Learn to use your iPad with Augmentative Communication software

United Cerebral Palsy of Oklahoma now has an iPad with augmentative communication software available for in-office demonstration by appointment. There are 2 types of augmentative communication software currently in use. One is called Speak It which is a very basic, text to speech application. The other is called Proloquo2go which offers icons and/or text to speech.

If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 405/759-3562 or
1-800-827-2289.

Parent Talk on August 17th - Demystifying Learning Disabilities

Parents of children with learning disabilities (LD) and children and adults with LD still face huge misunderstanding about what learning disabilities are…and what they’re not. When you hear an uneducated remark from a neighbor, colleague, coach, relative, or even from someone at the grocery store, how do you deal with it?

Join NCLD's Parent Leader, Marcie Lipsett, duing this Parent Talk as she discusses:
• Explaining LD in order to reduce stigma
• Dealing with people who misunderstand what a learning disability is
• Helping a child respond to uneducated (and hurtful) remarks
• Dealing with family members who simply don't get it
• Responding to someone who thinks that LD = autism, AD/HD, or mental retardation

Join our Next Parent Talk:
Demystifying Learning Disabilities —
Educating Yourself and Others

August 17, 2010
1-2 p.m. ET.

Parent Talks are text-based discussions, all you'll need is Internet access to participate. You can submit your question in advance of the Talk, or during the scheduled event. In either case, participating is as easy as 1-2-3!

Click here to have the Talk expert answer YOUR question

Brain scan could diagnose autism in 15 minutes

Courtesy of Autism Today ....

"As scientists develop a brain scan which could diagnose autism in 15 minutes, Chris Goodchild, who has Asperger's syndrome, tells Channel 4 News the importance of being quickly diagnosed.

The research, by scientists at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London and funded by the Medical Research Council, could lead to a simple, biological test for autism, and a clear diagnostic process, for the first time ever"

Click here to read the entire article

Check out eFamily TV

What is an Exceptional Family?
From the New Oxford American English Dictionary:

adjective
• unusually good; outstanding
• (of a child) mentally or physically disabled so as to require special schooling : helping parents of exceptional children.

We at eFamilyTV realize raising a child with special needs takes an extra amount of care as well as stress. Doctor appointments, therapies, treatments, surgeries, g-tubes, wheelchairs, communication devices – the family unit as a whole goes through extraordinary circumstances in comparison to other “typical” families. It is for this reason we call these families “Exceptional” as it defines the unusually good and outstanding role they play in the lives of their children.

Exceptional Family TV is about, for and to serve YOU. We promise to deliver engaging weekly episodes specifically designed for exceptional families.

This is your online, home destination. eFamilyTV focuses on parents/families/caregivers raising children with special needs (ages 0-21), with the future goal of covering topics pertaining to parents/caregivers for those in the adult age beyond 21-years of age.

http://www.exceptionalfamilytv.com/about

ODDC Family Member Survey...Make Your Voice Heard

The Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council is providing families with the opportunity to offer input into the council’s state planning through a survey. The survey will be conducted from July 15 through August 15, 2010.

Please encourage as many family members as you know to participate in taking the survey. Beginning July 15, 2010 go to www.okddc.ok.gov and click to take the planning survey online from your home, office or nearest public library. You can also call the council at 800.836.4470 to take the survey by phone.

Make Your Voice Heard
Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council
2010 State Plan Survey
July 15-August 15, 2010

The survey only contains 10 questions.
No one will contact you to participate in this survey. It is up to you if you want to take part.

The Council looks forward to hearing your opinions. For more information you may contact the council at 800.836.4470.

The Affordable Care Act's New Patient's Bill of Rights

Check out this Fact sheet on the new Patient's Bill of Rights under the Affordable Care Act, which will help children (and eventually all Americans) with pre-existing conditions gain health care coverage and keep it, protect all Americans' choice of doctors and end lifetime limits on the care consumers may receive.

HHS Launches New Consumer Focused Health Care Website

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled an innovative new on-line tool that will help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage.... (I went to the site and tried out scenarios of different kinds and it is a place to start for families who may be wondering what is out there for them. It is easy, quick, good general information.)

Check it out at: http://www.healthcare.gov/