Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
November 2013
Inside this issue:
1) Webinar: “Assistive Technology: Keeping It Simple” – Nov. 8, 12 Noon
2) Empowering Individuals and Families as Advocates
3) Online Training to Improve Accommodations Decision Making
4) New Accessibility App
5) Video-based Intervention Helps Improve Social Behaviors in Teens with Autism
6) The Affordable Care Act: How Will It Work and How Will It Affect MCH Populations?
7) New Research Brief Reviews the Evidence Base on Preschool Education
8) Fake Service Dogs a Growing Problem as Pet Owners Abuse Disability Rules
_______________________________________________________________
1) Webinar: “Assistive Technology: Keeping It Simple” – Nov. 8, 12 Noon
Learn about the wide array of assistive technology devices for people with disabilities available at the Technology Learning Center (TLC) at this webinar scheduled for Fri., Nov. 8, at 12 noon. TLC, a division of the Institute for Disability Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi, is located on the Southern Miss Gulf Coast campus. TLC staff travel throughout the state to provide assistive technology evaluations in the natural environment to determine the best devices for communication, computer access, environmental control to enhance educational outcomes and participation. Sara Jackson, Ed.D., special educator at TLC, will present. Participants should use the webinar link below in conjunction with computer speakers and a microphone (enabled by the presenter). Participants can also dial in by phone at 213.416.1560 using the guest access code 1447029. Live captions will be available. Use the following link for the webinar: http://www.anymeeting.com/WebConference-beta/default.aspx?ip_ek=usmids.
2) Empowering Individuals and Families as Advocates
The Genetic Alliance, in partnership with Family Voices and Parent to Parent USA, have launched a new online resource for individuals with special healthcare needs and their families. The “Advocacy ATLAS: Accessible Tools for Leadership and Advocacy Success” features over 250 tools and resources to help new and experienced advocates communicate their needs around services, support, and access. The ATLAS features resources and perspectives on youth leadership, transition to adulthood, insurance and financial assistance, communicating about your health, and access to healthcare. For more information or to access the Advocacy ATLAS, visit http://www.geneticalliance.org/advocacy-atlas.
3) Online Training to Improve Accommodations Decision Making
The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) has launched Online Training to Improve Accommodations Decision Making, a five-module, interactive, multi-media professional development tool with case-based video clips. Through it, educators are coached on best practices in how to select, administer, and evaluate the use of accommodations. NCEO developed the training collaboratively with the state of Alabama, but it can also be used in other states. For more information and to sign up for the online training, visit http://www.cehd.umn.edu/nceo/OnlineAccommodationsTraining.html.
4) New Accessibility App
An article in Time magazine provides information about a new mobile Web app and website developed by filmmaker Jason DaSilva called AXS Map. The app is powered by Google Maps and allows users to rate and share the accessibility of local businesses and restaurants. To read the article, visit http://healthland.time.com/2013/10/14/wheelchair-inaccessible-the-story-behind-an-app-that-maps-obstacles-for-the-disabled/. To view AXS Map, visit http://www.axsmap.com/.
5) Video-based Intervention Helps Improve Social Behaviors in Teens with Autism
Watching a group instructional video demonstrating social behaviors was associated with improved social skills among 13- to 17-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder, according to a study in the journal, “Exceptional Children.” Parents of the teens included in the study reported being highly satisfied with the results of the video-based instruction. For additional information, visit http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1112977963/video-teaching-helps-autistic-kids-hone-social-skills-101713/
6) The Affordable Care Act: How Will It Work and How Will It Affect MCH Populations?
What are the goals of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? What are the primary mechanisms through which the ACA will meet its goals? What is the potential impact of the ACA on women, children, adolescents, and immigrant families? The Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health at the University of Minnesota, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has just released a 36-page publication that addresses these questions. For a copy of the report, visit http://www.epi.umn.edu/mch/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/HG_Fall20132.pdf.
7) New Research Brief Reviews the Evidence Base on Preschool Education
A new research brief provides a non-partisan, thorough review of the current evidence on why early skills matter, which children benefit the most from preschool, the short- and long-term effects of preschool on children’s school readiness and life outcomes, the importance of program quality, and the costs versus benefits of preschool education. The brief, written by an interdisciplinary team of early childhood experts, was funded by the Foundation for Child Development and produced in collaboration with the Society for Research in Child Development. Visit http://fcd-us.org/sites/default/files/Executive%20Summary%20-%20Evidence%20Base%20on%20Preschool.pdf for an executive summary of the report or http://fcd-us.org/sites/default/files/Evidence%20Base%20on%20Preschool%20Education%20FINAL.pdf for a complete copy.
8) Fake Service Dogs a Growing Problem as Pet Owners Abuse Disability Rules
Pet owners are increasingly breaking the law and creating problems for the disability community by purchasing and strapping on service animal vests and backpacks to take their pets in stores and restaurants. This Huffington Post article provides further information about this growing dilemma:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/10/fake-service-dogs_n_4075308.html?utm_content=bufferbe8c5&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer
***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
Alma.Ellis@usm.edu
OR
Jerry.Alliston@usm.edu
_______________________________________________
Family Health Notes mailing list
familyhealthnotes@usm.edu
https://mailman.usm.edu/mailman/listinfo/familyhealthnotes
