jacob and grant part 2

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When it comes to media, never work with children and animals

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Jacob and Grant part 2

Download now or watch on posterous

Jacob and Grant part 2.wmv (7130 KB)

Jacob and Grant

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Jacob and Grant.wmv (7091 KB)

Jacob and Grant saying hello

Thankful posts

challenges

People always say that challenges make us stronger; each week I learn more and more what it is like to live in the world my son lives in. Dylan is 14 with Asperger's Syndrome & generalized anxiety disorder, and it causes a host of special challenges for him. I do not always rise in response to the many challenges I face in parenting him, or his beautiful little sisters, but each day he greets me with a hug, and a smile, and never looks at me with even a sniff of believing me the failure as a parent that I often think I am. There is nothing more I could ever be more thankful for as a parent; to have a son, who amidst his challenges and struggles makes me believe I will rise up, just like him, above it all.

—Guest Joe Carreiro

Always Thankful

I am grateful for all the things my 10-year-old Down Syndrome child does or says. And I admire his stubborness because it gives him spunk! He has overcome Leukemia Cancer with such resilence and bravery that it just makes me want to try harder to be a upbeat person!

—Guest Elizabeth Branscumb

I'm grateful for YOU

Without my son and his challenges, I would not have come here. I would not have learned about the realities of life for so many people. I would not have discovered that no matter how disabled someone may be, they are still a special gift to discover. I would not have learned the grace you and your readers bring to a tough situation. I love my kids, and would no matter what. But it's a genuine pleasure to have discovered YOU, and to add you to the good in life.

—sylrayj

Thankful for my child with special needs

I have met so many wonderful familys and people because of my son. He has opened my eyes to what I am capable of which helps me help him to be the most he can be regardless of his disability. He is so loving and appreciates those who help him get better. He works so hard that he is my inspiration. I love him so much and am thankful that he chose me as his mother.

—Guest Julia

"mental retardation" to "intellectual disability

This is a post from the about.com forum "special needs" which I thought was interesting

HI Terri,

    This is Cynthia. I used to post a lot, but so many other things have been demanding my attention, I just haven't gotten around to it. But I still sometimes read your blog, and you're as good as ever!

I'd like to make a comment on legally changing the term "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability."  When I think about these labels, it occurs to me that they just do not appear to convey anywhere close to the same meaning.  My son, now 16, was diagnosed at three with autism and moderate mental retardation.

The moderate retardation is now bordering the severe. He functions at a 2 to 7-year-old level depending on the task or situation. He has a small vocabulary, but still his speech is hard to understand (especially for outsiders, and still sometimes even to us). He can read kindergarten and first grade readers, but mostly we make him his own books featuring his interests. He can sight read, but the only phonics he understands is beginning sounds --- blending and sounding out is beyond him.  He cannot do any math beyond counting to 30, and some simple addition using real objects.

On the bright side, he likes learning about animals and their habitats so we've focused a lot on that. He's got a very good memory for the names of animals, what they eat, and even, sometimes, where they live. He can also identify traditional clothes from other countries.  He loves watching transformers on TV, and repeatedly on youtube. and he loves Disneyland and anything to do with MIckey and Minnie Mouse, and their buddies. He also loves watching college football --especially the mascots. We live in Oregon so he's particularly thrilled with the Oregon duck!

He is usually loving, but occasionally he hits me (not very hard) when frustrated.

At any rate, "intellectual disability" does not come close to giving anyone a real idea of his disabilities and challenges. It's not only that he's not intellectual, he would have a hard time holding his own in an everyday conversation with a 3-year-old.  Really, he doesn't understand much of the world. Most academics are way beyond him.

So, I'd prefer a different term than the empty intellectual disabilities. One that conveys some idea of what we're talking about. At least with mental retardation, people knew exactly what I meant. and it helped people quickly make allowances and include him in a way that was helpful for him and us.

 

Cynthia

In the UK, my understanding is that "mental retardation" and "mental impairment" have been replaced by the term "learning disabilities," which given what that term means in the US always kind of makes my head spin.

I think the term "mental retardation" is still going to be with us for a while; it's easier to replace it in federal law than in people's perceptions. Certainly if you feel it's a term that gets your son the understanding he needs, there's nothing to keep you from using it. I think coming up with one term that works for everybody is going to be hard, since there's such a wide range of abilities and disabilities trying to fit under one umbrella. Anything that accentuates the challenges is going to sound wrong to those who want to accentuate the abilities, and vice versa.

