D.J. Gregory: An Incredible Journey Comes to an End
We've reported on D.J. Gregory all year long, anxiously following his every move on the PGA Tour through the heat, the cold, the sun and the pouring rain. On November 9th, D.J. completed his 44th and final PGA Tour event of 2008, marking the end of an extraordinary voyage.
Gregory returns home this week after spending just four days in Savannah since the beginning of January, though he will not be staying long - he expects to attend the PGA Tour Qualifying School to support one of the many golfers he's befriended this year, Robert Gamez.
Even at the end of his journey, D.J. will not get much rest. He is working on a book chronicling his experiences, and the manuscript is due Dec. 31st, with a publication date of Father's Day, 2009.
How does D.J. feel now that everything's over? "Bittersweet," as he told a reporter with The Orlando Sentinel.
Buying Toys this Holiday Season for Children with Disabilities
Holiday time is exciting for all children, and children with disabilities are no different. There are nearly 6 million children with disabilities (including 12.7% of school children) who will receive holiday gifts this season. Yet because gift givers are afraid of selecting the "wrong" toy, many children with disabilities find pajamas and socks wrapped up in those brightly-colored boxes - not the toy of their dreams.
The National Lekotek Center, the country’s preeminent source for information about adaptive toys and play, which several UCP affiliates utilize, is dedicated to making play and learning accessible for children with disabilities. Last year, Lekotek developed the AblePlay toy rating system and website that provides comprehensive information on toys for children with special needs so parents, special educators, therapists and others can make the best choices for the children in their lives with disabilities.
Choosing toys for children with disabilities can be difficult. AblePlay's independent toy reviews and detailed information help you get "beyond the box" to understand each toy's unique features, creative ways each toy can be used with children with special needs and skills that will be enhanced as a result. Search for an AblePlay-Rated Toy today and unlock the magic of play for your child with special needs.
Lekotek has affiliates in 7 States across the United States—Illinois, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Find the Lekotek program in your State now.
The National Lekotek Center recommends the following Top Ten Things to Consider When Buying Toys for Children with Disabilities:
Multisensory appeal: Does the toy respond with lights, sounds, or movement? Are there contrasting colors? Does it have a scent? Is there texture?
Method of activation: Will the toy provide a challenge without frustration? What is the force required to activate? What are the number and complexity of steps required to activate?
Where will the toy be used: Can the toy be used in a variety of positions such as side-lying or on wheelchair tray? Will the toy be easy to store? Is there space in the home?
Opportunities for success: Can play be open-ended with no definite right or wrong way? Is it adaptable to the child's individual style, ability and pace?
Current popularity: Is it a toy almost any child would like? Does it tie-in with other activities like T.V., movies, books, clothing, etc?
Self-expression: Does the toy allow for creativity, uniqueness, and choice-making? Will it give the child experience with a variety of media?
Adjustability: Does it have adjustable height, sound volume, speed, level of difficulty?
Child's individual characteristics: Does the toy provide activities that reflect both developmental and chronological ages? Does it reflect the child's interests and age?
Safety and durability:Consider the child's size and strength in relation to the toy's durability. Are the toy and its parts sized appropriately? Does the toy have moisture resistance? Can it be washed and cleaned?
Potential for interaction: Will the child be an active participant during use? Will the toy encourage social engagement with others?
For additional information on toys, play and technology for children with disabilities, please call the Lekotek Toy Resource Helpline at 1-800-366-PLAY, visit the Lekotek Web site or contact Lara Terrell at (202)776-0406 x7105.
Parents of Special-Needs Kids Have a Special Bond
By Ellen Seidman
"Your baby had a stroke." With those five words, my life changed forever.
Of course, it was going to change no matter what—we were having our first child. But suddenly, we were blinded by a monstrous, mind-boggling complication my husband and I could have never imagined. Not even in our worst nightmares.
I'd had a perfectly normal pregnancy. I needed a C-section. Max had come out with great Apgars, a healthy seven pounds, six ounces. "Pediatricians kids don't have such great Apgars," I remember one of the doctors joking.
And then.
