Please allow me to tell you about myself and the Shemer Art Center’s new, exciting art therapy classes that are designed for 10 to 13-year-old special needs children. I am a registered and licensed Art Therapist, and have been practicing Art Therapy for over 10 years in New York and Arizona. Through the City of Phoenix’s Parks & Recreation Department and the Shemer Art Center, located in a beautifully renovated historical house at 5005 E. Camelback Rd., I am delighted to offer Art Therapy to special needs kids. As you may already know, Art Therapy has been shown to increase expressive communication, increase focused attention, and facilitate improved socialization to special needs children who are so receptive to creative modalities. 
> 
> Class: Art for Special Needs (ages 10 – 13 years)
> Instructor: Beverly Lim Henes, MS, ATR, LCAT
> Date: Saturdays, Jan. 9 – Feb. 27, 10:00am – 11:30am (8 classes)
> 
> Individuals with special needs utilize art materials and the creative process to increase cognitive and sensory functioning, and develop awareness of emotions and the environment. Each class focuses on a design element and includes exploration of clay, paint, collage, and found objects. Student must have independent mobility, or be accompanied by aid.
> 

For More Information:  http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/shemclas.html or contact Shemer Art Center

 Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 (attend either session) 

Light refreshments will be provided 

2 p.m. 6 p.m. 

Civic Center Library – 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

or

Via Linda Senior Center – 10440 E. Via Linda

For more information, please contact: Denise at (480) 312-2246 or dlabreque@scottsdaleaz.gov

Puberty, Sexuality and Social Awareness

In Children with Special Needs

Speaker: Dr. Pamela Murphy, Pediatrician

Join us as Dr. Murphy shares her insight and vast experience
with children and teens with special health care needs

Wednesday, April 22nd

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Mohave District Complex
Kachina Room

8505 E. Valley View Road, Scottsdale 85250-6768

 

Special Education Training for Parents

Disability Empowerment Center of Arizona  

Second Floor/Room 208

5025 East Washington Street

Phoenix, Arizona

Thursday, April 23, 2009

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

&

6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.

Do you have questions about the special education process?

Do you have questions about your child’s IEP?

Do you have questions concerning discipline?

Do you have questions about your rights?

Well, let’s get some answers !

The Arizona Center for Disability Law will be conducting an intensive training designed for parents to answer these questions and more. This free training will provide in depth information on the procedural safeguards set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004, Bureau of Indian Education and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Highlights of the training will include information on the evaluation, the IEP, appropriate placement, transition services and discipline. In addition, the training will provide parents with practical advice and strategies for developing self-advocacy skills.

For more information or to reserve space in one of the trainings, please contact the Center, at

(602) 274-6287 (voice/TTY) 1-800-927-2260 or e-mail kvanhorne@azdisabilitylaw.org . Please notify the Center as soon as possible if you need any special accommodations or are unable to keep your reservation. The training is subject to cancellation if minimal registration is not achieved; you will be contacted as soon as possible if the training is cancelled. The training is limited to 25 participates.

For more information about the Center, please check our website at www.azdisabilitylaw.org

Funding for this training is provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities

Greetings friends:

Join Phoenix Children’s Parent Action Committee today

Time and again, lawmakers tell us that parents’ voices make a real
difference in what they decide to do on policy issues that affect children’s
healthcare in Arizona. So we have created the Phoenix Children’s Parent
Action Committee to keep our parents informed about policy ideas, and what
they can do to either help good ideas along – or to stop harmful ideas in
their tracks.

As you likely know, our ability to provide world-class services is impacted
by policy decisions at the state and federal level. Parents signing up for
the Phoenix Children’s Parent Action Committee will get monthly updates on
these policy proposals, as well as occasional “action alerts” that ask for
their help, such as calling their representative or writing their senator on
a particular issue. The Committee will also make sure to notify parents
about specific opportunities that relate to their area(s) of interest.

Phoenix Children’s Parent Action Committee is open to anyone who cares about
children’s health care in Arizona. There is no charge to join and no
meetings. You don’t even have to be a parent. We’ll simply provide you with
monthly information on issues that impact children’s healthcare to help us
all make the best decisions for our kids.

Please visit www.phoenixchildrens.com/advocacy today to learn more and sign
up.   The first e-newsletter is below.  If you know someone else who would
be interested, please pass this information to them.

