Psychotherapy Of Depression Changes Biological Parameters?

ScienceDaily (June 23, 2009) — A group of German investigators demonstrated that the early increase in phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) is related to treatment response and does not depend on pharmacological interventions or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plasma levels. For the first time, cellular biological markers could be associated with response to psychotherapy.

The cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding proteins (CREB) and their interaction with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are essential elements in signal transduction pathways important for cellular resilience and neuroplasticity. They play a decisive role in the concept of altered neuroplasticity in major depression.

To view the entire article, please click on the link above.

Blood Flow In Alzheimer's Disease

ScienceDaily (June 24, 2009) — Dr. Jennifer C Palmer and colleagues at the University of Bristol have discovered that endothelin converting enzyme-2 (ECE-2) may cause the decrease in cerebral blood flow seen in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Aβ peptide, which accumulates in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients, is thought to lead to tightening of the blood vessels and reduction of cerebral blood flood. ECE-2 may contribute to these symptoms by converting an inactive precursor to endothelin-1, which constricts blood vessels.

To view the entire article, please click on the link above.

Care Management Reduces Depression And Suicidal Thoughts In Older Primary Care Patients

ScienceDaily (June 23, 2009) — Depression in older adults too often goes unrecognized and untreated, resulting in untold misery, worsening of medical illness, and early death. A new study has identified one important remedy: Adding a trained depression care manager to primary care practices can increase the number of patients receiving treatment, lead to a higher remission rate of depression, and reduce suicidal thoughts.

The two-year outcomes of the multicenter Prevention of Suicide in Primary Care Elderly: Collaborative Trial (PROSPECT) study are published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Lead author of the study is Dr. George S. Alexopoulos, director of the Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division and professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College.

To view the entire article, please click on the link above.

Need Something? Talk To My Right Ear

(Credit: iStockphoto/Artsem Martysiuk)

ScienceDaily (June 23, 2009) — We humans prefer to be addressed in our right ear and are more likely to perform a task when we receive the request in our right ear rather than our left. In a series of three studies, looking at ear preference in communication between humans, Dr. Luca Tommasi and Daniele Marzoli from the University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" in Chieti, Italy, show that a natural side bias, depending on hemispheric asymmetry in the brain, manifests itself in everyday human behavior.

One of the best known asymmetries in humans is the right ear dominance for listening to verbal stimuli, which is believed to reflect the brain's left hemisphere superiority for processing verbal information. However, until now, the majority of studies looking at ear preference in human communication have been controlled laboratory studies and there is very little published observational evidence of spontaneous ear dominance in everyday human behavior.

To view the entire article, please click on the link above.

ADHD Genes Found, Known To Play Roles In Neurodevelopment

ScienceDaily (June 23, 2009) — Pediatric researchers have identified hundreds of gene variations that occur more frequently in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than in children without ADHD. Many of those genes were already known to be important for learning, behavior, brain function and neurodevelopment, but had not been previously associated with ADHD.

"Because the gene alterations we found are involved in the development of the nervous system, they may eventually guide researchers to better targets in designing early intervention for children with ADHD," said lead author Josephine Elia, M.D., a psychiatrist and ADHD expert at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

To view the entire article, please click on the link above.

Please join PRO-Parents of SC for a Workshop

Individualized Education Program

(IEP Workshop)

For: Parents of children with Special Needs

Facility Provided By: Richland County Public Library

Presented By: Parents Reaching Out to Parents of South Carolina

PRO*Parents

Tanya M. Inabinet

Regional Education Coordinator

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

Wednesday/July 22, 2009

1:00pm-3:00pm

Richland County Public Library

(Bank of America Conference Room)

1431 Assembly Street

Columbia SC 29201

Workshop Content:

IDEA Changes to the IEP

The Initial Evaluation

What is Special Education?

What is an IEP? What happens during the IEP meeting?

Seating is limited

Call 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This meeting is open to the public and is neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Richland County Public Library. Views expressed are those of the program sponsors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinion of the library.

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 view the Pro Parents website, please click on the link above.

SC School for the Deaf and Blind Open House

The SC School for the Deaf and the Blind is having Open Houses at its Outreach Centers next week. All of the open houses are scheduled 2:00-5:00. Here is the schedule:

Monday, June 22

Midlands Regional Outreach Center

101 Executive Center Drive Ÿ Suite 120 Ÿ Columbia, SC 29210

Tuesday, June 23

Low Country Regional Outreach Center

1064 Gardner Road Ÿ Suite 216 Ÿ Charleston, SC 29407

Wednesday, June 24

Coastal Regional Outreach Center

212 Main Street Ÿ Conway, SC 29526

Thursday, June 25

Piedmont Regional Outreach Center

355 Cedar Springs Road Ÿ Spartanburg, SC 29302

What you’ll see and hear at SCSDB’s open houses

For individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired:

-Equipment that enables communication by telephone

-Devices that alert users to a ringing phone/door bell or the sound of an alarm clock

-Sign language experts who facilitate communication in medical, legal, social service, higher - education and business settings.

For individuals who are blind or vision impaired:

-Bar code scanners and mobile readers for reading grocery store product labels, restaurant menus and more

-GPS units for independently moving around the community with confidence

-Maps and pictures that can be read by touch

-Braille and large print books and materials

-Experts, who are blind themselves, that travel the state to provide instruction in assistive technology

-Teachers who instruct students in orientation and mobility – how to travel safely and independently

-Vision simulators that allow you to experience various types of blindness

SCSDB will host a pre-event for mass media from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Phone (864) 577-7506 for more information.

The addresses and phone numbers for the Outreach Centers are on this webpage:

http://www.scsdb.k12.sc.us/outreach/Outreach_Index.htm

Also, for more information, you can call 1-800-984-4357.

