The Young Child with Special Needs Conference

Complexity in managing young children with special needs requires multidisciplinary approaches, along with family-focused interventions and support. Coordination of these interventions in multiple settings adds even greater challenge for health care providers, special educators, pre-school teachers, therapists, speech pathologists and parents. As professionals working with young children with developmental disabilities, we are charged with enhancing our knowledge of medical and behavioral conditions, refining our assessment skills and expanding our tools and strategies for managing these special needs children.

We invite you to attend the 22nd Annual Conference on "The Young Child with Special Needs" where you will hear the latest applied research, learn strategies for addressing a variety of developmental disabilities, enhance your tool kit for dealing with problem behaviors, and recognize the importance and impact of early intervention. Networking with the faculty from a variety of disciplines, as well as colleagues from around the nation, will enhance your professional development as you strive to provide the best possible outcome for these children and their families.

Highlights of the program:

•  Select from 2 popular Preconferences—Updates in Autism in Young Special Needs Children and Advances in Care for Medically Complex Special Needs Children.
•  Determine effective interventions for fetal alcohol syndrome disorders.
•  Overcome the challenges of special needs children who are in foster care environments.
•  Examine the impact of healthcare reform for this special population.
•  Identify emerging disabilities so that appropriate programs can be initiated to maximize outcomes.
•  Create your own program: Select from 16 Concurrent Sessions, including; children with cochlear implants, use of assistive and augmentive communication, ADHD, implementing new regulations, attachment disorders, and developing financial plans for early childhood programs.
• Relax and rejuvenate yourself, discover innovative practices, network with other colleagues across the US and return ready to implement changes that you've learned!

To read more, please click on the above title.

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

A Special Needs Sensory Movement Conference

Managing Behavior Issues

Friday, November 4, 2011
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte Convention Center
501 S College St
Charlotte, NC, 28202

Carol Kranowitz, MA
Author of the bestselling book The Out-of-Sync Child
Barbara Sher, MS, OTR
International speaker, The Power of Play

Addresses sensory issues associated with:
Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Down Syndrome, SPD, OCD, Cerebral Palsy, and more

APA Continuing Education Credit = 6
ASHA Continuing Education Units = .6
Note: To register online and save $5, click on the title above.

Summer Camps for Children and Teens with Special Needs

Camp Burnt Gin
Date: Early June to mid August
Where: Wedgefield, SC (Sumter County)
Cost: No charge
Participants: Four six day sessions for children 7 – 15 years old, two six day sessions for teenagers 16 – 20 years old, and a four day session for young adults, 21 – 25 years old.
Description: Camp Burnt Gin is a residential summer camping program. Activities include arts and crafts, nature study, drama, dance, sports, games, swimming and boating. All activities are adapted so that every child can participate. CBG offers children who have special needs the chance to meet new friends, learn recreational skills, improve their self esteem and independence.
Camp Burnt Gin is accredited by the American Camp Association.
Contact:For more information contact the Camp Director, Marie Aimone (803-898-0455 or aimonemi@dhec.sc.gov) or go to the camp's website: www.scdhec.gov/campburntgin

Camp Spearhead
Date: Various 5 day camps running from June - August 2011
Where: Pleasant Ridge Camp & Retreat Center, Marietta, SC
Cost: $290/week – Greenville County residents; $350/week – residents of other counties; $540/week – residents of other States
Participants: Ages 8 years old & up; Children & adults with disabilities; Camp Spearhead reserves the right to determine eligibility of potential campers. Eligibility is determined through application forms and, if necessary, through interviews with potential camper and parent, guardian, or caregiver.
Description: Camp Spearhead, founded in 1968 and located in the foothills of upstate SC, is a residential special needs camp for children (8 and up) and adults with special needs. Each summer Spearhead serves nearly 600 campers over the course of the eight week season. During the school-year Spearhead offers continued social and recreational opportunities through the popular Weekend Program.
Website: http://greenvillerec.com/activities-and-programs/camp-spearhead-temp

Rocky Bottom Retreat Summer Camp
Date: June 12-18, 2011
Where: Sunset, SC
Cost: Free
Participants: Legally blind children ages 6 through 16.
Description: Children are taught skills to cope with blindness and that it is respectable to be blind. Utilizing blind counselors to act as role models, Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind provides all the experiences of any Retreat including swimming, mountain hiking, arts & crafts, cookouts, fishing and field trips. Limited transportation is also available.
Contact: Vicki Black, Children's Camp Director

