Group items tagged

Skylehr Stiles, a 20-year-old Belgrade man with cerebral palsy.Today, July 24, is "Skylehr Stiles Appreciation Day," proclaimed last week by Bozeman Mayor Jeff Krauss."Skylehr Stiles is an inspiration for people with intellectual disabilities to strive to live independently," the mayor's proclamation states.

Washington, DC – This month, The Arc officially announced the affiliation of AWARE, Inc. in Montana as a state chapter. The affiliation of AWARE will mark the first time in over a decade that The Arc will have a statewide presence in Montana. “We are very excited to have such a strong partner in Montana and look forward to working with AWARE. Together, The Arc and AWARE will help provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Montana a powerful voice,” said Peter V. Berns, CEO of The Arc.

Being a parent to a child with a disability, any disability, is like day after day of guiding your family’s boat through a constant storm.  For parents of a child with Fragile X Syndrome, a leading cause of autism and intellectual disabilities, the storm may seem to rage on and on. To help you get though the tough times we have provided a list of 12 must have Fragile X resources.

Catholic schools are offering programs for children with disabilities more and more, with schools serving students diagnosed with everything from Asperger’s syndrome to intellectual disability. Though traditionally out of reach for faith-based schools given the high cost of providing special education services, determined parents are fund-raising and getting grants to develop programs at Catholic schools across the country. In fact, the number of Catholic elementary schools with a resource teacher to assist students with special needs grew from 28 to 42 percent between the 2001-2002 school year and 2008-2009.

In many states, determining whether or not an adult with a disability qualifies for significant assistance comes down to one factor: IQ score. Trouble is that IQ and ability don’t always match up. The conundrum is particularly pronounced among individuals with autism and mental illness who often have normal intellectual intelligence, but have significant social or emotional needs that prohibit them from living independently, advocates say.

Who am I? Easy – my name is Evan, that's who I am and that's what I'm called. And yet, for some of my friends, there are still people who would identify them by saying, “Oh, him? He's a “special needs” kid, “a SPED,” – a “retard.” Why are some of my best friends, people who just happen to have intellectual disabilities, identified not by their names, but by their disability? Is it out of ignorance? Is it because people feel some unwarranted and overwhelming desire to label others? Or is the sad truth that these friends of mine are not called by name, because their names are not known?

Welcome! This site highlights the employment successes of people with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) 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 Arc recently conducted a groundbreaking survey of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and discovered there are many urgent unmet needs for support keeping these individuals in the shadows of our society. We recently released a report detailing the survey’s top findings and outlining a broad call-to-action for the I/DD community and others who care about the rights of people with I/DD. We invite you to read the full report here and join with us to show your support and share your story through one of the links below. Together we can make a difference in the lives of people with I/DD and their families!

To reserve your Webinar seat, Click Here What: This presentation will discuss a program at Rush University Medical Center that can improve the hospital experience for those with I/DD. It includes a pre-hospital tour program, a telephone hot line for special needs accommodations, procedure specific information booklets, an addendum to the nursing admission form, and enhanced staff education. Attendees will be able to identify hospital services that may improve the hospital experience and outcomes for adults with I/DD. This presentation is appropriate for anyone who cares about those with I/DD and their well being. Please complete this health survey before the Webinar begins: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QYW6WHP When: Monday, July 25, 2011 at 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM Mountain

Children of any age with neurologic conditions are more likely to become very sick if they get the flu. Complications may vary and can include pneumonia and even death.Neurologic conditions can include:Disorders of the brain and spinal cordCerebral palsyEpilepsy (seizure disorders)StrokeIntellectual disabilityModerate to severe developmental delayMuscular dystrophySpinal cord injurySome children with neurologic conditions may have trouble with muscle function, lung function or difficulty coughing, swallowing, or clearing fluids from their airways. These problems can make flu symptoms worse.

