Summer Options for Youth

Presented by: Arcadia Institute and Partners

When: April 7, 2010

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where: Georgian Room

3299 Gull Road

Nazareth, MI 49074

Workshop Description:

How to structure community options for success and fun for youth with developmental

disabilities and serious emotional disturbance.

This course fulfills 2 of the 24-hour Children's training requirement.

Registration Information

Registration deadline is Friday, April 2, 2010 by 5:00 PM.

For questions contact Stephanie Thompson at 553-8143 or at:

sthompson@kazoocmh.org

Helping Families and Young Adults Protect Their Rights

Michigan
Family-to-Family
Health Information & Education Center
Helping Families and Young Adults Protect Their RightsTraining
April 13, 2010
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Van Buren ISD
490 Paw Paw Street
Lawrence, Michigan 49064

This workshop is for anyone who wants to gain a basic
understanding of the complaint process including timelines and what someone could expect during the process for:
· Children's Special Health Care Services
· Community Mental Health Services
· Medicaid
· Special Education Services
Sessions provide information relative to what makes someone eligible and how to gain access to each system. Participants will be provided with resources for groups and organizations available to assist in protecting a client's rights.

Cost to attend is $10. Lunch will be provided. Scholarships may be available to families.

This program has been approved for 5 CE Hours by the Michigan Collaborative for Social Workers (Course Approval #012109-28) and .5 SBCEU's by the State Board Office of Certification Services. The cost for CE/SBCEU participants is $15. Checks or money orders should be made payable: SEMHA-F2FHIEC. Attendance for the entire day constitutes course completion and CE/SBCEU certificate award.
Register Online at www.bridges4kids.org/f2f Families may Call 1-800-359-3722

For more information or to request accommodations call 1-800-359-3722 For ADA procedures or grievances call MPAS at 1-800-288-5923.

Think Beyond the Label

Think Beyond the Label was formed to set the facts straight about hiring people with disabilities. They provide "expert tools and resources for businesses looking to evolve their workforce." You can visit there website at http://www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com/.

Project Search

Project Search: 1 year school-to-work program for youth with developmental disabilities

NAA applauds Congress for Passing Federal Legislation to End Abusive Restraint and Seclusion in Schools

NIXA, Mo., March 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the National Autism Association celebrated the passing of H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act, on Wednesday and those responsible for spearheading the bill. Congressman George Miller (D-CA) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced the federal legislation as a much-anticipated solution to the issues of unregulated restraint and seclusion in schools.

The bill, which passed 262-153, sets guidelines that allow physical restraint or locked seclusion only when there is imminent danger of injury. It bans restraint that restricts airflow, mechanical restraints such as strapping children to chairs or duct-taping body parts, mandates notification to parents, and prohibits behavior-controlling medications that aren't prescribed by doctors.

In January of 2009, a report from the Disability Rights Network spurred the May 2009 Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report that investigated hundreds of cases, including deaths from "mechanical compression to the chest," or "smothering." One schoolchild died from restraint following a seizure, another died from hanging himself in a seclusion room. Other cases included a four-year-old girl who was tied to a chair and abused, five children who were duct-taped to their desks, and a ten-year-old boy who was put in a seclusion room "75 times over a 6-month period for hours at a time for offenses such as whistling, slouching and hand-waving."

The report also revealed no federal laws regulating restraint and seclusion in schools, no laws in 19 states, and "widely divergent" laws in remaining states.

Although state laws have been nonexistent or inconsistent, many Republican lawmakers were not in favor of the bill. "One of our parents received a letter from their Republican Congressman that stated, 'The responsibility for ensuring that students are properly treated lies with state and local governments, as well as school boards. Therefore, I encourage you to contact your state and local officials regarding this matter.' But relying on States isn't keeping our children safe," explained National Autism Association Board member Leslie Phillips. "Our children are being abused and killed. This legislation is so necessary and actually provides resources to States. We're grateful for Congressman Miller's efforts and all who support this bill."

In addition to the legislation, NAA feels surveillance cameras in special education classrooms are imperative. "Many of our children are nonverbal and cannot communicate acts of abuse. Surveillance cameras will protect both schoolchildren and staff," stated NAA Executive Director Rita Shreffler.

To support the Senate companion bill, please visit NAA's Autism Action Center at http://naa.kintera.org/actioncenter

CONTACT: Lori McIlwain (Cary, NC) 919-741-1646
Wendy Fournier (Portsmouth, RI) 401-835-5828

SOURCE National Autism Association

All Kids Can!! Recreation Expo

We would like to invite you to visit our booth at the All Kids Can!! Recreation Expo. In this Expo, you can learn about all the camps, educational and recreational programs are available in our community for kids of all ages and abilities. Door prizes and scholarships will be given away.

Date: March 6^th, 2010

Place: Radisson Plaza Hotel in Downtown Kalamazoo

Time: 10 am to 2 pm

Price: Free

 

Sponsored by:

 

Parent to Parent of SW MI

Kalamazoo WRAPS

The Arcadia Institute Community Participation Initiative

Community Advocates