Camp Hope
Date: Four sessions (three one-week camps, one two-week camp) throughout the summer, each accepting a different age group. The one-week camps begin June 19, June 26, and July 3, and the two-week camp is from July 17-29. See Clemson Outdoor Lab Dates and Rates page for more details.
Where: Clemson Outdoor Lab, 415 Charlie White Trail, Pendleton, SC
Cost: Minumum $370 for SC residentes, $500 for residents of other states. See Clemson Outdoor Lab Dates and Rates page for more details.
Participants: Individuals with developmental disabilities
Description: Jaycee Camp Hope is a statewide residential camp for mentally challenged citizens. Its purposes are to give the camper helpful experiences in an outdoor environment, develop the ability to work and play as a group, and provide new experiences unique to a camp setting. The SC Junior Chamber of Commerce has provided financial support for every camper attending Jaycee Camp Hope since 1969. Individuals participating in Camp Hope are ages 8 and older. Campers are grouped according to age, level of functioning, and previous camp and social experience.
Contact: cuolcamps-L@clemson.edu

Camp Sertoma
Date: One-week camps from June 19 - July 29
Where: Clemson Outdoor Lab, 415 Charlie White Trail, Pendleton, SC
Cost: Free
Participants: Ages 7 – 13 years old who are underprivileged or have speech/hearing impairments
Description: Sponsored by the Sertoma clubs of South Carolina, this program serves children between the ages of 7-13 who are either underprivileged or who have speech/hearing impairments. Children are placed in groups with seven other children according to age and previous camp experience with two counselors. The program offers opportunities for fun, skills development and education in an outdoor environment. Because of the support of Sertoma Clubs across the state, there is no fee to attend.
Application: Children are first selected from various schools by the Sertoma Clubs spread across the state. Applicants to the camp are put on a list. If there are cancellations or openings after this selection, then those on the list are offered the chance to attend.
Website: www.campsertomasc.com

SCSDB William W. All Adventure Camp
Date: June 19-25, 2011
Where: Spartanburg, SC
Cost: Free
Participants: Children between 6 and 14 with either a hearing or vision loss that affects learning (there are separate camps for hearing loss and vision loss). They must also be a Sourth Carolina resistent, toilet-trained, have the physical, mental and behavioral capabilities to benefit from the programs offered during the camp, and not have attended SCSDB during the 2010-2011 school year.
Description: The Adventure Camp is divided into separate camps for hearing loss and vision loss. Each camp has special activities for their respective campers, like Braille lessons for the visually impaired and special cochlear implant activities for those with hearing loss. In addition, both camps offer field trips,confidence-building activities, independent living skills activities, skits/camp songs, swimming, horseback riding, and scuba diving.
Website: SC School for the Deaf and Blind Summer Camps

Camp Puff n' Stuff
Date: June 20-24, 2011
Where: College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
Cost: $50
Participants: Children ages 8 to 11 who are on daily asthma medication and under a doctor's care are eligible to attend.
Description: Camp Puff 'n Stuff provides asthmatic children with an opportunity to experience camp activities they may otherwise be denied due to their condition. It was designed specifically for children with asthma. Through educational activities, campers learn to understand and manage their illness while improving their self esteem.

PAALS Doggone Days of Summer Camp
Date: August 1-5 for Beginner Camp; August 8-12 for Advanced Camp (returnees)
Time: Beginner Camp: 8:30am - 12:30pm; Advanced Camp: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Where: Denny Terrace Community Center, Columbia, SC
Cost: $175 for Beginner Camp if paid by May 1, otherwise $200;
$250 for Advanced Camp if paid by May 1, otherwise $275
Participants: Beginner Camp: Ages 11-14 for on target youth and ages 11- 19 for special needs; Advanced Camp: Ages 12-16 for returnees who attended previous camp and/or volunteer with dog programs
Description:
• Beginner Camp: Learn the basics of service dog training, community service ethics, and work side by side with other youth and special needs individuals, all while pairing up totrain a service dog candidate
• Advanced Camp: Building on Beginner’s camp junior trainers will get more advanced service dog behaviors to practice and more responsibility of the dogs.
Contact: Jen Rogers at (803)788-7063 or Angie Helt at (803)754-6720 ext. 209
Website: http://www.paals.org/programs/doggone.html

Pattison’s Academy Summer Day Camp
Date: 5 weeks from June 20 - July 22; Mon - Fri, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Where: 2014 Bees Ferry Road, North Charleston, SC (Rutledge Baptist Church)
Cost: $150 Weekly. Costs include snacks, field trips, crafts and therapy services (as long as therapists are able to bill Medicaid or private insurance.) Pattison’s has never turned a child away because of a family’s inability to pay. Additional funding resources may be available.
Participants: Children ages 1-15 years old who have multiple and\or severe disabilities (Physical impairments, visual, hearing, cognitive impairments). Note: They cannot accept children whose primary diagnosis is autism or behavioral disorders because they will not have the staffing to provided the constant one on one supervision that many of these children deserve.
Description: Pattison's Academy Summer Camp provides therapy, enrichment and FUN for the children and a nice break for the care givers of these children. In 2009, 44 children from around the Lowcountry participated in very active days of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and field trips for 5 weeks.
Contact: http://www.pattisonsacademy.org/Summer_Camp10.html or 843-849-6707

