We
Did It!
A few weeks
have passed since the USA elected a president offering
us hope for positive change. As my elation settles down
a bit, I recall Mr. Obama's words from his victory speech,
"America, we have come so far. We have seen so much.
But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask
ourselves - if our children should live to see the next
century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as
long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What
progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.
This is our time - to put our people back to work and
open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity
and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American
Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of
many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and
where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who
tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless
creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can.
"
All of us have a job to do. Part of it will be keeping
our new president informed of our desires and helping
him to create the country we all know we can create. Below
are items from Mr. Obama's campaign platform on disabilities.
Let's help him make them all a reality.
Thanks for Listening - Tim Mueller
Obama's Platform
commits to:
Ø Fully fund the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act,
Ø Task the Secretary of Education with identifying and
recommending strategies to overcome barriers to education
for people with disabilities,
Ø Appoint Judges and Justices who respect laws designed
to protect people with disabilities,
Ø Restore funding to the agencies tasked with enforcing
anti-discrimination laws that protect workers with disabilities,
Ø Approve universal health care legislation that will
assure that Americans with disabilities will have quality,
affordable, portable coverage that will allow them to
take a job without fear of losing coverage,
Ø People with disabilities who lose their Medicare or
Medicaid eligibility by taking a job, but still cannot
afford coverage, will be provided a subsidy in order
to purchase coverage,
Ø Prohibit insurers from denying coverage on the basis
of pre-existing conditions,
Ø Reinstate a Clinton Executive Order aimed at hiring
an additional 100,000 federal employees with disabilities
within five years,
Ø Require the federal government and employers who are
federal contractors to "take affirmative action to employ
and advance in employment qualified individuals with
disabilities,"
Ø Direct the Secretary of Labor to bring together employers,
employer associations, human resources professionals,
disability advocates, service providers, and the labor
movement to identify, promote, and disseminate best
practices in accommodating workers with disabilities,
Ø Launch an aggressive effort to educate employers about
tax benefits like the Disabled Access Tax Credit, a
Tax Deduction for Architectural and Transportation Barrier
Removal, and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit so that
more employers use them to hire greater numbers of employees
with disabilities.
Ø Establish a National Commission on People with Disabilities,
Employment, and Social Security that looks at overcoming
work disincentives in the SSDI, SSI, Medicare and Medicaid
programs, revisits the Ticket to Work program and current
definitions of 'substantial gainful activity,'
Ø Expand the Family and Medical Leave Act by reducing
the threshold for which employers are covered from companies
with 50 or more employees to those with 25 or more,
Ø Mandate a 'reasonable amount of sick leave', minimally
at least 7 paid sick days a year for all workers,
Ø Assure the rights affirmed in the Olmstead decision
and approve the Community Choice Act and the CLASS Act,
Ø Streamline the Social Security approval process,
Ø Protect voting rights and
Ø Invest in assistive technologies.
The complete text can
be found at: http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/DisabilityPlanFactSheet.pdf
Autism
& Neurological Inflammation:
Part 3 - The Application of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
(HBOT)
Free Webinar, Dec 10,
5:45 - 8:30 Pacific Time
More
info here...
NEWS
Michelle
Jones Leaves Teaching
KindTree's Vice President
and Co-Founder Accepts Job at Lane County Developmental
Disabilities Office.
After earning a Master's Degree
in Education and substitute teaching for over 2
years, Michelle Jones has switched careers. "All
my life has prepared me for this opportunity,"
says Michelle. |
Michelle
Jones and her wife, Melissa Linville |
Michelle is now working as the Transition Specialist,
attending EIP's and helping people and their families
challenged with developmental disabilities transition
from school to school and school to adult living. She
will come in contact with many of the same teachers and
students she encountered as a student teacher who admire
her skills and attitude.
Members of her team at work include KindTree board member
Dyan Campbell and Support Group facilitator Nel Applegate.
