Spring 2009

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR OUR CURRENT NEWSLETTER

Other newsletters of interest: ECAC's "The Beacon"

Note: The Family Support Network of Central Carolina does not endorse any particular service providers, agencies, or
events other than those offered through our own organization. Listings are provided for informational purposes only.

SPECIAL NEEDS ART CLASSES

Join the fun at The Art House for summer art classes sure to thrill young artists (ages 5-10 years) with special needs! Professional artist, Katie Wall Podracky will lead weekly projects for a small group of students and their caretakers. Special needs art classes are for students who enjoy drawing, painting and playing with clay. Talent is not necessary, but is certainly welcome. The only requirement is a desire to play, learn and have fun! Space is limited, so please register early by emailing or calling (912.704.3637) Katie. For more information please see the flyer.

TEAM DANIEL RESPITE FUND

Team Daniel Foundation wants to provide families in North Carolina with an opportunity to receive 75 hours of respite services to a family of a loved one with a developmental disability who receives no services and/or is on the waiting list for services.  Because the TDF Respite Fund serves siblings, families already served under the LLC will not be eligible for TDF Respite services. Please click here for more information and the application.

SUMMER SPEECH CAMP

Does your child ages 3-10 have severe communication and/or physical needs?  Have you always wanted summer experiences for them that are fun, educational, and accessible?  Then this is for your family! A team of therapists, specializing in augmentative communication and speech services for individuals with severe impairments are starting a NEW summer camp to be held at the Natural Science Center in Greensboro, during the week of July 12th.  As therapists and parents, they recognized that the same camp opportunities were not available for all children and have set out to do something about it!  Each day will include literacy, art, music/movement, writing, and animal exploration. Click here for more details or email Jennifer Tate.

VOICES TOGETHER ANNOUNCES EXPANSION TO ALAMANCE & GUILFORD COUNTIES

Voices Together opens enrollment for individuals with developmental disabilities. Family members and caseworkers contact Voices Together now to claim a spot! Voices Together offers musically inspired social integration groups in weekly, one-hour sessions that ignite language, motivate expression of feelings, and promote social skills in the fun, affirming community of a small chorus.  Two board-certified music therapists facilitate each group of 6-10 individuals (of similar ages) with autism and other developmental disabilities. For more information, please visit their website.

SUMMER BOWLING
The Autism Society of NC, Guilford County Chapter, will be meeting at Triad Lanes every Wednesday from June 30th to August 18th from 10:00 AM -12:00 PM. The cost will be $5.00 per person. This will include unlimited bowling during the two hours and shoe rental. No need to sign up, just show up when you can. All family members are welcome. Triad Lanes is located at 21 Oak Branch Drive in Greensboro. If you have any questions, please contact Marcy Morris at 336.638.4676 or marcyedmorris@msn.com. 

FREE OR INEXPENSIVE SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

STUDY LOOKS AT JOINT ATTENTION & ORO-MOTOR IMITATION IN YOUNG CHILDREN

A research study is being conducted to study how children engage with other people while they are speaking. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between how children engage with other people verbally during play and their overall speech production ability. The study is being conducted by Jennifer Dalton, a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, & a doctoral candidate in Speech and Hearing Sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill with a research interest in young children with autism spectrum disorders. Ideal candidates for the study are children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, aged between 4 and 5 1/2 years, and have some verbal language, at least 4-word sentences. This study can be conducted in your home for a one time session of 1 1/2 hours. Participating families receive a $20 WalMart gift card. If you are interested in learning more about this study and possibly enrolling your child, please contact Jennifer at (336)681-3032 or email.

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

P2P DIRECTORS fund offers financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome who want to enroll in postsecondary programs or take classes that will help them with employment. This fund offers financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome who want to enroll in postsecondary programs or take classes that will help them with employment, independent living and life skills. To date, over thirty students have received grants from the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to help cover the costs of pursuing their postsecondary education and enrichment goals. For more information click here. Application deadline is July 16, 2010.

FOLLOW FSNCC ON FACEBOOK!

In an effort to keep our families up to date on upcoming events & news on a daily basis, we have created a Facebook page. This is also another great way to network with & support other families as well. If you have a FB account, please check us out!

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR OUR NICU PROGRAMS
We are currently in need of some new items to help NICU families who are facing financial difficulty. If you would like to donate or host a shower or drive for these products, we would greatly appreciate it. Our largest needs for our tiniest people are: Baby towels and washcloths, baby shampoo and body wash, and new bottles. If you can help, please give us a call at (336)832-6507 or e-mail Nancy Micca.

GENTLY-USED HELMETS NEEDED
If your child has outgrown his or her head-molding or protective helmet, please consider donating it! Many insurance companies do not cover these important pieces of equipment, creating a hardship for many families who need one. Moses Cone Outpatient Rehabilitation collects helmets to distribute to children who need them. Please call Carrie at 274-7956, or make your donation at 1904 N. Church Street in Greensboro. THANK YOU!!

RESPITE CO-OP PROGRAM SEEKS PARTICIPANTS
The Arc of Greensboro invites families of children with special needs to join their Saturday respite program. Children aged 3-8, with or without CAP, can attend the program every other Saturday from 9 a.m.—12 p.m. at no cost to families. Participating parents are asked to work alongside Arc staff approximately 6 sessions per year. Sibling sessions are occasionally offered. There is a possibility that session times and ages served could be adjusted to meet the needs of a group of families. For more information, please contact Ginger Walton at 373-1076 or send e-mail.

SPORTS & RECREATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
* High Point Parks & Recreation’s Special Populations Unit offers a wide range of sports & recreational activities for children and adults with special needs, including a bowling league, cheerleading, dances, shopping & dining outings, and much more. For more information, call 883-3481.
* Greensboro Parks & Recreation Mainstream Resources Unit also offers social and recreation opportunities for those with visual impairments, developmental disabilities, and other types of special needs. Call 373-2735 for more information.

ECAC SEEKS IEP PARTNER VOLUNTEERS
The Exceptional Children's Assistance Center is seeking volunteers to become trained as IEP Partners. Partners receive comprehensive training and preparation, then accompany other parents to IEP meetings to provide knowledgeable support and foster positive relationships between families and school personnel. A wonderful opportunity learn more about Special Education law while providing critical assistance to other families. To learn more, please click here for a flyer, or e-mail Dawn Moore.

Down Syndrome Network of Greater Greensboro Please click here to view our monthly news & events.

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