Serie Educativa de Primavera  

February is not over and our families continue to benefit from great acts of kindness from our community. We sincerely thank Novis Pharmaceutical, LLC for donating ten computers to benefit one of the afterschool programs funded by The Children's Trust in South Dade,  Santa Claus for supporting our mission and donating $1,800 to our cause, and The Miami Herald Wish Book for granting so many wishes and helping so many families in this amazing community.  

Are you looking for literacy strategies for children with sensory losses? Children who do not use a formal language system? Children who have multiple disabilities and complex learning challenges?

If the answer is YES then you are encouraged to visit a new literacy website developed by the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB 2.0).

When you visit  http://literacy.nationaldb.org you will find strategies, examples and resources that build on communication as the foundation for early literacy and move children along a continuum toward ever-increasing skill levels. In addition, the website allows users to interact with each other as well as request technical assistance for their child or classroom. Check out the website right away! Upcoming webinar details will be available at nationaldb.org.

Literacy is an integrated process which develops gradually from birth and is built upon learning from broad experiences, linking language with the development of concepts, and providing exposure to the written word in a variety of meaningful contexts" (Wright, 1997).

Please see the below links and press release regarding a new service from the TSA for travel 

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/disabilityandmedicalneeds/tsa_cares.shtm

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the launch of TSA Cares today, a new helpline number designed to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions, prior to getting to the airport. Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787-2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint.

"TSA Cares provides passengers with disabilities and medical needs another resource to use before they fly, so they know what to expect when going through the screening process," said TSA Administrator John Pistole. "This additional level of personal communication helps ensure that even those who do not travel often are aware of our screening policies before they arrive at the airport."

Since its inception, TSA has provided information to all travelers through its TSA Contact Center and Customer Service Managers in airports nationwide. TSA Cares will serve as an additional, dedicated resource for passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or other circumstances or their loved ones who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying.

When a passenger with a disability or medical condition calls TSA Cares, a representative will provide assistance, either with information about screening that is relevant to the passenger's specific disability or medical condition, or the passenger may be referred to disability experts at TSA. TSA recommends that passengers call approximately 72 hours ahead of travel so that TSA Cares has the opportunity to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager located at the airport when necessary.

Every person and item must be screened before entering the secure area of an airport and the manner in which the screening is conducted will depend on the passenger's abilities and any specific equipment brought to the security checkpoint.

TSA strives to provide the highest level of security while ensuring that all passengers are treated with dignity and respect. The agency works regularly with a broad coalition of disability and medical condition advocacy groups to help understand their needs and adapt screening procedures accordingly. TSA holds quarterly meetings with this coalition to inform them about current training and screening procedures used in airports. TSA recently hosted a teleconference with members of these groups to announce the long-standing plans to implement TSA Cares for travelers and inform them of the upcoming launch.

A new publication from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy on developing soft skills for youth with disabilities  

We would like to alert you to a new publication from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy's Youth team. "Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success" is a curriculum specifically designed for youth service professionals working with young people ages 14 to 24. The document was field-tested in seven career development youth programs across the country serving all youth, including youth with disabilities.

The basic structure of the publication was created through a lens of Universal Design, with a focus on providing flexible, hands-on, engaging activities that focus on six key skill areas: communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.

The curriculum is available in both English and Spanish on the  ODEP website. The Office of Disability Employment Policy invites you to use this curriculum, forward it to your colleagues and/or membership base, and provide us with your feedback.

An article from CEC SmartBrief      

Schools need to do more to ensure that parents and students are involved in the process of developing individualized education programs for students with disabilities, according to a study. Researchers suggest that schools work with families, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, to make meeting times and locations more convenient and use more straightforward language with families who may be less educated.  Education Week/On Special Education blog (1/31)

Education "Hot Topics"      

You are invited to participate in a short questionnaire about genetic services and genetic testing offered to families with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This questionnaire is part of a research study by the University of Miami Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (HIHG) in partnership with CARD. Ultimately, we hope that this research will help us develop and deliver appropriate services and education for families with ASD.