Uniquely Gifted

Uniquely Gifted

July 30, 2012

Both this necklace and bracelet come as a set from JewelsZevnik! Please check out her page JewelsZevnik she is very talented! Auction opening bid is $20 all proceeds goes to Michael's fundraiser!! Please put in your bid in the comm...ents below. Auction ends tomorrow. We will have a bidding war. We will announce an hour before the war begins so stay tuned. Thanks so much Leslie for all your support!!!! Now who is going to open the bid? I have this set and it is beautiful!!! You can see the matching bracelet in the photos above!!!!! Happy Bidding!

 

 

 

 

At Uniquely Gifted we believe that children labeled as "special needs" are gifted children!

Our children have to use many skills and strategies to navigate society. They endure pain, suffering, and obstacles while spending lots of time without a voice. They miss school and activities for doctor appointments, hospitalizations or medical complications, yet they still manage to smile and jump right into society, we call that a gift.
Teresa and I dreamed of this in our late night chats. They... were usually late at night as we found time after settling the kids.Uniquely Gifted was born on Feb 27, 2012. Teresa and I both tried fundraising on our own each not knowing the other for over a year with no success.With the generous support of another online community and donations from total strangers our children got their Ipads! Through this experience we began chatting and soon became friends.... Navigating through the maze with a child with Unique Gifts can be confusing, lonely, challenging, frustrating and rewarding. Our mission at Uniquely Gifted is not just about fundraising and the fundraising is not just about Ipad's, we will support fundraising for any medical or other equipment your child needs with an obtainable goal. While we celebrate every successful fundraiser and trust me we never tire of seeing that meter say 100%, then seeing the pictures, the smiles, the tears of joy, the first words it is more than that.Our mission is to empower our children and their families. We strive to raise awareness and educate the public about our uniquely gifted children.
Uniquely gifted is a community. It is our community, ...Share your stories, your successes, your failures, your questions, your resources... Thank you all so much for making this dream a reality! We are available to help you with questions, getting fundraisers ... Uniquely Gifted Kids.com

 

 

Apply for 5 Award Programs focusing on Inclusive Education, Integrated Employment, Significant Disabilities, Positive Images in Media and Supportive Relationships

TASH- Equity, Opportunity and Inclusion for People with Disabilities

Nominations for the 2012 TASH Awards Program are now being accepted. To ensure consideration of your nomination, please return the award form to TASH by Thursday, September 13, 2012.
Each year, TASH honors those whose contributions have advanced equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities, and whose actions set a high standard for human rights every day. Recipients will be acknowledged during the 2012 TASH Conference, November 28-December 1, in Long Beach, California. TASH invites you to review the following award types and submit your nomination for consideration. The following award types are available, and descriptions and links to award forms are provided below:

June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education -

The purpose this award is to honor the important and courageous contributions of individuals and school districts in advancing inclusive education and equitable opportunities for students pre-school through grade 12, particularly those with the most significant disabilities and support needs. Nominations are requested for individuals, schools and districts that are consistent with TASH’s mission regarding inclusive education. Awards categories include: School District, Administrator, Teacher, School, and Advocate/Family/Self-Advocate

Marc Gold Award for Employment -

This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to increasing access to community, integrated employment for persons with significant disabilities. The focus of the award may be related either to a lifelong body of work or to work performed within a current year. Recipients may include employment professionals, researchers, state agency personnel, professors, legislators, family members or employers.

Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader -

This award is presented to a doctoral student enrolled in a program in education or a related field, and who demonstrates potential for leadership in teaching, scholarship, and service on behalf of people with significant disabilities. The individual needs to have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to working in partnership with people with disabilities.  The Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader Award is available in the following award categories: Leadership in Teaching, Leadership in Scholarship and Research, Leadership in Service

Positive Images in the Media -

The TASH Positive Images in the Media Award honors presentations in print, film or other forms of media that promote positive images of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life. Awardees are recognized for their contribution to the elimination of stereotypes by portraying people with disabilities and their lives accurately with recognition of the complexities of being human. Awardees are requested to have their material available in alternative formats that are optimally accessible to all viewers and participants.

Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship -
This award annually honors two individuals who have maintained a mutually supportive relationship for at least five years in which the dreams and aspirations of the support recipient are supported in that person’s chosen home and community.



TASH shared a link.

Do you know a doctoral student you'd like to honor with the Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader Award?

Award Programs | TASH

TASH | Equity, Opportunity and Inclusion for People with Disabilities - since 1975 - We Want You to SHARE TASH! Help us SHARE TASH with those who can benefit from and contribute to our vision for equity, opportunity and inclusion.

Restraints and Seclusion Poll

TASH- 'Keeping Students Safe Advocacy Alert'

TASH -"Offers Free Parent Guide on Restraint and Seclusion -  ‘Shouldn’t School Be Safe?’ is a free resource developed for parents and by parents that offers insight and advice to respond to and prevent restraint and seclusion.

Support the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilties - July 26, 2012 Update 2: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities! The treaty may now be brought to the Senate floor for ratification! This is a critical step toward ratification, but please continue to urge your Senators to support the CRPD!

 

How Sequestration could affect your child's Education -- 'Testimony of Secretary Duncan before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee | U.S. Department of Education '

"Sequestration sends a signal that the United States is backtracking on its commitment to reform and its long-standing promise to promote equity through Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA."

Fiscal year 2013 is a little more than two months away and sequestration kicks in three months after that on January 2nd -- so it's critically important that we – and the American people – fully understand the consequences of sequestration and take steps to avoid it now.

The sequestration will put at risk all that we've accomplished in education and weaken programs that help children, serve families, send young people and adults to college and make the middle class American dream possible.

Let's begin with education:

Sequestration sends a signal that the United States is backtracking on its commitment to reform and its long-standing promise to promote equity through Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA.

Based on the Congressional Budget Office's projection that sequestration will reduce programs by 7.8 percent, here's what we know will be at risk:
Read Secretary Duncan's full testimony:
Testimony of Secretary Duncan before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee | U.S. Department of Education

July 25, 2012

Related articles and info.:

Secretary Duncan Testifies on Across-the-Board Budget Cuts | ED.gov Blog

...Secretary of Education Arne Duncan testified on Capitol Hill about the impact of budget cuts called sequestration. Sequestration would mandate across-the-board cuts to the federal budget that will go into effect in January if Congress doesn’t act. While a lot of attention has been given to impeding cuts to defense, Secretary Duncan testified about the impact the cuts would on all government services and programs.

“Education, defense, public safety and all other federal agencies would indiscriminately cut services that are essential to every state and community,” Duncan said.

country.

• Title I funding would be cut by $1.1 billion, cutting off funding to more than 4,000 schools serving an estimated 1.8 million disadvantaged students. The jobs of more than 15,000 teachers and aides would be at risk.

• Funding for special education would be reduced by $900 million. That could translate into the layoffs of more than 10,000 teachers, aides, and other staff who provide essential instruction and other support to 6.6 million children with disabilities.

• Up to almost 100,000 low-income children would be denied access to the Head Start program, which is critical to preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Cameron Brenchley

Click here to read Secretary Duncan’s testimony.



Related articles:

The potential cuts to special education "could translate into the layoffs of more than 10,000 teachers, aides, and other staff who provide essential instruction and other support to 6.6 million children with disabilities," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan testified this week.

By Harkin's estimations, based on a 7.8 percent across-the-board cut, IDEA grants to states would be reduced by $903 million. Another $64 million would be cut out of special education spending for preschool students, infants, and toddlers. Special education research, already cut in recent years, would lose another $4 million, the Council for Exceptional Children says.

