Starfish Therapies
Starfish Therapies Newsletter
Sunny September!September 2011
Volume 34
In This Issue
Updates
Just For Fun
Out and About
AbleCloset
IDEA updates
Starfish Updates
starfish

Blog: Check out our most recent blog posts.

Bay Area Buddy Walk:  Starfish Therapies is teaming up to participate in the Bay Area Buddy Walk to benefit Down Syndrome this October.  We will have a booth at this event as well as walking.  Please support this great group and the amazing kids that benefit from it by creating a team of your own or making a donation.  We hope to see you out there.

Quick Links...

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Bay Area Buddy Walk 

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Just For Fun
Computer Fun

A while ago my mom sent me an article from Family Fun listing the Top Ten Fun Websites.  Here they are listed below (I'm not sure if the order they are listed is significant)!

10.  Fizzy's Lunch Lab (ages 4 & up)  

9.  Activity TV (ages 6 & up) 

8.  Shidonni (ages 3 & up) 

7.  Exploratorium (ages 8 & up) 

6.  iTwixie (ages 8 & up) 

5.  The Toymaker (ages 5 & up) 

4.  NGAkids Art Zone 

(ages 7 & up) 

3.  Kideos (ages 3 & up) 

2.  Funbrain (ages 6 & up) 

1.  The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks Virtual World  

(ages 7 & up)

 

They also listed some old favorites:

1.  Starfall (ages 3-7) 

2.  National Geographic Kids (ages 5 & up) 

3.  Free Rice (ages 8 & up) 

4.  PBS Kids Island (ages 3-6)  

 

As well as some new ones that were still in their test phase when they were compiling their list!

1.  The Great Word Quest (ages 6-8)

2.  Togetherville (ages 8 & up)

3.  World of Cars Online (ages 4 & up) 

Out and About
Kids of Courage
Kids of Courage is an organization that takes medically complex kids on trips so that they can have experience similar to those of their non-medically challenged peers.  The group is based out of New York and operates thanks to the help of medical volunteers as well as counselors.  They recently undertook one of their largest trips to San Francisco this summer with 150 kids from all over the US.  The best part is, the parents stay home and the kids get to be kids!
Greetings!

Welcome to September! We hope this finds you enjoying the beautiful fall weather.  Read further to find out about some great family fun websites and to find out about an awesome local non-profit organization. Enjoy!

 


AbleCloset

ablecloset

AbleCloset is a local 501c3 non-profit organization located in the bay area.  Their mission is "to provide children with special needs the equipment they need to reach their full potential." Obtaining the proper equipment for a child with special needs can be a difficult task.  AbleCloset purchases and accepts donations of pediatric equipment that can be difficult to obtain. They allow families and pediatric providers to check that equipment out, similar to how we check out a library book, in order to allow access to a child in need. AbleCloset obtains equipment available for borrow through fundraising and donations.

 

AbleCloset's first annual benefit will be held October 15th and 16th presented by San Francisco Sports Cars in San Carlos, Ca.  Events include a spectacular dinner and auction on Saturday October 15th followed by a car rally and luncheon Sunday October 16th. If you are interested in supporting AbleCloset by attending one or both days of this benefit or donating to AbleCloset, please click here.

 

To learn more about donating equipment to AbleCloset that your child has outgrown or no longer needs please visit their website and click donate equipment.  All equipment donations are tax deductible. 

 

To learn more about borrowing equipment for a child from able closet please visit their website and click how it works. To find out what equipment is currently available to be checked out please visit their website and click browse equipment. 

 

Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA) Updates:

booksOn September 6, 2011 the Department of Education released the final regulations for the early intervention programs under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA). These final regulations are focused on measuring and improving the outcomes to better prepare infants and toddlers with developmental delays, physical or mental disabilities for preschool and kindergarten.

 

The Department of Education has also released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend Part B of IDEA with regards to a state or educational agency seeking to use the parent's or child's public benefits or insurance to pay for Part B services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.  The proposed rule is intended to protect the rights of children with disabilities to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) while addressing the state and educational agency's concerns about burdens imposed by the current regulations. 

 

For more detailed information on these releases by the Department of Education, please click here.

Part C regulations and Part B notices are both available on this website. 

Thank you for reading this month and your continued support of the Starfish team.  See you next month!

 

Sincerely,

 


Your Friends at
Starfish Therapies