A brochure about the Open Houses can be found at http://www.scsdb.org/special/RoadShowEmailInvite0617.pdf

This is a good chance to see some of the equipment offered by the SCEDP:

http://www.scsdb.k12.sc.us/outreach/SCTEDP_2007.htm

To view the SCSDB website, please click on the link above.

Popular Alzheimer's Theory May Be False Trail

ScienceDaily (June 16, 2009) — The idea that anti-inflammatory drugs might protect people struggling with dementia from Alzheimer's disease has received a blow with the online release of a study of human brain tissue in Acta Neuropathologica.

Researchers with the McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida, in collaboration with scientists at the University of Frankfurt, Germany, discovered that inflammation of microglia -- an abundant cell type that plays an important supporting role in the brain -- does not appear to be associated with dementia in Alzheimer's disease.

The finding supports recent clinical trial results that indicate anti-inflammatory drugs are not effective at fighting dementia in patients with Alzheimer's disease, which affects about 5.3 million Americans.

To view the entire article, please click on the link above.

Autistics Better At Problem-solving, Study Finds

ScienceDaily (June 17, 2009) — Autistics are up to 40 percent faster at problem-solving than non-autistics, according to a new Université de Montréal and Harvard University study published in the journal Human Brain Mapping. As part of the investigation, participants were asked to complete patterns in the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) – test that measures hypothesis-testing, problem-solving and learning skills.

"While both groups performed RSPM test with equal accuracy, the autistic group responded more quickly and appeared to use perceptual regions of the brain to accelerate problem-solving," says lead author Isabelle Soulières, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University who completed the experiment at the Université de Montréal. "Some critics agued that autistics would be unable to complete the RSPM because of its complexity, yet our study shows autistics complete it as efficiently and have a more highly developed perception than non-autistics."

To view the entire article, please click on the link above.

Early and Easy Detection Of Alzheimer's Disease?

(Credit: Image courtesy of University of Montreal)

ScienceDaily (June 17, 2009) — A new diagnostic technique which may greatly simplify the detection of Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by researchers at McGill University and the affiliated Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital (JGH).

There is currently no accepted blood test for Alzheimer's, and the diagnosis is usually based on expensive and labour-intensive neurological, neuropsychological and neuroimaging evaluations.

Dr. Hyman Schipper and colleagues at the Lady Davis Institute and McGill University utilized a new minimally-invasive technique called near-infrared (NIR) biospectroscopy to identify changes in the blood plasma of Alzheimer's patients, changes which can be detected very early after onset, and possibly in pre-clinical stages of the disease.

To view the entire article, please click on the link above.

