Free Webinars and Training P.14
TIMES
MAGAZINE
Exceptional
What's Going ON?
Social Distancing: The New Normal P.04
SERVICE DOGS
Opening Doors to Independence P.26
ISSUE 26
april | May | June 2020
Social Distancing: Extreme Home Edition – Lessons Learned P.28
COVER STORY
From the director, Mary Jacob
MISSION The Mission of Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans is to educate and connect children and adults with disabilities, and their families to resources, services, and supports to attend school, work, and thrive in their communities.
2nd Quarter April | May | June 2020
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gregory Brenan, CPA, CCIFP, CGMA Jo Ann D. LoRusso, Ph.D. Denise Barrera, MPH, MSW Debra Dixon M.Ed.+30 Ashley Bourg Michelle Archambault, CPA/PFS
Exceptional Times
04 Social Distancing: The New Normal 06 You are not alone 11 COVID-19 Closure | OSEP Launches IDEA Data Collection Infographics Initiative 12 Hunkering Down for COVID-19 14 What's Going On? 19 Autism and More - At Home With Stacy Badon 20 When Numbers Turn Into Names! 21 In Loving Memory of April Denise Dunn 24 2020 Summer Fun Guide 25 10 Powerful Ways to Use Social Security Online 26 Service Dogs, Opening Doors to Independence! 28 COVER STORY: Social Distancing: Extreme Home Edition – Lessons Learned 32 Keeping Your Children Safe on the Internet 34 Resources for Families & Educators 39 Research on Sexual Assualt & Disability 40 Awareness Calendar 42 PREPARE: 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season 44 Louisiana School Finder
Kevin Scallan
OUR TEAM executive director MARY JACOB mjacob@fhfofgno.org - Ext. 207 community outreach specialist SHARON BLACKMON sblackmon@fhfofgno.org - Ext. 208 director of public relations BEBE BODE bbode@fhfofgno.org - Ext. 226 information & training specialist NICOLE DESROCHE ndesroche@fhfofgno.org - Ext.218 administrative assistant LIZ DUMAS ldumas@fhfofgno.org - Ext. 202 intake specialist MINERVA FLORES mflores@fhfofgno.org - Ext. 217 director of peer to peer support LAURA S. NATA lsnata@fhfofgno.org - Ext. 209 cshs parent liaison THUY NGUYEN thuy.nguyen@la.gov 504.896.1340 phone | 504.896.1360 fax cshs youth liaison STEVEN NGUYEN steven.nguyen@la.gov 504.896.1340 phone | 504.896.1360 fax director of training JESSICA RODRIGUE jrodrigue@fhfofgno.org - Ext. 204 director of administrative services DENISE SWEATMAN dsweatman@fhfofgno.org - Ext. 203
OFFICE HOURS Coronavirus COVID-19 Closure In an effort to do our part in helping eliminate the COVID-19 Virus, Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans office will be closed to the public and all guests until further notice. We are still assisting families. All staff are working remotely from their homes. Families needing assistance please call our office at 504-888-9111 or 800-766-7736. Click here for up-to-date online resources specific to COVID-19.
CONTENTS
700 Hickory Avenue Harahan, LA 70123 504.888.9111 800.766.7736 504.353.2350 fax info@fhfofgno.org fhfofgno.org
ET
by Mary Jacob
Social Distancing: The New Normal
When I think about the National crisis’ of the past, my immediate thought goes to 911, the Cuban Missile Crisis and even the number of school shootings should make that list. But never once did I think about a pandemic. I mistakenly thought if modern-day medicine could use pig valves in humans and robots for surgery, surely we could figure out how to stop some virus from spreading over the entire world. But here I sit, in the comforts of my own home, teleworking because of a virus that is spreading so rapidly, the only cure we have is social distancing. Social distancing sounds easy enough and certainly not physically painful – unlike a needle in the arm for a vaccine we hope will work. Social distancing just requires people to stay away from each other – or at least 6 feet apart. If it’s that basic, why is it so hard to do? Why are so many resistant to practice social distancing? Why is it okay for the Governor or President to stand side by side and not practice social distancing? Why are we allowed to go to the grocery store, but nobody stands 6 feet apart in the checkout line? Why is it okay to buy food from a drive up window from workers that could be potentially sick, but it’s not okay for nonessential businesses that don’t serve the public to remain open? It’s all very confusing. When exactly are we supposed to be practicing social distancing? But the real questions some families are struggling with, how do I explain this to my child with a developmental disability? Regardless of age, many are struggling with their routines turned upside down. When Monday and Wednesday are workdays, and on Tuesdays, we go out to eat and bowl every Friday, our loved ones don't care about or want to hear about social distancing. They don’t understand the world is full of very sick people and we need to retrieve to our home until it’s safe to go outside. Heck, many adults without disabilities don’t get it and continue to do their day to day thing without any regard to who they may be exposing. When I travel out of state, I have to remind myself that hugging and kissing isn’t the norm in other places. Try to hug someone in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, California, Colorado and a lot of other places. There is an excellent chance it will be met with a not so friendly look or comment. In the south, hugging and kissing are in our DNA. It’s part of the fabric of our culture. It’s what we do. We don’t care where you’ve been, what you’ve been doing, or even if we know you well, you just come here and give me a big ole hug. We can’t help ourselves and now you want us to stand 6 feet away from each other – and with no notice. If this was an IEP goal, I’d at least be given a school year to get it right 8 out of 10 times. Heck, just going to mass can cause social problems when you get to the end of the Lord’s Prayer and suddenly remember you have to do the sign of peace. To some introverts, they will love social distancing at church. No more awkward pauses, and hoping they are invisible. If you are that introvert, you instinctively figure out when you utter that last word of the Lord’s Prayer that the most extroverted person in that church is within an arm's length of you and they aren’t going to allow you to ignore them. But it also reminds me of the number of individuals with disabilities that don’t want to be touched. This also gives them a bonafide pass without being offensive, which is a good thing. So while we get used to this new normal of knocking elbows and feet, don’t forget to wash your hands for 20 seconds, cough into your elbow or Kleenex and stay 6 feet away from others. Stay healthy my friends! Stay healthy!
Social Distancing – until a few weeks ago, did you ever hear of this term? It’s like an oxymoron – is it possible to be social and distant at the same time? I predict social distancing or some form of it will be Webster’s word of the year. I realize it’s technically 2 words, but if –ism can make it as the word of the year for 2015 without it even being a real word, then I think social distancing can also be a word of the year.
by Patricia McGill Smith
If you have recently learned that your child has a developmental delay or a disability (which may or may not be completely defined), this message may be for you. It is written from the personal perspective of a parent who has shared this experience and all that goes with it.
You Are Not Alone For Parents When They Learn That Their Child Has a Disability
When parents learn about any difficulty or problem in their child’s development, this information comes as a tremendous blow. The day my child was diagnosed as having a disability, I was devastated—and so confused that I recall little else about those first days other than the heartbreak. Another parent described this event as a “black sack” being pulled down over her head, blocking her ability to hear, see, and think in normal ways. Another parent described the trauma as “having a knife stuck” in her heart. Perhaps these descriptions seem a bit dramatic, yet it has been my experience that they may not sufficiently describe the many emotions that flood parents’ minds and hearts when they receive any bad news about their child. Many things can be done to help yourself through this period of trauma. That is what this paper is all about. In order to talk about some of the good things that can happen to alleviate the anxiety, let us first take a look at some of the reactions that occur. Common Reactions On learning that their child may have a disability, most parents react in ways that have been shared by all parents before them who have also been faced with this disappointment and this enormous challenge. One of the first reactions is denial—“This cannot be happening to me, to my child, to our family.” Denial rapidly merges with anger, which may be directed toward the medical personnel who were involved in providing the information about the child’s problem. Anger can also color communication between husband and wife or with grandparents or significant others in the family. Early on, it seems that the anger is so intense that it touches almost anyone, because it is triggered by the feelings of grief and inexplicable loss that one does not know how to explain or deal with. Fear is another immediate response. People often fear the unknown more than they fear the known. Having the complete diagnosis and some knowledge of the child’s future prospects can be easier than uncertainty. In either case, however, fear of the future is a common emotion: “What is going to happen to this child when he is five years old, when he is twelve, when he is twenty-one? What is going to happen to this child when I am gone?” Then other questions arise: “Will he ever learn? Will he ever go to college? Will he or she have the capability of loving and living and laughing and doing all the things that we had planned?” Other unknowns also inspire fear. Parents fear that the child’s condition will be the very worst it possibly could be. Over the years, I have spoken with so many parents who said that their first thoughts were totally bleak. One expects the worst. Memories return of persons with disabilities one has known. Sometimes there is guilt over some slight committed years before toward a person with a disability. There is also fear of society’s rejection, fears about how brothers and sisters will be affected, questions as to whether there will be any more brothers or sisters in this family, and concerns about whether the husband or wife will love this child. These fears can almost immobilize some parents. Then there is guilt—guilt and concern about whether the parents themselves have caused the problem: “Did I do something to cause this? Am I being punished for something I have done? Did I take care of myself when I was pregnant? Did my wife take good enough care of herself when she was pregnant?” For myself, I remember thinking that surely my daughter had slipped from the bed when she was very young and hit her head, or that perhaps one of her brothers or sisters had inadvertently let her drop and didn’t tell me. Much self-reproach and remorse can stem from questioning the causes of the disability. Guilt feelings may also be manifested in spiritual and religious interpretations of blame and punishment. When they cry, “Why me?” or “Why my child?”, many parents are also saying, “Why has God done this to me?” How often have we raised our eyes to heaven and asked: “What did I ever do to deserve this?” One young mother said, “I feel so guilty because all my life I had never had a hardship and now God has decided to give me a hardship.” Confusion also marks this traumatic period. As a result of not fully understanding what is happening and what will happen, confusion reveals itself in sleeplessness, inability to make decisions, and mental overload. In the midst of such trauma, information can seem garbled and distorted. You hear new words that you never heard before, terms that describe something that you cannot understand. You want to find out what it is all about, yet it seems that you cannot make sense of all the information you are receiving. Often parents are just not on the same wavelength as the person who is trying to communicate with them about their child’s disability. Powerlessness to change what is happening is very difficult to accept. You cannot change the fact that your child has a