By Nirvi Shah on July 27, 2012 9:06 AM

Special Education Could Suffer Billion-Dollar Automatic Cut - On Special Education - Education Week

Across-the-board federal budget cuts could take a nearly $1 billion bite out of federal special education spending, with the bulk of that representing state grants for the education of school-age children with disabilities.

The automatic cuts, or sequestration, could come in January if Congress doesn't come up with a way to put the country on firmer fiscal footing, as my colleague Alyson Klein explains over at the Politics K-12 blog.

'EnjoyHi5Autism' pinned  an excerpt of U.S. Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan's testimony in 'Educating & Learning & Teaching' board  on  Pinterest.  

"The sequestration will put at risk all that we have accomplished in education.I don't think we have a lot of flexibility here," Duncan said of potential cuts. "Regardless of impact,...it's a horrendous way to think of budget choices." U.S.Education Secretary Arnie Duncan U.S.Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and Related Services.

[ Repin  (share), like, comment  Secretary Duncan's testimony.  'Sequestration & Special Education' original post is available at enjoyhi5autism.bl...

Contact:

Press Office, (202) 401-1576, mailto:press@ed.gov

• Title I funding would be cut by $1.1 billion, cutting off funding to more than 4,000 schools serving an estimated 1.8 million disadvantaged students. The jobs of more than 15,000 teachers and teacher aides would be at risk. Students would lose access to individual instruction, afterschool programs, and other interventions that help close achievement gaps.
• Funding for special education would be reduced by $900 million. That could translate into the layoffs of more than 10,000 teachers, aides, and other staff who provide essential instruction and other support to 6.6 million children with disabilities in every one of your states.
• On January 2nd, schools serving our military families through the Impact Aid program would have immediate cuts to their budgets. For example, the Killeen Independent School District in Texas would lose $4.6 million – directly affecting 18,000 children from military families. Military families make so many sacrifices for our country. Their children deserve a world-class education.
• In higher education, the Department would need to slash spending on contracts to support the processing and origination of student loans, which could cause delays that will hurt students as they make decisions about college and could reduce services for borrowers seeking to repay their loans.

In addition to these cuts at our Department of Education, other agencies will have to be forced to reduce spending in ways that will slow our nation's educational progress.

• Up to almost 100,000 low-income children would be denied access to the Head Start program, which is critical to preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond.
• 80,000 children would lose access to high quality care through the Child Care Development Block Grant.

Special Education Funding May Drop $900 Million  -

The cuts are expected to begin taking effect in January under a process known as sequestration which was triggered last year when Congress failed to reach a budget deal. Under the plan, education programs as well as most other federal initiatives will be subject to an across-the-board spending reduction of about 8 percent.
Unless Congress acts, special education cuts would impact schools starting in the fall of 2013, Duncan said.
“We all know that there are steps we can take so we don’t have to start down this path that puts so many critical services to students, families and communities at risk,” Duncan told senators. “As everyone knows, sequestration does not have to happen and should not happen.”
If the budget cuts go through as planned, federal spending on special education would fall to 14.5 percent, the lowest rate seen since 2001, according to an estimate from the Council for Exceptional Children, a national group that lobbies on behalf of special educators. (July 26, 2012)

AUTISTIC PEOPLE SPEAK - UNITED WE STAND

Members 9,670 
Featured Action:
YOUR VIEW - Autistic People Community Radio Show

Share your stories through our LIVE radio and now LIVE television Naturally Autistic People channel. We are looking for your stories to share with the broader international community, successes and struggles being on the spectrum or raising and supporting some one on the spectrum. View this live show... AUTISTIC PEOPLE SPEAK - UNITED WE STAND | causes.com

Thanks Patty Hilton for the invite to raise awareness and support individuals with Autism.

AUTISTIC PEOPLE SPEAK - UNITED WE STAND 9,669 members Supporting autistic people Autism Awareness Global Support 15 years supporting autistic people and their families, educating those involved with autistic people in their respective communities. Now we are taking the next step - sharing our knowledge with the world on a global level. Our new... See more

TA&D Network is social networking, too.

