DSAL Buddy Walk

To Read more information on the Buddy Walk click the above title.

PRO-Parents May Clendar

4/27/2011
11:00 am - 1:00 pm

**** WEBINAR ****
Transitioning Out of Special Education Webinar
Internet and Phone Line Required to Participate
Registrations Closes at 5:00 pm 4/26/2011

Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 2, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776

4/30/2011
9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Getting and Keeping the First Job Workshop
Orangeburg County DSS Office
2570 St. Matthews Road
Orangeburg, SC

Kim Preston, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids Project
Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

4/30/2011
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Individual Education Program (IEP) and Parental Rights in Special Education Workshop
Sponsored By: Richland One
Lower Richland High School
2615 Lower Richland Blvd.
Hopkins, SC 29061

Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 2, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/02/2011
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Gang Awareness Workshop
Glenforest School
1041 Harbor Drive
West Columbia, SC

PRO-Parents of SC

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/03/2011
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Transitioning Out of Special Education Workshop
Beaufort County DDSN
1804 Old Shell Road
Port Royal, SC

Kim Preston, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids Project
Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/05/2011
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Getting and Keeping the First Job Workshop
Sponsored By: Sumter County DDSN
775 Electric Avenue
Sumter, SC 29153

Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 2, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/09/2011
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Transitioning Out of Special Education Workshop
Hampton County DDSN
294 Hampton Road
Varnville, SC 29944

Kim Preston, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids Project
Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/09/2011
11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Transitioning Out of Special Education Workshop
Sponsored By: Family Connections of SC
2712 Middleburg Drive
Suite 103 B
Columbia, SC 29204

Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 2, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/10/2011
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Transition Into Special Education (Early Intervention) Workshop
Sponsored By: Pickens DDSN
Pickens County Library
124 North Catherine Street
Pickens, SC 29671

Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 3, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/10/2011
11:00 am - 12:30 pm

**** WEBINAR ****
Positive Behavioral Interventions (PBI) Webinar
Internet and Phone Line Required to Participate
Registrations Closes at 5:00 pm 5/09/2011

Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 2, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/11/2011
10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Transition Into Special Education (Early Intervention) Workshop
Bamberg County DDSN (Conference Room)
16553 Heritage Highway
Bamberg, SC 29042

Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 2, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/11/2010
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Getting and Keeping the First Job Workshop
Sponsored By: Bamberg County DDSN
16553 Heritage Highway
Bamberg, SC 29042

Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 2, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/12/2011
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Is Your Child a Target of Bullying? Workshop
Colleton County DDSN
728 Hiers Corner Road
Walterboro, SC 29488

Kim Preston, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids Project
Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/12/2011
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Transition Into Special Education (Early Intervention) Workshop
Colleton County DDSN
728 Hiers Corner Road
Walterboro, SC 29488

Kim Preston, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids Project
Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/12/2011
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Transitioning Out of Special Education Workshop
Family Connection of SC
1104 Ella Street
Anderson, SC

Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 3, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/14/2011
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Transition Into Special Education (Early Intervention) Workshop
Sponsored By: Union DDSN
Union County Museum
127 West Main Street
Union, SC

Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 3, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/18/2011
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Individual Education Program (IEP) Workshop
Marion / Dillon DDSN
400 Martin Luther King Blvd
Marion, SC 29571

Kim Preston, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids Project
Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/18/2011
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Transitioning Out of Special Education Workshop
Marion / Dillon DDSN
400 Martin Luther King Blvd
Marion, SC 29571

Kim Preston, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids Project
Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

5/19/2011
11:00 am - 12:30 pm

**** WEBINAR ****
Section 504 of the Rehab Act (504 Plan) Webinar
Internet and Phone Line Required to Participate
Registrations Closes at 5:00 pm 5/18/2011

Tanya Inabinet, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 2, Education Coordinator

For More Information or To Register Call:
1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

NOTE: For more information, and to see the whole calendar of PRO-Parents, click on the title above.

Friends of Disabled Adults & Children

From Janet Jendron:

I’m making a trip to Atlanta Wednesday morning and am going to drop off a wheel chair to FODAC, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children. If you have equipment you’d like to donate to FODAC, I’d be happy to take it, as I have room in my van. Respond to this email and give me a call if you have something. My cell phone is 803 446-2566. We can arrange for me to pick up or have you deliver the equipment you have. I’m in Columbia.

This might be the time to get a tax donation for equipment that isn’t in great condition. FODAC breaks down equipment for parts.

FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults & Children) in Stone Mountain, GA provides over $8 million each year in equipment and services to the community at little or no cost to the recipients. FODAC is a 501(c)(3) and does not have direct funding from Medicare/Medicaid for the services offered. Most equipment is issued for a suggested donation but some services have mandatory fees.

FODAC provides home health (mobility and daily living) equipment to people of any age or any disability, temporary or permanent, for medically necessary and medically helpful reasons. These items are provided for a suggested donation. Clients do not have to qualify financially but their waiting lists place a priority on Medically Necessary and low income individuals.

Their aim is to meet the short term needs for medically necessary situations while waiting on benefits to take over. Some examples include injuries with no existing insurance, a child outgrowing a wheelchair, a back up piece of equipment, all shower equipment, or caregiver aids.

You can find out more information on the FODAC website or by calling them at (770) 491-9014.

NOTE: To navigate to the FODAC website, click on the title above.

50 Best Learning Disability Blogs

Zen College Life- It is almost impossible to go through life without being touched by somebody with a learning disability. Whether it is one of your own children, a friend´s or colleague´s, or maybe you are studying for a course that will enable you to care for learners with disabilities; you will find practical and helpful information in the list below.

We have tried wherever possible to isolate blogs relating to a specific learning disability, however the “General” section should include something of interest to most to most readers and many of the links are directed to a relevant index or search facility from where you can find the topic in which you need advice.

ADD/ADHD Blogs

ADDitude Blog – One of the most comprehensive blogs under any subject. The site covers of ages of childhood ADHD with valuable resources for parents who feel they are suffering alone.

ADHD Resource Blog – Written by the mother of a teenage son with ADHD, this touching and often funny blog has a generous supply of resources for other parents in a similar situation.

ADD-Me Blog! – First person experiences of living with ADHD and other people´s misconceptions

Disability Support Services – Help for all types of disability with extensive articles written about ADHD achievers

Parent Squad – General help and advice for all parents with extensive database on ADHD issues

Autism Blogs

Facing Autism in New Brunswick – Written an autistic child’s father, this blog includes many touching stories and relevant news items

Autism Blog – Mom of boy with ASD chronicles life with an autistic child and comments on related autism news items

The Joy of Autism – Lecturer and founder of the Autism Acceptance project, Estée Klar, writes about the joy in her life she gets from her autistic son

Left Brain Right Brain – Well established U.K. blog featuring autism news, science and opinion

Adventures in Autism – Mom of autistic child blogs about vaccine news and research on thought provoking site

Cerebral Palsy

Chocolate Cherry Pie – Jill Croft is a mother of two with a B.A. in Psychology, Master´s of Education and a teenage daughter born with cerebral palsy. Read her intriguing blog about life and parenting

Living With Cerebral Palsy – A victim´s own story of growing with cerebral palsy offers advice to parents of other young sufferers

Whispers of Hope – Inspirational writings and news relating to helping families affected by cerebral palsy

Mango Mon – Sources for support in teaching students with cerebral palsy

Paces – advice and support for families supporting children with cerebral palsy through conductive education

To find more blogs, click on the above title.

College Bound and Living with Autism

New York Times (April 20, 2011)- Several readers of the Consults blog recently had questions about the long-term course of autism, including succeeding in college and beyond. Our experts Dr. Fred Volkmar of the Yale Child Study Center and Dr. Lisa Wiesner, co-authors of “A Practical Guide to Autism,” respond. For more on this and other topics, see their earlier responses in “Ask the Experts About Autism,” and The Times Health Guide: Autism. The authors also teach a free online course on autism at Yale University, which is also available at iTunesU and on YouTube.

Q.

Are you aware of any longitudinal studies of occupational outcomes and successful (independent) living for high-functioning autistic adults? Where would I find those? Are there particular strategies that should be pursued in high school or college to enhance the likelihood of success in these areas?

Kathy Patrick, Houston

Q.

Can you tell us what the distribution of children and adults on the spectrum looks like, i.e., what percentage of autistic children and adults are nonverbal, college-bound or college graduates, of below-average or above-average intelligence, etc. There are so many stereotypes, from dot-com entrepreneurs to self-injuring children, that it’s difficult to grasp what autism “looks like.”

Rob, Oakland, Calif.

A.

Dr. Wiesner and Dr. Volkmar respond:

Several readers had questions about the range of adult outcomes in autism and how treatments may affect outcomes in individual children. This is a very interesting and complicated — in a happy way – topic, because it seems like things are improving on balance, though not for every child.

