Helpful link about autism

Check out the following link for information about autism screening, diagnosis, and treatment. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/a-parents-guide-to-autism-spectrum-disorder/index.shtml

Who is your source of empowerment?

Our mission at The Arc Mid-south is to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve to their full potential. I'd like to know who is your source of empowerment? (Is a friend of the family, a coworker, etc.) Who should it be? Think about it.

Does Autism Make Moms Parent Differently?

By SHAUN HEASLEY

February 20, 2014Text Size  A  A

A new study suggests that moms of kids with autism address their children’s behavior differently than parents of kids without the developmental disorder.

Researchers found that mothers with children on the spectrum were less likely to set rules or use discipline, but more frequently imposed so-called positive parenting, encouraging good behavior rather than focusing on the bad.

The findings come from a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders which is believed to be among the first to look at parenting behavior among moms of individuals with autism.

For the research, nearly 1,000 mothers of children ages 6 to 18 in Belgium and the Netherlands completed a questionnaire about their parenting approach. Participants in the study included 552 families with a child with autism and 437 families of kids without. None of the children had a diagnosis of intellectual disability.

For more information, please visit the following site:  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/02/20/does-moms-parent-differently/19128/ 

Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship

Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship! 
The Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship is a program designed to assist students with intellectual disabilities who have completed high school and enroll in a two-year individualized program at an eligible postsecondary institution.

The award amount is $4,000 per year. Awards are made in equal installments for the fall and spring semesters. Students and parents must complete the STEP UP Scholarship application and submit the completed application to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC). In addition, recipients must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To be eligible, the applicant must:
• Not be ineligible for the scholarship under § 49-4-904
• Have been a Tennessee resident for one (1) year immediately preceding the date of application for a scholarship or the renewal of the scholarship
• Complete high school in a Tennessee high school in accordance with the requirements of the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and receive a high school diploma or certificate, a special education diploma, a transition certificate, or an IEP certificate
• Be admitted to and enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution in an eligible postsecondary program no later than sixteen (16) months after completing high school; and
• Apply for a Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship

To apply or find out more, go to the following web address:http://www.tn.gov/collegepays/mon_college/stepup.shtml

Students with disabilities are finding new college options

ALLEN PARK, Mich. –  As he sits in class at Eastern Michigan University, a flood of images streams from Tony Saylor's vibrant, creative mind down through his pen and onto paper.

Often, his doodling features the 9-year-old character Viper Girl who battles monsters with her pet fox Logan. Saylor, 22, has even self-published three books of their adventures.

Saylor's professors didn't exactly welcome his constant drawing, but once he explained it was the only way he could hope to process their lectures -- and even to stay awake -- most let him continue.

For college students with autism and other learning disabilities, this is the kind of balancing act that takes place every day -- accommodating a disability while also pushing beyond it toward normalcy and a degree, which is increasingly essential for finding a meaningful career.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/15/students-with-disabilities-are-finding-new-college-options/#ixzz2fMrqoQ32

Kids’ Attitudes About Disabilities Improve With Exposure

By MICHELLE DIAMENT

August 30, 2013

Children who are exposed to people with disabilities — either directly or indirectly — have more positive attitudes about those with special needs, researchers say.

In a survey of 1,520 kids ages 7 to 16, researchers found that increased familiarity with those who have disabilities led to less anxiety and better attitudes.

“We have known for some time that integrating children with disabilities into the regular classroom can improve attitudes. What we have established here is just how much of a difference a greater presence in day-to-day life makes,” said Megan MacMillan of the University of Exeter Medical School in England who presented the findings Thursday at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference.

To read more, please visit this link:  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/08/30/kids-attitudes-disabilities/18615/

Keeping Students with Disabilities Safe from Bullying

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Michael Yudin

As Secretary Duncan has noted, the Department of Education is committed to making sure that all of our young people grow up free of fear, violence, and bullying. Bullying not only threatens a student’s physical and emotional safety at school, but fosters a climate of fear and disrespect, creating conditions that negatively impact learning—undermining students’ ability to achieve to their full potential. Unfortunately, we know that children with disabilities are disproportionately affected by bullying.

Factors such as physical vulnerability, social skills challenges, or intolerant environments may increase the risk of bullying. Students who are targets of bullying are more likely to experience lower academic achievement, higher truancy rates, feelings of alienation, poor peer relationships, loneliness, and depression. We must do everything we can to ensure that our schools are safe and positive learning  environments—where all students can learn.

Source:  http://www.ed.gov/blog/