Keeping Seniors with Developmental Disabilities in the Community

Keeping Seniors with Developmental Disabilities in the  Community By Pamela Merkle, Executive Director, Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities Thanks to medical advances, people with developmental disabilities are living longer and that longevity is bringing some very difficult and unexpected challenges. Their parents, who have often been their primary caregivers, are passing away and, unlike other seniors, they generally have no adult children to assume that role. It is not unusual for parents of individuals with developmental disabilities to have the mindset that they or other family members will always be around to take care of their loved one. Very often this is not the case. As the “network of support” starts fraying, people with developmental disabilities are often misdiagnosed and under-treated, running the risk of spending their “golden years” in an institution-contrary to the spirit of the Olmstead decision. When asked, many people with developmental disabilities will say, with sadness, that when they can no longer care for themselves, they will have to go to a nursing home. The Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities (AADD), in St. Louis, Missouri, launched an initiative this past January to provide a safety net for this population. The cost of long-term care continues to rise, with that cost now ranging from $6,500 to $12,500 per month. Therefore, enabling these individuals to age in their own homes, which is the choice of most seniors, is both economically and socially responsible. It has also been shown that staying in familiar surroundings and maintaining as much activity as is physically possible will lengthen the life of individuals with developmental disabilities. Their activity could drastically decrease in a long-term care setting. To read the rest of the article, please click on the above title. To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

FREE Literacy & Study Supports

There are many free or low-cost literacy supports for students who have disabilities or who are struggling with reading fluency and comprehension.  Many of the resources that will be demonstrated can be implemented in the classroom on a daily basis with little effort.  Students who have experienced failure in academics might be motivated when they realize what tools can help them to achieve academic success. The Universal Design for Learning concept for all learning styles will be addressed with all these supports.

Date: September 26, 2013
Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Where: MT Anderson Support Center,100 Blassingame Road Greenville, SC
Cost: Free
Registration: Contact Mark Daniels at mdaniels@ed.sc.gov

To see a list of other workshops being offered by SCATP and by the SC Department of Education assistive technology specialists, go the SCATP training webpage.

 

 

To learn more, please click on the above title.

 

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

 

Wonderful Wednesday AT Workshops: Apps Galore

This workshop will focus on applications. What are they and how can we use them to provide support in various environments? Applications that are currently available for Apple products, Android products, and in Google will be reviewed. This session will allow you to find out “is there really an app for that?”

These Wonderful Wednesday AT Workshops have a maximum of 15 participants each.
To register for this workshop:
Complete the Apps Galore online registration form.  Choose morning or afternoon.

Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Time:  9:00am – 11:00am OR 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: SC Assistive Technology Resource Center, Poplar Building, Midlands Center, 8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC
Cost: Free, but pre-registration is required.
For questions, call Will McCain at (803) 935-5004 or Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

To see a listing of other assistive technology workshops being offered, please go to the SCATP Training webpage.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

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

New College Options For Students With Disabilities

NEW COLLEGE OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — As he sits in class at Eastern Michigan University, a flood of images streams from Tony Saylor's vibrant, creative mind down through his pen and onto paper.

Often, his doodling features the 9-year-old character Viper Girl who battles monsters with her pet fox Logan. Saylor, 22, has even self-published three books of their adventures.

Saylor's professors didn't exactly welcome his constant drawing, but once he explained it was the only way he could hope to process their lectures — and even to stay awake — most let him continue.

For college students with autism and other learning disabilities, this is the kind of balancing act that takes place every day — accommodating a disability while also pushing beyond it toward normalcy and a degree, which is increasingly essential for finding a meaningful career.

But Saylor and a growing number like him are giving it a shot. Students who would once have languished at home, or in menial jobs, or struggled unsuccessfully in college, are finding a new range of options for support services to help.

"I knew I didn't want to work in the fast food industry my whole life," Saylor said, sitting at the kitchen table of his family's home in this Detroit suburb, where he lives while commuting to EMU. His mother, Angela Saylor, says a 3-year-old program at EMU that supports autistic students — a graduate student who works with the program attends all his classes with him — has been a godsend.

Such programs within traditional universities, offering supplemental support for additional tuition, are sprouting up around the country (Nova Southeastern University in Florida is among the schools starting one this fall). "The K&W Guide to College Programs for Students With Learning Disabilities or AD/HD" has grown steadily since its precursor was first published in 1991, and now lists 362 programs, the majority of them now comprehensive services.