Congratulations on your new job, Michelle. We know you
will continue to be a great asset to the Autism Community.
Fact
or fiction: Is Oregon killing you?
by Andy Dworkin,
The Oregonian
Tuesday October 28, 2008, 11:34 PM
Do you think a chowder of contaminants, from airborne
Chinese pollution to emissions from Umatilla's chemical
weapons incinerator, makes Oregon a very sickly state,
despite its healthy gloss? By some measures, that could
be right. There are statistics that show Oregon ranks
high in breast and skin cancers, strokes and suicides,
autism and Alzheimer's.
But -- not to be coy -- someplace has to be second in
breast cancer rates. That's how statistics work. And compared
to residents of most other states, Oregonians aren't as
fat, are less likely to die in a car crash, less likely
to have heart disease, chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis,
less likely to have all our teeth extracted. In perhaps
the ultimate measure -- death from any cause -- Oregon's
in the middle of the pack, 27th out of the 50 states.
So are we trim, safe drivers with pleasant smiles and
condoms in the glove box? Or are we ticking time bombs,
mindlessly hiking to the graveyard while our bodies decide
whether a sudden stroke or creeping cancer is the way
to go?
The Oregonian's health team looked at several killers
alleged to hit Oregon especially hard to see if we are
really harder hit and, if so, why.
Autism: Oregonians worried about having
the highest autism rates in America are in good company.
Residents of New Jersey and Minnesota have also worried
in recent years about holding that title.
That's because no one knows just how many kids in the
U.S. have autism. And there's no reason to think the rates
vary dramatically from state to state. Most studies looking
at geography and autism have been inconclusive, said Darryn
Sikora, director of the autism program at OHSU's Child
Development and Rehabilitation Center. The best study,
conducted in 2002, looked at 8-year-olds from cities in
14 states and estimated one in 150 had an autism spectrum
disorder. The highest rate was found in New Jersey, but
researchers looked at only four counties there. Those
numbers weren't meant to compare states.
Oregon's autism claim, like Minnesota's, is based not
on medicine but on education policy. To provide special
education services, schools must designate students as
having an eligible condition. Many states, including Washington,
require medical assessment in this process. Oregon does
not -- and so has roughly twice the rate of kids labeled
autistic as Washington, Sikora said.
The state's heavy educational labeling causes problems,
Sikora said. Her clinic often sees kids labeled as autistic
who actually have other conditions. Such misdiagnoses
may keep children from getting proper treatments. At the
same time, kids labeled as autistic who don't actually
have autism sometimes keep kids who are truly autistic
from getting needed services.
-- Andy Dworkin
read
the whole story here...
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Autism
linked to rainfall in study
StarPhoenix - Saskatoon,Saskatchewan,Canada
They got autism rates from state and county agencies
for children born in California, Oregon and Washington
between 1987 and 1999 and plotted them against ...
Study Shows Evidence
of Major Environmental Trigger for Autism
Newswise (press release) - USA
The study involved analyzing data from counties in the
states of California, Oregon and Washington, and
it found that county-level, school-age autism ...
KindTree
Partner Lorraine Kerwood of NextStep Recycling Honored
Again
By Sherri Buri McDonald
The Register-Guard, Nov 23, 2008 09:44AM
The way Lorraine Kerwood, founder of NextStep Recycling
and a person living with autism, sees it, there are no
problems, only opportunities.
So when the Oregon Legislature passed a new electronics
recycling law that will radically change the way NextStep
does business, Kerwood tried to view it as a gateway to
further growth instead of a roadblock.
Now, after months of preparation and planning, “We
feel we’ve figured out how to manage the upcoming
change so it makes it more possible to do the work we
want to do,” she said.
Kerwood, a 47-year-old with short dark hair and a grin
that won’t quit, didn’t always view problems
as opportunities. In fact, most people would say she had
more than her share of problems. Growing up poor on the
East Coast in a family with 11 children, Kerwood said
she was subjected to traumatic physical and sexual abuse
at home and repeatedly ran away, fending for herself in
Philadelphia. She was labeled “special needs”
as a child, and didn’t receive a diagnosis of “high-functioning
autistic” until she was an adult.