Thank you,

Lynda Christel
Manager, Physician Relations
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
1919 E. Thomas Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85016

(602) 546-5873
(602) 546-0827 FAX
(602) 721-9876 CELL
 <http://www.phoenixchildrens.com/> www.phoenixchildrens.com

For more details, please visit the website for the conference:  www.SpectrumTrainingSystemsInc.com/Conferences.html

Read below for the conference schedule.

Career Planning for Individuals
with Autism Spectrum Disorders
April 2-3, 2009

After several years of planning, Spectrum Training is delighted to announce that our two day Autism Career Planning conferences are now ready. After much dialogue with career planners, transition teachers, parents and other ASD concerned persons we planned these conferences to meet those specific, critical needs.
This high caliber career planning is the key to a successful future with positive long-term outcomes and is ESSENTIAL for:
* Career counselors, job developers/job coaches, rehab administrators, vocational coordinators
* Special education administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, case managers, therapists
* Students, parents, caregivers, young adults with ASD (16+)

Date and Location

April 2-3, 2009 Phoenix, AZ

Topic Schedule
Conference Schedule Day One:

Career Planning
A. Communication Skills in the Initial Interview
B. Interview Communication Graffiti Activity
C. Structuring the Interview Environment
D. Interview Structure Activity
E. Theory of Mind
F. Building the Career Portfolio
G. Career Portfolio Development Activity

Career Assessment
A. Creating the Evaluation Plan
B. Assessment Processes for Job Seekers With ASD
C. Skill/Interest Testing
D. Assessing Social/Communication Skills
E. Career Assessment Activity

Workplace Supports
A. Workplace Problems
B. Natural Support Development
C. Take Workplace Supports
D. Minnesota Work Adjustment Theory
E. Work Values Graffiti Activity

Conference Schedule Day Two:
Social Communication in the Workplace
A. Basic Self-Advocacy
B. Asking for Help Activity
C. Sins of the System Overview
D. Sins of the System Graffiti Activity
E. Courtesy Rule Card Activity
F. Social Skill Supports
G. Workplace Visuals Graffiti Activity
H. Workplace Social Story Make/Take

Implementing the Career Plan
A. Career Strategies in Action
B. Working with the Business Community
C. Final Wrap Up – Q & A Session

Presented by Spectrum Training Systems, Inc.

spectrumtrainingsystems@yahoo.com

(920) 749-0332 

She will be able to provide more details regarding the program as well as adding interested persons to the mailing list.

OPEN HOUSE – Come Play with Us

SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2008 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

WHAT: An Opportunity to Experience the unique aspects of KEEN Phoenix. Bring your athlete and let them enjoy an afternoon of exercise with our coaches. Learn more about becoming a coach for future KEEN events.

Registration for KEEN Phoenix is limited and is on a first come first serve basis!

WHO: Athletes, Parents, Caregivers, Agencies, Volunteers and anyone interested in
learning more about KEEN.

WHERE: Boys and Girls Club

Harry & Sandy Rosenzweig Branch
2242 W. Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85061

QUESTIONS: Contact our Program Director, Johanna Bookbinder at info@keenphoenix.org or call 602-508-3939. Or visit www.keenphoenix.org

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) is a non-profit, volunteer organization that provides free, one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities in the United States and in England. The young people who participate in KEEN have disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and various developmental and intellectual disabilities. During our activity sessions, each athlete is paired with his or her own volunteer coach, allowing children with any disability to participate.

We are looking for eager participants, volunteers, parents and community organizations to join us!

Unlike other recreation programs for individuals with disabilities, KEEN provides an open, unstructured environment for young people with any type of disability, including those with significant needs. For some of the children and young adults who are unable to participate in other programs, KEEN may be their only recreational activity.

In its non-competitive environment, every child can enjoy every activity without the fear of losing or not being the best. Athletes gain confidence and self-esteem, and perhaps most important, a sense of social belonging.

And they have fun!

KEEN’s programs are offered entirely free of charge to families and caregivers.

Time: Tonight, March 19th, anytime between 6:30 and 8 p.m.

Location: Mohave Middle School Cafeteria, 5520 N. 86th Street. 
The gates will be open on the north side of the complex near the baseball field and our usual Kachina room so you can get to the cafeteria easily.

The following organizations have committed to being at the event: 

We will also have information avaailable from other organizations that were not able to join us for the evening.

Stop on by!