Office of Special Education Programs Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network

The TA&D Network works closely with OSEP, OESE, the Comprehensive Centers, and the ...

www.rrcprogram.org/content/view/137/192

IDEA Leadership Conference

July 30, 2012 at 8am to August 1, 2012 at 5pm – Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill

CoP Planning Committee

July 30, 2012 from 5:15pm to 6:15pm – Hyatt Capitol Hill, Washington, DC

TA&D Technology Tools Sh…

Communities of Practice

Dissemination

• 

  Considering a Career in Early Intervention?

  Added by Leila Richey

• 

  Latest video from CONNECT: Foundations of Transition for Young Children

  Added by Chih Ing Lim
•  Blogs - TA&D Network
  

  All Blog Posts | TA&D Network is a social network ... © 2012 Created by Michele Rovins. Powered by .

  tadnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/list

TA&D Network

App Friday: An Olympic Event!

Hi5! Moms with Apps --


App Friday: An Olympic Event!

fan the flames & carry the virtual torch!

    So we didn't get to check off  'Attend the Olympics' family bucket list!

More like a realistic staycation instead of our olympic-size vacation...

Well, we still have many ways to enjoy the celebrations.

So, let's charge that e-tablet, log in to our social network accounts, skype with friends, hangout on Google+ , take awesome HD pics from our smart-phones and post to Flickr.

Is there anyway to watch the games in 3D or Real-D?  Our son would enjoy that!

Serving 5 symbolic Olympic foods every viewing! {Hint:  Foods from 5 countries; or favorite dishes by your favorite Olympians; serve food in circular-shaped or olympic-themed dinnerware}

donning our penta(5) olympic-ring gear, too

 Hi5! we're right in the virtual fans stand having fun!

pin it, hangout, post, cloud, iBook, tweet, share and carry the virtual torch!

Let's fan the flames!

  Olympics 

   an Olympic time for All

Related articles:

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  26 July 201221:18

  Olympic Flame takes to the Thames for its final journey to the Opening Ceremony

  After 69 days travelling the length and breadth of the UK, the Flame embarks on its final ...

Summer Olympics 2012 Torch Relay

 

   View a map of the Paralympic Torch Relay route


 
Special Olympics shares  How to get people to plug into Special Olympics using social media

Update:

• EnjoyHi5Autism is happy pinning Olympics 2012 on Pinterest!
• celebriPins feature outstanding, record-breaking Olympians!
• Repin , Like and Comment. 
• Also, pin about your favorite Olympian celebriPins and EnjoyHi5Autism will repin, like and comment, too.

'Enjoying The Hi-5's of Autism - A Family Experience' enjoys Olympians who are homeschooled.

Pinned via pinmarklet

KBJCosse' -
8/2/2012-THE CONGRATS ROLL IN (1:36 ET): "Congrats @gabrielledoug! You are the Olympic all around champion and you deserve it girl!" (Jordyn Wieber, via Twitter) GOLD FOR GABBY (1:16 ET): "Gabby Douglas wins the gold medal! History is made in the gymnastics venue. African-American Gabby Douglas wins the all-around gold medal over Russia's Victoria Komova. What an historic moment." (Brennan) - London Summer Olympics 2012 - http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-08-02/olympics-live-blog-thursday-london/56691596/1




Gabrielle Douglas, gymnast. Joe Klamar/Getty Images

Gabrielle Douglas ‏@gabrielledoug

"Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me."