Camp Lion's Den
Date: July 10 - 16, 2011
Where: Clemson Outdoor Lab, 415 Charlie White Trail, Pendleton, SC
Cost: Free
Participants: Children with visual impairments
Description: Serving the visually handicapped children of South Carolina, this program is sponsored by the Mid-Day Lions Club of Anderson, SC and the South Carolina Lions, Inc. Any child with a visual impairment between the ages of 7 and 17 may attend. Because of the dedication and support of SC Lions Clubs, there is no fee for attendance.
Contact: cuolcamps-L@clemson.edu
Website: http://www.sclions.org/programs/camp-lions-den.html

Camp Sunshine
Date: October 14 - 16 and November 18 - 20, 2011
Where: Clemson Outdoor Lab, 415 Charlie White Trail, Pendleton, SC
Cost: $40 application fee
Participants: Children & adults who have severe & profound special needs
Description: This weekend camp programs serves children and adults who have severe and profound special needs. Designed to provide a respite to the caregivers and families, participants also benefit from the program designed to offer fun and fellowship. Camp Sunshine is funded through the Sunshine Lady Foundation and is offered six weekends throughout the fall and spring. Campers enjoy pontoon boat rides, archery, crafts, campfire programs, hayrides and many other special events throughout the weekend. Clemson University students and former summer staff members serve as counselors for the program.
Contact: cuolcamps-L@clemson.edu

Summer Camps outside of South Carolina

Extra Special People (ESP) Summer Camp
NOTE: All camp weeks are full, but you can be put on a waiting list.
Date: Seven week-long camps from June 5 - July 29, 2011
Where: Watkinsville, GA
Cost:
• $65 - One-time registration and summer camp activity fee
• $200 - Each week of day camp ($100 if 100 Parent Involvement Credits are earned by 4/15/11)
• $250 - “No Kids Allowed” for ages 16+ (Week 3)
• $250 - Residential Week at Camp Twin Lakes (Week 6)
Participants: All individuals with a diagnosed developmental disability, starting at age 4.
Description: A seven week program that provides continuous learning as well as social and recreational opportunities for young people with disabilities. Camp runs 9:00am- 3:00pm. Before/after care can be arranged with individual staff for extra charges. Day camp is split into 4 units by age: Youngest, Younger-Middle, Older-Middle, and Oldest units.
Website: Extra Special People summer camp

Camp Chatterbox
Date: August 21 to 27, 2011
Where: Outdoor Center at Happiness is Camping, 62 Sunset Lake Road, Hardwick, NJ
Cost: The cost of attending Camp Chatterbox is $900 for a child and parent. This includes a $550 Therapy fee and a $400 Camp fee. (A significant portion of the actual camp cost for each family is subsidized by grant funding or other forms of charitable contributions.) Additional family members may attend Camp for an added fee.
Participants: Children ages 5-15 who are nonspeaking or severely speech impaired and functionally use synthesized Augmentative & Alternative Communication devices
Description: Camp Chatterbox, founded by Joan Bruno in 1992, is an intensive therapy camp for children, ages 5 -15, who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and a training program for their parents. It is sponsored by the Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, NJ.
Contact: www.campchatterbox.org

Victory Junction
Date: Various themed weeks from June 12 - August 12 for the Summer with separately scheduled weekends. See the full Victory Junction schedule for more details.
Where: Randleman, NC
Cost: Free
Participants: Children between 6 and 16 with a diagnosis in accordance with one of the many accepted conditions. The camp also has a page with eligibility requirements.
Description: Victory Junction enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment. Located in Randleman, NC, Victory Junction is built upon 84 beautiful acres donated by Richard and Lynda Petty. Themed around NASCAR racing, the camp is echoes the sights, sounds, and feel of a real racetrack.
Contact: The camp's Contact page has a number of different e-mail addresses parents can use, each addressing a different concern. There is also a toll-free number: 877-VJG-CAMP