Meanwhile, other parts of the landscape are also expanding. College disability service offices (whose help is usually free) are also improving. Care centers, often for-profit and unaffiliated with colleges, are popping up near campuses and offering supplementary support. Finally, institutions with a history of serving large numbers of students with learning disabilities are growing, some adding 4-year degrees.

To read the rest of the article, please click on the above title.

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

Fall Assistive Technology Workshops

The SC Assistive Technology Program and the Assistive Technology Specialists from the SC Department of Education are pleased to offer the following assistive technology workshops this Fall:

September
•September 25 - Apps Galore – Kathleen Heiss

October
•October 1 - All About Literacy - Two Sessions - Charleston – Dave Butler
•October 2 - All About Literacy - Two Sessions - Florence – Dave Butler
•October 3 - All About Literacy - Two Sessions - Greenville – Dave Butler
•October 8 - Everyday Items to AT Solutions - Carol Page, Director SCATP
•October 16 - Microsoft Accessibility – Kathleen Heiss
•October 29 - Tobii Products Mini Workshop - Wayne Jones II

November
•November 7 - Putting LAMP to Work (AAC) - John Halloran, M.S., CCC-SLP
•November 19 - AMPLIFY! LIFE - Grab Life by the Phone - Jordyn Funderburk
•November 20 - Universal Design for Learning – Kathleen Heiss

December
•December 4 - Boardmaker 6.0 – Morning – Kathleen Heiss
•December 4 - Advanced Boardmaker 6.0 – Afternoon – Kathleen Heiss

To register for any of these workshops and to see a listing of other assistive technology workshops being offered, please go to the SCATP Training webpage.

Help! I have an eye control system in my classroom:

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Webinar from Tobii, ATI: A beginning guide to eye control access in the classroom.

Learn the basics of eye control: what it is, how to set it up, and how to make sure it’s working correctly.  This introductory course will show you easy ways to navigate your student’s eye control system, how to adjust volume, and how to make some quick changes to vocabulary. We will also discuss some easy ways to include the student in the classroom setting.

Intended Audience: This webinar is especially appropriate for teachers, paraprofessionals, and classroom staff that have never used a Tobii Eye Tracking system, or any eye control system and would like to learn the basics of where to get started.

Date: September 24, 2013, 4:00 EDT
Time: 4:00 PM Eastern, 3:00 PM Central, 1:00 PM Pacific
Cost: Free
Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/250161368

 

To learn more, please click on the above title.

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

Everyday Technology for Learning Differences: Use the Tools You Already Have

Everyday Technology for Learning Differences: 

Use the Tools You Already Have

Thursday, September 19, 2013

3:30 PM Pacific, 6:30 PM Eastern

From computers to smartphones to e-readers, kids today are immersed in technology. This AT Network presentation will demonstrate how to take advantage of familiar technology to compensate for learning challenges, capitalize on learning strengths, and reduce time and effort spent on school work. Through live demonstrations, participants will learn how everyday tech –word processors, Web browsers, consumer electronics, and more – can assist students who struggle with reading, writing, notetaking, math, organization, time management, and attention.
Highlights are:

• Underutilized features in Microsoft Word and other popular programs
•  Learning supports built into the Mac and Windows operating systems
• Apps that turn mobile devices (Apple iDevices, Android) into portable learning assistants
• Alternative uses for consumer electronics (MP3 player, camera, voice recorder, smartpen)
• Add-ons, Web resources, and cloud drives to configure an Internet browser as an online study tool.

Presenter: Shelley Haven, ATP, RET Assistive Technology Consultant - Technology to Unlock Potential

To learn more, please click on the above title.

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

AbleNet New Catalog

AbleNet, A Leader in Assistive Technology & Curriculum Solutions

AbleNet is an international company and industry leader in providing educational and technical 

solutions to help children and adults with disabilities lead productive and fulfilled lives. This 

includes a complete line of communication aids for nonverbal individuals; access aids for all 

ages and situations; and special education classroom curriculum that both enhance and help

 ensure learning progress. Our products are used in hundreds of thousands of homes, clinics, 

and classrooms in the United States and across the globe.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

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

Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 2013 Annual Meeting

Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 2013 Annual Meeting

Friday, September 27, 2013- Monday, September 30 2013

Location: Baltimore, MD

  http://www.sdbp.org/

The Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) is an international organization dedicated to improving the health of infants, children, and adolescents by promoting research, teaching and clinical practice in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. Comprised of more than 700 members, the society strives to promote an understanding of the social, educational, and cultural influences on children.

