Spring - Families Helping Families
Transcription
Spring - Families Helping Families
The Capital Area Quarterly The Capital Area Quarterly Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge Spring Newsletter—April thru June 2015 Spring Newsletter—April thru June 2015 We have been receiving tremendous support from the community for this year’s Active for Autism. If you have not yet registered or started a team, it’s not too late! You can find lots more information regarding Active for Autism inside this issue of “The Capital Area Quarterly.” TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Executive Director Pages 4-5 Summer Camp List Pages 18-20 Register at www.fhfgbr.org Read this newsletter online, share it with friends or save the PDF for future reading. Spring Community Calendar Page 39 Page 2 The Capital Area Quarterly EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jamie S. Tindle jamietindle@fhfgbr.org OFFICE MANAGER Kayley Williams kwilliams@fhfgbr.org ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/MARKETING SPECIALIST Tyler Trahan ttrahan@fhfgbr.org CHILDREN’S SPECIAL HEALTH SERVICES Kay Lewis, CSHS Parent Liaison and Ability Awareness Coordinator klewis@fhfgbr.org INFORMATION, RESOURCE AND REFERRAL Kimberly Brown, Information, Resource and Referral Supervisor & Lending Library Organizer kbrown@fhfgbr.org Kevira Johnson, Information, Resource and Referral Specialist kjohnson@fhfgbr.org OUR MISSION To provide the individualized services, information, resources and support needed to positively enhance the independence, productivity and integration of persons with disabilities into the community. BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRPERSON Tanja Foil VICE CHAIR Sharon Whitlow TREASURER Michelle Garbiras SECRETARY Gay Ellis DIRECTORS INCLUSIVE EDUCATION Cynthia Chesterfield, Program Director cchesterfield@fhfgbr.org Kara Shupe, Educational Support Specialist kshupe@fhfgbr.org EARLYSTEPS Diane Pitts, Community Outreach Specialist dpitts@fhfgbr.org RESOURCE CENTER FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS Teresa Wilson, Program Director twilson@fhfgbr.org Penni Cedotal, Autism Resource Specialist pcedotal@fhfgbr.org Emily Boudreaux Belynda Gauthier Katrina Coots Latoya Hawkins Carly Dickson Thomas Sellers Kathy Edmonston Sirena Brock Upcoming Board Meetings: 11:30am - 1:00pm @ FHFGBR Office May 20, 2015 **Board Meetings are open to the public. Please Join Us! ** The Capital Area Quarterly Page 3 Page 4 The Capital Area Quarterly From the desk of the Executive Director Happy spring and summer everyone!! I hope you enjoy this edition of our Spring/Summer Newsletter! It is, as always, full of so many activities you can plan to attend for not only yourself but your family and friends!! Of course we are spotlighting our 6th Annual Active for Autism as this is by far our biggest FUN event and fundraiser of the year. Thank you all so very much for making all of our events better than the one before. It is because of YOU that we continue forward with enthusiasm and vigor!! Serving and supporting other families is truly why we do what we do every day. Recently our family experienced an event that I had honestly given up on. After nearly 20 years of being undiagnosed, my son Alex received a definitive diagnosis. This diagnosis doesn’t change what we’ve been doing to support Alex and meet his needs and I thought that it wouldn’t affect me either. However, emotionally it did and it’s taken a few weeks to absorb and understand this rare and unusual syndrome. In a small way I suddenly (but temporarily) felt fearful again and yes even shed a few tears. I shared with a dear friend of mine these mixed-up emotions I was feeling. She gently and simply said, “Jamie, think of it as a wound that had nearly healed and you scraped it; opening the wound again. Don’t worry. It will heal again.” Well, she was right. Things are better and now I’m learning all I can about this new chapter of our lives. One morning while driving to work my thoughts traveled back to when this journey first started with Alex. Slowing moving forward to the first time I heard about