Exceptional Family 2012

Family Ky Exceptional

2012

A Kentucky Guidebook for People With Disabilities, Their Families & the Professionals Who Support Them

Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities

choice & control of your life.

Marie-Claire Walsh-Miot is the 4-year-old daughter of Eileen (right) and Herve Miot of Paris, Ky.

A Speciality Publication of

Photo by Robin Allen Photography

2012 Statewide Resource Guide

People Power at Best Buy

Become a CCDD Member

Family Ky Family Ky 2012 contents

features

Exceptional

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People Power at Best Buy Company forges diverse, inclusive workforce

Emily Sounds Off West Liberty girl thrives at Lex. Hearing & Speech

Will Goes to Washington Covington 8-year-old takes center stage in Congress

“All Kentuckians Have

Equal Opportunity To Choice & Control In Their Lives.”

All Together Now

-- Mission of The Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities

Questions about the value of segregated sports

Against All Odds Marie Braun of the CCDD inspires admiration

Emergency Preparedness First-responder provides helpful tips

Eric The Welder Frankfort teen with Asperger’s finds his way at school

Central Kentucky’s Parenting Magazine

Project Safe Helping victims of sex abuse, domestic violence

IEP Plans for Preschool

Editor..........................John Lynch of Lexington Family Magazine

Graphic Artist.......Daniel Morgan

of Lexington Family Magazine

First Steps, Head Start prepare Ashland boy for school

Volunteer Spirit Louisville woman helps empower others

Resource Guide Comprehensive, statewide directory of resources

www.lexingtonfamily.com

2012 “Exceptional Family Ky” is published by Lexington Family Magazine, Central Kentucky’s parenting publication.

138 E. Reynolds Rd. # 201 Lexington, Kentucky 40517 (859) 223-1765 www.lexingtonfamily.com • info@lexingtonfamily.com

Letter

From The CCDD

Stephanie Sharp

I

would like to tell you about Vice Chair, Commonwealth Council myself and how I became on Developmental Disabilities an advocate for disability rights and the five-year plan for create systemic change in Kentucky concentrating its efforts on these the Commonwealth Council on important areas, our vision will that empowers individuals to Developmental Disabilities. become a reality. achieve full citizenship and My journey as a self-advocate Communities will fully inclusion in the community through began as a high school student. engage, support and provide equal education, capacity building and I consider myself lucky to have advocacy. opportunity for each individual to continued support from family and Individuals with developmental pursue the American Dream as fully friends and access to communityintegrated, valued and contributing disabilities and their families based services that allowed me to citizens. encounter challenges and barriers help advocate for other people with every day.

It has and continues to be disabilities.

The Council wants to make sure a privilege and a rewarding I was born three experience to serve months premature on the Council. of the CCDD is and as a result, I I feel as though was diagnosed with I have been a part of to empower individuals to achieve Cerebral Palsy at 18 making a difference full citizenship and inclusion in months of age. in the lives of people the community through education, I use a power with developmental wheelchair for disabilities and their capacity building and advocacy. mobility and have families. encountered many accessibility I have made lifelong friendships they have access to information, barriers over the years. with my fellow Council members resources, programs, and perhaps But when I attended my local and staff. most important, they have a voice community college as a high school and presence within their own We are always looking for senior and Murray State University communities. individuals who are passionate a few years later, I truly began to about issues that affect people with When developing the fiveunderstand the importance of self- year plan beginning in 2010, the developmental disabilities. advocacy to create systemic change. Council focused on three areas of Please feel free to contact the The mission of the CCDD office if you are interested emphasis: Employment, Education Commonwealth Council on in applying to become a Council and Health.

Developmental Disabilities is to member. Y The Council hopes that by

The mission

how to become a CCDD member An individual who has a developmental disability and/or a family member or guardian of an individual with a developmental disability may apply to be on the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Council members are expected to attend regularly scheduled quarterly meetings that last two to three days.

A member serves a three-year term and is limited to six consecutive years of service.

Info: http://chfs.ky.gov/ccdd or 1-877-367-5332.

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CCDD CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT FUND The Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities has a limited pool of funds that we make available as financial assistance for advocates in the developmental disabilities field to participate in conferences and short-term educational programs. The Council provides this support as a method of capacity building for Kentucky.

Through participation in regional and national conferences, Kentucky advocates can share information about local initiatives, and learn from their counterparts in other communities. We believe this exchange helps us grow and work smarter on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities.

You may apply for assistance for advocacy or to attend conferences or educational programs by making a written request along with a completed application. Include the conference brochure, dates, and location, along with the amount you are paying and the amount of your request. Enclose a copy of the conference brochure. *Council travel policy complies with Kentucky State Travel Regulations.

Who Can Apply to the Consumer Involvement Fund?

The Consumer Involvement Fund is designed to assist persons with disabilities, their family members and their guardians.

In order to receive money from the Consumer Involvement Fund, an applicant must be:

• A person with a disability;

• An immediate family member of a person with a

disability (parent, sibling or child); or

• The guardian for a person with a disability.

FOR MORE INFO:

http://chfs.ky.gov/ccdd (502) 564-7842 toll free at 1-877-367-5332.

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Meet the CCDD...

Back row (left to right): State Rep. Dave Matheis, Donna Brinkman (Louisville), HDI Rep. Harold Klienert, Eric Wright (Louisville), Donna Koons (Ashland), State Rep. Claudia Johnson.

Middle Row (left to right): Barry Gilbert (Winchester), State Rep. Christel Hockensmith, Missy McKiernan (Louisville), Terri Killian (Richmond), Margaret Reed (Ludlow), Linda Williams (Louisa), Melanie Tyner-Wilson (Lexington), State Rep. Juanita Shackelford.

Front Row (left to right): David Allgood (Louisville), Stephanie Sharp (Owensboro).

The mission of the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities is to create change through visionary leadership and advocacy so that people have choices and control over their own lives.

In 2001, the council began operating under a new five-year plan based on nine areas of emphasis outlined by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance Act.

These areas of emphasis are used to fulfill the purpose and intent of the DDA and the mission and vision of the council.

Beginning in 2011, the council began operating under a new name, the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities, to better reflect its role in the commonwealth. t

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People Power Best Buy Launches Landmark Program, Forging a Diverse, Inclusive Workforce in Shepherdsville Distribution Center

Christopher Chesser with Pam Smyth of Best Buy and Willie Byrd of Options Unlimited

When people are young, they dream of becoming firefighters, movie stars, professional athletes and independent adults.

For 27-year-old Christopher Chesser, his dream of working and becoming independent came true when he walked through the Best Buy Distribution Center doors in Shepherdsville, Kentucky.

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hesser wanted to work full time, have benefits and prove his abilities.

Best Buy gave him a chance to do this.

He is a hard worker and is grateful that someone has finally given him a chance.

Chesser has a bipolar disorder and ADHD, but this disability does not mean inability.

Best Buy is Chesser’s first full-time job – and the first time he has work with benefits such as health insurance, a 401K plan, vacation time and a starting salary of $12.75 per hour. Not a bad deal in this economy.

“I love my job… I love the people I work around.

I’ve never met one bad person,” Chesser said.

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He is one of a growing number of workers with disabilities Best Buy has hired as part of a landmark program launched two years ago in Kentucky.

Other companies hire people with disabilities but rarely in this quantity. A substantial portion of the 200-plus workers in the Best Buy Distribution Center have disabilities.

Willie Byrd, has worked as the Executive Director at Options Unlimited for 16 years, an agency in Shepherdsville that finds employment for those with disabilities.

Many of the Best Buy employees are supported on the job by Options.

“This is a big deal,” Byrd said. “This is the only program like this I’ve seen in Kentucky. It is great

employment

when a Fortune 100 company takes the initiative in hiring people who have been overlooked for many years.”

When Best Buy planned to open the Distribution Center in Shepherdsville, it envisioned a workforce with substantial numbers of employees with disabilities. Since Best Buy is a strengths-based organization, this was a perfect opportunity to show its commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Pam Smyth, DC Director, said that while this is a new building with new technology, what truly ensures Best Buy’s success is its people.

“We believe our people plus our strengths equal our success,” she said. “Our motto is, ‘It’s a People Thing!’

“It is our goal to create a positive, peoplepowered environment where everyone is included and their strengths are valued. As such, our team members play an integral role in making this center a success.

“Best Buy gave me the opportunity to be a part of something I care deeply about,” Smyth said about creating an inclusive workforce.

“That’s why I love Best Buy. Not many companies would have done this.

I have a passion for people and I like for people to be successful.”

S

myth was reminded how unusual her workplace is when she recently witnessed an example of intolerance and insensitivity while she waited in the checkout line of a grocery store.

The young woman bagging her groceries, Smyth surmised, had a disability.

“The cashier kept rolling her eyes and snatching things away from her,” Smyth said.

“In that workplace the cashier thought it was all right to be disrespectful – that’s not right.”

The workers with disabilities at the Distribution Center handle multiple jobs and are among “some of my best team members,” Smyth said.

“I’ve come a long way. I’ve been through a lot and I’ve grown up a lot…

I couldn’t do it without Best Buy. I love the support,” he said.

Best Buy’s program, Smyth emphasizes, is not philanthropic – it is a business decision.

“My team is an unstoppable work force that is awesome,” she said.

“Does it take a little more time?

Yes, it takes effort, but there are no limits to the work people with disabilities can do.

“The only limits are the misconceptions.”

Today, Chesser works the first shift at the Distribution Center wrapping pallets.

Best Buy and Options Unlimited have given him a future when most people thought he was incapable of one.

“I love it. I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Chesser said about his job.

And neither would Smyth.

“For my world, this is the perfect job,” she said. “This building is about education.

“Being accepting of people makes a world of difference.

“Best Buy looks at people as individuals, and we focus on what people do well.

“When we started this program we referred to it as an initiative, but it has become a regular business rhythm for us.

“It has helped us create a blended, cohesive team that cares about each other and truly is a better work force.

“Supporting each other to create a better work environment is pervasive with this team and is apparent every day.” Y

“I love my job…

I love the people I work around. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Christopher Chesser Best Buy Employee “If you came and saw our center, you wouldn’t notice anything different (from other distribution centers).

Everyone is working together at being the best.”

This initiative runs smoothly with the assistance of Best Buy’s Accessibility Coordinator and two job coaches from Options Unlimited on site.

Best Buy and Options Unlimited work together to ensure that employees with disabilities continue to thrive on the job.

Chesser has done just that. With the stability and financial resources that working at Best Buy has given him, he has been able to move out of his mother’s house and into an apartment of his own.

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Emily Sounds Off

O

By Brenda & Halley Wilson

n May 3, 2001 a beautiful baby girl named Emily Mikka Wilson was born.

She was a blessing to her mom, Brenda, and her dad, Mike, along with proud big sister, Halley. Doctors first realized Emily had a hearing problem after she failed the newborn hearing test.

Little Emily was still a happy baby, but did not respond to

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sounds as normal babies do.

This was devastating to her parents because having a hearing problem doesn’t only affect hearing but also speech

development.

After hearing this news, the doctor advised that Emily begin visiting the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center (LHSC).

Brenda and Mike immediately made an appointment at the Center, desperate to help their hearing-impaired daughter the best way they could.

After arriving at LHSC, the

whole family was nervous on how things would go.

Many thoughts were running through Brenda and Mike’s head like: “Will they be good to her?” “Is this really worth it?”

“Can they actually help?”

Only God knew what sort of wonderful blessings had been placed at this facility for Emily, as well as her family.

Emily was first fitted and wore ABR hearing aids.

The family’s private insurance did not cover the entire cost of the hearing aids so, with the help of the Commission for Children With Special Health Care Needs, she was on her way to hearing.

B

ut as the years went by, Emily’s hearing and speech improved only slightly.

So, the next step was cochlear implants.

After a hard, agonizing process, it was decided that this would be the only way that Emily could have normal hearing and speech development.

The family was referred to Dr. Raleigh Jones of the University of Kentucky Hospital.

The first meeting with Dr. Jones was very scary when he explained the procedure.

After much prayer, the surgery was scheduled for the fall of 2003. With family, friends and our pastor, we went in and waited for this miracle to happen.

After the surgery, Emily was left with a five-inch incision and part of her hair shaved, along with a drainage tube inserted into her head.

The healing process was very fast, but we had to wait for the incision to heal before the implant could be turned on and programmed.

At the date of the activation, we went to UK. Audiologist Kari Mobly turned on the implant.

It was one of the most wonderful days of our lives.

Emily’s eyes lit up as she began to

The Lexington Hearing & Speech Center is a private, nonprofit agency with more than 50 years of experience working with children.

Since 1960, the mission has evolved to teach children with hearing, speech and language impairments to listen and talk. LHSC’s goal is for children to receive early therapeutic and educational intervention so they can mainstream into their neighborhood public or private school by first grade.

LHSC has grown into an established community agency serving individuals from more than 60 Kentucky counties.

Through the LHSC outpatient clinic, infants and children have access to early identification of hearing loss, speech therapy services and complete, on-site hearing services.

Audiologists program and dispense hearing aids to children and adults in the community, and staff members participate in the Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation Team, which has been in existence since 1990.

The Early Learning Center at LHSC provides a language-enriched early education program for children from birth to age 7 with hearing, speech and language impairments, which includes a full-day kindergarten classroom and a dedicated classroom for children with autism spectrum disorders.

LHSC believes that all individuals should receive services, regardless of their ability to pay. The Center has a sliding fee scale for many of its services.

Info: 350 Henry Clay Blvd., Lexington (859) 268-4545 v/TTY www.lhscky.org. Y

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emily wilson

hear certain sounds for the first time.

One instance was very touching.

Not long after the implant was turned on, Emily was on the porch and all of a sudden she stopped in amazement -- for the first time, she heard it raining.

The blessings just kept coming as she responded to the sound of her name and all the “I love you’s” that were being expressed to her.

audiology. She also received speech therapy at home through the First Steps program.

