On the evening of Saturday, November 6^th at the JW Marriott, Parent to Parent of Miami will be hosting our 6^th Annual Journey
of Dreams Benefit. Guests will enjoy a night of cocktails, dining, dancing and an amazing silent auction aimed at generating additional funds to provide much needed hope,help and support for children with disabilities and their families. This year's
event will be emceed by NBC's Emmy award-winning journalist, Willard Shepard.

 

Click HERE for more information!

By Jodi S. Cohen

Facility marks new milestone for university, already a leader in disability services

 

Kelsey Rozema, right, jokes with her mother, Mary, while moving into her room in Nugent Hall, the University of Illinois' new dorm for students with physical disabilities. (Lane Christiansen, Chicago Tribune / August 16, 2010)

 

CHAMPAIGN - With very limited use of her arms and legs, Kelsey Rozema has needed her parents' help with most daily tasks - getting out of bed, showering, putting on a coat and even opening a water bottle. In 18 years, they've been apart for only six nights.

So moving into a college dorm this week - and away from the reliance on her family - is even more of a milestone for Rozema than for the thousands of other wide-eyed freshmen arriving this week at the University of Illinois, a ritual that will be repeated on college campuses throughout the country in coming weeks.

It helped that she moved into the university's first new residence hall in 44 years and the most user-friendly dorm in the country for students with severe physical disabilities. As Rozema wheeled into her single room for the first time Tuesday, a disability advocate showed off the features: a wireless pager that will call for help 24 hours a day and a remote-controlled ceiling lift system to transport her from her bed to the in-room bathroom. Continued HERE.

From the Bookshare September Newsletter

 

Where are the accessible textbooks?

By Kathie Marshall

Students might have been conducting themselves properly in classrooms, but on the yard there was a movement afoot. A group of about 30 boys and girls, organized by a ringleader, initiated a "gang" of their own, with recruited members being "jumped in" during nutrition and lunch breaks. I found out about this around the third week of school when eight or nine students in a class I co-teach gathered around my desk to inform me that they'd had to meet with the deans to discuss the consequences that would follow any continued action. That was our first discussion about bullying.

As the year progressed, many of these initial troublemakers decided it was in their best interests to settle down on the yard. However, a significant number of students, mine included, continued to bully or were victims of bullies. Aware that bullying peaks during middle school, I chose bullying as our theme when it came time to develop a persuasive unit for my students. First, students completed a quick survey or "anticipation guide" so I could tap into their opinions. Then we talked about bullying in general. Continued HERE.

By Jean Ashmore, President, Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)

It's the time of year again when yellow school buses are on the roads, uniforms and school supplies are everywhere, and students and parents alike are excited and anxious about a new school year. Those years when a student switches schools are particularly salient, with much to be learned and encountered in the new school. This is especially true when a young person transitions to college. All college students bring along academic and social experiences and lots of expectations and concerns - none more, in my thinking, than students with disabilities. Let me share some particulars on why college transition may be extra challenging for students with disabilities and give some suggestions to help make this time a success. Continued HERE.

From Disability.gov

Study by the Regional Education Laboratory Northeast and Islands, What characteristics of bullying, bullying victims, and schools are associated with increased reporting of bullying to school officials?, found that many victims of bullying did not report it. The survey data show that 36 percent of bullying victims reported their victimization to a teacher or other adult at their school and that 64 percent of students did not. The study used nationally representative data from a biennial survey of children ages 12-18. See the report HERE. 

CMF Supporters:

The Children's Movement of Florida and the University of Miami will be hosting the first ever gubernatorial debate to focus solely on the future of Florida's children on October 16th.

Click HERE to view the new commercial.

 

Click HERE to read the brief story ran by the Associated Press.

 

Click HERE for more information on the debate.

 

Florida Health and Transition Services (HATS) recently announced the release of "Just the Facts: The 411 on Health Insurance for Young Adults Ages 18-30 in Florida." This product is designed to help all young adults, including those with chronic health conditions or disabilities identify, access, and maintain health insurance coverage. Parents, families, guardians, caregivers, and others working with and on behalf of young adults with health care needs will find this information useful as well.

Please note that as new information about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act becomes available, the electronic version available through the Florida HATS website will be updated accordingly.

 

Visit floridahats.org for more information

or contact Contact:  Sheila Gritz at sheila.gritz@fldoe.org

Posted by Sharyl Attkisson
 

The first court award in a vaccine-autism claim is a big one. CBS News has learned the family of Hannah Poling will receive more than $1.5 million dollars for her life care; lost earnings; and pain and suffering for the first year alone.

In addition to the first year, the family will receive more than $500,000 per year to pay for Hannah's care. Those familiar with the case believe the compensation could easily amount to $20 million over the child's lifetime.

Afterward, her health declined rapidly. She developed high fevers, stopped eating, didn't respond when spoken to, began showing signs of autism, and began having screaming fits. In 2002, Hannah's parents filed an autism claim in federal vaccine court. Five years later, the government settled the case before trial and had it sealed. It's taken more than two years for both sides to agree on how much Hannah will be compensated for her injuries. Continued HERE.

From MyChildWithoutLimits.org

Ensuring that your special needs child is eating a healthy and balanced diet doesn't need to be a battle. Good information goes a long way. Special needs children can often be challenging to feed, but with the right plan you can ensure that your child is eating well every day. We'll help you find the right foods for your child and ensure that your child will actually eat them.

Getting a better understanding of your child's feeding process.