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

Please read synopsis of proposed overhaul article and for further information please go to the NY TIMES article.

Experts revising psychiatry’s diagnostic manual have proposed eliminating Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, folding them into a single, broader diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The New York Times reports that the change is part of an effort to modernize the mental illness model as a continuum, with many degrees of severity.

To view link, please cut and paste in your browser:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/health/03asperger.html?_r=2&ref=health

The attendees will have a unique opportunity to listen to and ask questions of a panel of youth who live with a child with special needs. They will share their hope, strength and challenges and give us an inside look as to what their lives are like.

Saturday, November 14th @10am

Highlands Church

9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

480-348-9191

The City of Scottsdale is hosting a Citizens’ Disability Forum on November 17, 2009 at two locations.  Please come and share your thoughts and ideas.

 Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 (attend either session) 

Light refreshments will be provided 

2 p.m. 6 p.m. 

Civic Center Library – 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

or

Via Linda Senior Center – 10440 E. Via Linda

For more information, please contact: Denise at (480) 312-2246 or dlabreque@scottsdaleaz.gov