We were blessed with wonderful speech therapists, Angie Trusty with First Steps and Shelby Rutledge with LHSC, along with amazing audiologists Sharon Guttman and Tara Guinn.

Emily had so much success with her first implant that it was decided that a second implant would be

The blessings just kept coming as she responded to the sound of her name and all the “I love you’s” that were being expressed. to her.

Ten-year -old Emily Wilson of West Liberty has cochlear implants and has worked hard at Lexington Hearing & Speech Center in Lexington.

T

his process was wonderful, but a lot of hard work was put in with LHSC and the First Steps program, working right along side our family.

Living in Eastern Kentucky, our resources are limited.

Mike took Emily to LHSC once a week for speech therapy and

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beneficial.

She went in for the second surgery in June of 2006.

Yet again, another success thanks to Dr. Jones and his staff, Emily would now be activated at LHSC. Since they were just like family to us, it was natural to have them be involved.

Once again, the hard work went

on with weekly visits and monthly programming.

But we never felt alone, because of all the love and support we received.

E

mily’s journey has not been without struggles and setbacks, but with the help of the wonderful staff of LHSC, she is making steady progress.

Emily now enjoys doing many sports such as basketball, baseball, and cross country.

She has earned many awards from these sports along with academic awards in reading and math.

In May of 2010 tragedy struck our happy family when Emily’s father, Mike, was killed in a motorcycle accident.

We struggle to continue providing Emily with all the visits to LHSC that she needs.

The trips take about three hours round trip and with Mike gone and Brenda working full time, it is a challenge.

But with the love and support of friends, family and the staff of LHSC, we feel we can make it.

We would just like to thank all the people in our journey that have been so gracious and supportive.

But most of all we would like to praise all the hard work and efforts of the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center.

And special thanks to Advanced Bionics and all the wonderful teachers that have helped Emily along the way.

God truly has blessed our family.

ALL Kentuckians Have Equal Opportunity To Choice & Control In Their Lives

Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities 100 Fair Oaks Lane, 4E-F Frankfort, KY 40601 877.367.5332 • 502.564.7841 • http://chfs.ky.gov/ccdd

This council is Governor appointed. To apply please visit http://chfs.ky.gov/public/boards/ or contact our office for an application.

2012 Exceptional Family KY

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Will Bentley Goes to Washington Eight-Year-Old from Covington Has Become Face of Disability Programs

I

would like to introduce you to someone who is a great inspiration to me. My son Will was born on Halloween in 2003.

At birth, Will was just like any other little baby. He appeared healthy, but as Will grew, things seemed out of place.

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Back Row: Laurel Stine of The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; Marty Ford, Chief Public Policy Officer for The Arc of the United States; Katie Bentley; and Jonathan Stein, General Counsel of Community Legal Services.

Front row: Rebecca Vallas, Staff Attorney of Community Legal Services; and Will Bentley.

By Katie Bentley He struggled with many crucial milestones. Will did not talk. I signed him up for First Steps, Kentucky’s Early Intervention Program.

Just as this program was about to end (when Will would turn 3), he collapsed and had a massive seizure.

Will’s life forever changed that day.

Over the next few years, he suffered hundreds of seizures that weakened his immune system.

will bentley

Will’s diagnoses grew to include: partial seizure disorder, developmental delays, dysgraphia (unable to write and use hands due to delayed motor skill), sensory integration disorder, anxiety disorder and apraxia (a speech delay that involves the use of his muscles to form words and plan an activity or how to say a sentence).

We quickly learned that the dream that we had for our family would never be.

As time passed, Will has grown in so many ways and so have I. I have been the loudest voice for Will’s needs.

His doctors and therapist

Kentucky’s Advocates in Action Program in Frankfort. The connections that I made were priceless.

I met other parents like me, state and federal legislators, people who were advocating for our kids (because they too believe), and most of all, I found myself.

I found that I am an advocate for Will and enjoy supporting other families.

I find comfort in knowing that what I learned from my own life experience can help make another person or family’s life better.

All of our life experiences and all of my advocacy skills were needed for Will and the thousands of other children. I was honored to be asked.

Community Legal Services, a free legal aid service, and The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law helped with travel arrangements and financial support needed to take Will and me to Washington.

J

ust two days later, Will and I boarded a plane – Will’s first flight.

The first night, Will was given a private tour of the West Wing of the White House by one of President

Will Bentley, 8, pounds the gavel after he and his mother appeared before a Congressional Subcommittee in Washington, D.C., to advocate for children with disabilities.

Will has benefited from numerous programs funded through the federal SSI program.

supported me in helping Will be his best and to help make sure that his life is full of opportunities.

Most of all they helped us have hope for his future.

I attended the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership in Florence near our home in Covington because I wanted to make a difference with his educational needs.

This program led me to learn more about the laws that govern our kids and especially our kids with disabilities.

So I attended The Arc of

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n October 2011, I received numerous emails and phone calls asking me to consider traveling to Washington, D.C. to a special hearing to determine if the nation’s disability programs like Social Security Income were benefiting children and their families.

I will never forget when I was asked, “Would you be interested in representing the nation’s children with disabilities?”

This moment was huge. I said, “Yes.” Yes to sharing our story.

Yes to representing the nation’s children and families.

Obama’s advisors.

Early the next morning, the Congressional hearing began in a Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.

Jonathan Stein, an attorney with Community Legal Services, shared Will’s successes.

He pointed out that without support programs, my family struggled to buy Will medicine, and afford therapy and proper medical care.

We needed the Subcommittee to see how valuable these services were

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will bentley

to families like mine.

Jonathan entered into the congressional record photographs of Will and his story.

This evidence became a permanent record advocating for all children in the nation.

The children’s disability program in the U.S. had a face -- my son would be the face that left with each person in that room.

As the hearing was closing, I was asked to tell the Subcommittee how SSI and its related services have changed Will’s life.

This is what I came for. I shared how in the past, Will couldn’t talk or feed himself soup.

I shared that he had seizures all night and how he had longed to read.

Then, I celebrated with them that Will now can say most anything, loves to eat vegetable soup that he feeds himself, and that he is most proud that he can read.

It was priceless to our family that

SSI and other programs allowed us to get medicine and therapy for Will.

Lastly, I told them of my expectations for Will’s future and that I expect him to have a meaningful place in our community.

Will sat by me as I told them where he had been and all that he had accomplished.

He was proud to be there. I was even prouder to be there with Will as an advocate for the nation’s children with disabilities and their families.

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fter the hearing, Will and I spent time with Congressman Geoff Davis of Kentucky’s 4th District.

He took us on a private tour of the Capitol, and his staff made the day special for Will.

The conversations I had with Congressman Davis and his staff were an amazing opportunity to remind them that I was there not only for Will,

but for all of the children and families in Kentucky and in the nation.

There is much work to be done to save our precious programs. Before leaving, I asked the SSI Coalition how we (parents and guardians) could save our children’s programs, and the “Give Us Hope” initiative was born.

This initiative was created by Kentucky families. Our goal is to give families in Kentucky hope for the future.

It includes a website to connect Kentucky families to the many resources that are available both in the state and across the nation. (www.

Giveushopeky.org.)

Families also can find ways to get involved in supporting the need for SSI Programs, Kentucky Waiver Programs, learn about legislation that will affect their lives, and learn how to advocate.

I never imagined that I would be an advocate.

Now I can’t imagine being anything else. Y

Is your child having a hard time in school?

Give us a call to learn about this month’s free Vision Therapy workshop!

Many kids are misdiagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability, when the actual problem is vision-related. Even with 20/20 vision, the eyes may not work together.

This causes headaches, fatigue, and lack of concentration.

Sound familiar?

Some doctors would suggest medicating your child.

Perhaps a better option is a breakthrough treatment called Vision Therapy.

As one of only five board certified Vision Therapy practices in Kentucky, Family Eyecare Associates has helped many children succeed in school, without the need for glasses or unnecessary medication.

Call 879-3665 to find out about our free monthly Vision Therapy workshop!

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Dr. Rick Graebe, OD, FCOVD Dr. Regina Callihan Dr. Jennifer Vanhook

105 Crossfield Dr. Versailles

879-3665

bluegrass

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Anderson County Franklin County Woodford County Intensive Team

502.839.7203 502.223.2182 859.873.7316 502.223.2182

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Boyle County Garrard County Lincoln County Mercer County Intensive Team

859.236.2726 859.792.2181 606.365.2197 859.734.5486 606.365.8125

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859.744.2562 606.723.5128 859.623.9367 606.663.2274 859.626.5030

Intensive Services include IMPACT, Wraparound, Intensive Outpatient, School Based, Crisis and Therapeutic Foster Care.

Bluegrass Regional Mental Health—Mental Retardation Board, Inc. 859 • 253 • 1686 www.bluegrass.org 2012 Exceptional Family KY 15 1351 Newtown Pike • Lexington, Kentucky • 40511-1277

All r e h t e Tog Now Do Segregated Sports Widen Differences Between People With & Without Disabilities?

By Kathy Sheppard-Jones

In a different world, we wouldn’t have to answer the question of whether sports that exist solely for people with disabilities are good or bad.

Everyone would participate together in sports activities that interest them.

We wouldn’t worry that everyone would assume that, if you have Down syndrome and like sports, that you would participate in Special Olympics.

We wouldn’t have to feel that sense of missing out on a chance to play a team sport at school, because there’s no accessible transportation to get you to and from practice.

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But this is the world we’ve got.

We know that there are barriers for students with disabilities to take part in extracurricular activities, including sports.

Sometimes it just flat out takes more coordinating. It means needing to have an accessible way to get to and from your destination.

And that means that mom may be the only transport option. But what if mom has to work?

We know that people with disabilities are at a higher risk to be overweight and to not exercise as much as people without disabilities.

An even bigger problem is that if you are a person with a disability, and you are overweight and don’t exercise, you are in danger of developing what is known as a secondary condition such as diabetes or pressure ulcers.

Secondary conditions can wind up causing far more problems than the disability itself.

So the primary idea is to get out there and do some physical activity.

Move around. Feel the burn. Sweat a little.

Of course, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your athletic

segregated sports

intentions. Make sure any medical concerns are addressed.

Which brings us back to the sports venue. Here in Kentucky, many sports programs have been developed to enable someone with a disability to compete in such activities as soccer, baseball, horseback riding, track and field, gymnastics, basketball and on and on.

Of course, there are limitations that occur based on proximity. If you are in an area that doesn’t offer certain sports, you either travel or miss out.

Same thing for those without disabilities. If you want to take gymnastics with a program with a really good reputation and it’s 50 miles away, you have to weigh the pros and cons.

And what about the notion that segregated sports are just that – segregated?

Do they further widen the differences between people with and without disabilities?

It’s argued that there are many non-disabled folks who are involved in segregated sports programs to support individuals with disabilities.

It is important to look at the roles that everyone has in sports programs.

Are the people without disabilities all in “helping” roles?

This sets up a dynamic where people with disabilities are in need of the help of someone without a disability.

Or are there opportunities for the person with a disability to show expertise or help someone else?

gh

S

pecial Olympics has begun a new component to its offerings – Project Unify.

The goals are to build community between children with intellectual disabilities and their non-disabled peers. It’s based in the schools and represents a new chapter for Special Olympics.

Sports definitely bring out the competitor in all of us, and they can teach us important life lessons.

Kathy Sheppard-Jones is the Training Director at the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky.

Her research interests include quality of life, health and recreation and assistive technology. She breeds and shows Morgan horses at the national level.

I was a horse show brat growing up. When I think back on competing at horse shows on weekends in the summertime, my best memories involve the friends I made who all loved doing the same horsey things that I did.

Don’t get me wrong, winning blue ribbons was fun. But I was more concerned with increasing my skills and having fun.

Because ultimately, aren’t recreational pursuits about enjoying whatever it is that one is pursuing?

I found it interesting to follow the story of Oscar Pistorius a few years ago.

You may remember him – he’s a double amputee runner from South Africa.

His prosthetics were called Cheetah blades. And he was fast. So fast that he wanted to try out for the Olympics.

And he was so fast that the International Association of Athletics Federation carefully studied his request.

The Federation determined that Pistorius was ineligible for Olympic competition. . . because he had an unfair advantage over the other competitors.

The decision was later reversed.

I think this illustrates an idea that we don’t often consider – people with disabilities who participate in sports can, in fact, be superior to a nondisabled athlete.

That’s one of the things I find so compelling about driving horses. It’s one of few sports where there is choice.

The U.S. Driving for the Disabled supports international level competition for competitors with disabilities.

However, a person with a disability can compete in any driving class at any show, so long as he or she meets the same entry criteria as all competitors.

That is choice.

Is one option better than the other?

It depends on whom you ask.

The person who opts for competing against others with disabilities has reasons for doing so.

The person who chooses open competition also has reasons.

Whichever venue is chosen, we all seek to learn more about ourselves, increase our skills and knowledge in our sport, build relationships, reap the rewards of physical activity and enjoy the experience. Y 2012 Exceptional Family KY

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Against all

Odds

Marie Braun Impresses Everyone With Her Humor and Indomitable

By John Lynch Spirit

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t was a rough start for Marie Braun. On Oct. 11, 1953 in the rural impoverished town of Sebastian Branch in Breathitt County, Ky., Marie entered the world after a difficult birth during which the umbilical cord wrapped tightly around her neck.

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Her neck still wears the scar from that day, and she lives with the consequences of oxygen deprivation during birth. She was born a “blue baby,” suffered brain damage and later was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and impaired speech.

The brain damage affected only her motor skills. There’s nothing wrong with her cognitive powers – nor her drive and determination.

Nearly six decades after that harrowing debut into the world, Braun is a tireless advocate for those with disabilities.

She’s also an author, a dedicated student who earned her GED and community college degrees well into her 50s, and has been an admired member of the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities “for half my life,” she said.

Her life story and accomplishments spark admiration in all who know her.