Camp Communicate
Date: Friday, August 26 to Sunday, August 28, 2011
Where: Pine Tree Camp, Rome, ME
Cost: $375. This fee includes the programming, meals and accommodations for one camper and one parent/caregiver. For information on additional caregiver costs – please see the website.
Participants: Ages 8-20; use a high tech communication device; be accompanied by a caregiver. There are two programs, one for ages 8-14 and another for ages 15-20. Each program has a limit of 10 participants.
Description: Camp Communicate is an innovative weekend designed specifically for non-verbal children who use computerized devices, known as augmentative communication, to communicate. Each camper attends Camp Communicate along with a parent/caregiver. Parents will have the opportunity to attend workshops and share information and strategies in a supportive environment. Learning opportunities for parents will support more effective augmentative communication device use at home and will foster more proficient use in school.
Contact: http://www.pinetreesociety.org/camp_communicate.asp

Camp To Be Independent
Date: July 17 - 22, 2011
Where: Camp Twin Lakes, Rutledge, GA
Cost: Free
Participants: Children and adults ages 8 – 21 with traumatic brain injury. The camp usually hosts between 35 and 40 kids.
Description: Camp TBI offers parents/caregivers a respite while their children enjoy the fully accessible facilities at Camp Twin Lakes. Children will enjoy fishing, archery, arts and crafts, a zip line, bicycling, swimming, dancing, karaoke and talent nights in the care of counselors provided by the Medical College of Georgia Occupational Therapy School.
Contact: Call 706-826-5809 or email alsalley@wrh.org for registration information.
Scroll to the bottom of Outreach Programs webpage for more info and application details: http://www.wrh.org/community_outreach_programs.cfm

Courage Camps
Date: Various from June 19 until August 6
Where: Maple Lake, MN
Cost: Varies. Camp offers scholarships for campers who need financial assistance. Qualified applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participants: Varies depending on camp; See website for more information
Description: There are a very large variety of camps for people with disabilities organized by the Courage Camps. Below are only a couple of them. Please visit the website for a wealth of camps provided. Since 1955, Courage Camps offer safe, accessible, natural environments where children and adults with physical disabilities, sensory and language impairments, and other disabilities or illnesses discover abilities they never knew they had or they thought they had lost. Campers make new friends, and are often introduced to sports or hobbies they develop further at home or at school.
Contact: http://couragecamps.org/
Some of the camps offered:
• Literacy Session
June 19-24, 2011 - Ages 12 to 18
This unique session is for campers who are struggling readers. Campers' reading skills range from beginning readers to reading several years behind grade level. In addition to enjoying the many fun recreational activities offered, campers work daily with educational specialists on literacy-related activities. The session is under the direction of national literacy experts Drs. David Koppenhaver and Karen Erickson. Informal descriptive reports of literacy assessments and interventions are provided to families and campers to take back to their home schools. Campers attending this session should be independent in their personal care needs and have a means of communication, which may include an AAC(augmentative communication) system.
Full Cost: $800
• Youth Session
July 18-23, 2011 - Ages 7 to 12
Designed for campers with a physical disability or visual impairment, this session provides opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities ranging from swimming and horseback riding to sailing and crafts. As part of this experience, youth increase self-confidence, learn responsibility and develop essential leadership skills.
Full Cost: $800
• Teen Session
July 18-23, 2011 - Ages 13 to 17
This session is designed for teens with a physical disability or visual impairment. Enjoy a fun-filled week of traditional camp activities such as sailing, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, digital photography, nature and environmental studies, arts and crafts, and overnight camping. In addition to having fun, campers learn social and leadership skills and gain independence in a safe environment. Campers select activities based on their individual interests.
Full Cost: $800
• Communication Disorders
July 31-Aug. 6, 2011 - Ages 7 to 14
Help your child maintain valuable speech skills over the long summer break. Geared for youngsters who have a primary diagnosis of a speech, language or hearing disorder. Counselors and program staff reinforce camper language and communication skills throughout the day in activities ranging from swimming and boating to horseback riding and crafts.
Full Cost: $800
• 5th annual National Power Soccer Family Camp
Aug. 8-13, 2011
Join us for six days of power soccer training and camp fun. Top power soccer coaches and players from across the United States teach you the latest drills and training methods to make you the best power soccer player ever! If you are a first timer or a current player, come and learn the latest techniques and drills from the experts! Families are welcome to participate.
Full Cost: $600-Athletes
$500-Family Members
• Summer Sampler for Youth
July 20-23, 2011
The Summer Sampler is a special session for youth with a physical disability or visual impairment. The session offers campers an opportunity to try out overnight camp for the first time! During this three-day experience, campers will enjoy cabin life, make new friends and participate in many traditional camp activities. This is a wonderful introduction to the unique experience that overnight camp provides.
Full Cost: $400
• Teen Leadership Session
July 31 - Aug. 6, 2011 - Ages 13-17
Designed for teens with a physical disability or sensory impairment. The Teen Leadership Session offers eight days of intensive leadership and life skills. Training while engaged in a variety of traditional outdoor camp activities. Each camper has the opportunity to develop a personal leadership style, as well as learn about communication styles and conflict resolution. Campers develop self-confidence, foster independence and improve community identity.
Full Cost: $800
• amp Discovery 1 & 2
Co-sponsored with the Autism Society of Minnesota at Camp Courage
Session 1 June 26-July 1, 2011
Session 2 July 3-8, 2011
Two, five day sessions for children with Asperger’s Syndrome. For more information and an application, call the Autism Society of Minnesota at 651.647.1083.
• Hemophilia Session
Co-sponsored by the Hemophilia Foundation of Minnesota and Dakotas
July 10-16, 2011
Geared for children who have hemophilia and other related bleeding disorders. Campers take advantage of the safe facilities and great outdoor settings to explore their interests. Applications can be requested from the Courage Center Camps office at 763.520.0504 or camping@couragecenter.org
• Oncology/Blood Disorder Session
Co-sponsored by Children’s Hospitals and Clinics - Minneapolis and The Miracles of Mitch Foundation
July 25-29, 2011
Campers, ages 7 to 17, who have or had leukemia or other blood disorders, brain tumors and other forms of cancer, or get to know their peers in a safe, healthy, recreational setting. Siblings can participate in a special program that focuses on living with a brother or sister with cancer. Activities range from crafts and nature study to photography, swimming, horseback riding and more. Link to Oncology/Blood Disorders/Siblings Camp Application.

