Classroom Desks

WHEN: September 25, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: IDTC of Lafayette (3700 Rome Drive)

WHY: Learn about the various agencies that assist children with disabilities and their families. Agencies will have personnel on hand to answer your questions about services they provide.

Wade Wingler, Director of Assistive Technology of Easter Seals Crossroads, will be presenting on the technology services available to children and adults in Indiana.  He will also bring several assistive technology devices that benefit those with vision, hearing, communication, and mobility needs.

Other speakers include:

• Cathy Boswell of IN*SOURCE, who will present a jam-packed session on Understanding Article 7.  Cathy has a great way of helping parents make sense of Article 7 and special education law
• Brenda Hamilton of Indiana Federation of Families will provide information on advocating services for children with mental illnesses
• Jennifer Windler of Greater Lafayette Area Special Education Services will present information on transitioning from school to work
• Gordon Holmes of MetLife will discuss special needs estate planning
• Renee Pitree of The Arc of Indiana will provide attendees with information regarding Medicaid Waivers

Please RSVP by September 16 by visiting the INSOURCE website.

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A Group of People Jumping

You’re Invited!

What: An Advocate Learning Event

When: Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Where: Radisson Hotel at the Indianapolis Airport, Indianapolis, Indiana

If you’re a human service professional, parent or guardian, and serve as an advocate or support staff for an individual with developmental disabilities, you’ll enjoy this inspiring and informative presentation by nationally recognized authority, trainer, clinician, and consultant Dr. Tom Pomeranz. Take this opportunity to learn how to enhance your personal power, learn best practice strategies, and increase your effectiveness through leadership.

• FREE for parents and guardians
• $30 Registration fee to human service providers (CEU’s will be provided)
• Includes a continental breakfast, lunch, exhibits
• Sponsorship packages that include exhibit space are available.

RSVP by September 1^st to reserve your spot in the event.  Call Pierre Jackson at (219)663-3177 or send an email to pjackson@spectrumindiana.com

Child Playing with Wooden Hoop

WHAT: When Actions Speak Louder Than Words Workshop

WHEN: Thursday, October 14th

WHERE: Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Bloomington IN

The Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism in collaboration with the Early Childhood Center, will host a one-day workshop focusing on building understanding of how different behaviors are communicative on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at the Indiana Institute.

Participants will be able to:

· Explain how behavior and communication are linked;
· Identify potential messages of behavior;
· Recognize how the “big picture” can assist in deciphering behavior
messages;
· Recognize potential hidden issues that impact behaviors;
· Describe disability issues that affect behavior and communication; and
· Plan positive behavior approaches to support children’s behavior.

Those who are early education providers, preschool and day care providers, early elementary teachers (special and general education), parents, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and developmental therapists should plan to attend.

Registration fee is $90.00 per person. Certificates of Attendance will be provided at no charge. CEUs (general education) will be available on-site for a fee of $15.00 per person. Visit the Indiana Resource Center for Autism’s website to download a registration form.

Contact the Indiana Governor’s Council for Consumer Investment funding at (317) 232-7770. For family members of individuals birth through age 5, funding is available through the Indiana Institute’s Family Involvement Fund. For information, call Cathy Beard at 1-800-825-4733 or e-mail fif@indiana.edu.

Child Riding Bike

What: 1^st Annual ABILITY Ride to benefit Easter Seals Crossroads

When: Saturday, October 9, 2010.

Where: Indianapolis, Indiana, starts at -Southside-Harley Davidson and ends at-Easter Seals Crossroads

A Poker Run with lots of fun, food, prizes, raffles, 50/50, games & events, and music. Poker run ends at Easter Seals Crossroads – 4740 Kingsway Drive – Indianapolis, IN 46205

Registration at Southside Harley-Davidson at 4930 Southport Crossing Place from 9:30 to 11 am – $20 per bike, $10 per passenger

Last bike out at 11:00 am. Poker Run drawing at 2:00 at Easter Seals Crossroads.
100% of funds raised go to Easter Seals Crossroads to provide much needed services to area children and adults with disabilities and special needs.