More and more individuals with autism are now able to function independently as adults. This is a major change over past decades, probably reflecting earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments. There is a very good summary of this in a chapter by Patricia Howlin in the Handbook of Autism (2005, Wiley).

Unfortunately not every child gets better. Sometimes the outcome seems to relate to the severity of the autism in childhood. Individuals whose disability is more profound continue, as adults, to need considerable support and help. It is unfortunately the case that for this population, services are often minimal, research is sparse and resources are lacking. The federal government has identified this as a priority area in autism work, and rightly so.

But even when we are fairly optimistic about an individual child, he or she may not do well as an adult. This is one of the reasons those of us who have been in the field for a long time are very careful about predicting the future to parents. We can only talk, in general, about what on average are good or bad prognostic factors.

For individuals with autism who can go on to college, a number of resources are available on the Yale Child Study Center Web site, including books and links to programs. Options range from small and very supportive programs specific to individuals with autism and related disorders, to traditional colleges and universities. Our book, “A Practical Guide to Autism,” also has a chapter on the topic of adults and discusses college services.

Daily living and adaptive skills, along with organizational skills and abilities, become even more important during the college years. It is important that students and parents realize, though, that changes in the law (the Americans With Disabilities Act now applies to such children) mean that college is not a right, and that those with autism can and do get expelled. Issues relating to sexuality and apparently inappropriate behavior are frequent reasons cited.

To read the entire article about living with autism long-term click on the title.

A Secret Revealed: Why Drugs Cost What They Do

Work in Progress (April 20, 2011)- Few are the people who have not wondered why drugs cost what they do and, when the price tag has a pinch, sighed with exasperation. We’ve all read countless reports on the time- and resource-consuming labor of research and development (PDF). Elaborate studies have been done to count up (and debunk) all the dollars spent on creating new drugs. Even reports enumerating all the various pharma expenses still explain the price of prescription drugs by looking at what companies spend. And we’ve all read (or had our own) complaints: if only drug companies would advertise less, the price would go down. If only drug companies stopped wining and dining physicians, the price would go down. If only CEOs weren’t so greedy. But here’s the thing: none of this explains the price of medications.

So what is the great, big secret about why drugs cost what they do? Read on.

Drugs cost what the market will bear. It’s that simple. Drug prices are set at whatever the market will bear.

So what does that mean? It means that if no one purchased a drug that cost $X, then the price would be lowered. Prices are set at exactly—and I mean exactly—at what the consumer/insurance infrastructure is able to carry.

It would be wrong to say that the prices reflect what we are willing to pay because for the most part, we don’t pay the price tag; we pay for our insurance and then the co-pay amount for a given prescription. Of course this insight is referring to prescription drugs. When it comes to, say, headache medicine on the drugstore shelves, then the price more closely reflects what the customer is “willing to pay,” the economic counterpart to “what the market will bear.” But once we get into the domain of prescriptions, prices are guided by the market.

NOTE: To read the full article, click on the title above.

Improved Recovery of Motor Function After Stroke

ScienceDaily (Apr. 19, 2011) — "After the acute treatment window closes, the only effective treatment for stroke is physical/occupational therapy. Now scientists from Children's Hospital Boston report a two-pronged molecular therapy that leads to significant recovery of skilled motor function in a rat model of stroke. Their findings are reported April 20 in the Journal of Neuroscience.
By combining two molecular therapies -- each known to promote some recovery on its own -- the researchers achieved more nerve growth and a greater recovery of motor function than with either treatment alone. One therapy, inosine, is a naturally-present molecule that promotes nerve growth; the other is NEP1-40, an agent that counteracts natural inhibitors of nerve growth.
"When you put these two together, you get much stronger growth of new circuits than either one alone, and very striking functional improvements," says senior author Larry Benowitz, PhD, of the Children's Department of Neurosurgery.
Strokes in humans often damage the motor cortex on one side of the brain, interfering with skilled motor functions on the opposite side of the body. Led by Laila Zai, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in Benowitz's lab and the study's first author, the researchers modeled this scenario by inducing strokes on one side of the rats' brains -- specifically in a part of the motor cortex that controls forelimb movement. They then examined the rats' ability to perform a skilled reaching task -- retrieving food -- with the forelimb on the opposite side.
After 3 to 4 weeks, rats treated with both inosine and NEP1-40 could perform the task -- which required coordinated movements of the paw and digits -- with success rates equivalent to those before the stroke. Benowitz likens the complexity of this task to a person eating with utensils or operating a joystick."

