Would your insurance pay for treatment if your child was diagnosed with autism tomorrow?

The diagnosis rate for autism is truly at epidemic levels. I have seen statistics quoted from 1 in 150 to children to 1 in 66 children!

Unfortunately for every child diagnosied, there is a family thrust into a healthcare system with no cure to offer and an insurance system that has little interest in even helping families cope with the overwhelming financial burden of paying for treatment and early intervention to help minimize the child's symptoms.

Currently an effort is underway in Oklahoma to that would require private health insurers to include coverage of expenses associated with treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

If you have a child with autism or care about a family coping with this condition, please contact Billie Roane or the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy to learn how you can help.

A quick & easy way to raise $$ for autism research

The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $0.49 to Autism Speaks for *each time* this video is viewed. The funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal. The video is beautifully done and highlights many important facts about autism and the families it touches.

Just the facts....on Medicaid

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a health coverage program jointly funded by the federal and state government. This program helps pay some or all medical bills for many people who can't afford them. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) is the state agency that administers the program. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) determines financial eligibility for the program.

You can find this definition along with lots of other helpful tips and info on:

• who is eligible for Medicaid
• what services and supplies are covered by Medicaid
• how Medicaid can provide early screening & treatment for your kids
• and more

Just check out the latest Medicaid fact sheet available on the ABLE Tech website.

A quick holiday tip

Did you know that each year ToyRUs publishes a "Differently-Abled Toy Guide"? It breaks toys down by age, and category (auditory, creativity, vision, gross motor, fine motor, thinking, self-esteem, social skills , tactile, thinking, visual) so you can find just the right toy for the special child in your life. Along with their comprehensive toy guide they also offer printable PDF documents of Frequently Asked Questions and the Top 10 Tips for Buying Toys.

Happy Holidays!
Lisa

Live chat on parenting with positive behavior support!

Save the date! On December 13, 1:00–2:00 p.m. Eastern, Meme Hieneman, author of Parenting with Positive Behavior Support: A Practical Guide to Resolving Your Child's Difficult Behavior, will answer your questions in an online chat hosted by the Central Florida Parent Center (CFPC).

Dr. Hieneman is the project director of the Positive Family Intervention Project at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and she has worked with children with severe behavior problems and their families for more than 20 years. Be sure to register to take part in the live session.

If you miss the chat, CFPC will post the transcript at a later date.

Celebrate Inclusive Schools Week December 3-7th, 2007

Since it began in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The Celebration Week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students, and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that our schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children.

Sooner SUCCESS encourages every school in Garfield County to participate in this important celebration! If you would like to learn more about how to host an Inclusive Schools celebration in your school or just pick up great tips on successful inclusion from past participants, visit http://www.inclusiveschools.org/kit.asp

You will find materials that offer lots of ideas for celebrating Inclusive Schools Week in your school (publications on the benefits of inclusive schools, a lengthy list of celebration ideas and lesson plans, and materials to use in promoting your celebration ad inclusive practices in your community.

You will also find great ideas and strategies to inspire you in their publications (available free of charge as PDF downloads)

• Charting an Inclusive Journey through School, Work, and Life: Successful Transition Planning for All Students
• Bridging the Gap: Achievement for All
• Fostering Effective Family-School Linkages for Inclusive Schools
• Misperceptions About Inclusive Schools

Inclusive Schools Week is an excellent opportunity to highlight the work your school or district has done to create an inclusive community, which celebrates the achievements of diverse learners.

During the first week of December and every week let's celebrate and support ALL of our children!

Integrating Health Needs into IEPs and 504 Plans

The Healthy & Ready to Work National Resource Center is hosting an informative FREE teleclass.

TITLE: Integrating Health-Related Needs into Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and 504 Plans.