Click Here to register for this event!

Two Young Girls Walking To School

As students and teachers head back to the classroom, teachers are preparing their classroom for students to be interactive within. When setting up your classroom, teachers should first think about the traffic flow of students.  How will students enter and exit the classroom? How will students interact throughout the classroom? How will students have access to the resources and materials throughout the classroom?

Seating arrangement is an important aspect of classroom accessibility and management. Some things to think about would be how much space between each seat and aisle, and is there enough room for an aid or assistant to work next to a student.  Also, the overall arrangement of the desks should be considered to allow students to become the most interactive with their peers.  Classroom Architect is a great resource for teachers to use when designing their classroom layout.

Teachers should also plan the placement and access to technology in the classroom.  Many classrooms now have clusters of computers for students to use, along with a shared printer, document reader, DVD player, or even an interactive whiteboard.  The computer center should be easily accessible and teachers should be able to see all computer screens for student monitoring.  Other classroom technology should be accessible for students to reach and easily use when needed.

Check out the MangoMon Website for more tips on how you can create an accessible classroom for all learners.

Braille Photo Credited to lissalou66 on flickr

What: Indiana Vision Expo

When: Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 9:30 a.m – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Indiana Talking Book and Braille, Indiana State Library

The Indiana Vision Expo, brought to you by the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library, brings together vendors and nonprofit agencies from throughout the United States who provide cutting edge adaptive technology, independent living aids, plus service and resource information for all ages. Demonstrations providing instructions for downloading materials from the NLS website will also be available. Demonstrations providinginstructions for downloading materials from the NLS website will also be available.

For additional information please contact Indiana Talking Book and Braille at 317-232-0609 or 1-800-622-4970; email: crose@library.IN.gov

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Having trouble viewing the video? Click here!

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Robot

The world’s most sophisticated robots do not assemble trucks or cruise around Mars, but they are being designed to help support our surging population of elderly and persons with disabilities.  The rise of helpful machines are assisting individuals to become more independent in their daily living.  The following are some of the robotic devices that are helping individuals:

PerMMa

The only wheelchair with robotic arms, this wheelchair was created at the University of Pittsburg.  Today, 4.3 million Americans rely on wheelchairs with few chairs being ideal for people with physical impairments, such as limited mobility.  Users can control the robotic arms from a touchpad, microphone, or joystick. For now, each arm can support six pounds, but soon a new arm will be created to support up to 150 pounds.  Expect to see this robotic wheelchair on the job by 2020.

Cyclops

Cyclops, a $20,000 four-wheeled robot, is the world’s first stand-in for a visually impaired individual.  Mounted on the Cyclops’s head is a remote-controlled camera that can pivot to capture the same view as the patient, to help guide the individual according to their needs.  The Cyclops should be expected to be on the job this year!

RIBA

RIBA, a forklift for humans, was created at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Japan.  This robot helps individuals who are too weak to walk, sit, or stand on their own.  RIBA, Robot for Interactive Body Assistance, is the only robot with arms designed to carry those people around.  The robot can also recognize faces and voices and respond to commands, such as “RIBA, please help me off the couch.”  The RIBA should expect to be seen on the job sometime next year.

For more information on the future of robots, visit the Popular Science Website.

Theater

The Indianapolis Repertory Theater now offers Audio Description Plays.  A season package consists of six plays for $125.  Please contact Daniel Hoffman at dhoffman@irtlive.com or 317-916-4826 for information about group sales or for any other questions you may have about this new program. The following is a list of plays that can be incorporated into the season package:

• Holes Sunday October 3, 2010 at 2 pm

• Mary’s Wedding Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 2 pm

• Christmas Carol Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 2 pm

• The Diary of Anne Frank Sunday, January 20, 2011 at 2 pm

• Going Solo Festival:Neat Sunday February 20, 2011 at 2 pm

• Going Solo Festival:Fire in the Garden Sunday, February 27, 2011 at  2 pm

• Going Solo Festival:  In Acting Shakespeare Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 2 pm

• The Gospel According to James Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 2 pm

• The 39 Steps Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 2 pm