“Mostly I don’t like labels,” Kerwood
said. “But I have to say getting that label …
allowed me to see myself in a different way.”
Kerwood said she “thinks in pictures,” a
description used by other people with autism.
“I always thought how I thought about things was
wrong,” she said. “Because in school, I was
told that’s not how you’re supposed to think.
You’re not supposed to write down the page or write
in circles. You have to go linearly.”
Kerwood said it was empowering to discover that “there’s
other people that behave this way, that think this way,
that process this way.
“That just opened a floodgate of what’s possible
— understanding that my thinking was not wrong or
negative.”
More
here...
Autism
Dogs Train in Oregon
By Kelley Ashford - KDRV TV
November 18, 2008
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. -- A nonprofit Southern Oregon group
known for its work training shelter dogs for the deaf
is introducing a new program, in the hopes of helping
other groups as well.
Dogs for the Deaf in Central Point has
begun an autism assistance dog training program, the first
of its kind in the country. The goal is to provide an
autistic child with both a calming effect and safety in
public.
"With the increasing rates of autism in the country,
we decided to get into training dogs for children with
autism and their families," says Robin Dickson with
Dogs for the Deaf.
Ginger is the first dog to go through the new autism assistance
dog program. Dogs for the Deaf Canine Instructor Carrie
Brooks works with the four-year-old Black Lab on a daily
basis.
"Training her to be basically attached to a child,
at times working on her being a calming influence,"
says Dogs for the Deaf Canine Instructor Carrie Brooks.
All dogs trained at Dogs for the deaf are rescued from
shelters.
If you would like to learn more about dogs for the deaf's
autism assistance dogs you can call 541-826-9220.
More
here...
New
Screen Evaluated for Autism
October 27, 2008 — Scientists have added new pieces
to the genetic puzzle surrounding autism spectrum disorders
(ASD) using an inexpensive and potentially widely available
screen that detects targeted submicroscopic chromosomal
abnormalities in children with this disorder.
In a paper published online October 16 in BMC Medical
Genomics, the researchers describe using novel probes
in 279 children with ASD to pinpoint duplications and
deletions in various DNA sequences. Among other things,
they found aberrations in regions of chromosomes 15 and
22 — areas already known to be involved in disorders
of autism and cognitive impairment — but they also
uncovered microduplications in a region previously not
linked to ASD.
"This is about a new method that can be translated
into a rapid and thorough screen" for certain known
causes of autism, said Joseph Buxbaum, PhD, from the Seaver
and New York Autism Center of Excellence, at Mount Sinai
School of Medicine, in New York, who led the research
team.
Read
more here...
Future
Prepping Your Child
By Dan Coulter, CoulterVideo.com
Live in the moment. Prepare for the future.
Two good pieces of advice. Success and happiness require
a bit of both.
Balancing the present and future is hard enough for parents,
but it can be even harder for our children who have Asperger
Syndrome or similar conditions. Many are firmly anchored
in the “live in the moment” camp. But ready
or not, the future is coming.
I got to thinking about this when my wife, Julie, told
me about her day at a high school college fair. She stood
at table among a roomful of other representatives ready
to explain the virtues of her alma mater to students.
After each discussion, the students were supposed to get
the representative’s signature on a card. I suppose
this was to ensure that students didn’t just use
the event as an excuse to cut class.
Some students in the room were interested and engaged
the college reps with questions about the curriculums
and campuses and their futures. Others spent their time
hanging around talking with their friends and pretty much
ignoring the representatives. Except to occasionally dart
to a table, extend an arm and ask, “Would you sign
my card?”
Interested in the future vs. living in the moment. In
an increasingly tough, global job market, who’s
on track for a happy, successful life?