Parents of SC calendar of workshops

6/18/2009
6:30pm-8:30pm
*ADD/ADHD Workshop
Anderson County DSS
224 McGee Road
Anderson, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
______________________________
6/19/2009
10:00am-12:00pm
Transitioning Into Special Education Workshop
Dorchester Co. DDSN
2717 W. 5th N. Street
Summerville, SC
Gayle Munn, PRO-Parents
Region 1 Education Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
___________________________________
6/20/2009
9:00am-1:00pm
*ADD/ADHD Workshop & ADD Question and Answer Session
Union DSS Office
200 S. Mountain St.
Union, SC
Heather Watson-Kelley
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
_____________________________________
6/20/2009
10:00am-4:00pm
Rights, Roles, & Responsibilities in Special Education
Outreach Family Fellowship
136 Pee Dee Church Rd.
Dillon, SC 29536
Gayle Munn, PRO-Parents
Region 1 Education Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
____________ ____________________________
6/23/2009
12:00pm-2:00pm Transitioning Into Special Education Workshop
(This workshop is presented via the internet and conference call)
Call PRO-Parents of SC to register
**Email address and phone required**
Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents
Region 2 Education Coordinator
To register, call 1-800-759-4776
___________________________________________
6/25/2009
6:00pm – 8:00pm
How to be an Effective Advocate
Hampton DDSN
294 Hampton Rd.
Hampton, SC
Redick Loring
Partners in Policymaking
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
________________________________________________
6/25/2009
11:00 am- 12:00 pm
How to be a Self-Advocate (for people with disabilities)
Hampton DSN Board
294 Hampton Rd.
Hampton, SC
Redick Loring
Partners in Policymaking
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
___________________________________________________
6/25/2009
3:00pm-4:30pm Transitioning Into Special Education Workshop
(This workshop is presented via the internet and conference call)
Call PRO-Parents of SC to register
**Email address and phone required**
Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents
Region 2 Education Coordinator
To register, call 1-800-759-4776
_______________________________________________________
6/27/2009
9:00am-3:00pm
*Is Your Child a Target of Bullying?, Communication & Positive Behavior Intervention Workshops
Marion County DSS Office
137 Airport Court
Mullins, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
____________________________________________________________
6/30/2009
10:00am-12:00pm
Transitioning Into Special Education Workshop
Marion/Dillon DDSN
400 Martin Luther King Dr.
Marion, SC
Gayle Munn, PRO-Parents
Region 1 Education Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
_________________________________________________
6/30/2009
10:00 am-11:00 pm
or
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
How to Be a Self-Advocate (people with disabilities)
Newberry DSN Board
115 Nance Street
Newberry, SC
Redick Loring, PRO-Parents
Partners in Policymaking
To register call 1-800-759-4776
_____________________________________________________
7/15/2009
10:30am-1:30pm ADD/ADHD Workshop
Richland County Public Library
Baker & Baker Conference
1431 Assembly Street
Columbia SC 29201
Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents
Region 2 Education Coordinator
To register, call 1-800-759-4776
_______________________________________________________
7/16/2009
7:00pm-9:00pm
*Is Your Child a Target of Bullying? Workshop
Florence DSS Office
2685 Irby Street
Florence, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Education Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
___________________________________________________________
7/18/2009
9:00am-2:00pm
*Is Your Child a Target of Bullying?
& Positive Behavior Intervention Workshops
Florence IFCCS
2120 Jody Road, Suite A
Florence, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Paren ts
South Carolina Special Kids
Education Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
____________________________________________________________
7/25/2009
10:30am-12:30pm
*Transitioning Into Special Education Workshop
Marathon Church
315 Roe Road
Greenville, SC
Heather Watson-Kelley,
PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids Project Coordinator
1-800-759-4776
______________________________________________________________
7/28/2009
10:00am-12:00pm Section 504 Workshop
Oconee DDSN
116 S Cove Road
Seneca, SC
Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents
Region 3 Education Coordinator
To Register call 1-800-759-4776 or
803-772-5688
___________________________________________________________________
8/08/2009
10:00am-12:00pm
*Communicating with Your Child’s School Workshop
New Berkeley Restaurant
Highway 52
Moncks Corner, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, 1-866-863-1512
_____________________________________________________________________
8/08/2009
2:00pm-4:00pm
*ADD/ADHD Workshop
Grace Fellowship Church
2427 Midland Park Road
North Charleston, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Education Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
______________________________________________________________________
8/11/2009
6:30pm-8:30pm
*Is Your Child a Target of Bullying? Workshop
Horry DSS Office
1951 Industrial Park Road
Conway, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
___________________________________________ ____________________________
8/13/2009
6:00pm-8:00pm
*Individualized Education Program Workshop
Chester DSS Office
115 Reedy Street
Chester, SC
Heather Watson-Kelley
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
_______________________________________________________________________
8/20/2009
7:00pm-8:00pm
*Transitioning Into Special Education Workshop
Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church
5503 Sunset Blvd
Lexington, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
_______________________________________________________________________
8/25/2009
5:00pm-7:00pm
*Communicating With Your Child’s School Workshop
(This workshop is presented via the internet and conference call)
Call PRO-Parents of SC to register
**Email address and phone required**
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, 1-866-863-1512
________________________________________________________________________
8/25/2009
9:00am – 4:00pm Tourette Syndrome Conference( Fee to be announced)
S.C. State Museum
301 Gervais St.
Columbia, SC
Heather Watson-Kelley
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
____________________________________________________________________
8/27/2009
4:00pm-5:30pm
*Is Your Child a Target of Bullying? Workshop
Clarendon DSS Office
3 South Church Street
Manning, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, 1-866-863-1512
_____________________________________________________________________
8/31/2009
6:00pm-8:00pm
*ADD/ADHD Workshop
Child Enrichment Center
Lee & Bartdale Blvd
Spartanburg, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
______________________________________________________________________
9/03/2009
9:00am-11:00am
Positive Behavioral Interventions Workshop
Beaufort Air Station
Bldg 807, Beaufort, SC
Gayle Munn, PRO-Parents
Region 1 Education Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
____________________________________________________________________
9/08/2009
6:00pm-7:30pm
*ADD/ADHD Workshop
Lancaster DSS Office
Highway 9 Bypass
Lancaster, SC
Heather Watson-Kelley
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
_______________________________________________________________________
09/10/2009
10:00am-12:00pm ADD/ADHD Workshop
Newberry DDSN
115 Nance Street
Newberry, SC
Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents
Region 3 Education Coordinator
To Register call 1-800-759-4776 or
803-772-5688
_____________________________________________________________________
9/10/2009
6:00pm-8:00pm
*Is Your Child a Target of Bullying? Workshop
Trinity United Methodist Church
2724 Whiskey Road
Aiken, SC
Heather Watson-Kelley
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
_______________________________________________________________________
9/10/2009
7:00pm-8:30pm
*Positive Behavioral Interventions Workshop
Colleton DSS
215 S. Lemacks St
Walterboro, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
_____________________________________________________________________
9/14/2009
6:00pm-8:00pm
*Individualized Educational Program Workshop
1st Baptist Church
307 N. Main Street
Abbeville, SC
Heather Watson-Kelley
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
__________________________________________________________________
9/15/2009
6:00pm-8:00pm
*Individualized Education Program Workshop
Hartsville Chamber of Commerce Conference Room
212 N. 5th Street
Hartsville, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Education Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
_____________________________________________________________________
9/17/2009
6:00pm-8:00pm
*Is Your Child a Target of Bullying? Workshop
Lee County DSS Office
820 Brown Street
Bishopville, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
_________________________________________________________________
9/19/2009
9:00am-2:00pm
*ADD/ADHD & Communication Workshops
Florence IFCCS
2120 Jody Road, Suite A
Florence, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
______ ________________________________________________________________
9/21/2009
6:30pm-8:00pm
*ADD/ADHD Workshop
Lighthouse Baptist Church
Highway 72 West
Abbeville, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
_______________________________________________________________________
9/22/2009
6:30pm-8:00pm
*Communicating with Your Child’s School Workshop
Newberry DSS
2107 Wilson Road
Newberry, SC 29108
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
_____________________________________________________________________
9/28/2009
6:00pm-8:00pm
*Communicating with Your Child’s School Workshop
Beaufort DSS
1095 Duke Street
Beaufort, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
___________________________________________________________________
10/05/2009
6:00pm-8:00pm
*ADD/ADHD Workshop
Hampton DSS Office
102 Ginn Altman Avenue, Suite A
Hampton, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
_______________________________________________________________________
10/06/2009
9:00am – 4:00pm Matthew Cohen, Attorney (Fees will be announced)
Midlands Technical College
Airport Campus
Heather Watson-Kelley
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
To register call 1-800-759-4776
Or 803-772-5688
________________________________________________________________________
10/13/200 9
6:00pm-8:00pm
*Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Workshop
Fairfield Memorial Hospital
Highway 34 & 321
Winnsboro, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
______________________________________________________________________
10/15/2009
6:30pm-8:30pm
*Is Your Child a Target of Bullying? Workshop
Anderson County DSS Office
224 McGee Road
Anderson, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
______________________________________________________________________
10/15/2009
7:00pm-9:00pm
*Communicating with Your Child’s School Workshop
Florence DSS Office
2685 Irby Street
Florence, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Education Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
______________________________________________________________________
10/22/2009
10:00am-12:00pm Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
Anderson DDSN
212 McGee Road
Anderson, SC
Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents
Region 3 Education Coordinator
To Register call 1-800-759-4776 or
803-772-5688
______________________________________________________________________
11/03/2009
6:30pm-8:30pm
*Communicating with Your Child’s School Workshop
Kershaw DSS
PO Box 39
Elgin, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
________________________________________________________________________
11/10/2009
5:00pm- 7:00pm
*Communicating with Your Child’s School Workshop
Hope Center
901 Main Street
Sumter, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
South Carolina Special Kids
Project, Program Coordinator
1-866-863-1512
_____________________________________________________________________
11/10/2009
10:00am-12:00pm Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
Greenville DDSN
12 Winchester Court
Mauldin, SC 29662
Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents
Region 3 Education Coordinator
To Register call 1-800-759-4776 or
803-772-5688
_______________________________________________________________________
11/23/2009
5:00pm-7:00pm
*Communicating with Your Child’s School Workshop
Marlboro DSS Office
713 Parsonage St
Bennettsville, SC
Kim Preston, PRO-Parents
SC Special Kids Project Education Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