Families Helping Families (FHF) then fast-forward to when I actually became connected to other families through Partners in Policymaking in 1999. During the 9 month course of Partners in Policymaking I was introduced to the reading following this writing called “Welcome to Holland”. I remembered how much this reading touched my life and explained so well to me how a family often feels when they are given a child that is different than what they envisioned having. At that moment I clearly realized that there is a plan much greater than “my” plan and how incredibly grateful I am for each and every step I’m given the opportunity to take. I’m sure a lot of families remember “Welcome to Holland” but there are new families joining this world that we share every day and my hope would be they too might enjoy their unplanned destination more by my sharing this reading with them. May everyone have a blessed Easter and enjoyable summer!! Sincerely, The Capital Area Quarterly Page 5 Page 6 The Capital Area Quarterly We are expecting a bigger and better Active for Autism this year, and that is matched with the volunteers that help us make it that way. If you, your family, and friends are interested in being a bigger piece of the puzzle for this year’s Active for Autism, please contact Kayley Williams at the FHFGBR office to sign up!! 225-216-7474 Thank you to all the school districts taking the step to support us in our efforts for Autism Awareness! These districts have agreed to form teams, have dress down days, publicize, or other things to spread the word and get ACTIVE for Autism!! Special Thanks To: Ascension Parish East Baton Rouge Parish Pointe Coupee Parish West Baton Rouge West Feliciana Parish Livingston Parish City of Central The Capital Area Quarterly Page 7 Page 8 The Capital Area Quarterly The Capital Area Quarterly Page 9 Page 10 The Capital Area Quarterly Resource Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders The Resource Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (RCASD) is a program of Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge. We are a family-driven resource center for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. RCASD can help you and your family! We offer three core services to individuals with Autism and their families: information and referral; education and training; and family-to-family support. To best serve you, we have a variety of in-house resources, workshops and trainings. At the Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge center, we have a lending library full of books, DVDs, CDs and local community resource information specifically targeted towards assisting those with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. Our very popular Boardmaker software program enables families to create unlimited communication and educational materials using Picture Communication Symbols (PCS). Most importantly, the staff at FHFGBR offers ongoing peer-support from other family members who share the unique understanding of caring for a loved one with a disability such as Autism Spectrum Disorders. To find out about all of our workshops and trainings we are having in the next few months, make sure to register for our eblasts at www.fhfgbr.org and check out the calendar of events at the end of this newsletter. Keep on the lookout for a featured story about Active for Autism in the April issue of Blush Magazine!! Thank you to Blush Magazine for contributing their beautiful talent!! www.blush-magazine.com Page 11 The Capital Area Quarterly Iberville Parish Pointe Coupee Parish City of Port Allen Ascension Parish Livingston Parish FHFGBR has had a busy, yet productive March in getting autism awareness out into the community. We are delighted to say that more and more communities in the Greater Baton Rouge area are recognizing April as Autism Awareness Month. Proclamation sessions have included representatives from FHFGBR going to explain autism awareness and how FHFGBR plays a role in it. Some sessions have even included personal testimonies by letters or presentations from families that have been affected by autism. Thank you to all of