the apital area quarterly · 2015-04-01 · page 4 the apital area quarterly from the desk of the...
TRANSCRIPT
The Capital Area Quarterly Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge
Spring Newsletter—April thru June 2015
The Capital Area Quarterly Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge
Spring Newsletter—April thru June 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Letter from the Executive Director Pages 4-5
Summer Camp List Pages 18-20
Spring Community Calendar Page 39
We have been receiving tremendous support from the community for this year’s Active for Autism. If you have not yet registered or started a team, it’s not too late!
You can find lots more
information regarding
Active for Autism inside this issue of “The
Capital Area Quarterly.”
Read this newsletter online,
share it with friends or save
the PDF for future reading.
Register at www.fhfgbr.org
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jamie S. Tindle [email protected]
OFFICE MANAGER Kayley Williams [email protected]
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/MARKETING SPECIALIST
Tyler Trahan [email protected]
CHILDREN’S SPECIAL HEALTH SERVICES Kay Lewis, CSHS Parent Liaison and Ability Awareness Coordinator [email protected]
INFORMATION, RESOURCE AND REFERRAL Kimberly Brown, Information, Resource and Referral Supervisor & Lending Library Organizer [email protected] Kevira Johnson, Information, Resource and Referral Specialist [email protected]
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION Cynthia Chesterfield, Program Director [email protected] Kara Shupe, Educational Support Specialist [email protected]
EARLYSTEPS Diane Pitts, Community Outreach Specialist [email protected]
RESOURCE CENTER FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Teresa Wilson, Program Director [email protected] Penni Cedotal, Autism Resource Specialist [email protected]
CHAIRPERSON Tanja Foil
VICE CHAIR Sharon Whitlow
TREASURER Michelle Garbiras
SECRETARY Gay Ellis
DIRECTORS
Upcoming Board Meetings:
11:30am - 1:00pm @ FHFGBR Office
May 20, 2015
**Board Meetings are open to the public. Please Join Us! **
Emily Boudreaux
Katrina Coots
Carly Dickson
Kathy Edmonston
Belynda Gauthier
Latoya Hawkins
Thomas Sellers
Sirena Brock
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OUR MISSION
To provide the individualized services, information, resources
and support needed to positively enhance the independence,
productivity and integration of persons with disabilities into the
community.
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From the desk of the Executive Director Happy spring and summer everyone!!
I hope you enjoy this edition of our Spring/Summer Newsletter! It is, as always, full of so many
activities you can plan to attend for not only yourself but your family and friends!! Of course we
are spotlighting our 6th Annual Active for Autism as this is by far our biggest FUN event and
fundraiser of the year. Thank you all so very much for making all of our events better than the one
before. It is because of YOU that we continue forward with enthusiasm and vigor!! Serving and
supporting other families is truly why we do what we do every day.
Recently our family experienced an event that I had honestly given up on. After nearly 20 years of
being undiagnosed, my son Alex received a definitive diagnosis. This diagnosis doesn’t change
what we’ve been doing to support Alex and meet his needs and I thought that it wouldn’t affect me
either. However, emotionally it did and it’s taken a few weeks to absorb and understand this rare
and unusual syndrome. In a small way I suddenly (but temporarily) felt fearful again and yes even
shed a few tears. I shared with a dear friend of mine these mixed-up emotions I was feeling. She
gently and simply said, “Jamie, think of it as a wound that had nearly healed and you scraped it;
opening the wound again. Don’t worry. It will heal again.” Well, she was right. Things are better
and now I’m learning all I can about this new chapter of our lives.
One morning while driving to work my thoughts traveled back to when this journey first started
with Alex. Slowing moving forward to the first time I heard about Families Helping Families
(FHF) then fast-forward to when I actually became connected to other families through Partners in
Policymaking in 1999. During the 9 month course of Partners in Policymaking I was introduced to
the reading following this writing called “Welcome to Holland”. I remembered how much this
reading touched my life and explained so well to me how a family often feels when they are given a
child that is different than what they envisioned having. At that
moment I clearly realized that there is a plan much greater than
“my” plan and how incredibly grateful I am for each and every
step I’m given the opportunity to take. I’m sure a lot of
families remember “Welcome to Holland” but there are new
families joining this world that we share every day and my hope
would be they too might enjoy their unplanned destination more
by my sharing this reading with them.
May everyone have a blessed Easter and enjoyable summer!!
