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Program Development Associates WEBLETTER
News and Information for Disability Professionals
Volume 15 – 57th Edition
February 9, 2010
New Years, New News, and New Resources! Welcome to the first issue of our newsletter for 2010! We are focusing this newsletter on disability related news of interest to you. We have news about the new movie ‘Avatar’, a report from the EEOC on the ADA, Autism as an employment asset and much more. Sadly we also report the loss of the inspiration for the movie ‘Rain Man’, Kim Peek. You will see we have added several new training tools to help you facilitate full participation for people of all ages with disabilities. AND knowing that everyone’s coffers are low and purse strings are tight we have some incredible discounts on training and educational videos and books we think you may want to have. |
| IN THIS ISSUE |
| PDA HIGHLIGHTS QUOTES OF THE MONTH WHEELCHAIRS - Wheelchair Users Praise, Criticize 'Avatar' AUTISM - Kim Peek, Man Who Inspired 'Rain Man', Dies At 58 ADA - EEOC Says Disability Discrimination Claims Increased More than Ten Percent EMPLOYMENT - Autism Seen As Asset, Not Liability, In Some Jobs EDUCATION - Appeals Court Says Boy with Autism Can Bring Service Dog To School |
| PDA HIGHLIGHTS |
New Specials! DVD’s under $10.00! Books under $5.00! Get them fast while they’re still available. We have over 90 items on sale..... some as much as 75% off. There are limited quantities so don’t wait too long or you could miss that one resource you could really use! New Catalog! We are putting the finishing touches on our new 2010 catalog and it is packed with new cutting edge training resources. This issue includes over 350 disability resources for educators and disability professionals. To request a catalog simply click http://www.disabilitytraining.com/catalog.php and select your preference for receiving the catalog. Our catalog is always free so request your copy. |
| NEW RESOURCES! |
Our collection of over 600 resources, are continuously monitored and updated to assure you are getting the most current, popular disability information and training materials available. We’ve listed a few here for you. Autism, Fire-Rescue and Emergency Medical Services - Illustrates autism related dispatches while offering tips, options and special tactics designed to enhance communications and manage sensory influences. Children With Autism - Focuses on the challenging behavior parents face and how they work and support their child with autism. Communication Skills - Describes the importance of positive communication skills and teaches effective methods for creating clear, respectful exchanges. Employability Skills Inventory - Allows workers to quickly assess their own strengths and weaknesses so that they may improve their skills. Fred’s Roman Holiday - Once institutionalized for 33 years inside one of Connecticut's institutions for people with developmental disabilities, Alfredo Calabrese, the main character of the award-winning film Fred's Story, takes five traveling companions on a mysterious mission to Rome and to a magical, troubling, and ironic moment in Fred's past. Job Application: Looking Good on Paper - Helps students identify, organize, and promote their skills and experience during the application phase of a job hunt. Maintaining Mental Health - Focuses on the subject of mental health at the personal level, offering suggestions on how to nourish and, when necessary, reestablish a sense of well-being. Meeting Builders - Short activities designed to be used during your regular meetings. More Power: Instruction in Co-Taught Classrooms - Presents seven key dimensions of effective instructional practices across K-12 settings. Demonstrates how to get more power from your co-teaching to improve outcomes for all students. Shouting Won't Grow Dendrites - Offers staff developers all the materials they need to help novice and experienced teachers reduce classroom problems and cultivate a physical environment conducive to learning. For a complete listing - http://www.disabilitytraining.com/product-list.php?New_Resources-pg1-cid55.html |
| QUOTES OF THE MONTH |
| "I didn't feel like it was a pity story about someone in a wheelchair," - Santina Muha, communications associate at the National Spinal Cord Injury Association and the current Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey, talking about the movie "Avatar". 1st Story "My career would not have existed at all without the autism." "We're happy that it went our way." |
| WHEELCHAIRS |
Wheelchair Users Praise, Criticize 'Avatar' (ABC News) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA-- [Excerpt] Like others who flocked to see the blockbuster movie "Avatar," 26-year-old Santina Muha was thrilled by the visuals. But unlike the majority of people in the theatre, she wasn't just imagining life on the distant moon Pandora. She was vicariously living the fantasy of regaining the use of her legs. "The scene where the character goes from his wheelchair into his 'avatar,' where he's walking and playing basketball, it was really touching," said Muha, who had a spinal cord injury in a car accident at age 5. "It gave me chills," she said. "I'm a wheelchair user for 20 years; I can't even remember what it was like just stretching his legs out like that. He must have just felt like it was the ultimate stretch." Audiences learn that the hero, Cpl. Jake Sully, lost the use of his legs while on duty as a Marine. Sully, played by able-bodied Sam Worthington, ends up on a mission to the lush moon of a distant planet where current technology gives his mind access to a cloned body of one of the local humanoid aliens, the Na'vi. Entire article: 'Avatar' Gets Mixed Praise From Paraplegics, http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=9505175 This article is reproduced here under special arrangement with Inclusion Daily Express Disability Rights E-mail News Service. http://www.InclusionDaily.com ©Copyright 2010 Inclusion Daily Express. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed in any form or displayed on any web site without prior approval from Inclusion Daily Express. News@InclusionDaily.com. |