DATE: Friday, Oct. 26, 2007

TIME: Eastern: 3-4pm / Central-2-3pm / Mountain-1-2pm / Pacific 12-1pm
Alaska-11-12am / Hawaii-10-11am

CALL: 1-800-567-5900
PIN: 12682#

Learn more at:
http://www.hrtw.org/hrtwu/calls/10-26-07_Overview.html

Free Asthma training for school and childcare staff

The Oklahoma Asthma Initiative is launching free "Asthma Friendly" training programs for schools and child care facilities. The training will cover all of the components of the "Asthma Friendly" programs, which include:

• Open Airways for Schools: Asthma management program for students 8-12 with a diagnosis of asthma. This program teaches participants how to effectively manage their asthma.
• Counting On You...Responding to Kids with Asthma: This is a general asthma program geared for child care providers and teachers. The program includes information on medication delivery and environmental asthma triggers.
• Asthma 101: This is a general asthma program geared for a general audience to raise knowledge and awareness about asthma.

Training for implementing this program will be held on November 2nd at no cost!

Date/Time: November 2, 2007 from 11am to 2pm

Location: Arvest Bank - 3900 N. Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, 73105

To register or learn more: Call 918-747-3441 or toll free at 1-800-LUNG-USA

OICA Legislative Agenda for 2008

Child and family advocates from across the state met at the Annual Fall Forum in Edmond on October 9-10, 2007. The theme for the conference was Magnify the Possibilities. Forum participants heard from a number of state and national experts on topics such as child mental and behavioral health and the state of Oklahoma education. Workgroups in ten key areas prioritized possible legislative solutions to problems identified by Forum participants. These priority items were then placed on a ballot, and the entire assembly of Forum participants
voted to elect the following items:

CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Support the multi-agency Children's Behavioral Health Initiative, including a 5-year comprehensive budget request, encompassing prevention, early intervention, community-based services, inpatient and residential, group homes and therapeutic foster care, serving children
0-21.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Require private health insurers to include coverage of expenses associated with treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
Implement workforce development to improve access to care, such as loan forgiveness and tax-incentives for providing care to underserved populations, using a ranking system to determine greatest need; fully funding existing programs such Physician Manpower Training Commission
and Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program; and expanding programs and funding to include maternal / child subspecialties and behavioral health.

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
Reduce child abuse and neglect in Oklahoma by supporting state agency budget requests to strengthen the existing continuum of prevention services offered by Oklahoma State Department of Health, (such as Children First, Office of Child Abuse Prevention Fund, Child Guidance); DHS (such as Safe Care); Department of Education (such as Parents as
Teachers).

SCHOOL AGE HEALTH AND SAFTEY
Require 120 minutes per week for health and physical education, K-5, to include: 60 minutes per week of physical education instruction; 30 minutes of additional physical activity through fitness breaks, recess, and classroom activities; and 30 minutes for health education based on
the national standards for health education.

OUT OF SCHOOL TIME
Make funds available to support after school programming that demonstrates collaboration with community partners. Programs to include evidence-based physical activity and nutrition components.

EARLY CHILDHOOD ISSUES
Increase safety and quality of child care through lower child/staff ratios, improved teacher qualifications, and adequate child care reimbursement rates to address improved quality, and increases in marketrates and minimum wage.

ALCOHOL TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUGS
Change the Social Host Law, which prohibits adults from providing alcohol and drugs to minors, to include an increase in fines regardless of child death or injury and require assessment, community service and/or treatment.

CHILD ABUSE INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT
Oppose more tax cuts or one-time rebates until Oklahoma meets national standards regarding: statewide child welfare caseloads, foster care and out-of-home placement reimbursement rates, and paid, trained respite care for resource parents.

GET INVOLVED!
These nine items will form the lobbying agenda of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy for the 2008 Legislative Session. Mark your calendars for the Fall Forum Follow-Up, which will be held Wednesday, November 7 in Oklahoma City at the State Capitol. At this strategy session, advocates will begin to organize and mobilize to support these issues.

For Fall Forum Follow-Up registration information, please visit
www.oica.org or call 405-236-KIDS. Come join us!

October News & Announcements from Sooner SUCCESS

The Enid Civitan Club and Central Christian Church are hosting a Halloween party & dance for individuals with disabilities on Friday October 26th from 7-9 p.m. at 1111 W. Broadway. For more information, contact Catherine Cullumber 237-4480.

Central National Bank and Owen, Parvin & Associates are presenting a free informational forum, “Qualifying Disabled Children for Social Security Benefits” on October 25, 2007 at 6 p.m. at the Autry Technology Center in Lectorium Room 22. For more information, contact Michele Green at 213-1615.