the city officials and councils representing each location that has agreed to recognize Autism Awareness Month! On behalf of Mayor Jr. Shelton and the City of Central, We would like to invite everyone to Central’s proclamation ceremony recognizing April as Autism Awareness Month. April 14, 2015 Central High School Auditorium 6:00 pm Page 12 The Capital Area Quarterly The Capital Area Quarterly Page 13 Page 14 The Capital Area Quarterly Faces of Autism Would you like your loved one to be included in the Faces of Autism Wall for Active for Autism 2015? This is such a beautiful chance to bring awareness to the community!! Send the consent form and a photo to kshupe@fhfgbr.org Faces of Autism Consent Form On Saturday March 14th the Cinderella Project held a very special dress giveaway for young ladies with disabilities. The compassion shown to these young ladies allowing them to shop and not be over whelmed by the crowd is greatly appreciated! The Capital Area Quarterly Page 15 Page 16 The Capital Area Quarterly The Capital Area Quarterly Page 17 Coming Soon!! Speech Language Pathologist Lois Jean Brady wrote this book in order to educate parents, teachers, and other professionals about the breakthrough method she calls “iTherapy”—which is the use of Apple products (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) and various apps (computer applications) in meeting students’ individual educational goals. Lois Jean Brady, M.A., CCC-SLP shares important tips on how to use apps responsibly and effectively by maintaining a child-centered, team approach to teaching and learning, taking into account the individual’s interests, strengths/challenges, vision, motor planning, attention, sensory processing, memory, cognitive ability, environment, and access to tools. Lois also coaches adults on how they can use prompting and reinforcement techniques to help establish and generalize skills learned, until students are able to consistently demonstrate the skills in various environments (home, school, etc.). You will be astonished and excited by the number of apps available, and the vast variety of issues they can address: Voice Output Sign Language One-Touch Switch Text-to-Speech Articulation Encouragement Listening and Auditory Processing Language Comprehension Vocabulary Concept Development Video Modeling Social Skills Group Activities Eye Contact and Body Language Page 18 The Capital Area Quarterly 2015 Summer Camps CAMP LOCATION DATE & TIME REGISTRATION CONTACT BREC Camp Sunshine (Ages 6-12) Kathy Drive Park 1801 Kathy Drive June 1 - July 24 Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm March 2 BREC Interactive Room 6201 Florida Blvd (225)272-9200 ext. 572 or 557 jlopex@brec.org or kaguillard@brec.org BREC Camp Sunshine (Ages 13-16) Independence Community Park June 1 - July 24 Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm March 2 BREC Interactive Room 6201 Florida Blvd (225)272-9200 ext. 572 or 557 jlopex@brec.org or kaguillard@brec.org BREC Camp Sunshine Club (Ages 17-25) Milton J. Womack Park 6201 Florida Blvd June 1 - July 24 Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm March 2 BREC Interactive Room 6201 Florida Blvd (225)272-9200 ext. 572 or 557 jlopex@brec.org or kaguillard@brec.org Camp Rainman Children with Autism ages 10-up Clara Springs Camp in Pelican, La (Shreveport) June 9 – June 12 12:00pm February 1 via email/chapter website below: www.autism-society.org/chapter581 Camp Friendship Paradise Manor Country Club 529 Sauve Road River Ridge, La 70123 July 27 – July 31 9:00am – 3:00pm Mail applications by June 1st Cindy Barrios (504)737-5181 campdir@sbgno.org 292 L. Beauford Drive Anacoco, LA 71403 Please call for session Visit www.lionscamp.org 1-800-348-0802 Children with Special Care Needs (Ages 6-15) LSU School of Medicine New Orleans, LA May 18 – May 22 8:00am – 4:00pm Visit www.lsuhsc.edu/camptiger/ Med Camps of La Camp Rolling Thunder Camp Alabama 2090 Hwy 145 Choudrant, LA 71227 June 14 – June 19 2 weeks prior to camp session Children with Spina Bifida Louisiana Lions Camp Camp Tiger Children with Spina Bifida and Orthopedic Conditions Alice or Vickie