Mapping the Neuron-behavior Link in Rhett Syndrome

ScienceDaily (Sep. 26, 2008) — A link between certain behaviors and the lack of the protein associated with Rett Syndrome – a devastating autism spectrum disorder – demonstrates the importance of MeCP2 (the protein) and reveals never-before recognized functions associated with aggression and obesity, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in a report in the current issue of the journal Neuron.

"This protein is critical for the proper function of majority of neurons," said Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi, a BCM professor of pediatrics, neurology, neuroscience, molecular and human genetics and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator who is senior author on the paper. Zoghbi and her laboratory discovered the Rett gene.

Rett Syndrome affects between 1 in 10,000 females who express a wide variety of symptoms, most of them neurological.

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.

Antibiotics for Preterm Labor Linked to Cerebral Palsy

THURSDAY, Sept. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Not only do antibiotics not help pregnant women experiencing premature labor without ruptured membranes and no sign of infection, they may increase the risk of cerebral palsy in some children.

Two new studies followed children whose mothers had taken antibiotics at the end of their pregnancies. The children were followed up to the age of 7.

"This is a good study, because it's a large number of patients, and it shows that the use of antibiotics do not help and are possibly harmful for preterm labor in the absence of rupture of the membrane (broken water)," said Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

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

Web Accessibility Toolbar

There is an excellent FREE resource for "testing" web pages online, the Web Accessibility Toolbar.http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/ais/toolbar/

The Web Accessibility Toolbar is provided by the Accessible Information Solutions (AIS) team of Vision Australia.

It has been developed to aid manual examination of web pages for a variety of aspects of accessibility. It consists of a range of functions that:

• identify components of a web page


• facilitate the use of 3rd party online applications
  simulate user experiences


• provide links to references and additional resources
  It is very user-friendly!
  

There are also many features that make it accessible to people using assistive technology.

To view more, please click the link above.

TEDP Training October 2

Thursday, October 2, 2008 “Bridging the Telecommunications Gap for Hearing or Speech

Impaired Individuals in South Carolina”9:00am – 12:30pm Assistive Technology Resource Room, Midlands Center, Columbia

Presenter: Anne G. Bader, Outreach Coordinator for the South Carolina Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program (SC TEDP)

Workshop Description: SC TEDP is a state supported program managed by the S. C. Office of Regulatory Staff and administered by the S. C. School for the Deaf and the Blind.

SC TEDP is aware of the daily challenges facing individuals who are hearing or speech impaired. Telecommunications equipment distributed by SC TEDP is carefully chosen to cover their various needs, and is distributed at no cost to qualifying South Carolinians. Qualifying disabilities are: hard-of-hearing, deaf, deaf-blind, blind/low vision with hearing loss, or speech impaired.

Educate attendees on the procedure to apply for telecommunications equipment available through SC TEDP.

Present a hands-on program that allows attendees to use various pieces of telecommunications equipment distributed by SC TEDP.

Provide statistics on hearing loss and how it affects everyone involved in that individual’s life.

Emphasis is placed on helping individuals become more independent through use of this free, state supported program. SC TEDP classes are presented on Power Point to facilitate a stress-free learning environment for attendees who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. ALS interpreters are available upon request.

Registration and Cost: There is no fee to register for this class, but pre-registration is required. Attendance is limited to 18. To register for this workshop:

Option 1: Complete the online registration form at http://www.sc.edu/scatp/forms/trainingregform10-2-08.html
Option 2: Email Sally Young at Sally.Young@uscmed.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.

Key Advance In Treating Spinal Cord Injuries Found In Manipulating Stem Cells

ScienceDaily (Sep. 19, 2008) — Researchers in Rochester, N.Y., and Colorado have shown that manipulating stem cells prior to transplantation may hold the key to overcoming a critical obstacle to using stem cell technology to repair spinal cord injuries.

Research from a team of scientists from the University of Rochester Medical Center and the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, published today in the online Journal of Biology, may lead to improved spinal cord repair methods that pave the way for victims of paralysis to recover the use of their bodies without the risk of transplant-induced pain syndromes.

The research focuses on a major support cell in the central nervous system called astrocytes. When nerve fibers are injured in the spinal cord, the severed ends of the nerve fibers fail to regenerate and reconnect with the nervous system circuitry beyond the site of the injury.