Sincerely,
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We are expecting a bigger and better
Active for Autism this year, and that is
matched with the volunteers that help us
make it that way. If you, your family, and
friends are interested in being a bigger
piece of the puzzle for this year’s
Active for Autism, please contact
Kayley Williams at the FHFGBR office to
sign up!!
225-216-7474
Thank you to all the school districts taking the step to
support us in our efforts for Autism Awareness! These
districts have agreed to form teams, have dress down days,
publicize, or other things to spread the word and get
ACTIVE for Autism!!
Special Thanks To: Ascension Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish
Pointe Coupee Parish
West Baton Rouge
West Feliciana Parish
Livingston Parish
City of Central
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Resource Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders
The Resource Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (RCASD) is a program of Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge. We are a family-driven resource center for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. RCASD can help you and your family! We offer three core services to individuals with Autism and their families: information and referral; education and training; and family-to-family support. To best serve you, we have a variety of in-house resources, workshops and trainings. At the Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge center, we have a lending library full of books, DVDs, CDs and local community resource information specifically targeted towards assisting those with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. Our very popular Boardmaker software program enables families to create unlimited communication and educational materials using Picture Communication Symbols (PCS). Most importantly, the staff at FHFGBR offers ongoing peer-support from other family members who share the unique understanding of caring for a loved one with a disability such as Autism Spectrum Disorders. To find out about all of our workshops and trainings we are having in the next few months, make sure to register for our eblasts at www.fhfgbr.org and check out the calendar of events at the end of this newsletter.
Keep on the lookout for a featured story about
Active for Autism in the April issue of Blush Magazine!!
Thank you to Blush Magazine for
contributing their beautiful talent!!
www.blush-magazine.com
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Iberville Parish
Pointe Coupee Parish
FHFGBR has had a busy, yet productive March in get-
ting autism awareness out into the community. We
are delighted to say that more and more communities
in the Greater Baton Rouge area are
recognizing April as Autism Awareness Month.
Proclamation sessions have included
representatives from FHFGBR going to explain autism
awareness and how FHFGBR plays a role in it. Some
sessions have even included personal testimonies by
letters or presentations from families that have been
affected by autism. Thank you to all of the city officials
and councils representing each location that has
agreed to recognize Autism Awareness Month!
Ascension Parish
City of Port Allen
On behalf of Mayor Jr. Shelton and the City of Central,
We would like to invite everyone to Central’s proclamation ceremony
recognizing April as Autism Awareness Month.
April 14, 2015
Central High School Auditorium
6:00 pm
Livingston Parish
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Faces of Autism
Would you like your loved one to be included
in the Faces of Autism Wall for Active for
Autism 2015? This is such a beautiful chance
to bring awareness to the community!!
Send the consent form and a photo to
Faces of Autism Consent Form
On Saturday March 14th the Cinderella Project held a very
special dress giveaway for young ladies with disabilities. The
compassion shown to these young ladies allowing them to
shop and not be over whelmed by the crowd is greatly
appreciated!
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You will be astonished and excited by the number of apps available, and the vast variety of issues they can ad-dress:
Voice Output
Sign Language
One-Touch Switch
Text-to-Speech
Articulation
Encouragement
Listening and Auditory Processing
Language Comprehension
Vocabulary
Concept Development
Video Modeling
Social Skills Group Activities
Eye Contact and Body Language
Speech Language Pathologist Lois Jean Brady wrote this book in order to educate parents, teachers, and other professionals about the breakthrough method she calls “iTherapy”—which is the use of Apple products (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) and various apps (computer applications) in meeting students’ individual educational goals. Lois Jean Brady, M.A., CCC-SLP shares important tips on how to use apps responsibly and
effectively by maintaining a child-centered, team approach to teaching and learning, taking into account the individual’s interests, strengths/challenges, vision, motor planning, attention, sensory processing, memory, cognitive ability, environment, and access to tools. Lois also coaches adults on how they can use prompting and reinforcement techniques to help establish and generalize skills learned, until students are able to consistently demonstrate the skills in various environ-ments (home, school, etc.).
Coming Soon!!
