Ollibean: All of a kind
The faces of Ollibean are kids with and without disabilities all trying to make the world a better place.
A Sensory Garden for Zoë and Oliver
One of Ollibean's contributors, the lovely and amazing, Julie Lohoefener of Bloom Garden Shop, let's us in on some great tips on creating a non-toxic Sensory Garden with your kids.
Snacking: The Little Bite That Won’t Hurt You
Ollibean contributor Kristie Salzer talks about the benefits of "refueling" between lunch and dinner to decrease hunger related meltdowns for kids. We love her suggestions of 25 super easy snacks to get you started!
Facebook blocks NC mom’s pictures of Special Olympics event
Diane Cornwell said her seven year old, Cole, who happens to have Down Syndrome had a great time at his first Special Olympics event last Friday. She uploaded an album of 40 pictures to share and says Facebook blocked it for inappropriate content and locked her account.
Presuming Competence
This issue is very important to me because so many events and breakthroughs in my life happened because I was presumed to be competent. On the other hand, some events in my life were not so good because of a presumption of incompetence. The message of presumption of competence is of encouragement and acceptance. The presumption of incompetence sends a negative message, a message that says no matter how much one tries, success is out of reach. For disabled people, especially the ones who need more support, who can’t communicate through speech or who have other communication difficulties, this negative
The National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials
The National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials! This site serves as a resource to state- and district-level educators, parents, publishers, conversion houses, accessible media producers, and others interested in learning more about and implementing AIM and NIMAS. AIM Center at a Glance For students with sensory, physical, cognitive, or learning differences and their teachers, accessible instructional materials (AIM) may open doors to teaching and learning that ordinary print-based materials have closed. Accessible instructional materials or AIM are specialized formats of curricular content that can be used by and with students who are unable to read or use standard print materials.
Office of Special Education Program’s Discretionary Grants Public Database
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21. To this end, OSEP provides leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts, including funding approximately 1,000 grants and contracts each year. If you'd like to know what grants and contracts OSEP has funded as part of its initiatives to improve results for children with disabilities, you've come to the right place! (If you're looking for OSEP's grants opportunities, we would direct you to OSEP itself, at: www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/index.html)
Data Accountability Center (DAC)
This website provides public access to data about children and youth with disabilities served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - Part B and C; technical assistance (TA) materials to support the collection, analysis and reporting of IDEAdata; and the forms and spreadsheets used for collection. DAC was funded in October 2007 by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education to provide information and TA to improve the quality of all state-reported data required by the IDEA. Westat and its subcontractor, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center–Human Development Center, operate DAC as a 5-year cooperative agreement with
Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network
The Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network (or “TA&D Network”) is a network of approximately 45 Centers (this fluctuates as old projects end or new ones begin) funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). These projects provide information and technical assistance to states, schools, educational professionals and families, on topics such as autism, deafness, disproportional representation, dispute resolution, learning disabilities, parenting children with special needs, positive behavior support and transition. The TACC works with the TA&D Network to coordinate and support the work of these projects. ABOUT THE TACC The Technical Assistance Coordination Center (TACC) was formed in 2008 to facilitate coordination, collaboration,
Life After IEPs
Welcome ! If you’re a parent or mentor of a young person with disabilities, Life After IEPs is for you. Whether your child is an elementary student or a high school graduate, you’ll find information, resources, and support you’ll need along the way. A challenging journey There’s joy on the path to adulthood. But it ain’t always easy. Perseverence, grace, and a good sense of humor are needed. It can be a bumpy road. Supports available during the IEP years will end after high school Unfamiliar laws, systems and jargon lie ahead Resources exist, but they’re scattered in
Stereotypes of Children with Disabilities
Stigmatization is one of the greatest obstacles to the successful integration of people with Trisomy 21 (T21 or Down syndrome), the most frequent genetic disorder associated with intellectual disability. Research on attitudes and stereotypes toward these people still focuses on explicit measures subjected to social-desirability biases, and neglects how variability in facial stigmata influences attitudes and stereotyping.
My Valentine by Paul McCartney- Featuring Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp
Paul McCartney Directs His Own 'My Valentine' Videos Featuring Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp using ASL.
Faces of Ollibean- We want to hear from you!
Every week we put the spotlight on another person out there making a difference. Share your story and inspire and motivate others to Be the Change.
Marlo Thomas: The Givers: What Inspires Michael J. Fox? A Very Personal Interview
Unbowed by his disease and still exhibiting his trademark energy, Michael reminded me not only of the single-mindedness that is fundamental to fighting for a cause, but also of the indestructibility of the human spirit -- one that looks at each new day as another chance to enjoy the magic and the gift of life. If only all of us could learn that lesson.
