Possibilities

November 2004

To subscribe to the print version of Possibilities, mail Office of Community Education, Center for Disabilities and Development, 100 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City IA 52242-1011, fax 319-356-8284 or phone 319-353-6448.

"VOICES" to Educate the Public about Mental Illness
Fall in Step with the DRL
Education & Training Events
Quotation

"VOICES" to Educate the Public about Mental Illness

The RAINBOW Center, a Clubhouse model rehabilitation program for people with mental illness located in Des Moines, announces the World Premiere of the "VOICES" project.

Tom Perrine, local theatre director, has been collecting the life stories of people with mental illness. What has resulted is a powerful script that shatters the stereotypes of people with mental illness with the power of a child’s innocence and honesty, tempered by an adult’s experience, acceptance and love.

“'VOICES' is more than a presentation or an event,” says Perrine. “It is the catalyst for future generations of unheard voices. It throws an intimate light on a central societal issue of mental illness that needs to be addressed through education, open discussion, policies, laws and science.”

The RAINBOW Center, in collaboration with StageWest Theater Company, will present the World Premiere of "VOICES" at the Iowa State Historical Building, 600 East Locust in Des Moines, on December 3 and 4 at 7:30. Tickets cost $15 (plus fees) and are available through IowaTix:515-277-3727 or http://:www.iowatix.com

Mark your calendars now for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. For further information or to learn how you can bring "VOICES" to your community, please contact Tom Perrine at 515-243-6929 during the day; 515-276-9044 evenings; or by e-mail at RainbCntrVoices@aol.com
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Fall in Step with the DRL

Planning for Life: The Role of Direct Support Professionals in Self-directed Supports

Validation of the support professional’s role in helping people with disabilities to experience freedom, choice, self-direction, self-determination and respect.

Managing Threatening Confrontations: When to Talk, When to Listen, When to Duck

This video, designed for adult service personnel, explains the five stages of behavioral escalation from irritation to irrationality and demonstrates how recognition of early stages can help to defuse dangerous situations. The production is decidedly non-threatening and makes for thoughtful viewing, as actors with developmental disabilities play out an unusually stressful work day.

Visual Strategies for Improving Communication: Working with Autism and Related Communication and Behavior Challenges

[Video/CD-ROM training kit] 159 min.

A workshop for teachers and for therapists that demonstrates how visual strategies for students with impaired or idiosyncratic verbal communication can improve receptive communication, behavior, and participation.

My Son Jack: Diagnosis, Autism

Robert Parish. • Write Field Features.

This companion film to Robert Parish’s first work, Come Back, Jack, shows the dedication of the Parish family to Jack Parish’s gradual emergence from autism. In-depth interviews with Jack’s clinicians reveal the depth of the autism spectrum mystery, and the hope and compassion of those who work daily to better the lives of young people like Jack Parish.

Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years After Willowbrook

Unforgotten is a classic of its genre. The film examines the impact on patients and their families of the closure of New York’s Willowbrook State School in the wake of a shocking expose by journalist, Geraldo Rivera. The Rivera report for WABC News in 1972 has long been one of the most sought after pieces of footage in the disability research community. Now his story, Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace, is available in its entirety on this DVD edition.

The Angry Eye

Introduced in her Iowa elementary classroom 36 years ago, Jane Elliott’s “blue-eyed/brown-eyed” exercise illustrating discrimination in American culture still resonates today. The Angry Eye records an actual college exercise sure to galvanize viewers’ opinions and discussions about diversity in all of its manifestations.

The CDD Disability Resource Library

A lending library and health information center for Iowans

PHONE: 800-272-7713

E-MAIL: disability-library@uiowa.edu

WEB SITE: http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/cdd/drl/index.asp

Disability Resource Library materials can be borrowed free of charge by consumers and by family members of people with disabilities. Service agencies may choose to pay an annual membership fee of $100.00 payable July 1 of each year, or a borrowing fee of $5.00 per book, and $10.00 per video or training package.