2011 SC Assistive Technology ReUse

For Sale:

#524 CCTV Aladdin Rainbow Pro 14 Color
#525 CCTV Aladdin Rainbow Pro 14 Color
#527 Parkinson's walker Sylvia Foster
#528 Best Offer Shower Commode wheelchair Allison Gibson
#529 Freedom LITE P Communication Device.

For Free:

#530 Braille Embosser located in Gastonia.
#531 Posey Pediatric Hospital Bed located in Columbia.
#532 Hospital Bed located in Columbia.
#533 Alpha Smart Portable Word Processor located in Columbia with picture.
#534 Intellikeys Keyboard with Keyguard located in Columbia with picture.
#535 Guard Rails for the Bed located in Charleston
#538 ProBasics Tub Clamp located in Columbia with picture.
#545 Guardian Metal Walker located in Columbia with picture.
#546 Guardian Metal Walker located in Columbia with picture.
#547 Guardian Metal Walker located in Columbia with picture.
#553 Plastic Transfer Board located in Columbia.
#556 Elevated toilet seat located in Columbia with picture.

Please send this message to other interested people and encourage them to join the SC AT Exchange. The more people we have involved, the more equipment we can find for South Carolinians. Please note, too, that some of the items needed are low-tech items that would make a huge difference in an individual's ability to live independently.
Please visit the AT Exchange web page and find the contact information/details for these and other items. The Assistive Technology Exchange website includes many items listed for sale or free, as well as items that are needed. These items are not located at any one place or warehouse. These are all items that are currently owned by someone else who is willing to sell at a reduced price or even for free in some cases.
If you have questions, contact BOTH Janet.Jendron@uscmed.sc.edu AND Catherine.Graham@usc.med.sc.edu
Note that we can try to help facilitate transportation of equipment, if that's needed. We can't promise anything, but it's always amazing who can step in to help! If you know you need and item and need help with transportation, email Janet Jendron at Janet.Jendron@uscmed.sc. edu
NOTE: To visit the Assistive Technology Exchange website, click on the title above.

What is a Therapy Dog?

Disabled World (April 18, 2011)- A Therapy Dog is one with a temperament that is friendly, patient, and outstanding overall.

A Therapy Dog has a desire to visit with people, loves children, and interacts with other animals well.

Therapy Dogs also interact with other dogs they encounter in positive ways.

Therapy Dogs must be on-leash obedience trained and remain under control while presenting excellent behavior. They need to have the ability to work around other dogs while remaining free of aggression. Therapy dogs are social, interacting with people in a positive manner. They enjoy being touched, petted, and held if appropriate. Therapy Dogs present a stable temperament and do not display aggression or fear. They also have the ability to stay calm in situations that are new and may involve a number of distractions.

Therapy Dogs come from a variety of breeds; there is no, 'perfect,' breed or mix of breeds that make the best Therapy Dogs. The dog must healthy, one-year of age, well-mannered, and enjoy interacting with people. If the dog fits these requirements, it might make a good Therapy Dog.

The Value of Therapy Dog Visits

Therapy Dog and Handler teams are all unique and provide people with exceptional opportunities for therapeutic contact. Only dogs that are registered with an organization are considered to be Therapy Dogs. Coyotes, Wolves, coyote hybrids, or wolf hybrids are not permitted to become Therapy Dogs becomes they cannot be verified as immune against rabies.

Therapy Dogs are not required to know any tricks, although a number of Handlers have taught their Dogs some such as how to wave or shake hands as a way to start conversations with the people they are there to serve; or to make them smile. Routines that teach Dogs obedience may also be used to start conversations, with well-trained Dogs excelling at say, standing still while a person either pets them or brushes them. Each Therapy Dog and Handler team is familiar with their means of interacting with others and provides unique and wonderful therapeutic contact.

Recognition of the value of using animals in the healing process has been around for a very long time. In a variety of types of health care facilities, visits from Therapy Dogs have demonstrated an increase in the calmness, happiness, and overall emotional well-being of people who have come in contact with them. Studies have been pursued that have demonstrated a decrease in both the stress levels and blood pressure of people during visits by Therapy Dogs. These Dogs give residents, staff members, and visitors a break from regular daily routines, loneliness, and illness.

NOTE: To read the full article, click on the title above.

