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Possibilities

April 2006

from the Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

As of January 2006, Possibilities became an online publication. You may subscribe at http://www.disabilitytraining.org/possibilities/index.html. 

ON THE ROAD with the Connor Training Consortium

Five more individuals have moved from state facilities to community settings, thanks in part to Conner Training Consortium funds. In this issue, we focus on individuals who have moved to Washington and Sac City.

"It (Training Consortium funding) came at a time when we really needed it," said Cheli Morgan, Resources Coordinator with Systems Unlimited in Washington. The Training Consortium's contribution allowed Henry County to draw down Medicaid funds which were used to purchase furniture and other necessary household items.

The placement came following more than a year of planning and finding "just the right situation," according to Morgan. The "right situation" presented itself when a family purchased a home for their daughter who has disabilities and invited Systems to help them find tenants. The Consortium fund recipient is very content in this three-bedroom home, which she shares with two roommates. She enjoys outings with her mother, and recently was able to spend time with her sister who was visiting from Korea. She looks forward to a trip to the zoo, planning spring cookouts, and all those other things we do AT HOME.

"She's just blossomed since she's been here," said Howard Center Inc. (HCI) Associate Director Pat Laursen as she spoke of a recent Training Consortium grant recipient. After nearly two years of planning, the consumer moved from the Woodward Resource Center (WRC) to Sac City in mid-February.

HCI Residential Director Mickey Drake credits WRC staff for their excellent cooperation. Their persistence and willingness to train HCI staff at the time of the consumer's arrival, says Drake, has been a key component of the successful transition.

The consumer lives in a homey, four-bedroom duplex in Sac City. Residential staff are working with her to develop an interest in activities new to her such as shopping and laundry. She has settled into a comfortable routine, and was very focused on her work at the time of this writer's visit to her place of employment.

Grant recipients in Washington and Sac City share a persistent determination to succeed and an appreciation for the Conner Training Consortium. Systems Unlimited Senior Counselor Judy Evans believes so strongly in the program that she wants to establish a private fund to support future community placements. Says HCI's Drake: "It's an excellent program."

WHAT'S NEW in the Disability Resource Library


Access to Medical Care : Adults with Physical Disabilities / World Institute on Disabilities.
Describes the social, cultural and institutional barriers to medical care for persons with severe physical disabilities and how these barriers can be overcome.
[videocassette and guide] 23 min.: World Institute on Disability, 2004.
#3375


Accommodating Employees and Job Applicants with Psychiatric Disabilities in the Workplace /
Steven Bruce and Dirk Dirksen.
Explains employer responsibilities to workers with mental disabilities. Briefly reviews equal access to employment. Real life scenarios include people with: depression, anxiety, communication disorder, chemical dependency, and manic depression.
[videocassette] 35 min.: People with Disabilities Foundation, c2004.
#3374


Bad Hair Life : Trichotillomania / produced, written and directed by Jennifer Raikes; editor and co-writer, Sharon Sacks.
Personal narratives of young people and adults who engage in compulsive hair pulling, an impulse-control disorder. [videocassette] 57 min. : Fanlight Productions, c2003.
#3305


Believing, Belonging, Becoming: Stories of Faith Inclusion / by Beth Swedeen.
Whatever the religion, building relationships with people with disabilities benefits the entire faith community.
[videocassette and booklet] 12 min. : Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities, 2002.
#3332


The Closing of Haverford State / Joanne Silberner.
In 1998, Pennsylvania closed Haverford State Mental Hospital. This is the radio documentary of the hospital's history, its patients, the closing, and the return of Haverford residents to the community. This report originally aired on The Infinite Mind, with Dr. Fred Goodwin, June 21, 2000.
[audiocassette] 59 min.: Lichtenstein Creative Media, c1998, 2000.
#3347

Depression : Helping Families Cope / Innovative Training Systems, Inc.
A two-part program that has proven successful in helping families in which one or both parents suffer from depression. Program audience: children age 7-13 and parents.
[2 videocassettes] 52 min., 2000.
#3361

Explosive Disorder and Rage / presented by Richard K. Nongard.
This lecture course differentiates between rage and intermittent explosive disorder (a DSM-IV impulse control disorder), and offers approaches for working with clients to manage rage and violent behavior.
[DVD] 3 hrs.: PeachTree Professional Education, c2004.
#3318


Raising Resilient Children: a Curriculum to Foster Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Children / Sam Goldstein and Robert Brooks.
A "must-see" for the parents of children who are lacking in self-esteem at a very young age.
[kit] 70 min.: Paul H. Brookes, c2002.
#3258

All Disability Resource Library services are free to people with disabilities in the Center for Disabilities and Development service area and to members of their families. Other individuals and community service providers are asked to pay a per item fee to borrow materials, or they may purchase an annual subscription. There is no charge to anyone for assistance with finding information. To contact the Disability Resource Library at the Center for Disabilities and Development, phone 800-272-7713, email disability-library@uiowa.edu, or visit on the web at http://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/cdd/multiple/drl/drl.asp.

