Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
December 2015
Inside this issue:
1) Open Enrollment Time for the Health Insurance Marketplace
2) Special Education Advisory Panel Meeting – Dec. 9, Jackson
3) Call for Presentations for 2016 Mississippi disAbility MegaConference (Deadline: January 15, 2016)
4) Sickle Cell and Living Healthy
5) Autism and Exercise
6) New Guides for Transition
7) Mississippi Family 2 Family on Facebook
8) 2016 IEP Training
_______________________________________________________________
1) Open Enrollment Time for the Health Insurance Marketplace
Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace has started and will go through January 31, 2016. Here are some important dates to remember:
· December 15, 2015 – last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start January 1, 2016
· January 15, 2016 – 2016 coverage starts for those who enroll or change plans by December 15, 2015
· January 31, 2016 – 2016 open enrollment ends. Enrollment or changes between January 16 and January 31 take effect March 1, 2016
Remember, if you don’t enroll in a 2016 health insurance plan by January 31, 2016, you can’t enroll in a health insurance plan for 2016 unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. Mississippi does not have a state portal, so residents will use the federal portal.
There are several ways to get your health insurance coverage:
· First time enrollees can get coverage through the following link: https://www.healthcare.gov/get-coverage/
· Do you have a 2015 plan? Log in to update your application, compare and renew, or change for 2016 at this link: https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/global/en_US/registration
· Would you like help in person? You can find a trained provider in your community to assist you: https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/
For more information about the Health Care Marketplace, contact Mississippi Family 2 Family at 601.432.6929 or ksmith@ihl.state.ms.us.
2) Special Education Advisory Panel Meeting – Dec. 9, Jackson
The Mississippi Department of Education Special Education Advisory Panel will meet on Wed., Dec. 9, at 9:30 a.m. at the Hilton Hotel at 1001 East County Line Road in Jackson. The Panel will hear public comments at 10:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. Written comments may be submitted to Dr. Armerita Tell, Mississippi Department of Education, P. O. Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771; fax to 601.359.2198; email to atell@mdek12.org or call the Parent Hotline at 1.877.544.0408. For more information, or if you need accommodations for a disability, contact Dr. Tell at 601.359.3498.
3) Call for Presentations for 2016 Mississippi disAbility MegaConference (Deadline: January 15, 2016)
The Mississippi disAbility MegaConference is soliciting presentations on all topics important to people with disabilities and their families. Presentations on the following topics are needed: advocacy, assistive technology, direct support services, education/early intervention, employment, housing, health care, recreation, or transportation. Other topics will be considered. Proposals from presenters with disabilities are encouraged. To submit a presentation idea, please contact Shawn Smith for a form at ksmith@ihl.state.ms.us.
4) Sickle Cell and Living Healthy
Good nutrition is critical for children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Good nutrition promotes health and helps prevent complications. Children with SCD need a diet that provides plenty of fluids, calories, protein, vitamins and minerals. Fluids are top of the list of importance. Children with SCD should drink as much water as possible each day to prevent dehydration. Their bodies use more energy because they break down red blood cells faster than other children do. Their higher energy needs makes it common for children with SCD to be shorter and thinner than their peers. But children with SCD can often catch up to their peers if they meet their energy needs. High calorie foods or extra snacks can be helpful. For some additional helpful hints, visit http://www.nutritionmd.org/consumers/hematology/sickle_cell_nutrition.html.
5) Autism and Exercise
Exercise can be used to improve the physical fitness of learners with autism spectrum disorder. In addition, exercise can be used to increase desired behaviors (time on task, correct responding) and decrease inappropriate behaviors (aggression, self-injury). This free online learning module offered by AFIRM (Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules) provides basic knowledge about exercise and how it can be applied in real-world scenarios. For more information and how to sign up, visit http://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/exercise.
6) New Guides for Transition
The Center for Parent Information and Resources has published a series of four “Getting Ready for . . .” transition guides that address when your teen reaches the age of majority, health care, managing finances and independent living. To view these guides and many more resources on a variety of topics, visit http://www.parentcenterhub.org/topics/transitiontoadult/.
7) Mississippi Family 2 Family on Facebook
Don’t forget to like Mississippi Family 2 Family on Facebook to keep up with health information, legislative updates, helpful tips/tools and to connect with parents with CYSHCN around the state: https://www.facebook.com/idsfamily2family.
8) 2016 IEP Training
The Mississippi Department of Education Office of Special Education is presenting a series of informational sessions for families of students with disabilities. Join a training session from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at a session near you. Upcoming locations:
· January 21 - MSU, Kahlmus Auditorium, 1000 Hwy 19 N, Meridian
· March 1 - Harrison County School District Central Office, 11072 Hwy 49, Gulfport
For more information, contact the Office of Special Education at 1.877.544.0408 or at http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/OSE.
***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 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).
***********************************
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