To view entire article, click on the link 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.

The Ticket That Helps People go to Work

By Chris Jenkins, Public Affairs Specialist
Social Security Admininstration

Six years ago the Ticket to Work program was launched to help people with disabilities go to work. Since then, more than 150,000 people who get Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits have used their Tickets to obtain free vocational rehabilitation, job training and other support services.

The Ticket to Work program is voluntary. Social Security and SSI beneficiaries who receive a Ticket are not required to work, but may choose to use their Tickets to attempt to go to work. The number of people using their Tickets is expected to continue to grow as more Americans with disabilities become familiar with the opportunities the program has to offer.

A disability beneficiary can use the Ticket with either a private sector employment network or a State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. Together the beneficiary and service provider design an individual employment plan outlining the services to be provided that will help the beneficiary reach his or her job goals.

The Ticket to Work program removes many barriers that had previously faced people with disabilities receiving benefits. Social Security disability beneficiaries are eligible for Medicare, and most Social Security disability beneficiaries now are protected by Medicare for up to eight years and six months after they go to work. Medicare coverage continues even if an individual no longer receives a monetary benefit from Social Security.

If you or someone you know is a Social Security or SSI disability beneficiary who would like to learn more about how the Ticket to Work program can help, just visit Social Security’s website at www.socialsecurity.gov/work. Or you can call Social Security’s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Your Ticket to Work leaflet (Publication No. 05-10061).

For more information, please click the title above.

Lowcountry Buddy Walk PSA's available to preview online!

The 2008 Lowcountry Buddy Walk is only 3 Weeks Away!

Sunday, October 5th will be here before we know it.

Watch for (and Listen for) Lowcountry Buddy Walk Public Service
Announcements on local TV & Radio!

You can also preview them on the Buddy Walk website!

Also check out the "How to Buddy Walk" info and the wonderful lesson
plans available to promote Diversity and Inclusion in classrooms while you
visit the Buddy Walk website .

SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, October 5, 2008
5th Annual Lowcountry Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome at Etiwan Park on
Daniel Island benefiting the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry (DSAL).

Click on the title above to go to the DSAL web site.

SCATP TRAININGS THIS WEEK

Thursday, September 18, 2008
Trash to AT Treasures
8:00am * 11:30am
Assistive Technology Resource Room, Midlands Center, Columbia

Presenters: Carol Page O’Day, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP,
SC Assistive Technology Program, USC School of
Medicine-Center for Disability Resources;
Patricia Quattlebaum, MSP, CCC-SLP, Developmental
Pediatric Clinic, USC School of Medicine-Center for Disability Resources

Class Description: Many assistive technology
devices are available for communication, switch
access, computer access, activities of daily
living, and literacy. Assistive technology
devices can be very expensive, but they don’t
always have to be. Many examples of how to make
assistive technology devices using common objects
around the home will be demonstrated. The
fundamentals of appropriately selecting and using
various assistive technology devices will also be
reviewed. The workshop will conclude with a
make-and-take opportunity for participants to
choose from different projects to construct and
then take the finished product home with them.

Target Group: Speech-language pathologists,
special-education teachers, occupational therapists, parents and caregivers.

Agenda:
8:00-8:30 Registration
8:30-10:00
I. How to Get Started
II. Low Cost AT Solutions: Communication Devices
III. Basic AT Considerations
* Low Cost AT Solutions: Switches
* Low Cost AT Solutions: Computer Access
* Low Cost AT Solutions: Activities of Daily Living

10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:30 Make and Take
Cost: $15.00, payable to the University of South
Carolina. Mail checks to: Sally Young, SC
Assistive Technology Program, USC School of
Medicine, CDR , Columbia, SC 29208. Checks or
purchase orders must be received by
9/12/08. This workshop is limited to 14 attendees.

To register for this workshop:
* Option 1: Complete the
online
registration form
* Option 2: Email Sally Young at
Sally.Young@uscmed.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.