And no one has known her longer than Margaret Reed, the Director of Outreach for The Point/Arc of Northern Kentucky. Reed met Braun nearly a half-century ago when Reed was a teenager at La Salette Academy in Covington and Braun was an 11-year-old student at the Redwood School.

Reed volunteered at Redwood, got to know young Marie and has remained in her life ever since.

“You have to be brave to be disabled in a world where people aren’t,” Reed said, “and Marie is probably the bravest person I know.

advocacy

“She’s got chutzpah, to use a New York word. You’re not going to tell her she can’t do anything.

“From a wheelchair with the use of only one hand, and to do what she does, I think it’s amazing.”

Adam Jones, a health program administrator with the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities, echoed that sentiment.

“Her story epitomizes overcoming extraordinary odds,” he said. “Most of us put in the same situation would not achieve what she has.”

More hardships followed Marie’s harrowing birth to an impoverished family. Her parents divorced, and her father went to prison on murder charges. “He killed a man over a cow,” Braun said.

W

hen Marie was 2, her mother gave her away to Frankfort State Hospital, the first of a series of institutions and foster care homes that marked her childhood.

“I raised myself,” Braun said, “but there were a lot of good people in my life.”

Bari Lowenthal and her family, for instance. A foster family who arranged for Marie to get treatment at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, the Lowenthals raised Marie for a time.

“They wanted to adopt me but the state wouldn’t let them, or so they told me,” Braun said.

So Braun continued to yo-yo between foster homes and institutions – children’s homes and nursing homes in the Covington area – where she often was abused.

“All of the institutions I was in are closed now, thank God,” Braun said.

Somehow, Braun emerged from that nightmarish childhood as a strong, independent young woman.

She became a Catholic at 16 and her parish is Mother of God in Covington.

At 22, still living in an institution,

she married Printise Shelby Jones in 1975. The marriage lasted 10 months before Jones died.

At about the same time, Braun met her mother for the first time since she was given away.

Braun, one of nine children, remained in contact with her mother until her death in 2009.

“Before she died she told me she loved me and that means the world to me,” Braun said.

Braun’s father died in 2000.

In 1980, Braun married a second time, to William John, III. “Bill got me out of the nursing home. He was my hero,” Braun said.

The two lived together in the La Salette Apartments in Covington, and both were activists.

They were officers in People First, an advocacy group for the disabled, and they spearheaded an “Everybody is always saying I’m amazing,” effort to repair the sidewalks in says Marie Braun, a tireless advocate Covington to accommodate those for those with disabilities. in wheelchairs.

The marriage lasted 13 years Since her second husband’s death, until Bill died of a heart attack.

Braun has lived alone, now at the Braun remained an advocate Panorama Apartments in Covington and activist. Over the years, she has with her cat Queenie. Through the volunteered for Kentucky Protection & Michelle P. Waiver Program, a personal Advocacy, served on the state and local attendant stays with her through the Human Rights Commission, regularly night and checks on her during the day. attended Covington city council One of those aids, Jessica Cavins, meetings to advocate for the disabled 25, accompanies Braun when she and volunteered for the American travels from home. Add her to the list of Council for the Blind of Northern Braun’s admirers.

Kentucky.

“Marie is funny, a spitfire. She She was profiled in the book will tell you what she thinks,” Cavins “Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes,” and has said. “And she hardly ever focuses on written her own book, “Any Way.” herself. She sees somebody in need, and Copyrighted in 2003, it contains she helps. I enjoy her company. She is observations, anecdotes and memories more than the lady I work for. She’s my that Braun has collected for years. friend.

A decade ago, Braun figured it was “It’s amazing what she does, after all time to formalize her education, so she the things she’s been through.” initiated the effort to earn her GED, When she hears those compliments, which she did in 2003 through Gateway Braun cackles, a laugh that brings a Community and Technical College in smile to everyone’s face.

Covington.

“Everybody is always saying I’m With one degree in hand, she amazing,” she says with a big grin. pushed on and earned her associate’s Yes you are, Marie. Yes you are. Y degree at Gateway in 2007.

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Emergency Preparedness

by Ray Morris

First-Responder, Father Urges Cooperation Between Disability and Emergency Service Communities

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n 1968, I was a 9-year-old boy from Lake Oswego, Oregon. Late one night my parents were driving a family friend to the hospital, when a drunk driver sped down a freeway – the wrong direction - and collided into my father’s car, leaving my 29-year-old dad a quadriplegic.

For the next nine years, my life revolved around daily activities that were modified, to say the least, by caring for and involving my father and his paralyzation: maneuvering hoyer lifts, football, hospital visits, school, meeting new nurses, building ramps. It became my norm.

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Unbeknownst to me, 1,000 miles away in Arizona, a young girl found it routine to carry her younger brother on her back to school, because his rare heart defect would not allow him to walk the 15 yards from their front door to his classroom.

Her family’s life also orbited around modifications, limits, surgeries and fears.

My wife, Kelly, also learned a different norm in her family’s world.

Kelly and I would meet, fall in love, and look forward to moving beyond our childhoods into the anticipation of starting our own lives with a sense of freedom and opportunity.

By the time we were married, I had served in the U.S. Coast Guard, assigned to a Motor Lifeboat Station on the Oregon coast. I then worked as a firefighter in Scottsdale,

emergency preparedness

Arizona, so I’d been around many traumatic events.

In June of 1988, my wife and I eagerly anticipated the birth of our first child. We had been married two years and naively believed that our Ken and Barbie world would experience the blessing of a baby. . . and we would continue living happily ever after.

But following unexpected birth complications and an emergency C-section, our son, Zachary, was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder called Hemimegalencephaly.

The right side of his brain is abnormally larger than the left. Little was explained to us about what to expect, and we were sent home with the unknown.

Today, Zachary is 23, but cognitively, he is around 2. He has profound to severe cognitive delays, seizures and autism.

He is also a great blessing to us. We also are blessed with a younger son, Tyler, who is 22.

A

s a firefighter/paramedic with 28 years experience, I have actively involved myself in the disability community via our life with Zachary.

My wife and I acknowledge our childhoods’ “preparedness plan” for our journey of raising a child with unique needs.

I have been able to blend my two worlds of navigating the community of functional needs and providing care to them as a public servant.

One particular thing I’ve observed over the years is that the emergency service community and the functional needs community don’t really know each other. They just share interactions.

There isn’t yet a vested interest in having a dynamic relationship with each other.

The community service organization serves their customers with an amazing dedicated passion, yet they don’t know that they are serving the same customers as the emergency service

Ray Morris, right, with his wife Kelly and sons Tyler (left) and Zachary. Ray is an Arizona firefighter who spoke to the CCDD in Prestonsburg on emergency preparedness for those with disabilities. community.

If the organizations developed a partnership, this would enable them to learn about each other and the services they provide.

The emergency service field could assist with connecting individuals they encounter with social services that could improve the individuals’ quality of life. And the social services agencies could distribute emergency/disaster preparedness information.

I would like to see the emergency service community dedicate a staff position to be the liaison/contact person with the functional needs community.

This would make it easier for the functional needs organizations to develop and maintain healthy relationship with first-responders.

I also believe that this topic must be part of both communities’ strategic plans.

In the fall of 2011, I was invited to speak about these issues at the Commonwealth Counil on Developmental Disabilities meeting in

Prestonsburg, Ky. We had a wonderful visit and shared ideas about emergency preparedness.

A good starting point is for the functional needs communities to reach out to their emergency service providers and disclose to them that you. . . q Require special consideration during an emergency/disaster q Need assistance and/or are unable to rescue yourself in the event of an emergency q Mostly reside within the residence q Have a major medical situation that may require 9-1-1 assistance q Need emergency/disaster preparedness information q Have developed a “preemergency” plan with the fire department q Have developed your own disaster plan, support system and supplies to be self-sufficient for 96 hours. q Have practiced and updated

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emergency preparedness

the information and disaster plan as needed or at least once a year. q Have reached out to other individuals and agencies in your community to be prepared q Have developed emergency/ disaster partnerships with others in your community.

I

know all of this “preparedness stuff” can be overwhelming. Even talking about it causes anxiety.

But I’m telling you firsthand, the members of the emergency service community want to partner with families in being prepared.

We desire to be there in the event of an emergency. But the reality is, that when there’s a disaster, we can’t be there 100% of the time for everyone.

So to improve the quality of outcome for those who experience an emergency or disaster, everyone needs to take some preparedness steps.

My father’s greatest fear was what would happen to him if there was a

house fire, because he couldn’t rescue himself.

I have that fear today for my son, Zach. He lacks the cognitive ability to understand danger.

So we have a plan, and it involves our family and our local fire department.

We all want to survive an emergency/disaster and not be severely traumatized emotionally or physically.

The way to improve the outcome is to make a plan, practice it and update it yearly. Here are some websites for preparedness: w www.ready.gov w www.disabilitypreparedness.gov w www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/ specialplans.shtm Remember, don’t try to do this alone. Develop a support system and practice it.

It has been a lifelong journey for me – one that continues to expand and change as life changes.

Zachary has lived longer than the

doctors expected, which brings more unchartered waters for my wife and me.

As my career slows down, I find my passion in melding my two worlds to help others, particularly other fathers experiencing those moments I muddled my way through.

I would not be the father my boys need if I did not have the knowledge and opportunity that my career has provided.

And I certainly would not be the firefighter/paramedic I am without the life experiences and firsthand understanding a father has for his unique child.

Both worlds are invaluable opportunities of a richly blessed life.

Ray Morris lives in Phoenix, with his wife Kelly, and sons Zachary and Tyler.

Ray is founder of Dads 4 Special Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the life of every man who has a child with special needs.

Info: www.dads4specialkids.org Y

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B UILDING COMMUNITIES AND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES THROUGH RESPITE CARE

For many people, the challenge of caring for those with disabilities is a part of daily life. Care giving can be both a demanding and difficult job; doing it alone can be even more of a challenge. The Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Rainbow Respite Care was developed to meet the needs and give relief to parents and other primary care providers of individuals with disabilities.

In the years between 1985 and 1988 CAP work ers determined that the need for respite was great for those who care for adults. Therefore, in 1988 Rainbow Respite was opened and began to focus on adults with developmental disabilities.

Some of the families involved received a break from the stress of caring for a member with disability for the first time in years. One parent said it beautifully; “I missed him very much, but how nice to live like normal people for just a little while.” While this statement may seem a bit offensive at first”, states Susan Ricalton Sanders, “closer consideration makes me believe that the ability of a loving parent to say this is more of an indicator of this family’s healthy awareness and acceptance of the life-long responsibility of raising a child with disabilities.”

For More Information: www.christianapp.org 866.270.4227 24

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The program has come a long way since its inception. Participants enjoy trips away from the center almost every day. Shopping excursions, restaurants and bowling are only a few of the activities enjoyed by the participants of Rainbow Respite.

Despite the need for respite for parents and other caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities, there are few programs outside of Rainbow Respite that provide such services. Those in the center today are mostly over the age of 21, and their disability had to occurr before the age of 22. These requirements are stipulated by the programs license, without which, the program could not serve more than four people at a time.

The tradition of people caring for their own family members could explain why respite services are scare in Eastern Kentucky, says Gloria Jordon, who managed the program in the early 1990’s and today serves as CAP’s Human Resource Director.

John Roche, who volunteered for CAP, discovered a love for the Rainbow Respite Care Center.

After visiting the Center for the first time and meeting with program manager Carolyn Lindsey, John said, “I had never given any thought to working in the respite

The Rainbow Respite Care Center is designed to help family members and caregivers to take a break, thus alleviating the stress and lessening burnout on behalf of the caregiver and family members who care for loved ones with disabilities. CAP believes that regardless of the disability, each person has the right to reach his or her full potential in the least restrictive environment. To support this belief, we support them to become self-advocates. Respite Care, both Center-based and in-home services, are committed to providing periodic care to families and family members with disabilities for reasons of respite. We will seek and welcome the opportunity to work in collaboration with other agencies in order to offer the most comprehensive services and choices to those we serve, fostering educational, recreational and spiritual opportunities.

program, but after I saw the program in action, I was really open to it – it just clicked.” John went on to say that, “I’ll take away a deeper understanding of what it means to be fully human. Society can overlook these people, but I’ll always have an awareness of their talents and gifts.”

On July 25, 2012, the Rainbow Respite Care Center will celebrate 24 years of providing relief for parents and caregivers from the everyday stress of caring for individuals with developmental disabilities. The success story began in 1988 and will continue to evolve. The Christian Appalachian Project is committed to serving people in need, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

by Rayann White

Info: Christian Appalachian Project Anita Seals 4192 N. Wilderness Road, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456 866-270-4227 www.christianapp.org Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is a Kentucky-based interdenominational, non-profit Christian organization founded in 1964 by Reverend Ralph W. Beiting. CAP is “committed to serving people in need in Appalachia by providing physical, spiritual and emotional support through a wide variety of programs and services.”

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Eric the Welder Franklin County Technical Program Helps Teen With Asperger’s Find His Way in School

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ur 16-year-old son, Eric Wayman, is a welder. He may not be a champion welder, but by participating in the award-winning program at Franklin County Career & Technical Center (part of the public high school program), Eric is a champion.

My husband, Rick, and I are still slightly stunned to discover that we are Welding Boosters and Career and Technical Center Fans!

Both artsy people, we were involved in music, dance and theatre. We were worried when one of Eric’s first 26

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sentences was, “NO SHOW TUNES!” That is not to say that Eric wasn’t creative as a child. At about age 2, he started to build. He called it “creating,” and people still talk about the infamous “Wheeled Monkey Coffin.”

Since he could talk, he always had

By Marty Wayman

the same answer when asked what he wanted to be, “AN INVENTOR!” //////////////////////////// ric was a preemie who was diagnosed early on with Asperger’s Syndrome with a side diagnosis of Tourette’s, and many of the other issues that go along with Asperger’s such as OCD, anxiety, learning/testing disabilities and auditory stimulation problems.

He has outgrown some of these but added new issues (drop one tic, add a new one, sigh). Like many teenagers with AS, he is more readily classified as high-functioning autistic now.