Tool Predicts Disability Timeline for Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients

ScienceDaily (Apr. 13, 2011) — "Many patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) worry how quickly the disease will progress. Now, by noting the presence of certain markers in a commonly performed diagnostic test, Mayo Clinic researchers can predict whether patients will suffer a faster onset of disability and counsel them to help ease anxiety.
The research is being presented at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Progressive MS is a disease of the central nervous system that can damage the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Over time, this damage can make it difficult or impossible for patients to walk, making them reliant on mobility aids such as walkers or wheelchairs.
"In this study, we found that in patients who developed the progressive form of MS that had preceding relapses, the presence of greater production of one of these molecules, immunoglobulin G, predicted a faster onset of disability," explains Orhun Kantarci, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist and the study's lead author. As physicians better predict the onset of disability, they can better counsel patients by providing answers in a time of uncertainty.
The study looked at cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test results from a sample of 281 progressive MS patients seen at Mayo Clinic from 2002 to 2007. In general, CSF test results help physicians when the diagnosis is uncertain. For this study, researchers analyzed CSF test results and noticed a relationship between a faster disability rate and abnormally high levels of two proteins -- oligoclonal band and immunoglobulin-G molecule. If patients had the progressive form of MS with proceeding relapses, and their CSF results showed an elevated protein, researchers concluded they will have a faster rate of disability."
NOTE: To read the full article, click on the title above.

Why Does Brain Development Diverge From Normal in Autism Spectrum Disorders?

Disabled World (April 13, 2011)- Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder on the autism spectrum, is marked by relatively normal development in infancy followed by a loss of cognitive, social and language skills starting at 12 to 18 months of age. It is increasingly seen as a disorder of synapses, the connections between neurons that together form brain circuits. What hasn't been clear is why children start out developing normally, only to become progressively abnormal. New research from Children's Hospital Boston, published in the April 14 issue of Neuron, helps unravel what's going on.

The researchers, led by Chinfei Chen, M.D., Ph.D., of Children's F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, studied synapse development in mice with a mutation in the Mecp2 gene, the same gene linked to human Rett syndrome. They found strong evidence that the loss of functioning Mecp2 prevents synapses and circuits from maturing and refining in response to cues from the environment – just at the time when babies' brains should be maximally receptive to these cues.

Chen believes her findings may have implications not just for Rett syndrome, but for other autism spectrum disorders. "Many ASDs manifest between 1 and 2 years of age, a period when kids are interacting more with the outside world," says Chen. "The brain of an autistic child looks normal, but there's a subtle difference in connections that has to do with how they process experiences. If you could diagnose early enough, there might be a way to alter the course of the disease by modifying experience, such as through intense one-to-one therapy."

Chen and colleagues focused on a synaptic circuit in the brain's visual system that is relatively easy to study, known as the retinogeniculate synapse. It connects the cells receiving input from the eye to the lateral geniculate nucleus, an important relay station in the brain's thalamus. Visual input from the outside world, during a specific "critical period," is crucial for its normal development.

The team tested the functioning of the circuit by stimulating the optic tract and measuring electrical responses in the thalamus to see how the neurons were connected, and how strong the connections were. In Mecp2-mutant mice, these recordings indicated that the visual circuit formed normally at first, and that during the second week of life, weaker connections were pruned away and others strengthened, just as they should be.

But after day 21 of life – after mice open their eyes and when the visual circuitry should be further pruned and strengthened based on visual experience – it became abnormal. The number of inputs and connections actually increased, while the strength of the synapses decreased.

NOTE: To read more about Autism Spectrum Disorders, click on the title above.

Columbia Parkinson's Support Group - News and April Meeting Notice

We are celebrating that April is Parkinson's Awareness Month in the Nation and in South Carolina!