| RELATED RESOURCES FROM PDA |
Access Challenge - An award winning documentary pitting teamwork and technology against the unpredictable forces of nature. Christopher Reeve: Hope in Motion - An inspirational documentary about Christopher Reeve, known to the world as Superman, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a riding accident. Freedom Machines - Explores how human experience and technological innovations are outpacing social policies and the perceptions that have guided them. How To Help Someone Who Uses a Wheelchair Including Walkers Crutches & Canes - Teaches care providers about safety, use of many types of equipment and correct body mechanics. |
| AUTISM |
Kim Peek, Man Who Inspired 'Rain Man', Dies At 58 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH-- [Excerpt] Kim Peek, the Murray (Utah) man who inspired the 1988 movie "Rain Man," died Saturday of a sudden heart attack. Peek, 58, was likely the world's most famous savant, enduring mental handicaps while at the same time possessing extraordinary gifts of memory and recall. "He had a depth and breadth of knowledge and a memory that was just unbelievable," said Daniel Christensen, a professor with the University of Utah's Neuropsychiatric Institute. "He was unique. I don't know if there will ever be another person quite like Kim." Peek was born on Nov. 11, 1951. At 9 months, doctors said he was severely mentally retarded. "They told us we should institutionalize him because he would never walk or talk," Fran Peek said. "But we refused to do that." Peek, who was shy and withdrawn, spent most of his early years among his family and friends. However, his life took a swift turn in 1984, when he met screenwriter Barry Morrow. Peek's personality impressed Morrow, who wrote the screenplay for "Rain Man." Entire article: Kim Peek, Murray (Utah) man who inspired 'Rain Man', dies, http://www.InclusionDaily.com/news/2009/red/1229c.htm This article is reproduced here under special arrangement with Inclusion Daily Express Disability Rights E-mail News Service. http://www.InclusionDaily.com ©Copyright 2010 Inclusion Daily Express. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed in any form or displayed on any web site without prior approval from Inclusion Daily Express. News@InclusionDaily.com. |
| RELATED RESOURCES FROM PDA |
Celebrating Diversity - Features Kim Peek, the real ‘Rain Man’, and his powerful life story. Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's - Dr. Temple Grandin eloquently and candidly describes the challenges she has faced and offers no-nonsense ideas on how others dealing with autism can meet these obstacles and improve the quality of their lives. A Place in the World - Looks at America's overall unpreparedness in helping adults with Autism from pursuing fulfilling lives. Autism is a World - From the perspective of a woman who lives with this often-misunderstood disorder and takes the viewer into an extraordinary journey inside autism. For a complete listing of over 70 Autism and ASD related titles visit |
| ADA |
EEOC Says Disability Discrimination Claims Increased More Than Ten Percent (The Examiner) WASHINGTON, DC-- [Excerpt] The number of disability discrimination claims filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission increased more than 10 percent last year, and that number is expected to grow in 2010, thanks to the ADA Amendments Act. The EEOC also investigates gender, age, genetic information, pregnancy, race and religious discrimination claims, charges that in 2009 reached their second-highest number in 20 years - second only to last year, according to a recent commission report. The EEOC received 93,277 charges, an increase that is likely the result of the commission's recently increased statutory authority regarding disability discrimination, according to the commission's "Fiscal Year 2009 Performance and Accountability Report." The ADA Amendments Act, for example, may have contributed to the 10 percent increase in disability discrimination charges. The commission said the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act also brought more charges. As a result, a record high $294 million was awarded to employees though private-sector enforcement during the fiscal year. Entire article: Disability discrimination claims are up by 10%, EEOC expects continued increase. This article is reproduced here under special arrangement with Inclusion Daily Express Disability Rights E-mail News Service. http://www.InclusionDaily.com ©Copyright 2010 Inclusion Daily Express. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed in any form or displayed on any web site without prior approval from Inclusion Daily Express. News@InclusionDaily.com. |
| RELATED RESOURCES FROM PDA |
