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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 10, 2011 11:08:33 GMT -5
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 10, 2011 11:11:20 GMT -5
The FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 11-37, FCC 11-36, FCC 11-38) respectively. For more news and information about the FCC please visit: www.fcc.gov <http://www.fcc.gov/> The first NPRM is the Advanced Communications Services NPRM that seeks to ensure that the 54 million individuals with disabilities living in the United States are able to fully use advanced communications services, equipment and networks. Until now, people with disabilities often have not had full access to the benefits of rapid technological changes in advanced communications. Wireless handsets have evolved into multi-media devices capable of accessing the Internet, sending e-mails or text messages, and enabling video conversations. The second NPRM seeks comment on reinstatement and modification of the video description rules originally adopted by the Commission in 2000. Video description is the insertion of audio-narrated descriptions of a television program's key visual elements into natural pauses in the program's dialogue. This feature makes television programming more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired by providing them with essential information that is otherwise conveyed to the audience only visually. The third NPRM is to implement Section 103(b) of the CVAA, which mandates that the Commission extend participation in and contribution to the Telecommunications Relay Service (“TRS”) Fund to interconnected and non-interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) service providers. Please distribute to appropriate resources without further permission. Barbara J. Ebenstein, Esq. 53 Pengilly Drive New Rochelle, New York 10804 Voice: (914) 355-5945 Fax: (914) 355-5946 Email: bjeslaw@aol.com Website: www.barbaraebenstein.com |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 10, 2011 11:14:54 GMT -5
Now accepting applications for the Youth Transitions Fellow Two partner organizations of The Arc have an exciting fellowship opportunity available that might be of interest to The Arc's chapters and their local networks. Please share this opportunity. The HSC Foundation, in partnership with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), is now accepting applications for a paid fellowship position with the organizations’ disability youth transition and collaboration work. This fellowship is ideal for a person with a disability who has an interest in building coalitions and running youth based programs. The fellowship starts in April, 2011, and continues for 12 months. Under the supervision of AAPD’s Director of Programs, the Youth Transitions Fellow (YTF) will gain exposure to youth programs serving people with disabilities and will have the opportunity to facilitate collaboration among youth organizations and internship programs based in the Greater Washington, DC area. Specifically, the YTF will work closely with the Greater Washington Internship Coalition and will help establish the Youth Training Collaborative. Applications are due by March 17th, 2011. Apply Now! For more information visit: www.aapd.com/fellowship The Arc 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 800.433.5255 | Contact Us |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 10, 2011 14:11:14 GMT -5
File Your Taxes for Free at One Stop Career Centers The Department of Labor's One Stop Career Centers and a public-private partnership between the Internal Revenue Service and a number of tax software companies have made free, online tax filing available to an estimated 70 percent of all taxpayers. Information about these resources is now available. For more information go to social.dol.gov/blog/file-your-taxes-for-free-at-one-stop-career-centers/Timely Tax Tips for Taxpayers with Disabilities Taxpayers with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities may qualify for a number of IRS tax credits and benefits. Learn about tax credits and other benefits including Impairment-Related Work Expenses, the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. For more information go to www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204070,00.html |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 10, 2011 14:16:56 GMT -5
Conservatorships, Wills, & Special Needs Trusts, OH MY!!
If your youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities has started the transition process, you will want to attend Family Voices of Tennessee’s F2F Outreach Conference
Saturday, March 26, 2011
9:30 am to 2:30 pm Nashville Public Library 615 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219
Keynote Speaker, Ed Maurer of James E. Maurer and Associates will provide information about special needs trusts and conservatorships. Family and professional panelists will share information on resources and experiences around transition, work, school, and community participation. Sessions and vendors will offer resources and tools to help youth and families in the transition process.
Space is limited and registration is required to attend. Registration form must be received by Noon March 18, 2011. Please complete form below and mail to:
Family Voices of Tennessee Transition Conference
955 Woodland Street • Nashville, TN 37206
For more information or questions, call Tonya 615-515-8626 or email tonya_b@tndisability.org
Hosted by: Family Voices of Tennessee Sponsored by : The Tennessee Disability Coalition, the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, and the Nashville Public Library
Family Voices of Tennessee’s F2F Outreach Conference Registration
Name:
Address:
City: State: Zip Code:
Phone (include area code):
E-mail address:
Check enclosed for registration $10.00 (includes lunch)
Please choose one: Turkey, Chicken Salad, or Vegetarian
Please list any requests such as menu restrictions and / or facility accommodations:
**No Childcare will be available**
Space is limited and registration is required to attend. Registration form must be received by Noon March 18, 2011
Please complete form and mail to:
Family Voices of Tennessee Transition Conference
955 Woodland Street • Nashville, TN 37206
*************************************************************************
Directions to the Downtown Library:
From the Memphis Area/West TN: Take I-40 East towards Nashville. Take Exit 209A
towards Church St. Make a slight left onto 14th Ave. S then a left on Church St.
From the Knoxville Area/East TN: Take I-40 West towards Nashville. Take Exit 209(Church
St./Charlotte Ave). Turn right on Church St.
