speech, speech-to-text, highlighting, saving notes, typing papers, looking up word definitions, spelling help, screen reading, magnification and more.

To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing


Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Wednesday, February 26, 2014
3:00pm ET - 4:00pm ET



Description:
Funded through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), the LEND Pediatric Audiology Training Program supports 10 LEND programs to increase the didactic content and clinical experience of trainees in pediatric audiology. This webinar will use a combination of information from the literature, retrospective chart review of children with a dual diagnosis and feedback from family and professional focus groups to assist the learner in understanding the unique needs of children who are deaf/hard of hearing(hoh) with an autism spectrum disorder.  Red Flags for atypical communication will be presented as well as information about the needs related to communication, functional skills, and integrated care models.
Objectives:
·         Describe aspects of atypical development in children with the dual diagnosis
·         Identify communication strategies which can help with children with a dual diagnosis
·         Gain an understanding of family perspectives regarding the dual diagnosis of hearing loss and autism spectrum disorders
Speakers
Susan Wiley, MD, Dr. Wiley is a LEND Core Faculty Member in Pediatrics and an Adjunct Associate Professor in both the  Division of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics and a secondary appointment in the Division of Otolaryngology.  She is also the Program Director for the Developmental and Behavioral  Pediatric Fellowship program at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Her primary clinical and research interests are with children who are deaf/hoh with additional disabilities.  She collaborates with the Ear and Hearing Center, an interdisciplinary clinical model for children with newly identified hearing loss.  Her research has included topics such as cochlear implantation in children who are deaf/blind, the impact of language and cognition on functional outcomes of children who are deaf/hoh, and developmental screening in children who are deaf/hoh.
Michael Scott, Michael Scott is the Auditory Implant Program Coordinator at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.  He coordinates the multidisciplinary team including professionals from Speech Pathology, Developmental Pediatrics, Aural Rehabilitation, ENT, Social Work and Audiology.  Clinically, he works with children ages birth to 21 years of age providing diagnostic hearing evaluations; management of bone conduction implant systems; and cochlear implants.  Research interests include cochlear implants, auditory (re)habilitation, and electrophysiology.

The visual portion of the webinar will be conducted via GoToMeeting and the audio portion via telephone or VoIP (requires microphone and speakers).  After registration you will be given a unique web address for viewing the webinar and audio information. This webinar will be recorded and should be available within a week of broadcast.
If you would like closed captioning or need assistance with this webinar, please contact Meaghan at mmchugh@aucd.org at least 5 days before the event.
 To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Monday, February 24, 2014

2014 UCEDD Directors Retreat and AIDD TA Institute





2014 UCEDD Directors Retreat and AIDD TA Institute

Wednesday, March 19, 2014- Friday, March 21, 2014
Location: Crystal City Hilton, Arlington, VA.


The 2014 UCEDD Directors Retreat will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
The 2014 AIDD TA Institute will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2014, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and Friday, March 21, 2014, 8:00 am - 12:00 noon.

Both meetings will be held at Hilton Crystal City at Washington Reagan National Airport, 2399 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.

These meetings provide an opportunity for UCEDD leaders to network, meet with their federal project officers, and learn of new initiatives, national trends, and other information vital to the administration of the UCEDD programs.

To register for this event please visit https://www.aucd.org/meetings/register.cfm?id=199.
To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link



Friday, February 21, 2014

New I/DD Toolkit Now Available


New I/DD Toolkit Now Available

The I/DD Toolkit now available from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities offers health care providers best-practice tools and a wealth of information regarding specific medical and behavioral concerns of adults with I/DD, including resources for patients and families.
The toolkit can be found at http://www.iddtoolkit.org.
- See more at: http://autismnow.org/2014/01/30/new-idd-toolkit-now-available/#sthash.fGvZZdC7.dpuf

To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

3rd Annual 'Q & A Open Forum Panel of Doctors and Pd Specialists' coming up in April...