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Conferences & Training Events

Project InSight
Through May 26, 2006, University of Northern Iowa Museum, 3219 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls
This community-wide collaboration features a hands-on exhibit entitled "In Touch With Knowledge: The Educational History of Blind People." Tour the exhibit and experience early tactile representations used to teach reading, science, math and geography to blind students. Learn directly from individuals who are blind about resources and experiences which have contributed to their success. For more information, go to www.uni.edu/museum or call 319-273-2188.


Bodies of Work: Chicago Festival of Disability Arts and Culture
April 20-30, multiple venues, Chicago, Illinois
The Festival is a celebration of artists with disabilities, and an exploration of the cultural manifestations of living with disabilities. The Festival will include theatrical performances, dance, music, literature, poetry, spoken word, film, visual art exhibitions, lectures, and discussions. For more information, contact Eva Silverman, (312)744-4405; TTY (312)744-2947; E-mail: esilverman@cityofchicago.org.


International Dyslexia Association-Iowa Branch Spring Conference
April 22, Mt. Mercy College, 1330 Elmhurst Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids
C. Wilson Anderson is the featured speaker for this Conference. Plans are being made for graduate credit for teachers. A parent program will also be offered. Go to https://www.interdys.org/servlet/viewbranch?branch_id=16 for details.


Iowa Hands & Voices Family Camp Weekend (Boone)
April 29-30, YMCA Camp, Boone
Day camp for children who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing and a variety of activities for family members. More information: Susan Hagarty (515) 674-4634 or susanrh@msn.com.


Risky Business Conference (Ames)
May 2, Scheman Center, Iowa State University, Ames
Includes keynote presentations by Dr. Robert Sylwester on the topic of youth development and Dr. Nancy Moore on the topic of youth self-image, relationships and peer pressure. Afternoon sessions will build on these themes. Open to youth and support professionals. For more information, visit http://www.yss.ames.ia.us/riskybusiness/ or call Barb Mittman at 515-382-6874.


Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Iowa Spring Conference: Food, Behavior & Beyond
May 4, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Johnston Public Library, 6700 Merle Hay Rd., Johnston (North of I-80)
Designed for providers, educators, caretakers, and individuals with PWS. Topics include: Psychological Aspects of PWS; Transitioning to Adult Services; Budgeting for Calories. To register phone: 515-987-0288, or email: dbogaczyk@msn.com.


Microboards: The Route to Self-Determination
May 4, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Foxboro Conference Center, Johnston
Presenter, Ruthie-Marie Beckwith, Tennessee Microboards Association
Learn about an innovative approach to supporting individuals with significant disabilities which honors consumer and family preferences. There is no cost, but you must register: e-epg@uiowa.edu.


AutismOne 2006 Conference
May 24-28 (2 preconference days May 24-25, main conference May 26-28), Westin O'Hare Hotel, Rosemont, Illinois
AutismOne combines themes for families and providers on: Autism analysis and biomedical treatments; Behavior/education/communication therapies; Complementary and alternative medicine; Adolescence and adulthood; Government/legal/family health issues. View the full agenda at: www.autismone.com.


National Self-Advocacy Conference
May 25-28, Atlanta Hilton, Atlanta, Georgia
Theme: "We Had a Dream, Now We Have the Power"
Self-advocates from around the nation are invited to attend by conference hosts, the Southern Collaborative on Self Determination and Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered. For more information, see: http://www.sabe2006.org/.


The Explosive Child Conference
June 12, Sheraton Hotel West Des Moines
Ross Greene, author of The Explosive Child, will present his Collaborative Problem Solving approach for children and adolescents with challenging behaviors. CEU's available. For registration and information see: http://www.iffcmh.org/child_06.htm.


For more conference and training opportunities, see the Disability Training calendar.

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“The externals are simply so many props; everything we need is within us.”

-Anonymous

More quotations from previous issues

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How to get in touch with Possibilities:

POSSIBILITIES is funded in part through a grant from the Iowa Department of Human Services to support the activities of the Iowa Training Consortium. Possibilities is designed by Loretta Popp.

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from
Center for Disabilities and Development
Iowa's University Center for Excellence on Disabilities
University of Iowa Health Care
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1011
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