Eric has always been very loving and

E

eric wayman

Eric Wayman, 16, of Frankfort, above, with Principal Karen Schneider and teacher/coach Randy Shewmaker of the Franklin County Career & Technical Center. verbal, and when you put together the OCD and the verbal – well, there was no redirecting Eric or hoping that he would forget about his visit to the FCC&TC and the welding shop.

Thanks to last year’s issue of this magazine, “Exceptional Family Ky,” I had reached out for help and Eric began receiving Michelle P. Waiver funding.

After a very successful first year of high school, we used welding as a motivator after Eric’s case manager, Kevin Hall, said he thought Eric could handle it.

Shawn Purvis, Eric’s community living support worker, challenged him to learn to mow the lawn. If he was successful and stuck with it, we’d talk welding.

My lawn looks great!

My husband and I talked the thing to death, toured the welding shop at the Center, met with Randy Shewmaker, the teacher of the program and coach of the welding team.

(And, yes, there is a competitive welding team. Ours is No. 1 and brings in a ton of scholarship money and has

100% job placement for its grads!)

I kept hoping that Eric would change his mind, but nope. So we took the plunge.

In accepting Eric, Randy Shewmaker asked for a stipulation – an aide/ collaborative teacher. Franklin County High’s Principal Sharon Collett generously came up with special education assistant Ruth Ann Skaggs, who is like a big sister to Eric.

Eric was now a welding student.

We got to know the dynamo of a principal at FCC&TC also, Karen Schneider, and learned that the Center had much to offer our son. //////////////////////////// ot that all obstacles have disappeared.

We got called to the FCC&TC for a dreaded meeting. I was sure they were going to kick Eric out of the program that he loved so much.

I wasn’t going to be able to fault them – safety always has to come first.

(Welding students work around gas and open flames.)

Plus, even with earplugs, the noises

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in the welding shop upset Eric. The sparks, the startling “suddenness” of the entire process was a challenge for him.

We were worried.

We couldn’t have been more wrong about the Center. While they expressed concerns, Principal Schneider and Coach Shewmaker were willing to try to make this a success.

Eric’s aide and his case manager worked with us to brainstorm on learning techniques, things to work on at home, things that would help in the welding shop.

Here is the amazing part – Karen Schneider pointed out that Eric was always showing her his INVENTIONS – his designs, his drawings.

Based on this, she recommended other classes for Eric. That is really what the Career and Technical Center is about – preparing students for real-life jobs in the future. //////////////////////////// applaud these educators, who so easily could have given up on Eric. Having him in the classroom isn’t always easy.

But they have embraced Eric and us as a family and have said: “We can help and we have more to offer your son. We see his potential, and we see where we can intersect with his brain and his ideas, his hopes and dreams.”

They were the first people to see Eric the Inventor.

So Rick and I make chili, raise money and cheer on the welders the way that we used to applaud for the ballet.

Occasionally, I look around and am surprised at the road that brought us to the welding shop – and am amazed at how warm and supportive these people are to Eric and our family.

Eric may never be a professional welder, but his training has taught him to practice, reach goals and develop new skills.

He has met people who can latch on to his thinking, see how his brain works – maybe because they are at heart inventors there at the Franklin County Career and Technical Center too.

It is changing Eric’s life. Y

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Project Safe Kentucky’s Domestic Violence Programs and Rape Crisis Centers www.kdva.org Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE www.kasap.org Rape Crisis Hotline 800-656-4673

Lexington Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center Louisville The Center for Women and Families

Northern Kentucky Women’s Crisis Center

Maysville Women’s Crisis Center Morehead DOVES of Gateway Pathways, Inc

Elizabethtown SpringHaven, inc Advocacy & Support Center

Ashland Safe Harbor Pathways, Inc

Owensboro OASIS New Beginnings

Paducah Merryman House Purchase Area Sexual Assault Center

Hopkinsville Sanctuary, Inc

Bowling Green Barren River Area Safe Space Hope Harbor

Somerset Bethany House Abuse Shelter, Inc Regional Victim Services Program

Mount Vernon Family Life Abuse Center Cumberland River Comprehensive Care

Prestonsburg Sandy Valley Abuse Center Mountain Comprehensive Care Hazard LKLP Safe House Kentucky River Community Care

By MaryLee Underwood and Mary Savage

Kentucky Has A Strong Network of Providers To Help Victims of Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence “Somebody should do something!” was the cry that came from victim advocates six years ago.

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Women with disabilities are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted than those without disabilities.

Furthermore, more than 60% of women with disabilities experience domestic violence in their lives.

Project SAFE was formed to address this startling problem.

Project SAFE includes victims advocates, disability-rights advocates and criminal justice professionals working together to end domestic violence and sexual abuse against individuals with disabilities.

The group began by working to increase knowledge about violence against individuals with disabilities.

project safe

Did you know?

Domestic abuse can take many forms – including physical, verbal, emotional, financial and sexual abuse.

Husbands and parents are the most common perpetrators of abuse (whether or not the victim has a disability).

Individuals with disabilities are also abused by attendants and health care workers.

Even more startling is that fact that up to 90% of people with developmental disabilities are sexually abused at some time in their lives.

People who commit sexual abuse often target those considered to be vulnerable, especially those with limited knowledge regarding sexuality or their rights.

risk Factors Perpetrators often target individuals with disabilities because of these factors: t Limited ability to resist or escape t Nature and severity of disability t Fear of losing needed services t Barriers to communication t Dependence on others for personal care and basic needs t Social isolation t History of being taught to comply with authority figures t History of not being able to say “No!” (for example, to medical procedures) t Fear of being disbelieved because they are considered non-credible t Lack of basic education of anatomy, sexuality and privacy t Having experienced few opportunities for affection

Recognizing & Responding to Abuse In most cases, violence and abuse are committed in private settings.

And lack of evidence does not mean that the abuse did not occur or that

the individual is being untruthful.

In many cases, the first signs may be behavioral changes such as fear of certain people or places; changes in eating or sleeping patterns; or regression to behavior from an earlier age.

Although changes can also result from other traumatic experiences, they are clearly signs that an individual may need intervention and/or support.

If a person discloses abuse, it is important to express that you believe and will support the person.

Be aware that the individual needs to feel safe and validated.

Give the person “permission” to feel and express emotions.

If it is necessary to ask questions, do so in a manner that allows one to respond freely without suggestions.

In cases where a child is abused by a parent, guardian or person in a position of authority, you should immediately make a report to the police and/or social services (the Cabinet for Health and Family Services).

When the victim is an adult, reporting decisions should be made by the victim whenever possible.

If the victim is a dependent adult, a report should be made to social services.

Victim Services Fortunately, Kentucky has a strong network of victim service providers available to help victims of all ages and abilities. These include:

Domestic Violence Programs These programs are known for providing shelter for victims and their children.

However, they also offer a variety of support services to both residents and non-residents including: legal/ court advocacy, case management, safety planning, support groups, individual counseling, housing assistance, job search and children’s groups.

Sexual Assault Programs These programs provide a wide array of services, including: 24-hour rape crisis lines; counseling; advocacy in hospital, law enforcement, and other legal settings; referral to community resources; assistance with Crime Victims Compensation Fund claims; and community education.

Many services are provided to adults who were sexually abused as children but continue to struggle with the results of the abuse.

For the past six years, Project SAFE has worked to ensure that victim service programs are accessible to everyone.

Improvements have been made in physical accessibility, training on disability-related issues and installation of video phones.

Right now, Project SAFE is in the final stages of extensive needs assessment to identify additional barriers and how to overcome them.

We will continue to work together to achieve Project SAFE’s ultimate goal: safety and accessibility for everyone. Y

MaryLee Underwood (left) is a graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Social Work and the University of North Carolina School of Law. She serves as staff attorney for the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs and is a mother to a child with disabilities.

Mary Savage is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law and is legal counsel for the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association.

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IEP

plans for

PRESCHOOLERS

Take the ‘First Steps’ to Get a ‘Head Start’ on an Individualized Education

BY Tish Evans Program Nicholas came to our family through adoption, the same way our 12-year-old daughter Emily did.

Nicholas was about 10 minutes old the first time we saw him and it was love at first sight.

Shortly after his birth, Nicky was diagnosed with achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism.

The diagnosis brought with it a variety of medical issues, one of those being an increased risk of SIDS. We left the hospital and returned to our home in Ashland with Nicky on an apnea monitor, and with my husband and I having been trained in pediatric CPR in the event Nicky had 30

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any apnea episodes.

The apnea episodes started at 2 months of age and continued on and off until about 3½ months of age when Nicky went to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

The apnea had become so severe at that point that he spent six weeks at Children’s Hospital, with four of those

weeks being spent on a ventilator fighting for his life each day.

The doctors decided decompression surgery on his neck was needed. They hoped that would eliminate the apnea episodes.

It didn’t.

He had more apnea at 7, 8, 9 and 10 months of age.

But then, the apnea episodes just stopped.

This was a very difficult time in our family’s life, but we had placed our trust in God and He carried us through that time.

Nicky is now a healthy, energetic, almost 5-year-old who enjoys life to the fullest.

We first entered an arena where an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

IEP plans

was talked about when Nicky was 2 months old.

Because of the achondroplasia, Nicky was at risk of being developmentally delayed in fine and gross motor skills.

When Nicky was 3 months old, we contacted the First Steps program for an evaluation.

We began working with the staff at First Steps, who helped us develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

This plan was the road map as

We discussed concerns about Nicky’s education and the services/ adaptations he would need.

They were very interested in what we thought our son would need and also offered their own ideas.

Head Start is an inclusive educational arena that has been so beneficial for Nicky.

I believe the other children in the classroom benefited as well.

Nicky transitioned from First Steps to Head Start in March 2010.

This transition was a very scary

back issues.

Within a week, that had been added to the IEP, and a chair that fit him was purchased and placed on his spot during circle time.

I mentioned on another occasion that he should not sit for very long in a chair where his feet don’t touch the floor.

Once again, within a couple of days a stool had been purchased to put under his seat at the table so he could rest his feet.

The idea of an IEP for my child

time for us, but the ease of the IEP process had made it much easier.

Knowing what we could expect of the school system and that we had a forum to express our concerns and ideas comforted us.

Since the initial development of the IEP, we have met with school representatives at least annually and more often as concerns are raised.

We have been included in the IEP process from the beginning and it has made a world of difference.

During one meeting, I mentioned that Nicky should not sit very long unsupported (like during circle time) because of some potential long-term

had, at first, been a scary one.

I thought that an IEP would “label” my child, and he would be treated differently from the other children.

This was definitely not the case.

The process was so easy and those involved were very committed to ensuring that Nicky’s educational and physical needs in the classrooms were met.

I would definitely encourage parents to get the process started early – through First Steps or through their local Head Start/Preschool.

It will definitely benefit the children and families involved. Y

Despite fears that an IEP plan would “label” Nicky, Tish and Jeff Evans of Ashland forged a plan with the help of First Steps and Head Start.

“It will definitely benefit the children and families involved,” Tish said.

At right, Jeff and Tish with Emily and Nicky at the beach.

to how Nicky could begin to develop those fine and gross motor skills he would need to be on track with his peers.

Nicky progressed very well with First Steps, and we knew going in that at age 3, he would transfer to Head Start and an IEP would be developed.

First Steps worked closely with our local Head Start to schedule an Admissions Release Committee (ARC) meeting when Nicky was about 2½.

Representatives from both programs met with us at our home.

We talked about our rights, what we could and should expect from an IEP.

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Volunteer Spirit

Children’s music artist Dave Kinnoin serenades Inam Shalati, volunteer extraordinaire from Louisville.

Inam Shalati of Louisville Uses Her Disability Story to Empower Others

ven the healthiest of people would have trouble keeping up with Inam Shalati.

Inam is an award-winning volunteer who does the lion’s share of her work on the phone from her home in Louisville.

Many of those on the other end of her calls probably don’t realize that she is blind and has cerebral palsy.

Not that those facts would slow her down.

“Inam is always upbeat, always smiling,” her mother Stacia Shalati said. “She tries to help others, and I’m overwhelmingly proud of her.”

Inam, 36, was born three months premature at the University of Michigan hospital and spent four months in the neonatal unit.

At the time, doctors had yet to master the administration of oxygen to premature infants without causing 32

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devastating side effects.

Too much oxygen and a baby would be blind. Too little and the baby would be mentally retarded. Inam emerged from the neonatal blind.

Before her second birthday, Inam was diagnosed with cerebral palsy on her left side.

At the Michigan hospital, Inam benefited from a special program that provided access to a team of specialists that tracked her after she was discharged from the hospital.

By the time she was 3, Inam spoke normally and had the help of vision and physical therapists that prepared her to

attend school.

The oldest of five children, Inam attended numerous schools as the family moved often because of her father’s career. Mohamad Shalati invented a resin used in paint and worked across the Midwest.

With the help of aides, Inam, a bright, outgoing girl, virtually breezed through school and graduated from Homewood Flossmoor High in Illinois.

Immediately after graduation, Inam began volunteering, working with blind children at a hospital and reading to preschool children using Braille books with pictures.

inam shalati

When the family moved to Louisville in 1998, Inam found her volunteering niche – or make that niches.

“I learned the freeway system and roads in Louisville by taking Inam to volunteer all over town,” her mother said.

Although breathing tubes she needed at birth left Inam with a deep, raspy voice, she uses her power of speech to empower others.

Nobody works the phones as diligently as Inam.

She regularly makes calls to volunteers for the Make A Wish Foundation, and calls businesses to solicit donations for the Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies.

Inam also volunteers for Radio Eye, a radio reading service in Lexington for the visually impaired or physically handicapped. She makes calls to survey listeners or to find sponsors who might adopt a paper to be read on the air.

Some people may find making phone calls boring. Not Inam.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “I’m glad I have the ability to volunteer with the phone. I couldn’t think of a better thing to do. I really enjoy it.”