He turned blue while breastfeeding. A nurse smacked him on his teeny back; I recall her saying that he was gagging on mucus and it was totally normal.
And then.
He again turned blue as I was holding him. They whisked him off to the NICU.
And then.
Later, a resident noticed one of his teeny feet was twitching. Our newborn was having seizures.
And then.
College Student Uses New Technology to Overcome Disability
A new chapter in technology is re-writing the reading experience for one UCP of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley's consumers.
AJ Snitko, 21, of Madison, AL, is physically unable to hold a book and turn its pages. Among other books, including textbooks he needs to read for his classes at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he’s majoring in engineering, he wants to read "Quiet Strength," a memoir by his favorite NFL head coach Tony Dungy.
With help from T.A.S.C. and Bookshare.org, AJ is on his way to reaching this goal.
AJ developed dystonia at age 10 as the result of an infection. Dystonia is a syndrome of involuntary spasms and sustained contractions of the muscles, which cause repetitive abnormal movements of parts of the body or persistently abnormal postures. As a result, AJ has very limited use of his arms and hands and relies on a power wheelchair for mobility.
His mother, Shelly Snitko, brought AJ to T.A.S.C. (Technology Assistance for Special Consumers), a program of United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley, Inc., in July in search of a better way for AJ to access his computer for school and home use. AJ is now successfully using a regular mouse to navigate his laptop and has learned to access a number of on-line activities, including Facebook and card games. He also works on using an on-screen keyboard that will allow for more complete computer access.
A 20-Year-Old Poem for the New Kids on the Block
By Tamara Cross, a life-long supporter of UCP, from her MySpace blog.
People have been asking what happened this Tuesday, October 21, 2008 (which I affectionately refer to as "New Kids Cousin Day"). I saw the New Kids on the Block in concert that night at the St. Paul Xcel Energy Center. I'd like to tell you a story of how a 20-year dream came true earlier that day.
First, I should give a bit of a history. Some of you already know this, many do not. I have been a huge New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) fan since I was 14 years old. In the very beginning, I knew there was something very special about them; I just couldn't put my finger on what. But, shortly after I became a fan, I was reading a teen magazine (such as BOP) and I realized why I had this special feeling. The New Kids were the Teen Spokesmen for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP).
I could not believe it. A group of guys my age, knew of CP and supported something I have. It was, still is and always will be, a very big deal to me. At that moment, they changed my life. Never had I experienced something like that and even though I knew they obviously didn't know I existed, it was a feeling of "family" at that moment. Right after reading that article, I sat down at the kitchen table with my cousin Danielle and wrote a poem dedicated to them, called "Why You Mean So Much". I put it in my poetry journal and made a pact with myself, that if I would ever have the opportunity to meet all of them at once, I would personally hand that poem to them and tell them, "thank you for supporting UCP."
This is the poem:
Why You Mean So Much
Founded in 1948 to help people with cerebral palsy, today United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is a pivotal advocate for the rights of all people with disabilities. As one of the largest health charities in America, UCP is dedicated to advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities.
Couple's Web Site Features Disability Equipment The Associated Press Aurora,MN,USA 12/1/08 The couple, originally from the Twin Cities, started up HandiExchange.com, a Web-based business offering free listings of equipment and services for people with disabilities that went online recently.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities will be celebrated Dec. 3 Media dis&dat Blog USA 11/30/08 The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
Study shows families' financial strain from autism The Associated Press Chicago,IL,USA 11/30/08 More than half a million U.S. children have autism with costly health care needs that often put an unprecedented financial strain on their families, national data show.
New Jersey's disabled wait years for homes The Star-Ledger Hudson County,NJ,USA 11/30/08 Seven years ago, she and her husband put their son Matt's name on the community housing waiting list for people with developmental disabilities.
Cerebral Palsy Can't Restrain a Fiercely Independent Spirit New York Times New York,NY,USA 11/29/08 Her machine-made words, as they emerged every 20 seconds, revealed a witty, irrepressible spirit in a body that must contort itself heartbreakingly if Ms. Krause is to convey even a single thought.
