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Ratification of Treaty on Rights of Persons With Disabilities Fails

Education Week

The U.S. Senate rejected the ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The chamber fell five votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to approve the treaty. 90% of children with disabilities in developing countries have no access to education. Read reaction of the United States International Council on Disabilities.

Restraint and Seclusion

Legislation aimed at protecting children with autism and other disabilities from being injured in school has stalled in the House of Representatives. Read article from ABC News.

Social Security Announces New Compassionate Allowances Conditions

35 additional Compassionate Allowances conditions are in effect, bringing the total number of conditions in the expedited disability process to 200.

Head Start Recompetition Results Delayed Until Spring

Education Week

A final decision on the fate of more than 130 Head Start grants that are up for grabs won't come before spring. The 132 agencies that must vie to keep their federal Head Start dollars were expecting an announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in December.

Why Kids with Known Food Allergies Are Still at Risk

Most young kids with allergies to foods like milk or eggs are still having allergic reactions, even after parents and caregivers have been informed of the children's allergies, a new study finds - and about 11% of these incidents aren't accidental. Read more in Time magazine.

Changes to Psychiatric Manual

CBC News

Changes aim to more accurately diagnose people with mental illness and guide treatment. "Asperger's disorder" is being dropped but "dyslexia" and other learning disorders remain in the first major rewrite in nearly 20 years of psychiatry's diagnostic guide.

Health Plans Gear Up To Sell Directly To Consumers

Kaiser Health News

New customers will mostly shop for and buy their own insurance -- a different and harder-to-reach group than the industry's traditional employer clients. So insurers are seeking novel ways to reach them -- online, in shopping centers, even when they're preparing their taxes.

Hospitals Demand Upfront Fee For Nonemergencies

Amednews.com

More hospitals are charging patients up to $180 for problems deemed nonemergent. Some doctors say the policy could backfire and harm patients.

Sharon became acquainted with Raising Special Kids early in her daughter's life. Sophia was born with omphalocele, a birth defect of the abdominal wall, which required immediate surgery. Sophia, now age 11, has had multiple physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges.

A hospital social worker referred Sharon to Raising Special Kids, and she was connected through the Parent to Parent program with a parent of a child like Sophia. Sharon felt encouraged by "the reassurance that other families live this, too. There are families ready and willing to help and resources are available."

Even though Sharon has a background in special education, she welcomed Raising Special Kids' assistance when it came time to prepare her daughter's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). "It was frustrating to struggle to get appropriate services," she explained.

Raising Special Kids needs your help to serve more families like Sharon's. Please make your donation today through our secure online system.

If you itemize on your taxes, here is a special tax credit you should know about. 

Events and Activities

Mark your Calendars for the Next Special Day for Special Kids

Saturday, March 23, 2013

10am - 2pm

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale

• Train & Carousel Rides
• Carnival Games and Booths
• Clowns, Mascots, Face Painting & Petting Zoo
• Hot Dog Lunch & Ice Cream

Free for families of children with disabilities and special needs.

Registration required (on the day of the event).

Strengthening Grandfamily Connections

A Workshop for Grandparents to help grandchildren overcome a harmful past

Offered free by Raising Up GRANDchildren Program

When: December 18

Time: 2 to 4pm

Where: Tewa Community Center in First Mesa, AZ

Open to the Public

Silent Sunday

(Cycling and Hiking-City of Phoenix)

December 23 - 9am - 3pm 

South Mountain Park, 10910 South Central Avenue. 

Bikes available for individuals with visual limitations.

For information call Rick at (602) 885-2992 or email winkingmule@cox.net

Previously Listed in Monday Memo:

"Sensitive Santa" for Children with Sensory Sensitivities

Families will have the opportunity to have their child's picture taken with Santa in a calm, less-intimidating environment than the mall setting. This event is free and is for children who have sensory sensitivities, and who otherwise may not be able to have a picture taken with Santa at the mall.

Touchstone Behavioral Health locations

• Mesa Location: 2150 S. Country Club Drive, Suite #36, Mesa AZ 85210
  December 10, 2012 from 10am - 2pm

• Phoenix location: 15648 N. 35th Ave. Phoenix, Arizona 85053
   December 12, 2012 from 10am - 2pm
  December 15, 2012 from 10am - 3pm

For details call Traci or Elizabeth 602-732-4967.