*Are Workshops for Foster Parents and DSS Staff

PLEASE CALL PRO-Parents of SC to register for either day
803.772.5688 or 800.759.4776
FREE WORKSHOP & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC


To view the Pro-Parents website, please click on the link above.

Please join PRO-Parents of SC for a Workshop on ADD/ADHD

Attention Deficit Disorder Workshop

(ADD & ADHD)

For Parents & Other of Children with Special needs

Facility By: Richland County Public Library

Presented By: PRO-Parents of SC

Parents Reaching Out to Parents of South Carolina

Tanya M. Inabinet

Regional Education Coordinator

Wednesday

7/15/2009

10:30am-1:30pm

Richland County Public Library

(Baker & Baker Conference Room)

1431 Assembly Street

Columbia SC 29201

TOPICS:

*Understanding ADD/ADHD

*Functional Behavior Assessments

*Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIP)

*Teaching Strategies

*And much more

SEATING IS VERY LIMITED

Call to register 1-800-759-4776 or

(803)772-5688

This is a free Workshop

Open to the public

This meeting is open to the public and is neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Richland County Public Library. Views expressed are those of the program sponsors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinion of the library.

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 view the Pro-Parents website, please click on the link above.

Webinar on Air Carrier Access Act for Flyers with Disabilities

Webinar: Understanding the Air Carrier Access Act for Flyers with Disabilities

Thursday, June 25th

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (EST)

Hosted by the Association for Airline Passenger Rights

For additional information about the webinar or how to register, please contact Brandon M. Macsata at info@flyfriendlyskies.com

The purpose of the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (49 U.S.C. 41705) provides that no air carrier may discriminate against any otherwise qualified individual with a disability, by reason of such disability, in the provision of air transportation. ACAA prohibits domestic air carriers from discriminating against persons with disabilities in the provision of air transport. The law states that persons with disabilities will have access to all services, goods and information that they provide to any other passenger as part of their normal operating practices and forbids air carriers from treating passengers with disabilities any differently than other passengers except in making the necessary accommodations

Learn from industry experts about the following aspects of the law:

Airport Accessibility Aircraft Accessibility and Wheelchair Issues Requirements Concerning Services Accommodations for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Attendants and Service Animals

Speakers include:

Jacquie Brennan, Project Director, DBTAC: Southwest ADA Center Kleo J. King, Senior Vice President of Accessibility Services, United Spinal Association Mike Spollen, Consumer Aviation Specialist in the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Transportation -- invited Brandon M. Macsata, Executive Director, Association for Airline Passenger Rights (moderator)

AAPR members can registration for FREE. Non-members can register for only $49.95; however, non-members can join APPR for only $10.00 and thereby avoid the registration fee and save $39.95. The on-line system that will be used for this program is fully accessible. Instructions for accessing the program will be sent to individuals once they are registered.

For additional information about the webinar or how to register, please contact Brandon M. Macsata at info@flyfriendlyskies.com

Sponsored by the Association for Airline Passenger Rights (AAPR) & National Network of ADA Centers.

http://www.sc.edu/scatp/index.htm

To register for the webinar, please click on the link 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.

Parents Key In New Measure To Evaluate Language In Children With Autism

ScienceDaily (June 10, 2009) — A new parent questionnaire, developed at the University of Waterloo, will help health practitioners to more accurately gauge the acquisition of language skills in children with autism.

The pioneering Language Use Inventory (LUI) is among a set of measures for evaluating spoken language development in children with autism spectrum disorders, recommended by an expert panel.

The experts' report, Defining Spoken Language Benchmarks and Selecting Measures of Expressive Language Development for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, appears in the June 2009 issue of the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research. The report was commissioned by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

To view the entire article, please click on the link above.

Symptoms Of Depression In Obese Children Linked To Elevated Cortisol

ScienceDaily (June 15, 2009) — A new study connects abnormalities of the "stress" hormone cortisol with symptoms of depression in obese children, and confirms that obesity and depression often occur together, even in children. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

"There is evidence in adults that abnormal regulation of cortisol plays a role in both obesity and depression," said the study's lead author, Panagiota Pervanidou, MD, of Athens University Medical School in Athens, Greece. "Our study indicates that cortisol abnormalities may underlie obesity and depression starting in childhood."

