Resource Specialist, Mindy Ely, was honored with the Illinois Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired "Distinquinshed Service Award" ! Presented on February 16, 2012 in Schaumburg, Illinois, Mindy was recognized for her work to promote, develop and improve education and rehabilitation services for persons who are blind or visually impaired.

New Book Review: Beyond Consequences, Logic and Control

Check out a new book review of this parent & professional book by Sandy Ginther
Click here to read it - on Book Review page

Disability is Natural
Each month we will have a new article to download.
This month's article is entitled: "Early Diagnosis: Boon or Bane?"

Technology that Assists

For years Assistive Technology has been ‘out there’ and often ‘hard to reach’. But now, technology that assists is the envy and popular wave of the present…. iPad style.

Expensive voice output devices, foreign to schools and regular education classrooms can now, in many situations, be replaced with the iPad. Easy -to -see font can now be displayed from the same device. Easy access to the world wide web opens a wide world by using the iPad for those with sensory challenges .

Yet it isn’t just the new iPad device, but the applications that run on it that truly open an even wider world for inclusive support for children with disabilities.

For your exploration and discovery of powerful ways to enable children’s learning, we suggest:

www.scribd.com/doc/24470331/iPhone-iPad-and-iPod-touch-Apps-for-Special-Education (be sure to scroll down to “Table of Contents”)

www.parenting.com/gear-gallery/Mom/25-iPhone-Apps-for-Kids

NEW! Podcast

Many early childhood educators have children in their classrooms that have a parent or family member that is currently deployed in the armed forces or National Guard. Children with a parent serving in the armed forces have to deal with the separation from their loved one and the feelings of loss. While the parent is away, the child may experience a variety of feelings including but not limited to sadness, anger, apprehensiveness, and/or confusion. It is helpful for educators to have open communication with family members in order to best meet the needs of the children. Having conversations with family members about changes in behavior, including withdrawal from others, aggressiveness, and sadness enable educators and family members to develop ideas to help the child cope with the deployment. Please check out the resource listed below for ideas and suggestions on how best to support children and families during this very stressful time.

• How to Prepare Our Children and Stay Involved in Their Education During Deployment PDF
• Children's Books
  (Recommended by NMFA-National Military Families Association)
  
  Bunting, Eve. My Red Balloon
  Ferguson-Cohen, Michelle. Daddy, You're My Hero
  Ferguson-Cohen, Michelle. Mommy, You're My Hero
  Hallowell, Kirsten. Daddy Is a Soldier
  Harps-Morrow, Verna. My mommy wears army boots!
  Mersiowsky, Anissa. A Yellow Ribbon for Daddy
  Mitchell, Kathy. Daddy Got His Orders
  Penn, Audrey. The Kissing Hand
  Spinelli, Eileen. While You Are Away
  Yosick, Jeff. Timmy and the Storm
  

Early Childhood Technology Integrated Instructional System (EC-TIIS) at WIU has developed nine online workshops for educators and families of young children. Topics include Adaptations, Curriculum Integration, Computer Environment, Expressive Arts, Emergent Literacy, Math, Science, and Social Studies, Technology Assessment, Software Evaluation, and Family Participation. Each workshop contains written information, graphics, links to outside resources and downloadable curriculum activities and articles.

Participation in the workshops is free. You will need to register and complete a technology survey, a preschool educator or family survey and a short pre-assessment before reviewing the workshops. Professional development credit options, including CPDUs, CEUs, graduate credit, and a Certificate of Completion, are available.

University faculty can incorporate the workshops into coursework to provide students with needed information on integrating assistive technology into curriculum activities.

For more information, visit the EC-TIIS website, www.wiu.edu/ectiis/. You can view sample workshops before registering. If you have questions or want information on credit or a certificate, please contact EC-TIIS Co-Director, Linda Robinson, L-Robinson1@wiu.edu, or call 309-298-1634 ext.250.

Have you explored the convenient world of information via PODCASTS? A podcast is a collection of files (usually audio but may include video) residing at a unique web feed address. The material is pre-recorded and users can check out the material at their leisure. You can watch them or listen to them on your own personal computer anytime with an easy click of your mouse.

LitTech is an Early Childhood Emergent Literacy Outreach Service project under our Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Umbrella. Two LitTech podcasters, Carol Bell and Judy Potter have created a new set of podcasts written for families of and professionals working with children ages 3-5 focusing on early literacy and technology. Topics include:

• Ways to Encourage Language Development. Includes ideas for using children's books to encourage language development.
• Activities to Support Oral Language Development
• Promoting Language Skills at the Computer
• Stages in Writing Development
• Using Picture Books to Inspire Writing

Click here to access PODCASTS by LitTech and then go ahead and explore the Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education wesite for a wealth of information!

The United Healthcare Children's Foundation is offering support to meet the needs of children across the United States with assistance grants for medical services not fully covered by health insurance.

Parents and caretakers across the country will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $5,000 for healthcare services that will help improve their children's health and quality of life. Examples of the types of medical services covered by UHCCF grants include speech therapy, physical therapy, and psychotherapy sessions; medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids, and eyeglasses; and orthodontia and dental treatments.

Any child 16 years old or younger living in any UnitedHealthcare region of the United States (all 50 states) and in need of financial assistance for healthcare services will be considered eligible for a grant. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States, and be covered by a commercial health insurance plan. The income is family Adjusted Gross under $80,000.

To learn more visit www.uhccf.org
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