Winter Adaptive Recreation Horse Camp

Hunkapi Programs, 12051 N. 96th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85260

For All Abilities, age 7+

4-day program 12/31/2012 - 1/4/2013

8 am - 4pm*   *12/31 will be a half-day, no camp 1/1/2013

Daily riding lessons, adaptive recreation, Equipment usage, professional staffing, end-of-camp certificate

www.hunkapi.org (nonprofit organization)

Workshop: Tips for Applying for SSI, SSDI and AHCCCS Freedom to Work

December 17

10:30am - 12 noon

ABIL, 5025 E Washington #200, Phoenix, AZ 85034

This workshop will provide tips for a successful application for persons with physical conditions as well as those with less obvious emotional or mental disabilities. We will also discuss how to appeal any denied applications.

Facilitator: David Cardinali is a retired Social Security Claims Representative and Public Affairs Specialist with 33 years of experience, and has provided benefits and work incentive counseling for the last 3 1/2 years at DIRECT Center for Independence.

Register: http://tipsapplyforbenefits.eventbrite.com/

Applied Behavior Analysis/Natural Environment Teaching

December 18, 2012  

9am - 4pm

Touchstone Behavioral Health

15648 N. 35th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85053

The cost is $50 for professionals and $30 for parents/guardians. 

Register by calling 602-732-4967 before December 10, 2012.  

The ABA portion of the training will be conducted by Joseph A. Gentry, PhD, BCBA-D from 9am - 12pm, and the NET portion will be conducted by Carey Burgess, M.A., BCBA from 1pm0in. 

Winter Camp Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo offers two days of specialty camps for children with visual impairments and with orthopedic impairments.

Sense of Wonder Camp for children with visual impairments

Thursday, January 3, from 8am - 12:30pm

Phoenix Zoo members: $50     Non-members: $55

Scholarships are available!

Wild Hearts Camp for children with orthopedic impairments

Friday, January 4, from 8am - 12:30pm

Phoenix Zoo members: $50     Non-members: $55

Scholarships are available!

Please feel free to contact the Camp Zoo Supervisor (602.273.1341 x 7355) to discuss your child's needs and ensure that Camp Zoo will be a good match.

9^th Annual Inclusive Practices Institute

A Conference for Parents and Professionals Supporting Children with Disabilities

January 18-19, 2013

Deer Valley District Office, 20402 N. 15th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027

Sparkle Effect - an innovative student run program that helps students across the country create cheerleading and dance teams that include students with disabilities.                    

• iPad Apps - and other technologies for supporting children and adults with disabilities
• Common Core - adapting the general education curriculum for students with disabilities
• I AM NORM- A youth forum on promoting inclusion
• Literacy Strategies For Students With Autism, Universal Design For Learning, Para educators And General Education Modifications, Positive Behavioral Supports, Post-High School Options For Teens With Disabilities, International Treaty On Disability, Best Practices In Supporting Self-Advocates...and more

For conference pricing and to register go to http://www.regonline.com/9thannualinclusivepracticesinstitute

For more information please contact:

Sherry Mulholland - mulhollandmatsutakeout@yahoo.com or 520-603-4010 or                                          

Andrea O'Brien - andreamobrien@cox.net or 602-717-8106

Provider Fair

Saturday, January 26, 2013

10am - 2pm

Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix

For families and individuals seeking services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities. This fair provides opportunities to connect face to face with providers from the Valley. 

Free Training and Workshops

To register, call 602-242-4366 or click on the link to register online.

Unless otherwise indicated, workshops are located at our office in the Disability Empowerment Center (DEC).

Please do not wear fragrances in the DEC facilities.

Raising Special Kids

5025 E. Washington St., Suite 204

Phoenix, AZ 85034

Advanced IEP Training

December 10, 2012

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Receive an in-depth view of the IEP and strategies to help maximize the potential of each student. (Recommended: First attend IEP Basics) 

Guardianship/Turning 18, What's Next?

December 13, 2012

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Making the decision; understanding the process.  Learn what guardianship involves before your teen turns 18.  You will also learn about alternatives to guardianship.

For workshops and training in Spanish, please visit our online calendar.