{1st All-Around Gold Medal Winner:  Team USA & Individual Gymnastics

- London 2012 Summer Olympics - August 8th!}

2012 US Olympian, US Olympic Trials All-Around Champion, 2011 World Champion & 3x US National Team Member! Love my family, dogs & most importantly God :)

Virginia Beach, VA · http://www.gabrielledouglas.com/

The Lumpy Clay Chronicle....: Olympic Athletes Homeschooled!  (Gabriel 'Gabby' Douglas is homeschooled!) http://lumpyclaychronicle.blogspot.com/2012/07/olympic-athletes-homeschooled.html?spref=bl

 Parents Choice Blog features News Special Covers Young U.S. Olympians by Ashley Mannetta

How to Follow the 2012 Olympics Online

EntertainmentAfter months and months of anticipation by athletes and fans alike, the 2012 Olympic Games officially begin this Friday. For most fans, however, the world's most global...

July 25, 2012by Sam Laird

Are These the Olympics' Most Sponsorable Athletes? [INFOGRAPHIC]

EntertainmentSocial media has become an essential marketing tool for modern athletes. It helps celebrity athletes show their human side and connect with fans, and helps more...

July 26, 2012by Sam Laird

Autism Doesn't Cause Murder!

Autism doesn't cause murder!

    Tell Joe Scarborough, Autism Speaks, andStarbucks-- Autism doesn't cause murder.

 — withZoey Roberts.

The most upsetting response I read to Joe Scarborough's comments linking autism and murder came from a mother who finds her neighbors' fear of her autistic son in the wake of the Colorado shooting understandable.

ThAutcast: Aspergers and Autism Community shared a link.

The Most Upsetting Response to Joe Scarborough's Bigotry | thAutcast.com

thautcast.com

The most upsetting response I read to Joe Scarborough's comments linking autism and murder came from a mother who finds her neighbors' fear of her autistic son in the wake of the Colorado shooting understandable.

ICAA Special Report - What do you think of Cameras in Classrooms?

Listen to The International Coalition For Autism And All Abilities interview of one of the creators of the movement "Cameras in Special Needs Classrooms". ICAA's blogtalkradio episode will include a special chat question and answer segment and another special giveaway!

Camera's in Special Needs Classrooms

Listen Tonight , July 26, 2012 07:30PM/6:30c As I interview with ICAA Radio about this page. Thank you all for your love and support for these classrooms. ♥ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icaa/2012/07/26/icaa-news-and-views

ICAA Special Report: News and Views

www.blogtalkradio.com

ICAA News and Views. Special chat, question and answer, surprises, and prizes. This episode of ICAA Radio is not schedules to be on demand. GIVE AWAYS!

 

Cameras in Special Needs Classrooms, Not so Fast

"I get it, I get it, step away from the computer screen and count to ten. Now before you start flaming me, based on the title of this blog, please read it in its entirety." "..., sounds like a wonderful idea? ...,... I keep coming up with more questions than answers. I understand the reasons for doing it:..." "..., no one has put together a plan. I don't think a plan can even be put together until all of the following questions have been answered:..." Special Education Advisor, Special Education and IEP Advisor

I think I can... Self Regulate

"Reach your child's potential with professional insight."

What in the World is Self-Regulation? Self-Regulation and Me!

Today I would like to talk about self-regulation, because I feel it is a very important topic. Once a person learns how to self-regulate, their life will become a lot easier. But first, I am sure some people are wondering what is self-regulation. To put it in simple terms: Self regulation is controlling ones own [...]  June 12, 2012 By Chloe Rothschild

Spotlight on Self-Regulation and The 5 Point Scale: An Interview with Kari Dunn Buron

Today I have the honor of sharing an interview I conducted with author, Kari Dunn Buron. Kari taught K-12 students with autism for 30 + years. She has authored and co-authored numerous books, including: (co-authored with Mitzi Curtis), , , and , Kari also was the co-editor of the textbook, , and she also created [...] June 21, 2012 By Chloe Rothschild

Self-Regulation Strategies and More

In my June article, What in the World is Self-Regulation? Self-Regulation and Me!, I talked about self-regulation. This month I would like to provide more strategies for self-regulation, because I feel that it is a very important topic. In order to live a fulfilling life, you need to be able to regulate your emotions and [...]  July 12, 2012 By Chloe Rothschild

 Self-Regulation topic highlighted in Special-lism's Autism  section]

FEND-Folate Survey

risk assessment survey (Fetal Exposure to Neuroactive Drugs and Folate).