camprainman@gmail.com Nicolette Ruzicka (225)276-3168 Dr. Joe Delcarpio (504)568-4874 1(877)282-0802 www.medcamps.org Page 19 The Capital Area Quarterly CAMP Med Camps of La Camp Rough Riders Children with Cerebral Palsy Med Camps of La Camp Kandoo Children ages 6-12 with developmental disabilities Med Camps of La Camp Easy Breeze LOCATION Camp Alabama 2090 Hwy 145 Choudrant, LA 71227 DATE & TIME July 12 – July 17 REGISTRATION CONTACT 2 weeks prior to camp session 1(877)282-0802 www.medcamps.org Camp Alabama 2090 Hwy 145 Choudrant, LA 71227 July 5 – July 10 2 weeks prior to camp session 1(877)282-0802 www.medcamps.org Camp Alabama 2090 Hwy 145 Choudrant, LA 71227 June 21 – June 26 2 weeks prior to camp session 1(877)282-0802 www.medcamps.org Camp Alabama 2090 Hwy 145 Choudrant, LA 71227 June 28 – June 30 2 weeks prior to camp session 1(877)282-0802 www.medcamps.org Camp Alabama 2090 Hwy 145 Choudrant, LA 71227 July 19 – July 24 2 weeks prior to camp session 1(877)282-0802 www.medcamps.org Camp Alabama 2090 Hwy 145 Choudrant, LA 71227 July 26 – July 31 2 weeks prior to camp session 1(877)282-0802 www.medcamps.org Camp Alabama 2090 Hwy 145 Choudrant, LA 71227 July 26 – July 31 2 weeks prior to camp session 1(877)282-0802 www.medcamps.org Camp Alabama 2090 Hwy 145 Choudrant, LA 71227 June 7 – June 12 2 weeks prior to camp session Location: TBA Monday-Friday 7:30am – 2:30pm www.laso.org Johnny Braud 1-800-345-6644 jbraud@laso.org www.campblessing.org Visit website or call Glen and Laura Elder (281)259-5789 or (713)724-0021 Children with Asthma Med Camps of La Camp Busy Bee Retreat Retreat for children with autism joined by a parent Med Camps of La Camp Little Giants Children with Sickle Cell Med Camps of La Camp Big Hearts Children with hearing/speech/vision impairments Med Camps of La Camp Shining Stars Children with epilepsy/ seizure disorders Med Camps of La Camp Smiling Suns Children ages 13-16 with developmental disability Camp Shriver (Ages 10-up) Persons with Intellectual disabilities Camp Blessing (Ages 7-up) Persons primarily with a diagnosis of a physical or intellectual disability Tomball, Texas 1(877)282-0802 www.medcamps.org director@campblessing.org Page 20 The Capital Area Quarterly CAMP LOCATION DATE & TIME REGISTRATION CONTACT Capable Arts Camp First United Methodist Church 930 North Blvd. June 1 – June 5 1:00pm – 4:00pm Visit McMains Children’s Developmental Center website Anne Hindrichs (225)923-3420 or “Under the Sea” (Ages 6-18) For children with disabilities and their siblings (ages (Downtown Baton Rouge) ahindrichs@m cmainscdc.org 6-12) McMains Children’s Developmental Center “Summer Steps” Math & Reading Remediation (Ages 6-8) McMains Children’s Developmental Center “Summer Steps” Study Skills Group (Ages 8-10) McMains Children’s Developmental Center McMains Children’s Developmental Center Please call for session information Visit McMains Children’s Developmental Center website Session 1: June 1-26 Session 2: July 6-31 Please call for session information Visit McMains Children’s Developmental Center website Session 1: June 8-26 Session 2: July 13-31 I-LEEAD/Deaf Focus Kidz Kamp Camp Istrouma Greenwell Springs, LA June 12-14 Paula G. Manship YMCA Autism Day Camp Paula G. Manship YMCA Please call or visit website for session information Anne Hindrichs (225)923-3420 or ahindrichs@mc mainscdc.org Anne Hindrichs (225)923-3420 or ahindrichs@mc mainscdc.org Visit http://www.deaffocus.com/#!kidz -kamp Juliet Barbin (225)341-6398 or Juliet@deaffocus.com Visit For more info call (225)767-9622 www.ymcabatonrouge.org/ Programs/camp The Capital Area Quarterly Page 21 Page 22 The Capital Area Quarterly The Capital Area Quarterly Page 23 Page 24 The Capital Area Quarterly Early Steps What is the EarlySteps Program? Earlysteps is Louisiana’s Early Intervention System for children with disabilities and developmental delays ages birth to three and their families. By providing resources and support during those critical years, Earlysteps helps children get off to a great start. Anyone can refer a child to EarlySteps If you know of a child that would benefit from receiving services from