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Friday, April 30, 2010

2nd Annual Spring Luncheon




Spring is in the air and we are getting ready for our Second Annual Luncheon, which is going to be on May 13, 2010 at the Radisson Hotel in Downtown Kalamazoo. This year were going to have Johnnie Tuitel as our keynote speaker.


Johnnie Tuitel (pronounced title like a book) was born with cerebral palsy, and has used a wheelchair his entire life. He attended East Grand Rapids Public Schools where he was the first disabled student legally mainstreamed in the State of Michigan. His disability has never kept him down.


Johnnie loves making people laugh through his humorous and entertaining stories of life. He easily puts to rest any tensions that may arise because of the wheelchair and he makes his audience comfortable with his disability.


We are looking forward to meet him and learn about his term Handicapitalism(©) to learn a little bit more about it visit :


http://www.johnnietuitel.com/home.html


For more info on our 2nd Annual Luncheon click here :

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Community-Advocates-for-Persons-with-Developmental-Disabilities/307532964225?v=app_2373072738#!/event.php?eid=113088865397344&index=1



Tuesday, April 27, 2010

COMMENCEMENT CHALLENGE - VOTE FOR KALAMAZOO CENTRAL!!!!!


Kalamazoo Central is one of six high schools in the nation, and the only one in Michigan, selected to compete in the Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. During the next two weeks, the field will be narrowed to three schools, and then, one.

President Obama will speak at the commencement ceremony of the high school selected!!.

Today through Thursday, people across the country will be voting on videos created by each of the six high schools. I encourage you to participate and support the entry from Kalamazoo. Please link to the following site to cast your vote! http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement


The finalists were chosen from among hundreds of entries based on a number of measurements for improvement and success. This is already an extraordinary honor for K-Central, Kalamazoo Public Schools, our city, county and state.

Join us in voting for Kalamazoo in the Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.


Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Building a bridge between special-ed and regular students: Schoolcraft students share talents and good times in Common Bond program


By Alison Black Special to the Kalamazoo Gazette



It isn't always easy for special education students to feel connected to a school community through extracurricular activities.

At Schoolcraft High School, a student club named Common Bond has been making it easier for more than a decade.

Over 100 students — about one quarter of the high school's student body of approximately 400 — signed up last fall to join Common Bond, an extracurricular club that pairs regular and special education students in a variety of monthly activities and events.

More than 90 percent of the school's cognitively, developmentally and emotionally impaired students have joined mentor students this year in activities such as a trip to a local bowling alley, a video game and crafts night, and a magic show, said Common Bond founder and special education teacher Amy Green.

"I see the club as a win-win situation for both the challenged kids and the mentors because they all learn from each other," Green said.

The club gives special education students peers that they can relate to and feel comfortable around in classes or the hallways, Green said.

"For our mentors, all of us are out there in the real world know people who have challenges, and I think this experience brings a lot of compassion," Green said.

Carlee Stoker, a junior, has been a mentor in this "X-treme friendship club" since her freshman year. Stoker joined to spend time with a special education student with whom she has been friends since first grade.

"You always know you're going to have fun and you get to interact with unique people you might not have talked to," Stoker said.

"Sometimes, you have to talk to people and just kind of get them to do the things that we're all doing"--such as rock-climbing on a recent trip to Sherman Lake YMCA camp, Stoker said--"but it always works out."

Sophomore Riley Pressley, a second year club member, said that she enjoys eating lunch and spending time with club members outside of a classroom setting.

"I've learned a lot about the other challenge students in the (autistic instruction) room," Pressley said. "Challenge students can be fun to be around, too."

For some students, "some of their challenges are social skills, so this gives them a chance to practice being outside of class with others," Green said. "It's not just a good time -- it's a chance to interact."

Higher-functioning special education students often make the transition from mentee to mentor, Green said.

"They sign up just wanting to be a part of something, but when they get here, they end up stepping up, shining and evolving as mentors," Green said.

For Green, a constant challenge is funding: Common Bond was started with funds from a mini-grant awarded by the State of Michigan that has since dried up, and the club stays afloat with donations from parents and community organizations, Green said.

"The big question is always, 'How do we fund this?' I always say, 'Beg, borrow and pray,'" Green said.

Students pay what they can to participate in monthly activities, and club funds make up the balance where families have trouble. Often, parents will send double the amount needed for their own child's participation in order to help out another student, Green said.

On tap for the rest of this year: a miniature golf outing, another trip to Sherman Lake camp, and the annual "Senior Send-off" party to thank the club's seniors for their participation.

"It's just been kind of cool how the whole thing has evolved over the years," Green said.




© 2010 MLive.com. All rights reserved.






Resource link: http://www.mlive.com/living/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/04/building_a_bridge_between_spec.html







Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Real Spirit

Monday, April 19, 2010

Autism information subject of conference

--Awareness, community resources, intervention and parent and family issues regarding autism are topics of a conference Friday, April 23, on the campus of Western Michigan University.

WMU President John M. Dunn will deliver opening remarks for the free event at 3 p.m. in Room 2000 of Schneider Hall. Other speakers will follow, including:

  • Dr. Stephanie Peterson, WMU associate professor of psychology, who will give an overview and evidenced-based treatments for autism.
  • Dr. Diane Chugani, Wayne State University professor of pediatrics, who will speak on biological advances in understanding autism.
  • Brenda Gagie, teacher consultant for the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency Autism Program, who will talk about community resources for autism.
  • Dr. Bruce Mills, Kalamazoo College professor of English, who will give his perspective as the parent of a son diagnosed with autism.
  • Andrew Ackner, a Michigan native and noted presenter with autism, who will speak about his personal experiences.

The event is sponsored by WMU's Department of Psychology, Residential Opportunities Inc., the Autism Society of Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, KRESA and Parent to Parent of Southwest Michigan.

Free public parking is available next to Schneider Hall in Lots 72R and 72W.

For more information, contact Dr. Wayne Fuqua, chair of the Department of Psychology, at wayne.fuqua@wmich.edu or (269) 387-4474.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Respite Network Meeting

WHO:
families who have children/young adults who can't always be left home alone and who don't qualify for other respite services /can't find respite that matches their needs

WHAT: an informal get-together to start a respite community, a family to family support network

WHEN: April 29th at 7 pm

WHERE: ROI,1100 South Rose Street Kalamazoo MI 49001

INTERESTED? call Anna Miron at (269)343-2580 so we know how many people to expect

This is a meeting for people who would like to explore the option of creating a community where families both receive and provide respite by being there for each others' children as parents/caregivers get a chance to do something outside the home. The person who is helping would come to the home of the family who wants the respite- just like a "sitter" would. We would interview each other and introduce/help each other just like we would a "sitter", except there will be no pay, just an exchange of providing respite.

We will use this first meeting to introduce ourselves and to share what we are hoping to get out of this.

ROI is graciously letting us use their meeting room, but ROI is not the organizer of this meeting. I think this is worth exploring. If you do as well, please join us at ROI!

Anna Miron

Monday, April 5, 2010

Alternatives to Guardianship Presentation

When you have a loved one with a developmental disability there are a lot of decisions to make. It is very important to be informed on all the choices available regarding guardianship.


Lori West, Individual and Family Advocate will explore all the options and will speak about the importance of self determination and will help you decipher the language around Alternatives to Guardianship Issues.

Date:

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Time:

6:30pm - 8:00pm

Location:

Community Advocates Office

Street:

814 S. Westnedge Avenue

City/Town:

Kalamazoo, MI