Here are a few things you can do this month to spread the word and support the Parkinson's community:
· Educate yourself and others about Parkinson's
· Share your personal story with a friend, co-worker or neighbor and, if you'd like, with us!
· Attend a local Parkinson's Support Group meeting and bring a friend
· Contribute to your local Parkinson's Support Group in honor of a loved one with Parkinson's or your caregiver
We thank you for helping to increase awareness of the Parkinson's community. Together, we can improve the quality of life for all touched by Parkinson's.
Governor Nikki Haley has signed a 2011 SC State Governor's Proclamation declaring April as Parkinson's Awareness Month In South Carolina.
This is Your Monthly Meeting Reminder - We are looking forward to seeing you this coming Sunday on
Date - April 17th, 2011
Time - 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 P.M. - with time available after our meetings for socialization among guests and support group members
Topic - Assistive Technology for Maximizing Communication Skills
Speaker - Carol A. Page, Ph.D. CCC-SLP, ATP - Director of SC Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) - USC School of Medicine, CDR - Columbia, SC 29208 - Email Carol.Page@USCMED.SC.EDU - Phone 803-935-5301 -www.sc.edu/scatp
Meeting Cost - Free / Donations Are Much Appreciated
Where - Lexington Medical - Park 1 Auditorium - 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29169
The Parkinson's Association of the Carolinas (PAC) is hosting an event
What: Support Group Leaders Retreat (for potential, new, and experienced volunteers)
When: Friday, April 15, 2011, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Our office building conference room, 5970 Fairview Road, 7th floor, Charlotte, NC 28210
Who: You and Facilitator Patricia Auston, President of Parkinson’s Group of the Ozarks
PAC hopes you will come to Charlotte for a special program. It’s designed for both potential, new Support Group Leaders, and those with many years of experience and service. Topics covered including support group needs assessment, marketing, group dynamics, fundraising, group evaluation and even dealing with difficult personalities.
If you are someone who has been considering volunteering to help your support group, or you want to go and be inspired to make a commitment to volunteer to help. This type program is not offered very often. We encourage you to go and then decide if you want to make a commitment to volunteer to help your local support group.
Contact Lisa Van Rossum at lvanrossum@parkinsonassociation.org

NOTE: To read more about National Parkinson's Month and meetings, click on the title above.

Lowering Wait for Disability Hearings

Disabled World (April 8, 2011) Teleconferencing Helping Reduce Vast Backlog of Cases

You've been denied Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You've appealed. You wait to hear from the Social Security Administration (SSA) about when your hearing will be. Then you wait some more. And some more.

Just a few years ago, those attempting to get a hearing in front of an administrative law judge could wait over 3 years before the case was heard. While that wait time has been reduced, it can still be a lengthy process; in 2010 the average applicant finally had his or her hearing after waiting a little under a year and a half. Currently 2 million people are waiting to receive benefits from Social Security.

SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue recently said his top goal was to reduce the backlog of cases. To that end, SSA is promoting video hearings. A video hearing is identical to regular hearings, but takes place with the applicant and attorney talking to the judge through a large television screen. Everyone can see each other and everyone else in the room, such as the applicant's attorney and any expert witnesses in the room with the judge. The video hearing takes place in a nearby SSA office of the applicant, while the judge could be on the other side of the country.

Some of the benefits of video hearings for the applicant include:

- Less wait time


- Avoiding the cost and inconvenience of travel, especially beneficial for disabled persons

Preparing for the Hearing

No matter whether it is a traditional hearing in a courtroom or a video hearing, a few things can help speed up the hearing wait time and make sure that everything goes well when the day finally arrives.

It is important to contact an attorney early in the process. An attorney can prepare for the trial in advance, and will have time to gather all of the medical evidence and carefully read your file. You should attend your hearing and arrive promptly. If you can't make the hearing, it will likely be rescheduled months later assuming you have a valid excuse. Notify your attorney if you change your address or telephone number.

After a hearing, it takes about 30 to 60 days before you'll hear the judge's decision regarding your benefits.

NOTE: To read more about the Disability Hearings, click on the title above.

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a set of principles and techniques for creating inclusive classroom instruction and accessible course materials. At its core is the assertion that all

students benefit when they are given multiples ways to take in new information, express their comprehension, and become engaged in learning.

N. Preston Davis Award

The Provost’s N. Preston Davis Award for Instructional Innovation now includes a “Universal Design for Learning”category. See the UDL Award page for more information.

UDL Technical Modules

• Microsoft Word, Universally Designed
  • Tutorial: Adding Alternative Text to Images
  • Tutorial: Specifying Table Headings
  • Tutorial: Saving in the Rich Text Format (RTF)
  • Tutorial: Preparing for Conversion to Accessible HTML
    and PDF
• Microsoft PowerPoint, Universally Designed
  • Tutorial: Adding Alternative Text to Images
• Adobe PDF, Universally Designed
• HTML, Universally Designed
  • Tutorial: Creating Accessible Web Pages with Dreamweaver
  • Tutorial: Web Accessibility Tests using Firefox and WAVE
• E-Text: An Introduction to Alternative Format
• Universally Designed Multimedia

UDL Teaching Resources:

• A Brief Introduction to UDL
• How Do You Teach? A UDL Checklist (DOCX | RTF | PDF)
• From Theory to Practice: Universal Design for Learning Quick Tips (DOCX | RTF | PDF)
• The History and Philosophy of UDL

Celebrate National Library Week

April 10-16, 2011

Create your own story @ your library!

