Sooner Start Family Forums

SoonerStart of OK will be holding Family Forums across the state on June 2,3,4 and 5, 2008. These Forums are open to all families who are currently participating or have participated in the SoonerStart system.

This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the SoonerStart system evaluation and to share your thoughts, ideas and recommendations about how to improve the SoonerStart system for all Oklahoma families and their children with special needs. What we want to hear from you — what worked, what didn’t, what recommendations you have to improve SoonerStart.
Please plan to attend a forum in your community!

The Oklahoma Family Network will host the Family Forums along with the facilitators from Emerald Consulting Inc. Emerald Consulting Inc. is a nationally recognized firm with many years of experience in the evaluation of early intervention programs.
If you need special accommodations please call (405) 521-4155.

Monday, June 2, 2008
Enid Family Forum
Time: 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Location:
Garfield County Health Department
2501 Mercer Drive
Enid, Oklahoma 73701

Oklahoma City Family Forum
Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Location:Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Rockwell Campus Construction and Trades Building
12777 North Rockwell Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73142

Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Norman Family Forum
Time: 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Location: Cleveland County Health Department
250 12th Avenue Northeast
Norman, Oklahoma 73071

Lawton Family Forum
Time: 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Comanche County Health Department
1010 South Sheridan
Lawton, Oklahoma 73502

Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Oklahoma City Family Forum
Time: 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Rockwell Campus Construction and Trades Building
12777 North Rockwell Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73142

Oklahoma City Family Forum
Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Location: Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Rockwell Campus
12777 North Rockwell Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73142

Thursday, June 5, 2008
Tulsa Family Forum
Time: 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Tulsa Technology Center
Broken Arrow Campus
4600 South Olive
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74011

If you have questions, or if you require special accommodations please call (405) 521-4155.

Forum Leaders
Denise Arland
Ms Arland lives in Greenfield, Indiana, and is Executive Director of FUSE (Families United for
Support and Encouragement), a parent-to-parentorganization providing information, resources andsupport to families of children with special needs. Ms. Arland brings a unique perspective to the team as the parent of five children, three of whom have disabilities. She has been involved in the early intervention system in Indiana since her teenage quadruplets were babies. She served as a parent representative on her local planning and coordinating council and was appointed to Indiana’s Interagency Coordinating Council. Ms. Arland was elected chair of the ICC, where she served until 2003. Ms. Arland worked for seven years as a Regional Facilitator for Family to Family, a parent support initiative funded by the state’s Early Intervention System, and also worked for four years on Indiana’s transition project for young children.

Mary Jo Paladino
Ms. Paladino is the project director for the Indiana Transition Initiative for Young Children and Families. In this role, Ms. Paladino administers and coordinates technical assistance and training support for the statewide transition system for children from birth to third grade including early intervention, school systems, Head Start and other early childhood programs. She also served as the project director of the Family to Family Initiative, a statewide system for outreach to families and parent volunteers in the early intervention system. Ms. Paladino has extensive experience in compliance monitoring serving as the project director for compliance monitoring in Indiana and as a consultant for compliance monitoring in Colorado. She has developed and implemented curriculum related to transition, family issues and Financial Case Management. Ms. Paladino is the parent of five young adults, several of whom have special needs.

Free Publications: A Model for the IEP

The latest edition of the newsletter, Special Ed Advocate, featured the below information for free publications of interest to parents who have children with an Individualized Education Program.

The Federal Regulations (34 CFR §§300.320-300.328) specify the procedures that school districts must follow to develop, review, and revise the IEP for each child.
The Model Form: IEP describes required elements in the IEP including present levels of academic achievement and functional performance and measurable annual goals.
A Guide to the Individualized Education Program published by the U. S. Department of Education. This guide was developed by the U.S. Department of Education, with the assistance of the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY).

You may sign up for the newsletter at: http://www.wrightslaw.com/

Summer Program for Oklahoma Students with Visual Impairments

Catch the Reading Bug! A Summer Program for School Age Children who Are blind or visually impaired Age 6-18.

Students must be on an IEP as a student with a visual impairment, must meet eligibility requirements, must be eligible for 1st grade, and must demonstrate age-appropriate independent living skills. New students must have been seen by an OSB Outreach Coordinator or have been evaluated at OSB.Program Provides: Unique Educational Opportunities
Disability-Specific Skill Training
Reinforcement of Academic Skills
Access to Specialized Equipment and Leisure Time Activities

When: Monday, June 2, 2008 - Friday, June 27, 2008
Where: Oklahoma School for the Blind 3300 Gibson Street, Muskogee, OK 74403 There is No Charge for the Program. If your local school does not dismiss prior to the beginning date, your child can still attend the Summer Program.

FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION, CONTACT: Sherry Holder, Outreach Coordinator, Eastern Oklahoma Robert Warren or Carolyn Sheppard, Principals Karen Kizzia, Superintendent 918-781-8200 or 1-877-229-7136 (Toll Free)

Nutrition: A Piece of the Autism Puzzle

An Oklahoma Autism Network Workshop

Elizabeth Strickland, MS, RD, LD - Registered Dietitian
ASD Nutrition Seminars & Consulting

May 17, 2008 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

This one – day workshop will provide an overview of the importance of nutrition therapy as a component of the comprehensive treatment of Autism and related disorders. Elizabeth will explain how nutrition can have a positive impact on your child’s behavior, mood, learning, memory, attention, sleep and brain function. Other topics covered include basic supplements, lab test, GFCF Diet, healing the gastrointestinal tract and feeding problems. Elizabeth will present her 10-Step ASD Nutrition Plan. Parents will leave with a basic nutrition intervention plan to implement at home for their child.