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CAMP LOCATION DATE & TIME REGISTRATION CONTACT
BREC Camp
Sunshine
(Ages 6-12)
Kathy Drive Park
1801 Kathy Drive
June 1 - July 24
Mon-Fri
7:30am-5:30pm
March 2
BREC Interactive Room
6201 Florida Blvd
(225)272-9200 ext. 572 or 557
BREC Camp
Sunshine
(Ages 13-16)
Independence
Community Park
June 1 - July 24
Mon-Fri
7:30am-5:30pm
March 2
BREC Interactive Room
6201 Florida Blvd
(225)272-9200 ext. 572 or 557
BREC Camp
Sunshine Club
(Ages 17-25)
Milton J. Womack Park
6201 Florida Blvd
June 1 - July 24
Mon-Fri
7:30am-5:30pm
March 2
BREC Interactive Room
6201 Florida Blvd
(225)272-9200 ext. 572 or 557
Camp Rainman
Children with Autism
ages 10-up
Clara Springs Camp in Peli-
can, La
(Shreveport)
June 9 – June 12
12:00pm
February 1 via
email/chapter website below:
www.autism-society.org/chapter581
Alice or Vickie
camprain-
Camp Friendship
Children with
Spina Bifida
Paradise Manor Country Club
529 Sauve Road
River Ridge, La 70123
July 27 – July 31
9:00am – 3:00pm
Mail applications
by June 1st
Cindy Barrios
(504)737-5181
Louisiana Lions
Camp
292 L. Beauford Drive
Anacoco, LA 71403
Please call for ses-
sion
Visit
www.lionscamp.org
1-800-348-0802
Camp Tiger
Children with
Special Care
Needs (Ages 6-15)
LSU School of Medicine
New Orleans, LA
May 18 – May 22
8:00am – 4:00pm
Visit
www.lsuhsc.edu/camptiger/
Nicolette Ruzicka
(225)276-3168
Dr. Joe Delcarpio
(504)568-4874
Med Camps of
La
Camp Rolling
Thunder
Children with
Spina Bifida and
Orthopedic Conditions
Camp Alabama
2090 Hwy 145
Choudrant, LA 71227
June 14 – June 19
2 weeks prior to camp session
1(877)282-0802
www.medcamps.org
2015 Summer Camps
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Med Camps of La
Camp Rough Riders
Children with Cerebral
Palsy
Camp Alabama
2090 Hwy 145
Choudrant, LA
71227
July 12 – July 17
2 weeks prior to
camp session
1(877)282-0802
www.medcamps.org
Med Camps of La
Camp Kandoo
Children ages 6-12 with
developmental disabilities
Camp Alabama
2090 Hwy 145
Choudrant, LA 71227
July 5 – July 10
2 weeks prior to
camp session
1(877)282-0802
www.medcamps.org
Med Camps of La
Camp Easy Breeze
Children with Asthma
Camp Alabama
2090 Hwy 145
Choudrant, LA 71227
June 21 – June 26
2 weeks prior to
camp session
1(877)282-0802
www.medcamps.org
Med Camps of La
Camp Busy Bee Retreat
Retreat for children with
autism joined by a parent
Camp Alabama
2090 Hwy 145
Choudrant, LA 71227
June 28 – June 30
2 weeks prior to
camp session
1(877)282-0802
www.medcamps.org
Med Camps of La
Camp Little Giants
Children with Sickle Cell
Camp Alabama
2090 Hwy 145
Choudrant, LA 71227
July 19 – July 24
2 weeks prior to
camp session
1(877)282-0802
www.medcamps.org
Med Camps of La
Camp Big Hearts
Children with hearing/speech/vision
impairments
Camp Alabama
2090 Hwy 145
Choudrant, LA 71227
July 26 – July 31
2 weeks prior to
camp session
1(877)282-0802
www.medcamps.org
Med Camps of La
Camp Shining Stars
Children with epilepsy/ seizure disorders
Camp Alabama
2090 Hwy 145
Choudrant, LA 71227
July 26 – July 31
2 weeks prior to
camp session
1(877)282-0802
www.medcamps.org
Med Camps of La
Camp Smiling Suns
Children ages 13-16 with developmental disa-
bility
Camp Alabama
2090 Hwy 145
Choudrant, LA 71227
June 7 – June 12
2 weeks prior to
camp session
1(877)282-0802
www.medcamps.org
Camp Shriver
(Ages 10-up) Persons with Intellectual
disabilities
Location:
TBA
Monday-Friday
7:30am – 2:30pm
www.laso.org
Johnny Braud
1-800-345-6644
Camp Blessing
(Ages 7-up) Persons primarily with a
diagnosis of a physical or
intellectual disability
Tomball, Texas
www.campblessing.org
Visit website or call
Glen and Laura Elder
(281)259-5789 or
(713)724-0021
CAMP LOCATION DATE & TIME REGISTRATION CONTACT
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Capable Arts Camp
“Under the Sea” (Ages 6-18)
For children with disabili-
ties and their siblings (ages
6-12)
