Empowerment

September 2008, Volume 3 - Number 1

Did you know...

 
We are very happy to debut our new Parent to Parent of Miami logo!
  As you can see, our new logo incorporates our colors of red and blue and, of course, continues to feature the "heart" which we feel is truly an important part of our organization. 
 
We hope you join us hand in hand, as our new logo shows, so we may continue our mission to "to empower and support a network of parents of children and adults with disabilities." The concepts  leading our new logo design considered our growth and development, vision for the future of the children and their families, the heart representing the spirit of the work and finally the need to step up to the challenges and joys that the journey slowly reveals.
 
Parent to Parent of Miami extends our most sincere gratitude to the Dade Community Foundation  for funding our grant proposal for the new corporate image design and for their ongoing support for the past twenty years. 
 
A big thank you to Danny Bustamante and
Artisan Media Group for capturing the essence of our mission and translating it into a reality for us!

Success Story

Honorees


The Journey of Dreams Benefit is fast approaching! On November 15, 2008, we will honor community members whose vision, leadership, and perseverance have significantly contributed to improving the quality of the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their families.  We believe that families are able to sustain their own hope and perseverance - knowing that so many others are working diligently to help transform their dreams for a better future into a reality.    

Parent to Parent of Miami Congratulates our 2008 Journey of Dreams Benefit Honorees!

Roni Bader-Tables, Education Leadership Award

Janet Bell Taylor, Excellence in Family Advocacy Award

Judge Cindy S. Lederman, Community Leadership Award

Dr. Moises Simpser, Inspiration Award 



Journey of Dreams Benefit Angel Pages

This year the Journey of Dreams Benefit will feature Angel Pages. These pages are designed to provide families with an opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of children with special needs, their siblings or other family members. You can also recognize a professional for their support or congratulate a graduate.
 
No commercial ads please!

Este a�o las familias tendr�n la oportunidad de apoyar al Journey of Dreams Benefit y al mismo tiempo agradecer o compartir los logros de sus hijos, otro miembro de la familia o profesionales colocando un anuncio de un cuarto de p�gina en la revista del evento "Journey of Dreams". 

Por favor, no se aceptan anuncios de negocios! 
 
 

Money Does Matter - Here's Help

 

Healthcare Grants Available
The United Healthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) has announced that new grants are available to help children who need critical healthcare treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents' health benefit plans.
The foundation provides grants to families to help pay for child healthcare services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheel chairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses.
Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants of up to $5,000 each for medical services and equipment by completing an online application.  For an application and more information go to: www.uhccf.org/apply_applicant.html


 

  • Find out how the Prosperity Campaign is assisting working individuals.
  • Learn how United Way-funded programs help save you money on prescription drugs and your monthly phone bill.

 Find Out More


Challenging Tier Placements
 
APD will send out individual notices informing you of your tier assignment. In the notice, APD will include information about your rights to challenge the tier assignment and about working with your support coordinator to choose the services that are most important to you to stay within the limits of your tier assignment. At the time that you receive your notice, if the tier assignment significantly affects the services you are receiving you may challenge the assignment.
 

If you challenge the tier assignments, services cannot be reduced until the hearing process is concluded. 
 
Find Out More

Legislation That Affects You

I am very proud to be a cosponsor this year of H.R. 2370, the Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities (FSAID) Act.  This legislation will give individuals with disabilities, or their families, a very useful tool - a Financial Security Account (FSA) with tax-free interest during the life of the beneficiary.

    It will help families of individuals with disabilities to pay for a wide variety of  long-term essential expenses including medical care, community based support services, education, employment training, and assistive technology. As adults, beneficiaries can also use these accounts to pay for housing and transportation needs.


    As the Washington Post pointed out in a recent editorial, "tax-free savings accounts shouldn't be reserved for children with college in their future, such accounts are a worthy idea that would address the current inequity in the tax code,they would enable families of people with disabilities to provide a financial cushion without endangering recipients' eligibility for Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits."

    As you know, there are many tax-deferred savings plans such as a "529'' and college tuition plans which I believe is a great concept. During my tenure in the State Legislature, I co-authored the Florida Prepaid College Program. This landmark savings program allows families to lock in the cost of college today, so that students and parents do not have to worry about increased costs of higher education over time. This program continues to be in effect today and has helped over a million young people who would not ordinarily be able to afford a college education.

