Apps for Children.

During a seminar for iPads, 'Moms with Apps' was mentioned as a great place to get information. It apparently was started by 4 moms developing family-friendly apps. The site describes its concern for privacy and how apps are handled. The site also gives advice on how to review an app and how to manage an iPad. 'Moms with Apps' also has 'App Friday' promoting highlighted educational apps which are either free or heavily discounted. I chose a few to see if they were available on the iTunes store - some were and some were not, these I found by Googling the name and they were offered through other resources. I found, through their 'Jellybean Tunes App Report' books and games. They offer a separate category for 'Apps for Special Needs', some with demos to view, designed to help with speech/articulation, fine motor skills, reinforcement of behavior, imaginative play, etc. There are apps for children who are verbal and non-verbal. We are using 'Assistive Chat' for Will, which we downloaded from iTunes - he types out words and/or sentences and it has a verbal output for him so we hear what he typed. There are others using 'Prologuo2Go', also available on iTunes, which offers pictures to match up to words to communicate. Since we are talking about the iPad for the disabled, the site shares 40 iPad apps for the learning disabled, with a page for reviews for autism apps. They offer 10 tips for downloading family friendly apps: 1 - have a goal; 2 - try some free apps; 3 - if it is free, know why it is free; 3 - know your options under settings > general > restrictions; 4 - decode the iTunes app description & preview the app before 'hand off'; 5 - don't be shy: if you have questions contact the developer; 6 - learn how to 'party' with App Friday; 7 - read the news on the App Report; 8 - befriend the bundle (of apps); 9 - watch the stars (on their Banner Program); 10 - leave a review in iTunes for others to see. While it seems that the majority of apps are for young children, you can go to the "Appy Mall" for more advanced programs that include high school and college. Moms for Apps also encourages those developers of apps to work with them, offering a forums for developers and groups. They even offer advice for the best way to work with schools on their 'Collaborating with Schools' page: make educational content the most interesting part of your app; include multiuser functionality; provide progress reports through apps; give away accessories; educate your schools about events such as App Friday; provide materials to help integrate apps in the classroom; attend technology meetings at school; connect with the school's PTO/PTA. Definitely check out the Moms with App site for updated information and reviews.

The Ticket to Work Program.

For people 18 to 64 who are disabled, there is a program through SSA called 'Ticket to Work'. It is a free and voluntary program that gives social security recipients, disabled adults and young adults, work choices to create better lives.. I found out about this through a phone call I took for Willie, since he is non-verbal. It sounded good but Will had told a case worker from ORS that he was not interested in working but I think if he starts to get an income, he might change his mind. For more information, click here... (picture from the SSA website)

A Story of Love and Perseverance.

I read a great story that made me want to cry and almost made me ashamed of myself when I say I cannot do something. It was called 'Winning the Race' and it was in the latest issue from Sams Club, July/August 2013 Healthy Living. I found the Team Hoyt website which you should take a look at for a variety of reasons. For me it was a kick in the butt, just do what I need to do and not complain; it is inspirational; it is love. When Rick was born in 1962, his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, doctors said he would be a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. While the times then said to put him in an institution, his parents decided to raise him as they would any other child. There were struggles to get him into school but a group of engineers at Tufts University helped to build him a communication device after someone there made a joke and Rick started laughing. This interactive device allowed Rick to tap out letters - his first 'words' were 'Go Bruins'.

When Rick was 15 he told his dad, Dick, that he wanted to take part in a 5 mile run for a lacrosse player that was paralyzed from a accident. Dick then pushed his son's wheelchair through the race and finished next to last. As the story goes, at the end Rick typed out "Dad, when I am running, it feels like I'm not handicapped". Their next 10K race saw a change in the wheelchair - a lighter one with other modifications. They finished ahead of half of the 300 runners. According to Dick, Rick 'just loved to be in the middle of the runners - always had a big smile on his face with his hands up in the air'. While many applauded the team, others (those who had disabled family members) criticized them stating that Dad was looking for glory for himself. Yet, they kept going -- on to the Boston Marathon. There now is a bronze statue of them, they are the face of the Boston Marathon.

Team Hoyt has completed more than 1,000 distance races and triathlons, including 6 Ironman competitions. In 1992, they ran & biked across America in 45 days covering 3,735 miles. In 1989, The Hoyt Foundation was started to help America's disabled youth integrate into society and compete in endurance events; it has 20 chapters around the world. Oh, by the way -- Rick graduated from Boston University in 1993; it may have taken him 9 years to earn his degree in special education but he did it. As Dick said, "Our message became 'Yes You Can!' That has always been our motto with Rick. There isn't anything you can't do as long as you make up your mind to do it." (pictures from Team Hoyt website)

Checking out Adult Services.

