bi county - arcoflehighnorthampton.org · their families, and the community about programs,...
TRANSCRIPT
BI-COUNTY OBSERVER: Northampton Edition
Editor : Ramona Neidig
Telephone:
610-849-8076 , ext . 325
September 2018
Published six times a year to inform persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and the community about programs, trainings & events in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Please visit www.arcoflehighnorthampton.org for more info.
Dear Families, Friends, and Colleagues, All throughout the year, there are days, weeks, and months that are designated to bring awareness to certain subjects & themes. The topics can range from silly to serious. Who knew that September 14th is National Kreme Filled Donut Day, September 19th is Talk Like Pirate Day, and September 30th is National Hug a Vegetarian Day. Moving into October, we have World Egg Day on Oct. 14th, Reptile Awareness Day on Oct. 21, and my personal favorite, National Chocolate Day on Oct. 28th. Now that we’ve shared a smile (or a groan), there are some serious topics to stress as well. For example, September is National Fetal Alcohol Awareness Month. Did you know that prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disorders in the United States? As we went to press, I learned of a local event that is occurring soon:
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Friday, September 7, 2018 7:30 am-12:00 pm
The Palace Center 623 Hanover Avenue, Allentown PA
CEU credit is available. Cost is free for the general public. CEU fees are $15 for NASW members & $20 for non-members. This event is made possible by the PA Dept. of Drug & Alcohol, the Lehigh and Northampton County Departments of Drug and Alcohol, and the Center for Humanistic Change. For more info, or to RSVP, please contact Sonia Oliveira at 610-443-1595 or s.oliveira @thechc.org.
October is National Depression Awareness Month. Depression is treatable. If you or someone you
know is chronically depressed, it’s time to get a “check-up from the neck-up”. Seeking help is a sign of
strength, not weakness. You may also want to mark your calendar for the upcoming Harvest Full of Hope Mental Health Awareness Conference in Bethlehem. This free annual event will take place October 10, 2018 in The Arts Quest Center at Steel Stacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 18015. The mission is to increase mental health awareness and decrease the stigma of mental illness in the community. The conference is a great opportunity for networking and connecting the community to services offered in the Lehigh Valley. Community, consumers, professionals, family members and advocates alike will benefit from this event.
Ramona
IM4Q Info Volume 18, Issue 5 Page 2
Independent Monitoring for Quality Northampton AE Summary 2017
Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) visits with adults and children age three and over who are supported by the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). IM4Q sends interviewers to talk to people who live in licensed community homes at least once every 3 years. Interviews are also conducted with people who live with their family, life-sharing families, independently, in intermediate care facilities (ICFs/MR), nursing facilities and personal care homes.
Reports created from Independent Monitoring for Quality interviews are shared with provider agencies, administrative entities/counties, and the Planning Advisory Committee for the Office of Developmental Programs for purposes of improving peoples’ quality of life. This information presents some of the findings from the 2016-17 report that compare administrative entity and statewide results. For a full report please contact your administrative entity/county or go to the Department of Human Services (DHS) website at www.state.pa.us.
* Satisfaction research demonstrates that people report high levels of satisfaction with whatever they have.
Page 3 Volume 18 Issue 5 Easton Offerings
Parent Support Group-Easton Area Faith Lutheran Church 2012 Sullivan Trail, Easton PA
Do you have a child or adolescent who is on the autism spectrum or who has an intellectual disability? Would you like to share experiences with others who know your world? If so, please join us for a time of sharing and
discovery. Light refreshments provided. Please contact Leslie McKelvey at 610-554-1988 or email [email protected]. September 15, 2018 2:00-4:00 pm There is no guest presenter for our September meeting. Instead, we will check in with each other, catch up from the summer, and share our insights & concerns. Please don’t stay home when you have a chance to connect with others family members. We need each other! October 20, 2018 2:00-4:00 pm Representatives from Epic Healthcare will provide an overview of their program, help you understand home healthcare, & explain how to qualify for services. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Free Tutoring at Easton Public Library 515 Church Street, Easton PA
Did you know that the Easton Public Library offers FREE tutoring to students in kindergarten through 12th grade? Tutors are students from Lafayette College who are participating in a federal work study program. Slots are available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:45-5:45. Students are responsible for bringing homework or other schoolwork to work on with the tutor. Space is limited. Sign-ups start Sept. 17th. Sessions will end in early December. Please register by calling Audrey Kantner at 610-258-2917, Ext. 322. You do NOT have to be a resident of Easton to sign up for the free tutoring. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Located in historic Easton, PA, the PA Bacon Fest has grown into one of the region’s most popular events, with 150+ vendors, 12+ musical acts, and several stages, the two-day festival attracts more than 80,000 attendees.