-- Terri

 

 

Animoto - Special needs equipment

via animoto.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Grant Knott <swaffi@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 3:12 PM
Subject: Disabilty no Barrier for talented artist
To: swaffi@gmail.com
Cc: swaffi@gmail.com

Go ahead, add this, make my day

From Evernote:

Disabilty no Barrier for talented artist Clipped from: http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.disabilityscoop.com%2Ffeed%2F

Disability No Barrier For Talented Artist

from Library Of Special Needs Toys, Equipment Offers Families ... by Shaun Heasley

A genetic disorder is leaving Jessica Blinkhorn with increasingly limited control over her body, but that's not stopping her from producing awe-inspiring drawings.

DisabilityScoop.com: At 77, First Man Diagnosed With Autism Doing Just Fine

Grant has recommended this article from Disability Scoop:

At 77, First Man Diagnosed With Autism Doing Just Fine
Donald Triplett, the first person ever diagnosed with autism, now lives independently in his hometown of Forest, Miss., exemplifying what's possible for those entering adulthood.
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/09/15/first-diagnosed-autism/10234/

DisabilityScoop.com: Down Syndrome Births Jump 30 Percent

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: grant <swaffi@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 1:39 PM
Subject: DisabilityScoop.com: Down Syndrome Births Jump 30 Percent
To: gg <swaffi@gmail.com>

Down Syndrome Births Jump 30 Percent
In the broadest analysis to date, the CDC finds a growing number of kids have Down syndrome.
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/30/down-syndrome-prevalence/6320/

Disability No Barrier For Talented Artist

By Shaun Heasley

August 24, 2010

A genetic disorder is leaving Jessica Blinkhorn with increasingly limited control over her body, but that’s not stopping her from producing awe-inspiring drawings.

Blinkhorn has spinal muscular atrophy, a condition that over time destroys the nerves that allow for movement. As a child, she was given just three years to live. But today at age 30, she’s still kicking and working as an artist.

With the aid of a wheelchair and one arm that works at about 25 percent, Blinkhorn is able to produce amazingly detailed, lifelike drawings, a gift that others call “exceptional.” And she is sharing her gift by teaching art at Georgia State University.

Day by day, Blinkhorn says drawing gets a little bit harder, as she develops cysts in her hands that cause pain when they inflame. Not that that’s going to stop her, however.

“My life is my art. If I can’t draw with my hands, hell, I’ll put a pencil in my mouth or tie a stick to my head and put a pencil on that. I’ll figure someway,” Blinkhorn told ABC News. To read more click here.

Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs: Things you never thought you would say...

Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs: Things you never thought you would say...

Enabling Environments: ICT - Switch on

Stuart Pattison, 25 August 2010, 12:00am

ICT equipment designed for children with special educational needs can be the best choice for general provision too, says Stuart Pattison.

Where can you find great equipment to help with ICT development? The answer, perhaps, surprisingly, is in the section of the catalogues marked Special Educational Needs.

I work with more than 100 schools providing ICT access for children with special needs. This involves assessing individual challenges and then supplying the necessary equipment to enable them to fully access the curriculum.

I was recently called in to help a local nursery. A child couldn't use the class computer despite being desperate to do so.

A Big Keys keyboard and Tiny Mouse were provided. When I returned a week later, I arrived to find that the keyboard and mouse that had previously been attached to the computer were tucked away in a cupboard, as every single child had switched to using the access device.

It became obvious that there is huge untapped potential for special needs access equipment to be used to help early learners. This covers not only hardware but also software and even toys and websites.

SWITCH

One of the earliest forms of interaction in ICT is through using a simple switch. Switch software not only develops ICT skills but also helps to develop children's understanding of the world. Special needs software that has been designed to help children interact better within their world can also fulfil the same role in a nursery setting.

A simple switch-operated toy (such as Droopy the Snoring Dog, available from Inclusive Technology) can be linked to the early learning goals and it can help motivate a child to interact with a switch, developing their ICT skills. To make this more relevant, a battery switch adaptor (available for £9) can be added, which turns a favourite toy into a valuable resource.

The SwitchIT range of software offers many different topics (sport, wildlife, dinosaurs). The extremely useful SwitchIT Hygiene will help develop simple personal hygiene as well as switch skills. The great thing with this software is the fact that it can also be used on an interactive whiteboard or through a mouse and keyboard.

MOUSE

The next stage on from using a switch is to start interacting using a simple mouse. Regular mice are designed for adult hands, which makes them difficult for children to move around with confidence. A mouse adapted for smaller hands, such as 'My First Mouse' and 'Mini Mouse', are much easier to cope with. An additional benefit is that many have different colours for the right and left buttons.

For children who are not confident in using a mouse, there are tracker balls which can be rolled to help get the cursor in the right position. The 'Big Track' (BIGtrack Trackball) is a good example of this. These are also very durable, which we discovered when one boy went from the sandbox straight to it (although it did make a grinding sound for five days afterwards!)

