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.

Kurzweil Training

Thursday, April 10, 2008
"Active Learning and Study Strategies using the Kurzweil 3000 Software"
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Poplar Conference Room, Midlands Center, Columbia
Presenter: Edna Beard - Kurzweil Consultant and Reseller in the Carolinas

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
“Introduction to the knfbReader Mobile”
Poplar Conference Room, Midlands Center, Columbia, SC
Presenter: Edna Beard - Quintex of Asheville,
knfbReader Mobile Distributor in the Carolinas

Workshop Description: If you already have Kurzweil 3000 or are just thinking about purchasing it - this workshop will help to clarify just how the Kurzweil 3000 can be used to help struggling students. The Kurzweil 3000 is a content-independent reading, writing, and learning software. It is used in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges and universities to help students succeed in the classroom regardless of their curriculum or lesson plans.

The attendees will be shown activities using the Kurzweil 3000 to teach learning strategies for pre-reading skills, vocabulary development, active reading strategies, writing and proofreading, and test taking skills. In demonstrating these activities the presenter will be providing an overview of how this product can be used with any struggling student.

Educators and independent research have demonstrated that Kurzweil 3000 provides not only the tools students need to improve their reading speed and comprehension, but also the features that make it possible for them to learn and study independently. Each attendee will receive a demo copy of the Professional Color software, a product overview brochure, and a copy of "Scientifically-Based Research Validating Kurzweil 3000 - An Annotated Review of Current Research Supporting the Use of Kurzweil 3000 in the Classroom."

The knfbReader Mobile is a phone that reads to you - a truly pocket-size solution to reading on the go. This is a major advancement in portability and functionality of print access for blind, the visually impaired, and those with reading difficulties. The knfbReader Mobile and kReader Mobile software packages run on a multifunction cell phone which allows the user to read mail, receipts, handouts, and many other documents wherever the user happens to be. The knfbReader Mobile software has a feature set which is designed for use by blind or low-vision users. The kReader Mobile is designed for users who have difficulty reading due to learning or language problems. The presenter will demonstrate the functions of this truly amazing technology.

To register for this workshop:
Option 1: Complete the online registration form at http://www.sc.edu/scatp/forms/trainingregform4-10-08.html>www.sc.edu/scatp/regform.htm

Option 2: Email Sally Young at youngs@cdd.sc.edu

Option 3: Call Sally Young at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

Option 4: Fax your registration information to (803) 935-5342. Please include your name, organization, address, email address, phone. This workshop is free of charge, but is limited to 12 attendees.

For more information, please click the title above.

Offer for Free MiniMO Augmentative Communication Device

From Family Connection:

We have just heard about a great program offered through the SC Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program(TEDP). Through the SC TEDP your child may qualify for an assistive technology device called a MiniMo at no charge. This device will take the PECS program that your child is currently working on to the next level. The best part is that it is something that they can take from school to home and you can receive training from the SC TEDP FREE!!

So here is what I need you to do
1 - Fill out the attached application (Please click title above for application. Contact person is Meghan Blackburn whose phone number is 803-749-7700)
2 - Read the SC TEDP Conditions of Acceptance
3 - Return the application along with a copy of you phone bill that shows your
phone number (does not include cell phones) and a copy of your valid SC driver's
license, SC state identification card, or SC voter registration card to me ASAP.

I will collect all the addition materials needed and submit them to the SC TEDP. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me. Please remember that submitting the application does not guarantee that your child will receive a MiniMo, however, it is worth the effort.

For more information, please contact:
Meghan Blackburn
(803)749-7700
msblackb(o)jex5.kl2.sc.us

Strides for Autism

Columbia - Saturday, May 10, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Location: Finlay Park

Greenville - Saturday, April 12, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Location: Greenville Technical College, Barton Campus

The South Carolina Autism Society is sponsoring Strides For Autism, two fun and inspiring annual events in South Carolina that will raise funds for the South Carolina Autism Society, increase awareness of autism in our state, honor those who have been touched by autism, and most importantly, to be a part of the solution. The goals for each event are to raise $45,000 to provide for family support programs, promote awareness, and support South Carolina-based research. All proceeds from these events will be used in South Carolina.

Please contact Barbara MacWilliam at 803-750-6988 ext. 120 or email Barbara at barbara@scautism.org

For more information, please click the title above.

Mom Wins Fight For Autism Insurance

LEXINGTON, South Carolina (CNN) -- Ryan Unumb just turned 7 years old. He has about 100 words in his vocabulary, even if they are difficult to understand. He's potty trained. He loves playing with water. He follows instructions, he asks for food when he's hungry, and he gives lots of kisses.

He's not where a 7-year-old should be developmentally, but for a child with severe autism, his parents are thrilled with his progress.

Lorri and Dan Unumb attribute these achievements to the 40 hours of intensive therapy Ryan gets every week. Tears streaming down her face, Lorri says they know they're lucky they can afford the team of private therapists who spend all day at their house outside Columbia, South Carolina.

To view this entire article and other personal stories about autism, please click the title above.

ADHD Drugs Seen As Not Linked To Future Drug Abuse

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Using stimulants like Ritalin to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, particularly younger ones, does not seem to boost the risk of later substance abuse, researchers said on Tuesday.

There has been a debate over whether such medications are the best way to treat ADHD, a condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior that appears more often in boys than girls. Some experts have worried these drugs could make children more prone to substance abuse later on.