PA Bacon Fest was named one of the TOP 300 Festivals in the world by FEST300.com!! The fest was also voted Best Culinary Event in Lehigh Valley Style Magazine’s Best of the Lehigh Valley contest. The Fest is held from 10am-6 pm - Rain or Shine. Even if you don’t like bacon, come out & enjoy the fun. Suggested Donation is $2.00. Proceeds benefit the Easton Farmers' Market, Easton Public Market, Easton Ambassadors and Easton Main Street Initiative. Donors receive a raffle ticket. For more info, please visit pabaconfest.com/raffle.
Volume 18, Issue 5 Page 4
Right to Education Local Task Force IU 20 - Northampton County
Are you the parent of a child who receives special education services? Are you a professional who works with students who receive these services? If so, the Right to Education Local Task Force needs your input!
Explanation: In Pennsylvania there are 29 intermediate units. Intermediate units serve as liaison agencies between school districts & the PA Department of Education. Each intermediate unit has a Local Task Force. These task forces were created in 1972 as part of a legal decision known as the PARC Consent. Background: The organization then known as the PA Association for Retarded Citizens (now known simply as the Arc of PA), sued the Commonwealth for the rights of children with intellectual disabilities to attend public school. The concept known by the acronym FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) is something that is often taken for granted, but it required an arduous legal battle to achieve and it takes vigilance to uphold. Description: The Local Task Force (referred to simply as the LTF) holds meeting 6 times during the school year. Often there are guest presenters. Local task forces are comprised of parents, educators, and other stakeholders who are concerned with the quality and delivery of special education services. Meetings: Meetings are held at Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, located at 6 Danforth Drive in Easton. For more info, please contact Renee Heckman at 610-252-5550. Meetings begin at 10 AM & run until approx. 11:30 AM. Days are Monday, unless there is a snow day. RSVP appreciated but not required.
2018 LTF Meetings: September 17 10:00 Guest Speakers: Mirialy Campos-Cruz & Genesis Gomez Topic: Overview of Services of Neighborhood Health Centers of the Lehigh Valley October 15 10:00 Guest Speaker: Sarah Mosser, Magellan Topic: HealthChoices Levels of Care: Behavioral Health & Substance Abuse Services November 19 10:00 TBD (Snow date is Nov. 20)
Local Task Force Info
Fall Trainings at The Arc Volume 18, Issue 5 P. 5
Month by Month IEP Tips Hosted by The Arc of Lehigh & Northampton Counties
2289 Avenue A, Bethlehem PA Saturday, September 29, 2018 from 10:00-12:30
Guest Presenter: Jennifer P. Grobe, Esquire McAndrews Law Office
Do you long for a more organized, successful, and peaceful school year?
Turn your dream into reality. The key is baby steps. Taking tiny, but critical steps each month can achieve significant results. In her informal presentation, Attorney Jennifer Grobe will share some very “do-able” tasks for each month of the year, including summer. By breaking up tasks into smaller components, you won’t feel so overwhelmed. This technique is highly effective. Attorney Grobe will also cover basic special education terms and deadlines. Come with questions. Leave with answers, tips, & strategies to help you advocate effectively for your child during this school year and in the school years to come. This event is free but you must RSVP to Ramona Neidig at [email protected] or 610-849-8076, ext. 325. Email preferred. Brunch provided. In order for this event to be offered, we must have at least 10 attendees. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __
Your Will: Don’t Leave Planet Earth Without It! The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties 2289 Avenue A, Bethlehem PA October 1, 2018 6:00-7:30 PM Guest Presenter: Gregory Reed, Esquire
The clip art shows a smiling face, but creating a will is no joke. It’s serious business. Gregory Reed, Esquire, has been a familiar presenter at The Arc on topics such as estate planning, trusts, and guardianship versus power of attorney. In this presentation, Attorney Reed will focus on wills and why you need one. The following questions will be addressed: • What goes into the last will and testament? What information & provision should it contain? • What are the advantages to having a will? What happens if you die without one? • What are the laws of intestacy? • What is the difference between a will & a living will? What is an Advanced Directive? • What is probate? How does having a will help the estate navigate through the probate process? • What is an executor and what are his/her duties? A will is but one component of future planning. Our presenter will touch briefly on other aspects of estate planning, such as creating a trust & selecting a trustee. This presentation is free, but you must RSVP. Please contact Ramona Neidig at 610-849-8076, ext. 325 or [email protected]. An email RSVP is preferred. Please indicate your county of residence when you register.