From the Chattanooga Area: Take I-24 West towards Nashville. In Nashville, follow
I-40 W/I-65 S(Memphis/Huntsville). Take Exit 209(Church St./Charlotte Ave.) Turn right on Church St.
From Clarksville/Northwest TN Area: Take I-24 East towards Nashville. In Nashville, follow
I-40 W/I-65 S(Memphis/Huntsville). Take Exit 209(Church St./Charlotte Ave.) Turn right on Church St.
From Southern TN areas: Take I-65 North towards Nashville. In Nashville, follow I-40 W toward Memphis/Louisville. Take Exit 209(Church St./Charlotte Ave.) Turn right on Church St.
From Northern TN areas: Take I-65 South towards Nashville. In Nashville, merge onto I-24 East. Follow to I-40 W/I-65 South. Take Exit 209(Church St./Charlotte Ave.) Turn right on Church St.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 14, 2011 15:46:44 GMT -5
Don't forget to register soon! Seats are filling up quickly! We will accept registrations at the door, but only if there is still space available. You can pay online or send in your check to be assured a space.
The Center for Understanding, the Transparency Project of the disAbilities Resource Center for Williamson County and the ARC of Davidson County proudly present:
John Elder Robison, author of Look me in the Eye and the upcoming Be Different books! Funny and irreverent, John will make you laugh with tales from his wild child life in the morning. He will later wow you with his intellect as he discusses new research in autism from his work with the NIH, Autism Speaks and as a teaching professor.
Note substantial discounts for adults / teens with Asperger Syndrome.
We will also have a silent auction, art show and awareness jewelry options, so bring your check books!
Also, note that all net proceeds will go to the disAbilities Resource Center for Williamson County to sustain the Transparency Project which provides systems navigation support for families and teens/adults affected by Asperger Syndrome.
Further questions can be posed at c4ucontact@gmail.com or by calling 615-300-3369.
Our mailing address is:
Center for Understanding
7127 Crossroads Blvd., #102
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 14, 2011 15:51:16 GMT -5
Humanware assistive reading device workshop at ETTAC in early April. We have to have 5 people to give the workshop. We only have two people coming so far that we reached through our social media outreach. So we need your help letting teachers and parents know about this workshop. Thank you for your help. Louise McKown Public Awareness Coordinator/Systems Change Analyst East Tennessee Technology Access Center 116 Childress Street Knoxville, TN 37920 (865) 219-0130 lamckown@bellsouth.net www.discoveret.org/ettacWhere disabilities become possibilities EAST TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS CENTER, INC. 116 Childress Street • Knoxville, TN 37920 (865) 219-0130 • FAX (865) 219-0137 • etstactn@aol.com • www.discoveret.org/ettacPublic Service Announcement - Date: March 11, 2011 To: Community Calendar From: Louise McKown---Public Awareness Coordinator Re: ETTAC workshop on Humanware products The East Tennessee Technology Access Center will host a workshop displaying two of Humanware’s assistive reading devices on April 6th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at ETTAC’s office, 116 Childress Street in Knoxville. The products being demonstrated are Classmate Reader and the Intel Reader. The ClassMate Reader is a hand held portable device that can read aloud what is scanned by the Intel Reader or books from Bookshare. The Intel Reader is a camera based device that can scan text, and then either read highlighted words aloud, or be converted into audio form for a CD or MP3 player. The Intel Reader can be taken off its base and used as a portable reader as well. Both devices are great for helping students with reading comprehension, as well as those with low vision. The workshop is free, but registration is required by April 1st. Please call (865) 219-0130. |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 14, 2011 16:04:00 GMT -5
Partners in Policymaking is a free leadership and advocacy training program for adults with disabilities, and family members of persons with disabilities. It is funded by the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, and has been training Tennesseans since 1993.
What do Partners learn?
Over the course of seven, once-a-month weekend sessions (typically from 12 pm on Friday through 3 pm on Saturday), Partners will attend workshops conducted by national and local experts, on:
• The History of the Disability Experience
• People First Language
• Best Practices in Inclusive Education
• Building Inclusive Communities
• Self-Determination, Self-Direction and Person-Centered Practices
• Supported and Independent Living in the Community
• The State and Federal Legislative Processes
• Employment Trends for Persons with Disabilities
• Conducting Effective Meetings
• Assistive Technology
...and much more!
Partners will also tour the Capitol, meet with a TN Legislator, and participate in a Mock Testimony designed to enhance their public policy advocacy skills. In February or March, all of the Partners grads since 1993 are invited to attend an annual reunion conference, with keynote speakers, general sessions, breakout sessions on a variety of topics and a Friday night dance.
Weekend sessions take place September through November, and January through April, each year, at a hotel in Middle Tennessee.
All participants are required to spend the night, and attend all seven sessions. There is no cost for hotel rooms, meals during the program times or the trainings. Mileage to and from each session will be reimbursed approximately two weeks after each session.
All applications must be postmarked by April 30, 2011.
If you need have any questions about the program including eligibility, please contact program director Ned Andrew Solomon at 615.532.6556, or by e-mail at ned.solomon@tn.gov .
