Special Needs Network

Beats of Grief: Special Needs Network Puts the Focus Back on What Really Matters

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:57:19 -0800

Beats of Grief: Special Needs Network Puts the Focus Back on What Really Matters:

In the midst of a world where the latest focus has been shootings and grief, seeing people’s good nature is absolutely refreshing. Last month, I attended Special Needs Network’s (SNN’s) holiday event, where thousands of special needs and underprivileged children and their families were provided…

Truly heartwarming.

just-another-silly-wish: They are no different <3Reblog if...

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:07:26 -0700

just-another-silly-wish:

They are no different <3
Reblog if you support those who are unfairly judged because of their differences.

Free Event on Bullying and the Special Needs Child by Dr. Ester...

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:31:23 -0700

Free Event on Bullying and the Special Needs Child by Dr. Ester Hess and Center for the Developing Mind

"Today’s ruling by the US Supreme Court that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional is a..."

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:45:00 -0700

“

Today’s ruling by the US Supreme Court that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional is a tremendous victory for the American public, including millions of underserved families currently uninsured and children and adults who were denied insurance due to autism, mental health, and other pre-existing conditions.

With autism as the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States, affecting one in every 88 children (and 1 in 54 boys), mental health conditions currently account for a major portion of pre-existing conditions. The Affordable Care Act will ensure that every child and adult living with a pre-existing health condition –such as autism and other developmental and mental health issues – will be protected by the law by 2014.

“This law will provide much needed assistance to the millions of minority families affected by developmental disabilities that face daily health struggles in the face of poverty,” said SNN President & Co-Founder Areva Martin, Esq.

Behavioral health treatment is listed in the Affordable Care Act as one of 10 “essential health benefits” required by each state to adopt, which will ensure coverage for autism therapies such as Applied Behavior Analysis, as well as other forms of treatment such as prescription drugs, and habilitative and wellness services for those in need.

”

- Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act and Stands Up for Underserved Families

Camp JPAC is the only free summer inclusion day camp in Los...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 09:33:55 -0700

Camp JPAC is the only free summer inclusion day camp in Los Angeles for special needs children and their typical peers and siblings ages 5 to 16.

Apply today at www.specialneedsnetwork.org.

Upcoming Events You Should Know About!

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:19:00 -0700

June 9, 2012
SNN Participates in the Cultural CommUNITY Fair at James Foshay Learning Center

June 10, 2012
Senator Curren D. Price Jr.’s Summer Youth Resource & Safety Fair in Culver City

June 13, 2012
SNN President & Co-Founder Areva Martin at the 3rd Annual Substance Abuse and Policy Conference in Ontario

June 13, 2012
SNN Joins SEIU-ULTCW for Rally Against IHSS Budget Cuts in Sacramento

June 13, 2012
Foothill Autism Alliance Surviving Autism Parents Perspectives Lecture at the Pasadena Child Development Center

June 17, 2012
SNN President Areva Martin Speaks at the Family of Faith Church in Compton

June 22, 2012
Camp JPAC Acceptances Sent Out

June 23-24, 2012
Team SNN 1 in 88 Participates in ‘Relay For Life’ in Baldwin Hills

July 14, 2012
Parent Advocacy Mentor Program (PAM) Cycle 7 Graduation

July 14, 2012
SNN Participates in ‘Stephanie’s Day 2012’

July 14, 2012
SNN Participates in Assemblymember Holly J. Mitchell’s ‘Christmas in July’ Event

July 16, 2012
Camp JPAC Opening Day Ceremony

Upcoming Event: SCLARC Town Hall Meeting Advocacy 101: Come Meet...

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:30:37 -0700

Upcoming Event: SCLARC Town Hall Meeting

Advocacy 101: Come Meet Your Community Leaders!

with Former US Treasurer Rosario Marin, Special Needs Network President & Co-Founder Areva Martin, Esq., and state legislators who represent SCLARC’s catchment area.

When: Friday, June 1, 2012, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Where: South Central Los Angeles Regional Center, AAA Mega Room 1st Floor

650 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007

Contact: Johanna Arias

213-744-8415 or johanna@sclarc.org

Report on the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in School Accountability Systems

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:40:15 -0700

This interim report presents descriptive information on school-level accountability, adequate yearly progress (AYP), and school improvement status of schools accountable and schools not accountable for the performance of the students with disabilities (SWD) subgroup under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Based on U.S. Department of Education EDFacts data from the 2005–06 to 2008–09 school years for up to 40 states, key findings from the study include:

• Across the 40 states with relevant data, 35 percent of public schools were accountable for the performance of the SWD subgroup in the 2008–09 school year, representing 58 percent of tested SWDs in those states. In those same 40 states, 62 percent of middle schools were accountable for SWD performance, while 31 percent of elementary schools and 23 percent of high schools were accountable.

• In 20 states that had relevant data for all 4 years, there was a steady increase in the percent of SWD-accountable schools, from 25 percent in the 2005–06 school year to 34 percent in the 2008–09 school year.