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that helps the body respond to stress but also has other functions, including converting fat, protein and carbohydrates into energy. Normally, levels of this hormone peak in the early morning, start to drop in late morning and reach their low point at night.

To view the entire article, please click on link above.

Accessibility Workshop

Features and Products That Will Make Your Home More Accessible and Enjoyable

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Time: 9:30am–11:00am

Location: Conference Center, Richland Medical Park 2, 2 Medical Park Road, Columbia, SC

Instructors: Wesley Farnum and Michael Reed with MyHome Builders, LLC

Catherine Leigh Graham with the University of South Carolina’s interagency Office of Disability and Health.

Wesley and Michael are local builders, business owners and realtors. Catherine is a rehabilitation engineer who has been a wheelchair user for over 20 years. They, in conjunction with the SC Assistive Technology Program, are offering this free seminar.

Wesley, Michael, and Catherine will demonstrate a variety of features for homes that can improve the accessibility for people with disabilities or those wishing to remain in their homes as they age. The objective of this seminar is to detail out room-by-room home features and products that are currently available that do not sacrifice aesthetics and style. Listed below are a few of the topics that will be discussed:

Exterior features for accessibility and curb appeal

Kitchen design

Electrical items for safety and comfort

Bath and shower products

Flooring that works

After the presentation is completed Wesley, Michael and Catherine will be available for one-on-one questions.

Registration and Cost: Free! There is no fee to register for this seminar, but pre-registration is required.

To register for this workshop:

Option 1: Complete the online registration form at http://www.sc.edu/scatp/forms/trainingregform7-29-09.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.

For directions go to: http://www.sc.edu/scatp/directions.htm

Look for updates to SCATP's training schedule at http://www.sc.edu/scatp/trainingschedule09.html

To view the SCATP website please click on the link above.

pdf accessability videos

There are some excellent videos on pdf accessibility found at:

http://www.acrobatusers.com/taxonomy/term/video/33/2

Understanding Acrobat's accessibility

Creating accessible PDF files

Assessing PDF files for accessibility

Creating an accessible PDF file

Ensuring your PDF is accessible

Navigating an accessible PDF document, part 1

Navigating an accessible PDF document, part 2

To view the SCATP website, please click on the link above.

Exercise and stop smoking to 'stay sharp'

The Independant (June 9, 2009) -- A recipe for staying sharp in old age has been uncovered by scientists who studied more than 2,000 men and women through their seventies and eighties.

The four key factors involved in preventing mental decline were found to be exercise, education, social activity and not smoking.

Researchers carried out a series of memory and mental tests on 2,500 men and women aged 70 to 79 over a period of eight years.

Just over half the participants showed a normal rate of age-related decline while 16% suffered a major reduction in their mental faculties.

However, 30% of the study volunteers remained unchanged and in some cases even showed an improvement in performance over the years.

The researchers then examined what lifestyle factors stood out among those people who were able to remain quick-witted in old age.

By John von Radowitz, Press Association 

To view entire article, please click on link above.

Depression diagnoses decline after FDA warning

Associated Press – (Jun 1, 2009) CHICAGO – A persistent decline in the rate of Americans, especially children, newly diagnosed with depression followed the first federal warning on risks connected with antidepressant drugs, a study suggests.

In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration first warned about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in young people taking the drugs. That action may have helped reverse a five-year trend of rising rates of diagnosis for depression, the researchers found.

The findings, published Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry, are based on an analysis of eight years of data from nearly 100 managed care plans and more than 55 million patients.

By CARLA K. JOHNSON, AP Medical Writer

To view entire article, please click on link above.

Genetic Link Found Between Anxiety, Depression And Insomnia

ScienceDaily (June 9, 2009) — The genes that play a role in adolescent insomnia are the same as those involved in depression and anxiety, according to a research abstract that will be presented on June 8, at Sleep 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

Results of the study indicate that insomnia as a diagnosis has a moderate heritability in 8 to 16 year olds, which is consistent with past studies of insomnia symptoms in adults. Significant genetic effects shared between insomnia, depression and anxiety suggests that overlapping genetic mechanisms exist to link the disorders.

According to lead author Phillip Gehrman, PhD, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine, researchers involved in the study were surprised that they did not find sleep-specific genetic effects.

To view entire article, please click on link above.

2009 Assistive Technology Expo

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE

2009 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY EXPO

DECEMBER 3-4, 2009

NORTH RALEIGH HILTON

Details Coming Soon at www.pat.org

For More Information: 

 

Contact Sonya Van Horn 

Partnerships in Assistive Technology 

assist@pat.org 

919-872-2298 

To view the website, please click on the link above

Relationship Found Between Napping, Hyperactivity, Depression And Anxiety

ScienceDaily (June 9, 2009) — Napping may have a significant influence on young children's daytime functioning, according to a research abstract that will be presented on June 8 at Sleep 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

Results indicate that children between the ages of 4 and 5 who did not take daytime naps were reported by their parents to exhibit higher levels of hyperactivity, anxiety and depression than children who continued to nap at this age.

According to lead author Brian Crosby, PhD, postdoctoral fellow of psychology at Pennsylvania State University, previous studies have shown that poor or inadequate sleep is linked with symptoms of hyperactivity, anxiety and depression; researchers involved in this study were happy to demonstrate the potential importance of napping for optimal daytime functioning in young children, as napping is often overlooked in favor of nighttime or total sleep.

To view entire article, please click on link above.