Two teams of researchers who examined the issue in studies published in American Journal of Psychiatry said their findings should offer some reassurance about using these stimulants.

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

Study Links Preemies With Autism Signs

CHICAGO - A small study of toddlers finds that about one-quarter of babies born very prematurely had signs of autism on an early screening test.

The research is preliminary since formal autism testing wasn't done. But the results are provocative, suggesting that tiny preemies may face greater risks of developing autism than previously thought.

That suggests autism may be an under-appreciated consequence of medical advances enabling the tiniest of premature babies to survive, said lead author Catherine Limperopoulos, a researcher at McGill University in Montreal and Children's Hospital in Boston.

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

What's Going On This Week At Family Connection!

Wednesday, April 2
9 am
Mom's Morning Coffee
Panera Bread
6080 Garners Ferry Road

Thursday, April 3
10am - 12 noon
Workshop: ABA Therapy - Setting up a home ABA Program on a Budget. Spots are filled! However if you are interested in an future session, please contact Stephanie Bridgers at StephanieBridgers@familyconnectionsc.org

Friday, April 4
3pm
Gymboree for Children with Special Needs
Gymboree, Richland Mall
$59 a month
Contact Melanie Slattery for more information at gymbo@sc.rr.com

Friday, April 4
7pm
Teen Connection
Bowling at Anchor Lanes in Irmo
$1.50 a game
***bring snack money

Friday, April 4
7pm
Mom's Nite Out
Eric's San Jose
6118 Garner's Ferry Road

Saturday, April 5
11am
Bowling for Autism
Contact SC Autism Society for more information!

Curbing Impulsivity In Children With ADHD

ScienceDaily (Mar. 5, 2008) — Central Michigan University researchers are one step closer to helping children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder improve their self-control.

ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed chronic psychiatric conditions in today's school-aged children and is based on such behavioral criteria as mpulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention and learning disabilities.

CMU associate professor of psychology Mark Reilly, along with experimental psychology graduate students Andrew Fox and Dennis Hand, recently published a study that investigated impulsivity in two strains of rat. The spontaneously hypertensive rat has been proposed as a rodent model of ADHD because the rats have behavioral characteristics similar to those seen in humans diagnosed with ADHD. In the study, the impulsivity of spontaneously hypertensive rats was compared to their parent strain without hypertension, Wistar-Kyoto rats, using a self-control choice task that was originally developed in humans.

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

Non-stimulant curbs ADHD in fragile X syndrome

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - L-acetylcarnitine (LAC), a natural substance devoid of side effects, may be considered an alternative to stimulants to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with the genetic disorder known as fragile X syndrome, researchers conclude based on study they conducted.

Fragile X syndrome is an inherited form of mental retardation. The condition, which may also cause autism and ADHD, results from a genetic defect on the X chromosome.

ADHD is common in young boys with fragile X syndrome and alternatives to methylphenidate and other stimulant medications are needed, note Dr. Giovanni Neri from Universita Cattolica in Rome and colleagues in a Rapid Publication of their study posted online by the American Journal of Medical Genetics.

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

South Carolina Assistive Technology Expo: Cool Mobile Reader

The SCAT Expo was a big hit. There were a number of vendors and exhibitors there, all showing off some of the latest technology and services available currently. I was proud to exhibit the CDR Library's services (see photo above) and am happy to report that nearly 40 new patrons signed up to receive the newsletter and hopefully use the collection and informational services. Moreover, I enjoyed networking and getting to see some of the latest and greatest in the way of assistive technology. Based on a recommendation by Dr. Rotholz, I went and requested a demonstration of the new Mobile Reader cell phone that knfbReading Technologies, Inc., has out. The product was truly amazing! Below is a write-up from some of the literature that was available.

"The Mobile Reader Product Line from knfbReading Technologies, Inc., is a major advancement in portability and functionality of print access for the blind, the vision impaired and those with reading difficulties.

The knfbReader Mobile and kReader Mobile software packages run on a multifunction cell phone that allow the user to read mail, receipts, handouts and many other documents wherever the user happens to be. This is a truly pocket-sized solution to reading on the go.

The Mobile Reader Product Line:

• Reads most printed documents, from letters and memos to pages in a book
• Reads address labels and package information and instructions
• Easily recognizes U.S. currency
• Displays each sentence visually and highlights each word as it is read
• Stores thousands of pages using easily obtainable flash memory
• Transfers text files to and from computers or Braille note takers
• Adjusts reading speed to suit user’s preference."

For more information, please click the title above.

South Carolina Early Intervention Conference

Registration is now being accepted for the SC Early Intervention Conference for Families & Providers to be held on Thursday, May 22, 2008.

Please click on this link to complete and submit the registration process:

http://CTLSilhouette.wsu.edu/surveys/ZS76070

We look forward to seeing you in May!

For more information, please click the title above or contact Kristie K. Musick at kkmusick@gwm.sc.edu or 803-935-5242.

Protection and Advocacy For People With Disabilities Annual Gala

Enjoy an evening of entertainment and appetizing hors' d'oeuvres, deserts, wine, and coffee in support of Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities. Listen to live jazz music and help support disability advocacy in South Carolina through silent and live auctions that feature artwork by South Carolinians with disabilities.

The benefit will be held at The Meridian Building on Friday, April 25, 2008 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Please contact Melissa Reitmeier by email at reitmeier@protectionandadvocacy-sc.org or by phone at 803-217-6708 for more information.

For more information, please click the title above.