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 14, 2011 16:06:44 GMT -5
www.hearintn.com/HB 761/SB 607 - Support the Insurance/Hearing Aids for Minors Bill for Tennessee "A child's ability to hear should not be determined based on family income. Tennessee law requires that all newborn babies be screened for hearing loss. To diagnose deafness and then fail to provide intervention is morally and ethically unacceptable. We need to provide access to hearing aids via multiple sources (TNCare and private insurances)." Hearing Aid Coverage - Please support HB 761/SB 607 that requires that each individual and group and blanket health insurance contract, including each policy or contract issued by a hospital or medical service contract, that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state provide coverage of up to $1,000 per individual hearing aid, per ear, every three years, for children less than 18 years of age, covered as a dependent by the policy holder. What can you do? Please contact and urge your State Senator and Representative to sponsor and support HB 761/SB 607.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 14, 2011 16:11:15 GMT -5
Conservatorships, Wills, & Special Needs Trusts, OH MY!!
If your youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities has started the transition process, you will want to attend Family Voices of Tennessee’s F2F Outreach Conference
Saturday, March 26, 2011
9:30 am to 2:30 pm Nashville Public Library 615 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219
Keynote Speaker, Ed Maurer of James E. Maurer and Associates will provide information about special needs trusts and conservatorships. Family and professional panelists will share information on resources and experiences around transition, work, school, and community participation. Sessions and vendors will offer resources and tools to help youth and families in the transition process. Space is limited and registration is required to attend.
Registration form must be received by Noon March 18, 2011
Please complete form below and mail to:
Family Voices of Tennessee Transition Conference
955 Woodland Street • Nashville, TN 37206
For more information or questions, call Tonya 615-515-8626 or email tonya_b@tndisability.org
Hosted by: Family Voices of Tennessee
Sponsored by : The Tennessee Disability Coalition, the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, and the Nashville Public Library
*************************************************************************
Family Voices of Tennessee’s F2F Outreach Conference Registration
Name:
Address:
City: State: Zip Code:
Phone (include area code):
E-mail address:
Check enclosed for registration $10.00 (includes lunch)
Please choose one: Turkey, Chicken Salad, or Vegetarian
Please list any requests such as menu restrictions and / or facility accommodations:
**No Childcare will be available**
Space is limited and registration is required to attend.
Registration form must be received by Noon March 18, 2011
Please complete form and mail to:
Family Voices of Tennessee Transition Conference
955 Woodland Street • Nashville, TN 37206
*************************************************************************
Directions to the Downtown Library:
From the Memphis Area/West TN - Take I-40 East towards Nashville. Take Exit 209A
towards Church St. Make a slight left onto 14th Ave. S then a left on Church St.
From the Knoxville Area/East TN - Take I-40 West towards Nashville. Take Exit 209(Church
St./Charlotte Ave). Turn right on Church St.
From the Chattanooga Area - Take I-24 West towards Nashville. In Nashville, follow
I-40 W/I-65 S(Memphis/Huntsville). Take Exit 209(Church St./Charlotte Ave.) Turn right on Church St.
From Clarksville/Northwest TN Area - Take I-24 East towards Nashville. In Nashville, follow
I-40 W/I-65 S(Memphis/Huntsville). Take Exit 209(Church St./Charlotte Ave.) Turn right on Church St.
From Southern TN areas - Take I-65 North towards Nashville. In Nashville, follow I-40 W toward Memphis/Louisville. Take Exit 209(Church St./Charlotte Ave.) Turn right on Church St.
From Northern TN areas - Take I-65 South towards Nashville. In Nashville, merge onto I-24 East. Follow to I-40 W/I-65 South. Take Exit 209(Church St./Charlotte Ave.) Turn right on Church St.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 14, 2011 16:16:33 GMT -5
Public Policy Updates: Governor's State of the State Address - This evening at 7 EDT/6 CDT, Governor Haslam will be giving his first state of the state address. You can view it online at www.tn.gov/stateofthestate or check local television listings. This Week at the Legislature - Expect key votes on hearing aid legislation for children plus bills addressing TennCare, Developmental Disabilities, voting, parking placards and more. The Coalition's website provides summaries of dozens of disability-related bills plus links to status updates and the actual legislation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overcoming Stuttering - The King's Speech With the success of “The King’s Speech” at the Box Office and at this year’s Academy Awards, the world’s spotlight has focused on the condition of stammering and those affected by it. About one percent of the world’s population deals with this affliction and the consequences it brings to their personal and professional lives. Join host Ray Zardetto and four guests for a discussion into the fears and isolation this condition can cause. Guests Maria McGrath, Iain Mutch, Chris Cooksey, and Russell Eden recount their own difficulties with stammering and how it once forced them to make career decisions that kept them away from dealing with clients or the public-at-large, thus limiting their career choices and advancement. They then talk about the McGuire Programme, an intensive counseling and therapeutic approach that allowed them to successfully confront and conquer their stutter and the fears caused by their condition, helping them to now lead more productive and satisfying lives. The internet radio program will air at noon Eastern on Wednesday, March 16. To listen visit: www.voiceamerica.com/Show/1715****************************************************************** Apple Computer Exploring Advanced System for Students with Disabilities Apple has shown interest in new technology that would make it possible for content to be delivered to multiple users with unique disabilities, dynamically catering to each of their specific needs in a setting like a classroom. For example, Apple could dynamically distribute content tailored for relatively simple needs, like larger font sizes or screen sizes. In more advanced examples, content could be re-purposed as synthesized speech in a variety of languages, or in Braille. In the patent application, Apple notes that computers are now very capable of accommodating the disabilities of individual users, with technologies like screen reading software and electronic Braille devices making it possible for visually impaired users to access a device. ******************************************************************* Free