The Child Abuse Prevention office for Oklahoma has provided a complete set of “I Am Your Child” DVDs to each Sooner SUCCESS coalition for use in our community. Topics include: Special Needs, Discipline, Preparing for Parenthood, Fatherhood, Building Literacy Skills, Why Early Childhood Matters, Smoking Cessation, Infant Health, Safety from the Start, Quality Childcare, First Years, Last Forever, and Food & Fitness Matter. Coalition and community members are welcome to check the DVDs out and use them to assist individual families or parent groups.

A companion parent educator manual is also available from the I Am Your Child Foundation that provides ideas for additional learning activities and extensive handouts for distribution if used in a parent education class or home visiting situation. Order online at http://store.parentsactionstore.org/prostores/servlet/Detail?no=46 or call 1-888-447-3400.

No cost learning sessions for parents in Northwest Oklahoma!

Sooner SUCCESS Region One is hosting a FREE regional workshop on Transition Essentials in Kingfisher October 30th from 8:30 a.m. to noon with Dr. James Martin of the OU Zarrow Center. There will be plenty of space, lots of munchies, and a resource table for parents and professionals.

Dr. Martin and Zarrow Center staff specialize in helping teens with special transition successfully to life after school. If you are the parent or teacher of a child 12 or older with special needs, I encourage you to attend this free workshop. Dr. Martin is a great presentor with excellent, practical information to share.

To register or learn more, contact Lisa at 603-1580.

The Garfield County Sooner SUCCESS Coalition is also sponsoring a FREE hands-on workshop to assist parents in assembling their own Care Notebook right here in Enid. The workshop will be held on November 7th from 9-11 a.m. at the Integris Bass Pavillion, 1st flood conference room. Participants will receive a Care Notebook Starter Kit, assistance in organizing their child's health & education information, and have the opportunity to connect with other local parents raising children with special needs.

Just 7 spaces remain in this workshop, contact Lisa soon to reserve your spot at 603-1580.

Disability Awareness Activities in Garfield Co.

Fall is a great time to focus on disability awareness with kids. As they return to school it's important for all kids to feel accepted and included. Each fall Sooner SUCCESS offers one or more activities to help area schools build student skills in understanding different kinds of disabilities. But we also work hard to leave the message that everyone has something that makes them special and unique and more importantly, we all have something to contribute.

This fall we have several activities going on:

#1 - We are offering a "Digital Dialog Session" to all 6th grade classrooms in Garfield County. Digital Dialog introduces students to Tyler. Tyler is 16 and involved in all the usual activities of a 16-year-old.....marching band, community theater, boy scouts, school. What the catch? Tyler also has cerebral palsy, a nonverbal learning disorder, and an anxiety disorder.

During the Dialog, Tyler explains to the kids how he is able to participate in all these great activities. He also encourages them to help other kids "join in". After Tyler's talk, Sooner SUCCESS volunteers lead an informal discussion on "Ability Awareness" and how they can help someone else be included.

A special thank you to Mrs. Sharp's class in Covington. They hosted our 1st digital dialogue and we had a great time! To plan a Digital Dialogue for your 6th graders, contact Lisa Simmons at 603-1580.

#2 - The Kids on the Block are coming back! Last year we did Kids on the Block puppet programs on Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disabilities, and Spina Bifida. Thanks to wonderful support from our community over the last few months, we have raised enough money to order a new Kids on the Block program.

I'm excited to announce that this year our focus program will be on AUTISM! This is a topic I've had lots of requests for! Kids on the Block programs are highly effective with students in 3-5th grade. If you would like to plan a Kids on the Block visit at your school, contact Lisa Simmons at 603-1580.

And finally ..... we need your help!
Although our autism puppets are ordered and on their way, we are still hoping to raise funds for an ADHD program as well. This is the other topic that I regularly receive requests for.

We have applied for a Hometown Helpers Grant to help us purchase the ADHD program and are very hopeful, but we need your help to get the grant. Hometown Helpers selects worthy projects partially on the amount of community support for that project. To help us, all you need to do is post your comment of support here.

Thank you to all of the 32 classrooms we visited last year! We look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Lisa

Research Study for Kids with Autism and ADHD

Has your child been diagnosed with both autism and ADHD? If so, you may be interested in this research study going on at the OU Child Study Center.