disability, yet parents want to feel competent and capable of handling their own life situations. It is extremely hard to be forced to rely on the judgments, opinions, and recommendations of others. Compounding the problem is that these others are often strangers with whom no bond of trust has yet been established. Disappointment that a child is not perfect poses a threat to many parents’ egos and a challenge to their value system. This jolt to previous expectations can create reluctance to accept one’s child as a valuable, developing person. Rejection is another reaction that parents experience. Rejection can be directed toward the child or toward the medical personnel or toward other family members. One of the more serious forms of rejection, and not that uncommon, is a “death wish” for the child—a feeling that many parents report at their deepest points of depression. During this period of time when so many different feelings can flood the mind and heart, there is no way to measure how intensely a parent may experience this constellation of emotions. Not all parents go through these stages, but it is important for parents to identify with all of the potentially troublesome feelings that can arise, so that they will know that they are not alone. There are many constructive actions that you can take immediately, and there are many sources of help, communication, and reassurance. Seek the Assistance of Another Parent There was a parent who helped me. Twenty-two hours after my own child’s diagnosis, he made a statement that I have never forgotten: “You may not realize it today, but there may come a time in your life when you will find that having a daughter with a disability is a blessing.” I can remember being puzzled by these words, which were nonetheless an invaluable gift that lit the first light of hope for me. This parent spoke of hope for the future. He assured me that there would be programs, there would be progress, and there would be help of many kinds and from many sources. And he was the father of a boy with intellectual disabilities. My first recommendation is to try to find another parent of a child with a disability, preferably one who has chosen to be a parent helper, and seek his or her assistance. All over the United States and over the world, there are Parent to Parent Programs. Each State also has a Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), and many have a Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC). PTIs and CPRCs can put you in touch with parents and parent groups locally, and connect with resources in your State. Talk with Your Mate, Family, and Significant Others Over the years, I have discovered that many parents don’t communicate their feelings regarding the problems their children have. One spouse is often concerned about not being a source of strength for the other mate. The more couples can communicate at difficult times like these, the greater their collective strength. Understand that you each approach your roles as parents differently. How you will feel and respond to this new challenge may not the same. Try to explain to each other how you feel; try to understand when you don’t see things the same way. If there are other children, talk with them, too. Be aware of their needs. If you are not emotionally capable of talking with your children or seeing to their emotional needs at this time, identify others within your family structure who can establish a special communicative bond with them. Talk with significant others in your life—your best friend, your own parents. For many people, the temptation to close up emotionally is great at this point, but it can be so beneficial to have reliable friends and relatives who can help to carry the emotional burden. Rely on Positive Sources in Your Life One positive source of strength and wisdom might be your minister, priest, or rabbi. Another may be a good friend or a counselor. Go to those who have been a strength before in your life. Find the new sources that you need now. A very fine counselor once gave me a recipe for living through a crisis: “Each morning, when you arise, recognize your powerlessness over the situation at hand, turn this problem over to God, as you understand Him, and begin your day.” Whenever your feelings are painful, you must reach out and contact someone. Call or write or get into your car and contact a real person who will talk with you and share that pain. Pain divided is not nearly so hard to bear as is pain in isolation. Sometimes professional counseling is warranted; if you feel that this might help you, do not be reluctant to seek this avenue of assistance. Take One Day at a Time Fears of the future can immobilize one. Living with the reality of the day which is at hand is made more manageable if we throw out the “what if’s” and “what then’s” of the future. Even though it may not seem possible, good things will continue to happen each day. Worrying about the future will only deplete your limited resources. You have enough to focus on; get through each day, one step at a time. Learn the Terminology When you are introduced to new terminology, you should not be hesitant to ask what it means. Whenever someone uses a word that you don’t understand, stop the conversation for a minute and ask the person to explain the word. Seek Information Some parents seek virtually “tons” of information; others are not so persistent. The important thing is that you request accurate information. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, because asking questions will be your first step in beginning to understand more about your child. Learning how to formulate questions is an art that will make life a lot easier for you in the future. A good method is to write down your questions before entering appointments or meetings, and to write down further questions as you think of them during the meeting. Get written copies of all documentation from physicians, teachers, and therapists regarding your child. It is a good idea to buy a three-ring notebook in which to save all information that is given to you. In the future, there will be many uses for information that you have recorded and filed; keep it in a safe place. Again, remember always to ask for copies of evaluations, diagnostic reports, and progress reports. If you are not a naturally organized person, just get a box and throw all the paperwork in it. Then when you really need it, it will be there. Do Not Be Intimidated Many parents feel inadequate in the presence of people from the medical or educational professions because of their credentials and, sometimes, because of their professional manner. Do not be intimidated by the educational backgrounds of these and other personnel who may be involved in treating or helping your child. You do not have to apologize for wanting to know what is occurring. Do not be concerned that you are being a bother or are asking too many questions. Remember, this is your child, and the situation has a profound effect on your life and on your child’s future. Therefore, it is important that you learn as much as you can about your situation. Do Not Be Afraid to Show Emotion So many parents, especially dads, repress their emotions because they believe it to be a sign of weakness to let people know how they are feeling. The strongest fathers of children with disabilities whom I know are not afraid to show their emotions. They understand that revealing feelings does not diminish one’s strength. Learn to Deal with Natural Feelings of Bitterness and Anger Feelings of bitterness and anger are inevitable when you realize that you must revise the hopes and dreams you originally had for your child. It is very valuable to recognize your anger and to learn to let go of it. You may need outside help to do this. It may not feel like it, but life will get better and the day will come when you will feel positive again. By acknowledging and working through your negative feelings, you will be better equipped to meet new challenges, and bitterness and anger will no longer drain your energies and initiative. Maintain a Positive Outlook A positive attitude will be one of your genuinely valuable tools for dealing with problems. There is, truly, always a positive side to whatever is occurring. For example, when my child was found to have a disability, one of the other things pointed out to me was that she was a very healthy child. She still is. The fact that she has had no physical impairments has been a great blessing over the years; she has been the healthiest child I have ever raised. Focusing on the positives diminishes the negatives and makes life easier to deal with. Keep in Touch with Reality To stay in touch with reality is to accept life the way it is. To stay in touch with reality is also to recognize that there are some things that we can change and other things that we cannot change. The task for all of us is learning which things we can change and then set about doing that. Remember That Time Is on Your Side Time heals many wounds. This does not mean that living with and raising a child who has problems will be easy, but it is fair to say that, as time passes, a great deal can be done to alleviate the problem. Therefore, time does help! Find Programs for Your Child Even for those living in isolated areas of the country, assistance is available to help you with whatever problems you are having. Your state’s Parent Training and Information Center can connect you with folks who can help you get started in gaining the information and assistance you need. While finding programs for your child with a disability, keep in mind that programs are also available for the rest of your family. Take Care of Yourself In times of stress, each person reacts in his or her own way. A few universal recommendations may help: Get sufficient rest; eat as well as you can; take time for yourself; reach out to others for emotional support. Avoid Pity Self-pity, the experience of pity from others, or pity for your child is actually disabling. Pity is not what is needed. Empathy, which is the ability to feel with another person, is the attitude to be encouraged. Decide How to Deal With Others During this period, you may feel saddened by or angry about the way people are reacting to you or your child. Many people’s reactions to serious problems are caused by a lack of understanding, simply not knowing what to say, or fear of the unknown. Understand that many people don’t know how to behave when they see a child with differences, and they may react inappropriately. Think about and decide how you want to deal with stares or questions. Try not to use too much energy being concerned about people who are not able to respond in ways you might prefer. Keep Daily Routines as Normal as Possible My mother once told me, “When a problem arises and you don’t know what to do, then you do whatever it was that you were going to do anyway.” Practicing this habit seems to produce some normalcy and consistency when life becomes hectic. Remember That This is Your Child This person is your child, first and foremost. Your child’s development may be different from that of other children, but this does not make your child less valuable, less human, less important, or in less need of your love and parenting. Love and enjoy your child. The child comes first; the disability comes second. If you can relax and take the positive steps just outlined, one at a time, you will do the best you can, your child will benefit, and you can look forward to the future with hope. Recognize That You Are Not Alone The feeling of isolation at the time of diagnosis is almost universal among parents. In this article, there are many recommendations to help you handle feelings of separateness and isolation. It helps to know that these feelings have been experienced by many, many others, that understanding and constructive help are available to you and your child, and that you are not alone.
OSEP Launches IDEA Data Collection Infographics Initiative
Coronavirus COVID-19 Closure In an effort to do our part in helping eliminate the COVID-19 Virus, Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans office will be closed to the public and all guests until further notice. We are still assisting families. All staff are working remotely from their homes. Families needing assistance please call our office at 504-888-9111 or 800-766-7736. Click here for up-to-date online resources specific to COVID-19.
