Walnut Creek All-Abilities Playground

I need your help.  I am working
 with the Walnut Creek Civic Pride Foundation to raise $320,000 in private
contributions to make an All-Abilities Playground a reality in Walnut Creek.


The 
playground will be a place that embraces all children, including those with 
physical or developmental limitations, and will give every child a chance to
play with his or her siblings and friends. It will open in October 2014.

You
 can learn more at www.WCCivicPride.org.  The playground is being developed by the City with dedicated park funds and 
funds
from the County. Of 
course, the City’s park improvement funds are limited, so private
contributions
 are needed to provide for benches and shade structures, for bricks to
 complete
the main entrance to the playground, and for special play features. The 
private 
contributions also will ensure that critical play zones have the 
shock-absorbent, resilient surface that provides for optimal safety and full
 accessibility for all children. 

Our
 plan is to raise the $320,000 in private funds by March 31, 2014. I hope that 
you will 
join me in my efforts.  Here is how you
 can help:

1) Make 
a donation of any amount by visiting the Walnut Creek Civic Pride Foundation website,
 www.WCCivicPride.org.  If
you wish to make a donation of $100 or $250 you can recognize an individual 
or 
family with a commemorative brick.  Donations 
of $1,000 or more will be recognized as Major Donors on the donor wall, 
AND
,

2) Help 
spread the word.  Send this email to your 
friends, family members or community groups you are involved with. This 
wonderful community project will help celebrate Walnut Creek’s Centennial 
and 
welcome all the children of our community and their families for years to
 come.

Please 
contact me if you need additional information.



Glynnis Cowdery

lifmag@aol.com

Study Finds Autism More Challenging For Caregivers

By Michelle Diament from disabilityscoop.com

Caregivers of kids with autism report more trouble accessing services and a greater impact on their families than do parents of children with other developmental disabilities.

Despite having some similar needs, a new study indicates that the experiences of families living with autism differ significantly from those with intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities as well as those with mental health conditions.

For the study, researchers looked at survey data collected through the federal government’s 2009–2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. They focused on responses from more than 18,000 caregivers of children ages 3 to 17 with autism, other developmental disabilities or mental health conditions.

Read more HERE.

Symptoms Of Fragile X May Be Reversible

From Shaun Heasley from disabilityscoop

A new study indicates that medication can reverse many of the defining symptoms of fragile X syndrome in mice, a finding which could have implications for people with other developmental disabilities too.

The development reported Thursday in the journal Neuron is significant, scientists say, because the treatment brought about major changes even in adult mice with fragile X, the most common form of inherited intellectual disability.

For the study, researchers looked at a new drug intended to target a protein in the brain that’s been linked to fragile X. Mice given the medication began exhibiting fewer symptoms of the condition, researchers said. Improvements were seen in learning and memory capabilities as well as behavioral areas, with the mice becoming less sensitive to sound, for example.

Read more HERE.

March is Developmental Disabilities Month

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month thanks to a 1987 Presidential Proclamation from Ronald Reagan, which was the direct result of the advocacy efforts of The Arc. A lot has changed since then, more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are living and thriving in their communities rather than institutions, there are more opportunities, more protections and more respect for and inclusion of people with I/DD in their communities. But we must remember that many of those advancements were hard won. Advocacy was the impetus for many of the positive changes in our society, such as the creation of DD Awareness Month. And that will continue only as long as we fight for it.

In 2012, a pivotal Presidential election year, we are fighting to protect Medicaid. Since many people with disabilities rely on publicly funded services to fully participate in their communities, policy makers need to know you are concerned about continuing those services in the face of budget cuts during tough economic times. Take advantage of March to make your mark on the candidates who hope to hold office in 2013 and beyond. Use Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month as a reason to get involved and get active today!

Read more of The Arc blog post HERE.

Hope Builds for Treating Intellectual Disabilities

A common medication is one of several drugs that might correct or even reverse the effects of fragile X, autism and other developmental disorders.

Read By Melissa Healy's, Los Angeles Times article HERE.

Don’t Sweat the Milestones

Here is an article by By Doug Goldberg from the Special Education Advisor Blog :

Understanding and recognizing when your child isn't reaching their developmental milestones at the appropriate age is an important part of getting early intervention, but after that don’t sweat it! If you have the problem diagnosed and are providing your child with as much intervention as you can stressing over what your child can’t do isn’t going to help anyone.

Read more HERE.

East Bay Innovations and Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund Present:Ramping Up for Independence

A Training Series for Parents/Caregivers of Transition-Age Youth with Developmental Disabilities

Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street (Ashby BART Station), Berkeley
Osher Education Center ▪ 6:00 – 8:00 PM ▪ Light refreshments provided.

"Preparing for and Landing a First Job" on April 12
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

More workshops and info HERE.

Morgan Autism Center - Lecture Series

• • 
    Title: "Special Needs "Real Life" Case Study and Solutions."

Date: Saturday, March 5, 2011

Time: 10:30 - 12:30 pm

Speaker: Miceli Financial Partners Special Care Planning Team

Location: Morgan Autism Center,2280 Kenwood Ave., San Jose, CA 95128

Title: "Biomarkers for Conditions Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder"

Date: Saturday, March 12, 2011

Time: 9:30 - 12:30 pm

Speaker: David Traver, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Location: Morgan Autism Center,2280 Kenwood Ave., San Jose, CA 95128

All Lectures are Free , Courtesy of Miceli Financial Partners
To attend please call 408-241-8161 or, e-mail Diane at: diane@morgancenter.org

For more information visit website HERE.