National Library Week events:
April – School Library Month
Monday, April 11 – 2011 State of America's Report released
Tuesday, April 12 – National Library Workers Day
Wednesday, April 13 – National Bookmobile Day
Thursday, April 14 – Support Teen Literature Day

National Library Week twaiku contest
Tweet a twaiku (Twitter haiku) about your love of libraries in ALA's National Library Week twaiku contest! You could win a $50 Amazon gift certificate.
NOTE: To read more about the National Library Week, click on the title above.

The South Carolina Assistive Technology Exchange

Below are new listings on our SC AT Exchange. You must login (or create a new account if you are a new user) to see the contact information. If you have already logged in (or at least tried to) and still have questions please email Catherine Leigh Graham of call her at 803-434-3189. If you can’t get Catherine, email Janet Jendron or call her at (803) 446-2566. Please visit the AT Exchange web page and find the contact information/details for these and other items. The Assistive Technology Exchange website includes many items listed for sale or free, as well as items that are needed. These items are not located at any one place or warehouse. These are all items that are currently owned by someone else who is willing to sell at a reduced price or even for free in some cases. If you have questions, please don’t respond to this email, but contact BOTH Janet.Jendron@uscmed.sc.edu AND Catherine.Graham@usc.med.sc.edu Note that we can try to help facilitate transportation of equipment, if that's needed. We can't promise anything, but it's always amazing who can step in to help! If you know you need and item and need help with transportation, email Janet Jendron at Janet.Jendron@uscmed.sc. edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEEDED ITEMS Item Number 487 Van with Lift - (We very much need a van with a lift for my husband) - (Longs, SC) Item Number 488 Adult Stander (Lexington, SC) Item Number 489 Minivan with wheelchair lift (Charleston area) Item Number 490 Transfer Shower Bench with back (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 494 Shower Chair (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 504 16"/20" Wheelchair (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 495 Transfer Tub Bench (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 496 Shower Chair (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 497 Reacher/Grabber (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 492 Reacher/Grabber (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 498 Bedside Commode (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 493 Walker with Seat (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 499 Walker with Seat (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 500 14”/16” Wide Stander (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 501 Shower Chair (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 502 Pediatric Adaptive Stroller (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 503 Reclining Wheelchair (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) Item Number 491 18 in. Wheelchair (Columbia area - needed for an individual to live independently) ITEMS FOR SALE Item Number 483 Traveler car seat Britax (Simpsonville, SC) Item Number 484 INVACARE Fully Electric Twin Bed (Greenville/Laurens area) Item Number 485 5' Telescoping Adjustable Wheelchair Ramps (Greenville/Laurens area) Item Number 486 Aluminum Transport Chair (Greenville/Laurens area) FREE ITEMS Item Number 506 Sammons Preston Mouthstick (with picture) (Columbia area) Item Number 507 Multiple Mouthstick Holder (with picture) (Columbia area) Item Number 508 Safety Restraint (with picture) (Columbia area) Item Number 509 Back Support Brace (with picture) (Columbia area) Item Number 510 Hand Wrist Finger Orthosis (with picture) (Columbia area) Item Number 511 Kendall Adult Briefs HL Wings - 12/bag - 14 bags for free. (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 512 Tumble Forms Roller Stroller (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 513 Creepster Crawler (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 514 Snug Seat PONY Gait Trainer (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 515 PONY Gait Trainer (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 516 GATOR Gait Trainer (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 517 Rifton Gait Trainer (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 518 Rifton Gait Trainer (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 519 Midland Manufacturing Pediatric Stander (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 521 Rifton Prone Stander (no tray) - Pediatric (picture included, Columbia area) Item Number 522 Rifton Prone Pediatric Stander with tray (picture included, Columbia area) NOTE: For more information about the South Carolina Assistive Technology Exchange , click on the title above.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Brings Message to The Charleston Air Expo