Mark your calendars! Columbia Parkinson's Support Group are having a very special program at their April 6th meeting.  The meeting program will be a "Q & A Open Forum Panel of PD Doctors and Specialists". 



You will have an opportunity to meet the panel members and ask your questions in an open forum about Parkinson's disease and/or living with Parkinson's.    



Date: April 6, 2014
Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Place: Lexington Medical Center Auditorium --- Meeting information, directions, and map can be found on this web page http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meeting_info.htm
We Encourage You To  Submit Your Questions Before This Meeting!
If you have questions for the Doctor's Panel, we encourage you to submit your questions "before the meeting".  Send your questions to:  contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org
Please enter in the "Subject" line of your email "Question for the April 2014 Meeting".  
You Can Submit Your Questions Now! 


To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Sixers honor Bensalem basketball star Kevin Grow

Bensalem basketball star Kevin Grow made his debut as part of the Philadelphia 76ers, after signing a two-day contract.  On Tuesday night, Grow was introduced on center court with his new teammates.  Before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the teen was outfitted with his own custom jersey and a stall in the team's locker-room.  It was another memorable night for an inspirational young man.  The Sixers announced Monday they were signing the senior to a ceremonial two-day contract.
Signing the two-day contract capped an amazing week-long run in the national spotlight for the Bensalem High School senior.  Last week, Action News' Jeff Skversky reported on the 18-year-old whose story garnered attention from around the Delaware Valley.  "We said two minutes and you take advantage of your two minutes of fame. His life will be changed forever," said Earl Grow, father. The teen, who has Down Syndrome, was the high school team's manager for the last four years.



 To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Emerging Transformational Leadership Program


Emerging Transformational Leadership Program

Wednesday, February 19, 2014- Wednesday, February 19, 2014
2:00pm EST - 3:00pm EST

Webinar Objectives:
This webinar is one of a series of webinars developed by LEND and UCEDD programs within the Southeast Regional Consortium.  The objectives of this webinar are:
1.  Recognize the challenges of LEND programs that seek to have a direct impact on systems of care for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities 
2.  Describe at least one training program designed to address these challenges 
3.  Consider how the lessons learned from group-based intervention of post-service professionals may be applied to LEND training 
Webinar Description: 
Is it possible for a LEND program to have a direct impact on systems of care? For decades LEND programs have focused on training future leaders, with indirect and typically long-term impact on systems of care. In 2011 the Mailman Center for Child Development LEND hypothesized that providing systems-change training to a small group of established professionals could have a short-term, direct impact on local systems of care. 
The Emerging Transformational Leadership Program (ETLP) is designed as a supplement to our traditional LEND training. Each year we select a small group of early-to mid-career professionals, parents and self-advocates who have been identified as emerging leaders in the disability community. We provide a targeted leadership training curriculum focused on changing systems of care for people with developmental disabilities. Participants develop a group project, with measurable outcomes and a specific plan for implementation. An overview and lessons learned will be shared, along with preliminary results of the program.
Speakers:
Jeffrey P. Brosco MD PhD photoJeffrey P. Brosco MD PhD
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Associate Director, Clinical Services, Mailman Center for Child Development
Dr. Brosco completed an M.D. and a Ph.D. in the history of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.  He served as chief resident after training in pediatrics at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, and he is board-certified in Pediatrics and in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics.  He completed his tenure as a Robert Wood Johnson Generalist Faculty Scholar in 2003, and he continues to teach and practice both general pediatrics and developmental pediatrics.  Dr. Brosco's previous research includes an analysis of the history of health care for children, and his current project focuses on social history and public policy trends in health care for persons with developmental disabilities.  Dr. Brosco has a leadership role in a variety of local, state, and national health policy groups, including the Act Early State Workgroup (Florida/CDC, co-chair), Newborn Screening Translational Research Network (ACMG/NIH, co-chair of Ethics Legal Workgroup), and PKU Scientific Review Conference (NIH, co-chair of Long-term Outcomes and Management Across the Lifespan workgroup).