By the Office of Special Education Programs
The Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) is pleased to announce the OSEP Fast Facts infographic initiative. OSEP Fast Facts enable us to share and promote Section 618 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) data in a new and interactive way. Section 618 of the IDEA requires each state to submit data about the infants and toddlers, birth through age 2, who receive early intervention services under Part C of IDEA and children with disabilities, ages 3 through 21, who receive special educaton and related services under Part B of IDEA. The OSEP Fast Facts pulls together data from the 12 data collections authorized under IDEA Section 618 into graphic, visual representations with the intent to present 618 data quickly and clearly. Our first OSEP Fast Facts presents 618 data on students identified with autism. Data presented includes that collected through child count, educational environments, discipline and exiting data collections. View the interactive online OSEP Fast Facts: Children with Autism infographic. OSEP will post future Fast Facts to the OSEP Fast Facts page.
CPIR October 11, 2010. A legacy resource from NICHCY, January 2014
We are exploring the COVID-19 Pandemic and its effects on youth with disabilities and the systems that support them. As of 4/12/2020 there were 1,739,007 confirmed cases worldwide, with more than 108,432 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. What is Covid-19? Coronaviruses are a type of virus. There are many different kinds, and some cause disease. A newly identified type has caused a recent outbreak of respiratory illness now called COVID-19 that started in China. COVID-19 symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. COVID-19 can be severe, and some cases have caused death. The new coronavirus can be spread from person to person. It is diagnosed with a laboratory test. There is no coronavirus vaccine yet. Prevention involves frequent hand-washing, coughing into the bend of your elbow and staying home when you are sick. It appears that symptoms are showing up in people within 14 days of exposure to the virus.
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or flexed elbow, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people touch frequently.
Fever
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use alchohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren't available.
Shortness of Breath
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick, sneezing or coughing.
What are the Symptoms?
Hunkering Down for COVID-19
Cough
continued on p.36
Stay home to prevent the spread of the virus. (edited 4/17/2020)
The best ways to protect yourself:
At this time we should all wear a face mask when we are out in the public. (edited 4/17/2020)
Free WEBINARS
What's Going On?
APRIL 2020
Extended School Year Services (ESY) - Did you know that data collected during the holidays often determine if your child will qualify for ESY Services? This training provides an overview of the ESY process for children with disabilities including how children qualify and why in many circumstances the school uses the holiday breaks in determining if a child will qualify for ESY. Co-Sponsor: Bayou Land FHF Date: Monday, May 4, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Introduction to Special Education - Do you suspect your child could benefit from special education and related services? Or, Is your child newly evaluated? If so, this training is perfect for you. This intro to special education will give you a strong foundation to build future knowledge. You will learn the very basics through the philosophy of special education, the laws, evaluation process, and ultimately an IEP. Co-Sponsor: FHF of GBR Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. IEP Tips and Pointers - This webinar features tried and true tips on how to positively advocate for your children, strengthen the relationships between parents and service agencies, and help create the appropriate IEP program. This webinar is perfect for families looking for ways to make the IEP meeting a more positive experience for everyone involved. Co-Sponsor: FHF of SWLA Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Basic Rights in Special Education - Whether you’re new to special education or involved for a while, this workshop is for you. This presentation provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities as parents of children with special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Parents begin to identify dreams and goals for their children, understand laws and learn advocacy strategies that will help them help their children reach those goals. Co-Sponsor: FHF NELA Date: Saturday, May 9, 2020 Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Anatomy of the IEP - Like a biology student, this presentation will dissect the parts of the IEP document and examine their functions individually, learning their meanings and application. It will provide constructive and practical tips to help create an IEP that supports all of the student's needs. We will explore the parent’s role in the IEP process and learn the basics of their child’s right to special education services, the process of developing special education plans, and the parent’s role. Co-Sponsor: FHF NOLA Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2020 Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Special Education FAQ - Can the school send home my child’s IEP for me to sign without a meeting? Can the school suspend my child with an IEP? What happens if I disagree with the IEP team? Can the school keep calling me to pick up my child due to meltdowns? Get answers to these questions, and more in our Special Education Frequently Asked Questions training. Co-Sponsor: FHF Crossroads Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2020 Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. How to Introduce Your Child to New Providers? - Parents rave about our in-house publications All About Me and My Portfolio and the usefulness in introducing their children to a variety of new service providers such as teachers, DSP’s, Therapists and more. Join us for this webinar where we will provide you access to these publications, instructions on how to personalize them for your child, and things you need to think about including in your personalized publication. If you do not have access to a printer, email us your publication, and we’ll be happy to print them out for you. Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Time: 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Mapping Dreams (Transition to Adulthood) - The transition your child will make from being a child to becoming an adult member of the community is an important journey, and one that requires a plan. It's important to begin thinking about your child’s transition to adult life as early as possible. Your child will need to make many significant decisions during this journey to adult life. In this presentation, we will explore what families and youth can do to help plan for the student’s transition from high school to adult employment, postsecondary education or training, and independent living. Co-Sponsor: FHF NELA Date: Monday, May 18, 2020 Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. All About Test and Assessments - This webinar will talk All About Assessments and Testing. It will answer some frequently asked question regarding assessments and testing, when to have your child evaluated and interpreting those assessment results. Co-Sponsor: FHF of Acadiana Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. No More Summer Slide - Summer is the perfect time for students of all ages to relax, but it’s also a time when summer learning loss can occur. This learning loss is called the “summer slide,” and happens when children do not engage in educational activities during the summer months. This training will provide you with strategies and fun activities you can do over the summertime to help prevent the summer slide. Co-Sponsor: Northshore FHF Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Time: 11:30 am- 12:30 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
Educational Plans: IEP’s vs. 504 Plan - Students with disabilities will usually qualify for either an IEP or a 504 Plan – but what is the difference and is one better than the other? This training will take you through the eligibility process of both plans, the laws that regulate both, the differences in the plans and parental rights. Co-Sponsor: FHF of Greater Baton Rouge Date: Thursday, April 2, 2020 Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Introduction to Special Education - Do you suspect your child could benefit from special education and related services? Or, Is your child newly evaluated? If so, this training is perfect for you. This intro to special education will give you a strong foundation to build future knowledge. You will learn the very basics through the philosophy of special education, the laws, evaluation process, and ultimately an IEP. Co-Sponsor: FHF NOLA Date: Thursday, April 2, 2020 Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. IEP Tips and Pointers - This webinar features tried and true tips on how to positively advocate for your children, strengthen the relationships between parents and service agencies, and help create the appropriate IEP program. This webinar is perfect for families looking for ways to make the IEP meeting a more positive experience for everyone involved. Date: Saturday, April 4, 2020 Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Basic Rights in Special Education - Whether you’re new to special education or involved for a while, this workshop is for you. This presentation provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities as parents of children with special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Parents begin to identify dreams and goals for their children, understand laws and learn advocacy strategies that will help them help their children reach those goals. Co-Sponsor:FHF of Northeast Louisiana Date: Monday, April 6, 2020 Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Anatomy of the IEP - Like a biology student, this presentation will dissect the parts of the IEP document and examine their functions individually, learning their meanings and application. It will provide constructive and practical tips to help create an IEP that supports all of the student's needs. We will explore the parent’s role in the IEP process and learn the basics of their child’s right to special education services, the process of developing special education plans, and the parent’s role. Co-Sponsor: FHF at the Crossroads Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Special Education FAQ - Can the school send home my child’s IEP for me to sign without a meeting?Can the school suspend my child with an IEP?What happens if I disagree with the IEP team?Can the school keep calling me to pick up my child due to meltdowns?Get answers to these questions, and more in our Special Education Frequently Asked Questions training. Co-Sponsor: FHF of Southwest Louisiana Date: Monday, April 20, 2020 Time: 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Mapping Dreams (Transition to Adulthood) - The transition your child will make from being a child to becoming an adult member of the community is an important journey, and one that requires a plan. It's important to begin thinking about your child’s transition to adult life as early as possible. Your child will need to make many significant decisions during this journey to adult life.In this presentation, we will explore what families and youth can do to help plan for the student’s transition from high school to adult employment, postsecondary education or training, and independent living. Co-Sponsor: Northshore Families Helping Families Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Accommodations vs. Modifications - Meeting after meeting, parents and teachers use the words “accommodation” and “modification” almost interchangeably when discussing IEPs and student needs. If understood and used correctly, these words can greatly impact the success of a child’s educational program. Get answers to these questions and more: How can accommodations and modifications help my child in the general education classroom? How is it included in IEP and which accommodations are provided for state testing? Co-Sponsor: FHF of Acadiana Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020 Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. All About Tests and Assessments - This webinar will talk All About Assessments and Testing.It will answer some frequently asked question regarding assessments and testing, when to have your child evaluated and interpreting those assessment results. Co-Sponsor: Bayou Land Families Helping Families Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020 Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. 3 Ways to Keep Loved Ones Safe on the Internet - In this webinar we will discuss 3 different ways to keep your family safe on the internet. Learn simple tips to make home internet safer for your family. Presenters: Annie Cummer & Jeff Arseneaux Beyond Accommodations Relationship and Risk Reduction for Families and Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Date: Wednesday, April 29. 2020 Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
MAY 2020
JUNE 2020
Introduction to Special Education - Do you suspect your child could benefit from special education and related services? Or, Is your child newly evaluated? If so, this training is perfect for you. This intro to special education will give you a strong foundation to build future knowledge. You will learn the very basics through the philosophy of special education, the laws, evaluation process, and ultimately an IEP. Co-Sponsor: FHF of Southwest Louisiana Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Basic Rights in Special Education - Whether you’re new to special education or involved for a while, this workshop is for you. This presentation provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities as parents of children with special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Parents begin to identify dreams and goals for their children, understand laws and learn advocacy strategies that will help them help their children reach those goals. Co-Sponsor: FHF NOLA Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 Time: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. 3 Ways to Keep Loved Ones Safe on the Internet - In this webinar we will discuss 3 different ways to keep your family safe on the internet. Learn simple tips to make home internet safer for your family. Guest Presenters: Annie Cummer & Jeff Arseneaux Beyond Accommodations Relationship and Risk Reduction for Families and Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2020 Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. No More Summer Slide - Summer is the perfect time for students of all ages to relax, but it’s also a time when summer learning loss can occur. This learning loss is called the “summer slide,” and happens when children do not engage in educational activities during the summer months. This training will provide you with strategies and fun activities you can do over the summertime to help prevent the summer slide. Co-Sponsor: FHF of Acadiana Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Anatomy of the IEP - Like a biology student, this presentation will dissect the parts of the IEP document and examine their functions individually, learning their meanings and application. It will provide constructive and practical tips to help create an IEP that supports all of the student's needs. We will explore the parent’s role in the IEP process and learn the basics of their child’s right to special education services, the process of developing special education plans, and the parent’s role. Co-Sponsor: FHF of Greater Baton Rouge Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Fun Summer Activities for All Kids - We’ve taken some of our favorite things in our 2019 Guide to Summer Fun for Children with Disabilities and highlighted them in this training. The goal is to give families and caregivers ideas of fun things they can do over the summer that doesn’t need to cost a lot. Many things are either free or low cost. Part of this is specific to the Greater New Orleans area. Co-Sponsor: Bayou Land FHF Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Special Education FAQ - Can the school send home my child’s IEP for me to sign without a meeting? Can the school suspend my child with an IEP? What happens if I disagree with the IEP team? Can the school keep calling me to pick up my child due to meltdowns? Get answers to these questions, and more in our Special Education Frequently Asked Questions training. Co-Sponsor: FHF Crossroads Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Time: 9:00 pm – 10:00pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Related Services - Children with disabilities are entitled to special education and related services. The IEP must contain a statement of the special education, related services and supplementary aids and services to be provided to the child. Participants will learn several critical elements used to determine what related services a student needs. Co-Sponsor: FHF of Acadiana Date: Saturday, June 20, 2020 Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. Getting and Keeping Your First Job - Getting and then keeping a job for someone with a disability can be tough. This training will go over why work is important, challenges for youth, the labor market, disability disclosure, accommodations and more. Co-Sponsor: Northshore FHF Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students. All About Test and Assessments - This webinar we will talk All About Assessments and Testing. It will answer some frequently asked questions regarding assessments and testing, when to have your child evaluated and interpreting those assessment results. Co-Sponsor: FHF of Northeast Louisiana Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Audience: Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals of School-Aged Children/Students.
