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Assisting Kansas parents and their sons and daughters with disabilities for more than 25 years! |
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A Note From the Director's Desk...
Parents and Education Advocates:
In this very busy time of the year, I hope that your child or the child for whom you are an advocate are pleased with the way the first part of the school year has gone. If not, Christmas break can be a great time to take a break and think about ways to improve the school/family relationship.
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| Ms Wheelchair Kansas |
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The Ms Wheelchair Kansas
program annually selects one woman, who is wheelchair mobile and who will successfully advocate, educate, and empower all people on a state level.
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Family Story
When our son Javier was born, I saw him as a beautiful, rosy-cheeked baby. I never imagined that the following day the doctor would tell us that he had Down Syndrome. When the doctor told us that, I was really surprised. The truth is, I had never stopped to think about the differences among us. When the doctor told us the problem that Javier had, I didn't give it much importance. To me, he was a beautiful baby and I loved him even more. After a few days went by, I did feel frustration.
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| Family Voices
Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) is a national, grassroots project created by youth with disabilities for youth. We are teens and young adults with disabilities speaking out. KASA knows youth can make choices and advocate for themselves if they have the information and support they need.
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Winter 2008
Families Together, Inc. Newsletter |
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Greetings!
Merry Christmas, Happy Haunaka and Kwanzaa from our families to yours. May the season bring peace, joy and happiness to your and your's. |
Peytn Belongs
By Lori Burnshire
Each day at 3:10, Peytn would emerge from the front doors of the middle school with a smile on his face and something to fidget with in his hand. And, each day he would find me standing under the large tree to meet him. From there we would walk together along the row of buses rapidly filling with students. The roar of the bus engines was overwhelming. Yet, still smiling, Peytn would use his thumbs to gently push the underside of each earlobe until the lobes covered the openings to his ears as we walked on.
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Family Time
The importance of reading to children at a young age cannot be overemphasized. The case is even stronger for families who have children with special needs. Building upon this concept, the Wichita Center has created a new literacy program called "Family Time." The project has been made possible by a grant from the Kansas Division of Early Childhood. Shannon Maloney-Scholler leads "Family Time" on the third Saturday of every month at various sites around the Wichita area. "The most important thing is that Family Time provides a fun learning experience for families. Not just for the kids, but for the parents and siblings too," says Shannon.
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Inclusion Award
There are many amazing Kansas parents, educators, and community members who have discovered unique ways to assist the growing population of students with disabilities, and who truly understand that given supports and services, these students can be valued, contributing members of our families, schools, and communities. Hopefully you either are one of these generous people, or you can lead us in the right direction to someone who is.
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Supporting Single Mom's Grant
By Leia Holley, Kansas City Center
The alarm rings as Staci fights the urge to hit snooze just one more time. It was yet another long night. Tony was jumping on his bed and hitting his head on the wall most of the night. The remaining portion, he was putting anything and everything in his mouth. The light of day brings yet another hole in the wall and the edges of books chewed. As she gets ready (the boys finally sleeping), she hear, Jimmy, her youngest son. screaming. She runs in to find Tony standing on top of the dresser biting his hand. She gets Tony dressed wrestling with him to keep his shoes on. Thomas the Tank Engine comes on the television and like magic, Tony sits and stares. He flaps his hands a few times then giggles. She and Jimmy pick out his clothes for the day. Then, hearing the bus, she grabs Tony's backpack only to discover he has stripped off all his clothes. She dresses him as quickly as possible and rushes him to the bus. She waves at the bus and longs to see Tony wave or look at her with his precious blue eyes. As the bus drives away, her thoughts flash to work and how angry her boss will be if the school calls again today. Now to get Jimmy off to preschool and...
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Sincerely,
Families Together, Inc. |
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| Save
$10 |
Register early for our Feburary 7, 2009. Together We Can Learn Conference and save $10 per registration. This outstanding conference will be held in Topeka at the Captial Plaza Inn. Registration covers conference attendance and lunch only. Space is limited. If you have any questions, call 913 287-1970 or e-mail kansascity@familiestogetherinc.org |
| Offer Expires: January 16, 2009
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| FREE |
The Feburary 7, 2009 Together We Can Learn Conference has a limited number of scholarships available for Kansas parents and siblings of children with disabilities. The conference will be held at the Topeka Captial Plaza Inn, Topeka, Kansas. Scholarships cover registration and lunch, only. Email Families Together at kansascity@familiestogetherinc.org to request a scholarship. Each individual requesting a scholarship must write a short paragraph stating what they hope to gain from the conference or have gained from past conferences. For more information (913) 287-1970 or kansascity@familiestogetherinc.org. Hurry these scholarships go fast. More information at www.familiestogetherinc.org |
| Offer Expires: Only 30 Available!!
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