STARnet Illinois Region IV Workshops
August 13. 9:00 - 3:00 p.m. The Fascinating Brain: Development in the Early Years. Current research and the educational implications of the research findings for early educators and how to interpret the new information. Presenter: Jennifer Rosinia, M.Ed., OTR/L. Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL.
August 14. 9:00 - 3:00 p.m. Understanding Sensory Processing and Sensory Integration in the Early Years. The workshop will provide an introduction to the theory of sensory integration and the role that sensory processing plays in the overall development of the young child. Presenter: Jennifer Rosinia, M.Ed., OTR/L. Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL.
For information on either workshop, contact STARnet at (618) 397-8930.
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Regional Events Brief Summer Course in Infant Mental Care. Champaign, IL. Contact: Carol Kolar (217) 352-4060.
Resources
Family Assistance
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Nearly $10 Million Will Be Distributed Over Five Years by National Institutes of Health
Document has been removed from http://www.pathfinder.com/
Contact: Alexandra Kennaugh Director of Community Relations, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, 303-333-4515.
DENVER, June 15 PRNewswire — The Eleanor Roosevelt Institute has been awarded nearly $10 million from the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development for a five year study of learning in people with Down syndrome. "This study builds upon the last fifteen years of research on the genetics of Down syndrome and is taking the first aggressive step to extend the research towards clinical applications," said David Patterson, President and Senior Fellow of the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute.
"Dr. Patterson's research team is addressing an area of research that is of high program relevance to the Mental Retardation & Developmental Disability Branch of the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development," said Felix F. de la Cruz, Chief of the Mental Retardation & Developmental Disability Branch. The scope of the research embraces studies from the cellular level to analysis of cognitive development in individuals with Down syndrome including development and characterization of animal models of Down syndrome, biochemical studies, and molecular biological studies.
The discoveries will be used to develop therapies that will improve the lives of people with Down syndrome. These therapies may also be used in treating other forms of mental retardation and other diseases such as Alzheimers disease.
The study is a collaborative project of the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, UCLA, University of Denver, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, The Jackson Laboratory and the University of Arizona
Dorling Kindersley Family Learning Distributors
Reading to your children is one of the best ways to help stimulate their intellectual growth. Dorling Kindersley Family Learning offers a wide variety of educational books, CD-ROM's, and videos containing stunning photography, mostly geared toward children.
DK Family Learning's mission is to encourage and support the concept of the home as the center of learning an promote the development of independent learning skills.
Karen Kramer
807 Boleyn Place
Ballwin, MO 63021
(314) 227-2015
kkramer2@swbell.net
http://www.nichcy.org/stateshe/il.htm
The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHY) Illinois Fact Sheet
STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: SPECIAL EDUCATION
Jack Shook, Division Administrator
Center for Educational Innovation & Reform
Program Compliance
100 North First Street, E-228
Springfield, IL 62777-0001
(217) 782-5589
Gordon M. Riffel, Special Assistant to the Superintendent
Special Education Coordination
Illinois State Board of Education
100 North First Street
Springfield, IL 62777-0001
(217) 782-3371
E-mail: griffel@smtp.isbe.state.il.us
PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS AGES BIRTH THROUGH 2
Mary Miller, Bureau Chief
Help Me Grow
Bureau of Part H/Early Intervention
Dept. of Human Services
P.O. Box 19429
Springfield, IL 62794-9429
(217) 782-1981; (800) 323-4769 (in IL only)
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITES:
AGES 3 THROUGH 5
Kay Henderson, Division Administrator
Center for Educational Innovation and Reform
Department of Early Childhood Education
100 North First Street, E-230
Springfield, IL 62777-0001
(217) 524-4835
STATE MENTAL HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN
Leigh Steiner, Associate Director
Department of Human Services
Springfield, IL 62765
(217) 782-7555
STATE MENTAL RETARDATION PROGRAM
John Bundy, Associate Director
Department of Human Services
416 Stratton Building
Springfield, IL 62765
(217) 524-0453
STATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PLANNING COUNCIL
Rene Christensen Leininger, Director
Illinois Planning Council on DD
830 S. Spring St.
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 782-9696 (V/TTY)
PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGENCY
Zena Naiditch, CEO & President
Equip for Equality, Inc.
11 East Adams, Suite 1200
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 341-0022
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS
Charles N. Onufer, Interim Director
Division of Specialized Care for Children
University of Illinois at Chicago
P.O. Box 19481
2815 West Washington, Suite 300
Springfield, IL 62794-9481
(217) 793-2340
E-mail: cnonufer@uic.edu
MENTAL RETARDATION/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Anthony Paulauski, Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
18207 Dixie Highway
Homewood, IL 60430
(708) 206-1930; (708) 206-1171 (Fax)
E-mail: TonyPaulauski@aol.com
URL: http://www.thearcofil.org
Daddy's Brightest Star by Pete Loftis. Reprinted from Special Delivery, the newsletter of the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville, Spring 1998.
On this New Year's Eve we walked out to the beach under thousands of stars. We laid on our backs, shoulder to shoulder, gazing up at the stars, telling stories.
We started a game of naming the stars after our favorite friends and family members. Tate would name several people and say, "Daddy, your turn." He selected the brightest star should be named for him. Tate conceded. He liked being the brightest star.
As a father to Tate I often wonder now if people who observe us together really understand how lucky I am to be his Dad. Do they have a clue? What do they see? Let me tell you what they would see if they were looking through my eyes.
A seven year old boy who is almost pretty, with his mother's face, sweet little eyes and a quiet confidence about him. He is a people magnet. He jumps from the school bus running with arms out screaming "Daddy, Daddy." Times spent one on one with Tate are often filled with laughter. I love his laugh.
He steps outside and says, "hi guys" to the little friends who come over to play soccer and chase each other around. Tate seems to be unaware of how small he is. His friends don't care either. They seem to allow him to be the boss in his own yard. The activities circle around him as he directs the soccer drills. He does not tolerate fooling around while playing soccer - everyone must focus.
Homework is done with great diligence. The computer is his friend. He is an excellent listener who constantly strives to improve. Reading, writing and counting are fun to practice with a positive attitude and enthusiasm.
When he says "morning" every day starts off on a positive note. When I read him a story at bedtime and we say the Lord's Prayer, every evening ends with an innocent sweetness. Sometimes I lay beside him and watch him sleep.
Tate instills great confidence in me. In his opinion my singing is a work of art. My jump shot is as good as any Chicago Bull. Every fish I catch is big. Every cheese egg I cook is superb. When my seven iron slices into the water he is undeterred, saying "what happened Daddy?" as if a sudden gust of wind blew the ball in the water. There's no wonder why he is my best friend.
When Tate was born I comforted his Mom and pretended to be as proud as any new father would be. My father told me soon after Tate was born, "son, you must be very proud to have this little boy." I really wasn't but pretended to be. Tate is seven now and I quit pretending many years ago. A good friend told me this child was given to us for a reason. What did they see that I didn't?
There are many things I would change in my life if I could do it all over again. Tate is not one of those things. He is my brightest star.
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Father's Journal Third Base Coach Our speech therapist assessed Emmanuel, but did not know that he could identify several body parts, in English and Spanish. She readily agreed to change the assessment. "Well, that was easy", I thought, but only because my son was frantically trying to keep up with me as I listed the body parts he knew, tugging his ears, tapping his head, pointing to his belly button. |