Information

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.”

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 .

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!

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 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

Please come to our next SEPACS Meeting.  This will be a most informative meeting and will be presented by Dr. Pamela Murphy.

Puberty, Sexuality and Social Awareness

In Children with Special Needs

Speaker: Dr. Pamela Murphy, Pediatrician

Join us as Dr. Murphy shares her insight and vast experience
with children and teens with special health care needs

Wednesday, April 22nd

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Mohave District Complex
Kachina Room

8505 E. Valley View Road, Scottsdale 85250-6768

 

Applications for the next Partners in Policymaking class are now being accepted. This is a highly recommended program for parents, caregivers, and/or self-advocates.  See flyer below.

Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona Announces Partners in Policymaking A FREE Leadership Training for self-advocates & parents of children with disabilities. Partners in Policymaking is an innovative leadership training program for parents of children with disabilities and for adults with disabilities. The program is designed to provide information, training, resources and skill building to people with a disability and the parents of children with disabilities so that they can become better advocates for themselves or their children. Partners in Policymaking provides participants with opportunities to meet and talk to national and state leaders in the disability advocacy field.   Participants will have an opportunity to meet and unite with others who have similar concerns to create a powerful voice on important issues. Participants learn how the legislative process works at the local, state and national levels. The goal of the training is to develop productive partnerships between people who need and use services and those in a position to make policy and law. Topics To Be Addressed History of the Disability Movement Inclusion & Quality Education IEP Participation Community Supports People First Language Person Centered Planning Assistive Technology State & Federal Policy Legislative Process Planning for Transitions Organizing for Change.

Click on link for application and more information:
partners-application-20094

Please see a letter from Phoenix Children’s Hospital on a newly formed committee to keep parents informed  about policy ideas and how they affect our children’s healthcare. At the end of the letter, there will be a link to obtain more information if you wish to learn more.

Greetings friends:

Join Phoenix Children’s Parent Action Committee today

Time and again, lawmakers tell us that parents’ voices make a real
difference in what they decide to do on policy issues that affect children’s
healthcare in Arizona. So we have created the Phoenix Children’s Parent
Action Committee to keep our parents informed about policy ideas, and what
they can do to either help good ideas along – or to stop harmful ideas in
their tracks.

As you likely know, our ability to provide world-class services is impacted
by policy decisions at the state and federal level. Parents signing up for
the Phoenix Children’s Parent Action Committee will get monthly updates on
these policy proposals, as well as occasional “action alerts” that ask for
their help, such as calling their representative or writing their senator on
a particular issue. The Committee will also make sure to notify parents
about specific opportunities that relate to their area(s) of interest.

Phoenix Children’s Parent Action Committee is open to anyone who cares about
children’s health care in Arizona. There is no charge to join and no
meetings. You don’t even have to be a parent. We’ll simply provide you with
monthly information on issues that impact children’s healthcare to help us
all make the best decisions for our kids.

Please visit www.phoenixchildrens.com/advocacy today to learn more and sign
up.   The first e-newsletter is below.  If you know someone else who would
be interested, please pass this information to them.

Thank you,

Lynda Christel
Manager, Physician Relations
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
1919 E. Thomas Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85016

(602) 546-5873
(602) 546-0827 FAX
(602) 721-9876 CELL
 <http://www.phoenixchildrens.com/> www.phoenixchildrens.com