EarlySteps please call 225-925-2426. It’s never too soon to ask questions about your baby’s development. Who is eligible? Children with medical conditions likely to cause disability or developmental delay , or with delays in the following areas, may be eligible: physical development, cognitive development, social and emotional development, adaptive development and/or communication. Services Provided by Early Steps: Audiology Speech-Language Therapy Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Special Instruction Assistive Technology Service Coordination Nutrition services Health Services Nursing Services Vision Services Medical Evaluations Family Training Transportation Psychological Services Social Work services We would like to invite you to our RICC and SICC meetings. State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) The mission of the SICC is to work in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, in an advisory capacity, to design and oversee the implementation of a family-centered, community-based, comprehensive, interagency service delivery system for infants and toddlers (birth through two) who are eligible for Part C services, and their families. The SICC meets quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month. All meetings are open to the public and held in accordance with the Louisiana Open Meeting Laws. The Next Meeting will be held on April 8, 2015, 1pm to 3pm in the Claiborne Building at 1201 North Third Street in the LA Purchase Room. Parking is available in front. Regional Interagency Coordinating Council (RICC) The Regional Interagency Coordinating Council (RICC) is an essential component of the Part C early intervention system at the local level. The group’s membership includes family members of children with disabilities, as well as service providers, community leaders, and agency representatives. The RICC meets quarterly. All meetings are open to the public and are held in accordance with the Louisiana Open Meeting Laws. The next RICC meeting is June 25, 2015, 1pm to 3pm at the Capital Area Human Services District Building. 4615 Government St. Building 2 Rm 200A. Questions? Contact Diane Pitts, Community Outreach Specialist, at 225-216-7474 or dpitts@fhfgbr.org Earlysteps is currently recruiting Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Sing Language Interpreters. For more information, contact Valencia Allen at Valencia.Allen@la.gov or 225-925-7090. The Capital Area Quarterly Page 25 Page 26 The Capital Area Quarterly Children’s Special Health Services Children’s Special Health Services (CSHS) is a program for children in Louisiana with special health care needs. A child with special needs is: A child with a health problem that affects how the child grows, moves and acts, AND A child who needs more health services than most other children. CSHS gives a child with special needs health care that is sensitive to his or her family and culture. They hold clinics around the state at health units where specialists come to see the children. Within CSHS the family will have access to the doctors’ nurse, a social worker, a nutritionist and a parent liaison that has a child with special health care needs. Our regions parent liaison is Kay Lewis-Caron and she can be reached at klcaron@la.gov or 225-242-4890 x 295 . Who can get help from CSHS? A child can get help from CSHS if he or she: Lives in Louisiana Is less than 21 years old Has a health problem that CSHS covers Has Medicaid OR meets CSHS income rules To get help from CSHS, a parent can apply at a local health unit, ask their pediatrician or get an application on line. http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=256 State wide number is 504-568-5055 or our local Region 2 number is 225-242-4890 There will be a presentation on “Get Familiar with Disability/Waiver Services” at Hope Academy on May 2nd! This presentation will be conducted by our very own Kay Lewis. Flyer and time will be announced by the academy. The Capital Area Quarterly Page 27 Page 28 The Capital Area Quarterly The Capital Area Quarterly Page 29 Page 30 The Capital Area Quarterly Basic Summer Heat Safety