"Enjoying the Hi-5s of Autism - A Family Experience" shared a link via Georgetown University FEND-Folate Autism Research.

Georgetown University FEND-Folate Autism Research -
Dear Parents,
We would greatly appreciate your participation in the national FEND-Folate Study sponsored by Georgetown University Medical Center (IRB # 2009-162). “FEND” stands for Fetal Exposure to Neuroactive Drugs. Please help us expand awareness and accelerate understanding of fetal exposure to neuroactive medications and folate by participating in this 5-minute, anonymous and encrypted survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=qY4du_2bdtYao2HumBxcYjRA_3d_3d.
Would you please read the additional information on our page and forward the survey to parents within your organization? Thank you for your cooperation!

FEND-Folate Survey

www.surveymonkey.com

FEND-Folate Survey

1. Introduction

Dear Parent,

Thank you for participating in the FEND-Folate risk assessment survey (Fetal Exposure to Neuroactive Drugs and Folate). This survey takes about 5 minutes to complete, and provides critical information about prenatal medication exposure patterns, as well as prenatal folate supplementation patterns.

If you have a child with a diagnosed or suspected pervasive developmental disorder, including any diagnosis on the autism spectrum, please participate.

The impetus for the FEND-Folate survey is an unexpected observation that emerged in the course of a well-controlled, prospective study of children born to women who were taking an antiepileptic drug (AED) during pregnancy to manage seizures. The original goal of this study was to track child development -- with an emphasis on cognitive deficits -- in children who were exposed during pregnancy to 1 of 4 medications. These medications included valproate (Depakote and Depacon), carbamazepine (Tegretol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), or phenytoin (Dilantin). Surprisingly, in a sample of children in this study, autism spectrum cases greatly exceeded the autism spectrum outcomes reported in the general population.

With your help, we hope to examine this outcome in a much larger population of mothers and children. In this survey, we have expanded the number of medications to 23 neuroactive "AED" medications, and it is our great hope to include individuals from regions that are under-represented in autism studies.

Why is this an important goal? As a medication class, anticonvulsant drugs represent the fifth most-prescribed medication in the United States. These drugs are also called "AEDs" for "antiepileptic drugs." Please note that these medications are used to manage far more than epilepsy. In fact, they are most frequently used to manage migraine, and are increasingly used to manage mood, anxiety and pain. In other words, the name of this medication class can be misleading. So, when you begin the survey, please read the entire list of medications: it is easy to overlook a relevant antiepileptic medication if, during pregnancy, you were not under clinical care for epilepsy.

Your participation in this survey is anonymous; we do not receive any data that reveal your personal identification information. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Kelly McVearry at Georgetown University Medical Center (202-687-4966), which is a password-protected landline that only Dr.McVearry may access. If you choose to contact Dr. McVearry, your identity will be revealed to her alone; this will not link your identity to your survey responses.

After participating in this survey, if you would like to be contacted to participate in a more comprehensive study, please call 202-687-4966 or email fendstudy@georgetown.edu. Both the phone number and the email are password-protected and cannot be accessed by anyone except for the principal investigator of this survey. These studies may include cognitive testing, home visits, and saliva collection.

Thank you! The FEND-ASD survey receives institutional support from Georgetown University Medical Center (IRB approval 2009-162) and is approved by the Interactive Autism Network (approval SR00139) at the Johns Hopkins Kennedy Krieger Institute.

With great appreciation,

The FEND Study
Georgetown University Medical Center
CFMI - LM 14
3900 Reservoir Road, NW
Washington, DC 20016