----------
Friday, September 19, 2008
Accessible PDFs! Making PDF Documents User
Friendly and Geared for Accessibility
8:30am - 4:00 pm
South Carolina Archives and History Auditorium
8301 Parklane Road
Columbia, S C 29223

Download Flyer (pdf)
Download Adobe Reader

Presenter: Jon Brundage,
Jon Brundage and Associates
Jon Brundage is a nationally known accessibility
trainer and author. He has provided many sessions
on all aspects of accessibility to corporations,
governments, and educational institutions. In
scores of sessions over the years he has trained
several thousand individuals on Section 508
requirements and the W3C Web Accessibility
Initiative. Jon, as managing editor, was one of
the founders of Accessible Content magazine. Mr.
Brundage is also a web developer and has
performed analysis of the accessibility conformance level of many web sites.

Cost: Free. Limited to 200 attendees.

This workshop will address the creation, analysis
and remediation of PDF Documents for
Accessibility. Participants will gain knowledge
of the potential barriers to accessibility that
Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Files (PDF) pose.
An understanding of PDF technology will be
learned. Class members will gain understanding of
creating source files that convert to accessible
PDF. In addition, the tools available in Acrobat
Professional will be covered for analysis and
remediation of existing PDF files. An explanation
of PDF tags and their role will be covered. Join
us as Jon Brundage walks us through creating
source files that convert to accessible PDF.

Target audience: Anyone who creates, maintains,
distributes, examines, or develops PDFs for the
web or as document storage files. Focus will be
on Acobat versions starting at 7 and higher (the
version that added accessibility tools).


Workshop Schedule:

8:30 - 9:00 AM - Registration

9:00 - 10:00 AM - Introduction to PDF technology.
What is a PDF? How is the technology a potential
barrier for accessibility? Changes made by Adobe to make PDFs accessible.

10:10 - 11:00 AM - Creating source files that
transform to accessible PDFs (MS Word * MS Excel
* MS Power Point). Document structure, alternatives for text, and data tables.

11:10 - Noon - Acrobat Professional accessibility
tools overview (Analysis * Reading order * Text alternatives * Tables * Forms)

1:15 - 2:15 PM - Demonstration- create source
files and convert to PDF Make analysis of
converted files Examine tag tree and manipulate the tags

2:30 - 3:30 PM - Remediation of Legacy PDF files
Analysis using built-in tools present in Acrobat
professional. Review the results. Make necessary
remediation of files ( Create logical reading
order * Add text alternatives for images * Create
usable data tables Optimize the repaired file)

3:30 - 4:00 PM - Resources : Question and answers

To register for this workshop:
* Option 1: Complete the
online
registration form
* Option 2: Email Sally Young at
Sally.Young@uscmed.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.

Click on the title above to go to the SCATP web site.

70 Years Old and Going Strong with Down Syndrome and no Dementia

ScienceDaily — In the world of Down syndrome, 'Mr. C' is a rarity. A real person whose progress has been tracked for the past 16 years, at seventy, 'Mr. C' has well surpassed the average life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome, currently in the late fifties, but in the teens when 'Mr. C' was born. Further, 'Mr. C' does not exhibit clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, which is almost a given for people with typical Down syndrome over 65 yeas of age.

'Mr. C', while remaining nameless, puts an optimistic face on the future of aging for people with Down Syndrome, as scientists ask the critical question: What is it about 'Mr. C''s individual characteristics and experiences that have made him not only live longer, but also age successfully despite having Down syndrome? The case of 'Mr. C', including descriptions of comprehensive cognitive, behavioral, and genetic analyses and implications for research is published in the June 2008 issue of the journal, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

To view this complete article, 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."

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

To Infinity and Beyond: A Sparkling Survival Story

(CNN) -- Walter Marino shouted to his 12-year-old son, Christopher, as he drifted farther away in the Atlantic Ocean.

"To infinity," the father yelled.

"And beyond," Christopher replied.

After a rip current swept the boy and his father out to sea Saturday, darkness fell, and the sound of rescue helicopters and boats grew faint until they were nonexistent.

Despite the danger, Christopher, who has autism, was enjoying himself, his father said. The boy lacks a fear of death because of his autism and finds comfort in the water, Marino told CNN.

Marino finds comfort in his son. Their unique circumstances helped keep them alive for more than 12 hours in the open ocean, Marino said.

"With many kids with autism, the thing that is so dangerous is that they have no concept of fear or fear of death," Marino said. "In this case, though, it perhaps saved him -- that and the fact that water is one of his favorite things. Whenever he goes missing or tries to run away, we can always find him near water ... even at the mall if it is just near a fountain."