KEYBOARD

The average keyboard has too many keys for your average child or some adults to cope with. Reducing the number of keys makes it much easier for the child to work on the computer. Big key keyboards are generally available for less than £50. These enable the child to find the key easier and press it much more easily.

They come in a variety of colour combinations and are arranged A-Z rather than the traditional QWERTY arrangement. The A-Z keys are helpful for teaching the alphabet, but transferring to a standard keyboard can present a challenge.

Also available as an alternative keyboard is the Intellikeys system. This is a flat board which can have different overlays placed on it. These can be made to any design, so a picture of Red Riding Hood can be used to help write a simple story by pressing different areas.

PROGRAMS

Many programs for children with special needs can be adapted for all early years children. In addition to the SwitchIT software, there are programs such as the cause and effect program 'Big Bang' and the Choose and Tell programs, which help with telling stories and making decisions.

ReacTickles is a program specifically designed for children with autistic spectrum disorders. It is a series of simple interfaces that react to touch in different ways, which work very well on an interactive whiteboard and are suitable at a very early age.

If you are on a tight budget, programs to adapt the software to your own particular need will have to be chosen carefully. SwitchIT Maker 2 and ChooseIT Maker 2 can be easily customised. The staff I have worked with praised these highly for their ease of use. MyBoard software is one of the best for this, as a huge number of screens can be produced. We worked very successfully with it, when the children picked their own toppings for a pizza.

ONLINE

Many online activities are also very good and, more importantly, free! The CBeebies website has areas specifically designed for using with switches. In addition, the website www.helpkidzlearn.co.uk offers excellent activities which are constantly updated, despite having a terrible name.

Special needs equipment is something that should be given serious consideration when trying to find resources as it is usually well-built, bright, cleverly thought out and designed specifically to help with early development - ticking just about every box for early years equipment!

Stuart Pattison is a teacher and co-ordinator for the North Lincolnshire ICT Access Library.

Further information

• Big Keys Keyboard - www.keytools.co.uk/home.php or www.pcwb.co.uk

• Tiny Mouse - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• Droopy the Snoring Dog - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• Battery switch adaptor - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• Switch IT software - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• My First Mouse - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• Mini Mouse - www.amazon.co.uk

• Big Track - www.keytools.co.uk

• Intellikeys - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• Big Bang - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• Choose and Tell - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• Reactickles - www.r-e-m.co.uk

• SwitchIT Maker - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• ChooseIT Maker - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• MyBoard - www.Inclusive.co.uk

• CBeebies - www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/about/specialneeds/physical_cbeebies.shtml

• Help Kidz Learn - www.helpkidzlearn.com

Benefits of Handicap Reachers and Grabbers

via handicappedequipment.org

Different Kinds of Handicapped Equipment

via handicappedaidsequipment.com

Benefits of Handicap Reachers and Grabbers

Benefits of Handicap Reachers and Grabbers

Disability, Handicap Equipment

What are Handicap Reachers and Grabbers?

A handicap reacher is a device designed to reach objects from a distance and bring them close enough to grab. People with limited reaching capabilities find using a reacher is helpful when reaching for things that are difficult to get to such as dropped coins, dropped papers or mail, or even items inside cabinets and refrigerators.

Recommended Handicap Reachers and Grabbers

• 32 Inch Aluminum Handicap Reacher – Has a non slip gripping surface and is sturdy enough to pick up lightweight objects. Perfect for assisting with socks.
• Handicap Reacher with 31 Inches – Lightweight reacher that is able to pick up a penny or even a can of vegetables. Handle is perfect for most users.
• Lightweight Foldable Grabber – Foldable grabber that can be stored in a suitcase for portable use in travel or vacations.
• Aluminum Reacher with Magnetic Tip – Handicap reacher with a magnetic tip and a jaw that can pick up cans. Magnetic tip works perfectly for picking up lightweight metal objects in hard to reach places.

Reachers come in several different weights and styles depending on the needs of the individual. Some of the different styles of reachers available are listed below.

• Aluminum frame reachers are lightweight and easy for the individual to manage.
• Rotating head reachers are perfect for picking up small items that are in hard to reach places.
• Reachers and handicap grabbers are great for individuals who need lift chairs and have trouble reaching things when they are seated.
• Rotating arm handicap reachers are great for tight spaces where extra movement may be necessary for picking up an item.
• Suction cups on reachers aid in grabbing an item securely making even slippery items easy to pick up.
• Magnetic tip reachers have a magnet on the tip which helps the individual to pick up small steel parts like screws or bolts.
• Foldable reachers are handy when the individual has limited space for storing their reacher, or needs to take the reacher with them when they leave home.
• Most reachers utilize a trigger mechanism which helps to ensure a tight grip on the object being picked up.

How Can A Reacher Improve Your Quality of Life?