Elizabeth has over twenty-five years experience as a Pediatric Dietitian providing individual nutrition therapy, training professionals and parents, and coordinating nutrition services statewide in Texas for children with disabilities (Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD and ADHD). She has presented at local, national and international conferences of professional organizations. Elizabeth has a private practice in San Antonio, Texas and also provides nutrition consultation to families nation-wide via telephone.

For registration information, contact :
Kacey Denton, Special Programs Coordinator
Oklahoma Autism Network
EFFORT Project
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
1600 N. Phillips Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Telephone: (405) 271-2131 ext:47126
kacey-denton@ouhsc.edu

Autism -Unraveling The Mystery

Autism is what every parent of an autistic child says it is. It also is what doctors and scientists say it is. Parents, people with autism and doctors agree on many aspects of the brain disorder. They disagree on a number of issues as well. There are contradictions and controversies and perhaps, above all else, moving and emotional stories to be told about autism and its impact on individuals and the people who love them.

There is so much to autism that CNN has begun special coverage titled "Autism - Unraveling the Mystery." This broad, deep examination of autism is being featured online and on CNN, CNN International and Headline News

On Wednesday, the U.N. World Autism Awareness Day, the coverage continues with more online material and an hourlong special simulcast on CNN and CNNI. "We Have Autism" focuses on the experiences of families living with autism around the world. The program airs at 12 p.m. ET/4 p.m. GMT.

On Wednesday night, be sure to watch a special hour of Anderson Cooper 360 reported by Gupta. "Finding Amanda" tells the story of one woman's atypical life with autism. We see the way she interacts and communicates with the world and how she inspires a young man named D.J. "Finding Amanda" airs at 11 p.m. ET.CNN's reporting on the global impact, latest science and controversies related to autism is designed to raise awareness of this brain disorder and provide useful information and insight

Visit the CNN website for more information at http://www.cnn.com

Study Finds Individuals with Dyslexia More Likely to Become Millionaires

In an attempt to learn more about the minds of millionaires, a team of psychologists and business experts, spent a day testing a group of entrepreneurial millionaires. They were put through a series of tests. Fourty percent of the 300 millionaires who participated in the more comprehensive study had been diagnosed withdyslexia. Adrian Atkinson, a business psychologist who worked with the research group, noted that "Most people who make a million have difficult childhoods or have been frustrated in a major way. Dyslexia is one of the driving forces behind that." (The Sunday Times, October 5, 2003).

Ali Bazley, of the British Dyslexia Association, suggests that dyslexics who struggle make up for it by being more creative, and looking at the bigger picture. "People with dyslexia, are often very good lateral and strategic thinkers." (Express & Echo, Exeter, October 8, 2003.)

Another reason individuals with dyslexia may do well is the fact that due to their academic struggles they often find themselves outside of the mainstream social groups in school. Feeling alone, they compensate by spending time exploring ideas, learning new strategies, and working to find a model of success.

Sir Richard Branson, a billionaire and the head of Virgin Industries, made his first million by the age of 18. He is dyslexic. Walt Disney, and Donald Winkler, former CEO of Ford Credit, are other very successful people with learning disabilities.

What else did the study find about millionaires? Millionaires know that mistakes are OK. They know speed is the key to business advantage and they work within their strengths. Rene Caraylol, a business adviser and another member of the research team, stated "They don't do failure, they redefine it. (Excerpt from Family Voices of Oklahoma March newsletter)

We Need To Hear From You!

Sooner SUCCESS is currently conducting a Community Needs Assessment for Blaine, Canadian, Creek, Garfield, Kingfisher, Logan, Major, Tulsa, and Rogers County and we need your opinion!
If you are the parent, grandparent or guardian of a child with special needs or a professional who works with children with special needs and/or their families, then we are looking for you!
Our survey can be completed in 5 minutes, but your participation is vital. We need to hear from you which issues are the most important in your county.

• Do we need more mental health counselors that serve children?
  
• Is it hard to find a dentist that will accept Sooner Care?
  
• Are the specialists your child needs too far away to see without missing time from work?
  
• Does your church need help figuring out how to include your child?
  
• Do you want to connect with other parents for support, but don't know how to find the

Sooner SUCCESS wants to put the collective energy and resources of our coalition to work solving our county's most urgent challenges, but first we need to hear from YOU which issues are the most important.
To Request A Survey:

Contact Billie Roane at 580 791 0341 or by email at billie-roane@ouhsc.edu.

Completed surveys can be returned by pre-paid postal mail to the OU Child Study Center (envelopes are provided with each survey)

The survey can also be completed online at: http://soonersuccess.oucpm.org

And as our way of saying thank you, all family members who complete the survey with contact information will be entered in a drawing for a $50.00 Gift Card!

Don't Delay!! The survey ends March 31, 2008!