Autism and More at Home with Stacy Badon
SESSIONS (click on date to register) Wednesday, April 1, 2020 1:00 pm Saturday, April 4, 2020 7:30 am Tuesday, April 7, 2020 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2020 1:00 pm Saturday, April 11, 2020 7:30 am Tuesday, April 14, 2020 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 15, 2020 1:00 pm Saturday, April 18, 2020 7:30 am Tuesday, April 21, 2020 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 22, 2020 1:00 pm Saturday, April 25, 2020 7:30 am Tuesday, April 28, 2020 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 29, 2020 1:00 pm
During this unprecedented time, we want to provide families with the support they need to make it through each day. Stacy Badon, owner of Everything Autism Strategies for Home has been providing families with online support for several years. Join her for these interactive sessions where she'll provide you with tips and give families an opportunity to talk about their challenges and successes. Each session will be different, so register for as many as you would like. There will be a maximum limit of participants per session.
She made me a better person. She changed LIVES! ~ Liz Gary
Today with deep sadness, I announce the passing of 33-year old April Dunn, who succumbed to complications from COVID-19. April was a dedicated staff member who served in the Governor's Office of Disabilities Affairs and a tireless advocate for people with disabilities. On behalf of First Lady Donna Edwards and my entire administration, it is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of our dear April. She brightened everyone’s day with her smile, was a tremendous asset to our team and an inspiration to everyone who met her. She lived her life to the fullest and improved the lives of countless Louisianans with disabilities. April worked hard as an advocate for herself and other members of the disability community. She served as the chair of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, and when I created the State As A Model Employer Taskforce, April told me how much she wanted to be part of it because of her struggles to find meaningful employment. I was proud to have an advocate like April on the task force and on my staff. She set a great example for how other businesses could make their workforce more inclusive. I ask the entire state to join us in prayer for April’s mother Joanette and her grandmother Gloria. ~ Governor John Bel Edwards
When the Numbers Turn into Names!
She was an incredibly strong advocate for people with disabilities and dedicated Chair. The Council is forever grateful for her beautiful life and disability work; it is without a doubt that her legacy will remain within the disability community long after her passing. ~ Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
“And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.” Forever thankful for April Dunn and her advocacy. COVID19 may have taken her life, but it could never take the legacy she leaves behind. ~ Katie Corkern
In Loving Memory of April Denise Dunn (July 6, 1986- March 28, 2020)
A few weeks ago I heard someone say, the number may not seem like much now, but wait until they start replacing the number with names of people you know. At the time, I kind of blew it off not thinking much about it, but WOW, when one of the death numbers turned into a familiar name, it was like a knife being stabbed right into your chest. I became so angry with everything about COVID-19. I was furious that people were forced to say goodbye to their loved ones over Facetime. I became furious about the lack of personal protective equipment, but it took me a few more hours to realize the real root of my anger – which was people. Everyday people like you and me. People that were going about their day like nothing is going on. People were still gathering in large groups, people were still hosting crawfish boils and birthday parties. I knew with Good Friday and Easter coming up, there was a huge chance that we would see lots of Easter egg hunts with large groups of people. We the people are the only ones that can stop this and yet, so many continue to ignore the warnings. When the National Basketball Association (NBA) league cancels all games indefinitely, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) cancels March Madness and all basketball championships and Disneyworld closes down – this ceases to be some sort of joke. These billion-dollar businesses are wealthy because they aren’t easily scared and to convince them to shut down, is a monumental event. Governor John Bel Edwards issued a Stay at Home Order on March 22, 2020, directing all Louisiana residents to shelter at home and limit movements outside of their homes beyond essential needs. We’ve repeatedly heard about flattening the curve which still isn’t occurring. But the only thing they know as a preventative measure at this time is social distancing. On March 30, 2020, Governor Edwards said he would be extending the Stay At Home Order until the end of April. “Just because you can go to the store, doesn’t mean you should. You certainly don’t need to go every day and you don’t need to bring everyone in your household with you,“ said Edwards. Now is the time people must start practicing common sense and listen to the warnings and requests from our state and federal leaders. Even if you are still in the conspiracy camp, you can still believe China did this on purpose, but you still have to admit it’s now here and we have to deal with it. March 28, 2020, was the day the numbers turned into names for me. March 28, 2020, I learned of the passing of April Dunn, a 33-year-old feisty, high-spirited and passionate self-advocate that worked in the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs. April and I were at a meeting on March 10, 2020, and little did I know that would be the last time I saw her. April has been involved in lots of legislative activities over the years. She loved speaking to legislators and advocating for people with disabilities. A big part of April's legacy will be the passage of Act 833. This law created an alternate route for a regular high school diploma for students with disabilities. April was loved by many as you'll see on a special page we have dedicated for April Dunn. If the numbers haven’t yet turned into names for you, it’s probably just a matter of time. Every person needs to do their part in stopping this pandemic. Are you doing your part?
