Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
September 2013
Inside this issue:
1) Mississippi Marketplace Health Insurance Information
2) Free Webinar on Discovery Process in Transition Planning for Young Adults – September 25
3) Encouraging Independence Critical for Children with Special Needs
4) Parents’ Perspective Video Series
5) My Family Disaster Plan
6) Teachers’ Guide Supports Including Parents with Disabilities in the Classroom
7) My American Dream Video Contest – Deadline: Sept. 10
_______________________________________________________________
1) Mississippi Marketplace Health Insurance Information
Under the Affordable Care Act, each state will have its own “marketplace” for health insurance by October 1. The Marketplace, also known as an Exchange, will provide information about the companies operating in Mississippi and their prices, allowing individuals to shop and buy health insurance. The Marketplace in Mississippi will be operated by the federal government and is mainly for people who don’t have health insurance, who aren’t insured by their employer, or have pre-existing conditions who may have had trouble getting insurance before. For more information on the Mississippi Marketplace, visit a website sponsored by WebMD at http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/ms/mississippi-health-insurance-marketplace.
2) Free Webinar on Discovery Process in Transition Planning for Young Adults – September 25
Transition planning from school to postsecondary education, employment, and community life is critical for all high school students. The focus of the webinar, Customized Employment: The Role of the Discovery Process in Transition Planning for Young Adults with Disabilities, Including Deaf-Blindness, will highlight strategies to improve post school outcomes for young adults with disabilities. Presenter, Mike Fagbemi, will provide an overview of customized employment, an innovative planning approach that emphasizes the student’s personal interests, strengths and complexities for decision making that will guide the transition process. The webinar will be held at 2 p.m. Central Standard Time on September 25. No registration is required. Before the meeting, take time to run an Adobe Connect test at http://hknc.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm. On the day of the meeting connect to http://hknc.adobeconnect.com/nfadb-1. Type your name, enter as guest.
When you enter the Adobe room, you will be prompted for a call back number. Enter your phone number and Adobe will call you. If you are at a phone with an extension, dial 1-866-244-8528. The Participant Code is 219009.
3) Encouraging Independence Critical for Children with Special Needs
Families raising children with special needs may be overprotective, and they often feel justified due to the numerous challenges their children face. But children with special needs must reach their personal, best potential, and they should be encouraged to be as independent as possible, beginning at a very early age. This online article by Lauren Agoratus, a parent and the state coordinator for Family Voices of New Jersey, provides specific “dos” and “don’ts” on encouraging independence. Read the article at http://expertbeacon.com/encouraging-independence-critical-kids-special-needs/#.UhdnI83D-M8.
4) Parents’ Perspective Video Series
The Center for Learning and Leadership, Oklahoma’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) recently developed a short video series featuring parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or special health care needs. In the videos, parents share their perspectives on getting a disability diagnosis, supporting their children through transitions in the school system, and dealing with emergency personnel. Learn more about the parent’s perspective of disability diagnosis, educational transition, and emergency medical services in the short video series, Parents’ Perspective, by visiting http://www.ouhsc.edu/thecenter/videos/.
5) My Family Disaster Plan
The My Family Disaster Plan brochure is targeted at parents and caregivers, offering tips and suggestions on how a family can think ahead and plan ahead for any disaster, including putting a plan together that addresses water and food needs, shelter and supplies, communication and the community. The brochure was developed by experts from the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and was supported by a grant from “Idol Gives Back.” View the brochure by visiting http://bit.ly/d7Gikw.
6) Teachers’ Guide Supports Including Parents with Disabilities in the Classroom
Parents with Disabilities and their Children: Promoting Inclusion and Awareness in the Classroom, is a new guide from the NIDRR-funded National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families, to help teachers include parents with disabilities in school and classroom activities. The free 26-page guide (PDF) answers questions about terminology, accommodations, and etiquette, and offers suggested activities and reading to promote collaboration with parents with disabilities. Download the brochure at http://bit.ly/16RDyg9.
7) My American Dream Video Contest – Deadline: Sept. 10
The National Disability Institute is accepting entries for its third annual “My American Dream - Voices of Americans with Disabilities” video contest. Contestants with disabilities create a three-minute video telling their story and steps to achieving their American dream. The deadline is September 10. Upload your video onto YouTube and email the URL, your name and phone number. One winner will receive $1,000, a digital tablet and sessions with a mentor. For more information, visit http://dream.realeconomicimpact.org/.
***PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to access any of the links in Family Health Notes, please make sure the entire link is highlighted. If a link is not highlighted, please copy and paste the entire link into your Web browser.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~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).
***********************************
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE
***********************************
TO SUBSCRIBE
If this mailing was forwarded to you and you are not already subscribed to Family Health Notes, here’s how you can become a subscriber:
Sign up online at https://mailman.usm.edu/mailman/listinfo/familyhealthnotes
TO UNSUBSCRIBE
Unsubscribe online at https://mailman.usm.edu/mailman/listinfo/familyhealthnotes and login with your email address and your password. If you do not have a password (they are emailed to members at the beginning of every month), contact one of the administrators listed below.
****************************************
Please visit the IDS Calendar of Events at http://www.usm.edu/ids/calevents/.
Questions may be addressed to
OR
_______________________________________________
Family Health Notes mailing list
https://mailman.usm.edu/mailman/listinfo/familyhealthnotes