Kanner was born in Austria and educated in Berlin. He came to the U.S. in 1924. In 1930, he moved to Johns Hopkins University, where he founded the first child psychiatry clinic in the country. Based largely on his clinical experience, he then wrote a textbook that defined the field of child psychiatry. His humanism is evident in his lifelong fight against the abuse of children with autism and intellectual disability, and his enduring concern for their families. He also made extraordinary efforts to help physicians and scientists escape from Nazi-controlled territories.

“When I was a kid, I didn't realize that you were different.”

Bonnie Brown came to StoryCorps with her teenage daughter, Myra. Bonnie is intellectually disabled with a low IQ. For the past 18 years she’s worked at the same Wendy’s. Here, her daughter asks her about being a mom.

Myra is enrolled in gifted and talented classes at her high school. She hopes to attend Cambridge University when she graduates. Recorded in Lansdowne, PA.

What:Is Asperger's syndrome really less common in girls and women, or are females just better than males at masking autistic symptoms? Rudy Simone, a San Francisco singer, writer and stand-up comic, didn't learn that she was on the autism spectrum until her mid-40s. Simone has Asperger's syndrome - a high-functioning form of autism that leads to social problems but no intellectual disabilities - which, like all forms of autism, appear much more commonly in boys than in girls. Ten times more men are believed to reside on the spectrum than women. But some experts think the real prevalence of Asperger's in girls may be much higher than believed, because girls tend to be far better than boys at concealing its symptoms, masking social problems and hiding the repetitive behaviors often associated with autism. So, many women go undiagnosed until middle age, along the way given other labels and therapies that do not address their real issues. To help make up for the lack of resources available to girls with Asperger's and their families, Simone wrote Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger's Syndrome. Healthland spoke with her recently. Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/27/mind-reading-a-qa-with-the-author-of-aspergirls/#ixzz1hl7AHuDt Ms. Simone will be speaking in Montana this spring. More details will be provided in mid-March. All of her appearances will free and open to the public. Where and When:Billings (CEC Conference) - April 25, 2012Helena - April 26, 2012 Missoula - April 27, 2012Kalispell - April 28, 2012Contact: Doug Doty, Coordinator Website: www.opi.mt.gov/autism/maep Phone: (406) 444-0907

Autism on the Seas has been in collaboration with Royal Caribbean International since 2007 in developing cruise vacation services to accommodate adults and families living with children with Special Needs, including, but not limited to, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Tourette Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and all Cognitive, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.  These services quickly expanded to other cruise lines.   We provide Cruises with our Staff (selected from regular cruises throughout the year) that assist adults and families in accommodating the typical cruise services, as well as providing specialized Respite and Private Activities/Sessions that allow our guests the use of the ships entertainment venues in an accommodated and assisted manner. Our professional Staff (educated, experienced, background checked and sanctioned by the cruise lines) accompanies you on your cruise to provide these amazing vacation and travel experiences onboard Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Disney and Carnival Cruise Lines. We also provide a "Cruise Assistance Package" (Cruises without our Staff) on all of the major Cruise Lines to help accommodate guests who wish to cruise on their own. 

When: Monday June 21, 2010 · 1:00-2:30pm Mountain What: This webinar will provide an in-depth presentation of the five-year postsecondary education experience of Micah Fialka-Feldman, a 25 year old student with an intellectual disability, at Oakland University, through the OPTIONS Program. Micah, along with Dr. Shea Howell, one of Micah's college professors, his mother Janice Fialka, and one of Micah's friends and peer tutors will discuss this journey through postsecondary education from each of their unique perspectives. The webinar will present and discuss a range of practical strategies and supports used to enhance Micah's active participation in the classroom, course work, student activities, and dorm living. Critical components which contributed to a successful experience will be shared, such as: the immediate and inclusive participation of Micah on the campus in all domains of student life and learning, the intentional engagement of other students in planning with and supporting Micah, the creation of opportunities for Micah to participate in student activities, and others.

The 2010 Case for Inclusion report (medicaid.ucp.org), ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC) for Medicaid services provided to intellectual and developmental disability (ID/DD) populations.