It is that time of the year again when we are thankful for everything merry and bright. It’s a time to share the happiness that the season brings and count your blessings with a Christmas Blessings Mix!
Christmas Blessings Mix brings a festive touch to your celebrations. Share them with friends, co-workers or family.
May you be overwhelmed with joy this holiday season. Merry Christmas!
Photo Credit: Huffingtonpost.com
My heart goes out to the families who have suffered such tragic loss these last few days in Newtown Connecticut. As a school educator and a mother, I cannot fathom the shock or sadness that accompanies this devastation. The feelings of disbelief and loss are a heavy burden to bear and I hope that we as a community and a nation continue to rally around Newtown with prayful support.
In the wake of this tragedy, I have been encouraged by stories of redemption, hope and heroism from the Newtown community. However, I was deeply saddened upon reading that a commentator on a national television news station correlated Asperger’s syndrome and violent behavior as the reason Continue reading
Winston Churchill said, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Tanya Teglo said this today as she spoke during the PA Senate roundtable at the Barber National Institute that focused on recent changes by the Dept. of Public Welfare. Tanya is an Erie county resident with two bachelor’s degrees and masters in social science. She is an active member of the community and advocate for individuals with physical disabilities. Tanya herself has cerebral palsy and knows firsthand the impact that some of these decisions have had on her care, her responsibility as an employer, and the damaging effects this will have on the future. She was one of eight human service providers and consumers, four state Senators and 50 plus members of the community who participated in today’s roundtable discussion.
One of the main issues addressed was the reclassification of Erie from an urban to a rural county. Many commented on how this change affects everyone in Erie County because it changes the perception of Erie. We have the largest locomotive plant in the world, four universities, the largest medical school in the country, and we are the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania. We definitely are an urban community, yet the DPW ignored these facts and relegated us to a rural status with the lowest reimbursement rates in the state. The impact of this change means significant decreases in funding, not only for children and adults with disabilities, but it also speaks to the quality of life in the great lakes region.
I encourage you to write to your local legislators telling them to appeal to the Governor to reclassify Erie to urban status. This takes courage, but I have faith in the people of our community and that collectively we can make a difference.
Links:
For more information on the roundtable discussion and classification, check out Wednesday’s editorial from the Erie Times-News.
Erie County Reclassification Announcement
Erie County Reclassification Your Voices Heard
Photo Credit: http://www.specialistpeople.com
Many adults with autism are unable to secure employment and are often overlooked for the outstanding skills that they bring to a job. In fact, 80% of adults with autism don’t have full-time jobs – not because they can’t manage the work – but because they are considered socially unacceptable. That’s why I was thrilled to read about a Denmark company called Specialisterne. Conceived by Thorkil Sonne and his wife Annette, Specialisterne (Danish for “specialists”) hires mostly people on the autism spectrum. Starting a business is no simple task, so why did Sonne undertake the added challenge of targeting adults with autism? The passion behind the idea is his son, Lars. Continue reading
The holidays are times of good food, joyful memories, heightened excitement and full schedules. This hectic pace can be challenging for children with special needs. However, with some additional planning and preparation you can indeed make this the holiday of your dreams. Here is a recipe for a joyful holiday:
Look at the holiday through your child’s eyes Continue reading
Children had their face painted and made a holiday craft while they waited to visit Santa. Info and resources were available for parents.
On Friday I wrote about our upcoming autism-friendly Santa event. Over 150 children and their families participated. You can check out the coverage from a Jet 24, a local news station at http://bit.ly/R1qAYr.
I’m so pleased that I can be a part of one of the most wonderful events offered by the Barber National Institute. I only wish that Ryan could have participated in such an event when he was growing up.
A special thanks to the Millcreek Mall in Erie, PA and to Santa’s helpers who all went out of their way to accommodate this great event for families.
In 2011, Susie was a 13-year-old student enrolled at the Elizabeth Lee Black School at the Barber National Institute in Erie, PA. One winter day, while chatting with her mom about the school holiday events, she mentioned that Susie had never been able to visit Santa. Over the years, her mom tried to take Susie to the mall to see Santa, but the large crowds, loud noises and waiting in line would lead to behavioral outbursts. This part of the holiday season seemed out of reach for Susie and her mom until her mom learned about a unique event. The Barber National Institute and Millcreek Mall were teaming up to provide children with special needs an opportunity to enjoy one of the holiday’s joyous memories, sitting on Santa’s lap. Continue reading
It is estimated that the prevalence of anxiety in children with ASD to be 30-81% (MacNeil e al. 2009; White et al. 2009). The impact of anxiety on educational success, social participation, friendships and family members is great. It’s fairly common for children suffering from autism to be diagnosed with anxiety. It’s a significant problem for many individuals with ASD and presents differently in each child. Some children become anxious when changes impact the expected routine. Others become anxious when they are overly stimulated. In my experience, Ryan becomes very anxious when he acknowledges that he has not followed the rules and a consequence will be occurring. Continue reading
The holiday season officially kicks off this week. Are you ready? It’s a busy time with the hustle and bustle of shopping, school plays, holiday parties, and family functions mixed into the “regular” schedule. It’s a season that seems to evaporate as rapidly as it descends. However, Thanksgiving is a perfect time to stop for a moment and remember to give thanks. Continue reading
A few of the 2012 Ladies Only Luncheon Committee members displaying some of the prizes
The countdown begins! We are four days away from the 10th Annual Ladies Only Luncheon, and the excitement is building. Saturday, November 17 will be here before we know it, and I am thrilled to welcome our guests to the event.
A very special thank you to our sponsors, gift basket donors, vendors, hosts, committee members, and volunteers for the dedication, time and hard work that go into making this event such a success. You truly are part of making dreams come true for children and adults with disabilities. Continue reading
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