Reachers can improve the quality of life for people with spinal injuries, arthritis, hip, joint, or bone pain, or simply those people who find using a reaching device is easier, safer, and less strenuous, than bending over to pick something up.

Listed below are a few ways people might make good use of their reacher:

• Picking the remote control for your television
• Opening drawers or cabinet doors
• Getting an object from a high shelf
• Taking a book from a bookshelf
• Retrieve pens and pencils from the floor

Where Can I Buy a Reacher?

Handicap reachers can be purchased from pharmacies, grocery stores, online stores, and even flea markets. Depending on where you choose to buy your reacher, and the quality of reacher you decide on, the prices may range from $10.00 to $40.00. You can check out our list of recommended reachers and grabbers.

Tags: Foldable Reachers, Handicap Grabbers, Handicap Reachers, Magnetic Tip Reachers

via handicappedequipment.org

Audio on my special needs equipment blog

via AudioBoo

Audio on special needs equipment

Download now or watch on posterous

sent to posterous from logitech at home.wmv (2622 KB)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: grant knott <swaffi@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 2, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Subject: go him
To: grant knott <swaffi@gmail.com>

Portable Wheelchair Ramps

Portable Wheelchair Ramps

Disability, Wheelchair

Stepping onto a curb or getting into a car may be an effortless motion for many, but for a person in a wheelchair, it is a challenging task. Portable wheelchair ramps are specially designed to enable individuals in wheelchairs or strollers to access their homes, buildings, shower entrances and cars with ease. As they are portable and can be carried anywhere, wheelchair ramps are indispensable assets to their users reminding them that an elevated platform or a raised curb can no longer inhibit them from moving around freely.

Portable ramps have revolutionized the lifestyles of the physically disabled by enhancing their mobility and enabling them to venture into shopping malls, concert halls, cinemas and offices. By being able to move around, physically disabled individuals can now fully enjoy the social and entertainment attractions of the outside world. A portable wheelchair ramp is also a great aid for caregivers who have to accompany their wheelchair-bound patients or loved ones. When assisting them into cars, buildings and home, wheelchair ramps have certainly made their jobs much easier and less strenuous.

ADA Recommended Portable Ramps Slope

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) considers a slope greater than 1:20 along any accessible route as a handicap ramp. A slope of 1:20 means that there is a one inch rise in level along a 20-inch length run.

ADA’s guidelines indicates that building contractors should not build ramps with slope greater than 1:12 with levels rising more than 30 inches and ramps should also have maximum width of 36 inches. An ADA approved ramp should also have level landings at the top and bottom of the ramp to prevent wheelchairs from tipping over or losing balance.

Similarly, manufacturers of portable wheelchair ramps have used the basis of ADA’s safety guidelines to ensure stability, durability and reliability in their products. The recommended slope when using a portable wheelchair ramp is 1:12, which means a one-inch elevation along a 12-inch length run. For the private home user, one can also try a higher incline depending on one’s agility and strength, but one should not go beyond a slope of 1:6. Most portable ramps have lengths ranging from 5 feet to 12 feet and can withstand weight of up to 800 pounds. They are usually made from aluminum and can be folded, rolled or retracted for easy storage and loading.

via handicappedequipment.org

Jobless Rate 60 Percent Higher For Americans With Disabilities, Report Shows

A first-of-its-kind look at disability employment released Wednesday indicates that just 1 in 5 people with disabilities are employed and they’re disproportionately working part-time.

According to the report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment hovered at 14.5 percent among those with disabilities in 2009, significantly higher than the 9 percent reported for the rest of the population. Of those who did have jobs, a third had part-time positions compared to 1 in 5 workers without disabilities.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of people with disabilities — 80 percent — were not considered to be in the workforce at all because they were not seeking work. One reason for this may be that half of those with disabilities were over age 65.

Educational attainment is one factor that appeared to impact a person’s odds of employment. Nonetheless, having a disability persisted as a barrier, according to the data. When educational levels were equal, those with disabilities were still less than half as likely to have a job as those without.

The detailed breakdown represents the most comprehensive picture to date of the employment situation among Americans with disabilities. It stems from data collected in 2009, the first full year of information obtained after the Bureau of Labor Statistics began including those with disabilities in its monthly employment survey in June 2008.

Since that time, employment statistics are released monthly, reflecting people with disabilities over the age of 16 who do not live in institutions. The most recent report, issued earlier this month, indicated that in July the unemployment rate approached record levels at 16.4 percent.

The strikingly low level of employment among those with disabilities will not go unnoticed, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis said in response to the latest figures. She pledged to improve capacity at one-stop career centers and access to other job support services.

“We will make sure that people who want to work can work,” Solis said.

via disabilityscoop.com

Stem Cell Ruling Leaves Some Disability Research In Limbo

A court action earlier this week halting federal funding for research involving human embryonic stem cells is leaving some research into developmental disabilities up in the air.