Experts: For Kids -- No Sports, No Schoolwork, No Text Messages

ScienceDaily (June 9, 2009) — When it comes to concussions, children and teens require different treatment, according to international experts who recently published consensus recommendations. The British Journal of Sports Medicine's new guidelines say children and teens must be strictly monitored and activities restricted until fully healed. These restrictions include no return to the field of play, no return to school, and no cognitive activity.

The new consensus is from the International Conference on Concussion in Sports. Children's pediatric concussion expert and neuropsychologist Gerard Gioia, PhD, participated in the panel, and played a key role in delineating the differences between children, adolescents and teens, and adult athletes.

"These consensus recommendations mark the first time that international experts have focused on specialized treatment for kids," said Dr. Gioia, chief of Neuropsychology at Children's National. "This conference of experts has led the way in developing protocols for adult athletes, and now international protocols take into consideration that the developing brain of the child and adolescent requires special consideration. The guidelines also point to the important role parents, coaches, and teachers play in assessing and treating young athletes."

To view entire article, please click on link above.

PAALS Summer Camp spaces available

We have a few spots left for youth with special needs in our camp this summer and some scholarships are available. We talk with each family to make sure the camp is suitable for their specific special needs. If you want a flyer sent to you as an attachment, please contact Jennifer at or 788-7063, or call Linda Carter at 754-6720 x203.

-----------------------------------------------------

* Beginner Camp:

July 20-July 24, 2009              

Monday-Friday 8:30am-12:30pm, Fee:  $175

*Other RCRC camp available for afternoon until 6pm

Located at Crane Creek Community Center

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 to

train a service dog candidate

** Advanced Camp for returnees & Special needs:

July 27-July 31, 2009

Monday-Friday 8:30am-3:30pm, Fee:  $250

Ages 12-16 for returnees who attended previous camp and/or volunteer with dog programs and ages 11- 19 for special needs

*Other RCRC camp available for afternoon until 6pm

Located at Crane Creek Community Center

Building

on Beginner’s camp junior trainers will get more advanced service dog

behaviors to practice and responsibility of the dogs. 

PAALS stands for "Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services." 

To view the PAALS website, please click on link above.

Free webinar on Accessibility in PDF documents and forms

When: Wed, Jun 17, 2009
Time: 10:00 am US Pacific (1pm US Eastern)

In this eSeminar, you'll learn how to:
• Create accessible PDF documents and forms
• Analyze existing PDF files and make them accessible
• Add other interactive features to make your documents and 
forms more accessible

Join us Wednesday, June 17 2009 at 10:00 am US Pacific, for a free
eSeminar on how you can use the features in Acrobat 9 to make PDF
files fully accessible and Section 508 compliant. Learn how to create
accessible PDF documents and forms, analyze existing PDF files for
accessibility, and add other interactive features to make your
documents and forms more accessible.
In addition to our special guest speaker, Adobe Accessibility Product
Managers Andrew Kirkpatrick and Greg Pisocky will be on hand in the
chat room to answer your questions.
Accessibility features in Acrobat 9 fall into two broad categories:
Features for making existing PDF documents more accessible for reading
and features for creating accessible PDF documents. To create
accessible PDF documents, you must use Acrobat, not Reader. Acrobat 9
also offers a complete set of tools to create and optimize accessible
PDF files from almost any source.

To register for this event, go to:
http://acrobatusers.com/monthly_topic/2009/06
AcrobatUsers.com hosts a large selection of written and video
tutorials on create accessible PDF documents and forms at:
http://www.acrobatusers.com/topics/accessibility

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

Common Autism Medication Is Ineffective For Repetitive Behaviors, Study Finds

ScienceDaily (June 1, 2009) — Citalopram (Celexa), a medication commonly prescribed to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), was no more effective than a placebo at reducing repetitive behaviors, according to a multi-site clinical trial guided by lead author Bryan H. King, MD, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Seattle Children's Hospital and professor and vice chair of psychiatry at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Because citalopram is also prescribed for patients with obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), these study results may challenge the widely held premise that repetitive behaviors in children with ASD are similar to repetitive behaviors often found in cases of OCD.

"We're continuing to learn new information about the multiple variables that may cause or contribute to autism spectrum disorders, as well as how to treat them," said King. "Even as our understanding of autism grows, so much still remains a mystery. While our study's findings may be frustrating news for hopeful families and clinicians, each new finding helps us to re-examine and revise treatment plans, refine future studies and build upon what we know as we search for effective treatments and eventually cures for this complex group of disorders."

To view entire article, please click on link above.

Capturing The Birth Of A Synapse: Mechanism Locking Two Neurons Found

Receptors are needed for synapses to become functional. Neuroligin (red) on the surface of the cell is tethered to neurotransmitter receptors (mauve) that reside in intracellular vesicles. This enables both synaptic components to move together to a site of synapse formation. (Credit: Courtesy of Philip Washbourne)

ScienceDaily (May 28, 2009) — Researchers have identified the locking mechanism that allows some neurons to form synapses to pass along essential information. Mutations of genes that produce a critical cell-adhesion molecule involved in the work were previously linked to autism.

The discovery -- captured with fluorescent imaging of excitatory neurons harvested from rat pups shortly after birth and studied in culture as they continued to develop -- is described in a paper in the journal Neural Development.

"We've caught two neuronal cells in the act of forming a synapse," said principle investigator Philip Washbourne, professor of biology at the University of Oregon. He describes the cell-adhesion neuroligin proteins on the membranes of receptor neurons as "molecular Velcro."

The research team of six UO and University of California, Davis, scientists found one of many finger-like filopodia, or spines, that reach out from one neuron is nabbed by neuroligin molecules on the membrane of another neuron. In turn, neuroligins recruit at least two other key proteins (PSD-95 and NMDA receptors) to begin building a scaffold to hold the synapse components in place. The moment of locking is captured in a video (link below) that will appear with the paper's final version at the journal's Web site.

