Families Together, Inc.
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Encourage         Educate         Empower 
Summer 2012
A Note from the Director's Desk

 

Dear Parents and Education Advocates:

 

The summer is flying by and the staff here at Families Together is busy updating training and planning events for you and your family for the next school year.  I hope that you will consider attending a conference, a Step-by-Step Event to support services, or call for information to support the needs of your son or daughter.  Watch for information about upcoming events across the state.

 

Health Care Reform Law Upheld, Medicaid Expansion Weakened

 

The U.S. Supreme Court finally announced its ruling on the constitutionality of the landmark health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion, upholding most of the law, which was joined in various combinations of other Justices on the different issues under consideration.

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ABLE Act Achieving a Better Life Experience 

 

 

The U.S. Congress took a historic step on November 15, 2011 for Americans with disabilities by reintroducing the Achieve a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, legislation long championed by the National Disability Institute and other disability organizations as a key to providing a pathway to a better economic future for persons with disabilities and their families. 

 

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Education Advocate Update 

 

We hope your summer has been relaxing and enjoyable!  We'd like to thank the many education advocates who sent in their surveys-- they are so helpful to us as we plan for the upcoming school year.  We have received current information on 558 students this summer from either the education advocate or the student's case manager.  

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Family Story

 

Thirty-eight year old Austin Hanson is a three time US Paralympian. He was born in Topeka, Kansas on January 4, 1974. Shortly after birth, it was discovered that Austin had a birth defect of his esophagus. His esophagus was blind (the upper portion was not connected to the lower portion) and it was connected to his trachea. Surgery was needed to correct it. His first surgery was preformed less than 24 hours later. The next three months brought a roller coaster of life threatening episodes including aspiration and respiratory arrest that lead to the discovery of a second connect (double TE Fistula) between the esophagus and trachea. Corrective surgery was preformed but Austin's trachea collapsed and his heart stopped. The cardiac arrest resulted in severe cerebral palsy. The doctors at Children's Mercy Hospital said that Austin's type of birth defect is very rare with the odds of one in a billion.

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 La Ley de Reforma de Cuidado de Salud Confirm�, la expansi�n de Medicaid se ha debilitado

 

La Corte Suprema de los EE.UU. anunci� finalmente su fallo sobre la constitucionalidad de la ley de salud hist�rica reforma de la atenci�n, la Ley de Asistencia Asequible (siglas en ingl�s, ACA). Presidente del Tribunal Supremo, John Roberts, escribi� la opini�n, confirmo la mayor parte de la ley, que fue acompa�ado en varias combinaciones de otros jueces sobre los diferentes temas bajo consideraci�n.

 

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Kaw Valley Rodeo

 

The Kaw Valley Rodeo Association will be sponsoring the 19th Annual Kaw Valley Special Rodeo for children with special needs.  Children, ages 5 to 12 years old are invited to sign up for it.  It will be held Friday, July 27, 2012, at the Riley County Fairgrounds, Wells Arena, Manhattan Kansas.  The time will be 7:00 p.m.  

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Families Together, Inc.

 

Topeka Parent Center

(785) 233-4777 or (800) 264-6343 

 

Garden City Parent Center

(620) 276-6364 or (888) 820-6364

 

Kansas City Parent Center

(913) 287-1970 or (877) 499-5369

 

Wichita Parent Center

(316) 945-7747 or (888) 815-6364

 

Statewide Spanish parent line

(800) 499-9443 

 

Wichita Administrative Center

(316) 945-7747 or (888) 815-6364

 

All toll free numbers are for Kansas parents & education advocates.

 

 www.familiestogetherinc.org

 

Families Together, Inc.  

Education Advocate Training

 

August 30, 2012

October 16, 2012

Wichita


What is an Education Advocate?

 

Various Events    

July 21,2012

Families Together Family Fun Day

Kansas City

 

November 3, 2012

Families Together Holiday Extravaganza

Garden City

 

November 10,  2012

Families Together Pilgrim Pacer Run

Kansas City

 

Family Enrichment Weekend

October 5-6, 2012
Spanish 

 

Team Empowerment Conference (TEC)

 

October 8, 2012
Topic: Special Education 

October 20, 2012
Topic: Transition

What's a Team Empowerment Conference?

 

39 Years

 

Serving Kansas families and their sons and daughters for more than 30 years. 

 

Families Together, Inc. is the statewide organization that assists parents and their sons and daughters with disabilities. Our program's mission is to encourage, educate, and empower families to be effective advocates for their children.

 

Families Together, Inc. is dedicated to a society that includes and values all people. We offer families the security of belong to a support network of other parents that face similar victories, challenges and needs. 

 

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