On Monday, a U.S. District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction saying that federal funding of stem cell research violates a 1996 law barring federal dollars from being used for research where an embryo is destroyed. Federal officials are already appealing the decision, but in the meantime, it could put existing research projects in jeopardy.

For example, researchers are currently using stem cells to learn more about Down syndrome, but scientists at Children’s Hospital Boston say their $1 million federal research grant could be in question as a result of the ruling, reports CBS News. To read more click here.

What’s more, while there are hopes that cells taken from a person’s skin, for example, could be “reprogrammed” to behave like an embryonic stem cell, recent findings in individuals with fragile X indicate that reprogrammed cells are not picking up all traits of embryonic ones. That means that true stem cells are likely needed to better understand the condition, reports The Wall Street Journal. To read more click here.

via disabilityscoop.com

House To Vote On Replacing ‘Mental Retardation’ With ‘Intellectual Disability’

The House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as Wednesday evening on a bill to replace the term “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” in many areas of federal government.

The legislation known as Rosa’s Law was approved by the Senate in August. Under the bill, terminology would be altered in federal health, education and labor policy.

The House is widely expected to pass the measure when it is brought up later this week alongside several other bills that are considered uncontentious under a suspension of the rules. This means that there will be limited debate and a simplified voting procedure.

If Rosa’s Law does gain House approval, it will go to President Barack Obama, who supports the measure. ”He looks forward to signing it into law after the House passes it,” a White House official told Disability Scoop on Monday.

Under the bill, individuals with disabilities would retain the same rights they currently have, but terminology would be swapped as laws and documents come up for revision over the next several years. As a result, Rosa’s Law is not expected to incur any cost.

Nearly all states and some federal agencies already use the term “intellectual disability.”

via disabilityscoop.com

Aspergers Syndrome

Asperger Syndrome on The Big Bang Theory
http://specialchildren.about.com/b/2009/02/12/asperger-syndrome-on-the-big-bang-theory.htm?r=et

Stars Sign On For Comedy Central Autism Benefit

Tina Fey, Chris Rock and Steve Carell are among the stars who will perform on Comedy Central next month to raise money for education programs for children and adults with autism, the network said Thursday.

Hosted by Jon Stewart, the “Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Concert for Autism Education” will tape Oct. 2 and air Oct. 21. It will be the third biennial benefit for autism education to be broadcast on Comedy Central.

Other stars scheduled to perform include Lewis Black, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Ricky Gervais, Joel McHale, John Oliver, Sarah Silverman and Triumph The Insult Comic Dog.

What’s more, Sofia Vergara, Rainn Wilson, Larry David, Jimmy Kimmel and other celebrities will be on hand to answer calls from viewers wishing to donate while the program airs.

Since the event began in 2005, it has raised nearly $7 million “to help ease the severe shortage of effective schools and education programs for autistic children and adults,” the network said.

via disabilityscoop.com

Featured Professional – Gloria

Gloria J.

We have a new Featured Professional to introduce you to! Gloria is a professional who works with kids with special needs and graciously answered a few questions.

Fun and Function: Who are you and what is your profession?

Gloria J.: I’m Gloria J. and I’m a teacher.

FF: What company do you work for?

GJ: I work for a School system in Georgia.

FF: What is Nature of special needs you work with the most?

GJ: Autism.

FF: What would you say is your biggest challenge in working with children with special needs?

GJ: Not having enough money to fund more classes, therefore there are too many children in a class.

FF: What is your greatest joy in your job?

GJ: Seeing progress made in any area, but especially hearing their first word or first true attempt at real communication.

FF: What has been the greatest help to you in your profession?

GJ: My students! They are always forcing me to do more and find better ways to reach them.

FF: Give us one tool you would hate to live without?

GJ: Boardmaker. I find it a necessary piece of equipment given the strength of the visual for the child on the spectrum.

FF: If you could give one piece of advice to a parent who’s child has just been diagnosed, what would it be?

GJ: Remember your child is still your same child. He or she just needs a different approach to learning. Begin the task of finding where to send him and who is a good one to help with this team effort. If you don’t feel an active part of this process, you may need to find a different person to help your child.

Gloria, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us and all the readers here at Fun and Function.

If you would like to be a featured parent or professional, just let me know!

via funandfunction.com

'All Kids Can' Now on Facebook

CVS Caremark's All Kids Can campaign has been doing some neat things to raise awareness and visibility for children with special needs, like holding contests to create a friend with a disability for Arthur or assemble a gallery of artwork by kids with disabilities to celebrate the anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. If you like what All Kids Can has been doing, now you can like the program on Facebook through its brand-new fan page. There are already some great photos and videos posted.

Have you found a good Facebook page of special-needs interest? Share it in the comments.