Inam makes no concessions to her medical issues, according to Amy Hatter, executive director of Radio Eye. When conducting a listener survey for Radio Eye, Inam contacted 400 people to complete a four-page survey.

Hatter was amazed at Inam’s persistence.

“She has so many medical problems, but she doesn’t let that hold her down,” Hatter said.

“Inam can inspire others because she shows that no matter what tragedy or injury or illness has befallen you, you can still go on and do great things.”

Once a week, Inam’s mother drives her to the Audio Studio for Reading Impaired where she reviews the sound quality of cassettes before they are mailed to the studio’s blind clients.

Even when she was fighting kidney cancer in 2010 and was confined to bed, she wanted to make tapes for other people.

Inam also is the lead volunteer vision assistant for Jefferson County public schools.

Inam’s volunteer spirit has not gone unnoticed. She has been awarded the prestigious Bell Award and three times won the Hometown Hero award, sponsored by a Louisville TV station.

In 2005, she received the Daily Point of Light Award along with a letter from former President George H.W. Bush that stated: “Your acts of generosity and community action exemplify the spirit of service and set a standard of excellence to which people of all ages can aspire.”

For the past decade, Inam has visited grade-schoolers at Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville several

times a year. She talks to the children about her medical problems, plays games with them and explains Braille.

But it’s simply her presence that makes the most impact.

“They find it fascinating when they ask something like ‘Do you know what blue is?’ and she will say, ‘I have no idea,’” said Paul Amick, the school’s librarian.

When the children -- mostly from affluent families -- visit with Inam, they encounter someone facing major challenges while maintaining a sunny disposition.

Said Amick: “It’s a terrific example for them to see someone who has been dealt a very challenging hand and plays it very well.” Y 2012 Exceptional Family KY

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Cover girl Marie-Claire Walsh-Miot of Paris, Kentucky Photo by Robin Allen Photography

exceptional family ky

Resource List 2012 general Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities 100 Fair Oaks Lane, 4E-F Frankfort, Ky., 40601 (877) 367-5332, (502) 564-7841 http://chfs.ky.gov/ccdd/ CCDD’s mission is to create change through visionary leadership and advocacy so that people have choice and control over their lives.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana 1519 Gardiner Lane, Suite B Louisville, Ky. 40218 (877) 588-2300, (502) 587-0494 www.BigsWanted.com The mission of BBBS is to help all children reach their full potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships.

Pathways P.O. Box 790 Ashland, Ky. 41105 (606) 329-8588/ (800) 562-8909 www.pathways-ky.org 34

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ARC of Kentucky 706 East Main Street, Suite A Frankfort, Ky. 40601 (502) 875-5225/ (800) 281-1272 http://arcofky.org/ The ARC of Kentucky believes that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are contributing members of schools, work places, churches, synagogues, neighborhoods and their communities. The ARC values services and supports that enhance the quality of life through interdependence, friendship, choice, and respect for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The ARC’s website includes a list of all the Comprehensive Care Centers in Kentucky.

ARC of Barren County P.O. Box 205 Glasgow, Ky., 42142 (270) 659-0802 A.R.H.H.C. of Hardin County P.O. Box 2013, Elizabethtown, KY 42702 (270) 737-1140 ARC of Central Kentucky Lexington / (859) 276-2667 PLANS – ARC of Christian County P.O. Box 1257 Hopkinsville, Ky., 42241 (270) 348-4837 Henderson County ARC

4642 Highway 145, Corydon, Ky., 42406 (270) 533-6615 ARC of Lake Cumberland 90 Venture Way, Somerset, Ky., 42503 (606) 875-9890 ARC of Logan County 443 Hopkinsville Rd, Russellville, Ky., 42276 (502) 726-7871 Greater Louisville Metro ARC 3713 Fallen Timber Dr., Louisville, Ky., 40241 (502) 339-8690 The ARC of Madison County P.O. Box 1863 Richmond, Ky., 40476 (859) 622-2314 The Point/ARC of Northern Kentucky 104 West Pike Street, Covington, Ky., 41011 (859) 491-9191 / Fax: (859) 491-0763 www.thepointarc.org The Point provides educational, residential, social and vocational opportunities for persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

The ARC of Owensboro 731 Jackson St, Owensboro, Ky., 42303 (270) 685-2976 The ARC of Warren County 305 Easton Cir, Bowling Green, Ky., 42101 (270) 796-2051

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Best Buddies Kentucky 1151 South Fourth Street Louisville, Ky.; 40203 (502) 736-0838 www.bestbuddieskentucky.org Best Buddies Kentucky, founded in 2009, is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism and traumatic brain injuries.

Bluegrass Technology Center 409 Southland Drive, Lexington, Ky., 40503 (859) 294-4343; (800) 209-7767 www.bluegrass-tech.org BTC is a non-profit, grassroots organization that assists individuals who have disabilities, their families and service providers in connecting with various technologies and services that provide the gateway to greater independence, productivity and quality of life. BTC is a member of the Alliance for Technology Access, The Eastern Regional Center for the Kentucky Assistive Technology Service (KATS) Network.

Center for Accessible Living Louisville Location 305 W. Broadway, Suite 200 Louisville, Ky. 40202; Voice: (502) 589-6620; TTY: (502) 589-6690 / Toll Free: 888-8138497 / Louisville Info@calky.org Murray Location 1051 N. 16th Street, Suite C Murray, Ky. 42071; Voice: (270) 753-7676 TDD: (270) 767-0549; Toll Free: (888) 2616194 / Murray Info@calky.org www.calky.org The Center for Accessible Living is an innovative leader in empowering all people to achieve their goal of independent living while involving the entire community.

Center for Independent Living 624 Eastwood Avenue Bowling Green, Ky. 42103 TTY: (800) 648-6057 (270) 796-5992; TTY: Use Relay Service E-mail: initiative@dri-ky.org Children’s Home of Cincinnati 5050 Madison Road; Cincinnati, Ohio 45227

(513) 272-2800 Roselawn Offices / 5051 Duck Creek Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45237 http://thechildrenshomecinti.org/ The Children’s Home of Cincinnati is a private, non-profit social service agency that improves the lives of children and their families through services in four areas: adoption, early childhood, education and mental health. The Home serves children of all ages and their families, including adoptive children, new parents needing support and guidance, children with special education needs, and children with mental health diagnoses.

Christian Appalachian Project 4192 N. Wilderness Road, Mt. Vernon, Ky. 40456 (866) 270-4227 / www.christianapp.org CAP is a Kentucky-based, non-profit Christian organization committed to serving people in need in Appalachia by providing physical, spiritual and emotional support through a wide variety of programs and services.

The Disabilities Coalition of Northern

Child Development Centers

of the Bluegrass

Services Provided: Assessment, Evaluations, Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapy

Now Accepting Outpatient therapy referrals for Occupational Physical, and Speech Therapy.

Accredited by NAEYC

A A A A

4 STAR Rated Preschool for Children With & Without Disabilities.

859-278-0549 • www.cdcbg.org 2012 Exceptional Family KY

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Kentucky 525 West Fifth Street, Suite 210 Covington, Ky. 41011 / (859) 431-7668; TTY: (800) 648-6057 Easter Seals Kentucky 2050 Versailles Road Lexington, Ky. 40504 (859) 254-5701 / www.cardinalhill.org Easter Seals West Kentucky 801 N. 29th St. / Paducah, Ky., 42001 (270) 444-9687 www.eswky.easterseals.com First Link of the Bluegrass 2480 Fortune Drive, Suite 150 Lexington, Ky., 40509 / (859) 313-5465 Home of the Innocents 1100 E. Market St. Louisville, Ky. 40206 502-596-1090 www.homeoftheinnocents.org Contact: Christy.Davis@homeoftheinnocents.org Hospice of the Bluegrass 2312 Alexandria Drive, Lex., Ky., 40504 (859) 276-5344 (800) 876-6005 www.hospicebg.org Hospice of the Bluegrass provides physical, emotional and spiritual care for adult and pediatric patients with life-limiting illness, and their families, at home, in nursing facilities and at Hospice Care Centers. Support and bereavement services extend to family members and anyone in the community experiencing grief. Hospice of the Bluegrass provides care in 32 central, northern and southeastern Kentucky counties.

Human Development Institute University of Kentucky 126 Mineral Industries Building Lexington, Ky. 40506 / (859) 257-1714 http://hdi.uky.edu/SF/Home.aspx HDI’s mission is to promote the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities and their families throughout the life span. Established in 1969, HDI is a unit of the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research at the University of Kentucky and part of a nationwide network of University Centers for Excellence. The Centers were established by federal legislation to promote team-based 36

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approaches to provide services for individuals with disabilities and their families.

HDI and its sister agencies, the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Kentucky Division of Protection and Advocacy, form the state’s Developmental Disability Network.

Special Needs Adoption Program DCBS/Adoption Branch 275 East Main Street, 3C-E Frankfort, Ky. 40621 (800) 928-4303 http://chfs.ky.gov/snap.htm

The I Believe Foundation PO Box 1123 Ashland, Ky., 41105-1123 (606) 831-8752/(606)922-0702/ Fax (606) 326-2249 www.ibelievefoundation.org I Believe is dedicated to creating a fun, learning and therapeutic environment by adapting everyday activities and sports to include children with special needs and their families.

The foundation was established by occupational therapists and provides a variety of life-enriching opportunities where the main goal is to challenge disabilities and create new abilities by fostering independence, help build friendships, build selfesteem and enhance the quality of life for children and their families.

Special Olympics Kentucky 105 Lakeview Court Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 695-8222; (800) 633-7403 www.soky.org Special Olympics is the world’s largest program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Project SAFE: Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc. P.O. Box 4028; Frankfort, Ky., 40604 (502) 226-2704; afiero@kasap.org KASAP’s mission is to speak with a unified voice against sexual victimization. KASAP is funded in whole or in part with public funds. http://www.kasap.org/ Redwood 71 Orphanage Road Ft. Mitchell, Ky. 41017 (859) 331-0880 www.redwoodnky.org A non-profit organization funded by United Way, Redwood guides children and adults with multiple and severe disabilities to achieve independence and reach their highest potential throughout their lives, by providing enriching educational, therapeutic and vocational services.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass 1300 Sports Center Dr., Lexington, Ky. 40502 (859) 268-0757 / www.rmhclexington.com This charity exists to create and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and to strengthen families by keeping them together in times of medical need.

United Way of the Bluegrass 2480 Fortune Drive #250 Lexington, Ky. 40509 / (859) 313-5465 (859) 233-4460/ Fax (859) 259-3397 www.uwbg.org United Way of Kentucky P.O. Box 4653 Louisville, Ky., 40204 (502) 589-6897/ Fax (502) 292-5673 www.uwky.org WHAS Crusade for Children 520 West Chestnut St Louisville, Ky., 40203 (502) 582-7706 www.whas-crusade.org The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc., established in 1954, raises money for agencies, schools and hospitals to better the lives of children with special needs. An independent board of interdenominational ministers known as the Crusade Advisory Panel decides how donations are distributed each year.

autism The Kelly Autism Program Western Kentucky University Clinical Education Complex 104 East 14th St. Bowling Green, Ky., 42101 kellyautismprogram@wku.edu (270) 745-4KAP (4527) Wendell Foster Campus 815 Triplett St

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Owensboro, Ky., 42303 kap.owensboro@wku.edu http://kap.wku.edu/web-forms/contact_us.html (270) 852-1438 Autism Society of the Bluegrass 453 Rockwood Parkway, Lexington, Ky. 40505 (859) 299-9000 / sspragens@inbsightbb.com www.asbg.org Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati P.O. Box 43027 Cincinnati, Ohio 45243-0027 (513) 561-2300 www.autismcincy.org ASGC works to promote awareness and education about autism. ASGC provides information packets, support groups for families and individuals, newsletters and public speakers.

Autism Society of Kentuckiana P.O. Box 21895 Louisville, Ky. 40221-0895 (812) 896-3556; info@ask-lou.org www.ask-lou.org Autism Group at Eastern Ky. Univ.

100 Ross Drive Richmond, Ky. 40475 Rita Brockmeyer; (859) 623-6074 / myrabeth. bundy@eku.edu http://katcproviders.louisville.edu/providers/ detail/204 Families for the Effective Treatment of Autism 1100 East Market Street; Louisville, Ky., 40206 (502) 596-1258 www.featoflouisville.org Kentucky Autism Training Center University of Louisville Autism Center at Kosair Charities 1405 E. Burnett Avenue Louisville, Ky. 40217 (502) 852-4631 or 800-334-8635 ext. 852-4631 http://louisville.edu/education/kyautismtraining/ Lexington Adults with ASPERGERS MEET UP GROUP The Church of St. Michael the Archangel 2025 Bellefonte Drive, Lexington, Ky.

The ARC of Kentucky (members pictured above) is currently promoting two programs: Advocates in Action and IAM DETEMINDED. Advocates is Action is an innovative self-determination leadership training program for people with disabilities, family members and professionals who work with them.

IAM DETEMINDED’s goal is to enhance the equality of transition services for students ages 1421 who have intellectual or developmental disabilities so they can “get a life” after high school. sspragens@insightbb.com Powell County Parents and Professionals Autism Support Group Powell County Middle School 770 West College Ave., Stanton, Ky. Marilyn Barnett, President & Coordinator (606) 521-9676 Meets second Monday - September-December, March & April. 4-5:30 p.m.

Turning Point for Autism, Inc. P.O. Box 7721; Louisville, Ky. 40257 502) 596-1000 www.turningpoint1.org A non-profit organization that provides ABA therapy through the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CA.) with therapists based in the Kentucky area.

Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center 571 South Floyd St., #100 Louisville, Ky. 40202 / (502) 852-5331 https://louisville.edu/medschool/pediatrics/wcec/ weisskopf-center-for-the-evaluation-of-children. html

Provides center-based and outreach diagnostic evaluations and treatment to infants and children with, or at risk for, developmental disabilities, congenital anomalies, genetic disorders, autism, organic behavior disorders (ADHD) and learning disabilities, as well as genetic counseling to adults.

down syndrome Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky P.O. Box 910516; Lexington, Ky. 40591-0516 (859) 494-7809; www.dsack.org DSACK exists to celebrate the Down syndrome community, support individuals with Down syndrome and their families, educate the Central Kentucky community and assist in local and national research efforts. DSACK celebrates that all people are beautiful, capable and loved.

Serves Central and Eastern Kentucky.

Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati 644 Linn Street Suite 1128 Cincinnati, OH 45203-1734 2012 Exceptional Family KY

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(513) 761-5400 / http://dsagc.com/ By providing families with support, inspiration and information, the Association helps individuals with Down syndrome achieve their maximum potential. Including individuals with Down syndrome in neighborhood schools, community activities and the business world benefits individuals and their respective communities.

Down Syndrome of Louisville, Inc. 5001 South Hurstbourne Parkway Louisville, Ky., 40218 (502) 495 5088 www.downsyndromeoflouisville.org Down Syndrome InfoSource, Inc. P.O. Box 221316 Louisville, Ky. 40252-1316 (502) 412-3759 / Email: GTLowe@aol.com

epilepsy Epilepsy Council of Greater Cincinnati 895 Central Avenue, Suite 550 Cincinnati, 45202 (513) 721-2905; (877) 804-2241 efgc@cincinnatiepilepsy.org http://www.cincinnatiepilepsy.org/ Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana Kosair Charities Centre 982 Eastern Parkway; Louisville, Ky., 40217 (502) 637-4440; (866) 275-1078 www.efky.org

education Kentucky Adult Education Council on Postsecondary Education 1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 250 Frankfort, KY 40601 / www.kyae.ky.gov (502) 573-5114 V/TTY or (800) 928-7323 V/TTY Coalition Reform in Special Education Services (C.R.I.S.E.S) 243 Shady Lane, Lexington, Ky. 40503 (859) 278-4991/ tynerwilso@aol.com Conductive Learning Center of Greater Cincinnati 325 W.19th Street; Covington, Ky. 41014 (859) 261-2333 38

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http://clcgc.org/ Conductive education is an intensive, multidisciplinary approach to education, training and development for individuals with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and other motor challenges.

Creative Learning Center Woodland Early Learning Center 575 Woodland Avenue; Lexington, Ky., 40508 (859) 255-3444 www.cclc.com/center/ky/woodland-earlylearning-center Kentucky Education Agency Rural Representative 500 Mero Street, Capitol Plaza Tower, 6th Floor Frankfort, Ky. 40601; (502) 564-4474 www.education.ky.gov Kentucky Education Rights Center 1323 Moores Mill Road; Midway, Ky. 40347 (859) 983-9222; kerc@edrights.com www.edrights.com Kentucky State Department of Education Melissa Terrell 500 Mero St., 6th Floor CPT 502-564-2000 x4605 www.education.ky.gov Music for Life: Music Therapy and Music Education Patricia Guobis, M. M., MT-BC 1815 Deerwood Avenue Louisville, KY 40205 (502) 456-2682; (502) 767-8308 Northern Kentucky University Office of Disability Services Northern Kentucky University Nunn Drive / Highland Heights, Ky. 41099 (859) 572-6373 www.nku.edu/~disability NKU provides learner-centered assistance and resources to students with disabilities in their transition to Northern Kentucky University.

Public School Parent Resource Centers Berea RTC/PRC P.O. Box 159 / 116 Jane Street Berea, Ky. 40403 (859) 986-1929 / (800) 343-2959 Carol Brooks/Andrea Sargent Fayette County PRC

701 E. Main Street, #302, Lexington, Ky. 40502 (859) 381-4229 / Stella Smith/Anita Jones www.fcps.net/prc Franklin County PRC Hearn Elementary School 300 Copperleaf Blvd. / Frankfort , Ky. 40601 (502) 352-2425 / Stacy Moore Hopkins County PRC 127 West Broadway, Madisonville, Ky. 42431 (270) 825-1981 / Colleen Wiles Jefferson County PRC P.O. Box 34020, Van Hoose Ed. Center 4th, Louisville, Ky. 40232 (502) 485-3703 / www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/ Jessamine County PRC 2101 Wilmore Road, Nicholasville, Ky. 40356 (859) 887-2421 ext 3728 / Vickie Shearer Magoffin County PRC P.O. Box 109, Gardner Trail, Salyersville, Ky. 41465 / (606) 349-6117 / Debbie Swiney www.magoffin.kyschools.us/sped/separent.htm Simpson County PRC P.O. Box 467, Franklin, Ky. 42701 (270) 586-2008 / Bill Porter Upper Cumberland Coop PRC 116 North 4th Street, Williamsburg, Ky. 40769 (606) 549-7001 ext 4411 / Deborah Lawson VSA Arts of Kentucky 515 East 10th Street; Bowling Green, Ky. (270) 781-0872 (V/TTY) vsaky@bellsouth.net or director@vsartsky.org Frankfort: 21st Floor, Capital Plaza Tower Frankfort, 40601 502-564-3775 or 502-564-3472 www.vsartsky.org

schools Child Development Centers of the Bluegrass 465 Springhill Drive, Lexington, Ky. 40503 (859) 278-0549 www.cdcbg.org Four-Star rated preschool for children with

and without disabilities. Services provided include assessment, evaluations, and speech, physical and occupational therapy.

Academy for Individual Excellence 3101 Bluebird Lane Louisville, Ky. 40299 / (502) 267-6187 www.aiexcellence.com

resource guide

The Academy at St. Andrews 2233 Woodbourne Avenue Louisville, Ky. 40205 Phone: 502-473-7219 www.theacademy-standrews.org A private school for children with developmental disabilities, such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders and other communication and intellectual disabilities.

The dePaul School 1925 Duker Avenue; Louisville, Ky., 40205 (502) 459-6131 www.depaulschool.org KORE Academy Porter Memorial Church 4300 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington.

Ky. (859) 971-7129 School for children with learning differences: Grades 3-12.

The Langsford Center 9402 Towne Square Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 (513) 531-7400 2520 Bardstown Road, Louisville, Ky., 40205 (502) 473-7000 211 Townepark Circle, Middletown, Ky., 40243 www.langsfordcenter.com The Learning Connection “Where the Right Brain is Visited” Catherine Nagle Senn, Director 2233 Alta Ave.; Louisville, Ky. 40205-1105 (502) 451-8011; Email: naglesenn@aol.com The Lexington School’s The Learning Center 1050 Lane Allen Road; Lexington, Ky., 40504 Phone: (859) 278-0501 www.thelexingtonschool.org The Learning Center provides a unique and essential service to children with language-based

differences by offering an alternative to traditional classrooms. By creating a teaching environment that eliminates the major obstacles to learning, students are able to close the gap between achievement and their potential. Teacher-student ratios of 1:4 allow for individualized instruction in the core areas of greatest need. In addition, low student teacher ratios will be maintained in other subjects such as science, social studies, computer skills, specials and social skills.

A nice tax deduction could be rolling your way.

Meredith Dunn School 3023 Melbourne Avenue Louisville, Ky. 40220 (502) 4565819 www.meredithdunnschool.org Pitt Academy 6010 Preston Hwy; Louisville, Ky. 40219; (502) 966-6979; http:// pitt.com/ Sharon School 200 Oak Tree Lane, Nicholasville, Ky.,40356 (859) 509-6892 sharonschool@msn.com Homeschool for students with attention deficit disorders and learning disabilities.

Sproutlings Pediatric Day Care and Preschool Kosair Charities Center 3701 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Ky. 40041 (502 ) 753-8222 www.SproutlingsDayCare.com Sproutlings is dual licensed program and has spaces for medically fragile children and children in traditional day care or preschool.

We are staffed by Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Teachers and Teacher Aides. We can care for a wide variety of medical conditions. Medicaid and private insurance is accepted.

Donate your vehicle and help us help families.

It’s child’s play to help the families of hospitalized, seriously ill children. We’ll pick up your car,truck, RV or boat free of charge and steer you through the paperwork. Then, we get the proceeds from the sale of your vehicle, while a hefty tax deduction rolls your way. Call or visit our website for more information.

1-855-CARS-HELP 1-855-227-7435 CarsHelp.org Supporting your local chapter.

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Summit Academy of Louisville 11508 Main Street; Louisville, Ky. 40043 (502) 244-7090 apedersen@summit-academy.org www.summit-academy.org

kentucky resources The Kentucky Administrative Regulations Listed by Title or searchable by keyword http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/KAR/frntpage.htm Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs Central office/ Louisville 310 Whittington Parkway, Suite 200 Louisville, Ky. 40222 (502) 429-4430/ Toll Free: (800) 232-1160/ Fax: (502) 429-4489 Serving Bullitt, Carroll, Gallatin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Owen, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble counties and statewide.

Ashland 5850 US 60, Summit Plaza Ashland, Ky 41102 / (606) 929-9155 (800) 650-1329 Serving Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Lawrence and Magoffin counties.

Barbourville 110 Johnson Lane, PO Box 1330 Barbourville, Ky. 40906-5330 (606) 546-5109; (800) 348-4279 Serving Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Laurel, Rockcastle, Knox and Whitley counties.

Bowling Green 495 Three Springs Road Bowling Green, Ky. 42104 (270) 746-7816; (800) 843-5877 Serving Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson and Warren counties.

Elizabethtown 580 B Westport Road Elizabethtown, Ky. 42701 (270) 765-6982/ (800) 995-6982/ Fax: (270) 769-5121 Serving Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson and Washington counties.

Hazard 103 Town and Country Ln, Suite M 40

www.lexingtonfamily.com

Hazard, Ky. 41701 (606) 435-6167/ (800) 378-3357/ Fax (606) 435-6164 Serving Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry and Wolfe counties.

Lexington 333 Waller Ave., Suite 300 Lexington, Ky. 40504 (859) 252-3170/ (800) 817-3874/ Fax: (859) 225-7155 Serving Anderson, Bourbon, Boone, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Grant, Harrison, Jessamine, Kenton, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, and Woodford counties.

Morehead 214 W. First St.; Morehead, Ky. 40351 (606) 783-8610/ (800) 928-3049/ Fax (606) 783-8612 Serving Bath, Bracken, Campbell, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Morgan, Montgomery, Pendleton, Robertson, and Rowan counties.

Owensboro 1600 Breckenridge St.; Owensboro, Ky. 42303 (270) 687-7038/(877) 687-7038/ Fax (270) 687-7040 Serving Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenber, Ohio, Union and Webster counties.

Paducah 400 Park Ave., Bldg. D; Paducah, Ky. 42001 (270) 443-3651/ (800) 443-3651/ Fax (270) 441-7119 Serving Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, and Trigg counties.

Prestonsburg 5000 KY Route 321; Prestonsburg, Ky. 41653 (606) 889-1761/ (800) 594-7058/ Fax (606) 889-1766 Serving Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin and Pike counties.

Somerset Professional Plaza 401 Bogle St., Suite 104; Somerset, Ky. 42503 (606) 678-4454; (800) 525-4279 Serving Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor and Wayne counties.

The Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs has received a grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to create Family to Family Health Information Centers throughout the commission offices. The centers will be staffed

by mentors who are parents of children with special needs and will provide support to families of individuals with special needs.

Parents and caregivers have the opportunity to connect with another parent or caregiver with a similar situation or special health care need.

Family to Family Health Information Centers Western Region Sondra Gilbert / Sondra.GIlbert@ky.gov (270) 852-2918 / (877) 687-7038, ext. 2123 Eastern Region (Including Louisville) Debbie Gilbert / DebbieA.Gilbert@ky.gov (502) 429-4430, ext. 279 (800) 232-1160, ext. 279 www.kyf2f.com Located at the offices of the Commission for Children With Special Health Care Needs, Family to Family HICs are family-run centers that assist families of children and youth with special health care needs and the professionals who serve them. The goal is to help keep children healthy by promoting regular medical care. F2F HICs help families make more informed choices by providing support, information,resources and training. F2F HICs promote access to community based, selfdirected services that are available to children with special needs.

KATS (Ky. Assistive Technology Service Network Coordinating Center) Charles McDowell Center 8412 Westport Road; Louisville, Ky. 40242 (502) 429-4484/ (800) 327-5287 www.katsnet.org The KATS Network is the Kentucky Assistive Technology program operating within its lead agency, the Office for the Blind, Education Cabinet. It consists of a statewide network of organizations and individuals connecting to enhance the availability of assistive technology devices and services to improve the productivity and quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

In addition to the Coordinating Center located in the McDowell Center in Louisville, there are four regional AT resource centers and two partner satellite centers that are participating members of the KATS Network serving Kentucky.

Children’s Law Center 1002 Russell Street Covington, Ky. (859) 431-3313

resource guide

Lexington Office: 772 Winchester Road (859) 253-0152 Email: childrenslaw@fuse.net www.childrenslawky.org Provides free legal services for children with educational disabilities, and performs research and policy work, training and education in this area.

Kentucky Comprehensive Care Centers www.arcofky.org/compcare Four Rivers Behavioral Health PO Box 7287, Paducah, Ky. 42001 (270) 442-5088; 24-hour Line (800) 5923980 Serving Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Marshall, McCracken counties.

Pennyroyal MH / MR Board PO Box 614, Hopkinsville, Ky. 42241 (270) 886-5163 or 886-9371 Serving Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Lyon, Muhlenburg, Todd, Trigg counties.

River Valley Behavioral Health, Inc. 820 West Third Street, Owensboro, Ky. 42301 (270) 689-6879 Serving Davies, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, Webster counties.

Lifeskills PO Box 6499, Bowling Green, Ky. 42102 (270) 842-0161 Serving Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Warren counties.

Communicare, Inc. 1311 North Dixie Highway; Elizabethtown, Ky. 42701; (270) 769-3377 Serving Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Washington counties.

Seven Counties Services, Inc. 3717 Taylorsville Rd.; Louisville, Ky. 40220 (502) 459-5292 Serving Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Spencer, Shelby, and Trimble counties.