If you know of other summer camps for children and teens with special needs other than those listed on the SCATP camp website, be sure to let them know. Thanks!

Students honor special-needs peers at prom

USA Today — "Mary Alten remembers being determined, yet afraid, when she enrolled her daughter in preschool.
Toni Alten-Crowe was born with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes delays in physical and mental development. Alten had ignored recommendations to place Toni in a special school and moved to Loveland after hearing parents say the district tries to include students with disabilities in regular classes and activities.
Even so, she was concerned for her only child.
"I imagined that she would be snubbed and made fun of and not be given opportunities," Alten says.
Instead, something wonderful happened. Toni, now a senior at Loveland High, was crowned prom queen two weeks ago. Her friend, Drew Anderson, also a senior with Down syndrome, was crowned king by their classmates.
"What I had imagined for her turned out to be the exact opposite," Alten says.
Students in mainstream high schools are increasingly honoring their special-needs peers at school events, says Michelle Diament, co-founder of Disability Scoop, a Memphis-based website that covers news about developmental disabilities.
As examples, Diament points to the popularity of the Special Olympics and the TV show Glee's inclusion of children with disabilities."
NOTE: To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Family Connection Annual Conference

The 17th Annual Family Connection 'Of Hopes and Dreams' Conference
February 4 & 5, 2011
2011 Family Connection Conference, "Together We Can"
Hosted at Gateway Baptist Church in Irmo, SC.

Come to the 2011 Family Connection "Of Hopes and Dreams" Conference for parents with children with Special Needs and professionals who care for them.
There will be 47 helpful workshops and over 50 terrific presenters.
You will want to be there!
Three special workshops in Spanish on Saturday:
Recursos 101 * Taller de Programa de Educación Individual (IEP)
* Taller de Comunicación
Call Maggie Ortiz at 800-578-8750 for more information.

NOTE: To read more about the speakers and workshops, or to register online, click on the title above.

WEBINAR;Transitioning Into Special Education; Moving from the IFSP to the IEP

Please join PRO-Parents of SC for a Webinar Workshop

Tuesday

June 25, 2009

3:00pm-4:30pm

For Parents and others of Children with Special Needs

Sponsored By: Kershaw County DDSN

Presented By: PRO-Parents of SC

Parents Reaching Out to Parents of SC

“Transitioning Into Special Education”

Moving from the IFSP to the IEP

WEBINAR

Tanya M. Inabinet

Regional Education Coordinator

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

TOPICS

üWhat is Transition Services?

üWhen should Transition Services start?

ü Transition Services and Special Education

üWhat happens during the Transition Services meeting?

Access by Internet and conference call ONLY

Must have a valid email address and phone number

Please call PRO-Parents of SC to register

Call 1-800-759-4776

Or (803) 772-5688

PRO-Parents of SC 652 Bush River Road Ste 203

Columbia SC 29210

803.772-5688 or 800 759 4776

803.772-5341 fax

proparents@proparents.org (email)

www.proparents.org (website)

To unsubscribe/change profile: click here.

To subscribe: click here.

PRO-Parents of South Carolina

652 Bush RIver Road Ste 203

Columbia, South Carolina 29210

To visit the website, please click on the link above.