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

South Carolina Autism Society's 2008 Annual Conference

Don't miss the South Carolina Autism Society's 2008 Annual Conference! Featured speakers include Temple Grandin, Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Rose Ivoannone, Joshua Myers, and Laura Carpenter.

* Online registration is now available. Purchase Orders accepted from State Agencies and School Districts. For conference rates, please visit the registration form.

*Cancellation Fee of $25 before 9/25. No refunds after 9/25.

* You can also register by calling the SCAS Office at 803-750-6988 ext. 109 or faxing the registration form provided in the brochure PDF to 803-750-8121.

* A limited number of scholarships for parents of children with ASDs will be available. Recipients of the conference scholarships will be required to provide credit card information upon notification of award. Cards will not be charged registration fees UNLESS the recipients do NOT attend the conference.

For more information and to register online, please click the title above.

knfbReader Mobile Trainings at SCATP

Tuesday, September 16, 2008
“Introduction to the knfbReader Mobile”
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Poplar Conference Room, Midlands Center, Columbia, SC
Presenter - Edna Beard - Quintex of Asheville knfbReader Mobile Distributor in the Carolinas

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.

This workshop is free of charge, but is limited to 16 attendees.

To register for these workshops:
* Option 1: Complete the online registration form by clicking the title above.
* Option 2: Email Sally Young at Sally.Young@uscmed.sc.edu
* Option 3: Call Sally Young at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.
* Option 4: Fax your registration informationto (803) 935-5342. Please include your name, organization, address, email address, phone.

This workshop is free of charge, but is limited to 16 attendees.

Kurzweil Trainings at SCATP

Tuesday, September 16, 2008
“Active Learning and Study Strategies using the Kurzweil 3000 Software”
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Poplar Conference Room, Midlands Center, Columbia, SC
Presenter: Edna Beard, Quintex of Asheville
Kurzweil Consultant and Distributor in the Carolinas

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.”

To register for these workshops:
* Option 1: Complete the online registration form by clicking the title above.
* Option 2: Email Sally Young at Sally.Young@uscmed.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 16 attendees.

SCSHA Workshop-Oct 10-11 - Greenville

This year the workshop will be held at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, South Carolina on October 10-11.

The presenter on October 10, 2009 will be Nancy Creaghead, Ph.D. Her presentation is titled "Addressing Language and Literacy Goals in the Classroom in Collaboration with Teachers". This workshop will consider how speech-language pathologists (SLPs), classroom teachers and families can collaborate to serve children with language and literacy needs in the classroom.

On October 11, 2008 Claudia Giammarino, M.S., CCC-SLP and Lee Anne Robison, M.A., CCC-SLP will present on "Clinical and Endoscopic Evaluation and Management of the Tracheostomized and Ventilator Dependent Population". This course is designed for speech-language pathologists who have intermediate knowledge/skill in evaluation and treatment of Communication Disorders and Dysphagia. It will provide participants with a review of the Respiratory System as it relates to communication and swallowing. This course will also provide instruction on assessment and management of the tracheostomized and ventilator dependent patient with concentration on speaking valve useand FEES.

You can register on-line at <http://www.scsha.com/>http://www.scsha.com/

Aerobic Exercise For The Wheelchair-bound

ScienceDaily (Sep. 10, 2008) —

University of Texas at Austin alumnus, Chris Stanford (MSEE '91), and Electrical & Computer Engineering undergraduates are working on making exercise fun for wheelchair users. For the last year, Stanford has been partnering with engineering seniors to test his idea for a virtual reality treadmill for the disabled.

"Not many people realize," says Stanford who has been confined to a wheelchair since 1988, "the special health risks faced by wheelchair users. Everything is more difficult, including eating right and getting enough exercise. Because of this, the incidence of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease is several times the rate of the general population."

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

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.

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

2008 Upstate South Carolina Autism Forum

Please join us Saturday, September 13th, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. as we bring together parents and professionals to find out more about the autism resources available in South Carolina. Registration will begin at 8:30. We will have presentations in the morning that includes Walgreen's Anderson Distribution Center, an update on Ryan's law, information about the Department of Education, and information about adult services from a local service provider. During the afternoon, we will have three (3) breakout sessions, each offering three (3) choices. Additionally, we will have over twenty resource tables!

