WATCH News

 

The Wake Area Telehealth Collaborative

Helping Children with Special Needs 
 
November 2009
In This Issue
WATCH Data
WATCH Program Updates
Area Resources
Wake County Services and Resources Webpage
Wake County LICC Update
Run, Walk & Roll Sponsors
Resource Fair participants
Let's Get Moving
Save the Date!
Your Feedback Needed
News from Learning Together
News from Family Support Network of Wake County
News from The Lucy Daniels Center
Using the WATCH Listserv
Upcoming WATCH Professional Development Sessions
Distance Learning Opportunities
Fun at Marbles
Research and Resources


 
WATCH DATA
 
There have been 11 videoconference sessions held since July of this year.
 
Two session were networking sessions with WATCH Participants to discuss future projects and collaborations. 
 
Four of the videoconferences were professional development sessions featuring the following topics:
- Lokomat Lunch & Learn
-Music Strategies for Stages of Development
-The Interactive Metronome: Research & Practice
-Educational Videoclinic Opportunity for students from Meredith College and NCSU.
 

A total of 70 people attended these sessions.  Evaluations show the average session's satisfaction and comfort scores were 4.25  out of 5.0. Those involved in the educational session all strongly agreed that the session provided them with new knowledge applicable to their work. 


Five of the videoconferences were videoclinics scheduled with therapists at Abilitations Children's Therapy and Wellness Center and Pediatric Therapy Associates.
 
A total of 27 families and therapists attended these session.  Each family saved approximately $35.00 in travel costs by participating via videoconference. 
 
 
Many thanks to the therapists at Abilitations and PTA for their participation in the videoclinics. 
 
If your agency would like to schedule a videoclinic or consult with Dr. Alexander, please contact Juliellen at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu


ethan pic

WATCH  Program Updates 

White Plains Children's Center  is happy to welcome Ruth Miller as our new director. Ruth began at White Plains on October 1. Ruth comes to White Plains with a wealth of knowledge and experience working with children and families with disabilities. Her most recent experience was at the Frank Porter Graham Center in Chapel Hill. Please join us in making her feel welcome here in Wake County. 
 
Community Partnerships, Inc.  was recently involved in a great videoconference collaboration with Towson University in Maryland.  Anna Berkeley,  a CPI Inclusion Consultant, was invited as a guest speaker for a master's level early childhood education course offered  through Towson.  
 
Through the convenience of videoconferencing
Anna presented from the CPI conference room in Raleigh to over 25 students in Maryland. Her topic was Dealing with Challenging Behavior and Creating Effective Partnerships with Families.   What a great use of resources and talent!
 
Abilitations Children's Therapy is proud to have Kimberly Hunt, OTR/L join our team.  Kimberly has been with Abilitations since in August.  Kim began her career as occupational therapist in a pediatric clinic specializing in sensory integration. Her experience includes working with children diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental delay, behavioral issues, sensory processing deficits, ADHD, feeding aversions and coordination disorders. Kim is also a S.I.P.T. certified therapist.  She has served the special needs community in the clinic setting as well as in the school setting. Kim is also an active participant in Autism Awareness.   


 
Wake County Area Resources and Information  
Join the Wake County LICC for another Make & Take Gathering at Project Enlightenment.
 
You can make your own schedule board, learning tools, gifts and crafts while also touring the Project Enlightenment Resource Room and meet other parents and professionals in the Early Intervention System. 
 
You can choose from two dates:   Monday, November 30th from 6:30-8:30 pm or Tuesday, December 1st from 10:00-11:30.  Please RSVP to vfwilson@wcpss.net or 856.7789.   Spaces are limited.
 
The Wake County Cerebral Palsy Support Group meets the second Tuesday of every month @ 7:00 pm at Michael Dean's Restaurant in Raleigh on Fall of Neuse.  Come for dessert, coffee, dinner or just to meet other mom's and dad's who understand your daily joys and struggles.  We meet in a private room and enjoy wonderful food and great conversation.  We welcome everyone regardless of their child's special needs diagnoses that is looking for a support home.  Contact Rachel Pack at 319.0286 with questions.
 