Discovery Of A Debilitating Genetic Syndrome

ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2008) — Canadian researchers announce the discovery of MEDNIK Syndrome, a debilitating genetic syndrome. A research team led by Dr. Patrick Cossette, from the Université de Montréal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) and Associate Professor, Université de Montréal (U de M), has demonstrated that this syndrome is caused by a newly found mutation in the AP1S1 gene.

MEDNIK syndrome was discovered in a group of families in Quebec from the Kamouraska region, sharing a common ancestor, suspected from clinical manifestations showing striking similarities to those of a similar syndrome. Caused by a mutation in the AP1S1 gene, this syndrome is characterized by mental retardation, enteropathy, deafness, and peripheral neuropathy, ichthyosis, and keratodermia (MEDNIK).

To view this complete article, please click the title above.

Project Lifesaver

In keeping with his desire to provide service to every citizen, no matter the need, Sheriff Leon Lott researched and obtained information on a great program that could safeguard our "at risk wanderers" within our communities.

In 2007, Project Lifesaver was introduced to Richland County citizens. Currently there are nine clients registered with the program and personnel from Project H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Precious Elderly) go out each month and change the batteries and wrist bracelets for our clients.

Project Lifesaver is the only organization that is allowed to electronically track human beings. It was designed to protect our "at risk wanderers" who suffer from Alzheimer's, children of Autism and those with Down Syndrome and other brain disorders which may lead them to wander. Today, Project Lifesaver has conducted over 1,600 searches with a 100% recovery rate.

Presently in South Carolina, Project Lifesaver agencies are: Richland County Sheriff's Department (the state coordinator agency), Aiken/North Augusta, Horry County/Myrtle Beach and Charleston County Sheriff's Office.

The concept is very easy. A caregiver would call Project Hope, who does our client management, and lets them know they are interested in enrolling their loved one in the program. Project Hope would send out one of their techs and make a home visit. There, the caregiver would receive the paperwork on the program and would be advised of the conditions of the program. If the caregiver/loved one are accepted to the program, they will receive a transmitter for their loved one. If a client wanders off from their caregiver, the caregiver will call a predetermined number from the program and activate Project Lifesaver. Responding officers will use their training, equipment and knowledge of the program to bring that loved one home.

Richland County Sheriff's Department does not charge Richland County residents or their loved ones who are "at risk wanderers" to be on the program. All required paperwork, contracts, doctor exams and follow ups have to be completed before a client is admitted into the program.

Anyone with questions or who may think this program would benefit your family (or if you would like to sponsor a client) to contact either Retired Captain John Edward at 803-576-3183, Corporal Amanda Lee at 803-513-3438, or Senior Deputy Patty Weed at 803-576-3191 for information.

For more information, please click the title above.

Researchers Propose Minocycline As A Promising Drug For Patients With Fragile X Syndrome

ScienceDaily (Oct. 4, 2008) — A UC Riverside-led team of biomedical scientists has found that a readily available drug called minocycline, used widely to treat acne and skin infections, can be used to treat Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of mental impairment and the most common cause of autism.

The study's findings have already impacted future therapies, with the approval of a new clinical trial in Toronto, Canada, that will test minocycline in patients with Fragile X.

Neurons in the brain communicate with each other at specialized contact sites called synapses, with many of these synapses occurring on small mushroom-shaped structures called dendritic spines.

To view this complete article, please click the title above.

Rare Genetic Disorder Gives Clues to Autism, Epilepsy, Mental Retardation

ScienceDaily (Sep. 25, 2008) — A rare genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is yielding insight into a possible cause of some neurodevelopmental disorders: structural abnormalities in neurons, or brain cells. Researchers in the F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center at Children's Hospital Boston, led by Mustafa Sahin, MD, PhD, and Xi He, PhD, also found that normal neuronal structure can potentially be restored.

If this could be done safely in humans, it might be possible to ameliorate the symptoms of epilepsy, mental retardation and autism, which are frequent complications of TSC, say the researchers.

TSC causes benign tumor-like lesions, which can affect every organ in the body and are called tubers when they occur in the brain. In the study, Sahin, He, lead author Yong-Jin Choi, PhD, and colleagues show in mice that when the two genes linked to the disease, TSC1 and TSC2, are inactivated, neurons grow too many axons (the long nerve fibers that transmit signals). Normal neurons grow just one axon and multiple dendrites (short projections that receive input from other neurons). This specification of axons and dendrites, known as polarity, is crucial for proper information flow.

To view this complete article, please click the title above.

Puberty and Lifestyles Workshop

Puberty and Lifestyles of Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other Special Needs Workshop

All children go through puberty regardless of their social maturity. The brain does not tell the body to stop growing, even if the developmental level is younger than their chronological age. Therefore, our goal is to provide you with information that will help you make informed decisions when dealing with hard, personal questions. The information will be detailed in order to empower you and is not intended to embarrass you or change your family values. A portion of the workshop will be dedicated as an open forum. This time will be used to address questions and hear the advice others.