This event is co-sponsored by Autism Speaks, South Carolina Autism Society, Family Connection of SC and Brookwood Church. This event will provide great information for parents, teachers,
professionals and individuals with autism!

DATE:
Saturday, September 13, 2008

LOCATION:
Brookwood Church
580 Brookwood Point Place
Simpsonville, SC 29681

TIME:
8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-4:00 Workshop

To register online, please click the title above.

SCATP Trash to Treasures Workshop

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Trash to AT Treasures
8:00am * 11:30am
Assistive Technology Resource Room, Midlands Center, Columbia

Presenters: Carol Page O’Day, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP,
SC Assistive Technology Program, USC School of
Medicine-Center for Disability Resources;
Patricia Quattlebaum, MSP, CCC-SLP, Developmental
Pediatric Clinic, USC School of Medicine-Center for Disability Resources

Class Description: Many assistive technology
devices are available for communication, switch
access, computer access, activities of daily
living, and literacy. Assistive technology
devices can be very expensive, but they don’t
always have to be. Many examples of how to make
assistive technology devices using common objects
around the home will be demonstrated. The
fundamentals of appropriately selecting and using
various assistive technology devices will also be
reviewed. The workshop will conclude with a
make-and-take opportunity for participants to
choose from different projects to construct and
then take the finished product home with them.

Target Group: Speech-language pathologists,
special-education teachers, occupational therapists, parents and caregivers.

Agenda:
8:00-8:30 Registration
8:30-10:00
I. How to Get Started
II.Low Cost AT Solutions: Communication Devices
III.Basic AT Considerations
* Low Cost AT Solutions: Switches
* Low Cost AT Solutions: Computer Access
* Low Cost AT Solutions: Activities of Daily Living

10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:30 Make and Take
Cost: $15.00,payable to the University of South
Carolina. Mail checks to: Sally Young, SC
Assistive Technology Program, USC School of
Medicine, CDR , Columbia, SC 29208. Checks or
purchase orders must be received by
9/12/08. This workshop is limited to 14 attendees.

To register for this workshop:
* Option 1: Complete the
online
registration form
* Option 2: Email Sally Young at
Sally.Young@uscmed.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.

Basic Teaching Strategies & Support for Students with ASD

Basic Teaching Strategies and Support
for Students with ASD

Alisia Carey, M.Ed in Special Education.
Nationally Certified Teacher (NBCT, 2000)
Tuesdays, September 9 - October 14
4:00 pm-7:00 pm

SCAS Office * 806 12th Street, West Columbia, SC
Parking is allowed in the church parking lot
across 12th Street, in the BB&T parking lot or along Evergreen Street.
Please do not park in the spaces beside the store across Evergreen St.
Participants will identify, develop and practice strategies and
interventions to support persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders in
the home, community and/or the classroom.

Alisia Carey, M.Ed in Special Education. Nationally Certified Teacher
(NBCT, 2000). Ms. Carey has 23 years experience working with both
children and adults having an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Ms. Carey
is currently the Autism Specialist for Lexington School District One.
Workshop Fee: $20

Name______________________ Address___________________________

City______________ State_______ Zip______ Phone _____________

Email ______________________________

Enclosed is my check for $_______ *Make payable to SCAS*

__Visa __ MasterCard __Discover ___AmEx

Card #_ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ Exp _
_ / _ _ V-Code (back of card)__ __ __

Signature ________________________(for credit card)

mail this form to SCAS - 806 12th St, West Cola., SC 29169

fax to 803-750-8121 * register online at www.scautism.org

Gene Therapy Prevents Blindness In An Animal Model Of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

ScienceDaily (Sep. 8, 2008) — Scientists have created an animal model suitable for testing and validating gene therapies for treatment of a common mitochondrial dysfunction that causes loss of vision.

The research, published by Cell Press in the September issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, describes an innovation that represents a significant advance toward development of the first treatment for one of the many devastating disorders caused by mitochondrial disruption.