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Education & Training Events

What’s a Parent to Do: Helping Families Deal with Bullying and with Kids Who are Out of Control

November 30 & December 7, 6 pm – 8 pm

Satellite uplink from local sites across Iowa

A two-part national satellite series sharing important research findings and applications for parents and professionals or volunteers who work with families.

November 30 topic: “What Families, Schools, and Communities Can Do to Support Healthy Social and Emotional Development in Children and Youth,” presented by David Osher, Ph.D.

December 7 topic: “Finding a Mighty Heart: Acquiring the Courage to Stand Up for Oneself and Others,” presented by Chuck A. Smith.

Program info: Kimberly Greder: kgreder@iastate.edu; registration info: Joyce Howard, jahoward@iastate.edu or 515-294-5507.

Division of Early Childhood (DEC) Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families 2004

December 5 - 8, Chicago, Illinois

Celebrate 20 years of early childhood special education with workshops, sessions and special events. See http://www.dec-sped.org/conference_04/about_the_conference.html

Immersion Learning about Change for Prosperity

December 7 - 10, Renaissance Chicago Hotel

Chicago, Illinois

This forum will focus on economic security and empowerment for transition-age young people with disabilities/special health care needs. Dynamic presenters and consultants with expertise in topics such as inclusion, employment, and flexible service funding will make this a “must attend” conference for students with disabilities and those who support them. Conference registration is $225/person with limited scholarships available for youth and families. More info: http://www.e-epg.info/conferences/ or http://www.self-determination.com/events/index.html

Nutrition Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

December 10

Rhythm City Casino, 200 E. 3rd St., Davenport

A CEU credit workshop presenting a scientific-based overview on the role of nutrition in the comprehensive treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Elizabeth Strickland, a practicing clinical nutritionist specializing in nutrition therapy for ASD, will speak on nutritional interventions that are safe and effective, and address mealtime problems and food refusal. Registration info: 800-397-0180, or www.crosscountryuniversity.com

Alternatives When Parents Disagree

December 14, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, AEA 267

3712 Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls

Conflict management strategies for parents and educators. Registration information: https://register.aea267.k12.ia.us/

Seating for Task Performance: Developing Task Performance Postures for Students in Wheelchairs for Increased and Successful Access to Assistive Technology and Tasks

January 31, 2005, 8:30 am - 4 pm,

Grant Wood AEA, 4401 6th St SW, Cedar Rapids

Practical strategies and interactive opportunities for Pre K-12 General and Special Education teachers, occupational and physical therapists, and nurses. CEU’s available. Registration information: http://www.aea10.k12.ia.us/profdev/medicalissues.html (course number 9029)

Parent Educator Connection Annual Conference

February 6 - 8, 2005, Scheman Center

Iowa State University, Ames

More information: Deb Samson, Iowa Department of Education, 515-242-5295, or deb.samson@iowa.gov

Best Practices in Brain Injury Service Delivery: Brain Injury Association of Iowa Thirteenth Annual Conference

March 17 - 18, 2005

Hotel Fort Des Moines, Des Moines

Further information: Dann Larmore at 319-234-4495 or dannl@cedarnet.org

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When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision,

then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.

-Audre Lorde, poet and activist

More quotations from previous issues

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Please send any content suggestions, comments, or information about upcoming conferences to Mike Hoenig, Possibilities Editor, at michael-hoenig@uiowa.edu.

To subscribe to the print version of Possibilities, mail Office of Community Education, Center for Disabilities and Development, 100 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City IA 52242-1011, fax 319-356-8284 or phone 319-353-6448.

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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Possibilities articles and news September 2004 (this page)

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To contact Disability Training

Mail Office of Community Education, Center for Disabilities and Development, 100 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City IA 52242-1011

Email information@DisabilityTraining.org

Fax 319-356-8284

Phone 319-353-6448

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