    However, these savings tools which are available to all Americans, cannot help a family with a child who may not go to college but is disabled.  The need for savings and planning for the future is even greater for a child with a disability because he or she will likely be less able to earn a self-supporting income. And many may require continued expenditures on medical treatment or adaptive equipment.  

    Although several savings tools exist for all families, increased costs for care, long-term security, more flexibility, and the desire for greater independence for children with disabilities justify the establishment of a new savings program. Without this new savings device, parents of children with disabilities must choose between turning down the advantages of savings plans available to others or risk a hefty penalty if their child cannot use the funds according to the account restrictions.

    FSAIDs differ from existing savings tools by providing much needed flexibility for families and beneficiaries:

� Accounts can be established as easily as a typical savings account, without overburdensome paperwork, administrative fees, or on-going legal fees.

�  Beneficiaries are allowed to control their own financial destinies; and if they are unable to serve in this capacity, parents, guardians or other designees can serve in this capacity.

�  Qualified expenses under the FSAID are purposefully broad to accommodate the greater needs of people with disabilities and the financial demands of their individual care plan.

�  Qualified expenses are not limited to adulthood or retirement age so resources can be used whenever they are needed.

�  The flexibility in expenses also allows families to save with confidence even though they cannot always predict how independent their children will become.

�  A family who saves money in a traditional account for a child who becomes disabled later in life can roll over the funds into an FSA without penalty.

�  Unlike some savings instruments, FSA would be created and regulated on a federal level so any eligible individual in the United States would have access to this savings tool.

    This much needed legislation will give families of people with disabilities the ability to save for their children's futures just like other American families. It will definitely provide a new approach to savings for these families--one that fosters responsibility, ownership, self-control and flexibility.

    A number of  bills have been introduced in this Congress by both Democrats and Republicans to create tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities. In the Senate, one version (S. 2741) is sponsored by Sen. Christopher J. Dodd and another (S. 2743) by Senators Robert P. Casey and Orrin G. Hatch . Over 100 House members have joined me in cosponsoring the House version (H.R. 2370) introduced by Florida Congressman Ander Crenshaw.

Sincerely,

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Member of Congress





Effects of Legislation Related to Use of Terminology

The Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1313 during the 2008 legislative session revising terminology that is used to reference specific disabilities. This bill was signed into law on June 17, 2008, and the revisions became effective on July 1, 2008.
 
The bill replaces existing terminology with current language more commonly used in the field of special education.
 

Find Out More


 
Congratulations to The Children's Trust
 
Thank you for assuming responsibility for our children and families. Our community thanks you for your time, commitment, personal energy and involvement. All key elements of success! 
 
Thank you...
 
 
Parent to Parent of Miami
extends our sincere gratitude to Keller & Williams Realtors and associates for hosting a fundraiser in support of our children and their families during a recent seminar.
 
The News...
FDDC Focus Group Meetings in Dade Headline
 
Thursday, September 11th
10:00-11:45 AM
 
Nova Southeastern University
Technology Bldg, 4th Floor
1745 NE 167 St, North Miami Beach
 
 
Download Flyer

 
Tell Us How Recent Cuts to Developmental Disability Services and Budgets Have Affected Your Family!
 
Has your ADULT family member experienced cuts to their PCA orSupported Living Coaching services?
 
Will your family member's anticipated assignment to a new Tier Waiverreduce their budget for needed supports?
 
If so, please join us. The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) is holding focus groups across the state to get information on how individualsand families are being affected by these recent cuts. This information will beused to educate Florida policy-makers ~ to help them better understand the effects of their decisions on the everyday lives of Floridians withdevelopmental disabilities. Please join us and share your story.
 
If you can join us, please RSVP as soon as possible by sending ane-mail to [email protected] or call Stacey at 954-252-8764 to reserve your spot. These meetings have limited space available, so please respondas soon as possible.

  

The Autism research team at the Miami Institute for Human Genomics is looking for families in which one or more persons under the age of 21 has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Autism, Asperger Disorder, or Pervasive Developmental Disorders) who are willing to participate in our study.
 
Trained staff from our team will perform a family history interview and several developmental interviews as well as draw a blood sample from members of your family. Participation is free of charge.
 
If you are interested in participating, please contact the autism study coordinators at 1-877-6UM-MIHG (877-686-6444) (toll free).
 