Copy of "The Book of Choice" from Family Voices of Tennessee "The Book of Choice is a wonderful expression of what we know to be true: parents sharing directly with other parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing bring an essential kind of hope, inspiration and empowerment. This book is an amazing resource that captures that unique quality, and opens our minds to broader, more holistic views of parenting a child with hearing loss. It’s just the kind of thing you’d expect from Hands & Voices." - Christine Yoshinaga-Itano, PhD. Do you have a child who is deaf or Hard of Hearing? What communication method(s) do you use? Would you like to talk to other parents who can give you information on different methodolgies that are available? Contact a Newborn Hearing Parent Consultant in your area that you can talk with and to receive a free copy of The Book of Choice: Support for Parenting a child who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. *Also Available in Spanish* ******************************************************************** 3 Days Remain to Participate in Belmont Research Study We invite you to participate in a research study conducted by doctoral students and faculty members from the School of Occupational Therapy at Belmont University. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of persons with acquired spinal cord injuries regarding their inpatient rehabilitation experience. You are eligible to participate in this study if 1) you are at least 18 years of age, 2) have acquired a spinal cord injury, 3) have not been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, and 4) are no more than three years post inpatient rehabilitation. The final day to participate is Wednesday, March 16th. ****************************************************************** Dept of Justice Pushes Virginia to Improve Disability Services In response to a 20-page letter from the Department of Justice condemning Virginia for violating the civil rights of people with disabilities, Gov. Bob McDonnell submitted a budget plan to the Virginia General Assembly to set up crisis stabilization units and mobile crisis teams for intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals in every region of Virginia. The initiative, developed by the Services Development Committee, a part of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, would provide immediate psychiatric care and treatment to individuals with these disabilities, said Debbie Burcham, the executive director of the Chesterfield Community Services Board. The budget plan calls for the allocation of $5 million to this plan. The crisis stabilization units would provide treatment to individuals with intellectual disabilities such as mental retardation and co-occurring mental illness. When these individuals have mental health crises and cannot function well in their own residences, “we do not have a good system to help them,” Burcham said. ************************************************************************* There's an App for That! Program Identifies Currency for People are Blind For the millions of blind people living in the United States, paying for something in cash can pose major challenges because there is no difference between the size and shape of a $1 or $100 bill. To tackle this problem, many blind people set up systems to identify a bill’s value by folding the notes into different sizes and shapes, which then make them easily identifiable later. A new application, the LookTel Money Reader, available for $2 on the Apple iOS platform, hopes to help solve this problem by taking advantage of the devices camera to “read money” and speak the value of the currency out loud. ************************************************************************* |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 13:57:32 GMT -5
The Third Annual Tennessee Adult Brothers and Sisters (TABS) Conference will take place on April 8-9, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Holiday Inn Select at Vanderbilt. The Conference will empower and educate adult siblings who have a brother or a sister with a disability with information and resources, and will develop local and statewide networks of adult siblings. Conference highlights include: Keynote Speakers Don Meyer, Director, Sibling Support Project and creator of Sibshops Dee Dee Eberle, Director, Chapter Organizing & Advocacy, The Arc of the US Additional Presentations: Sibling Leadership Network œ Person Centered Thinking and Planning Tools œ Advocacy 101 œ TennCare Rights Breakout Sessions: Caring for the Caregiver œ SibShops œ Inclusion in Faith Communities œ Future Planning œ Siblings of Children and Adolescents œ cand more! Sibling Book, Movie, and Television Club Evening Social Gathering, Silent Auction cand more! Registration is required. For more information on the Conference and to register, visit: www.kc.vanderbilt.edu/registration or call (615) 343-0545. If you cannot attend the conference, but would like to register as an adult sibling in Tennessee and learn about future TABS events, visit: kc.vanderbilt.edu/site/services/disabilityservices/tabs.aspxIf you are on Facebook, become a fan of Tennessee Adult Brothers and Sisters! Conference Sponsors include: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, The Arc of Tennessee, University of Tennessee Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities, TigersEye Advisory, LLC, Tennessee School for the Deaf, Siblings United, East Tennessee State University, and Holiday Inn Select at Vanderbilt |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:00:12 GMT -5
Goalforit.com offers a variety of free interactive behavior and chore charts that are ideal visual learning solutions that can help children with disabilities develop skills that allow them to reach their full potential at home and in educational and community settings. In addition to being an intuitive visual learning tool, our charts make learning fun for children of all ages (there are chart solutions for kids, tweens and teens). I created Goalforit as a “passion project” for my own daughter, so the site is free to use and does not display any advertising ...I created it as a way to try and "pay it forward". You can view our Behavior Charts here: www.goalforit.com/behavior-charts.htmlYou can view our Chore Charts here: www.goalforit.com/chore-chart.html In closing, thank you for you kind consideration. Michael Murdock -- Personal Mobile: (949) 500 -1735 Office FAX: (909) 625 -5600 |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:02:38 GMT -5
Think College Capacity Building Institute on Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Nashville, Tennessee
April 18, 2011 @ 9am to 4pm
Location: Holiday Inn at Vanderbilt, 2613 West End Avenue
This institute will offer strategies and resources that can be used by college faculty, college administrators, and community leaders to support the development and implementation of inclusive postsecondary education options for students with intellectual disabilities.
