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Free Healthcare Transition Conferences
Join The Parents' Place of Maryland and DHMH's Office for Genetics and People with Special Health Care Needs for a full day, FREE conference for parents and youth! Teens with special needs between the ages of 13-18 are invited to attend with a parent. Providers are also invited to attend.
These conferences offer information, ready-to-use planning tools and resources for youth, families, and providers to make the health care transition process easier and less overwhelming. Light breakfast and lunch are included. Topics will include social security benefits, health insurance, guardianship, healthcare transition in the IEP, and self management skills for transitioning youth.
Three conferences are planned. All are 9:00am - 4:00pm.
MARCH 9, 2013 Double Tree BWI Baltimore
APRIL 13, 2013 Southern Maryland Higher Education Center
The conferences are free, but you must pre-register. Visit the www.ppmd2.org for more information and to register.
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U.S. Department of Education Addresses Youth with Disabilities and Participation in Sports
The U. S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights issued guidance clarifying school districts' existing legal obligations to provide equal access to extracurricular athletic activities to students with disabilities. In addition to explaining those legal obligations, the guidance urges school districts to work with community organizations to increase athletic opportunities for students with disabilities, such as opportunities outside of the existing extracurricular athletic program.
Students with disabilities have the right, under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, to an equal opportunity to participate in their schools' extracurricular activities. A 2010 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that many students with disabilities are not afforded an equal opportunity to participate in athletics, and therefore may not have equitable access to the health and social benefits of athletic participation.
The press release and "Dear Colleague" letter are available at the Department of Education website.
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Community Resource Mapping Project Needs Input
The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute, together with The Office for Genetics and People with Special Health Care Needs, has embarked on a project to assess and map resources by community for families of youth and adults with special needs. The purpose of the community resource mapping project is to identify and build on the strengths of community resources for families of individuals with special needs, autism, and other developmental disabilities.
The Maryland community resource mapping project began in November 2011, focusing first on the Eastern Shore. During fiscal year 2013, the regions of Southern and Western Maryland will be mapped, followed by the remaining regions of Maryland.
You can find out more about the mapping project and take the survey here.
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Maryland School Discipline Proposals to Change
The Maryland Board of Education has agreed to make minor changes to proposals that schools shift toward more rehabilitative discipline practices aimed at reducing out-of-school suspensions and teaching students about positive behavior. The changes, which are in response to input from educators and others, do not change the spirit of the reforms, officials said. Among other things, the proposals would require schools to provide educational services to students during suspension, and track data regarding suspensions of minority students and students in special education.
You can read the entire Washington Post article or visit the MSDE website for more information.
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Pilot Program to Help Assess Mental Health Concerns in Children
Allegany and Garrett counties are part of a pilot program aimed at helping pediatricians better assess and manage mental health concerns in children. Titled the Maryland Behavioral Health Integration Program in Primary Care, this initial effort is also in place in Washington, Talbot, Kent, Wicomico, Calvert and Prince George's counties.
Funding comes from the state departments of health and education. The consultants come from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Salisbury University Department of Social Work.
"This program will better enable primary-care providers to connect their patients to mental health services," said State Health Secretary Dr. Joshua Sharfstein. "It will create critical connections to ensure the seamless delivery of health services for youth."
The program should be available statewide in June. You can read the full Cumberland Times-News article here.
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New Parent Leaders Class Starts April 6
Interested in becoming a parent leader? Want to work with other parents to advocate on behalf of children with special needs?
Apply to participate in the Special Education Advocacy Parent Leadership Program!
This intensive program helps you develop a better understanding of parent involvement and advocacy to make a difference in the lives of children
Classes will be held at the University of Maryland in College Park: April 6, April 20, May 11, June 1, and June 15. Sessions start at 9 am and end at 4 pm. Participants are required to commit to attending all sessions. Download the flyer here.
For more information, contact Kelly Meissner at 410-768-9100 x 107 or by email at kelly@ppmd.org. |
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Kennedy Center Offers Sensory Friendly Concerts
The Kennedy Center's "sensory-friendly" performances make special accommodations for children on the autism spectrum, who are sensitive to loud noises, bright lights and sudden movements. The center has offered three sensory-friendly shows since April, and they are proving popular: A sellout crowd of 280 attended "Musical Opposites," with tickets priced at $18.
To accommodate special-needs children, the lights in the theater remain at a low level, and the rows are half-empty so the children can move around. Music is vetted by experts, and ushers are given special training to prepare for the children, many of whom have never before been to a concert hall. Pre-visit brochures are available to help children prepare for the concerts.
Read the entire Washington Post article or visit the Kennedy Center website for more information.
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Save These Dates!
February 13 - 16, 2013
San Antonio, TX
February 19, 2013
8:30am-1:30pm
Annapolis, MD
March 3, 2013
Towson University
March 10, 2013
Workshops: Life After High School Panning in the IEP & Special Education What Parents Need to Know
10:00am - 12:00pm
Owings Mills, MD
March 16, 2013
Citywide Forum for Students with Learning Disabilities Planning to Attend College
9:00am - 1:30pm
Baltimore, MD
April 20, 2013
Around the World of Special Education
8:30am - 3:30pm
LaVale, MD
There are a lot of new workshops and training events on our calendar! Be sure to check the PPMD online calendar for time, location, and registration information for these and many other training opportunities. www.calendarwiz.com/ppmd |
New Tool for Finding Accessible Places
AbleRoad, a website and mobile app for finding and rating accessible places - restaurants, shops, hotels, medical practices and many other venues - launches today! It's a perfect mobile service for people with disabilities and their friends, family members, and caregivers.
You can access AbleRoad at the website or by using the iPhone and iPad apps. An Android App will be released next month. They are all free, and you can start posting reviews today.
Here are the links to get started:
AbleRoad.com
Download the iPhone or iPad app via iTunes
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Real People, Real Jobs Website
The Real People, Real Jobs website highlights the employment successes of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) who are working in paid jobs in their communities. Through the use of innovative, front-line employment support practices, these individuals are earning money, forming networks, and contributing to their communities. Learn more about these people and the promising practices that led to their success.
The website allows you to browse by topic and region. Excellent resource for transitioning youth and their families.
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Americans with Disabilities Act and Child Care Providers Question and Answer
PACER Center has put together a list of questions and answers about how the ADA affects child care providers. Great resource for those beginning the search for child care. Following the Q & A is a list of additional information on what to look for in a child care provider and developing inclusive child care settings.
You can visit the PACER Center website for this and other resources for families of children with disabilities.
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New Equipment Giveaway
Danielle's Foundation is giving away a Power Pumper - a four-wheeled "car-like"
therapeutic device that helps with coordination, endurance, muscle tone and visual skills. The giveaway will provide a child with cerebral palsy or brain injury between the ages of 18 months and 12 years with a new Power Pumper. Call 1-800-511-2283 to receive an application to enter your child into the giveaway. Application deadline is March 31, 2013.
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