Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
March 2013
Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
March 2013
Inside this issue:
1) March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
2) Tips for Families Series
3) DREDF Releases New Healthcare Stories
4) New Transition Website Debuts
5) Traveling with Special Needs Children
6) TravelChair Makes Airline Flight Easier for Children with Disabilities
1) March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Since that time, many chapters of The Arc as well as state and local governments annually encourage citizens to think about their family members and neighbors with developmental disabilities in March and recognize and protect their rights as individuals. For more information on National Disability Awareness Month, visit the The Arc of San Diego http://www.arc-sd.com/nationaldisabilityawarenessmonth.
2) Tips for Families Series
The Office of Head Start, National Center on Health has published a new series of tip sheets, Tips for Families Series (February 2013), which provide important information to families about how to strengthen the health and wellness of young children. These fact sheets serve as tools to help Head Start health managers provide important information to families about National Center on Health priorities. Some of the topics addressed include: active play, health literacy, healthy breathing, healthy eating, mental health, oral health, safety and injury prevention. To download tip sheets, visit http://1.usa.gov/VNqTWM.
3) DREDF Releases New Healthcare Stories
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) announced the release of new Healthcare Stories that illustrate the obstacles and barriers that stand in the way of getting appropriate, effective healthcare for many people with developmental disabilities. These short video stories feature people with developmental disabilities and their families and an heroic primary healthcare provider who has defined the field of developmental medicine. To read stories and view videos, visit http://www.dredf.org/healthcare-stories/.
4) New Transition Website Debuts
The OSERS Transition Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from all three program offices of OSERS, launched a new webpage for the Year of College and Career for Youth with Disabilities Initiative (YCC). This transition-oriented webpage features news and resources for youth with disabilities, their families, and the educators and employment professionals who support them. For more information, visit http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/ycc/index.html.
5) Traveling with Special Needs Children
Spring break is just around the corner, and families will begin making travel plans and trips that will continue through the summer. Helpful tips for traveling with children can be found on online on websites and blogs. The following links address general travel families, grandparents traveling with special needs grandchildren, and airplane travel: http://momaboard.com/general-travel-tips/special-consideration/five-tips-for-traveling-with-special-needs-kids/, http://www.grandparents.com/food-and-leisure/travel/grandchildren-special-needs-travel-tips, and http://www.disabled-world.com/travel/airlines/flying-with-children.php.
6) TravelChair Makes Airline Flight Easier for Children with Disabilities
MERU, a UK-based charity that designs and manufactures specialized equipment for children and young people with disabilities, has launched a new and improved TravelChair for aircraft. The TravelChair offers various adjustable features to ensure that children with disabilities between the ages of 3 to 11 years (depending on weight and height) are supported and comfortable, even on long-haul flights. For more information, visit http://blog.apex.aero/inflight-services-2/travel-chair-disabled-children-gains-traction-airline-industry/.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Family Health Notes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family Health Notes is sponsored by the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), Mississippi’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at The University of Southern Mississippi. IDS provides university training, community service activities, research and information that promote the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with disabilities and their families. For more information about IDS, visit www.usm/edu/ids or call 1.888.671.0051 (TTY). To make a tax-deductible gift to IDS, visit www.usm.edu/ids/supportus.html.
The Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center (F2F) is a family-focused, family managed resource center that empowers families of Mississippi children with special health care needs to be partners in the decisions made concerning the health of their children. F2F is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (GR#H84MC07948).
The Mississippi Integrated Community Systems (MICS) for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs project is working to create a seamless system of family-centered, community-based, culturally competent services and supports for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). MICS is funded by the Maternal and Child Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (GR#D70MC12841).
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