 
The Arc of Wake County and United Way of the Greater Triangle present:
 The 4th Annual Computer Sale. 
Friday, December 11th from 9:00 am-12:00 noon. 
Location: 2400 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 150, Morrisville.
 
 Each computer is $50.00.  The computer includes a monitor, keyboard and mouse.  It is intenet ready and runs Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003. 
 
The computer must be for a child or adult with a disability. 
Call The Arc of Wake County at 832.2660 x 100 with any questions.
Wake County Services and Resources for Children Birth-Five Webpage TR
 
 
We now have 64 programs included in the Services and Resources webpage. 
 
Is your agency one of them?

The webpage acts as a searchable, up to date,  database for parent or professionals to find agencies and organizations that provide a variety of intervention, therapy or recreational services for young children throughout all of Wake County.

For more information or to obtain an enrollment form contact Juliellen at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu.
 
 Wake County LICC Update



The Wake County Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) has created a powerpoint presentation outlining the services in Wake County for Children ages 0-5 at risk for or diagnosed with developmental delays. The presentation details the various agencies and the role they play in providing services to meet these children's needs.

The LICC would love the opportunity to speak to individual organizations, parent groups, child care programs, or agencies interested in learning more about early intervention and preschool special needs services.

You can contact Juliellen Simpson-Vos,
(jsimpvos@med.unc.edu  or 843.0427) or Jennifer Pflatzgraff (jennifer@pfotographics.com)
LICC Co-Chairs, for more
information or to schedule a presentation time.

The powerpoint presentation will also be available to view and download from the Wake
County LICC website.
Your Chance to Sponsor the 2nd Annual Run, Walk & Roll!

Twelve generous agencies served as sponsors for the 1st annual Run, Walk & Roll. 

Now is your chance to leand your agency's support to make the 2nd Annual Run, Walk & Roll ever better than the first!

Gold level sponsors will be featured on the event day banner, t-shirt, and all marketing materials and will also have the registration fee waived for up to 6 participants.

There are Silver and Bronze level sponsorships available, as well. 

To become an event sponsor, contact Juliellen at 843.0427 or jsimpvos@med.unc.edu.
Do you want to have a table at the 2nd Annual Run, Walk & Roll/Wake County LICC Resource Fair?

Over 50 organizations participated in the 1st Annual Run, Walk & Roll Resource Fair, co-sponsored by the Wake County LICC. 

The Resource Fair was an excellent way to talk first hand to families and other  professionals  about the services and products you offer children with disabilities. 

For profit organizations can reserve a table for $100.  The cost is $25.00 for non-profit organizations.  The fee is waived for state agencies and non-income generating groups. 

To reserve a table at the Resource Fair contact Juliellen at 843.0427 or at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu
 
Let's Get Moving!
nathan finish
Click this link for a helpful brochure created by the UNC Department of Physical Therapy and the UNC Center for Development and Learning

The brochure provides ideas for encouraging physical activities for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and was discussed during the WATCH videoconference on The Role of Physical Therapy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
 
The picture above comes from the Surfers Healing website.  A non-profit organization that seeks to enrich the lives of children autism by exposing them to the unique experience of surfing.  
 

Visit Our Sponsor
 
Many thanks to the John Rex Endowment for their continued support of the WATCH Program into 2010!
sunmapleWhat's new with WATCH? 
 
It's good to be back in touch with you all.  Here's a brief update on what's happening in our office...
 
To enhance many of our videoconferencing services, we are piloting a partnership with NC REN, a statewide technical support group.  With the help of NC REN we can:
 
*  Multipoint with more than four videoconference locations at one time.  Theoretically, we could have all 12 WATCH sites participating live in a videoconference at the same time!
  • Stream videoconferences.  That means, if your agency does not have a videoconference unit, you could still view a live videoconference from the computer at your desk. 
  • Digitally record  and upload our videoconference sessions to our website for participants to view at a later date.