To learn more, please click on the above title.

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

Parkinson's Support Group Meeting

Our next meeting is Sunday - September 15, 2013 at 3:00 pm until 4:30 pm

  

Topic: “Sleep Disorders In The PD Patient”

Speaker: Richard K. Bogan, MD, FCCP, is Associate Clinical Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of SleepMed Inc. He is one of the founders of SleepMed, the largest sleep diagnostic company in the U.S.

Dr. Bogan received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Alabama Hospitals and Clinics and hisPulmonary, Critical Care fellowship at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, both in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dr. Bogan is board certified in sleep medicine, pulmonary medicine and internal medicine with previous certification in critical care. He has served as the medical director for several hospital departments and serves on various business,community, and civic boards. He has dedicated the majority of his medical career to creating standards of excellence insleep disease management. In addition to operating a Columbia-based, 9-bed, accredited sleep center that serves astheir flagship operation and training site, he has been involved in numerous clinical research trials and has published numerous articles in sleep medicine. He has been a consultant to the pharmaceutical and device industry and haslectured in local, regional, and national meetings.

Where: Lexington Medical Center Park 1 - Auditorium - 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29169

Time: 3:00 pm until 4:30 pm
Cost: FREE - Please Bring Guests.
Contact: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org


 To learn more, please click on the above title.

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

Books Without Barriers For Disabled and Student Veterans

If you are a US Veteran who is blind, has a visual impairment, a physical disability or a severe reading disability, you can get accessible books from Bookshare.

• 24/7 Access to the Bookshare Online Library.
• Over 200K eBooks and Periodicals, plus military collections!
• FREE for U.S. Vets who are students (minimal fee for non-students)
• FREE for Vets approved by VetsSuccess.gov.
• Unlimited downloads and FREE reading technologies!
• Read anytime, anywhere on computers, smart phones, MP3 players, and portable devices.

More information is available at http://communications.bookshare.org/vets2013-sign-up-now/ .

To learn more, please click on the above title.

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

AUCD Webinar

AUCD and the Multicultural Council Present: Organizations and Developing Culturally Competent Parent Support Groups

Monday, September 16, 2013- Monday, September 16, 2013

3pm ET - 4:00pm ET

Webinar Description:

The development of support groups for families and individuals with disabilities can be a vital outreach and research component of UCEDDs/LENDs.  Implementing culturally and linguistically competent support groups for diverse populations will provide UCEDDs/LENDs the opportunity to serve underserved populations while developing trust and relationships to increase diversity in research projects. This webinar will present best practices on developing culturally and linguistically competent support groups and utilizing support groups in research.  Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities will highlight two of its projects: Hispanic Parent Support Group and Parent Stress Intervention Research Project.

Speakers:

Carolina Meyerson, a psychologist originally from Punta Alta, Argentina assist Spanish-speaking individuals and families to locate disability and social services. She coordinates community outreach activities to promote disability services available to individuals with disabilities in the Spanish-speaking community, she provides case management services to clients and families, organizes and leads parent support group meetings. She is a co-recipient of the 2009 Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity for her work with Camino Seguro project.

Carol Rabideau is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience in mental health counseling, medical social work, supervision, and training. She provides future planning workshops as well as training on other topics. She provides assessments, crisis intervention, brief counseling, and referral services to individuals and families with developmental disabilities throughout their lifespan. 

To learn more, please click on the above title.

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

AUCD 2013: Promoting Inclusion in an Increasingly Diverse World

AUCD2013: PROMOTING INCLUSION IN AN 

INCREASINGLY DIVERSE WORLD

Register Today!

Early Bird: by Oct 18;  

     Final Deadline: Nov 1

Reserve your space today for the highly anticipated AUCD Conference. This year's AUCD Conference theme promotes our network values of inclusion of all persons with developmental and other disabilities in community life and engages the network in conversation and practices to ensure our work reflects the changing cultural and linguistic landscape in our Centers and States. Sessions, posters, workshops, symposia, and plenaries will focus on promoting inclusion and increasing diversity. We hope to see you and your colleagues in November

To learn more, please click on the above title.

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