The most common forms of metabolic disorders are due to mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mitochondria are the cell's energy producers, and mitochondrial diseases involve tissues with high energy needs, such as retina, brain, heart, muscle, liver, and endocrine systems. Although 300 mtDNA alterations have been identified as the genetic cause of mitochondrial diseases, there are not, as of yet, any effective treatments available. "Despite progress made in identification of their molecular mechanisms, little has been done regarding therapy," says senior author Dr. Marisol Corral-Debrinski from the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris.

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

U.S. Study Clears Measles Vaccine of Autism Link

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists who tried to replicate a study that once tied a measles vaccine with autism said on Wednesday they could not find any link and hope their study will encourage parents to vaccinate their children to combat a rash of measles outbreaks.

Parents' refusals to have their children vaccinated against measles have contributed to the highest numbers of cases seen in the United States and parts of Europe in many years.

Measles kills about 250,000 people a year globally, mostly children in poor nations.

Public health officials have been stressing the safety of the combined measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, shot and other childhood vaccines in the face of vocal groups who claim the immunizations may cause autism and other problems.

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NC Assistive Technology Expo

The NC Assistive Technology Expo is an exciting three-day event designed to increase awareness and provide current information about assistive technology. Participants will learn about the latest in assistive technology devices, services, strategies and community resources.

Who Should Attend: Professionals in a variety of disability related fields such as rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language, regular and special education, health and recreation and rehabilitation engineering, people with disabilities and their family members, product vendors, employers and human resource managers. If you would like to learn more, view the attached registration brochure, visit

http://www.sedbtac.org/eventscalendar.php?eventid=241

or contact:

Sonya Van Horn
Phone: 919-872-2298 (voice)

Email: assist@pat.org

Web: <http://www.pat.org/>http://www.pat.org/

Susan Bell

Phone: 919-801-8497 (0)

Email: sbbell@nc.rr.com

Microsoft Word Training-September 10th

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

"The Wonderful World of Word"

8:30am - 12:30pm

Fast Forward Community Technology Center, 3223 Devine Street, Columbia

Presenter: Elizabeth Bagley, Ed.D., Client Advocate, Learn.com

Microsoft Word has a number of features that many people don’t realize are available. The potential for Word to enhance student learning is immeasurable. Students with learning disabilities all learn differently and Word can be adapted to cater to each student’s individual learning style. Word can help empower and engage students as they take on new tasks.

Features as simple as inserting Word Art to the more complex tasks of inserting drop down menus within a document will be demonstrated and practiced by the attendees in this hands-on workshop.(Note: This workshop is being taught in Word 2003. Similar features in Word 2007 may be accessed differently.)

Tools Taught:

* Word Art

* Audio Clips

* Concept Mapping

* Special Effects

* Hyperlinking

* Tessellations

* Short Cuts

* Fast Formatting

* Creating Forms

* Creating Tests (multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer)

* Pop-up electronic worksheets/windows

* Peer Editing

* Comments Feature

To register for this workshop:

Option 1: Complete the online registration form at www.sc.edu/scatp/regform.htm

Option 2: Email Sally Young at Sally.Young@uscmed.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 16 attendees.See the full SCATP Training Agenda at http://www.sc.edu/scatp/trainingschedule08.html

10,000 People In World-first Cerebral Palsy Study

ScienceDaily (July 2, 2008) — Researchers from the University of Adelaide, Australia, have launched the largest study of its kind in the world in a bid to better understand the possible genetic causes of cerebral palsy. The study -- requiring cheek swabs of mothers and their children -- aims to gather genetic samples from 10,000 people right across Australia.

One of the world's most serious complications during pregnancy and birth, cerebral palsy is a disability that affects one in every 500 children worldwide, and the consequences are life long.

Over the next two years the researchers will test 5000 participants from families affected by cerebral palsy, while the other 5000 without an affected child will consist of a control group.

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How First Autism Disease Genes Were Discovered

ScienceDaily (Sep. 3, 2008) — At the 21st Congress of the ECNP 2008 in Barcelona, professor Marion Leboyer, University of Paris, France, presented the compelling neurobiological story of discovering the first autism genes.

Thereby she highlighted new findings on the role of gene mutations, their association with synapse abnormalities, and -- surprisingly -- a connection between circadian rhythms and autism risk. These insights will nurture applied projects on the development of new therapeutic strategies.

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