When I was first getting to know April, she told me she wanted to be an advocate for people with disabilities on a national level. Looking back on that conversation now, I am amazed at how much she accomplished in just a few years. Still can't believe we've lost her. ~ Rebecca White
April Dunn was an inspiration to all of us and gracefully reminded us of the gifts of all of God’s children. – Sherry Guarisco
I have never met a greater advocate than April Dunn. Selfless, passionate, and honest, she moved mountains for people with disabilities. The world was undoubtedly better because April was in it. April, thank you for being an advocate and friend to all. Council meetings will never be the same without you, but I know your legacy will most certainly live on in our little community and beyond. ~ Lillian DeJean
Once in a great while a person crosses your path that just by knowing them you are made a better person for the experience. In my case and in the case of Louisiana’s entire disability community that person was April Dunn. A tireless advocate who saw injustices and wanted to set them right not tomorrow, not some day in the future but right now! She taught me to see not a policy or a law but the people behind it...the people who needed it. She also taught me the value and joy of unconditional love. She always asked me how I was...as soon as we would meet to begin our work together before EVERY meeting, and in 4 years there have been many, She always asked how my family was. When I told her my boss had cancer she would always ask how was he doing? She knew your birthday, from memory, and would say I hope you have a good one, every year. When she looked at you the love in her eyes was as visible as the sun in sky. She was a person who didn’t simply love... she was the living personification of it. It poured out of her every day, everywhere she went. She had every reason to dislike me, in the past year, and I wouldn’t blame her if she had, but you know what? she chose to love me harder and my love for her grew too. The council we serve put us together as their leadership team. It’s a gift I am most grateful for tonight. To serve with and under her was a great joy and privilege that will forever be etched in my heart and mind as one of the best lessons in leadership and love I will ever know. Tonight our hearts are broken and we must mourn her loss, our loss, but every time we work together, every time we choose to love each other, especially when it’s not easy to do, every time we fight for what’s right for the voiceless April will be there... and tonight that is the only true comfort many of us have. Madam Chair, good and faithful friend, Louisiana and her people are better because you lived. Rest Well, and watch over us. Job well done, life was better with you in it for us all. Coronavirus took your body but will never take your legacy or your love. God bless and keep you forever in the peace that only he can give. Love always, your vice chair and fortunate friend... ❤️ ~ Randall Brown
The world just got a little dimmer with April Dunn's passing. For those of you, who never had the opportunity to meet her, let me try to explain. April was a lover of life, her family, and advocacy. She spent her time advocating for people with disabilities because she wanted others to have more opportunities than she did. Far from selfish – she always thought about the bigger picture and how her efforts would impact the larger community. I mean...how else would you explain her showing up to our meeting on her day off; letting everyone in the room know that it was her day off, but that she wanted to be there to advocate for people with disabilities? When she spoke, you could hear a pin drop in the room, because you knew her passion was getting ready to shine through and you could bet that she would not hold back on the emotion. From my days with her during Partners in Policymaking in 2015, I knew she was destined for great things, was a force to be reckoned with, and that Louisiana's citizens with disabilities and their family members would be blessed to have someone like April advocating alongside them. More than her role as an advocate, she was a friend to many; always bringing out the best in others and always made sure to check in with you and your family. The impact and legacy she left behind will be felt for many years to come. Please pray for her mother and grandmother whom she adored and talked about frequently. They lost their baby girl. ~ Steven Nguyen
April Dunn was an outstanding former public speaking student of mine at BRCC. Always on time and prepared. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones who will miss her dedication. ~ Gary Reeves
My heart is so broken right now. It’s been a privilege to not only advocate next to you, but to call you my friend, April Dunn. I will miss you forever and will continue to fight for you and all persons with disabilities. Fly high, my friend. ~Amy Donarski
Today the world lost a passionate and inspiring leader. April Dunn left a legacy. During her 33 years on this orb, she made quite a difference. She advocated for change, for fairness, for equity, for justice...and her actions resulted in systemic changes impacting thousands of lives of people with developmental disabilities. But, for all of the results of April's advocacy, she left much during her brief time on this earth. She left her imprint on the hearts of so many, including mine. ~ Shawn Fleming
APRIL DUNN TRIBUTE VIDEO
Ms. Dunn was an outspoken and passionate self-advocate who worked tirelessly on behalf of people with disabilities. The entire disability community owes Ms. Dunn a debt of gratitude for her contributions over the years. She will be missed. ~ Disability Rights of Louisiana
April’s work on earth is done and what amazing things she’s done! We are all better because she lived. We can’t fill the void she leaves but we can live her values and spirit. ~ Bambi Polozola
My dear friend gains her wings today – an Angel, indeed!! I will miss you so much!! I love you, April Dunn… Rest easy and fly high!! Your advocacy will certainly live on through all of your very good friends… You have certainly left a legacy!! My deepest sympathies and prayers are with your family and most definitely with all of our friends!! ~ Jamie Duplechine
by Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Social Security Administration
Chances are good that you use the internet or a cell phone app every day. Social Security has you covered. We’ve created online tools to make the lives of millions of people easier. We’ve put together a top ten list of easy-to-use resources for you. Want access to our latest news, retirement planning tips, and helpful information? Visit our website. There, you can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, where you can watch our popular videos. Check out our online calculators, such as the Retirement Estimator, the Life Expectancy Calculator, and the Early or Late Retirement Calculator. Apply for Social Security benefits online. This is the fastest, most convenient way to apply for retirement, spouses, disability, or Medicare benefits without visiting a local office or calling to speak to a representative. Lost or missing your Social Security card? Find out how to get a new, replacement, or corrected card on our website. In fact, you may be able to quickly request a replacement card online with a my Social Security account, if you meet certain qualifications. Verify your annual earnings and review estimates of your future Social Security benefits when you access your Social Security Statement, one of the many services available with a my Social Security account. Do you have to pay taxes on Social Security benefits? How do you apply for Social Security retirement benefits? What is your full retirement age? Discover the answers to your Social Security related questions at our Frequently Asked Questions page. Do you own a business? The Business Services Online Suite of Services allows organizations, businesses, individuals, employers, attorneys, non-attorneys representing Social Security claimants, and third-parties to exchange information with Social Security securely over the internet. Have you dreamed of moving abroad? Learn how Social Security makes international payments and how you can do business with us from around the world at our Service Around the World website. Are you a veteran? Are you at mid-career? Maybe you’re new to the workforce. Find out how we fulfill your needs through life’s journey on our People Like Me page at www.socialsecurity.gov/people. If you like to read and prefer to know all the details, our publications webpage is a library of helpful information. Access it at. We make things simple, easy to use, and beneficial. And we’re always here to help you secure today and tomorrow. Visit us today.
10 Powerful Ways to Use Social Security Online
Three years ago, I received the best birthday gift I’ve ever been given, my Canine Companions for Independence service dog, Ford. I can honestly say in my life he has opened doors, both physically and figuratively, in ways I never expected nor could ever imagine. With his assistance, I no longer have to ask for help with several tasks, which has given me the independence that I’ve always longed for. When I go out,) I have the security of knowing that if I drop my credit card, purse, or just about anything else, Ford is one command away from retrieving it. Prior to getting a service dog, I would have to depend on strangers to help me do this. Meanwhile, I would be praying that they wouldn’t run off with my personal belongings. Now this is no longer a worry, which allows me to focus on important activities like shopping and picking out a new outfit and of course I ask Ford’s opinion. My best furry friend helps me with tasks around my apartment such as, getting drinks out of the fridge, putting my foot rests up and down so that I can transfer into bed independently, helps me put my coat on, takes my socks off and opens and shuts doors. The list goes on and continues to grow. One positive aspect that I didn’t expect was I went from the girl in the wheelchair who some people didn’t know how to approach, to the girl with the awesome dog. In my experience people don’t see my disability first, instead they notice Ford. Ford gives me a new sense of confidence. I know that I’m not going into that meeting, giving a speech, or meeting that new person alone. Now I have Ford by my side. I would highly recommend anyone with a disability who could benefit from a service dog to look into getting one. Especially those with disabilities who are transitioning into college or are pursuing independent living. These amazing dogs make these changes easier. Looking back at my own transitions, I see how beneficial it would have been if I had a service dog during these times. When I first moved into my own apartment there were several occasions where a trained dog would have been helpful. I remember dropping my phone and having to wait until my attendant arrived to pick it up for me. On a few occasions, I fell out of my wheelchair. Once again, I had to wait hours for help to arrive. A four-legged assistant would have come to my rescue, retrieved my phone or gotten me help immediately. In addition, I know a service dog would have provided my family with the assurance that I had a helping paw if I needed it. In college, a service dog would have been beneficial in helping me be more independent by retrieving countless dropped pens, highlighters, papers and books. It’s not that there weren’t people around to assist me, but it’s about having the confidence that comes with of being self-sufficient. Also dealing with my insecurities at the time, in regards to living with a disability, having a service dog by my side would have given me the confidence to interact with others more often. Although it’s not the primary purpose of a service dog, these dogs can be a great way to help combat the negative emotional effects such as depression, anxiety and isolation that often accompany disability. In my teen years, I experienced severe depression. During this time, I began to realize the obstacles and limitations that were present in my life such as not being able to participate in popular activities like sports. Also, I was unable to attend get-togethers due to friend’s houses not being accessible. Moreover, I lost friends who viewed my Cerebral Palsy as a hindrance that slowed them down (God blessed me with a friend who was always there for me and remains a lifelong friend). These extremely difficult times were not wasted. It allowed me to become a stronger individual, who learned at an early age to go the extra mile to show love and compassion to others. However, I know that having a service dog would have alleviated some of the deep pain of isolation and depression. Ford has given me the freedom, security, and confidence to reach my dreams, live my life, and empower others to achieve the independence they deserve. When I think of all the ways Ford has enriched my life not only am I blessed beyond measure, but I often refer to Ford as my angel with fur instead of wings. There are multiple service dog training programs throughout the country. One of them is Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) cci.org.
Picture credit to Alex Jones
Jessica Gardner poses with her service dog, Ford at the 2019 Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania competition.
Service Dogs, Opening Doors to Independence!
