SEPACS is getting ready for our annual Summer Camp Fair for children with special needs.  If you are a camp, or if you know of a camp, please contact us.  We are looking for camps or summer programs that are for children with special needs of all types, or for any camps that are inclusive and can accommodate children with special needs.

If you have any information, please contact us, and we will contact the camps/summer programs to see if they are interested in attending our Camp Fair.  The Fair is free to participate in and attend.  Shauna Mattson 480-661-0471, shauna@sepacs.org.”

Please join us for our next meeting.

SEPACS Presents an

IEP Workshop

Meet with an IEP specialist in interactive small groups broken down by age.

Bring your concerns and questions, or just come to listen and learn.

Wednesday, January 20th

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Mohave District Annex

Apache A&B

8505 E. Valley View Road, Scottsdale 85250-6768

Directions:

From McDonald, go south on Granite Reef to Valley View.

From Chaparral, head north on Granite Reef past Jackrabbit, to Valley View.

Then, east on Valley View to first building on the south side, just past the sports fields.

For more information contact Shauna @ 480.661.0471 or shauna@sepacs.org.

FIRST RESPONDERS SMART CARD PROGRAM ORIENTATION - JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2010  

The First Responder Smart Card Program is a FREE valuable resource in providing emergency services to individuals with special needs including: developmental disabilities, physical challenges, communication, health, emotional, behavioral health disabilities or those with conditions that might be misinterpreted if not know to the First Responder.

The Scottsdale Community Partnership (SCP) in partnership with the Scottsdale Police Department is offering First Responder Smart Card Program orientation classes and the opportunity to sign up with the program. The class will provide training for parents and providers on when to call first responders and what happens when they call.

Sign up for one of the classes listed below.   Class are for 1 hour from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, and will be held at the Police & Fire Headquarters (8401 E. Indian School Road, off Granite Reef).  Class days are all Saturdays.  

                January 9
                January 23 
                     February 13
                     February 27

For more information, go to the website - www.scottsdaleaz.gov/safety/smartcard; or contact Natalie Summit at 480-312-CARD (2273) or by email at smartcard@scottsdaleAZ.gov .

Are you interested in keeping or getting your child physically fit?    See description below for more details.

There is a program at The Kids Fitness Institute.  It is on Raintree Drive in Scottsdale.  It is for children with special needs, as well as, typical kids and teens.  They teach the benefits of physical activity, strength training and nutrition.  They have just hired a PT and OT and they are working with insurance companies to get services approved for parents.  It is very reasonably priced  ($10/hr.), even without the insurance right off.  

For further information please go to the website:  www.tfiaz.com

On October 26, 2009, the Exceptional Student Services section of Arizona Department of Education opened the rule making process to make additions and revisions to the existing special education rules in the Arizona Administrative Code. You can provide comments to the proposed rules by e-mail at  stateboardinbox@azed.gov. Please make sure to reference A.A.C. R7-2-401, R7-2-405, R7-2-405.01 and R7-2-405.02 when providing your comments. Copies of the proposed rules are available on the ADE/ESS homepage at http://www.ade.state.az.us/ess/ under “What’s New”. 

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting Vince Yanez, (602) 542-5057. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

A library of Digital recordings of possible required read books for our students who have difficulty reading. This is a wonderful resource!  Please read the following for more information. 

Does your child have difficulty reading books, especially those “required reads” 
for Language Arts or English class?  Has your son or daughter missed the 
“fun of reading” or developed an ”allergic reaction” to books?  Is s/he into
electronics and a member of the Digital Age?  If any of this sounds familiar to 
you, a FREE resource is available to your family.  
 
This free resource is the By Word of Mouth Library, which features numerous
digital recordings by professional narrators along with the hardcopy editions of 
many children and young adult books.  Many of the books are just for sheer 
enjoyment while others are frequent “required reads”.  Most of the digital books 
are already on mp3 players, which are compact, easy to carry around, and fit in 
with other kids’ electronics.
 
Please email Mary Platner at maryplatner@msn.com for a list of the currently
available books or for more information.  Remember: FREE!

The Scottsdale Bobcats Special Olympics will be beginning their 2010 Basketball and Cheerleading Season on January 11, 2010 through March 28, 2010.  Registration opens on November 11,2009.  There are two convenient ways to register:  (1)  Online at www.scottsdaleaz.gov  Click on “parks, recreation & activities” link, then click “sign up for recreation classes”.  (2) Touch Tone phone (480)312-2025.  All athletes must have a current Special Olympic physical form on file with ARS to participate.    For more information, please call the ARS hotline @ (480) 312-2234 or email at adaptedrec@scottsdaleaz.gov

Life Planning Workshop

By

Margaret “Midge” White, M.Ed., CCD

           The Cutty Legacy Foundation Administrator  

Location:  UCP

            1802 West Parkside Lane*

            Phoenix, AZ 85027

Time:   Thursday, November 12^th, 2009        

•  
              6:30 to 8:30 

Free Workshop: How to Provide for Your Family Member with a Disability: Overview of Wills, Trusts, Power of Attorney, Guardianship, Conservatorship, MAP’s, Government Services, Health Care Directives and Futures and End of Life Planning.(Free booklets including information on all areas listed, etc.)

To Sign up Please Call or e-mail at: Call: UCP at 602-943-5472 ask for Kimberly or e-mail:  kphillips@ucpofcentralaz.org or Margaret “Midge” White at 480-730-4108, 480-844-7520 or e-mail: mmwhite@tch-az.com or mmwhite@inficad.com Workshop and “Life Planning” booklets are free but please call ahead so we have enough materials.

Beverly Lim Henes, MS, ATR, LCAT, Art Therapist will be offering Art Therapy classes at Shemer Art Center. Here is a quick summary from Ms. Henes:

Please allow me to tell you about myself and the Shemer Art Center’s new, exciting art therapy classes that are designed for 10 to 13-year-old special needs children. I am a registered and licensed Art Therapist, and have been practicing Art Therapy for over 10 years in New York and Arizona. Through the City of Phoenix’s Parks & Recreation Department and the Shemer Art Center, located in a beautifully renovated historical house at 5005 E. Camelback Rd., I am delighted to offer Art Therapy to special needs kids. As you may already know, Art Therapy has been shown to increase expressive communication, increase focused attention, and facilitate improved socialization to special needs children who are so receptive to creative modalities. 
> 
> Class: Art for Special Needs (ages 10 – 13 years)
> Instructor: Beverly Lim Henes, MS, ATR, LCAT
> Date: Saturdays, Jan. 9 – Feb. 27, 10:00am – 11:30am (8 classes)
> 
> Individuals with special needs utilize art materials and the creative process to increase cognitive and sensory functioning, and develop awareness of emotions and the environment. Each class focuses on a design element and includes exploration of clay, paint, collage, and found objects. Student must have independent mobility, or be accompanied by aid.
> 

For More Information:  http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/shemclas.html or contact Shemer Art Center