• In 32 states with relevant data, 55 percent of public schools were not accountable for the SWD subgroup in any of the 4 years examined, while 18 percent were accountable in each of the 4 years.

• In 37 states with relevant data, 9 percent of all public schools missed AYP in the 2008–09 school year because of SWD subgroup performance and other reason(s), and 5 percent missed it solely because of SWD subgroup performance. Together, these schools served 28 percent of tested SWDs in all public schools in these states.

• Among schools that were consistently accountable for the performance of the SWD subgroup during the 4 years across 27 states with relevant data, 56 percent were not identified for school improvement over this time period. By comparison, among schools that were not accountable for SWD subgroup performance in any of the 4 years, 76 percent were never identified for improvement.

To view the full report visit http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20124056/

Jobs And College Pose Big Challenges For Young People With Autism

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:16:00 -0700

Times are tough for young people. Unemployment is high, and college costs are soaring.

For those who’ve been diagnosed with autism, the challenges of life after high school are even steeper, according to a study just published in the journal Pediatrics.

Within the first six years of getting out of high school, only a little more than one-third of young people previously diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, had gone to college, and only a slim majority — 55 percent — had held paying jobs.

The first two years after high school are particularly hard, the researchers found, with less than half of the young people with an ASD having had any work.

The researchers compared the experience of the young people with autism to those with mental retardation, learning disabilities and impaired language or speech. Those with autism fared worse than the others when it came to jobs, the researchers found.

On the college front, those with autism were more likely than those with mental retardation to have attended some college but less like to have done so than those in the other two comparison groups.

“It appears that youth with an ASD are uniquely at high risk for a period of struggling to find ways to participate in work and school after leaving high school,” the researchers wrote. The findings, they said, point to a need for support during the transition from high school to life afterward.

The data for the analysis came from a long-running study of young people and concentrated on those receiving special education services. The researchers looked at the experience of more than 600 people in the autism category, and more than 400 each in the comparison categories.

The ranks of candidates for such intervention are growing. According to the latest federal estimates for autism, released in March, the number of children diagnosed with autism jumped 23 percent between 2006 and 2008. About 1 in 88 kids has been diagnosed with autism, the figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed.

by SCOTT HENSLEY

VIA NPR NEWS

From Autistic Kitten, a new meme blog run by a couple friends...

Mon, 07 May 2012 09:06:33 -0700

From Autistic Kitten, a new meme blog run by a couple friends with high-functioning autism or autistic family member who love sharing their personal stories.

“Science Matters” event tomorrow where a panel of...

Fri, 04 May 2012 17:01:00 -0700

“Science Matters” event tomorrow where a panel of distinguished experts will discuss the implications of the anticipated to the definition of autism in DSM-5, changes that may take away your child’s eligibility to services and leave thousands without the interventions they need. Come to this important meeting to get involved and learn how you can make the appropriate preparations.

This event will take place in the Donald P. Loker Conference Center at the California Science Center from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. Admission is FREE. We are offering free parking vouchers (normally $10) to our special families to attend this important meeting. Click here to register online.

Actor Boris Kodjoe will attend Special Needs Network’s 4th...

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:12:00 -0700

Actor Boris Kodjoe will attend Special Needs Network’s 4th Annual Pink Pump Affair to accept the Toyota Advocates Award, presented to him and his wife, Actress Nicole Ari Parker. Together they founded Sophie’s Voice Foundation, a charitable organization supporting family outreach programs, prenatal education, and surgical studies for children and adults with spina bifida.

Water Safety for Special Needs Children

Wed, 02 May 2012 10:27:18 -0700

Having a child with special needs means that parents need to take added precautions. No parent wants to see their child injured, especially when that injury is the result of someone else’s negligent actions.

The weather is getting warmer which means it is the time of year when a hazard to children becomes more prevalent—drowning. In many cases, these are avoidable tragedies. It is important that this summer while enjoying your local pool or waterpark you ensure that your child is safe from drowning.

SafeKids.org explains that, “drowning is a silent killer—it happens quickly and quietly. Water safety is important for any family, but this is especially true for families of children with special needs.”

While visiting a place such as Dorney Park’s Wild Water Kingdom in Allentown, parents should make sure that the attractions they enjoy are age appropriate and safe for your child. As much as we would like to rely on trained life guards to watch over our children, that is not always the case. A child can still drown or suffer serious injury in a pool or at a waterpark that has lifeguards, which is why you need to take the proper precautions.

It is scary to consider, but it is unfortunately a fact that, 25 percent of all drowning victims are under the age of 14 and in most cases the child was out of sight for less than five minutes. The leading cause of these accidents is negligence be it due to inadequate fencing, failure to post proper warning safety signs, failure to supervise young children, or failure to maintain the pool area and equipment.

Tips to Keep Your Child Safe in the Water

Make sure you have the proper life jacket for your child.
Always make sure while at a waterpark or pool that there is a qualified life guard on duty. This does not mean you do not have to watch your child, it is added safety.
Your special needs child, or any child for that matter, should be within arm’s reach of an adult.
Take an Adaptive Aquatics Class like those offered at your local YMCA.