_{Photo Illustration by Chris Jackson/Getty Images}

Daily News | Site of the Day

via specialchildren.about.com

Is SpongeBob on the Spectrum?

I asked you to diagnose your favorite autism- or Asperger's-like TV characters, and three readers have whipped out their virtual DSM-IVs and made their assessments:

+ Reader Laura notes in SpongeBob SquarePants such sure signs as "concrete/literal thinking, poor social skills, inability to read non-verbal cues, can't detect sarcasm, strict adherence to the rules, and obsessive interest in Jellyfish resulting in an encyclopedic knowledge of same." She also thinks Henry the Penguin from the kid's show Oswald is on the spectrum.

+ Reader Jp names Bob Melnikov of ReGenesis as a character whose disorder was mentioned on the show. "The actor did a good job of portraying some of the behavior that I have seen in some of the people that I know on the spectrum -- difficulty in catching nuance, emotional cues as learned behavior, hyperinterest on specific issues."

+ Reader Analogia diagnosesBrick Heck on The Middle. "He's a quirky little guy with a little more quirks than your average quirky sitcom kid. Of note: his tendency to repeat words in a low-nodded whisper." (Of course,there's another special-needs connection with Brick -- the actor who plays him, Atticus Shaffer, has osteogenesis imperfecta.)

Where are you seeing autism on TV these days, whether the character creators intended it or not? Check out my list (updated now with the three above), and then add your own.

_{Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images}

Daily News | Site of the Day

via specialchildren.about.com

Oprah Contestant With Cerebral Palsy Makes Own Travel Videos

If you're looking for something to start your week off with a smile, go right now and view "Zach in the Buff: Niagara Falls," the latest YouTube video from Zach Anner. Zach, as you may recall, entered Oprah Winfrey's search for someone to give a show to with a very funny audition video that got attention from singer John Mayer and lots and lots of Internet voters. Rather than wait for Oprah, Zach has gone ahead and started making his own travel show, available in short videos on his YouTube channel or website. In this four-minute installment, Zach admires Buffalo railings, connects the falls to Kevin Bacon in less than six degrees, and attempts unsuccessfully to run over a seagull.

On the other hand, if you have the kind of day ahead that requires some righteous indignation, get stoked up by reading Entertainment Weekly's account of the voting irregularities that led to Zach being left out of the top five finalists for his own OWN show. Zach dismissed accusations of an Oprah conspiracy in an ABC interview in June -- but still, the huge swing in votes between the raw totals on the main screen and the adjusted ones on the winner's page sure looks bad (especially to those of us still smarting from the American Express Member's Project special-needs dumping of a couple years back).

It's Oprah's loss, anyway -- a half-hour version of Zach's hilarious travelogue looks a lot more appealing than what did make the top five. Hope somebody finds a place for the guy. For now, with voting finished, you can support Zach by following him on Twitter and Facebook, and buy a T-shirt from his site.

_{Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images}

Daily News | Site of the Day

via specialchildren.about.com

Is a "No Screaming Kids" Sign Discriminatory?

What would you do if you saw a sign on the door of a restaurant that said, "Screaming Children Will NOT Be Tolerated"?

According to an Autisable post, a woman accused a North Carolina eatery with such a sign of discriminating against children with autism -- like her son, who sometimes melts down in restaurants. A WECT News account of the dispute has the mom claiming the sign violates the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the restaurant owner expressing surprise and pointing out that "autism is not a word on that sign."

Whether or not it's a word on the sign, a "no screaming children" policy effectively shuts out kids with a lot of disabilities. I don't think I'd make a federal case of it, though. Not every restaurant is right for every child, and honestly, I'd be happy for a restaurant to be so bold as to state that so I don't have to bother spending my money there. If we're going to go to the trouble of taking our kids out, I think parents have a responsibility not just to other diners, to remove screaming kids from the premises before intolerant owners have to kick them out, but to our children, to select establishments at which they will have the greatest opportunity for success. Sometimes, knowing where not to go is a big part of the job.

If I could, I'd seek out the restaurants with signs that say "Judgmental Patrons Who Glare at Families Who Are Just Trying to Make It Through a Meal Will NOT Be Tolerated." Haven't found one of those yet, though.

_{Photo by Jeff Manasse/Getty Images}

Daily News | Site of the Day

via specialchildren.about.com

Hearing Amplifiers and Voice Recognition for the Disabled

Hearing Amplifiers and Voice Recognition for the Disabled

On 08.27.10, In Equipment, by Myisha

Hearing amplifiers and voice recognition for the disabled improve the quality of daily activities such as listening to the news and allow you to be more sociable.

Some extremely useful devices on the market today are hearing amplifiers and voice recognition software. These items can both add convenience to our lives and increase our ability to be productive. In a very literal sense, these things can change the way we interact with computers, other people, and many entertainment devices.