Page 6 Social Opportunities Vol. 18, Issue 5
Best Buddies Your last newsletter included information on Best Buddies. This organization provides opportunities for socialization and friendship between college students and individuals over 18 with developmental disabilities. Many buddy pairs are returning; however, there may still be openings at Lehigh, Lafayette, Muhlenberg or DeSales. The clubs are run by college volunteers who have a faculty advisor. Here at The Arc, Bob Madden and I serve as community-based advisors. You may contact me at 610-849-8076, ext. 325 if you are
interested in Lehigh or Lafayette. Contact Bob at ext. 317 if you prefer being matched at Muhlenberg or DeSales. As you might imagine, it can get quite hectic here in the fall. We field many questions about the Best Buddies clubs. Please do try to register at www.bestbuddiesonline.org before calling us. We sincerely hope that Best Buddies will benefit everyone who participates. Even with strong campus recruitment efforts, it may not be possible to match everyone. Students who cannot commit to a one-to-one match will often sign up as an associate buddy-one who helps out at group events only. Be assured that we will try to make as many 1:1 matches as possible.
Would you like an E-mail Pen Pal through Best Buddies? Best Buddies Pennsylvania is currently recruiting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to be matched in a one-to-one e-mail friendship with a peer who does not have a disability. For more information about the e-Buddies program, visit www.ebuddies.org. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Hope Friendship Dances: Hope Lutheran Church, Rte. 248 in Cherryville These very popular dances will resume on September 17, 2018. Dances are held on the 3rd Monday of each month from September through May. Fee is still only $5.00. No need to RSVP. Please park in the rear of the church & enter from the rear. Questions? Please contact Judy Dieter at 610-767-9170 or email her at [email protected].
2018 Dates Sept. 17 Oct.15 Nov. 19 Dec. 17
2019 Dates Jan. 12 Feb. 18 March 18 April 15 May 20 Directions From 248: Take Airport Road North to stop sign. Make left onto 248W and continue approx. 9 miles. Church is on the left. From 145: Take 145 all the way over Treicher’s Bridge. At the end of the bridge at light make a right onto Blue Mt. Drive. At next traffic light, make a right onto Lehigh Drive (Rte. 248). Continue 1/4 mile. Church will be on your right.
Fun and Fitness Page 7 Volume 18, Issue 5
Fishing and Fun in the Park
Join LVCIL and our partners for a fun fishing event on the Little Lehigh River in the beautiful Little Lehigh Parkway, Allentown. The event will include several environmental educational stations on casting, baiting, bird watching, invertebrate study, as well as a live animal demonstration. Local anglers will be on hand to assist in baiting, casting, and retrieving the fish you catch. Open to the public. People with and without disabilities are welcome.
NO LICENSE or POLE REQUIRED! We will supply bait and equipment! Besides fishing, this event will offer a vendor fair, arts & crafts, & a food truck
Cost: Free When: Saturday, September 22, 2018 (Rain or shine) Where: Little Lehigh Parkway (Where Lights in the Parkway is held) 1600 Park Drive, Allentown, PA _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Lehigh Valley TOP Soccer Club Resumes
Lehigh Valley TOP Soccer Club is the only soccer program in the valley that is dedicated to children with special needs. The club is open to children who have autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or other disabilities. We stress fun, parent involvement, community support, the buddy system, & practice. The Fall 2018 season begins on Saturday, Sept. 8th. It will end in early November. The fee per child is $20.00. Registration forms may be downloaded from https://sites.google.com/
site/lehighvalleytopsoccer/. Games are played on Saturday afternoon from 3:00-4:00 at the Lehigh County Soccer Fields in South Whitehall Township (Youth Fields 1,2, and 3), located at 4238 Walnut Street in Allentown. For more information, you may contact Chittur (CB) Anan-than at 610-481-4564 (day) or 610-391-1812 (evening). _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Evening Recreation Hosted by The Arc on Thursday evenings from 7-9 PM 2289 Avenue A, Bethlehem PA
Dues are $8.00, payable before the start of each session. Fee is waived for first-time visitors. Transportation providers must drop off and pick up on time. Caregivers are encouraged to stay with the participants during events. Evening Rec is open to those with an intellectual disability who are 18 or older & reside in either Lehigh or Northampton County. For more info, please call 610-849-8076, Ext. 352.