The study is enrolling children from 6 to 11 years of age who have symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study involves the use of a medication called Daytrana (methylphenidate transdermal system) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Daytrana is a patch that is worn on the skin, similar to a band-aid and has the ability to control ADHD signs and symptoms such as inability to:

• Pay attention
• Sit still
• Complete tasks
• Wait his/her turn
• Think before acting
• Follow through on instructions

Children who qualify to participate in this study will receive assessments by a medical doctor, medication and a small amount of money to cover some expenses for approximately 8 weeks at no charge.

To learn more about the study, contact Lora Tusing at 405-271-5700 ext. 45167

Services Under IDEA for Your Preschool-age Child

Every month the National Center for Learning Disabilities hosts an online talk that gives parents across the country the chance to connect with experts they might never have access to.

This month, the topic is preschool kids and what services parents can access under the Individuals with Disabiliteis Education Act, even before kids are right to start school!

Often times children are not identified at birth as having a disability, but rather exhibit more subtle issues between the ages of three to five, such as:

• Speech and language delays or disorders;
• Putting shoes or mittens on the wrong feet or hands;
• Seeming uninterested in playing early learning games or listening to stories; or,
• Seeming mildly uncoordinated.

If you think you need to wait until your child's enrolled in school to address your concerns--think again. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was created for children from birth to age 21. Join Luzanne Pierce for this important and informative LD Talk, "Services Under IDEA for Your Preschool-age Child," as she offers her expertise and her knowledge of IDEA to answer questions, allay fears and empower parents with the facts about the preschool services available under IDEA.

When: Tuesday, September 24, 2007

Time:

• 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ET
• 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 CT
• 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. MT
• 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. PT

Click here to read NCLD’s Parent Advocacy Brief, Preschool Services under IDEA by Luzanne Pierce.

How to Participate:
Submit advance questions for the discussion now or join in at discussion time from the LD Talk website at: http://www.ldtalk.org/.

No special equipment other than Internet access is needed to participate in this text-based discussion. A transcript will be posted shortly after the discussion.

Successful life after high school...learn transition planning essentials!

Sooner SUCCESS is hosting a FREE workshop on Transition Planning Essentials for School and After School Success and we'd love to have you join us!

Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Time: 8:30 a.m. to Noon
Location: Kingfisher Middle School Gymnasium
601 S. 13th St., Kingfisher OK

Who should attend: Parents of children 10 & older that have special needs, high school age students with special needs, special education teachers, school counselors, community based service providers for individuals with disabilities.

What will we cover: Transition education consists of 3 big ideas and 7 basic concepts. We will examine each and provide examples of what effective transition education looks like. You will leave the workshop understanding what your role should be in the transition process and how you can increase the likelihood of a successful transtion from school to adult life for yourself or someone you care about.

Our presentors: The workshop is being presented by Dr. Jim Martin, Chen-Ya Juan, Wendy Pharr, and Cynthia Smith all from the Zarrow Center at the University of Oklahoma. The Zarrow Center specializes in transition, self-determination, and post-secondary education for individuals with disabities.

To learn more or register to attend: Contact Garfield County Coordinator Lisa Simmons at lrsimmons@gmail.com

Are you looking for low-cost assistive technology items?

Oklahoma ABLE Tech's Equipment Exchange Program currently has 112 assistive technology devices available for FREE or for sale.

Individuals list items that they are willing to give awy or resale prices far below the cost of purchasing the item new. Many of the items are in excellent condition, some rarely used.

Check out the Equipment Exchange at http://oec.okstate.edu/

Examples of items currently available include: Snugseat Giraffe Stander for a child, EZ Stand Magician, Walker, power wheelchairs, scooters, adapted cars and vans, lifts for vehicles, vertical home lift, wheelchair scooter lifts, bathtub lift, hospital beds, mattress systems, recliner lift chairs, Snug Seat PonyGait Trainer, Snug Seat Traveler Plus car seat, CPAP machine, and aids for daily living.

To see if what you need is available, visit the ABLE Tech website at: http://oec.okstate.edu/

Lisa
Garfield County Coordinator
Sooner SUCCESS

Join us for the September meeting of the Sooner SUCCESS Coalition of Garfield County

The Garfield County Sooner SUCCESS Coalition will meet next Thursday, September 13, 2007 at the Integris Bass Health Center in Enid, OK. All Garfield County residents who are concerned about children and youth with special needs are invited to attend. Please read the specificsbelow carefully.