    • Our first test run on 10/9,  connecting five sites was successful! We'll be digitally recording our next 2 videoconference sessions (see below) and try streaming sessions in the new year.  We are excited about how these services can benefit WATCH  members and hopeful for what it could help us accomplish s the future.  

    We are also hoping to partner with The Erikson Institute in an effort to offer many of their educational sessions to WATCH Members via videoconference.  (more information below.

    Finally, as you will see, we have already begin work on the 2nd Annual Run, Walk & Roll.  We could use your volunteer help, financial support, and participation. Read on to find out what you can do.
     
    May the approaching holiday season bless you all and fill you with gratitude and joy.
     
    Juliellen and Josh

    RWR logo2nd Annual
    Run, Walk & Roll
    SAVE THE DATE

    The 2nd Annual Run, Walk & Roll is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st, 2010 from 9:00 am-noon

    The Run, Walk & Roll is a 5k run and one mile walk or roll to benefit children with special needs, their families, and the providers who care for them.  A community and state-wide resource fair, co-sponsored by the Wake County LICC, will be held in conjunction with the event. 

    The event will again be held at beautiful Crowder District Park located in Apex, NC. 

    The first Run, Walk & Roll raised close to $25,000.  We are hoping to double the amount this year!

    We would welcome your help on the planning committee.  Committee include:  Sponsorships & Donations, Marketing & Communication, Volunteer Recruitment, Event Logisitics, Resource Fair and Registration.  Please contact Juliellen at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu to help out!

    Team and individual registration, sponsorship opportunities and resource fair applications will soon be available on the TelAbility website.  In the meantime, SAVE THE DATE and SPREAD THE WORD!

     nathan finish
    Your Feedback Needed!
     
    In an effort to help sustain TelAbility and the WATCH Program, we are considering several options that would involve having members pay a small fee to participate in WATCH sponsored resources or events.  In order to ensure we are still able to serve the entire WATCH Collaborative and meet YOUR needs, we'd like your feedback on what you would consider to be a reasonable cost associated with these resources.  Please take just a few moments to complete this survey.
    nathan finish
     
    WATCH Program Update: 
     
    Learning Together, Inc. would like to welcome Betsy Allen, LCSW and Mallory Vinson, P-LCSW to the Child Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) staff. Betsy Allen will be providing clinical supervision to CMHI staff. Mallory Vinson is a Child Mental Health Specialist and CMHI's program coordinator.
     
    Learning Together's CMHI is accepting referrals for individualized treatment for birth to six years olds who have demonstrated serious social, emotional, and/or mental health concerns that have jeopardized their child care, family life, and future growth and development.
     
    Learning Together's CMHI staff would also like to announce that they are currently accepting referrals for BEST Buddiez, the CMHI's group component. BEST Buddiez playgroups are offered to pre-school children to help them develop important social skills. BEST Buddiez offers a group module that emphasizes social relationships and prepares two to five years olds for transition into a childcare center or school. A collaborative parent workshop is simultaneously held with the children's groups, providing psycho-educational material and peer support. The next BEST Buddiez playgroup is scheduled to start in February 2010.
     
    For more information about the Child Mental Health Initiative, BEST Buddiez, or to get referral information please contact Mallory Vinson at 919-856-5386 or email mallory@learningtogether.org.
     
     nathan finish
    Update from Family Support Network of Wake county

    The Family Support Network of Wake County has a new website.  Please check it out and see how family-friendly it is.  Note that the Disability Scoop feed on the right of the home page updates daily with the latest disability information, so come back and check often. 
     
    Additionally, staff email addresses have changed to @familysupportonline.org (for example rene@familysupportonline.org).
     
