Respite Funding Still Available

By on July 24, 2012 in Lifestyle, State Agency

Funding is still available for respite care under this program.  Recent communications suggest that there is a fair amount of flexibility in the program.  As we prepare for the new school year, needs for respite may arise in families.  TheNemoNews repeats it’s earlier post for your information.

Funding is currently available for families in need of emergency respite care for individuals with special needs in Illinois.  There is no age limit on the person to be cared for (birth to 100+).  The funding for this project is available until September 30, 2012.

Called the Lifespan Emergency Respite Program, the purpose is to help families with children or adults with special needs deal with an urgent need for respite care in the absence of any other funding source.  The program does not provide the particular respite caregiver, although a list of caregivers can be found on the website. There are other rules for eligibility and limits on expenses that are described on the website.

For more information visit the Illinois Respite Coalition or contact  Nancy Fidler, Illinois Respite Coalition at nfidler@marklund.org or 630-529-2871 x3231

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Think College iPad Webinar

By on July 23, 2012 in Education

“The iPad as a Personal Learning Device”, a webinar, will be offered on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 1-2:30pm CDT (Chicago time).  The webinar will introduce  the many applications, settings, features, functions, and apps that make the iPad a state-of-the-art personal learning device.   Participants will learn how to take notes, make audio recordings, add email accounts, activate speech to text, and other functions. Participants will learn about the uses and possibilities of available apps for productivity, social networking, storage, reading, personalized newspapers, and much more.

The webinar is sponsored by Think College, an initiative that promotes college options for individuals with developmental disabilities.  Webinars are free, but pre-registration is required.  To register for the webinar click here.  Other scheduled  webinars are shown here.

 

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“Extreme Recess” for Kids

By on July 19, 2012 in Lifestyle, Recreation, Special Event

“Extreme Recess” is an aquatic event for kids with disabilities and their families.  It will feature swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, tube and jet ski rides, water slides, a jumpy castle, beach games.  All water sports are adapted for wheel chairs.  It will take place on July 30 and 31 at 220 Lance Drive, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.  It is sponsored by Dreams for Kids, a Chicago-based non-profit.

Tickets are $10 per participant and $5 per family non-participant. The fee includes lunch, a Dreams for Kids book and participation in all activities except water skiing.   All water ski participants will pay an $7 additional to join USA Ski on site.  Instructors, equipment, food & beverages will be provided.

This event has limited enrollment an fills up very fast.  To register go to EventBrite.  For more information contact David Bromley at dbromley@DreamsForKids.org or call 1-312-729-5404 and ask for Shelly.

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Nemo’s Summer

By on July 17, 2012 in Opinion, Other

This summer publication of TheNemoNews.com has been spottier than hoped or anticipated.  Thanks for hanging in there.  We would like to share a couple of thoughts with you.

First:  TheNemoNews.com will resume publishing articles as they arrive for the rest of the summer.  Some regard will be given to the importance, timeliness and audience for the item.  So you’ll see us more often now, but still not quite daily.

Second: In the fall, we will publish on a more regular schedule.  We are currently reviewing software and scheduling options that will make TheNemoNews more useful.  We hope to take Nemo to the next level.

Finally:  Thank you for your encouragement and kind words.  We are gratified that subscribers continue to enroll even though we have not published very much this summer.  We are excited by the opportunities presented by the community that TheNemoNews serves.

Thanks for staying tuned in….

Mary Rhodes
Publisher

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July 4th “Rest Stop” at Great Lakes Naval Station

By on June 25, 2012 in Lifestyle, Other, Recreation, Social Life, Special Event

Click to Enlarge

This year there will be a “Rest Stop” for families with special needs at the Naval Station Great Lakes 4th of July Celebration.  The Rest Stop is designed as a place to get out of the sun, take meds, get info and connect with other Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) families.

The public is invited to the annual celebration  that features a craft show, a carnival, a 5K run, fireworks, bingo and more.  The website has a detailed description and directions and an FAQ.   Check out the Facebook page as well.

“This is the first year that EFMP will have a tent for families with Special Needs.”, said Sally Tilli, Program Liaison.  “We are hoping that more families will be able to attend because of this support service.  And we’re expecting a really good time!”.

For more information contact Chris Mohr at Chris.Mohr@mwrgl.com or Salli Tilli at 847-688-3603, x 119, sally.tilli.ctr@navy.mil.

 

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Respite Care: Train the Trainer in McHenry

By on June 15, 2012 in Education, Lifestyle, Post Transition

Respite care is precious commodity to those of us who care for those needing 24-hour supervision. Often personal networks of family, friends, neighbors and church members are called on to help.   in our gratitude, the matter of training  may not be addressed, sometimes leaving us a bit unsettled.