To view entire article, please click on link above.

Study Clarifies a Depression Risk

New York Times (June 2, 2009) -- Teenagers whose parents have a history of depression are at particularly high risk of becoming depressed themselves. Now, a large clinical trial has found that a group cognitive behavioral program that teaches coping and problem-solving skills to such high-risk teenagers can reduce the risk.

But, the study also found, the success rate of the prevention program varied greatly depending on the mental health status of the teenagers’ parents at the time they began intervention. The program was much more effective than standard care if the parents were also not depressed when the intervention began.

The study was published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association.

by Roni Rabin

To view entire article, please click on link above.

SCSDB grant provides high-tech tools for daily tasks

John Byrum/john.byrum@shj.com

Leslie Brown, a graduate of the S.C. School for the Deaf and the Blind, uses a Omni barcode scanner to identify a product from a grocery store shelf. The device scans the barcode and then speaks the name of the product.

GoUpstate.com (Wednesday June 3) -- After reaching for a snack on the grocery store shelf, Leslie Brown scanned the box's barcode and heard "Quaker Granola Bar, chocolate chip." Saying she hated chocolate, Brown put it back and moved on to the next item.

Brown, 27, is a graduate of the S.C. School for the Deaf and the Blind. She can't see the items she's shopping for in the grocery store, but thanks to new vision technology tools, Brown can shop more independently.

SCSDB's fundraising arm, The Walker Foundation, purchased two Omni barcode scanners and three KNFB Readers, which double as phones, with a $8,372 grant from Bi-Lo Charities Inc. The high-tech tools will help students accomplish everyday tasks such as shopping, dining in a restaurant or cooking a meal.

"We like to say technology is a great equalizer, and these tools are must-haves for individuals who are seeking independence," Elizabeth McKown, SCSDB's interim vice president of outreach services, said in a written statement. "By helping our students who are blind use assistive devices such as readers and scanners, they can accomplish daily activities with ease."

by Lee G. Healy

To view entire article, please click on link above.

Long-distance Brain Waves Focus Attention

Neurons in the visual cortex (area V4) encode the visual scene, and neurons in the FEF portion of prefrontal cortex control the focus of attention. When attention (cone and circle) is directed to the red book, neurons in FEF and V4 (represented by red triangles) start firing rhythmically, and the neural activity becomes synchronized across the two areas. (Credit: Image courtesy of MIT)

ScienceDaily (June 2, 2009) — Just as our world buzzes with distractions — from phone calls to e-mails to tweets — the neurons in our brain are bombarded with messages. Research has shown that when we pay attention, some of these neurons begin firing in unison, like a chorus rising above the noise. Now, a study in the May 29 issue of Science reveals the likely brain center that serves as the conductor of this neural chorus.

MIT neuroscientists found that neurons in the prefrontal cortex — the brain's planning center — fire in unison and send signals to the visual cortex to do the same, generating high-frequency waves that oscillate between these distant brain regions like a vibrating spring. These waves, also known as gamma oscillations, have long been associated with cognitive states like attention, learning, and consciousness.

"We are especially interested in gamma oscillations in the prefrontal cortex because it provides top-down influences over other parts of the brain," explains senior author Robert Desimone, director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research and the Doris and Don Berkey Professor of Neuroscience at MIT. "We know that the prefrontal cortex is affected in people with schizophrenia, ADHD and many other brain disorders, and that gamma oscillations are also altered in these conditions. Our results suggest that altered neural synchrony in the prefrontal cortex could disrupt communication between this region and other areas of the brain, leading to altered perceptions, thoughts, and emotions."

To view entire article, please click on link above.

Common Autism Medication Is Ineffective For Repetitive Behaviors, Study Finds

ScienceDaily (June 1, 2009) — Citalopram (Celexa), a medication commonly prescribed to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), was no more effective than a placebo at reducing repetitive behaviors, according to a multi-site clinical trial guided by lead author Bryan H. King, MD, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Seattle Children's Hospital and professor and vice chair of psychiatry at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Because citalopram is also prescribed for patients with obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), these study results may challenge the widely held premise that repetitive behaviors in children with ASD are similar to repetitive behaviors often found in cases of OCD.

"We're continuing to learn new information about the multiple variables that may cause or contribute to autism spectrum disorders, as well as how to treat them," said King. "Even as our understanding of autism grows, so much still remains a mystery. While our study's findings may be frustrating news for hopeful families and clinicians, each new finding helps us to re-examine and revise treatment plans, refine future studies and build upon what we know as we search for effective treatments and eventually cures for this complex group of disorders."

To view entire article, please click on link above.

SC Assistive Technology Exchange

***SC Assistive Technology Exchange May 29 2009 Update***

Thanks to Catherine Graham for this updated list of items on the SC AT Exchange.

If you have questions about items on the Exchange, it would be best to email or call Catherine Graham (information provided below).

Catherine Leigh Graham
catherine.graham@palmettohealth.org
(803) 434-3189

Special note: We're now listing accessible homes on the AT 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.

Catherine Graham and Janet Jendron, SC AT Exchange Administrators

Please visit the page at http://www.scatpexchange.net/ and find the contact information for these and other items.

As of May 29, 2009 09:37 AM

Items Available

Daily Living

• Boys Shoes For AFO's, Answer 2
  
• Etac Commode/Shower Chair
  
• HOUSE - Wheelchair accessible, Lake Carolina - The Oaks, Wheelchair accessible home in northeast Columbia. Please go to http://public.fotki.com/Robyn/223-oak-cove/ for details and pictures.
  