You should never allow your child into the water if they are not adequate swimmers. Also, when you arrive at the water park or local pool be sure to inform the lifeguards of your child’s condition such as if they are deaf. If your child is injured while at a waterpark or pool and you believe it was caused by the negligence of another speak with an attorney today to learn the options available to you.

Links:

Personal injury lawyers in Allentown | Serious injury in a pool

Upcoming Events You Should Know About!

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:58:50 -0700

April 30,2012
“Equality for Our Kids” Campaign at Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders Public Hearing at State Capitol in Sacramento

May 5, 2012
PAM Cycle 7 Begins

May 5, 2012
President Areva Martin, Esq. at Science Matters “Autism: An Epidemic or a Matter of Definition?” at the California Science Center

May 6, 2012
Southern California CARE Congress at Cal State LA Golden Eagle Ballroom

May 15, 2012
President Areva Martin, Esq. at the California Diversity Council’s Women in Leadership Symposium in L.A.

May 20, 2012
A Pink Pump Affair: High Tea, Designer Fashion Show, and Awards Presentation at Montage Beverly Hills

E-mail info@specialneedsnetwork.org or call our office at (213) 389-7100 to learn more about any of these upcoming events!

Photo

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:51:00 -0700

How IQ Tests Underestimate Autistic Students’ Intelligence

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:33:00 -0700

Some types of IQ tests may wrongly label autistic children as having intellectual disabilities, say two Florida researchers. Douglas Carothers of Florida Gulf Coast University and Ronald Taylor of Florida Atlantic University presented their findings at the annual convention for the Council for Exceptional Children. As many as 70 percent of autistic children have also been diagnosed with intellectual disabilities.

But, as Carothers and Taylor point out, many IQ tests rely on children responding verbally. As Carothers says on Ed Week’s On Special Education blog:

…many children with autism don’t respond to verbal stimuli and may speak little themselves, but some psychologists expect them to respond to questions on an IQ test out loud. If asked to create a sequence from a series of pictures in order to test their social skills, “they may be more interested in the pieces than the whole,” Carothers continued.

In fact, the examiner’s manual of one IQ test, the WISC-IV, cautions that “it is important not to attribute low performance on a cognitive test to low intellectual ability when, in fact, it may be attributable to physical, language, or sensory difficulties.”

Carothers also notes that IQ tests administered to autistic children by people who don’t know them can “pose a challenge.” An examiner who does not know a child may be unaware of subtle and idiosyncratic ways that a child communicates; new situations and interacting with yet unknown-people are often especially difficult for autistic individuals. Add the stress and anxiety that a child may feel in finding her or himself in a test situation and the likelihood of her or him not being able to demonstrate her or his abilities is very high.

NAMI Basics - a free course for parents & caregivers of children with mental illnesses

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:16:21 -0700

Check out this wonderful and free educational resource!

What are the goals of the NAMI Basics program?

To give the parent/caregiver the basic information necessary to take the best care possible of their child, their family, and themself.
To help the parent/caregiver cope with the impact that mental illness has on the child living with the illness and the entire family.
To provide tools for the parent/caregiver to use even after completing the program that will assist in making the best decisions possible for the care of the child.

What does the course include?

Introduction to the stages of emotional reactions of the family to the mental illness; including crisis, shock, denial, grief and acceptance.
Insights into understanding of the lived experience of the child living with the mental illness, including learning to separate the child you love from the illness that alters their behavior and abilities
Current information about Attention Deficit Disorder, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Childhood Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorders
Current research related to the biology of mental illness and the evidence-based, most effective treatment strategies available, including medications used to treat mental illness in children and adolescents
Specific workshops to learn problem solving, listening and communication skills
So much more!

When?

Thursday April 26, 2012 at 6:00 PM PDT to Thursday May 31, 2012 at 8:30 PM PDT

Click here to learn more about this program and register for FREE.

Legislators & Stakeholders VIP Reception at the 6th Annual...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:03:00 -0700

Legislators & Stakeholders VIP Reception at the 6th Annual Tools for Transformation Conference and Legislative Breakfast. More pictures here.

Children Born to Obese Moms May Face Higher Autism Risk: Study -

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:12:49 -0700

Children Born to Obese Moms May Face Higher Autism Risk: Study -:

Maternal obesity overweight also linked to other developmental delays.

6th Annual Tools for Transformation Conference & Legislative...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:23:00 -0700

6th Annual Tools for Transformation Conference & Legislative Breakfast

The largest conference of its kind in Los Angeles, Tools for Transformation brings the country’s most renowned experts in medicine, law, education, and advocacy to provide families with cutting edge information and resources through a full day of classes and workshops.

In honor of Autism Awareness month and as a part of our ongoing efforts to help underserved families affected by autism and related developmental disabilities, we established this free annual event to provide families with resources, information, support, education, and more. The conference includes free give-aways of iPads for a select group of children.