Voice recognition is one of those things that a lot of people associate with science fiction television, but in truth, we’ve gotten to the point where it works surprisingly well with our modern technology. These programs can be extremely useful for a large number of people.

A voice recognition service will let you interact with a computer inputting text or using different voice commands. That means you can create documents, send emails, and generate reports without having to type a single word. This software is perfect for anyone that does a lot of dictation or otherwise repetitive tasks. It can also be useful for people with various disabilities that still need to interact their computers.

You should always check your voice recognition software to make sure that it provides the accuracy and quality you need. You should also make sure it has the specialty vocabularies you need if you are dictating medical or legal documents. Another option is to find the software that allows you to create custom voice commands to automate various tasks.

Many people use hearing amplifiers for the same reason they use voice recognition software – to make their daily activities easier or more productive. Hearing amplifiers, though, are generally used by people that suffer from some kind of hearing impairment. (Actual hearing loss should be diagnosed and treated by a qualified doctor.)

A hearing amplifier can be used in many different ways, and millions of people all over the world are discovering that. The most obvious application is to reduce the ambient and environmental sounds in the area, while simultaneously increasing the relevant sounds they need to hear.

A lot of people turn to hearing amplifiers so that they can start performing their daily activities the way they used to. With one of these devices you can listen to the TV without increasing the volume to extreme levels, and people won’t have to raise their voices just to be heard. Many problems are immediately overcome when you can block out ambient noises that are the source of the issues.

Whether you are employing hearing amplifiers or a new type of voice recognition software, your ability to perform daily tasks can increase with these items. Is it worth it to look into these devices if it means you can live the way you always wanted?

Life can be very difficult for the hearing or otherwise impaired. which is why there are companies that make things like voice recognition and hearing amplifiers. Without tools such as these, the impaired would have it much worse.

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via myisha.net

"It's in the press again. I search to find out the context of the word. I see debates all over the web, people bemoaning the 'politically correct' and the 'word police' and making ridiculous claims about having to ban the concept of a 'fire retardant'. Last I looked there's never been a protest about products that protect from fire. Last I looked there's only ever been protests about the use of a word that demeans a group of people.

No matter what the fearless defenders of freedom of speech say, there is a huge difference between a word to describe something that slows fire and someone who learns differently. There's a huge difference between a thing and a person - but, no, maybe not. After reading their diatribes regarding their freedom to spit out hurtful words, they may, really, not see people with disabilities as fully human with a human heart capable human hurt.

People mock the concept of respectful language regarding disability. People make odd arguments about the latest gaffe by ... no, I won't say her name here ... they say 'she was saying that of herself not anyone else' - um, so? The word she used was one referring, not to a commercial product, but to an oppressed minority. Yet the debate rages on and the fierceness of the attack by those who are proponents of the use of hate language are both hysterical and who often purposely miss the point. One wonders what's at stake - their personal liberty to hurt others?

It's time to recognize that the 'R' word is an attack against who people with with intellectual disabilities 'are', it is an attack against the group that they belong to. It is like other words that exist to slur an entire people, unacceptable. The fact that people do not see the seriousness of the word and the attack it represents is simply a result of the fact that they do not take the 'people' who wear that label seriously. The concerns of those with intellectual disabilities have always been diminished and trivialized. There is a sneaking suspicion that they 'don't understand, poor dears', that they 'miss the point, little lambs' so therefore their anger need not be feared as justified.

The people who 'ARE' what the 'R' word refers to have a long history.

They have been torn from families and cast into institutions.

They have been beaten, hosed down, over medicated, under nourished, sterilized, brutalized, victimized.

They have been held captive, have been enslaved, have had their being given over to the state.

They are the group in society most likely to be physically, sexually and financially abused.

They are the group least likely to see justice, experience fair play, receive accommodation or support within the justice system.

They are the group most likely to be bullied, most likely to be tyrannized, most likely to be the target of taunts.

They are the least likely to have their hurt taken seriously, physical hurt, emotional hurt, spiritual hurt.

They are most likely to be ignored when they speak of pain, have their words diminished by an assumption of diminished capacity.

They are the least likely to ever be seen as equal, as equivalent and entirely whole.

They are the victim of some of the most widespread and pervasive prejudices imaginable.

They are those that the Nazi's thought unworthy of life, they are those targeted by geneticists for non-existence, they need fear those who wear black hats and those who wear white coats.

They are educated only under protest, they are included as a concession rather than a right, they are neighbours only because petitions failed to keep them out.

They are kept from the leadership of their own movement, they are ignored by the media, their stories are told to glorify Gods that they do not worship.

That they are a 'people' is questioned even though they have a unique history, a unique voice, a unique perception of the world.