Tips! The Capital Area Quarterly Page 31 Page 32 The Capital Area Quarterly The Capital Area Quarterly Page 33 Page 34 The Capital Area Quarterly The Capital Area Quarterly Page 35 Page 36 The Capital Area Quarterly Jamie Tindle and Katie LeBlanc (student & advocate at Tara High School) co-presented Disability Awareness information to Ms. Durham’s class at Tara High School. The presentation was very interactive with the students having an open discussion and time for Q & A at the end. Katie LeBlanc was recognized as a student volunteer and advocate for FHFGBR and those with disabilities by receiving a FHFGBR pin to wear with pride. The Capital Area Quarterly Page 37 Page 38 The Capital Area Quarterly The Capital Area Quarterly Page 39 Inner Wheel Attic Trash and Treasure Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge would like to extend a HUGE thank you to all who donated, volunteered, or bought items at the Attic Trash and Treasure Sale that took place at the beginning of March! It was a lot of hard work but we had a lot of fun along with it! We are absolutely enthused to say that this was a record breaking year for this annual sale, and it was because of all the support from the community. The future is looking very bright for FHFGBR! THANK YOU!!! Page 40 The Capital Area Quarterly Page 41 The Capital Area Quarterly FHFGBR Spring/Summer Calendar Date and Time Event Location Office Closed FHFGBR Tuesday, April 7 2:00pm AFA Planning Committee Meeting LA State Police Independence Blvd. Wednesday, April 15 10:00am TOPSoccer Independence Park 7500 Independence Blvd. Friday, April 17 6:-00pm—9:-00pm Sunshine Social BREC Womack Ballroom 6201 Florida Blvd. Saturday, April 18 8:00am—12:00pm 6th Annual Active for Autism LA State Police Independence Blvd. Wednesday, April 22 10:00am—12:00pm Information and Resource Workshop FHFGBR Tuesday, April 28 10:00am—12:00pm Inclusive Recreational Activities Workshop FHFGBR Sunday, May 3 4:00pm—7:00pm Civitan Dance BREC Womack Ballroom 6201 Florida Boulevard Monday, May 11 5:30pm—6:30pm Healing Art Workshop FHFGBR Friday, May 15 6:00pm—9:00pm Sunshine Social BREC Womack Ballroom 6201 Florida Blvd. Saturday, May 16 10:00am TOPSoccer Burbank Soccer Complex 12400 Burbank Dr. Wednesday, May 20 11:30am—1:30pm Board of Directors Meeting FHFGBR Thursday, May 21 11:30am—1:00pm Helping Hands Support Group FHFGBR Monday, May 25 Office Closed FHFGBR Saturday, May 30 10:00am Sensory Sensitive Film Tomorrowland AMC Theatre 16 O’Neal Lane Saturday, May 30 7:30pm—10:00pm Friends and Family Luau Liberty Lagoon 111 Lobdell Ave. Thursday, June 11 11:30am—1:00pm Helping Hands Support Group FHFGBR Saturday, June 27 10:00am Sensory Sensitive Film—Inside Out AMC Theatre 16 O’Neal Lane Friday, April 3 “It’s who we are. It’s what we do.” FHFGBR receives partial funding from the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, Capital Area Human Services District, Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals as well as generous donations from families and our community. FHFGBR does not endorse or promote any legislation, institutions, individuals or methods of treatment or therapy. 2356 Drusilla Lane Baton Rouge | LA | 70809 225-216-7474 OFFICE CLOSURES The staff at Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge will be at home with their families and our office will be closed on the following days… April 3rd Good Friday May 25th Memorial Day DONATE NOW @ www.fhfgbr.org WHY DONATE TO FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES OF GREATER BATON ROUGE? Donations help us provide new & innovative programs that our existing funding sources do not cover. With constant budget cuts FHFGBR contracts are in jeopardy of being reduced. WHERE DO DONATIONS GO? To fulfill our mission of providing resources and the integration of person with disabilities. Donations support program events such as our Sunshine Socials, Annual Thanksgiving Celebrations and more. Click the “Donate Now” button on our website at www.fhfgbr.org or call our office to donate. Every amount is big to us & helps us to fulfill our mission and make a difference in promoting inclusion.