National RAISE Center@SPAN, (February 24, 2020). Service Dogs, Opening Doors to Independence, Newark, NJ, Author. ©2020 RAISE Center
Matt, Kevin and Karen Scallan
Social Distancing: Extreme Home Edition – Lessons Learned
by Karen Scallan
It’s been 2 weeks as of March 27th that we’ve been practicing social distancing in our household, really more like sheltering-in-place. I’ve been out of the house exactly 3 times-twice for groceries and once to do a no-touch drive-through pickup on a computer part I needed so I can access internet and continue to work. As we all are experiencing, this social distancing thing is surreal. And, as families with loved ones with intellectual and other disabilities know, it’s created additional challenges for us most people don’t experience. Lots of us are figuring out how to be dual caregivers for our children and our parents while social distancing and trying to find the supplies and things we need. I’m one of those dual caregivers and COVID-19 is testing me for sure. I’m distance-caring (my new word for it) for my elderly parents who live about 15 minutes away, taking care of my son who has multiple disabilities and my husband who has Alzheimer’s and medical needs. We have had our struggles, frustrations and worries. We’ve also had our triumphs. It’s been a roller coaster to say the least. On Day 9, Dad had a fever of 101.5 and was unable to breathe very well. We called 911 and that began our navigation of distance-caring for someone in the hospital. Luckily after 4 days in the COVID ICU we learned Dad did not have Covid-19, but did have double pneumonia. That experience taught me just how quickly our elderly parents can become gravely ill. Dad was intubated and put on a ventilator before he even got out of the ER. Just from talking to the doctors and nurses at the hospital, I learned how desperate their situation was and how each of them reinforced to me not to go to the hospital. It was grueling to wait for their calls, but every time they had to come out of his COVID-ICU to update us, they had to remove their precious PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). They reinforced that he was intubated and sedated and wouldn’t know we were there. We needed them to focus on Dad, not us so we all agreed one family contact-by phone only. I called once a day and left a message for an update. It came. Sometimes late at night, but we got it. They reminded us, no news is good news. They call right away with bad news. A monumental exercise in patience, but a crucial one not to bring COVID-19 back home with us to others who are vulnerable. Day 11, we rejoiced when we got news Dad didn’t have COVID-19. On Day 13, just one day away from the 14 day mark both Matt and Kevin having no outside contact and no symptoms, and that’s when Matt decided I was being ridiculous. He went out to greet the UPS guy and take in my package that was delivered. The count starts over again. Might seem extreme to some, but with the virus living on surfaces like cardboard up to 24 hours according to the news, I’m not taking chances. Everyone in our family has some underlying health issue that makes us at risk. So back to square one and checking off the days on the calendar. I can’t seem to get them to understand to stay out of the kitchen and use separate bathrooms to help avoid possible transfer of anything they may have COVID or otherwise. So we have signs on the bathroom doors assigning bathrooms and chairs blocking the entry to the kitchen. Since these are hot spots where germs are exchanged, I figured best to be safe until we get past the second “14-day mark.” On the flip side, Kevin has become so mature during this. He’s taking initiative like I’ve never seen before. He is putting away folded clothes without being asked, putting his own clothes away, made his bed and cleaned up his room all without being asked. Mostly because I’ve been busy and didn’t ask. So now I’m wondering how much of my “prompting” wasn’t necessary, but in reality was keeping him from showing initiative because I didn’t give him a chance to show it. Academic regression was a worry for a bit, but I decided that between direct care responsibilities at home, distance caring for elderly parents and working full time, I’m not going to let myself feel guilty about not home schooling Kevin for the rest of the school year. Instead, when he talked obsessively about his upcoming birthday and graduation and what he wanted, I decided to give him a notebook and let him make his own lists. HE LOVED IT! He is writing. We’ve also decided to work on activities of daily living at home. ADLs can be worked on within the context of our day. So, first we are concentrating on him taking his bath more independently. I set up the water temperature so he just has to turn it on. I set up a wash cloth with soap and we began working on making sure he washes all body parts. Then one day, the phone rang and it was the doctor calling from the hospital about my Dad. “Kevin, you’re on your own. Soap up, wash everything and rinse everything. I’ll be back.” He did it. Perfectly fine. Without me. Again, another lesson that backing off and letting him do things without me can bring out the best. He LOVES how proud we all are of him. He even leaves the door open to the bathroom and announces to me what he’s washing! “Mommy, I’m washing my monkey pits (arm pits)!” And, Yes! He announces ALL his body parts! In the midst of all this, I am still working. And learning from my callers what’s going on in their worlds. I learned that some people without COVID are being pushed out of hospitals to make room for the onslaught of people coming in. Hospitals are creating new step down units and separate ICU units wherever they can make room. At East Jefferson General Hospital, Dad was moved from COVID-19 isolated ICU to a separate area of the ICU for non-COVID-19 patients when his results came back. The next day, he was in a step-down ICU that was made in the previous recovery room at EJGH for outpatient surgeries. Other hospitals are looking at sending home patients from rehab areas of the hospital. One thing to remember if your loved one is being discharged, be very sure they are actually ready for discharge. If they cannot be cared for at home and still need nursing, engage your insurance company case manager in helping you advocate for their needs. The one thing you do not want is them coming home and having to be re-hospitalized when COVID-19 is at its peak. All-in-all, I would say, use your advocacy skills for your loved ones. Use delivery apps for shopping for essentials and above all, stay home. Get those around you to stay home. Check on elderly family and friends by phone and be sure they stay home. We are two weeks in and have a good while to go before we can talk about things like a return to normal. Take care of yourselves including your mental health. My best advice is look for the good and be grateful for the fleas. Corey Tenboom, in “The Quiet Place” said her sister warned her to be grateful for the fleas in the concentration camp. She couldn’t understand that. How could her sister even tell her to be grateful at all in their situation. It turned out the fleas kept the soldiers out of their bunk house so they could have Bible study. We can’t change the horrible things happening, but we can be grateful for the blessings that are there. Actively look for those blessings. It can make all the difference in the world.
Caring for Loved One in ICU with Possible COVID-19 While you Isolate at Home
Karen Scallan is a Medicaid Advocate working through her agency, Special Needs & Parent Support Services of LA, LLC. She provides advocacy assistance, information, and support on Medicaid services to individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. She is the mother of Kevin Scallan, an awesome almost 19 year old who will be a 2020 Graduate of Destrehan High School. She has been advocating for individuals with disabilities for the last 18 years, the last 7 years concentrating on Medicaid and health care issues. She can be reached at kcscallan@gmail.com.
I thought this might help some people who have to stay at home while a loved one is in the ICU with a possible COVID infection. Our family is navigating this same scenario now. Here’s what I learned:
The hospitals are doing an amazing job. DO NOT go to the hospital with your loved one. They will turn you away. Give EMTs a phone number and name for ONE family contact. After the ambulance leaves, create a medication list if you didn’t send it with the ambulance. They will need the list. Have only ONE person call for updates and give that # and name to the staff so they only one person to call. Let that person notify the rest of the family. Don’t call frequently. Every time you do, a nurse has to take all their precious protective gear off to answer the phone. If you want an update and haven’t gotten one remember no news is good news. If you want an update because it’s been a while, call but ask that they call you back when they can or better yet, if the nurse can tell someone else who can call you back with an update. Be sure to tell whomever answers you don’t want them to waste precious resources just to call back. Their safety is paramount to your loved one’s recovery. Tell the rest of the family why they can’t call. It puts critical medical staff at risk and pulls them away from patients who need them. The staff WILL call you. And they are doing their best to be kind and considerate and ask you to do the same. THANK THEM AND THANK THEM OFTEN. Be prepared for tough questions, especially if they are elderly. The elderly could decompensate quickly and may need to be intubated and put on a ventilator. They will try to call you if that happens to see what their wishes would be, but they may not have time to do that. It can happen fast. They may just go ahead and put them on a ventilator. If they are on a ventilator, they will be sedated. You won’t be able to talk to them. Help your family members have realistic expectations about things like that. It is more important to our loved one’s health and the safety of their medical professionals if we let them do their jobs and not have to accommodate requests that aren’t medically related. The ICUs have a separate isolated COVID unit (at least EJGH did) where a special team is kept with them so they are not going in and out of that unit. All decisions and info will be shared by phone. If you can't fax the medication list, they will take it by phone. Don't try to bring it to the hospital. New infectious cases are coming in all the time and they don’t want more people exposed. Be kind. Be thankful. Be considerate. The people there with your loved one are risking their lives for your family. Tell them you are grateful for everything they are doing.
Graham at the Louisiana Baptist All-State Youth Choir
DICTATORSHIP
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
A parent tells a child you will not give out your name, address or phone numbers to anyone online.
Have a conversation about what is safe information to share and how personal information can be used negatively. Through this conversation, it will become apparent that giving out your name, address or phone number could result in bad things.
A parent tells a child if someone online asks them to meet, they should always say no and tell a parent right away.
Have a conversation about how people often disguise themselves as younger people to befriend someone, only to lure them away from their home once they believe they are friends.
Over the next week or so, the number of children that will have access to the internet at home will increase dramatically, thanks to the many internet vendors offering free access. Children with tablets, laptops, and smart devices need to be watched closer than ever as they try to access information on the world wide web. Now maybe the perfect time to teach your child the good, the bad and the evil of the internet. That doesn’t mean you need to make them fearful of ever using it. But, they do need a healthy dose of fear so they know where to go and not to go, and most importantly, when to throw up the red flag when something doesn't seem right. I’m not going to debate the safety of the internet. You can google internet safety and tens of thousands of articles will pop up warning individuals of scams, schemes and unscrupulous people trying to take advantage of anyone they can latch onto. Nobody wants to fall victim to a scam where they lose money, but that will seem like a walk in the park if your child becomes a victim of an internet predator. You must make sure your child is safe and thinking, "it won't happen to my child", isn't a plan. If you don’t think this is true, look at these staggering statistics collected by GuardChild.com: 44% of tweens admitted to watching something online their parents wouldn’t approve. 17% of tweens said they received an email or online message with photos or words that made them feel uncomfortable. Female teens are far more likely than male teens to post personal photos or videos of themselves online. 22% of teenage girls say they posted nude or semi-nude photos or videos of themselves online. Only 15% of parents are “in the know” about their kids’ social networking habits. 70% of children 7 to 18 years old have accidentally encountered online pornography, often through a web search while doing homework. The largest group of Internet porn consumers is children ages 12 to 17. 86% of girls claimed to be able to conduct online chats without their parents knowing 1 in 33 youth received an aggressive sexual solicitation. Approximately 116,000 child pornography requests are made daily on the internet. How do you keep your child safe on the internet? The most important thing you can do is to educate your child. Make your kids smarter than the criminals. Sadly, so many children with disabilities are seeking friendships which makes them the perfect targets. Creating internet usage rules is a great place to start. But instead of just creating a list of rules, let your children be part of the creation of the list. If they are invested in the creation of it, they are more likely to follow it. Here are some examples of what I mean: Using the above-shared responsibility format, create some internet safety rules for: Ramifications for sharing personal information. Children need to know they should never share their names, addresses, school name, or password to anyone online. Help them understand that a stranger on the internet is not their friend. Children need to understand they shouldn’t be communicating with strangers. Teach them to use the “Would my parents be okay with this? Rule. If they are reading, watching or talking to someone you wouldn’t be okay with, then they need to understand the problems that could be created with this. Talk about identity theft and how they need to protect their identity and why people want to steal it. Teach them that nothing on the internet is private. Password rules. Only you’ll know if your child can be trusted with a password. But they need to know, if they know it, they should never share it. Social networks should be very limited. It’s the number one place children are bullied. Cyberbullying is a real thing and some think it’s worse than being bullied in person. Talk about household vulnerabilities. In addition to their device, there are probably many other devices connected to the internet that can also be hacked into by outsiders. Having rules around public WiFi is essential to keeping your child safe because so many public places offer free WiFi, and most aren’t secure. Remember, the internet is a whole new world of information that can be very useful. But it’s also full of misinformation and people trying to take advantage of others. So now more than ever, it’s critical that your children understand internet safety. Remember, whenever a community is in crisis, opportunities for internet fraud and scams, as well as predators seem to multiply.