Page 8 In the Community... Volume 18, Issue 5
19th Annual Lehigh Valley Buddy Walk October 6, 2018 from 2-6 p.m. Valley Preferred Cycling Center 151 Mosser Road, Breinigsville PA This event is a 1 mile fun walk with an after party! Hosted by the Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center (EPDSC), the goal is to promote awareness and acceptance of individuals with Down syndrome. Registration/Check-in is at 2:00. The Buddy Walk begins at 3:10 PM. Visit www.lehighvalleybuddywalk.org to register a walker, a team, or make a donation. For more information, please contact Melissia Baker at [email protected] or call the center at 610-402-0188. _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _
Resource Fair Hosted by Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 & the Right to Education Local Task Force 4210 Independence Drive, Schnecksville PA October 24, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 pm
Looking for resources, services, or activities for individuals with disabilities? Join us for snacks, prizes, and lots of great information! Representatives from Lehigh Valley agencies and organizations will be available to services related to: Advocacy Autism Behavioral Health Disability Services Employment Therapies Transition and MUCH MORE! Last year more than 3 dozen vendors participated! Halloween theme-kids may come in costume for trick or treating. This event is free, but you must RSVP to: [email protected]. This event is open to IU 20 families as well. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Young Adult Yoga Class Good Shepherd Raker Center
601 St. John Street, Allentown PA 11:30-12:30 Mondays
Instructed by Julia Gerancher, COTA/L, CLYA
Fee is $5.00 per class. Purchase 10 classes, get 1 free. Cash payments accepted upon arrival. This class is ideal for adults of all abilities ages 18-30. The Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center is joining Good Shepherd in this wellness initiative. Besides yoga, classes will include pilates, creative dance, aquatic sessions, & use of gym equipment. Educational aspect includes nutrition, healthy choices, & meal planning. Start date of Aug. 6; however, classes will be ongoing. Parking available in parking garage. For more info, please call 610-776-3109.
Page 9 Autism Information Volume 18, Issue 5
Stepping Stones Plus 87 S. Commerce Way, Suite 740, Bethlehem PA
Stepping Stones Plus is a therapeutic small group program for children and adolescents ages 3 to 20 who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. This site-based program is highly structured. It allows the participants to practice both skill generalization and skill transference. The ratio of staff to participants is individualized. Staff are highly trained & have either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree. Participation must be deemed medically necessary by a licensed evaluator. The individual may be prescribed up to 25
hours per week and up to six hours per day. Magellan insurance is accepted. The prescription should state the exact number of hours per week and the days per week. It should also include the rationale for the service. Example: “It is recommended to attend the therapeutic afterschool program for 18 hours per week in order to target the following skills: peer relations, environmental awareness, and social communication”. The more specific the recommendation are, the better.
Other Skills to be Targeted Include:
Compensatory Strategies Leadership Skills Positive Communication Safety Awareness Interactive Play Pragmatic Language Ability to Transition Multisensory Activities Joint Attention Social Referencing
For more information please contact Beth Rothrock, Program Manager, at 610-814-4850 or [email protected].
Editor’s Note: Some families may know Merakey by the company’s former name, NHS (Northwestern Human Services). The agency’s name changed in April of 2018. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
ARCH (Autism Resource Community Hub) of Lehigh Valley
1347 Hausman Road, Allentown PA
ARCH of Lehigh Valley is an inviting, user-friendly center that provides comprehensive services to individuals and families touched by autism. Our professional staff are trained in Autism Spectrum Disorder. We promote and support the success of each individual in a therapeutic learning environment. In addition to meeting ADA standards, our state of the art facility incorporates specially designed lighting and sensory features. Our resources are designed to help each person achieve their full potential. Services include diagnostic evaluations, psychiatry & medication management, counseling, BHRS (Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services), STAP (Summer Therapeutic Activities Program, therapeutic after school programs, professional training, resource room, parent partners, support groups, and family activities. For more info, please call 610-573-2500 or visit www.archoflv.org.
Page 10 Autism Society October Fundraiser Volume 18, Issue 5
Attention Artists, Crafters and Friends Please support our efforts!!
