Article on Stuttering from CNN

Here is an article from CNN on new research into what causes stuttering.

Information for Prospective Educators and Providers

A link to the National Center to Improve Recruiting and Retention of Qualified Personnel for Children With Disabilities Website has been posted to the BEI web page, which you can access by clinking HERE. The Center's website provides information to help prospective educators and providers explore special education related careers.

Interesting CNN article

Discusses evidence that Early Intervention in children with autism is effective . . . . .

"A Trip to Holland" by Emily Perl Kingsley

A Trip to Holland

by Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this . . .

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans . . . the Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, Gondolas. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. After several months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go.

Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland!" "Holland?" you say. "What do you mean, Holland? I signed up for Italy. I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place of pestilence, famine, and disease. It's just a different place.

So, you must go out and buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place. It's slower paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy.

But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around. You begin to notice that Holland has windmills. Holland has tulips. And Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that experience will never, ever, ever go away. The loss of that dream is a very signifcant loss.

But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

Announcement: Interagency Task Force on Autism Survey

The New York State (NYS) Interagency Task Force on Autism, sponsored by the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, is seeking input on the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families. As a member of the Task Force, the New York State Department of Health encourages individuals with ASD, parents, other family members, non-profit providers, professionals, advocates, and other interested parties to complete the survey. This brief online survey seeks your opinions regarding which services are most important for meeting the needs of individuals with ASD and their families and which activities related to autism NYS should make a priority. You may access the survey at https://app.expressemailmarketing.com/takesurvey.aspx?id=16666The due date for surveys is October 9, 2009. Feel free to share this information with other stakeholders.

CIGNA Autism Parent Education Series

CIGNA
2009-2010 Autism Parent Education Series

This series of telephone seminars will help you better understand physical, mental, and emotional growth in children who may display symptoms of developmental disorders like Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

The seminars are free, and there is no registration required. They are open to any parent or caregiver interested in learning more about Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders. You can attend any or all seminars.

TOPICS:
The PDD spectrum: What are Autism and Asperger's Syndrome?
September 17, 2009
8:00-9:00 pm EST

My child is autistic - Where do I go from here?
October 22, 2009
8:00-9:00 pm EST

Stress on families with a PDD-diagnosed child
November 12, 2009
8:00-9:00 pm EST

Sibling issues in a PDD family
December 17, 2009
8:00-9:00 pm EST

Tips for daily family life - Haircuts, hygiene, and doctor's visits
January 14, 2010
8:00-9:00 pm EST

Making friends/play dates - Helping your child connect to the outside world
February 11, 2010
8:00-9:00 pm EST

Safety concerns and self-injurious behavior
March 11, 2010
8:00-9:00 pm EST

Caregiver relief: Ways to take care of yourself while taking care of your PDD-diagnosed child
April 15, 2010
8:00-9:00 pm EST

Planning for summer: Routine changes and activities
May 13, 2010
8:00-9:00 pm EST

Seminars will be given by health advocates from the CIGNA Autism team. To listen to a seminar, call toll-free 1.888.892.6703 at the scheduled time. When prompted for a passcode, enter 164265.

Please note, these are general information seminars. If you have specific questions, please contact a health advocate by calling 1.800.274.7603.

Can’t make the seminar but still want the information? Seminars will be available by podcast after the live presentations. Please visit: www.itstimetofeelbetter.com/know_stuff/audio

NEW Online Mandated Reporter Training

Mandated reporters can participate in this 2-hour web-based online training course at any time, 24/7. Once you begin, you will have 30 days to complete the course. In this Flash-based learning application, the existing OCFS curriculum was divided into smaller, more manageable sections. This allows users to save their progress at the end of each section--so they can complete it at their own pace, either in one sitting, or in multiple sessions. Users who log out after completing a section will automatically be returned to the end of their last completed section when they log back on to the training site. The course features interactive exercises that are customized for the major disciplines: Social Services, Education, Law Enforcement, Child Day Care and Medical. The course also addresses definitions, indicators, and how to make a report to the State Central Register. The application is full narrated and includes taped video segments that enhance the learning points. This course meets the New York State Education Department mandatory requirements for Training in Child Abuse Identification and Reporting.

Please click HERE to visit the website.