Keeping Your Children Safe on the Internet
By: Mary Jacob
VIRTUAL ZOOS & AQUARIUMS The Cincinnati Zoo: Check in around 3 p.m., because that's the time the Zoo holds a daily Home Safari on its Facebook Live Feed. Atlanta Zoo: The Georgia zoo keeps a "Panda Cam" livestream on its website. Georgia Aquarium: Sea-dwellers like African penguins and Beluga Whales are the stars of this aquarium's live cam. Houston Zoo: There are plenty of different animals you can check in on with this zoo's live cam, but we highly recommend watching the playful elephants. The Shedd Aquarium: This Chicago aquarium shares some pretty adorable behind-the-scenes footage of their residents on Facebook. San Diego Zoo: With what may be the most live cam options, this zoo lets you switch between koalas, polar bears, and tigers in one sitting. Monterey Bay Aquarium: It can be Shark Week every week thanks to live online footage of Monterey Bay's Habitat exhibit. National Aquarium: Walk through tropical waters to the icy tundra in this floor-by-floor tour of the famous, Baltimore-based aquarium.
RESOURCES for PARENTS & EDUCATORS
NCII has a series of sample lessons and strategies that can be used by educators and families to support students. The reading lessons and activities cover phonemic awareness, alphabetic principal or phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension and are examples of brief instructional routines that include sample scripts, activities, and necessary materials to complete the activities. The mathematics lessons and activities are organized around six mathematics skill areas and include descriptions of sample lessons, activities and worksheets, and supplemental materials. Additional videos illustrating the concepts covered in the materials are also included. The behavior strategies, organized around antecedent modification, self-management, and reinforcement strategies, can be used to support students with challenging behaviors. The U.S. Department of Education has also provided a one-stop-shop of information on their website, the National Center for Systemic Improvement will be collecting and disseminating Part B information from OSEP TA&D Centers to support online, distance and virtual learning. Schooling at Home School closure learning guide during Coronavirus (COVID-19) If school has closed, these resources will help your child learn from home. Find out how to set up at-home learning and use Great Schools’ grade-based resources to fill in the gaps. Great Schools free worksheets in English and Spanish for different ages and grades These actually look like fun for kids while emphasizing certain skills and addressing grade-appropriate information. Free online learning resources during COVID-19 closures From National Center for Families Learning: Wonderopolis.org is a free online learning resource visited by 13 million students, teachers, and parents annually. Also explore NCFL’s Out-of-School Time free resources page. Resources for Learning at Home When Schools Close Links to resources for teaching reading/English language arts, math, writing, science, and social studies. 11 Tips for Parents Starting to Homeschool in a Hurry A lot of us are in the same boat! Handpicked recommendations for learning apps, games, and websites for kids Common Sense Media offers this list of “best for learning.” Topics range from skills essential to life and work in the 21st century, to traditional academic subjects, to recommendations for particular settings or types of kids. Organized by age of child. Virtual Early Intervention Home Preparation Checklist for Families A 1-page checklist of how to prepare for a virtual early intervention home visit. Coping Tips and Other Useful Info Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak From SAMHSA. Daily tips (in video form) for parents Every day, the Child Mind Institute publishes a video and social tile with a tip for supporting families through the coronavirus crisis. Sign up to get these tips, and tell the families you serve to do so, too. How You and Your Kids Can De-Stress During Coronavirus From PBS for Parents. What To Do With Kids At Home On Coronavirus Break For Who Knows How Long (Without Losing It) Interesting resources and good advice here. 12 World-Class Museums You Can Visit Online The digital age has made it possible—easy, even—to visit some of the world’s most famous museums from the comfort of your own home, including the Louvre, the National Gallery of Art, the British Museum, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and NASA.
ACCURATE INFO IS KEY Youth need accurate, straightforward information and guidance, in a format that makes sense for them. We suggest these authoritative sites to learn more about the virus and how to stay safe. Bear in mind that much is unknown, and these sites update daily. Centers for Disease Control World Health Organization Johns Hopkins University and Medicine
Resources
A Closer Look
continued from p.13
TRUE OR FALSE... In a crisis, there is a lot of misinformation, especially on social media. To explore some of the common myths, we turn to Lisa Maragakis, MD, at Johns Hopkins University. TRUE or FALSE? You can protect yourself from COVID-19 by swallowing or gargling with bleach, taking acetic acid or steroids, or using essential oils, saltwater, ethanol or other substances. FALSE. None of these recommendations protects you from getting COVID-19, and some of these practices may be dangerous. The best ways to protect yourself from this coronavirus (and other viruses) include: Washing your hands frequently and thoroughly, using soap and hot water. Avoiding close contact with people who are sick, sneezing or coughing. In addition, you can avoid spreading your own germs by coughing into the crook of your elbow and staying home when you are sick. TRUE or FALSE? A vaccine to cure COVID-19 is available. FALSE. There is no vaccine for the new coronavirus right now. Scientists have already begun working on one, but developing a vaccine that is safe and effective in human beings will take many months.
Making Your Point
Auditory learners will welcome this simple podcast about the virus and how germs are spread. Social Stories: The Autism Educator offers these social stories about the coronavirus. Here from the NYC Mayor's Office is what you need to know about Coronavirus in American Sign Language (ASL).
This comic from MPRNEWS explores the coronavirus in a youth-friendly way.
Perspectives
BREAKING IT DOWN FOR YOUTH Adults needs to convey information to teens and youth about the virus and how to stay safe. For those with communication and intellectual disabilities, this can mean breaking it down. Here are a few resources that might help: Psychology Today offers an article about how to talk to children and teens about the coronavirus.
WELCOME TO MY NORM When we read about those most at risk from the COVID-19 virus, those with disabilities and medical conditions are at the top of the list. Preventing illness can be a matter of life and death. Joanne DeSimone, a New Jersey parent of two sons with disabilities, explores what this means for her family and her 21-year-old son, Ben. “I can tell you with 100% certainty that if Benjamin catches the coronavirus and the hospital is in the position to ration ventilators, Benjamin will die. His life will be deemed less valuable than a father of two or a mother of one or ABSOLUTELY ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING WITHOUT A DISABILITY. I know this because that is also nothing new to me. Our society is in the bad habit of placing a hierarchy on life.” - Joanne DeSimone, blogger, advocate, author, parent, teacher
TOOLS THAT WORK
Music can help make information less frightening. We share, “The Germs Song” to share with youth.
This article from RAINN outlines things teens can do if someone is pressuring them. Perpetrators of sexual violence often use tactics, such as guilt or intimidation, to pressure a person into doing something they do not want to do. It can be upsetting, frightening, or uncomfortable if you find yourself in this situation. The following tips may help you exit the situation safely. Remind yourself this isn’t your fault. You did not do anything wrong. It is the person who is pressuring you who is responsible. Trust your gut. Don't feel obligated to do anything you don't want to do. It doesn’t matter why you don’t want to do something. Simply not being interested is reason enough. Do only what feels right to you and what you are comfortable with. Have a code word. Develop a code with friends or family that means “I’m uncomfortable” or “I need help.” It could be a series of numbers you can text, like “311.” It might be a phrase you say out loud such as, “I wish we took more vacations.” This way you can communicate your concern and get help without alerting the person who is pressuring you. It’s okay to lie. If you are concerned about angering or upsetting this person, you can lie or make an excuse to create an exit. It may feel wrong to lie, but you are never obligated to remain in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, or threatened. Some excuses you could use are: needing to take care of a friend or family member, not feeling well, and having to be somewhere else by a certain time. Even excusing yourself to use the bathroom can create an opportunity to get away or to get help. Whatever you need to say to stay safe is okay—even if it may seem embarrassing at the time. Think of an escape route. If you had to leave quickly, how would you do it? Locate the windows, doors, and any others means of exiting the situation. Are there people around who might be able to help you? How can you get their attention? Where can you go when you leave? If you have to find a way out of a situation where someone is pressuring you, or if something happens that you didn’t consent to, it is not your fault. Take care of yourself, and know you’re not alone. To speak with someone who is trained to help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.
Research shows that people with disabilities are far more likely than those without a disability to be the victim of sexual assault or sexual abuse. Assault and abuse are NEVER the victim's fault.