Keynote Speaker: Molly Boyle, M.A., Think College Consortium, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts-Boston
Cost: $50 includes breakfast, lunch, and materials.
Space is limited. Pre-registration is required by April 11. Register online at kc.vanderbilt.edu/registration – select “Think College Capacity Building Institute —Tennessee.”
For more information contact (615) 936-8852 or laurie.fleming@vanderbilt.edu.
A limited number of travel stipends will be available to Tennessee colleges and universities from the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. For more information about travel stipends, contact Wanda Willis at Wanda.Willis@tn.gov before March 21.
Organized by Think College. Co-sponsors VKC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Tennessee Technology Center, Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the University of Tennessee.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:04:25 GMT -5
Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities New State Plan Goals & Objectives - Public Review: The Council is developing a new five year state plan that will be submitted to the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in August, 2011. Please take time to read the information on our needs assessment activities and the goals and objectives we developed based on those needs. Then please provide us with your comments about the new goals and objectives. Your review of this document is important to us and we look forward to hearing from you. Alternate formats are available upon request to the Council. To view or print the needs assessment activities and goals and objectives, please go to the Council home page address www.tn.gov/cdd/. It will be the first document you see on the Council’s home page. Or if you would like to go directly to the document, please click here for a Word version or click here for a PDF (requires Adobe Actobat). To submit public review comments or for information about the State Plan, please send comments to Alicia Cone at alicia.cone@tn.gov, 615-253-1105, or Parkway Towers, Suite 130, 404 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. The Council looks forward to collaborating and working with all our partners to address the identified service system issues over the five years and beyond! |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:07:14 GMT -5
OPEN DOORS SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPORT GROUP OF LOUDON COUNTY:
Autism and Medications - Meeting Date: March 31st Time: 6-8
Location: 2085 Simpson Rd. Lenoir City TN 3777
Guest Speaker: Dr. Brian Bonfardin,Psychiatrist - Brian Bonfardin, M.D., is a consultant with Greene Valley Developmental Center and has over 10 years’ experience in the field of developmental disorders. Currently, he is a consulting psychiatrist to Frontier Health/Woodridge Hospital. He is also the Tennessee State Chapter President of the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed. Throughout his career, Dr. Bonfardin has given numerous presentations on developmental disabilities issues, including a special emphasis on medications for persons affected with autism. He completed his psychiatry residency with the East Tennessee State University Department of Psychiatry and graduated from the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University.
Asst. Director, Helen Ross McNabb
Please RSVP early111@bellsouth.net or 865-621-3661, Childcare will be available with advanced arrangements, SPACE IS LIMITED. For more information please call 865-621-3661
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:15:48 GMT -5
For Immediate Release: March 18, 2011
Contact: Lori Kissinger, Executive Director, VSA TN
(615) 826-5252 or (615) 210-8819 cell or userk7706@comcast.net
VSA Tennessee Celebrates Its 10 Year Anniversary
On Tuesday, April 12, VSA Tennessee will celebrate its 10 year anniversary at the Nashville
Schermerhorn Symphony Hall. The event will feature a variety of activities throughout the day, but will culminate in a public event of hands on art activities at 5:30pm and a performance at 7:00pm. The performance will feature Scott MacIntyre, a national VSA Young Soloist winner and a top 10 finalist in the 2009 American Idol Competition. Other performers will include Laura Dodd (the 2010 ICM New Artist of the Year winner and a former national VSA Young Soloist winner), Lake Rise Place (2011 Tennessee VSA Young Soloist winners), and JP Williams (a country music performer). Tickets to the event are $10 and can be purchased in advance by calling The Arc of Tennessee office at 615-248-5878 or at the door.
“Over the past 10 years, VSA Tennessee has worked tirelessly to bring the arts to all people and to celebrate the abilities of all people. The arts are an investment in the education of our children, the economy and the lasting imprint that our society leaves as a record for generations to come,” states VSA Tennessee Executive Director, Lori Kissinger. “Although VSA Tennessee is proud of its many accomplishments over the past 10 years, it would not have been able to achieve these goals without our many community partners. The events and activities that will take place on April 12th are a result of those many partnerships with organizations such as The Arc of Tennessee, The Tennessee Arts Commission, The Tennessee School for the Blind, Middle Tennessee State University and the Nashville Symphony.”