Northern Kentucky MH/MR Board 1201 South Ft. Thomas Ave.; Ft. Thomas, Ky. 41075 (859) 781-5586 Serving Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton counties.

Comprehend, Inc. 741 Kenton Station Road, Maysville, Ky. 41056 (606) 759-7161 Serving Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason,

Robertson counties.

Pathways, Inc. PO Box 790, Ashland, Ky. 41105 (606) 329-8588 Serving Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, Lawrence, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Rowan counties.

Mountain MH / MR Board 150 South Front Avenue, Prestonburg, Ky. 41653; (606) 886-8572 Serving Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, Pike counties.

Ky. River Community Care 115 Rockwood Lane, Hazard, Ky. 41701 (606) 436-5761 Serving Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, Wolfe counties.

Cumberland River MH / MR Board PO Box 568, Corbin, Ky. 40702 (606) 528-7010 Serving Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Rockcastle, Whitley counties.

Adanta MH / MR Board 72 Southland Drive, Somerset, Ky. 42501 (606) 679-7348 Serving Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, Russel, Taylor, Wayne counties.

Bluegrass MH / MR Board 250 Elaine Drive, Suite 203; Lexington, Ky. 40504 (859) 272-7483 Serving Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrad, Harrision, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott counties.

HomePageRepository/Footer/contact+us.htm Oversees funding, special education programs, data collection, personnel development, monitoring of school districts, curriculum development and more.

Kentucky PTA P.O. Box 654, Frankfort, Ky. 40602 502-226-6607 kentuckypta@bellsouth.net www.kypta.org

Kentucky Education Rights Center, Inc 1323 Moores Mill Road; Midway, Ky. 40347; (859) 983-9222 kerc@edrights.com / www.edrights.com

Kentucky Council for Children with Behavior Disorders karen.frohoff@madison.kyschools.us http://kycec.org/ccbd_about.htm Kentucky Department of Education: Division of Exceptional Services 500 Mero Street; Frankfort, Ky. 40601 502-564-2000 x4605 Melissa.terrell@education.ky.gov http://education.ky.gov/KDE/

Commonwealth Developmental Disabilities Planning Council Department for Health Services 275 East Main Street; Frankfort, Ky. 40601(Cabinet address) 100 Fair Oaks Lane 4E; Frankfort, Ky. 40601 502-564-7842 / (877) 367-5332 http://www.autismlink.com/listing/kentucky_ developmental_disabilities_planning_council The Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Kentucky University Center for Excellence (the Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute), and Kentucky Protection and Advocacy are collectively gathering input from consumers, family members, service providers, and policy makers to determine the primary issues affecting the lives of people with disabilities in Kentucky.

Kentucky Disabilities Coalition 859 E. Main St., Suite A, Frankfort, Ky. 40601 (502) 875-1871 (V/TTY); (800) 977-7505 www.semel.ucla.edu/nadc/support-resource/ kentucky-disabilities-coalition Disability Specific Web Resources www.disabilityresources.org The web site has a listing of several services available on the Internet.

Kentucky First Steps http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/firstSteps/default.htm State Lead Agency 275 E. Main St., HS2W-C, Frankfort, Ky. 40621 (877) 417-8377 Barren River District Point of Entry P.O. Box 6499 / 380 Suwannee Trail Bowling Green, Ky. 42103 (270) 901-5747 or (800) 643-6233 Counties served: Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Warren Big Sandy District Point of Entry

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104 South Front Ave., Prestonsburg, Ky. 41653 (606) 886-4417 or (800) 230-6011 Counties served: Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, Pike Bluegrass District Point of Entry 343 Waller Ave., Suite 201 Lexington, Ky. 40504 (859) 271-9448 or (800) 454-2764 Counties served: Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, Woodford Buffalo Trace District Point of Entry 611 Forest Ave., Maysville, Ky. 41056 (606) 564-3919 or (800) 335-4249 Counties served: Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, Robertson Cumberland Valley District Point of Entry P.O. Box 568, Corbin, Ky. 40702

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(606) 523-0229 or (800) 509-9559 Counties served: Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Rockcastle, Whitley FIVCO District Point of Entry 5850 U.S. 60 / Box 11 Summit Plaza Ashland, Ky. 41102 (606) 929-9155 or (800) 650-1329 Counties served: Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, Lawrence Gateway District Point of Entry P.O. Box 290, Owingsville, Ky. 40360 (606) 674-3204 or (800) 942-4358 Counties served: Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Rowan.

Green River District Point of Entry 1501 Breckenridge St., Owensboro, Ky. 42301 (270) 686-5982 or (888) 686-1414 Counties served: Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, Webster.

Kentuckiana District Point of Entry Seven Counties Services, Inc. 3717 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, Ky. 40220 (502) 459-0225 or (800) 442-0087 Counties served: Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble Kentucky River District Point of Entry 115 Rockwood Lane, Hazard, Ky. 41701 (606) 439-1325 or (800) 328-1767 Counties served: Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, Wolfe.

Lake Cumberland District Point of Entry 113 Hardin Lane, Somerset, Ky. 42503 (606) 678-2821 or (800) 378-2821 Counties served: Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor, Wayne.

Lincoln Trail District Point of Entry 108 New Glendale Road P.O. Box 2609 Elizabethtown, Ky. 42702

(270) 737-5921 or (800) 678-1879 Counties served: Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Washington.

Northern Kentucky District Point of Entry 401 East 20th Street, 2nd Floor Covington, Ky. 41014 (859) 655-1195 or (888) 300-8866 counties served: Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton.

Pennyrile District Point of Entry 735 North Drive, Hopkinsville, Ky. 42240 (270) 886-5186 or (800) 609-0047 Counties served: Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Lyon, Muhlenberg, Todd, Trigg.

Purchase District Point of Entry 425 Broadway, Suite 204 Paducah, Ky. 42001 (270) 442-6223 or (800)648-6599 Counties served: Ballard, Carlisle, Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Marshall, McCracken.

First Steps is a statewide intervention system that provides services to children with developmental disabilities from birth to age 3 and their families. Administered by the Department for Public Health in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, First Steps offers comprehensive services through community agencies and service disciplines.

Children who participate in early intervention have significant improvement in development and learning. Helping to decrease the problems early in a child’s development can reduce or prevent costly educational programs in the future.

Pathways to Careers and Special Programs Capitol Plaza Tower, Room 2113 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, Ky. 40601 (502) 564-3775 www.kde.state.ky.us // http://www. familieswithasd.org/node/147 Programs for Children with Disabilities (Ages 3 through 5) Division of Extended Learning Office of Academic and Professional Development 500 Mero Street, Capitol Plaza Tower, 17th Floor; Frankfort, Ky. 40601 / (502) 564-7056 www.kde.state.ky.us (Ages Birth through 2) First Steps Program 3717 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, Ky. 40220 (502) 459-0225; (800) 442-0087; (502) 452-9079 (fax)

resource guide

http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/firststeps.htm Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Delays: Ages Birth to 3.

Kentucky Protection and Advocacy 100 Fair Oaks Lane, Third Floor Frankfort, Ky. 40601; (800) 372-2988/ (502) 564-2967 www.kypa.net/drupal/?q+taxonomy/term/107 Kentucky Self-Advocates For Freedom PO Box 23555, Lexington, Ky. 40523 (859) 245-0717 http://kyselfadvocates.com Funded by the Kentucky Council for Developmental Disabilities, KSAFF is a statewide organization directed by Kentuckians with disabilities and committed to working in partnership with all interested parties to promote equal rights, inclusion, self-advocacy, support and education in all realms of life. The goals are: Speak Up: Self-Advocates speak up for themselves and teach, coach and support others to speak up for themselves.

Your Rights: Self-Advocates are encouraged to know and exercise their rights.

Education: Self-Advocates are encouraged to inform and educate the general public about rights, needs and issues regarding people with developmental disabilities.

Involvement: Participate in decision-making forums regarding policies that impact people with developmental disabilities.

Raise Funds: Advocate for funding for services and supports on behalf of people with developmental disabilities.

Kentucky Special Parent Involvement Network, Inc. (KY-Spin) 10301-B Deering Rd.; Louisville, Ky. 40272 (502) 937-6894/ (800) 525-7746/ Fax (502) 937-6464 www.kyspin.com KY-SPIN, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting programs that enable persons with disabilities and their families to enhance their quality of life. Fully 85% of all program income goes to direct services to families.

State Services for Kentuckians with Disabilities KATS Network Coordinating Center

Charles McDowell Center 8412 Westport Rd., Louisville, Ky., 40242 (502) 429-4484/ (800) 327-5287 http://www.katsnet.org/publications/other/ stateservices.html United Partners in Kentucky UP in KY is a functional, non-compensated partnership to enhance each others’ work on behalf of children, youth and young adults with disabilities and their families. The intention is to collaborate with each other, reduce duplication of effort and help determine and influence policies. http://www.up-in-ky.com The Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation http://ovr.ky.gov/ Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Central Office Cabinet for Human Resources Building 275 E. Main St., Mail Stop 2E-K, Frankfort, Ky. 40621 Bowling Green (270) 746-7489; (800) 443-6055 (800) 246-6193 (TTY) Elizabethtown (270) 766-5121; (866) 883-0001 Florence (859) 371-9450; (877) 371-9451 Bluegrass/Lexington (859) 246-2185; (888) 211-7276 (888) 900-9098 (TTY) Middletown/Louisville (502) 254-3195; (866) 304-1958 Whitesburg (606) 633-2568 West Liberty (606) 743-7978; (800) 440-2530 Louisville (800) 456-3334 Madisonville (270) 824-7549; (888) 640-2713 Owensboro (270) 687-7308; (888) 564-2811 (800) 241-5821 (TTY) Paducah (270) 575-7304 Ashland (606) 920-2338 Carl D. Perkins Center (606) 788-7080 (V/TTY) or (800) 443-2187 Seven Counties Comprehensive Care

Services Appointments: (502) 589-1100 (800) 264-8799/ TDD www.sevencounties.org A community behavioral health and developmental services center serving Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties. The vision of Seven Counties Services is that all persons affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities, addictions and abuse live satisfying, productive and valued lives.

Website includes a 93-page Resource Book called “Build Your Future.”

learning disabilities The Curious Edge – The Reading Room Working with children with dyslexia 3306 Clays Mill Road, Suite 203 Lexington, Ky. 40503; 859-899-EDGE (3343) www.thecuriousedge.com Learning Disabilities Association of Kentucky, Inc. 2210 Goldsmith Lane, Suite 118 Louisville, Ky. 40218 (502) 473-1256 / www.LDAofky.org This comprehensive mental health professional program includes the “co-morbid” disorders often found with individuals with learning disabilities, including Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anger Control/Bipolar Disorder, and ADHD. The International Dyslexia Assn. – Ky. Branch P.O. Box 286, Crittenden, Ky. 41030 (859) 912-5449 / mail.kyida@gmail.com www.interdys.org Dyslexia Solutions Inc. (502) 499-2744 / cbaumert@readfluent.com www.readfluent.com Dyslexia Association of the Pennyrile 3000 Canton, Suite 4 D, Hopkinsville, Ky. 42240; (270) 885-5804 www.hopkinsvilledyslexia.org LD Online The world’s leading website on learning disabilities and ADHD. 2012 Exceptional Family KY

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www.ldonline.org/ldresources/local_org/kentucky. html Ohio Valley Branch of the International Dyslexia Association 317 East Fifth Street; Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 651-4747 http://cincinnatidyslexia.org/ A non-profit, scientific and educational organization dedicated to the study and treatment of dyslexia. This Branch was formed to increase public awareness of dyslexia in the Southern Ohio, Southeast Indiana, Kentucky, and Huntington, West Virginia areas.

Progressive Educational Program, Inc. 212 Venture Way; Somerset, Kentucky Phone: 606-677-2514 Website: www.WeTeachSpelling.com Email: Progressiveeduprogram@windstream.net Specializing in Tutoring Children with Dyslexia.

Joni Strickland, Director of Tutoring Service and Karen Cress, Certified Dyslexia Tester.

medical Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital In Lexington Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital 2050 Versailles Road, Lexington, Ky. 40504 (859) 254-5701 Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Unit at UK HealthCare Samaritan Hospital 310 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Ky. 40508; (859) 226-7700 Cardinal Hill Center for Outpatient Services 2050 Versailles Road, Lexington, Ky. 40504; (859) 367-7125 Cardinal Hill Home Care 2050 Versailles Road, Lexington, Ky. 40504; (859) 367-7148 In Louisville Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Center/Easter Seals of Louisville 9810 Bluegrass Parkway, Louisville, Ky. 40299; (502) 584-9781 Cardinal Hill of Northern Kentucky 31 Spiral Drive, Florence, Ky. 41042 (859) 525-1128 Charles L. Shedd Kentucky Association 4801 Sherburn Ln. LL1 Louisville, Ky. 40207; (502) 893-0309 44

www.lexingtonfamily.com

SheddTutoring@bellsouth.net http://www.sheddtutoring.org The Shedd Program provides educational remediation through highly structured teaching methods and materials utilizing a multisensory approach and one-to-one instruction.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; MLC 7009 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 (513) 636-4200/ (800) 344-2462/ TTY: (513) 636-4900 www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/alpha/c/specialneeds/default.htm Dr. F. Allen Walker Creative Psychiatry P.L.L.C. 4965 U.S. Hwy 42, Suite 1000 Louisville, Ky. 40222; Office: (502) 657-6070 www.louisvilleadhd.com drwalker@louisvilleadhd.com Robert A. Underwood, Ph.D. & Byron White, Psy.D Edelson and Associates, PSC 7511 New LaGrange Rd. Louisville, Ky. 40222 (502) 423-1151 Email: drunderwood@npsych.info edelson@npsych.info Web: http://www.edelsonandassociates.info Neuropsychological, ADHD, Learning Disability, Autism and Psychological Disorder Evaluations.