    LDC logoCheck out The Lucy Daniels Center's  "Mental Health Matters!"  Blog 
     
    Parents seeking information on children's mental health topics can now turn to a new weekly blog, Mental Health Matters!, from the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood. They will find it at www.Carolinaparent.com, the website of Carolina Parent magazine.
     
    For seven years the Center's staff has been writing a monthly child development column for the Carolina Parent Magazine, called "Ask Lucy Daniels Center." "When we decided we would like to share more of our core expertise, children's mental health, with the community, we naturally thought of asking Carolina Parent, our longtime partner, if they would like to host the blog, says Center Executive and Clinical Director," Don Rosenblitt.
     
    In the new blog, the Center's children's mental health experts post commentaries on children's mental health matters, drawing on their own clinical experience at the Center, current research, and new findings in the field. They will address controversial topics from time to time, with an eye to providing balanced, practical information to parents who are making decisions about how to promote the healthiest possible emotional development in their own children or grandchildren. 
     
    The WATCH Listserv anna and units

    The WATCH Listserv continues to be an incredible resource to WATCH Members. To view any question and answer posted to the listserv simply type the words WATCH Question into the search box on the TelAbility website.  Links to all questions and answers will be available. 
     
    Just a reminder that when you reply to the listserv or use the WATCH@listserv.unc.edu email address you are sending a message to the entire listserv group.  

    To ensure that the listserv serves as a reliable and professional means for sharing resources and information, we are also asking that members cite sources (websites, research, organizations, etc.) when posting new resources, links or information.
     
    If you would like to be included in the WATCH listserv, email Juliellen at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu.  

    Upcoming WATCH  Professional Development Sessions: 

    The Role of Physical Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
     
    Friday, October 30th from 12:30-2:30
     
    Session Description:  Though previously considered a strength, there has been greater emphasis on understanding the motor symptoms and rate of acquisition of motor skills for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). A growing body of evidence of the motor impairments and delays for children with ASD merits gross motor assessment as part of an interdisciplinary team approach. This presentation will review gross motor symptoms present in children with ASD, discuss the use of assessment tools appropriate to use with children with ASD, and present the role of PT in promoting physical activity for children with ASD. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their own experiences working with children with ASD to exchange treatment ideas and techniques with a network of therapists.

    Presenter:  Catherine Alexander Wilson, DPT, PT, is a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Fellow at the Center for Development and Learning (CDL) in Chapel Hill, NC. Her doctoral work at UNC focused on the role of physical therapy in the assessment, treatment, and health promotion of individuals with ASD.
     
    Credits:  CEUs will be awarded to PTs and Infant Toddler Certification credit will be awarded to professionals in other disciplines.  PTs must have their license number with them and complete a post-test (to be given after the presentation) in order to receive CEUs.

    Host sites currently include: TelAbility, The Wilmington CDSA, The Raleigh CDSA, The Tammy Lynn Center and Pediatric Therapy Associates, Cary location. 
     
    To register for this session email Juliellen at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu 
     
    Maternal and Post Partum Depression
     
    Friday, November 6th from 9:00-10:30
     
    The Raleigh CDSA will be hosting a videoconference session on on the topic of Maternal and Post Partum Depression.
     
    Presenter:  Samantha Meltzer-Brody, M.D., Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Perinatal Psychiatry Program at the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders.
     
    Session Description:  The session will address what to look for when working with families, the details of the symptoms and how they differ from other kinds of depression, the impact on the child and parents, and general information on what kind of referrals might be needed. Infant Toddler Certification Credit will be awarded.
     
    Host sites currently include:  The Raleigh CDSA and Project Enlightenment 

    To participate in the session or be a videoconference host site location, please contact Juliellen at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu or 919.843.0427. 
     
    International Updates on Cerebral Palsy Research and Care Provision:
    What's New from Down Under.
    Wednesday, December 2nd, from 12:30-1:30
    Dr. Alexander will lead this one-hour presentation, during which he will provide an overview of the research and symposiums presented at the 3rd International Conference on Cerebral Palsy held in Sydney, Australia.
     