“VSA Tennessee is very pleased to have Scott MacIntyre as part of our 10 year celebration”, said Kissinger. Since captivating the nation as a finalist on American Idol, Scott MacIntyre has continued to move audiences to laughter, tears, and standing ovations all over the world. As an acclaimed singer-songwriter, he has and written and released his latest CD Heartstrings debuting at #18 on the iTunes Pop Album Chart. As the first blind finalist on “American Idol,” MacIntyre was called “an inspiration to the entire world” by former judge Paula Abdul. In 2005, he received the coveted Marshall and UK Fulbright scholarships and was ranked by USA Today as one of the top twenty undergraduate seniors in the nation. He then graduated ASU Summa Cum Laude at nineteen, going on to receive a masters degree overseas in England at Royal Holloway, University of London and the Royal College of Music. During his time overseas, MacIntyre was invited back to the US to be received in the Whitehouse by First
Lady, Laura Bush as one of three national RFB&D scholarship winners. He was accepted to both Oxford and Cambridge Universities for further graduate study in the UK.
The events of April 12 will begin at 9:30am with hands on activities with musical instruments, theater activities, art activities and dance for special education students. The students will then be treated to a performance at 11am. In addition, there will be four art exhibits created by children with disabilities representing various workshops that VSA Tennessee has recently offered. At 1pm, the Nashville Symphony will offer a workshop connecting the arts to core literacy concepts. The hands on activities will open up again for the general public at 5:30pm with the public performance at 7pm.
Sponsors for the 10 year anniversary are: The National Endowment for the Arts, The National offices of VSA, CVS/Caremark, The Tennessee Arts Commission, The National Arts and Disability Center at the University of California Los Angeles, The Memorial Foundation, Publix Supermarket Charities, First Tennessee Bank, Ozburn-Hessey Logistics and Harman.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:22:26 GMT -5
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center will offer audio description and American Sign Language for the Sunday matinee of CATS on April 3, 2011.
CATS
Sunday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m.; audio description notes begin at 12:40.
Anticipated Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.
Braille and large-print programs are available.
Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical among dozens of honors, the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber ran for 21 years in London and for 18 years in New York, where it became the second longest-running show in Broadway history.
If you make your reservations through Rick Forshee or the TDD line, you can pick up your tickets at the "headset" table between the waterfall and elevators instead of the Box Office Counter
Harriet Harms and Karla Kelso will provide American Sign Language. Beth Crabb will provide audio description.
Regular ticket prices range from $32.50 in the rear balcony to $63.00 in the orchestra. Buy your tickets as soon as possible for the best choice of seats. Tickets in accessible row P of the tier are $47.50
To purchase tickets by telephone, call 615-782-4000 and ask for Rick Forshee between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The number for TPAC’s TDD line for deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons is 615-782-6562. It is answered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CATS is based on Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939), which the composer recalled as having been a childhood favorite. The songs of the musical comprise Eliot's verse set to music by the composer, the principal exception being the most famous song from the musical, "Memory," for which the lyrics were written by Trevor Nunn after an Eliot poem entitled "Rhapsody on a Windy Night". An unusual musical in terms of its construction, the overture incorporates a fugue and there are occasions when the music accompanies spoken verse. The set, consisting of an oversized junk yard, remains the same throughout the show without any scene changes. Lloyd Webber's musical genres range from classical to pop, music hall, jazz, rock and electro-acoustic music as well as hymnal songs such as "The Addressing of Cats". Hope to see you soon at TPAC!
Meanwhle, mark your calendars for these upcoming shows:
2011 Audio Description and ASL at TPAC 1:00 Sunday matinee
Young Frankenstein, Sunday, May 15
Les Miserables, Sunday, May 22
The Color Purple, Sunday June 26
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:23:59 GMT -5
After Two Decades, Change Coming To ADA By Michelle Diament (March 15, 2011) For the first time in more than 20 years, regulations governing the Americans with Disabilities Act are getting a major overhaul. Starting Tuesday, new rules go into effect covering everything from building design to what qualifies as a service animal. Notably, the new ADA regulations will include first-ever accessibility requirements for swimming pools, parks, golf courses, boating facilities, exercise clubs and other recreational facilities. What’s more, going forward, only trained dogs will be eligible for use as service animals. While service dogs can provide a wide range of assistance for people with mental or physical disabilities, they must help with issues directly related to the person’s disability and offer more than “emotional support” under the new rules. The revised regulations also set standards for the use of wheelchairs versus other mobility devices like Segways and provide guidance on selling tickets for accessible seating at entertainment venues and reserving hotel rooms. “The new rules usher in a new day for the more than 50 million individuals with disabilities in this country,” said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for civil rights. “The rules will expand accessibility in a number of areas.” While the regulations take effect Tuesday, businesses get some leeway. Only buildings constructed or altered after March 15, 2012 will have to comply with the new accessibility requirements. For more details: www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:24:48 GMT -5
