Indiana Postsecondary Education Coalition

Wondering if your child should go to college? Nationwide, people with disabilities are finding more and more opportunities to fulfill their dreams of attending college courses with their peers.

In Indiana, choices are limited, but through the efforts of the Indiana Postsecondary Education Coalition, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education "to address systemic issues in Indiana as related to post-secondary education opportunities, and, for those individuals who chose this option, to promote the transition of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities into higher education."

A new website encourages college as an option for people with disabilities. Access the site at: http://www.thinkcollegeindiana.org/

Dancing with Max

Dancing with Max: A mother and son who broke free is one family's story of the journey of discovery, with its losses and triumphs, on the road to understanding autism spectrum disorders. Written with love and truth, this mother shares her heartbreaking realities and her son's spiritual insights. Prepare to laugh and to cry.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu, or use Evergreen. Not in Indiana? Try worldcat.org to find this title in a library near you.

Vacation time!

Summer time often means vacation time--sun, sand, and surf! But for many families, especially those who have children with disabilities, vacations or just travelling in general can be more stressful than NOT taking them!

The Washington Post recently blogged about the subject of traveling with a child who has special needs. They offered tips for successfully vacationing with fewer meltdowns and more fun. To read the entire post, go to:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-parenting/post/traveling-with-a-special-needs-child/2011/07/04/gIQAgbLUEI_blog.html

"I"ing for Communication

The iPad has revolutionized the augmentative communication world and the way Speech Language Pathologists deliver articulation and language therapy to students and individuals. Despite easy access, we need to know the range of applications, how to judge and apply the technologies that are available, how to integrate the application and make them work in the world of learning.

The Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism, in conjunction with Hamilton-Boone-Madison Special Services Cooperative, is offering six training opportunities in the months of August and September.

Attendees will be able to:
· Identify how to use the devices for augmenting communication;
· Learn how technology can create content, share knowledge and build and support relationships;
· Learn how to incorporate technology into articulation and language therapy;
· Identify the applications for augmentative communication including those that focus on core vocabulary; and
· Identify the applications for articulation and language therapies.

Training dates and locations include:

August 26, 2011
Morning session (8:30-11:00)
Afternoon session (12:30-3:00)
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Bloomington, IN

September 2, 2011
Morning session (8:30-11:00)
Afternoon session (12:30-3:00)
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Bloomington, IN

September 14, 2011
Morning session (8:30-11:00)
Afternoon session (12:30-3:00)
Hamilton-Boone-Madison Special Services Cooperative, Carmel, IN

For more information, go to: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/styles/iidc/defiles/IRCA/Iing%20for%20communication%20bro2.pdf

Inclusion in work force

According to a story in the New York Times Opinionator last week, inclusion in the work place will become more important than ever as the growing population of people on the spectrum graduate and leave school. Finding employment where they are valued and feel comfortable can be a struggle, but one Danish company, Specialisterne, may have an answer. "Specialisterne trains people with autism to work as consultants in large companies where they excel at jobs like testing software and managing data," say the article's author.

To read the entire story, go to: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/building-a-more-inclusive-work-force/

Mobile App Monday - iPrompts

Need some help prompting a child on the spectrum to transition to the next activity? Looking for a "greener" alternative to using pictures on paper? iPrompts is just that and more. This app offers the following options:

• Create-your-own picture schedules
• Visual countdown timer
• Choice prompts
• Image library

For more information on iPrompts for iPhone and iPod touch, go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iprompts/id313144705?mt=8#

For best results on iPad, see: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iprompts-xl/id410386084?mt=8#

Combating Autism Reauthorization Act

In May, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act, a bill to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act of 2006. During the second week of July, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is to hold an executive session. The session will occur July 13, 2011 at 10 a.m. EST.

Want to track the status of this bill? Go to: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s112-1094