ADA and Disability Law - Gives you practical, step-by-step guidelines for complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA Revisited - Inform managers and employees about the opportunities and legal responsibilities organizations and individuals face under the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA Quiz Book - A collection of puzzles, questions, quizzes, and case studies on the ADA & accessible information technology. Hired For My Ability - Designed to both encourage employers and inspire people with disabilities. Employing Abilities - Features scenarios that dispel misconceptions about employees and job candidates with disabilities! Accommodating Employees with Disabilities - Shows common examples of how to recognize and respond to requests for job accommodations in familiar job settings. |
| EMPLOYMENT |
Autism Seen As Asset, Not Liability, In Some Jobs (MSNBC) NEW YORK, NEW YORK-- [Excerpt] Ron Brix’s longtime job as a computer systems developer for Wrigley, the gum and candy maker, required intense attention to detail, single-minded focus and a willingness to work on something repetitively until perfect. The secret he credits to his success? Autism. Brix, age 54, was diagnosed in 2001 with Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism often marked by the exact traits that help make him an ideal employee. "My career would not have existed at all without the autism," says Brix. It's often seen as a heartbreaking diagnosis, but now some revolutionary companies see autism as something else: a resource. Entire article: Autism seen as asset, not liability, in some jobs, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34047713/ns/health-mental_health/ This article is reproduced here under special arrangement with Inclusion Daily Express Disability Rights E-mail News Service. http://www.InclusionDaily.com ©Copyright 2010 Inclusion Daily Express. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed in any form or displayed on any web site without prior approval from Inclusion Daily Express. News@InclusionDaily.com. |
| RELATED RESOURCES FROM PDA |
Ability Explorer - Ranks strengths in the 14 abilities important in today’s workplace, measuring more abilities than traditional aptitude tests, including key soft skills. Beyond Barriers to Passion and Possibility - Drawing on her books and curricula developed over the past twenty years, Denise Bissonnette presents "key inquiries" to identifying a person's passion, uncovering work preferences and envisioning fresh possibilities in the world of work. Gahanna Bill - A classic example of how community inclusion benefits both people with disabilities and the community they live in. Job Coaching Strategies - Follows the chronology of a successful job placement, from getting to know your client to maintaining employer relations. |
| EDUCATION |
Appeals Court Says Boy With Autism Can Bring Service Dog To School (Belleville News-Democrat) BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS-- [Excerpt] The 5th District Appellate Court in Mount Vernon has agreed with a Monroe County judge's decision to allow a boy with autism to attend a Columbia school with his service dog. The appeals court's opinion supporting Monroe County Circuit Judge Dennis Doyle's ruling in August that granted a preliminary injunction to allow Carter Kalbfleisch to bring his autism service dog, Corbin, to school was filed Wednesday. The school district had appealed Doyle's decision. Instead of following the judge's ruling, the Columbia School District decided it could not meet Carter's educational needs and sent him to the Illinois Center for Autism in Fairview Heights. The school district agreed to pay for Carter's education at the specialized school, but has refused to pay to transport both Carter the dog to the school. "We're happy that it went our way," said Chris Kalbfleisch, Carter's father. "Hopefully the school will change their direction with this. ... Hopefully we can move forward and get our son back in school." Entire article: Appellate Court rules autistic boy can have dog in Columbia school, http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=192073 This article is reproduced here under special arrangement with Inclusion Daily Express Disability Rights E-mail News Service. http://www.InclusionDaily.com ©Copyright 2010 Inclusion Daily Express. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed in any form or displayed on any web site without prior approval from Inclusion Daily Express. News@InclusionDaily.com. |
| RELATED RESOURCES FROM PDA |
Including Samuel - Examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities. What Does Normal Mean - A compelling documentary film about the “inclusion” of children with disabilities in public schools. Special Kids: A Day At School - Designed to teach and promote quality, effective, integrated learning for children with Autism and other developmental and learning disabilities. Winning Strategies for Inclusive Classrooms - An informative, reality based, fun-filled, and practical DVD for general staff development, enhancing current team practice and/or coaching new teams for success. |
Share your thoughts, comments or questions with Program Development Associates. Recommend this webletter to a colleague, or change your subscription by e-mailing info@disabilitytraining.com, call 718-488-8900, or visit us on the web at www.disabilitytraining.com. You received this newsletter from Program Development Associates because of a subscription request submitted to PDA. If you received this in error, or if you wish to unsubscribe from this e-newsletter, please let us know by going to unsubscribe@disabilitytraining.com. If you received this copy from a colleague and wish to subscribe, please go to subscribe@disabilitytraining.com. Program Development Associates reserves the right to publish and distribute this web letter to qualified customers who have authorized delivery of this information to their email address. All authorized email addresses in PDA’s possession remain confidential information. |