That they are a 'community' is questioned even though they have commonality, they have mutual goals, they have a collective vision of the future.

That they are have a legitimate place at the table is questioned simply because no one's ever offered a seat.

They are a people.

They ask for respect and receive pity.

They ask for fair play and are offered charity.

They ask for justice and wipe spittle off their face.

They ask to silence words that brutalize them and their concerns are trivialized.

They ask to walk safely through their communities and yet bullies go unpunished.

They ask to participate fully and they are denied access and accommodation and acceptance.

And this is NOW.

This is the people who have walked the land of the long corridor, who have waited at the frontier of our bias to finally be here, now. They have survived. They have come home. They have continued, silently and without fanfare, to take hold of freedom and live with dignity. They have given everything they have for what others take for granted. Their civil liberties are perceived as 'gifts' as 'tokens' and as 'charity'. Their rights are seen as privileges. Their movement is, as of yet, unacknowledged. They are a people recently emancipated, new citizens, who are tentatively discovering their voice.

It is a voice not yet heard.

It is a voice not yet respected.

It is a voice not yet understood.

But it is speaking.

And when it is finally heard. The world will change.

The 'R' word is an attack on a people who know discrimination. Tremble when you say it. Because those who should know better will be held accountable to those who know best."

Special need children-Behaviour

Heard something interesting on either Doctor Phil or Oprah today while I was doing other things. There was a man that talked about children with disabilities and their behaviour, stating that it was the behaviour that is different to the disability and the behaviour needs to be addressed separately just like it has to be with a "normal child". He went on to say that this factor can greatly determine whether or not the child has good relationships or not with people and can make a big difference in family life. The behaviour  of the special need child really has to be addressed, the same way as a normal child would be. You really have to bring it to the child's attention in the way that works better with that individual. Also he pointed out some of the many ways in which you can do this.

Ed Dale on Module 4

I really like this presentation of Module 4 of the challenge from one of our tutors (spokesman) Ed Dale http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=J1RLN&m=1f3_Di_mOfTtlH&b=BW8d9J7hxOqRcWbq5hFj6A and it's not far from that famous ground,  yeah that's right, the MCG!

special needs lifts

Need help with getting upstairs and down in your own place?. Why not install a lift?.This is yet another local place of mine that helps people with special needs http://www.residentiallift.com.au/

Tas Mobility

Hey there, here is a link to one of my local special needs equipment stores in Hobart Tasmania http://www.tasmobility.com.au/

The Australian Federal Election aftermath

This link just about sums up the result of last night's Australian Federal Election 
Play this video on MSN Video

Post times 4

Hi there, just like to let you know that I'm watching AFL, Richmond vs Stkilda, Post for Richmond hit the post so I'm posting it now to Posterous

Special needs gadgets/travelling

Try these gadgets, they're great for normal everyday living. Also these as well at
Find out more at special needs equipment
Came across service- care giver for your child when you are travelling. Not a babysitter – but some one who will come with you on your trip and help all the members of your family enjoy the trip.

This could mean taking a swim with your child while you build a sandcastle with another or helping at a busy crowded theme park. The idea is to take a family vacation where in some cases it may have been difficult or impossible because of a child with special needs.
The offer supportive services that will enable all family members to enjoy a travel experience. Go to http://www.specialtravelers.org/location.htm

Information on special needs equipment

Living with special needs or with a certain disability can make the simplest task seem very hard, and that is not just for the person inflicted but for those involved such as close family and friends. Special needs equipment can greatly enhance a persons quality of life and can also restore dignity, a true sense of pride, and that is not leaving out independence which is very important.

At home, adjustable beds can be really beneficial for raising the head and feet especially with rails to help with stability. A person having problems with walking up and down the staircase can use stair lifts that attach to the staircase with pretty much smooth transition. Wheelchair and scooter users can benefit from ramps fitted to the home making entering and exiting a lot easier.

Special needs/disability equipment can greatly improve ones mobility in the form of motorised wheelchairs (and of course normal wheelchairs) and specialty scooters, special lift raises on wheelchairs and vehicles equipped with lift ramps for easy access.

These days when it comes to travel, just about all commercial airplanes and cruise ships are adapted to suit the special needs person in the form of wheelchairs, walkers and canes (cruise ships). Airplanes are adapted in the form of space for wheelchairs and rails in the bathroom. With most cruise lines, systems are available such as Deaf and impaired hearing In cabin visual-tactile alert systems, these are available on request. When it comes to elevators on cruise ships, most have braille on their menus.

Grant is passionate about providing special needs equipment and information about special needs/disabled persons. The subject is close to me because I live with a down syndrome child and often think about ways to make it easier for him and my wife (who is Jacob's mother). I would very much like to see special needs equipment grow and expand and learn a bit along the way, you can read about it here: Special needs equipment