NADD 28th Annual Conference & Exhibit Show
Building Partnerships for Successful Service Systems: “You’ve got to have Friends” (ID/MH)
November 2-4, 2011
Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:31:04 GMT -5
Bluegrass Bands Helping Hands Announce Volume 3 CD to Benefit "Miracle Field" Dalton, Georgia - March 28, 2011 Bluegrass Bands, Helping Hands organizers announce plans for a September 2011 release of their next bluegrass compilation music CD. The project will feature original acoustic roots based music with all tracks donated by the artists. The CD will be the 3rd volume of the Bluegrass Bands and Helping Hands series. Proceeds from the CD and the subsequent release party are designated to benefit The Miracle League Whitfield County (Georgia). The non-profit organization plans to build "The Miracle Field", a barrier free handicapped and wheelchair accessible baseball/softball field with a cushioned, rubberized playing surface. The ultimate goal of the organization is to establish a division of the Miracle League for children and adults from all over North Georgia and the surrounding states to participate in. "There are over 1,500 special needs students in Dalton and Whitfield County alone, with no handicap accessible field, yet we are reaching out to a much larger surrounding area to involve as many as possible" states Millie Hicks, Miracle League volunteer. " I am looking forward to being a proud fan as I see my daughter, Peyton, who has special needs, step up to the plate for the first time to take her turn as a player and team member, and not a spectator." The Miracle League Whitfield County hopes to raise $350,000 and throw the first pitch by the Spring of 2012. "Helping Hands" CD organizers Paul Byrum and T. J. Brown are anticipating that the CD release will help bring public awareness of The Miracle Field while providing a means for everyone to help improve the quality of life of children with special needs. Bluegrass and other acoustic roots musicians wishing to contribute professionally recorded compositions of original or public domain music may submit material for consideration by June 6th. Inquiries may be sent by email to bluegrassbandshelpinghands@gmail.com or Bluegrass Bands Helping Hands LLC, PO Box 6714 Dalton, Georgia 30722. For more information about The Miracle Field visit www.whitfieldcountyga.com/miracleleague/ |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:32:29 GMT -5
The Inclusion Solutions newsletter: This publication is provided electronically four times a year and is geared for educators. Parents may also gain information to help their child and child's teacher in school. Click here to view the Spring Inclusion Solutions edition. Anyone interested can receive Inclusion Solutions. Just email communications@dsamemphis.org and request to be added to the distribution. Would you like to learn more about the Down Syndrome Specialists? Go to www.dsamemphis.org/resourcesforeducators. Kelli Polatty Communications Manager Down Syndrome Association of Memphis & the Mid-South 2893 S. Mendenhall Rd., Ste. 3 Memphis, TN 38115 901-547-7588 office 901-547-7589 fax www.dsamemphis.orgSupporting and Empowering People with Down Syndrome & Their Families The Down Syndrome Association of Memphis & the Mid-South provides this email distribution for informational purposes only. DSAM cannot guarantee the accuracy of information sent to us by external providers. |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:33:32 GMT -5
Goalforit.com offers a variety of free interactive behavior and chore charts that are ideal visual learning solutions that can help children with disabilities develop skills that allow them to reach their full potential at home and in educational and community settings. In addition to being an intuitive visual learning tool, our charts make learning fun for children of all ages (there are chart solutions for kids, tweens and teens). I created Goalforit as a “passion project” for my own daughter, so the site is free to use and does not display any advertising ...I created it as a way to try and "pay it forward". You can view our Behavior Charts here: www.goalforit.com/behavior-charts.htmlYou can view our Chore Charts here: www.goalforit.com/chore-chart.html In closing, thank you for you kind consideration. Michael Murdock |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:37:50 GMT -5
Calling All Tennessee Artists With Disabilities!
The Tennessee Disability MegaConference Steering Committee is proud to announce our 2011 Art Contest! Our conference theme this year is empowerment, inclusion, self-determination and choice.
A picture of the winning artwork, a picture of the artist and a short bio will be featured on the 2011 Program Booklet cover and on the Tennessee Disability MegaConference website <http://www.tndisabilitymegaconference.org>. The winning artist will also receive a complimentary exhibit table.
All artwork submitted will be displayed in the Exhibit Area June 2-3, 2011 during the MegaConference at the Nashville Airport Marriott.
High quality digital images (300 dpi) of your artwork must accompany the entry form and be emailed to: Lori Israel - lisrael@thearctn.org
The winning artist will be notified by April 4, 2011.
If you have any questions, please call Lori at 615-248-5878 or 800-835-7077 ext 22.
________________________________________________________________________
Lori Israel Phone: 615.248.5878 x 22 TF: 800.835.7077
The Arc of TN Fax: 615.248.5879
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:40:22 GMT -5
Grim report helps launch anti-bullying campaign in defense of disabled By Erika Dimmler, CNN
March 16, 2011 4:17 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS:
· A new anti-bullying campaign launches on Capitol Hill
· The campaign is especially in defense of disabled children
· Special needs children are 2 to 3 times more likely to be bullied, a report says
Washington (CNN) -- Schools, parents, teachers and educators can no longer afford to turn a blind eye when it comes to the bullying of American children, and particularly for those children who happen to be disabled.