Horn, Richardson & Associates in Rehabilitation 2412 Greatstone Point, Lexington, Ky. 40504 (859) 224-4081 / (859) 224-4261 www.hornrichardson.com HRA offers assessments and intervention from a multi-disciplinary team including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speechlanguage pathology, psychology, developmental intervention, social work and case management.

HRA provides independent evaluation and intervention services. HRA addresses concerns of the individual, family and referral sources including physicians, schools and other agencies. Families are encouraged to participate through evaluations and therapy, and a focus is placed on providing services that can generalize into academics, home, community and job settings.

Kentucky Children’s Hospital University of Kentucky, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, Ky. 40536 (859) 257-1000/ (800) 333-8874 www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu/KCH/ Established in 1957, UK HealthCare consists of the medical, nursing, health sciences, public health, dental and pharmacy patient care activities of the University of Kentucky, and in several offsite locations.

The Kidz Club 1101 Herr Lane, Louisville, Ky. 40222 (502) 210-5538 / (888) 902-KIDZ (5439) Julie Kraska, OTR/L Kraska & Associates, Inc. 437 Lewis Hargett Circle Suite 120 Lexington, Ky. 40503 (859) 219-0956 Private practice providing occupational and speech therapy services. Family-centered approach. Areas of specialty include sensory integration, sensory processing disorder, fine motor/handwriting, dyspraxia, autism, Asperger’s, articulation, phonological disorders, reading programs Safe Kids Fayette County Coalition Kentucky Children’s Hospital 800 Rose St., Lexington Ky. 40536 (859) 323-1153 www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu/KCH/safekids Safe Kids Fayette County is a program of Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington and one of more than 650 grassroots coalitions in all 50 states and 17 countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that brings together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families. Safe Kids Fayette County Coalition is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Efforts are needed because as many as 90% of accidental injuries can be prevented.

Safe Kids Coalition Kentucky Led by Kentucky Department of Health 333 Waller Ave, Lexington, Ky. 40504 (859) 323-6194; www.safekids.org Barren County Barren River District Health Department 318 West Washington, Glasgow Ky. 42141

resource guide

(270) 651-8321 Louisville and Jefferson County Kosair Children’s Hospital 315 E. Broadway, Louisville, Ky. 40202 (502) 629-7335 River Cities Communities King’s Daughters Medical Center 2201 Lexington Ave., Ashland, Ky. 41101 (606) 408-4000 Square One Specialists in Child and Adolescent Development 6440 Dutchmans Parkway, Louisville, Ky. 40205 (502) 896-2606 www.squareonemd.com info@squareonemd.com Comprehensive Evaluations: Medical, psychological, psychiatric, educational, and speech-language evaluations are offered to help understand differences that impact children’s and adolescents’ development, behaviors, and emotions.

University of Kentucky School Psychology Clinic 641 Maxwelton Ct., Lexington, Ky. 40506 (859) 257-1381 Psychoeducational assessments, intervention and consultation services to address behavioral, academic, and social-emotional concerns which impact an individual’s learning and development.

University of Louisville Kosair Children’s Hospital 231 E. Chestnut Street, Louisville, Ky. (502) 629-6000 www.kosairchildrenshospital.com Kosair Children’s Hospital is a 253-bed teaching facility and serves as a referral center for central and western Kentucky, and southern Indiana. The hospital is also the primary pediatric teaching hospital for the University of Louisville health sciences program. Each year there are approximately 8,000 admissions, 50,000 Emergency Department visits and 10,500 outpatient clinic visits.

Dental Care in Northern Kentucky for Special Needs Donated Dental Services (888) 765-6789 Health Point Family Care, Covington (859) 655-6100

NorthKey Community 502 Farrell Dr. PO Box 2680; Covington, Ky. 41011 (859) 331-3292/ TTY www.northkey.org Serving Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton.

Paving the way to a community healthy in mind and spirit -- that’s what NorthKey Community Care is working toward in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas with a comprehensive continuum of mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse care.

mental health Bluegrass Regional Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board 1351 Newtown Pike, Lexington, Ky. 40511 (859) 253-1686 www.bluegrass.org A system of care providing recovery-based behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services in 17 counties. Counseling for adults, children and families. Plus, substance abuse help and resources for developmental disabilities issues.

The Kentucky Association of Mental Health/Mental Retardation Programs 152 West Zandale Drive, Suite 201, Lexington, Ky., 40503; (859) 272-6700 contactkarp@iglou.com www.karponline.org Cedar Lake 7984 New LaGrange Rd., Louisville, Ky. 40222 (502) 425-5323 www.cedarlake.org Cedar Lake is a private not-for-profit association that originally incorporated out of common concern for persons with mental retardation and the lack of adequate residential facilities within the geographic area.

Cedar Lake was founded in 1970 by Louisville-area parents of persons with intellectual disabilities. Cedar Lake Lodge began providing campus services in 1974, and added “community-based” service options, Cedar Lake Residences, in 1989. Collectively, Cedar Lake operations employ more than 300 staff members and have an annual operating budget

in excess of $15 million, providing services to approximately 200 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Division of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities 100 Fair Oaks Lane 4W-C Frankfort, Ky. 40621 (502) 564-7702; TTY: (502) 564-5777 http://dbhdid.ky.gov/ddid/default.asp It is the mission of the Division of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DDID) to empower each person to realize his or her place in the community as a citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. To accomplish this mission, DDID will partner with and support persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, families, advocates, stakeholders and government agencies.

Mental Health America of Kentucky 120 Sears Avenue, Suite 213, Louisville, Ky. 40207 (502) 893-0460; (888) 705-0463 mhaky@kih.net / www.mhaky.org Mental Health Association of Northern Kentucky 513 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky. 41011 (859) 431-1077 www.mhanky.org/mha/asp/home.asp NAMI Kentucky (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) c/o Somerset Community College 808 Monticello St., Somerset, Ky. 42501 (606) 451-6935 / (606) 451-6936 (800)257-5081 / namiky@bellsouth.net http://ky.nami.org NAMI Bowling Green Theresa Eddy (270) 904-0161 theresanamibgky@gmail.com NAMI Buffalo Trace (Maysville) Sharon Darnell (606) 759-4010 ndarnell@maysvilleky.net NAMI Cumberland River Wayne Bullock (606) 256-9250 NAMI Danville Lois Anderson (859) 239-4360 namidanville@gmail.com NAMI Frankfort Glenda Harned (502) 352-6962 hhharned7194@fewpb.net NAMI Hazard

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Jaunita Bartley (606) 785-0300 Namihazard@yahoo.com NAMI Heartland Steve Alexander (270)351-3730 steve.alexander@hardin.kyschools.us NAMI Henderson/Webster County Beverly Jones (270) 639-1492 bjones.nami@att.net NAMI Hopkinsville Marcia and Jerry Bell (270) 719-0648 namihopkinsville@bellsouth.net NAMI Lexington Theresa Walton, President (859)-272-7891 Phill Gunniing Executive Director pgunning@namilex.org NAMI Louisville George Hersch (502) 588-2008 namilou@namilouisville.org NAMI Madisonville Mary Poole, President (270) 824-8673 mary.poole@kctcs.edu April Schmitt (270) 886-5163 aschmitt@pennyroyalcenter.org NAMI Morehead Carol Mauriello (606) 356-8184 c.mauriello@morehead.st.edu NAMI Nelson County Gary Barr, President (502) 452-7133 or (502) 331-9991 / Gary.barr@ge.com NAMI Northern Kentucky Kathy Keller (859) 261-4080 coo@naminky.org NAMI Owensboro John Griffith (270) 689-1999 griffdog17@bellsouth.net NAMI Paducah Balinda Hudson (270) 898-8279 bghudson@comcast.net NAMI Somerset Charlotte Stogsdill (606) 274-4565 cstog@windstream.net NAMI Winchester Brenda Harrington (859) 737-3384 bebe1@bellsouth.net

parent support Kentucky Partnership for Families and Children 207 Holmes Street; Frankfort, Ky. 40601 (502) 875-1320 / (800) 369-0533 kpfc@kypartnership.org 46

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www.kypartnership.org The Council on Developmental Disabilities 1151 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Ky. 40203 (502) 584-1239 / outreach@councilonmr.org www.councilonmr.org The Council on Developmental Disabilities, a private non-profit parent association, was founded in 1952 by a small band of parents seeking educational services for their children with disabilities. The goal of these parents was to have a full array of services and programs to meet the unique and individual needs of their children.

speech

hearing & language Lexington Hearing and Speech Center 350 Henry Clay Blvd. Lexington, Ky. 40502 (859) 268-6153 / www.lhscky.org Provides diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services for individuals with hearing, speech and language impairments.

Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 632 Versailles Road, Frankfort, Ky. 40601 (502) 573-2604 (V/TTY); (800) 372-2907 (V/ TTY, in KY only) Email: kcdhh@mail.state.ky.us Web: www.kcdhh.org Kentucky School for the Deaf 303 South Second St., P.O. Box 27 Danville, Ky. 40422; (859) 239-7017 http://www.ksd.k12.ky.us/ Ensures that deaf and hard of hearing children and youth have educational opportunities to develop their potential to become educated, lifelong learners and productive citizens.

Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA) 838 E. High St., Suite 263, Lexington, Ky. 40502 / (800) 837-2446 www.ksha.info The mission is to enhance the provision of quality services to persons with communication disorders and their families. KSHA provides broad-based education opportunities, public

awareness and policy development initiatives, and by supporting professionals in speechlanguage pathology and audiology by promoting the highest standards for service providers.

St. Rita School for the Deaf 1720 Glendale Milford Rd; Cincinnati, Ohio, 45215; (513) 771-7600; (Video Phone): (513) 771-0310; http://srsdeaf.org

spina bifida Spina Bifida Association of Kentucky Kosair Charities Centre 982 Eastern Parkway, Box 18, Louisville, Ky. 40217 / (502) 637-7363; (866) 340-7225 sbak@sbak.org / www.sbak.org SBAK is a resource center that provides free services and programs to children and adults with Spina Bifida and their families. The mission is to promote the prevention of Spina Bifida and to enhance the lives of all affected. Have you had your recommended daily dose of Folic Acid? Remember, 400mcg of Folic Acid taken before pregnancy can reduce the risk of having a child with Spina Bifida by 70%.

vision Department for the Blind 275 E. Main St., Frankfort, Ky. 40601 (800) 321-6668/ (502) 782-3414 / http:// blind.ky.gov/ Family Eyecare Associates & Children’s Vision and Learning Center Dr. Rick Graebe 105 Crossfield Drive, Versailles, Ky. 40383 (859) 879-3665/ (855) 686-2020 www.myfamilyvision.com Family Eyecare Associates and Dr. Rick Graebe offer the best available eyecare for the entire family. This includes computerized exams for children and adults; and quality eyeglasses, sunglasses and contact lenses. In addition to general optometric services, Family Eyecare offers unique programs such as Vision Therapy for children experiencing difficulty with reading and/or underachievement at school. Children in these programs average more than a 3-year improvement in performance in 10 to 15 weeks.

resource guide

other organizations

Legacy Gymnastics 261 Ruccio Way, Lexington, Ky. (859) 977-8862 www.legacy-gymnastics.com Carousel Kidz is a program to meet your child’s special needs with one-on-one gymnastics and dance lessons.

Cerebral Palsy K.I.D.S. Center Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies 982 Eastern Parkway, Louisville, Ky. 40217 (502) 635-6397 http://www.firstgiving.com/kidscenter Since 1959, the Kids Center has served families of children with Down syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, autism, seizure disorders, and a number of other developmental conditions.

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Kentucky Chapter P.O. Box 573, Prospect, Ky. 40059 / (646) 623-2620 / Kentucky@ccfa.org www.ccfa.org/chapters/kentucky/

Central Kentucky Riding for Hope PO Box 13155, Lexington, Ky. 40583 (859) 231-7066 lauriston@ckrh.org / www.ckrh.org Operated at the Kentucky Horse Park.34 Under the guidance of trained teachers, volunteers and medical people, disabilities are challenged and new abilities are created.

The program has proved successful in helping people with a wide range of disabilities develop self-esteem, confidence, coordination

See

Tourette Syndrome Association Lexington Support Group / 859-276-0835/ r.gorton@insightbb.com Louisville Support Group / 502-852-7528/ ermark01@louisville.edu www.tsa-usa.org Y

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LYSA’s TOPSoccer Program Lexington, Ky. / (859) 223-5632 www.lysa.org TOPSoccer is community-based and designed to meet the needs of athletes with physical, developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.

and a sense of achievement while learning horsemanship and track riding principles.

Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky 7410 New Lagrange Road, Suite 100 Louisville, Ky. 40222 / (502) 493-0609 www.biak.us

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Visually Impaired Preschool Service (VIPS) Greater Louisville 1906 Goldsmith Lane; Louisville, Ky. 40218 (502) 636-3207; (888) 636-8477 / www.vips. org VIPS-Central Kentucky 161 Burt Road, Suite #4, Lexington, Ky. 40503 (859) 276-0335; (888-254-8477) www.vips.org The Mission of Visually Impaired Preschool Services, Inc. is to offer appropriate services to infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are visually impaired or blind and to their families; and to maximize each child’s development potential through direct services, advocacy and community education. VIPS staff includes certified teachers who specialize in early childhood education, visual impairment, O&M, and special education. Several staff members are also parents of visually impaired children.

Bluegrass Miracle League 160 East Main St., Georgetown, Ky. 40324 (502) 863-4841 www.bluegrassmiracleleague.org YMCA of Central Kentucky (859) 367-7355 www.ymcaofcentralky.org Baseball league in Lexington for children with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities.

Lexington

Kentucky School for the Blind Division of the Kentucky Department of Education Office of Special Instructional Services 1867 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Ky. 40206 (502) 897-1583 / www.ksb.k12.ky.us/ A K-12 public school serving Kentucky students who are blind and visually impaired, offers Short Course program (1-12 weeks) of specialized instruction available to students throughout the school year. Summer school programs are offered in June and July.

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