TIME: Noon to 1 p.m.

LOCATION: Northeast Conference Room
Integris Bass Health Center
600 S. Monroe
Enid, OK 73703

This month our agenda includes discussion on:

• Fall disability awareness sessions including Kids on the Block puppet programs for 4th and 5th graders and a multi-media Ability Awareness discussion with 6th grade classes across the county.
• Fall training workshops planned for October and November. The October session will be in Kingfisher and focus on Successful Transition Planning and the November workshop will be here in Enid and assist parents in putting together their own Care Notebook for their child with special needs.
• Strategic planning as we discuss results from a survey of Garfield County parents and professionals on what they see as unmet needs in our county.

We have a lunchtime meeting format. Please feel free to bring a brown bag lunch or purchase lunch in the hospital cafeteria to enjoy during our meeting.

If you have questions, concerns, or just need directions contact Lisa at 603-1580.

I look forward to seeing you next week!

Lisa Simmons, Garfield County Coordinator

Do you have questions about the OK waiting list?

The Developmental Disabilities Service Division hosts a quarterly meeting for parents and professionals to keep them updated on the current status of Oklahoma's waiting list. The meetings also give participants a chance to ask questions and hear about changes to the systems that are "in process". The next meeting is coming up soon. Check out the info below for all the details plus a meeting agenda.

DDSD Waiting List Meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007
Time: 1:30 pm
The Capitol Complex - Oklahoma City
Sequoyah Building
Room: C-47 (basement)

Sign in at the reception window

Agenda

1. Introductions
2. Status of the Waiting List – Jim Nicholson
3. Status of the Self Directed Services pilot for the In-Home Supports Waiver – Jim Nicholson
4. Explanation of process when a person reaches top of the waiting list – Ray Hester
5. Family Questions & Comments
6. Schedule Next Meeting
7. Adjournment

Enjoy!

Lisa

Building Relationships to Create Successful Change

The Parent Training & Information Center of Oklahoma will present their 2007 Conference "Building Relationships to Create Successful Change" n September 17, 2007 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Oklahoma City.

Conference Registration Deadline is Friday, August 31
Register Early-Space is Limited!

Conference registration is free and open to any Oklahoma family. A limited number of spaces are also available to educators and other professionals on a first registered, first served basis. In addition, a limited number of parent stipends or rooming scholarships may be available (based on need and geographic location; first come, first served).

Anyone interested can check out the conference schedule, print a registration form or download a Stipend Application by visiting: http://oklahomaparent.org/conference.html

Last year's PTI conference received rave reviews!

Enjoy,
Lisa

Lisa Simmons
Garfield County Coordinator
Sooner SUCCESS

Need to know more about teaching students with Autism?

This all-day conference just opened up to the public. It is titled "Best Practices for Students with Autism" and will be held at Union High School Performing Arts Center at 71st and Mingo. It is August 31, 2007 from 8:30am - 4:00pm. No pre-registration is needed.

AGENDA

8:30- 9:30
Co-morbidity and Medication Management
Amy Emerson, M.D. OU College of Medicine, Tulsa Pediatrics

9:30 – 10:30
Diagnosis and Behavior Management
Jennifer Sumner, Ph.D. OU College of Medicine, Tulsa Pediatrics

10:45- 11:30
Emotional and Language Development
Cheryl Lafortune, CCC-SLP Private Practice

11:30-12:00 Question/Answer

12:00- 1:00 Lunch

1:00- 1:45
Sensory Integration Disorders
Suzette Jones, OTR/L, Therapy Works President

1:45 -2:30
Social Skills
Tonia Caselman, Ph.D., Professor, OU-Tulsa

2:45-3:30
School Services/IEP considerations
Sherilyn Walton, MSW - Family Support Coordinator TARC

Parent Supports and Resources
Michelle Wilkerson, Program Director, Autism Foundation

3:30-4:00 Question/Answer


PLEASE ENTER FROM THE SOUTH PARKING LOT BEHIND THE UMAC.

Schools and Parents: Can We Really Work Together?