Mobility, Seating & Positioning

• 42" Rifton prone stander
  
• Child's Corner Chair
  
• Columbia Med. Bath chair
  
• Craftmatic 1 Bed
  
• Leckey High Low Chair
  
• Hospital Crib by HARD
  
• Jazzy Heavy Duty Power Wheelchair
  
• Jazzy 1120 Power Chair
  
• Jazzy Pride 1121 power wheelchair
  
• Large Columbia 8700 Bath chair
  
• Merits P182 Powerchair
  
• Multi positioning RB2 bath chair
  
• Hoyer Deluxe power patient Lifter HPL402
  
• Merius Power wheel chair
  
• Permobil C300 Power wheelchair
  
• Jazzy 1120/2000 power wheelchair w/ attendant drive
  
• Pride Jet 2 HD (Heavy Duty) Scooter
  
• Reclining Shower Chair, Sammons Preston, Item 927685
  
• Rifton Youth Activity Chair
  
• Rifton Small Gait Trainer
  
• Gazelle PS Stander
  
• Convaid Safari Stroller
  
• Adjustable Supportive Crawler
  
• Columbia Medical Wrap around bath support
  
• Quickie Youth caregiver operated wheelchair
  
• Columbia thera medic car seat
  
• Invacare 2005 hydraulic patient lift device
  
• Guldman- model GH2 power patient lift device
  
• Libre, by Freedom Designs small youth wheelchair
  

Other

• Halo Helmet, Sammons Preston
  
• Nebulizer, Proneb Ultreya
  
• jevity 1cal
  

Recreation, Sports, and Leisure

• Adaptive Tricycle , Wrangler, Adaptive tricycle for child with disability
  
• Swing Seat, JennSwing
  

Speech Communication

• ERICA Eye Gaze Speech Generating Device
  

Vehicle Modification and Transportation

• Accessible Van ('99 Custom Ford E150), Ford E150 Custom Conversion Van
  
• Dodge 2500 Wheelchair Access. Van, Dodge 2500 Van, 1998 Full size
  
• Hand Controls, Monarch Mark I-A
  
• Wheelchair Accessible Van, 2005 Toyota Sienna LE Rampvan
  

Items being Sought

Computers and related

• Used computer
  

Daily Living

• "Sure Hands" Ceiling Hoist
  
• CPAP with humidifier
  
• E&J Shower Wheel Chair
  
• Electric or Manual Hoyer Lift
  
• Emergency System
  
• Recumbent Bike
  

Environmental Adaptations

• Portable Wheelchair Ramp
  
• Portable Wheelchair Ramp for Van
  

Hearing

• Hearing Aid and Eyeglasses
  

Mobility, Seating & Positioning

• 14x14 light weight folding wheelchair
  
• 20 x22 or 20x20 Wheelchair cushion
  
• Corner Chair for activities for 19 month old with CP
  
• Electric Adjustable Bed (not hospital
  
• Power Lift Chair for a friend in need who has Parkinson's Disease
  
• Lift chair with motor that fully reclines
  
• Personal Lift to assist with transfers for a child approx 125lbs
  
• Adult Standing Frame
  
• Tomato Soft Seating System for 19 month old with CP
  
• Transfer Tub Bench
  
• Used Manual Wheelchair
  

Recreation, Sports, and Leisure

• Kayak
  

Speech Communication

• AAC Device, In desperate need of a Springboard Lite or Vantage Lite for my son
  
• Easy Talk16, Augmentative Communication Device
  

Vehicle Modification and Transportation

• Powerchair Transport Accessories
  
• Exterior Power Chair Lift with a Hitch
  
• Exterior Power Chair Lift with a Hitch
  
• Hi Top Handicap Van
  
• Power Rear vehicle mounted scooter lift
  
• Side Door Van Handicap Lift
  
• Van Wheelchair Ramp
  

To view the SC Assistive Technology Exchange website, please click on link above.

Alzheimer's Discovery Could Bring Early Diagnosis, Treatment Closer

(Credit: iStockphoto)

ScienceDaily (May 23, 2009) — A discovery made by researchers at McGill University and the affiliated Lady Davis Research Institute for Medical Research at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital offers new hope for the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

In a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry on May 15, Dr. Hemant Paudel, his PhD student Dong Han and postdoctoral fellows Hamid Qureshi and Yifan Lu, report that the addition of a single phosphate to an amino acid in a key brain protein is a principal cause of Alzheimer's. Identifying this phosphate, one of up to two-dozen such molecules, could make earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's possible and might, in the longer term, lead to the development of drugs to block its onset.

The crucial protein, called a tau protein, is a normal part of the brain and central nervous system. But in Alzheimer's patients, tau proteins go out of control and form tangles that, along with senile plaques, are the primary cause of the degenerative disease.

To view entire article, please click on link above.

New Model Of Depression/anxiety Enhances Understanding Of Antidepressant Drugs

ScienceDaily (May 27, 2009) — A recent study finds that the antidepressant effects of drugs like Prozac involve both neurogenesis-dependent and -independent mechanisms, a finding that may lead to development of better treatments for depression and anxiety. The research, published in the May 28th issue of the journal Neuron, utilizes a new experimental mouse model of depression/anxiety that is the first to permit simultaneous examination of multiple effects of antidepressant treatment in the same animal.

The specific molecular influences of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other types of antidepressants commonly prescribed for treatment of depression and anxiety disorders are not well understood. "Recently, compelling work in rodents has suggested that SSRIs may stimulate changes in a brain region called the hippocampus as well as other brain structures," says study author Dr. Denis J. David from the University of Paris-Sud. "For example, anxiety/depression-like changes in behavior have been linked with a decrease in cell proliferation in the hippocampus, a change that is reversed by antidepressants."

To view entire article, please click on link above.