First United Methodist
Church
930 North Blvd.
(Downtown Baton
Rouge)
June 1 – June 5
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Visit
McMains Children’s Devel-
opmental Center website
Anne Hindrichs
(225)923-3420 or
ahindrichs@m
cmainscdc.org
McMains Children’s Devel-
opmental Center
“Summer Steps”
Math & Reading Remediation
(Ages 6-8)
McMains Children’s
Developmental
Center
Please call for session
information
Session 1: June 1-26 Session 2: July 6-31
Visit
McMains Children’s Develop-
mental Center website
Anne Hindrichs
(225)923-3420 or
ahindrichs@mc
mainscdc.org
McMains Children’s Devel-
opmental Center
“Summer Steps”
Study Skills Group
(Ages 8-10)
McMains Children’s
Developmental
Center
Please call for session
information
Session 1: June 8-26 Session 2: July 13-31
Visit
McMains Children’s Develop-
mental Center website
Anne Hindrichs
(225)923-3420 or
ahindrichs@mc
mainscdc.org
I-LEEAD/Deaf Focus
Kidz Kamp
Camp Istrouma
Greenwell Springs,
LA
June 12-14
Visit
http://www.deaffocus.com/#!kidz
-kamp
Juliet Barbin
(225)341-6398 or
Juli-
Paula G. Manship YMCA
Autism Day Camp
Paula G. Manship
YMCA
Please call or visit
website for session information
Visit
www.ymcabatonrouge.org/
Programs/camp
For more info call
(225)767-9622
CAMP LOCATION DATE & TIME REGISTRATION CONTACT
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What is the EarlySteps Program? Earlysteps is Louisiana’s Early Intervention System for children with disabilities and developmental delays ages birth to three and their families. By providing resources and support during those critical years, Earlysteps helps children get off to a great start. Who is eligible? Children with medical conditions likely to cause disability or developmental delay , or with delays in the following areas, may be eligible: physical development, cognitive development, social and emotional development, adaptive development and/or communication.
We would like to invite you to our RICC and SICC meetings. State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) The mission of the SICC is to work in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, in an advisory capacity, to design and oversee the implementation of a family-centered, community-based, comprehensive, interagency service delivery system for infants and toddlers (birth through two) who are eligible for Part C services, and their families. The SICC meets quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month. All meetings are open to the public and held in accordance with the Louisiana Open Meeting Laws. The Next Meeting will be held on April 8, 2015, 1pm to 3pm in the Claiborne Building at 1201 North Third Street in the LA Purchase Room. Parking is available in front. Regional Interagency Coordinating Council (RICC) The Regional Interagency Coordinating Council (RICC) is an essential component of the Part C early intervention system at the local level. The group’s membership includes family members of children with disabilities, as well as service providers,
community leaders, and agency representatives. The RICC meets quarterly. All meetings are open to the public and are held in accordance with the Louisiana Open Meeting Laws. The next RICC meeting is June 25, 2015, 1pm to 3pm at the Capital Area Human Services District Building. 4615 Government St. Building 2 Rm 200A. Questions? Contact Diane Pitts, Community Outreach Specialist, at 225-216-7474 or [email protected]
Early Steps
If you know of a child that would benefit from receiving services from EarlySteps please call 225-925-2426. It’s never too soon to ask questions about your baby’s development.
Anyone can refer a child to EarlySteps
Audiology Speech-Language Therapy Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy
Special Instruction Assistive Technology Service Coordination Nutrition services
Services Provided by Early Steps:
Health Services Nursing Services Vision Services Medical Evaluations
Family Training Transportation Psychological Services Social Work services
Earlysteps is currently recruiting Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Sing Language Interpreters. For more information, contact Valencia Allen at [email protected] or 225-925-7090.
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Children’s Special Health Services (CSHS) is a program for children in Louisiana with special health care needs. A child with special needs is: A child with a health problem that affects how the child grows, moves and acts, AND A child who needs more health services than most other children. CSHS gives a child with special needs health care that is sensitive to his or her family and culture. They hold clinics around the state at health units where specialists come to see the children. Within CSHS the family will have access to the doctors’ nurse, a social worker, a nutritionist and a parent liaison that has a child with special health care needs. Our regions parent liaison is Kay Lewis-Caron and she can be reached at [email protected] or 225-242-4890 x 295 . Who can get help from CSHS? A child can get help from CSHS if he or she: Lives in Louisiana Is less than 21 years old Has a health problem that CSHS covers Has Medicaid OR meets CSHS income rules To get help from CSHS, a parent can apply at a local health unit, ask their pediatrician or get an application on line. http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=256 State wide number is 504-568-5055 or our local Region 2 number is 225-242-4890
Children’s Special Health Services
There will be a presentation on “Get Familiar with Disability/Waiver Services” at Hope Academy on
May 2nd! This presentation will be conducted by our very own Kay Lewis.