Our speakers:
Lisa Cheyette, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and RDI® Program Certified Consultant who specializes in autism. She works with children, adolescents, and adults.

Mariana D’Amico is an Occupational Therapist with 25+ years experience working with clients across all age spans. She has spent many of those years working with adolescents and young adults with Developmental Disabilities.

When: Saturday, October 18th, 2008; Registration Begins at 9:30 AM
Where: Cedar Creek Church, Aiken, SC
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Cost: $5.00 or Donation; A refreshment break will be provided!

For directions to the church, please click the title above.

Teen Drivers with ADD a Problem on the Road

"It was hard to miss the bright yellow Student Driver bumper sticker on the back of the car driven by Tosha Mulligan.

Getting a driver's license is a rite of passage for many teenagers, but the process was a bit more challenging for 19-year-old Mulligan of Acworth, Georgia. She has attention deficit disorder.

When she gets behind the wheel, she said, 'Sometimes my mind wanders off.'

She's not alone. Researchers reported driving can be a serious problem for teens with ADD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Motor vehicle accidents already are the leading cause of death among teenagers in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Experts such as Russell Barkley say ADD and ADHD compound the problem.

Barkley, a psychiatry professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, is a widely recognized expert on ADD and driving. He has investigated the topic for 15 years and conducted a half-dozen studies, some of which have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Teen drivers with ADD or ADHD 'are impulsive, highly distractible and clumsy, can't pay attention to the roadway and they get bored easily,' he said."

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Parenting Children With Disabilities Becomes Less Taxing With Time

ScienceDaily (Sep. 10, 2008) — Having a child with a disability takes a toll on parents’ mental and physical health, yet new research suggests that, over time, parents learn to adapt to the challenges of caring for a disabled child. As these parents age, the study shows, their health more closely mirrors the health of parents with children who don’t have disabilities.

The study, conducted by a team of sociologists and social work researchers from the University of Chicago and University of Wisconsin-Madison, is the first to use a representative sample to systematically examine the effect of having children with developmental or mental health problems on parental well-being, comparing the sample to parents of children without disabilities.

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September is EdCeptional Kids Month!

During the month of September EdVenture Children's Museum will be celebrating the abilities of children and individuals who are facing life with the challenges of a disability. Throughout the month, special events will be offered in the museum to showcase the talents of children across South Carolina who have soared beyond the restrictions that a disability can create. Through the generosity of donors, children with disabilities and their families will be admitted free on Sundays in September.

SCATP staff members will be there for some of the demonstrations.

Some of the events include:

* Unique art projects for families of children with visual, sensory, developmental disabilities.

* Masks in Motion: an interactive program where masks are revealed as three performers combine African, jazz, modern and world dance in order to explore tolerance through stories from around the world.

* Demonstration of how service dogs can open doors and make life easier for people with physical disabilities.

* Demonstrations of how you can "make your computer speak" and assist you if you are working with disabilities.

* Demonstration by the Rolling ThunderWheelchair Basketball Team.

* Performance by tne South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind's choral group.

* Dramatic, musical and improvisational presentations by Carolina Actors with Special Talents, a group that consists of children and adults with cognitive, physical and emotional disabilities.

* Performances by the Special Olympics Cheerleaders.

For more information, please click the title above.

The Ultimate Guide to Special Needs Teaching: 100+ Resources and Links

By Laura Milligan

"Whether you have an entire class of students with special needs, or you’ve welcomed a student with a disability into your traditional classroom, this massive list of resources will help you research different disorders and conditions, review special lesson plans, and find the support you need to work with your students and help them succeed.

Blind Students

For instructing blind and visually impaired students, turn to this list of resources for teaching math, translating texts into braille and more.

1. Teaching Math to Visually Impaired Students: Learn all about Nemeth Code and different strategies for teaching the visually impaired how to solve and decode math problems.
2. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped: Use this resource to find books in braille and audio books.
3. Strategies for Teaching Students with Vision Impairments: This guide from West Virginia University helps teachers who aren’t used to teaching blind or visually impaired students understand what kinds of words to use and which tools and lab equipment to use in class.
4. National Braille Press: Browse the bookstore, have your class join the Children’s Book Club and find textbooks and tests for your visually impaired students here. The NBP can translate study guides, music and worksheets into braille.
5. Badger Accessibility Services: This resource from the University of Wisconsin-Madison lists places to find enlarged text books e-text to voice conversion teaching materials and audio materials."

NOTE: To read the entire resource list, click on the title above.