    Register with Juliellen at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu 
     
    Autism Case Study Discussion     
    Friday, January 15th, 2010 from 12:30-2:30 
     
    Mary Lou Gelblum, Develomental Therapist at The Tammy Lynn Center for Children with Disabilities and Mary Henson, Developmental Therapist for Wake County Preschool Servces, will be facilitating this casy study discussion.  The conversation will highlight both challenges and successful intervention strategies working with both very young (2yr. olds) and preschool age children diagnosed on the autsim spectrum.
     
    To participate in this session or be a videoconference host site location, please contact Juliellen at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu, or 919.843.0427. 
    Distance Learning Opportunities with The Erikson Institute
     
    WATCH is considering a partnership with the Erikson Institute of Chicago to offer several of their distance learning courses via videoconference.
     
    Erikson is one of the nation's premier graduate school in child development. Their staff and administration is well known for their contribution to the field of Early Childhood Development. Their early childhood education program focuses specifically on children birth through age eight. 

    Erikson is hosting several sessions this fall that are listed below. We are still working out the details with Erikson about how you would register and pay for your sessions, but we are interested in knowing about your interest and availability. Please contact Juliellen at jsimpvos@med.unc.edu if you or your staff members would be interested in attending any of the following workshops:

    Descriptions of these trainings are on Erikson's website
     
    Friday, November 13, 2009 9:00-noon
    Surviving and Thriving: Building Resilience in Young Children presented by Benton K Johnson LCPC .3 CEUs $60

    Saturday November 14, 2009 9:00-noon
    Recognizing & Responding to Infant/Toddler Grief and Loss presented by Benton K Johnson LCPC .3 CEUs $60


    Friday December 4, 2009 9:00-3:00
    Effective Behavior Management for Pre-K Classrooms presented by Sara Beach M.Ed. .5 CEUs $100

    Saturday December 5, 2009 9:00-3:00
    Creating Structured Teaching Tasks for Young Students (3-8 yrs.) with Autism presented by Nasiah Cirincione-Ulezi PhD .5 CEUs $100

    Friday December 11, 2009 9:00-noon
    Communication & Sensory Issues in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders presented by Gail Richard PhD, CCC-SLP .3 CEUs $85
     
    Marbles Family Fun Night 
    for kids with special needs and their families!
     
    Through a community wide collaborative, the museum will be open at the following dates and times specifically for children with special needs and their families. 
     
    The next Family Fun Night is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15  5:30-8:00 pm
    .
    You can find out more information about Family Fun Night and the Marble's exhibit's on the Marbles website.   
     
    Marbles Kids' Museum is located at 201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh. 

    proudly partnering with:
    The Arc of Wake County 
    The Autism Society of Wake County
    TelAbility 
    Triangle Down Syndrome Network
    Wake County Cerebral Palsy Support Group
    Wake County LICC (Local Inter-Agency Coordinating Council)
    Wake County SEPTA (Special Education PTA)

    WATCH Resources:  The Team Daniel Foundationteam daniel
     
    The mission of The Team Daniel Foundation is to ensure that all North Carolina families that have children or loved ones with developmental disabilities are aware of the Medicaid waivers, federal programs and any other community sources available to them. Team Daniel provides support for the recipients of the CAP MR/DD waivers.
     
    The Team Daniel Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to provide families with resources and supports needed to care for loved ones with developmental disabilities. Projects of Team Daniel Foundation include our quarterly magazine, EMPOWERED and the book "They Created Us" written by Team Daniel president, Denise Mercado.
     
    Both the book and the magazine serve as tools for families to use to learn about services available to them and how to access these services. The Team Daniel Foundation is happy to offer families who are without services and care for a loved one with developmental disabilities an opportunity to receive up to 75 hours of respite care through the Team Daniel Foundation Respite Fund. 
     
    You can visit the Team Daniel     website  to learn more about the various services Team Daniel offers.