ABOUT STAYING SAFE Hand Washing We have all heard that hand washing is a big part of staying well and slowing the spread of the coronavirus, and all viruses. Here are four songs that each take about 20 seconds to sing – the recommended length of handwashing Happy Birthday, Row Your Boat ABCs, and Mary Had a Little Lamb. Check out the Department of Labor’s Coronavirus Resource Center. They offer resources on Workplace Safety; Hours, Wages and Leave; Unemployment Insurance; and other news. Social Distancing It will not be fun, but the research seems clear – extreme social distancing is needed. Experts are worried about the rapid spread of the virus and the ability of the health care system to keep up with people who need care. We have a responsibility to ourselves and others to stay at home. A single person’s behavior can cause ripple effects that touch far away people. This article with dynamic info graphics shows what happens when social distancing efforts are put in place. HOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR TIME Go to School - Many education websites are offering free access. Go to an Ivy League College - Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, Penn and Dartmouth are offering more than 450 FREE courses in a wide range of areas. Go to a Museum 12 International Museums offer virtual tours you can take from home – See the British Museum the Guggenheim, National Gallery of Art, Musee d’ Orsay, and more. See the Opera The Metropolitan Opera is offered through Virtual Shows through March 22. The “Nightly Met Opera Streams” will begin at 7:30 pm each night on the Met's homepage and will remain available via the homepage of metopera.org for 20 hours. The performance will also be available on the Met Opera’s On-Demand apps. Go to the zoo Many famous zoos have webcams that allow visitors to watch exhibits.
MAY
awareness Calendar
JUNE
Alcohol Awareness Month - Alcohol Awareness Month is a public health program organized by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence as a way of increasing outreach and education regarding the dangers of alcoholism and issues related to alcohol. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month National Autism Awareness Month National Child Abuse Prevention Month National Donate Life Month - Celebrated in April each year, Donate Life Month features an entire month of local, regional and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those that have saved lives through the gift of donation. National Facial Protection Month National Minority Health Month National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month Occupational Therapy Month Oral Cancer Awareness Month Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month Sexual Assault Awareness Month STD Awareness Month National Minority Cancer Awareness Month World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) - (April 2) aims to put a spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism and others living with autism face every day. As a growing global health issue owing to its increasing exposure in the press and common knowledge, autism is an issue that is only gaining more understanding and WAAD activities are planned every year to further increase and develop world knowledge of children and adults who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). National Public Health Week (April 6–12) Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network Day (April 5) World Health Day (April 7) National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (April 10) Every Kid Healthy Week (April 20–24) World Meningitis Day (April 24) World Immunization Week (April 24–30) National Infant Immunization Week (April 26–May 3)
American Stroke Awareness Month Arthritis Awareness Month Better Hearing and Speech Month Clean Air Month Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month - Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. Food Allergy Action Month Healthy Vision Month Hepatitis Awareness Month Lupus Awareness Month Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month Mental Health Month - Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, NAMI and the rest of the country are raising awareness of mental health. Each year we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month National Celiac Disease Awareness Month National High Blood Pressure Education Month National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month National Physical Fitness and Sports Month National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3–9) National Neuropathy Awareness Week (May 4–10) World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5) - Wash your hands! Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day (May 9) National Women’s Health Week (May 10–16) National Stuttering Awareness Week (May 11–17) Food Allergy Awareness Week (May 12–18) National Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Awareness Week (May 13–19) HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (May 18) National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (May 19) World Autoimmune Arthritis Day (May 20)
APRIL
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month Cataract Awareness Month Hernia Awareness Month Men’s Health Month Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month National Aphasia Awareness Month National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month - CMV is the most common infectious cause of birth defects in the United States. About 1 out of 5 babies with congenital CMV infection will have birth defects or other long-term health problems, such as hearing loss. National Safety Month National Scleroderma Awareness Month Scoliosis Awareness Month National Cancer Survivors Day (June 7) Men’s Health Week (June 10–16) Family Health and Fitness Day (June 13) World Sickle Cell Day (June 19) PTSD Awareness Day (June 27) Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week (June 28–July 4)
About two months from now, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season will officially begin. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 with the peak period from early August through the end of October. The Atlantic basin includes the entire Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. 2019 marked the fourth year in a row that the Atlantic hurricane season saw above-average activity, and it doesn't look like 2020 will provide any relief. The 2020 season is expected to generate 14 to 18 tropical storms, of which seven to nine will become hurricanes and two to four will develop into major hurricanes, AccuWeather predicted on March 30, 2020.
For the child or adult facing challenges because of a disability, planning ahead for hurricane season takes added time and thought. Planning may mean stocking up on hearing-aid batteries or keeping an emergency supply kit in a walker or wheelchair. For a child or person with autism, it may mean packing a computer game or headphones to help ease stress. It could mean showing others how to operate a wheelchair. Caregivers play a critical role in hurricane preparedness for those with disabilities. Here are some tips to help everyone prepare General tips Talk with friends, family or a support network about how to stay in touch. Keep phone numbers for doctors, aides and family in a sealed waterproof bag. Pack eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and dentures in an emergency kit. Ask neighbors or someone in your support circle to help keep you informed. Plan ahead for accessible transportation in case evacuation becomes necessary. Identify the closest shelter in case you need to leave your house. Identify which medical facilities are close to your house or shelter. Wear medical alert tags or bracelets with information about healthcare needs. Plan and practice for an evacuation, and remember to take your medical devices in a waterproof bag. Have at least a 10-day supply of prescription medicines along with copies of prescriptions; list of all medications and dosage; list of allergies; list of dietary restrictions. Make plans for a pet, including a note for emergency responders: I have a service animal named ____, who must evacuate with me. Tips for people who are deaf or hard of hearing Get a weather radio with text display and a flashing alert. Stock up on extra hearing-aid batteries and protect them with a plastic bag. Carry pen and paper to help communicate with someone who does not know sign language. Have access to TTY and/or VRS. Tips for people who are blind or have low vision Carry a picture of your family members to help connect you with them in an emergency. Mark emergency supplies with Braille labels or large print. Keep a list of emergency supplies on a portable flash drive or make an audio file and keep it in a plastic bag and where it’s easy to find. Keep a Braille or deaf-blind communications device in an emergency supply kit. Practice your evacuation route and be comfortable getting to your family’s meeting point. Tips for people with a mobility disability Make sure all assistive devices that depend on electricity or batteries are working and keep your batteries in a waterproof bag. Keep an emergency supply kit in a backpack attached to your walker, wheelchair or scooter. Show others how to operate your motorized wheelchair, and have a lightweight manual chair available as a backup. Keep an extra cane or walker for emergencies. Keep an extra seat cushion to protect your skin or maintain your balance, and take it along if evacuation becomes necessary. Tips for children and adults with autism Familiar items will help children adjust to new surroundings and ease the stress of the transition. Remember to pack their favorite toys, movies and computer games. Headphones or earplugs can dampen the noise in unfamiliar settings. Consider bringing duct tape to mark the perimeters of your family’s assigned space in a communal shelter. Children with autism often wander away. Work with teachers, police and community members as you develop safety plans to help protect children from dangerous situations. Tips for people with a mental health condition The stress that comes with an emergency can be hard to manage. Be ready to provide important information specific to your situation, or write it down and keep it with you. For example: “I have a mental health condition and may become confused in an emergency. Please help me find a quiet place. I will be okay shortly.” The range of needs runs wide and effective planning runs deep. Be ready for the hurricane season and help those who may need neighborly assistance. It is important for local residents to be informed about Medical Special Needs Shelters before a disaster occurs. Disasters/emergencies can be defined as events that cause severe damage, injury, or loss of life and/or property; examples are floods, explosions, earthquakes, hurricanes, freezes, and terrorist attacks. Call 2-1-1 for a single access point to updates and information. There are more ways to get up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates from the Louisiana Department of Health Emergency Preparedness. https://www.facebook.com/LaDeptHealth/ www.twitter.com/La_Health_Dept
PREPARE 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season
The Louisiana Department of Education is committed to helping families find the right school or early childhood center for their children, and providing them with helpful information about Louisiana’s schools. The Louisiana School Finder is an interactive, online tool that provides families with: school performance scores and early childhood performance ratings to show how well schools and centers are preparing students for the next grade-level; basic information about schools and centers such as their address, website, hours of operation, and principal or director’s name; and listings of course offerings, clubs, enrichment and extracurricular activities. To find out information about schools and early childhood centers in your area, visit www.louisianaschools.com, and type in a school or center’s name, or your zip code.
The Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center (LaPTIC) is a program of Families Helping Families of GNO and a grant from the US Department of Education; Office of Special Education (OSEP) as Louisiana's official and only statewide federally funded Parent Training and Information Center.
Any information provided by Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans (FHF) and/or Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center (LaPTIC), its staff, and/or its volunteers is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Any information expressed or implied is not intended nor should be construed as legal, medical, or other professional advice. FHF and/or LaPTIC does not render legal, medical, or professional advice or recommendations; nor is legal, medical, or other professional advice implied by any information given. Any information provided should not replace consultations with qualified legal, educational, healthcare, or other professionals to meet individual or professional needs. Reference to any program, service, therapy, or treatment option does not imply endorsement by FHF and/or LaPTIC or by its organizational staff/members and should not be construed as such.
e-Learning Mini Modules are formatted for all devices so even if you are at a ball game, dance practice or waiting for your dinner to arrive in a restaurant, you can log onto our website and watch one of our e-Learning Mini Modules in approximately 10 minutes. That's right - you only need about 10 minutes! CLICK HERE to go to our website and learn more about the e-Learning Modules!
700 Hickory Avenue Harahan, LA 70123 504-888-9111 800-766-7736 504-353-2350 fax info@fhfofgno.org fhfofgno.org
The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) has four developmental disability home and community-based waivers, New Opportunities Waiver (NOW), Residential Options Waiver (ROW), Supports Waiver, and Children's Choice Waiver have now been operationalized to a tiered waiver system of service delivery, which will allow for individuals to be supported in the most appropriate waiver. To learn more, click here.