Riverbanks to Host Third Annual Dreamnight Along with Over 130 Zoos Worldwide

[Columbia, SC] - Big Dreams Under the Big Top is the theme of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s third annual Dreamnight at the Zoo. [Friday night], the Zoo will open its gates to disabled and chronically ill children at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital (PHCH) for a private carnival-themed extravaganza.

....

“Each year the staff at Riverbanks strives to create an environment that is bigger, better and more interactive for the kids,” said Satch Krantz, executive director of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “It is extremely rewarding for the staff and volunteers to see the smiles on the kids’ faces. The intention of the evening is to give these special children the opportunity to dream big and experience the joy of life.”

Dreamnight takes place annually worldwide on the first Friday evening in June. Twenty-five zoos in the United States along with 113 zoos from other countries will participate in the event. Last year, 55,000 children experienced Dreamnight along with over 220,000 other family members and caregivers. For a complete list of all participating zoos, please visit www.dreamnightatthezoo.nl.

During Dreamnight at the Zoo, the park remains closed to the public, and Dreamnight families are admitted free of charge.

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Boom in camps for chronically ill kids

WASHINGTON - Summer camps just for kids with chronic diseases are booming — places to learn about epilepsy or finally meet someone else with Tourette's tics or slice open a cow's heart to see what's wrong with their own.

Now fledgling research suggests such special camps may offer more than a rite of passage these children otherwise would miss: They just might have a lasting therapeutic value.

It's work that helps explain why children's hospitals increasingly are sponsoring disease-specific summer camps. One in the nation's capital actually integrated the camps into the neurology department.

"How do you live well with a chronic condition? I believe in part, the power of being amongst your peers normalizes the experience," explains Sandra Cushner-Weinstein, a social worker at Children's National Medical Center who founded the hospital's weeklong camps for five illnesses, and is studying the impact on campers

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SCATP 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 Catherine Graham at Catherine.graham@palmettohealth.org.

Some items currently listed for sale include:

5 foot long 1 piece Wheelchair Ramp. Ramp solutions, 5 foot long - one piece aluminum wheelchair ramp, used only once, non-skid, Excellent condition, For Sale: $100.00 or Best Offer

Pride Jet 2 HD (Heavy Duty) Scooter. Scooter/chair. Brand new and never used. The scooter has arms and will allow complete mobility. Never Used. For Sale: $400.00 or Best Offer

Sunrise Medical Kid Kart (Child's Wheelchair). Blue seat with Green Base. Very Good condition. Able to use in van with tie downs. Very Good condition. For Sale: $200.00 or Best Offer

Some items currently being sought:

"Sure Hands" Ceiling Hoist. A ceiling mounted hoist that can pick up a person with paraplegia and move him up & over to his wheelchair

Personal Lift. Lift to assist with transfers for a child approx 125lbs

Exterior Power Chair Lift with a Hitch. Seeking an exterior power chair lift with a hitch and/or funding for an exterior power chair lift with a hitch. The lift will be installed on a 1998 Grand Marquis and needs to be fully automatic with hand controls. It should accommodate a Jet II power chair with a weight of 220 pounds. I appreciate any help that anyone can give me.

To view these and other items, please click the title above.

What's New This Week at Family Connection

Monday, March 17
6 pm - 7:30 pm
Autism Connection
Wills and Trusts for Special Needs
Terry Hair, Met Life
Call 252-0914 for childcare

Tuesday, March 18
Mom's Morning Coffee
Panera Bread
1007 Bower Parkway
Columbia

Tuesday, March 18
6 pm - 7:30 pm
Special Needs Connection Pizza Night
Discipline - Special Consideration for the Child with Special Needs
Host: Dr Mark Posey
PLEASE RSVP 252-0914

Saturday, March 22
6 pm
Scrapbooking
Pages from the heart
The Scrapbook Store
3250 Forest Drive
$2 a person and bring pictures
Bring your own supplies or buy them there.

Pure Vision Arts

Pure Vision Arts (PVA) is Manhattan's first specialized art studio and exhibition space for artists with developmental disabilities. PVA provides studio space, art materials, exhibition opportunities, and career development for beginning, emerging, and established artists.

Pure Vision Arts (PVA) was founded in 2002 by The Shield Institute, a not-for-profit human-service agency that educates and supports New Yorkers with developmental disabilities. PVA is staffed by trained professionals with backgrounds in art education, fine arts, and art therapy who provide mentoring and support to the artists who attend the studio.

Pure Vision Arts is ultimately about facilitating social change by creating opportunities for access and inclusion in the arts. Many of the artists have led extraordinary lives and the sheer power and uniqueness of their work helps to break down negative public misperceptions and stereotypes about people who have disabilities.

For more information, and to view their online galleries, please click the title above.