Read
more here...
Events
KindTree Holiday Cards
at the Holiday Market
November
28-30, all day.
See our table in the Holiday Hall area with cards, original
art and prints, along with T-shirts, KindTree flags and
Suzie Noel's new Affirmation Book. Come and shop locally!
Art Careers Holiday
Sale
Friday, December
5, 10-7pm, The Hilyard Community Center
2580 Hilyard St, Eugene
Showcasing the work of community artists who experience
disabilities. A variety of quality artistic pieces including
painting, cards and jewelry will be displayed and available
for purchase. All proceeds from every sale go directly
to the artist. Refreshments will be served. For more information,
please call Molly Elliott, Hilyard Community Center, 682-5311
ASO-LCC
public meeting
Sunday, December
7, 3:30-5PM, The Hilyard Community Center
2580 Hilyard St, Eugene
Agenda:
* Grand Parents Support Group discussion
* Chapter Initiative Grant - what to do with $$?
*Police Commissioner on autism and police policy
* How can we get better connected?
* Your additions...
All are welcome (541
521 7208)
Capitol
Mid-Willamette Valley Region Trainings and Seminars
- Leah Skipworth 1-888-505-2673 ext 214 or lskipworth@orpti.org
Serving Benton, Clackamas, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion,
Polk, Tillamook & Yamhill Counties
January 20, 2009 "Behavior that
Interferes with Learning." from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at
the Grace Lutheran Church, 435 NW 21st Street, Corvallis,
Oregon 97330. For information, or to register contact
Leah Skipworth at lskipworth@orpti.org
January 28, 2009 "IEP Goals, Are
Your Child's Adequate and Appropriate?" from 5:30
to 7:30 at the Greater Albany School District Office,
718 "7th" Street, Albany Oregon 97321. For information,
or to register contact Leah Skipworth at lskipworth@orpti.org
February 11, 2009 "IEP Goals; Are
Your Child's Adequate and Appropriate?" from 6:00
to 8:00 PM at the Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard
Street, Eugene 97405. For information, or to register
contact Leah Skipworth at lskipworth@orpti.org
February 18, 2009 "Behaviors That
Interfere with Learning" from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at
the North Santiam School District Building, Santiam Room,
1155 North Third Avenue, Stayton Oregon 97383. For information,
or to register contact Leah Skipworth at lskipworth@orpti.org
February 19, 2009 "Aspergers and
ADHD: What's the Same, What's Different, and What Helps
in the Classroom?" from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Greater
Albany School District Office, 718 "7th" Street,
Albany Oregon 97321. For information, or to register contact
Leah Skipworth at lskipworth@orpti.org
February 26, 2009 "IEP Goals; Are
Your Child's Adequate and Appropriate?" from 6:30
to 8:30 PM at the Grace Lutheran Church, 435 NW 21st Street,
Corvallis, Oregon 97330. For information, or to register
contact Leah Skipworth at lskipworth@orpti.org
|
|
What's
New at KINDTREE.ORG
Mask
Making Party
Photo Album
NEW
ARTIST
Candace Waters
See her "Sunshine Series"
card designs here
KindTree
Artist
Suzie Noel Duncan
Featured in New
Affirmational Book
More here...
Secretary
/ Treasurer
Tim Mueller receives
Lisl Waechter Award
More here...
Vice-President
Michelle Jones
begins work at
Lane County
Developmental Disabilities
More here...
Mary-Minn
on
Autism One Radio
December 1st
"My speech came late and is still halting. I will
start a sentence, say a word or two, and have to start
over from the beginning. I'd do this multiple times before
I got all the way through a sentence. It's a lot like
playing the piano - you have to start over at the beginning
of a phrase when you make a mistake."
schedule
here
audio file here
HOLIDAY
CARDS
card
sets - 12 cards for $24
Sets are 12 of the same image or a mixed
set of 3 from each artist.
