December 2, 2011
December 2, 2011
Inside this issue:
1) Scholarships for College Students with ADHD
2) Online Parent Journal
3) Video Illustrates Value of Coordinated Care
4) Students Living with a Genetic Condition: A Guide for Parents
5) OSEP Answers Questions on Secondary Transition
6) Youth Transition Toolkit Available from Talent Knows No Limits
7) Resources
1) Scholarships for College Students with ADHD
We all know how hard students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) work to succeed in school. The Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center (MSPTI) is offering 50 scholarships to Mississippi students with ADHD pursuing higher education at a college, vocational school or technical school. The award also includes one year of ADHD coaching. For more information and an application, go to the Shire 2012 ADHD Scholarship Program: http://www.shireadhdscholarship.com/.
2) Online Parent Journal
The Parent Journal was developed by the University of South Alabama Department of Medical Genetics after barriers to care among children with special health care needs were identified. One barrier determined was a lack of communication and understanding between parents of children with special health care needs and their health care providers, as well as among health care providers themselves. This downloadable journal can help parents keep up-to-date, accurate information on their children’s ongoing medical conditions along with activities of daily living that will be of interest to anyone involved in the care of their children. The journal pages cover everything from emergency information to comfort needs. The Web site contains a table of contents that allows families to print sections of the journal that are useful for them for storing in a binder or file folders: http://www.southalabama.edu/genetics/bdgc_parentjournal.htm.
3) Video Illustrates Value of Coordinated Care
Indian Stream Health Center of Colebrook, New Hampshire, used an amusing video to explain a patient-centered medical home. Enabling Access as a P.C.M.H. won the 2011 National Association of Community Health Centers video contest. The video focuses on the impact of fragmented care—then coordinated care—in the life of one family. Enabling Access is the first video on this Indian Stream Web page: http://www.indianstream.org/whatisapatientcenteredmedicalhome.html.
4) Students Living with a Genetic Condition: A Guide for Parents
Developed by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY), this guide provides information that may be helpful when writing a letter to or preparing to meet with a student’s teacher, school nurse and physical education teacher or coach. This may also be a useful resource for bus drivers, babysitters, church leaders or other potential caregivers: http://nichcy.org/students-living-with-a-genetic-condition-a-guide-for-parents.
5) OSEP Answers Questions on Secondary Transition
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has issued a new Questions & Answers Document on Secondary Transition, which includes updated guidance on identifying postsecondary goals in training, education, employment and where appropriate, independent living: http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,dynamic,QaCorner,10, . The document can be read online or downloaded as a Microsoft Word of PDF file.
6) Youth Transition Toolkit Available from Talent Knows No Limits
The Youth Transition Toolkit: A Guide for Young People with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood is now available online from Talent Knows No Limits (TKNL), a public information campaign of the California Health Incentives Improvement Project (CHIIP). Developed in partnership with young people, the toolkit is designed as a how-to guide on preparing for transition to adulthood and making choices about their own health care, education, employment, finances, independent living and social and recreational activities. Some of the questions the toolkit help youth address include: What is Transition Planning? What is an IEP and how can I lead my IEP Meeting? How can I manage my Social Security and medical benefits? How does college differ from high school? How can I obtain services for my disability during college? What resources are available to help me choose the right career? Is there assistive technology available that can help me secure a job? How can I find accessible housing to live on my own? What should I do to prepare for a job interview? While some of the services and resources provided are California state-specific, much of the guidance is applicable to youth in any state. The toolkit was developed with funding from a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To learn more, visit the Youth Transition Toolkit Web site.
7) Resources
Have you visited the IDS Web site? http://www.usm.edu/ids There is an abundance of useful information for families of children and youth with disabilities. The IDS home page contains links to the IDS calendar of events and the disability news blog. The calendar provides information about trainings, conferences, Webinars and events in Mississippi and across the nation. The blog is updated often with breaking news and important information for people with disabilities and their families. Be sure to take time to explore IDS’ many program pages, particularly the Family to Family Health Education and Information Center (F2F) and Mississippi Integrated Community Systems (MICS) pages which contain health care resource information for families of children and youth with special health care needs and the professionals who serve them. F2F: http://www.usm.edu/ids/f2fc MICS: http://www.usm.edu/ids/mics .