Flyer and time will be announced by the academy.
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Basic Summer Heat Safety Tips!
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Jamie Tindle and Katie LeBlanc (student
& advocate at Tara High School)
co-presented Disability Awareness
information to Ms. Durham’s class at
Tara High School. The presentation was
very interactive with the students
having an open discussion and time for
Q & A at the end. Katie LeBlanc was
recognized as a student volunteer and
advocate for FHFGBR and those with
disabilities by receiving a FHFGBR pin
to wear with pride.
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Inner Wheel Attic
Trash and Treasure
Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge would like to extend a
HUGE thank you to all who donated, volunteered, or bought items at the
Attic Trash and Treasure Sale that took place at the beginning of March! It
was a lot of hard work but we had a lot of fun along with it!
We are absolutely enthused to say that this
was a record breaking year for this annual sale,
and it was because of all the support from the
community. The future is looking very bright
for FHFGBR!
THANK YOU!!!
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FHFGBR Spring/Summer Calendar Date and Time Event Location Friday, April 3
Office Closed FHFGBR
Tuesday, April 7 2:00pm
AFA Planning Committee Meeting LA State Police Independence Blvd.
Wednesday, April 15 10:00am
TOPSoccer Independence Park 7500 Independence Blvd.
Friday, April 17 6:-00pm—9:-00pm
Sunshine Social BREC Womack Ballroom 6201 Florida Blvd.
Saturday, April 18 8:00am—12:00pm
6th Annual Active for Autism LA State Police Independence Blvd.
Wednesday, April 22 10:00am—12:00pm
Information and Resource Workshop FHFGBR
Tuesday, April 28 10:00am—12:00pm
Inclusive Recreational Activities Workshop
FHFGBR
Sunday, May 3 4:00pm—7:00pm
Civitan Dance
BREC Womack Ballroom 6201 Florida Boulevard
Monday, May 11 5:30pm—6:30pm
Healing Art Workshop FHFGBR
Friday, May 15 6:00pm—9:00pm
Sunshine Social BREC Womack Ballroom 6201 Florida Blvd.
Saturday, May 16 10:00am
TOPSoccer
Burbank Soccer Complex 12400 Burbank Dr.
Wednesday, May 20 11:30am—1:30pm
Board of Directors Meeting FHFGBR
Thursday, May 21 11:30am—1:00pm
Helping Hands Support Group FHFGBR
Monday, May 25 Office Closed FHFGBR
Saturday, May 30 10:00am
Sensory Sensitive Film - Tomorrowland
AMC Theatre 16 O’Neal Lane
Saturday, May 30 7:30pm—10:00pm
Friends and Family Luau Liberty Lagoon 111 Lobdell Ave.
Thursday, June 11 11:30am—1:00pm
Helping Hands Support Group FHFGBR
Saturday, June 27 10:00am
Sensory Sensitive Film—Inside Out AMC Theatre 16 O’Neal Lane
OFFICE CLOSURES
The staff at Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge will be at home with their families and our office will be closed on the
following days…
April 3rd Good Friday
May 25th Memorial Day
“It’s who we are. It’s what we do.”
2356 Drusilla Lane Baton Rouge | LA | 70809
225-216-7474
FHFGBR receives partial funding from the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, Capital Area
Human Services District, Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals as well as generous donations from families and our community.
FHFGBR does not endorse or promote any legislation, institutions, individuals or methods of treatment or
therapy.
DONATE NOW @ www.fhfgbr.org
WHY DONATE TO FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES OF GREATER BATON ROUGE? Donations help us provide new & innovative programs that our existing funding sources do not cover. With constant budget cuts FHFGBR contracts are in jeopardy of being reduced.
WHERE DO DONATIONS GO?
To fulfill our mission of providing resources and the integration of person with disabilities. Donations support program events such as our Sunshine Socials, Annual Thanksgiving Celebrations and
more.
Click the “Donate Now” button on our website at www.fhfgbr.org or call our office to donate. Every amount is big to us & helps us to fulfill our mission and make a difference in promoting inclusion.