That was the message Wednesday at the launch of an anti-bullying campaign on Capitol Hill Wednesday that included the release of a report published by abilitypath.org, Best Buddies, and the Special Olympics. The report, entitled "Walk A Mile In Their Shoes," details some of the heart-wrenching injustices that many special needs children endure at the hands of their peers.
The statistics are grim. According to Rep. Jackie Speier, D-California, special needs children are two to three times more likely to be bullied than the general student population. In addition, 85% of bystanders do nothing in response to bullying they witness. Fifty percent of special needs respondents reported being fearful of their peers.
Speier was joined by actress Lauren Potter, who plays special needs student Becky Jackson on the hit TV show "Glee." In a strong but emotional voice, Potter described the bullying that she endured in school, and spoke about the boys who thought they wouldn't get in trouble because she was "just a Downs girl."
"But this Downs girl spoke up," Potter said, referring to Down syndrome. "I'm here to tell you that enough is enough. I found my voice and I'm able to speak up for other kids."
Despite Potter's current celebrity, she is still not immune from bullying even today, having recently endured a spate of cyberbullying on her Facebook page. But this time, support from fans across the world was swift.
As her mother, Robin Sinkhorn, described it, "Within just a couple of minutes, people were writing wonderful remarks back...we had messages saying, 'France has your back,' 'England has your back,' 'Australia has your back,' 'New Zealand has your back.' And everywhere around the country, everyone had Lauren's back."
Sinkhorn concluded by emphasizing the importance of "zero tolerance" for bullying, not just by using prevention programs, but also by increasing awareness.
"We can no longer turn the other cheek. We can no longer expect someone else to take care of it. When we look at 85% -- that number of 85% -- of people who just stand by and do nothing because they don't want to get involved, we have to get involved."
Among the organizations behind the report and the new campaign, abilitypath.org describes itself as "a unique online community for professionals and parents of children with special needs." On its website, Best Buddies describes itself as "a nonprofit ...organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Special Olympics, on its website, says, "For more than four decades, Special Olympics has been bringing one message to the world: people with intellectual disabilities can and will succeed if given the opportunity."
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:41:51 GMT -5
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:49:43 GMT -5
New from the Institute on Community Integration LEND FACT SHEETS ON CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR, AUTISM - The Minnesota LEND, a partner center of ICI, has published the two series of fact sheets, one on challenging behaviors and the other on autism spectrum disorders. Titles currently available are: - What is Challenging Behavior? - Request Assistance - Choice-Making - Preferred Item as a Distracter - Communicative Alternatives to Challenging Behavior - Functional Behavioral Assessment of Young Children - High-Probability Request Sequence and Embedding - Rejecting Response - Request for a Break - Tolerance for Delay of Reinforcement - What are Autism Spectrum Disorders? Cost: Free. Available only on the Web (in PDF format) at lend.umn.edu/resources/index.asp |
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:51:45 GMT -5
www.ldonline.org/article/5598Helping Children with Learning Disabilities Understand What They Read By: Regina G. Richards (2008) In this article: Basic strategies and techniques Vocabulary development Specific comprehension strategies
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 28, 2011 14:53:30 GMT -5
www.tndisability.org/news/2011/03/14/free_copy_book_choice_family_voicesFree Copy of "The Book of Choice" from Family Voices Submitted by Todd Hash on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 1:06pm. in · Family Voices "The Book of Choice is a wonderful expression of what we know to be true: parents sharing directly with other parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing bring an essential kind of hope, inspiration and empowerment. This book is an amazing resource that captures that unique quality, and opens our minds to broader, more holistic views of parenting a child with hearing loss. It’s just the kind of thing you’d expect from Hands & Voices." - Christine Yoshinaga-Itano, PhD. Do you have a child who is deaf or Hard of Hearing? What communication method(s) do you use? Would you like to talk to other parents who can give you information on different methodolgies that are available? Contact a Newborn Hearing Parent Consultant in your area that you can talk with and to receive a free copy of The Book of Choice: Support for Parenting a child who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. *Also Available in Spanish* West Tennessee Jennifer Williams Phone: 731-697-4683 Email: Jenny_W@tndisability.org Middle Tennessee Tonya Bowman Cell Phone: 615-390-2035 Office Phone: 615-515-8626 Email: Tonya_B@tndisability.org East Tennessee Camille Keck Phone: 865-310-0695 Email: Camille_K@tndisability.org Or call 1-888-643-7811 Download a book flyer in PDF (same content as the blog post): www.tndisability.org/system/files/u1/Book_of_Choice_flyer.txtDownload a book flyer in text only (same content as the blog post) Family Voices of Tennessee part of a national grassroots network of families and friends speaking on behalf of children with special health care needs.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Mar 30, 2011 10:22:08 GMT -5
Disability Law Handbook is Now Available Online The Southwest ADA Center is pleased to announce the availability of the Disability Law Handbook now in Spanish, as well as English. The Disability Law Handbook is written in "Frequently Asked Questions" format and answers questions about the ADA, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments. Get the English Version: mk1.netatlantic.com/t/11208132/8696096/39949/0/Get the Spanish Version: mk1.netatlantic.com/t/11208132/8696096/99154/0/ |
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