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) brings its message of service and volunteerism in support of our nation’s combat-wounded men and women to the The Charleston Air Expo on April 9.
More than sixty-five years ago, sixteen B-25 Mitchell bombers launched off an aircraft carrier to conduct the famed Doolittle Raid over Japan. The mission proved to be one of the most galvanizing events of the Second World War – establishing the B-25 as a symbol of American military strength and determination. Today, in its modern-day mission with the Disabled American Veterans Flight Team, the B-25 serves as a reminder of the sacrifices veterans have made and continue to make for freedom. In the company of this historic bomber, the DAV Flight Team travels to airshows throughout the country increasing public awareness of disabled veterans and providing information about DAV programs and benefits.
“The DAV is thrilled to bring our message of volunteerism and support to our nation’s sick and disabled veterans to this air show. We believe the men, women and children who will visit this air show are the patriotic, military-friendly citizens that have helped make this nation so great,” said DAV National Commander Wallace Tyson. “The DAV is proud to be among this crowd, and meet those who want to know more about our service to veterans.”
Disabled American Veterans, representing more than 1.2 million disabled veterans, is a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. It is dedicated to one, single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families.
DAV Flight Team travels to airshows throughout the country representing Disabled American Veterans. DAV Flight Team’s goal is to increase public awareness of disabled veterans and to serve veterans in communities across the nation.
NOTE: For more information about Disabled American Veterans, click on the title above.

Stem Cells May Show Promise for People With Rapidly Progressing Multiple Sclerosis

ScienceDaily (Mar. 21, 2011) — A long term study reports about the effectiveness of replacing bone marrow, purposely destroyed by chemotherapy, with autologous (self) stem cell rescue for people with aggressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The study is published in the March 22, 2011, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

For the treatment, chemotherapy drugs are used to kill all of the patient's blood cells, including the immune cells that are believed to be attacking the body's own central nervous system. Bone marrow stem cells removed from the patient are purified and transplanted back into the body, which saves life by replacing the blood cells and also is proposed to 'reboot' the immune system.

The study followed 35 people for an average of 11 years after transplant. The study involved people with rapidly progressive MS who had tried a number of other treatments for MS with little or no effect. All were severely disabled by the disease, with an average score of six on a scale of disease activity that ranges from zero being a normal neurological examination to 10 meaning death due to MS. A score of six means able to walk with a cane or crutch; a seven is mainly in a wheelchair. All had worsened by at least one point on the scale in the year prior to the transplant.

How Brain's Memory Center Repairs Damage from Head Injury

ScienceDaily (Apr. 1, 2011) — Researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center have described for the first time how the brain's memory center repairs itself following severe trauma -- a process that may explain why it is harder to bounce back after multiple head injuries.

The study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, reports significant learning and memory problems in mice who were unable to create new nerve cells in the brain's memory area, the hippocampus, following brain trauma. The study's senior author, Dr. Steven G. Kernie, associate professor of pediatrics and developmental biology at UT Southwestern, said the hippocampus contains a well of neural stem cells that become neurons in response to injury; those stem cells must grow into functioning nerve cells to mend the damage.

"Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has received a lot of attention recently because of the recognition that both military personnel and football players suffer from debilitating brain injuries," Dr. Kernie said, adding that memory and learning problems are common after repeated severe head injuries.

NOTE: Click on the title above to go to the link.

ADA Gets Its First Major Overhaul in Twenty Years!

NEW RULES TOOK EFFECT MARCH 15, 2011

From distinguishing between a wheelchair and other power-driven mobility devices such as the Segway® to clarifying what qualifies as a service animal, a new set of ADA rules went into effect on March 15, 2011. The rules affect how 80,000 government entities and more than seven million public spaces in the United States operate. The rules were signed by Attorney General Eric Holder on July 23, 2010, and the official text was published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2010.
NOTE: To read the Revised Americans with Disability Act Regulations, click on the title above.

Youth Leadership Forum: Leadership Training for Students with Disabilities

Students 17-21 years old are invited to attend the SC Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) July 13th-15th. This is a three-day program for SC students with disabilities who have demonstrated leadership potential in both their school and community. This leadership forum is designed to assist youth with disabilities in further developing leadership skills and in using resources that can help them face challenges to becoming participating members of their communities.

There is no charge to attend YLF and all meals are provided. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from Newberry College where YLF will be held. The completed application packet must be postmarked by May 2, 2011. Please note what assistive technology accommodations (e.g. fm system, text-to-speech software, magnifier, or wheelchair) you use and will need during the forum.

The forum will include guest speakers, small and large group discussions, team-building activities, ropes course, mentor luncheon, and FUN!

For more information, contact

Youth Leadership Forum

c/o SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department

1410 Boston Ave., P.O. Box 15

West Columbia, SC 29171-0015

(803) 896-6574

NOTE: Click on the title above to go to the link.