Proceeds will benefit:
Where The Art Establishment 945 Broadway
(Fountain Hill section of Bethlehem) When October 27, 2018 Shop from 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
(Note: Setup for artists/crafters starts at 9 AM)
Looking For: •Artists and Crafters with a family member with autism •Individuals or groups with autism or special needs •Professionals who enjoy working with individuals with autism/ special needs There are 16 spaces available for sales. Artists/Crafters: Please make your $25 check payable to Autism Society Lehigh Valley. Mail to P.O. Box 3523, Allentown PA 18106. We ask that you also provide a raffle basket worth $25.00. Deadline to register is Oct. 15, 2018. If you are an individual with a disability who cannot afford the table fee, please advise. You will need to bring a 6’ table, table cloth & chair. Please advise if you need access to a socket & what type of art, craft or media you will offer.
For more information email Mimi Ludwig at [email protected] or call 610-751-6532.
October is Bullying Awareness Month Vo1. 8, Issue 5 Page 11
About Unity Day Wednesday, October 24, 2018
What are your true colors when it comes to bullying?
Make it ORANGE and make it end! If you care about safe and supportive schools and communities, make your color ORANGE on Unity Day. That’s the day everyone can come together – in schools, in communities, and online to send one giant ORANGE message of support, hope, and unity to show that we are together against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Individuals across the nation, and even world-wide, can participate in Unity Day.
Wear Orange: Make a Statement! “ORANGE provides a powerful, visually compelling expression of solidarity,” said Paula Goldberg, Executive Director of PACER Center. “When hundreds of individuals in a school or organization wear orange, the vibrant statement becomes a conversation starter, sending the unified message to kids to know that they are not alone.” More than one of every five school-aged children report being bullied,” said Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, which sponsors Unity Day and founded National Bullying Prevention Month in 2006. “It’s important these students know they are not alone and that they have the right to feel safe. By joining together and wearing ORANGE on Unity Day, we can send the unified message that we care about each student’s physical and emotional health and that bullying will no longer be accepted in this society.”
For more info, please visit PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center www.PACER.org _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Editor’s Note: The titles listed below are available in The Arc’s Family Resource Library. To borrow a book for a four-week period, please contact Ramona at [email protected] or call 610-849-8076, Ext. 325. Sticks and Stones: How to Help Your Child Address Bullying Bullying: Not in This School: 40 Weeks of Bullying Prevention Activities No Kidding about Bullying: 125 Ready-to-Use Activities Words Wound: Delete Cyberbullying and Make Kindness Go Viral
Coming Soon...Free IEP Workshop Volume 18 , Issue 5 Page 12
BI-COUNTY OBSERVER: Northampton County Edition
Published six times a year for persons receiving services from the Intellectual Disabilities Departments in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Funded by Lehigh & Northampton Counties’ MH/ID Departments under contract with The Arc of Lehigh & Northampton Counties.
Ramona Neidig, Editor 610-849-8076 (Ext. 325) [email protected]
RED FLAGS to the IEP The Arc of Lehigh & Northampton Counties 2289 Avenue A, Bethlehem PA November 7, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 PM Presenter: Angela Uliana-Murphy, Esquire
All students who receive special education services must have an IEP (Individualized Education Program. How does your child’s IEP measure up? Does it contain appropriate goals? Are these goals measurable? Does the IEP address your child’s unique needs in a specific way? Many IEPs could use a good overhaul! Parent attorney Angela Uliana- Murphy will discuss what to look for, as well as what to Look OUT for, in your child’s IEP. Here are some questions to think about before you RSVP for this workshop: • Does the IEP state when, where, how frequently, & for how long services will occur? • Has the IEP been written by a TEAM of people that includes the parent/guardian? • Is assistive technology listed under “special considerations”? This potentially valuable service is often neglected or underutilized. • Are certain behaviors of your child affecting is/her ability to learn? Are these behaviors having a negative impact on others? If so, the IEP should include positive behavior strategies. • What happens if your child has not made the expected progress? The IEP should change as your child changes. Perhaps it’s time to revisit and revise the IEP. These and many other IEP-related questions will be covered in this presentation. This event is free, but you must RSVP to Ramona Neidig. Please call her at 610-849-8076, Ext. 325 or email [email protected]. Email registration preferred. Professionals welcome if space permits. When registering, please state your county & provide a bit of background information about your child or client.