Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
April 2015
Inside this issue:
1) Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs – Needs Assessment Survey
2) Art Ability Fair – Apr. 9, Biloxi
3) Developmental Screening Days – Apr. 14, Starkville; Apr. 21, Petal
4) National Minority Health Month
5) New AT Information
6) Finding Balance: Obesity and Children with Special Needs
7) Promoting Long-Term Health for Children with Special Health Care Needs
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1) Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs – Needs Assessment Survey
The Children Medical Program (CMP) at the Mississippi State Department of Health is interested in hearing from parents and care givers of children with special health care needs (CYSHCN). The 40-question survey concludes with an area for comments. This survey is not restricted to CMP patients and may be shared with any parents or caregivers. To complete the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PBTM5BB.
2) Art Ability Fair – Apr. 9, Biloxi
Adults and children over age eight with intellectual disabilities including autism are invited to register for this free day to explore a variety of art classes at the sixth Art Ability Fair. The event is scheduled for Thurs., Apr. 9, from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Donal Snyder Community Center in Biloxi. Activities include pottery, painting, crafts, photography and dancing. Rock N Roll is the theme for this year’s fair, and Elvis will be in the building. Registration is necessary. For more information, contact Disability Connection at 228.604.4020 or office@disabilityconnection.org or visit http://disabilityconnection.org/.
3) Developmental Screening Days – Apr. 14, Starkville; Apr. 21, Petal
The early years of a child’s development are crucial. If you or your child’s physician, child care provider or pre-K teacher has concerns about your child’s development, plan to attend these free developmental screening events. A screening will be held on Apr. 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Starkville at MSU Child Development and Family Studies at 501 College View Street. On Apr. 21, a screening day will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Petal at the Center for Families and Children at 201 West Central Avenue. Please call in advance to register. For more information or to register, call Shelley Ezelle, MS, at 601.432.6179 or Leslie LaVergne, PhD at 601.266.6225.
4) National Minority Health Month
April is National Minority Health Month. “30 Years of Advancing Health Equity” is the theme of the National Minority Health Month 2015. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Black and Minority Health released in 1985. This landmark report marked the first convening of a group of health experts by the U.S. government to conduct a comprehensive study of racial and ethnic minority health and elevated minority health to a national stage. All Americans are reminded to take action toward ending health disparities in their community.
5) New AT Information
The AbleData project has released three new articles available as PDF files that focus on assistive technology (AT). AT for Parenting with a Disability highlights products that make day-to-day tasks like feeding, changing, transporting and monitoring children easier for parents with disabilities.
http://abledata.com/sites/default/files/AT%20for%20Parenting%20with%20a%20Disability_PDF.pdf.
Make Your Own Tech Still Works for Many covers low- and medium-tech do-it-yourself AT solutions.
http://abledata.com/sites/default/files/Make%20Your%20Own%20Tech%20Still%20Works%20for%20Many_PDF.pdf.
Voting Success for People with Disabilities covers voting rights and technology to improve voting access.
http://abledata.com/sites/default/files/Voting%20Success%20for%20Those%20with%20Disabilities_PDF.pdf.
AbleData is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Visit the AbleData website at http://abledata.com/.
6) Finding Balance: Obesity and Children with Special Needs
Children with special needs are far more likely to be overweight or obese than their counterparts according to Finding Balance: Obesity and Children with Special Needs, a groundbreaking report produced by AbilityPath.org, an online resource hub and social community for parents and professionals serving the needs of adults and children with disabilities. This report, the first to focus exclusively on how obesity affects children with disabilities, presents not only the extent and causes of the problem, but also offers practical solutions for families and others caring for these children. To view and print the report, visit http://www.abilitypath.org/health-daily-care/health/growth-and-nutrition/articles/obesity/pdfs/obesity-report.pdf.
7) Promoting Long-Term Health for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Life Course Theory, which promotes a life-span approach to an individual’s health, is taking hold in adult medicine, but adoption has been slow in pediatric practices. Promoting Children’s Long-Term Health and Functioning: Applying a Life course Approach to Pediatric Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs, a report by the Lucille Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, proposes a framework to help pediatric practices become life course settings for children with special health care needs. For more information on Life Course Theory and a copy of the report, visit http://lpfch-cshcn.org/publications/research-reports/promoting-childrens-long-term-health-and-functioning-applying-a-life-course-approach-to-pediatric-care-for-children-with-special-health-care-needs/.
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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 http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies or call 1.888.671.0051 (TTY). To make a tax-deductible gift to IDS, visit http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies/support-ids.
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).
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