I guess this will be, at this point anyway, just a stream of consciousness writing since I have not found any detailed advice in writing. Will and I are starting to check out local adult service providers for young adults with disabilities. Since I received his letter from the state specifying what level he is with funding for services, I thought we could start. I wanted to do this awhile ago but was told by someone from a state agency it was best to wait for this funding letter, which came from his SIS evaluation. That way the agency could see what they would need to work with him. I called a local place that has been around for years and I know people who work there and families who have had children there, and made an appointment. Then I started to think -- what do I ask about, what do we talk about?? Do I bring school information, like his IEP?? I started to look online at state offices that deal with these providers and could not find anything to guide me. So Will and I just went there and flew by the seat of our pants. FYI - take your child with you to gage reactions. Do they see anything that interests them, do they react one way or another to other people there or events going on, do they seem to want to stay or leave? I had a chance to talk to a woman I have known for a long time, who is the liason for families. Her son is there as well. I learned several things from her -- look at 3, 4, maybe even 5 places, just because they will see you and talk to you doesn't mean you will get in. The state is changing programs and may with hold funding until new plans are in place, so the agency may only be looking to deal with current placements. You cannot 'reserve' a spot - if you like a facility, you can petition the state to get in. Then there is more paperwork like doing educational, community involvement, and vocational plans and it may take 45 days or longer for an answer since plans may have to go back and forth to the state, if they need clarification or they don't like it. It is a good thing to start early, like at age 20 because it can be time consuming BUT they may not want to deal with you until the young adult is closer to 21. This facility was nice, Will just was not interested. Plus they are not taking new people at this time - just servicing their ccurrent population. As I continue to contact places, I am still looking for a 'guide' if you will, of things to ask and consider. I just hope that if I cannot find one, the next interviewers will be as forthcoming as the last. If anyone knows of such a 'guide' please let me know. Maybe I can put one together as we go around to different places.

A Very Special Olympics Ceremony Helped By The WWE.

As our local Special Olympics Summer Games have come and gone, with much fanfare by families and supporters, our special needs athletes now take a break until the fall. It was a beautiful day so the Olympic Village was active, busy with athletes dancing, singing, getting their vision, hearing and teeth checked. Sports massages were available to all; a stop our entire family makes each year - in fact Will almost fell asleep during his. There was pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers to eat, with an announcer constantly reminding athletes and guests to 'not forget to drink water' since it was a hot day. Our opening ceremonies were great as usual with the Parade of Athletes, military personnel honoring the flag, the very special motorcycle groups (usually over 1000 bikers) ushering in the torch runners - this part the kids love the best. The Connecticut Special Olympics Summer Games had a treat -- WWE stars Mark Henry and Big Show arrived for the Opening Ceremonies. Since the WWE is headquartered in Connecticut, they have partnered with Special Olympics to bring more attention to the group and the benefits of supporting them. No matter where the Special Olympics are, it is a great group to support - if you cannot make a monetary donation, consider becoming a coach or a volunteer the day of the Summer Games -- it does the heart good!! I have been told by many a person who has helped that they have gotten back so much more than they have given to the athletes.

(picture from WWE community)

'The Ideal School' - An Inclusion School.

(picture from The Ideal School website) I saw a piece on the 'Today Show' about a school in Manhattan called 'The Ideal School'. It is an independent/private school servicing Kindergarten to Grade 8. It professes team-teaching, small class sizes, low student-to-teacher ratios. One of its main proponents is that it is an inclusion school. Under its 'Zenith Program': The IDEAL School welcomes children with a wide range of abilities, and those students who need some additional support are part of our Zenith Program. The Zenith Program includes one-to-one or group sessions of speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, and/or academic support. As part of our team-teaching model, each student has a learning specialist in the classroom to make curricular adaptations. Therapists, co-teachers, specialists, and the Director of Learning Support all work together as a team to ensure that goals, curriculum, instruction, and support services are individualized to meet each child’s needs and carried over throughout the day. In keeping with our mission, students enrolled in the Zenith Program are fully included in the school program throughout the entire day. There is no pullout from whole class instruction. Services are provided during our unique Elective Program. All students leave the classroom during electives to attend various enrichment classes (such as drama or chess) or to receive individual or group support. As a result, students needing extra support are not singled out, stigmatized, or forced to miss important academic instruction. When appropriate, students can also participate in specialized electives, such as Play Group or Study and Organizational Skills. One-third of the students at IDEAL participate in the Zenith Program. The program accommodates a wide range of needs and learning differences and includes children with learning disabilities, attention issues, Down syndrome, developmental delays, and on the autistic spectrum. The video from the 'Today Show' tells of how everyone seems to believe and support the fact that all students can learn together, in the same room, at the same time, even though some are special needs and have different ways of learning and need different types of help. So a subject is presented and each student learns about it in his/her own way, with help from a teacher, using whatever tools work for that student. They also support the fact that everyone learns from everyone else - not only the lesson but patience, compassion, self-confidence, acceptance.

Keeping Kids Safe Project.

At the last minute, I found out that the Keeping Kids Safe Project was fingerprinting children of all ages this Saturday. The Keeping Kids Safe Project is part of the National Safety Program that tours the country providing FBI Quality Digital Fingerprints to families. Of course, no one hopes they will have to use this information. The person takes a photo and prints using an inkless capture device. This is recorded on to a form that is given to the parent/guardian to take home where you fill out all the personal information regarding the child. The procedure is painless and only take about 5 minutes and there is no cost. There are other upcoming events on the Safe Kids Worldwide site, just type in your state in the 'search' box. I spoke with another mom who was in front of me who was happy to do this considering one of her children is also non-verbal and there were many other families doing the same. Although this was not specifically for special needs children, it was a great opportunity to take advantage of for the whole family. Take the time to bring the kids in and get it done.