Shelly Baer, LCSW photoShelly Baer, LCSW
Associate Director, Training, LEND, Coordinator: Emerging Transformational Leadership Program (ETLP), Coordinator: Self-Advocate Leadership Training (SALT), Clinical Social Worker
Shelly Baer, LCSW received her bachelor's in psychology/special education at University of Miami and her master's in social work at Yeshiva University. She has worked as a clinical social worker for 20 years in the Miami community focusing on under-served populations. Her current position at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is at the Mailman Center for Child Development as Associate Director, Training, LEND, Coordinator of the Emerging Transformational Leadership Program and Coordinator of Self-Advocate Leadership Training (SALT). As clinical social work supervisor, she supervises LEND social work interns. Ms. Baer is an individual with a disability growing up with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and it has never slowed her down. Ms. Baer created a resource guide called ACCESS Miami providing social service and accessibility resources for people with disabilities; the guide is now part of Mailman's website. Ms. Baer provides public speaking to college classes and health care professionals on sexuality, dating and disability. As a springboard for discussion, she utilizes the photography exhibit she co-created, Uncensored Life: Raw Beauty which showcased women with disabilities beauty and sensuality.
 To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Monday, February 17, 2014

SC Assistive Technology Reuse Summit


This is a unique opportunity to network with people from all over the state who are interested in equipment reuse. Please spread the word.

SC Assistive Technology Reuse Summit

Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Time: 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Location: 
Collaborative Training Center
Midlands Center
8301 Farrow Road
Columbia, SC
Lunch will be provided in part by Carolina Medical. If you or your organization would like to help with lunch, please email Janet Jendron.
Description: 
This Summit is for organizations and people who serve people who either need reutilized assistive technology, or who find themselves with AT they no longer need. At this Re-Use Summit, we’ll learn about South Carolina’s Reutilization Initiatives and offer our re-use programs the opportunity to gather more support from community and state networks. We’ll connect people and organizations, so we can all work more effectively to share reutilized equipment throughout the state.
Contact Janet Jendron with questions about this Summit.
Agenda (subject to change)
We’ll discuss the following challenges and come up with solutions and plans for working together, to improve the ways that we all provide used equipment to South Carolinians. We’ll consider:
    • How can our separate programs better, and more regularly communicate with each other?
    • Who else should we bring to the table for support and collaboration?
    • Topics of Interest:
      • Transportation
      • Equipment Cleaning, Sanitization, Storage, Inventory, Repair, Disposal
      • Communication – How can we better keep in touch?
      • Program Marketing (Publicity, PR, Social Media)
      • Finding Staff – Paid and Volunteer
      • Finding and Providing “High Demand Items” (e.g., tub benches, strollers)
      • Funding and Fundraising (e.g., creative ways to buy batteries for power wheelchairs)
      • If you have a “topic of interest” to add, please contact Janet Jendron
  • 12:00    Lunch (provided)
  • 1:00     Discussion Continues (see topics above)
  • 2:00     Summary and Future Action Steps
Attendance for this workshop is limited to 50 people
To register for this workshop:
To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link

Friday, February 14, 2014

AbleNet University: CommonAbleNet University: Core Aligned Health Units/Lessons for Students with Multiple Disabilities



February 18, 2014 12:15pm CST - 45 minutes 
Title: Common Core Aligned Health Units/Lessons for Students with Multiple Disabilities
Description: This webinar will discuss ways to infuse health and adaptive daily living skills in the classroom and will focus on diet and nutrition. I will go through a unit which is aligned with the common core but created for students with multiple disabilities. The lessons will utilize large and small group instruction, ways of including IEP goal alignment, and skill based learning infused with content.
Category: Curriculum
Presenter: Lauren Collier
Cost: FREE

Learn More or Register Now 

To learn more, please click on the above title.
To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link