Don't miss this Two-Day Parent Conference!

Topic: Schools and Parents Can We Really Work Together? ImprovingStudent Behavior

Date: August 27-28, 2007

Location: Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK.

Dr. Laura Riffel is the featured speaker. Topics include functional behavior assessment and positive behavior support for parents.

The two-day conference for parents is sponsored by the Oklahoma FamilyNetwork, the Oklahoma Parents Center, Inc., and the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Special Education Services.

For more information about this free workshop contact Joni Bruce, Executive Director, Oklahoma Family Network, at 405-203-8745.

To register online:
1. Go to: www.sde.state.ok.us
2. Click on SDE Conferences (blue oval at the very bottom of the page).
3. Then go to Aug. 27-28.

It takes about a minute to register. They just want a name, county you live in, school district, and email address if applicable.

Reviews from last year's conference were excellent. News about this one has been late getting out, but the content sounds terrific. If you are free, I recommend checking it out!

Lisa

Lisa Simmons
Garfield County Coordinator
Sooner SUCCESS

What is Sooner SUCCESS?

Sooner SUCCESS is a project of the University of Oklahoma Health & Sciences Child Study Center. Currently the project has local coalitions in 9 counties including Garfield.

The Garfield County Sooner SUCCESS coalition is a group of parents and professionals who care about children that have special needs or are “at risk”. We meet once a month to identify unmet needs within our county and find positive, local solutions.

Here's what we did last year:
1. Provided individual families with information and resources to help them access:

• Inclusive recreation & leisure activities
• Advocacy Support
• A Parent Support Group (Down syndrome, Autism, Fathers)
• Evaluation Services (learning disabilities, ADHD, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral, developmental)
• Counseling/Mental Health Services
• Autism/Asperger syndrome information
• Special Education Parent Handbooks/IEP Information
• Tutoring services
• A County Resource Guide
• A Parent Mentor program
• Early Intervention services
• Respite
• ADHD information
• Guardianship/Estate planning information
• Transportation support
• Independent Living Skills Training
• Parent Training
• Teen Mentor programs
• Organize a Child Care Notebook
• Cerebral Palsy Information
• Sensory Processing Disorder Information
• Spina Bifida Information
• Paraprofessional training
• Physical Therapy Services
• Ketogenic diet information
• Learning disabilities information
• Legal services
• Hearing impairment information
• Visual impairment information
• Down syndrome information
• Home schooling information

2. Raised awareness about the challenges and concerns of special needs families by participating in:

• The Systems of Care Community Team and Referral Team
• The Regional Transition Task Force
• The Walk 4RKids Information Fair
• The Disability Employment Awareness Art Contest Project
• The Public Library Summer Kick Off Event

3. Completed the following Special Projects:

The Elementary School Disability Awareness

• Visited 14 county elementary schools
• Trained 10 volunteers puppeteers in partnership with 2 local high schools.
• Provided Puppet programs and follow up activities to 33 classrooms.
• Received a $1000.00 grant from 4Rkids to provide chapter books and professional resources to schools and classrooms promoting inclusion.
• Provided story sessions to 3 schools that requested a continuation of our 2005 awareness activity.

Distribution of Recreation & Leisure Info Packets in partnership with Special Olympics, DDSD, 4Rkids, public library, and our county schools.

4. And provided or facilitated the following training programs:

• Introduction to Autism Presentation-New Discoveries Childcare Group
• Basic Rights/Writing a Successful IEP- Christ United Methodist Church~Enid
• Inclusive Childcare-Advocates for Children Conference
• Positive Behavior Support-Christ United Methodist Church~ Enid
• Transition from School to Adult Life- Christ United Methodist Church~Enid
• Regional Workshop on Autism with Dr. Bonnie McBride~Kingfisher

If you are excited to make a difference for kids with special needs and their families, then we want YOU to join us!

Stop by for a visit: We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. in the Northeast Conference Room at the Integris Bass Health Center (600 S. Monroe, Enid OK). Both parents and professionals are encouraged to participate. We hold "brown bag" meetings, so if our meeting time falls on your lunch hour, don't be shy. Bring your lunch & join us....others will be eating as well.

To learn more contact Garfield County Coordinator, Lisa Simmons.