You may also email us at [email protected].
 
Please visit our web site, MIHG for more information.
Investigacion para determinar los factores geneticos en los trastornor del espectro autista
 
El equipo de investigaci�n del autismo del Instituto de Gen�mica Humana de Miami busca familias en las que uno o m�s miembros menores de 21 a�os padezcan un trastorno del espectro autista (autismo, trastorno de Asperger o trastornos generalizados del desarrollo) y que deseen participar en el estudio.
 
Personal capacitado perteneciente a nuestro equipo llevar� a cabo una entrevista de antecedentes familiares y varias entrevistas de desarrollo. Tambi�n tomar� una muestra de sangre a los miembros de su familia. La participaci�n no tiene cargo alguno.
 
Si le interesa formar parte de la investigaci�n, comun�quese con los coordinadores de estudios sobre autismo llamando al 1-877-6UM-MIHG
(877-686-6444) (llamadas sin cargo).
 
Tambi�n puede enviar un correo electr�nico a [email protected].
 
Para obtener m�s informaci�n, visite nuestro sitio web en MIHG
 
Father Involvement Benefits Infant's Cognitive Development
 
Source: Child Trends - July 11, 2008 A new Child Trends study entitled
 
Involvement among Resident Fathers and Links to Infant Cognitive Outcomes, by Jacinta Bronte-Tinkew, Jennifer Carrano, Allison Horowitz, and Akemi Kinukawa, finds that fathers' involvement in a variety of activities with their infant children is positively associated with infant cognitive development. The study also shows that benefits are greater for male infants and for infants with a disability. The study is based on data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - Birth Cohort, a nationally representative survey of children born in 2001.
 
Florida Outreach Project for Children and Young Adults Who Are Deaf-Blind
 
The University of Florida - Florida Outreach Project for Children and Young Adults Who Are Deaf-Blind are trying to identify children who have a cochlear implant (and are less than 13 years of age) or are being considered for a cochlear implant, and also have a known or suspected vision impairment for research.  Families may be eligible for some compensation. 
 
For additional information, please contact Michelle Pearson, Technical Assistance Specialist 1-800-667-4052
 
 

Curriculum & Instruction 

 

 

          New school customizes curricula for children with autism
A new Seattle school for children with autism is expected to nearly double in size -- to just 10 students -- when it begins its second year this fall. The nonprofit school, created by parents, focuses on an individualized education method called "precision teaching."Seattle Post-Intelligencer

         Focus on learning, not grades
Grades don't necessarily reflect what a student has learned, writes language-arts teacher Paul Barnwell. Barnwell notes that sometimes teachers, students and parents get so caught up in dickering over grades that they fail to have a deeper conversation about what variables the grades reflect and whether a student actually grasps the course work -- notwithstanding their receipt of an A, an F or anything in between. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)

 
 

 

 

 
 

Parent to Parent of MiamiParent to Parent of Miami

7990 SW 117 Ave. Suite 201

Miami, Florida, 33183

Tel: 305-271-9797

Fax: 305-271-6628

[email protected]

www.ptopmiami.org

 

Mission

 

To empower and support a network of parents of children and adults with disabilities.

 

Vision

 

All parents of children and adults with disabilities will have universal access to information, training, support and advocacy skills to ensure their children achieve their fullest potential, while leading the community on the rights of all children.

 

Above all, we respect your privacy. We will never rent, sell or share your information with anybody.

 

Changing your email? To update your contact information, email your changes to [email protected]

 

(C) 2008 Parent to Parent of Miami Inc. All rights reserved.

  

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UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Training That Works! Learn How to Actively Participate in Your Child's IEP
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Support Group Meeting  � Register Online Now!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Parenting Children with Special Needs/ La Crianza de ni�os con Necesidades Especiales  � Register Online Now!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Parenting Children with Special Needs/ La Crianza de ni�os con Necesidades Especiales  � Register Online Now!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Training That Works! Learn How to Actively Participate in Your Child's IEP
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004/ El Acta para la Educaci�n de los Individuos con Discapacidades (IDEA) 2004  � Register Online Now!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
�Entrenamiento Que Funciona! Participe Activamente en la Reuni�n del IEP
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Overview of Special Education Programs in M-DCPS/ Programas de Educaci�n Especial en el Sistema Escolar P�blico de Miami-Dade (M-DCPS)  � Register Online Now!


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