Wheelchair athlete sets high goals San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco,CA,USA 11/29/08 The disabled Livermore outdoorsman is preparing for the hike of his life - an ascent of 19,000-foot Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa or 22,841-foot Cerro Aconcagua in South America.
United Cerebral Palsy looks to grow therapy center The Orange County Register Irvine,CA,USA 11/26/08 The nearly empty rooms are filled with big dreams at United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County's new Irvine headquarters.
Irvine girl builds from each day's tiny victories The Orange County Register Irvine,CA,USA 11/26/08 11-year-old Bridget Beresford has cerebral palsy and wants to run a 5K in the next Orange County Marathon.
'A good place to call home' The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia,PA,USA 11/21/08 In a Merion rancher, three men live with disabilities and independence. They and their families pooled resources, got creative, and made it happen.
States Cut Services for Elderly, Disabled Wall Street Journal New York,NY,USA 11/20/08 As Budget Shortfalls Force Reductions in Home Care, Low-Income People May Face Nursing Homes, Advocates Say.
Wheelchair-Bound Woman Sued After Being Hit By Truck WSBTV.com Hall County,GA,USA 11/20/08 "All the money they’ve got, why are they trying to sue somebody on Social Security in a power wheelchair," asked Holcombe.
Dublin aims to be most accessible city for disabled Irish Times Dublin,Ireland 11/20/08 Dublin City Council and the National Disability Authority (NDA) are to discuss plans at a conference today which they say will make the city the most accessible internationally by the end of the decade.
After more than 400 lawsuits, disabled man can sue no more Los Angeles Times Los Angeles,CA,USA 11/18/08 Whether Jarek Molski is a crusader for the disabled or an extortionist who abused the law for personal gain, the vexatious litigant has filed his last lawsuit.
New UCP director wants to get the community involved The Tuscaloosa News Tuscaloosa,AL,USA 11/17/08 Lisa Skelton, newly appointed director of United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama, likes to keep busy whether at home or work — even at a party held in her honor.
Barrier-free park in play The Detroit News Frasier,MI,USA 11/17/08 The Fraser Parks and Recreation Commission is spearheading the effort to build the specialized park that will feature ramps and guardrails, along with play equipment based on development levels to accommodate children who use wheelchairs as well as those with other physical and cognitive disabilities.
School for the blind starts visionary newsroom The Star-Ledger Hudson County,NJ,USA 11/16/08 The paper is a first at the state's only school for blind students with multiple disabilities.
Groups fight electronic bingo ban in Sacramento court Sacramento Bee Sacramento,CA,USA 11/15/08 Charitable organizations and disabled people are back in Sacramento federal court asking for an order barring enforcement of two new laws outlawing electronic bingo.
News series showcases the disabled among us The Norman Transcript Norman,OK,USA 11/15/08 A few themes ring true from our reporters' notebooks. Disabled citizens don't want pity. They want the same opportunities afforded able bodied folks.
Artists unbound The Denver Post Denver,CO,USA 11/15/08 Reflecting on her poster, which was recently displayed as part of the "Giving Voice," exhibit at Access Gallery/Studio in Denver's Santa Fe Drive arts district, Murdock said, "I was happy that other people got to see the poster and the point I was making: Let me be. I think they got the message."
Abused Women with Disabilities at Greater Risk for Domestic Violence University of Missouri Columbia,MO,USA 11/10/08 In a new study, a University of Missouri researcher found that women with disabilities are abused at rates equal to or greater than women without disabilities and have fewer avenues for recourse, thus putting them at an even greater risk.
Disability 101: Inclusion challenge Summit Daily News Frisco,CO,USA 11/10/08 What used to be referred to as mainstreaming, inclusion refers to the practice of educating special-education students in regular-education classes alongside their non-disabled peers.
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Holiday time is exciting for all children, and children with disabilities are no different. There are nearly 6 million children with disabilities (including 12.7% of school children) who will receive holiday gifts this season. Yet because gift givers are afraid of selecting the "wrong" toy, many children with disabilities find pajamas and socks wrapped up in those brightly-colored boxes - not the toy of their dreams.
Lekotek has affiliates in 7 States across the United States—Illinois, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. 