As part of an initiative to train these volunteer respite providers, McHenry County’s Options and Advocacy is sponsoring a the two day workshop to prepare trainers who can then train additional volunteer trainers.  Schools, senior living facilities, healthcare and other groups are encouraged to attend. Some church communities plan attend in order to train members of their congregation who feel called to give families a little break from time to time.

Training will be provided by staff from Marklund, a Geneva,IL based non-profit using their Respite Education and Support Tools (REST) program

The free workshop will be held on June 19 & 20 from 9am-6pm each day.  For more information contact Options and Advocacy, Karen Rios,  847-477-4720.

 

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Free Clinic in Grayslake June 8-9 — CURE Network and Dental Mission of Mercy

By on May 25, 2012 in Health, Special Event

Individuals of all ages are invited to attend a Free Dental, Vision and Health Clinic at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.  (1060 E Peterson Road off Midlothian Road).  The clinic is an initiative of the Illinois State Dental Society’s Mission of Mercy (MOM) program and of the Collaborative Underserved Relief and Education (CURE) Network.

Doors will open at 6am each day.  Patients will be seen on a first-come, first served basis.   Doors will close when the day’s capacity is reached.  There are no pre-appointments.  Many patients choose to line up hours in advance of the opening, and some may be turned away.  Basic services include health exams, dental exams with fillings, cleanings, and extractions, and vision exams with glasses and/or frames.  General information can be viewed here.  Those with complex needs or severe disabilities may be beyond the scope of this clinic.

Last year, the event was held at Malcolm X College in Chicago.  According to the website, 550 volunteer professionals conducted 1147 Dental Exams, 1322 Medical Exams and 772 Vision Exams.

Professional and general volunteers are still needed for the event.  There is particular need for Doctors of Optometry (optometrists)to conduct eye exams. In addition, sign language interpreters are sought.

For more information visit the http://www.curenetwork.org or contact Karen Carroll, kcarroll@curenetwork.org, 877-278-7631

 

 

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Rosalind Franklin Medical Students Conduct Autism Events

By on May 24, 2012 in Education, Health, Other

Medical students at Rosalind Franklin University conducted three events in April to observe National Autism Awareness Month and increase disability awareness among health care students.

The events included a workshop with a panel of parents, team participation in the North Shore Walk Now for Autism Speaks and lunch discussion with a developmental pediatrician.  The events were co-sponsored by the Pediatric Interest Group and the Student Interest Group in Neurology.

Noting that medical students don’t often encounter patients with disabilities in their curriculum, the sponsors developed a panel of local parents to discuss their experiences.  The parent panel included several parents who currently serve on the SEDOL Parent Advisory Board.  One of the panel members was a medical student with a child with a disability.

Parents and students felt positively about the experience according to Eva Schwartz, medical student and event organizer.  “Overall, the panel was a good reminder about some of the basics of patient care  — treat the patient not the disease, be involved with your patients and their families, listen, and show compassion.”, Schwartz continued.

There is interest in repeating the event, although It has not been determined if this will be repeated next year.  For more information contact Eva Schwartz at eva.schwartz@my.rfums.org.

The Nemo News salutes the medical students for reaching out to learn more about our families and autism.

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YL Capernaum Bowling Night May 25

By on May 23, 2012 in Faith Based, Recreation, Special Event

Young Life Capernaum is hosting it’s first event in Lake County on Friday, May 25.  Abled and disabled youth are invited to bowl at the Brunswick Zone, 316 Center Drive in Vernon Hills at 6:30pm.

Young Life  Capernaum represents a growing movement among Christian churches to reach out to those with disabilities and promote peer friendship through club, camp, service and other activities.  There are several Young Life groups in Lake County, but this is the first Capaernaum group in the county.   TheNemoNews has reported on efforts to organize this new group.  There is already a group in Naperville.

The Young Life website describes the project as follows.

Young Life Capernaum gives young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the chance to experience fun and adventure, to develop fulfilling friendships and to challenge their limits while building self-esteem through club, camp and other exciting activities. Young Life staff and volunteers model Christ’s unconditional love and acceptance as they walk alongside these young adults — filling their lives with love and support.

 

For more information on this group or the bowling outing, contact Tasha Taylor at 847-735-9595 or Melisa Roberts at 847-504-7128, melissa@ylchicago.com

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SEDOL Superintendent Moline’s Blog

By on May 22, 2012 in Education

As Dr. Thomas Moline finishes his first year as superintendent of the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL), he has initiated a blog to share news with staff and others  connected to SEDOL.   Recent posts include reflections on end-of-year activities like prom, awards and graduation.

Dr. Moline writes that he enjoys visiting SEDOL classrooms and seeing student projects.  In addition, he has been reaching out to member districts.  He offers a presentation and meets the school boards that make up the SEDOL cooperative. You can access his blog here and from the main SEDOL home page.  Readers can receive new posts  by clicking on the follow button at the bottom right of the blog.

TheNemoNews enjoys reading his blog and seeing the pictures he includes.  We honor his efforts reach out to us.

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