Choose from these 4 artists:
Nora Blansette
Noah Erenberg
Dorothy Bucher
Hunter McBride
ORDER
HERE
ALSO
available
the Yussuf Hashi 2008 Collection
3 of each of these images:
See
all KindTree's
Holiday Designs
here...
Thanks,
Mary-Minn
I
came by the Hilyard Center today & I left some beads
for you & your groups to use. I know you're
getting ready for the holiday sale & I'm sure you
can put these beads to good use...
I
wanted to tell you too that I certainly enjoyed reading
about you in the Oct. issue of "Reaching
Out - Reaching In". What a life you've had!
Thank you for being so candid & forthright.
Not everyone can or is willing to do such a thing.
You made me laugh a lot too - ditzey girl... Anyway,
thanks for sharing your life.
Take
care & be in joy.
HOLIDAY
SHOPPING?
Autism Rocks T-shirts, Note Cards,
Gift Items,
Original Art,
Apparel and More
T-shirt
Page
Cafe
Press Merchandize Page
Note
Card Pages
Oregon
Autism Project
Hello
Everyone, (from Chris Edwards)
First
off, I want to thank all of you that attended one of
the eight Autism tour stops or joined in for our video
conference that connected to five locations statewide.
Over 300 people attended the various events and many
of you chose to provide oral testimony or send in written
comments afterward. Your thoughts and concerns were
taken seriously by the entire workgroup and many thoughts
were incorporated in the final report that was presented
to the House Committee on Education and the House Committee
on Health Care and the
Senate Committee on Education.
Since
the tour we've started to narrow in on more specific
concepts for the 2009 legislative session and have continued conversations on more difficult
issues that need to be addressed. I've been
pleased by the support expressed by individuals, advocates,
and legislators as we try and build momentum for our
cause.
I
mentioned during the tour that we're still in the early
stages of our efforts. We have a lot of work ahead of
us developing concepts, building a strong coalition,
and working to usher our proposals through a difficult
legislative process in the midst of tumultuous
financial times. That's why it's so important we work
together to accomplish our goals. As this process continues
I'll be keeping all of you informed and will be calling
on you to engage in the legislative process. So
please pass this email on to anyone that may be interested
in helping in our efforts and let them know to contact
my office so we can add them to our communications list.
As
I traveled across the state I heard a variety of views
and opinions of what different individuals and families are
experiencing, of what needs to be done to improve peoples
lives, and how we should go about getting to work to accomplish
our goals. And while there were also many unifying
themes the one thing that I found unites us all is our
passion to help ourselves, our children, our siblings,
or whomever else
it may be that is dealing with issues relating to Autism.
Let's carry that passion forward as we get to work building
momentum improving the lives of those within the Autism
community.
All
the Best,
Chris
Edwards
More
here...
and
here...
OCDD
has new website
The
Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities is proud
to launch our new website! We felt it was time to update
the design, add features and increase website accessibility.
We invite you to explore the new site and let us know
what you think by clicking on the Customer Satisfaction
Survey on the homepage. You can still find us at www.ocdd.org.
REX
Foundation events
This
organization granted KindTree significant funds to produce
our "Autism Artism 2009" Art Show. Support them
if you can.
Saturday,
November 29th
Black Tie-Dye Ball featuring Dark Star Orchestra
Nokia Theatre, New York, NY
Saturday,
December 13th
Rex Foundation 25th Anniversary Celebration!
"Sweet Music Everywhere"
Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA
Let's
once again fill the Warfield to enjoy our kindred connections
and music you won't hear anywhere else. Peter Rowan is
bringing along friends and family, including Ramblin'
Jack Elliot, the Rowan Brothers and Crucial Reggae legendary
musicians Fully Fullwood and Tony Chin, plus Michael Kang
(of String Cheese Incident) with Panjea, and Jackie Greene,
rising star of Phil & Friends.
More
here...
One of the greatest secrets in life is
having both patience and wisdom... |