SEN / ICT
The sen / ict directory began life in August 2011 to act as a directory for Special Educational Needs and Information Communication Technology Resources. Companies can showcase their business, the products they produce and services they provide. There are also hundreds of FREE online resources from fun/educational games, activities and printable resources to tools that help disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology. The sen / ict directory aims provide a central location for all your favourite resources, as well as introduce you to new ones you might not have found otherwise for your child
Planned and On-The-Spot Curriculum Accommodations in the Inclusive Classroom
The Paraeducator's Toolbox: Practical Strategies to Support Students with Learning and Behavioral Challenges 5.7.2012 9:00 AM - 3:00pm
Kris’ Camp
Kris' Camp is a non-profit organization first established in 1995 as a therapy intensive/respite camp for children with special needs (thus far focusing on children with autism/autistic-like challenges) and their families. It is motivated by three mutually enforcing goals: To provide therapy for special kids, and To provide respite and support for the siblings and parents of special kids. To provide theoretical and hands-on education and training to students, caregivers, and professionals working in the field of autism and other developmental disabilities. The camps are named after Kris Moore (5/30/1988 - 11/9/1993), a wonderful little boy who touched many people
AudioBookCloud
AudioBookCloud:Your Online Audio Library is an online audio book library collection of streaming audio books for public libraries. A subscription to AudioBookCloud gives your patrons UNLIMITED remote access to your audio book collection. Like our TumbleBookLibrary and TumbleReadables collections, AudioBookCloud are launched from a link on your library or school website. Your patrons can access the entire collection from any computer with an Internet connection. Your audio are never all checked out, never on hold. As many people can listen to the same book at the same time as you like!!! Here's how it works. Once you have previewed AudioBookCloud and are
TumbleBookLibrary
TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of TumbleBooks � animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love. TumbleBooks are created by adding animation, sound, music and narration to existing picture books in order to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you. The TumbleBookLibrary is a collection of licensed titles from children's book publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Chronicle Books, Candlewick Press, Charlesbridge Press, Harcourt, Little Brown, Walker & Company, Lerner Books, and HarperCollins Publishers, amongst others. The TumbleBookLibrary provides enrichment to students who are reading independently with a variety of
TumbleReadables
TumbleReadables is an online collection of read-along titles for elementary, middle school, and high school students which features adjustable online text and complete audio narration. Sentences are highlighted as they are being read and the pages turn automatically. The collection features chapter books, early readers, graphic novels, YA/teen novels, high interest/low level books for both middle school and high school students, plus classics of American and English literature. Read-Alongs are great for emergent, struggling, and reluctant readers, as well as being an excellent tool for ESL. They are also well received by strong and accomplished readers who are excited to follow
Fit Kids Playground
Our mission is to decrease the burden of childhood obesity and its associated potential chronic diseases in the Tampa Bay area. Through parental education, early childhood intervention through fun education and community awareness about the simple steps that can be implemented to teach healthy habits for life, the Tampa Bay community will be healthier for years to come.
Love and Logic ®
What Is Love and Logic All About? The Love and Logic Institute is dedicated to making parenting and teaching fun and rewarding, instead of stressful and chaotic. We provide practical tools and techniques that help adults achieve respectful, healthy relationships with their children. All of our work is based on a psychologically sound parenting and teaching philosophy called Love and Logic. What Is Love and Logic? Children learn the best lessons when they're given a task and allowed to make their own choices (and fail) when the cost of failure is still small. Children's failures must be coupled with love
OlliNEPAL at the SERC School
OlliNEPAL at the SERC School in Kathmandu
OlliNEPAL team at HDCS, Asha Bal Bikash Sewa (“Children’s Hope Development Service”)
OlliNEPAL team at HDCS, Asha Bal Bikash Sewa ("Children's Hope Development Service")
Asha Bal Bikash Sewa (“Children’s Hope Development Service”)
Asha Bal Bikash Sewa (“ABBS”) is a day care ministry for children with physical and learning difficulties under the age of 16. The ministry was founded by a Norwegian Missionary Family who were living and working in Nepal. They had a severely disabled child who was cared for by a Nepali woman, Tulsa Sharma. Tulsa is now the Co-Ordinator of the ABBS programme. The ministry has grown from a single centre in Dhobighat, attended by three children which opened in 1993, to operating three centres serving approximately ninty five children with dedicated staff and volunteers. Two centres are based in
Kanti Children’s Hospital
MISSION To realize the vision, the Board has established its mission as the followings: To support GON plan to cut down children’s death rate by two-third by the year 2015. To be a leader in the field of quality child health education, training and research within the region. To develop professional exchange programs with other like-minded child health institutes within or outside the region. To exchange experience and knowledge with regional, zonal district hospitals and health centers on trainings and research. To provide expertise to government for the development of children’s hospital in the country. To set up a standard
Special Education and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children (SERC)
Established in 2009, and located in a peaceful neighborhood of midtown Kathmandu, SERC has a goal of providing most effective education to its students. All our students are either differently able or have individual special education needs. Every pupil in SERC has a specific and complex education needs, and our goal is to provide them with the best possible education methodologies and environment for them to flourish and bring out the best buried deep within. We believe that a perfect match between proper education methodology and rehabilitation therapies is the only way to go ahead. We, at SERC, try to
Parents charged in death of Texas boy, 10
TEXAS CITY, Texas, April 5 (UPI) -- The parents of a disabled 10-year-old Texas boy whose body was found in a box are now charged in his death, authorities say. Texas City police said Tina Louise Madrid, 42, of Texas City was arrested Wednesday and was h
Dysphagia (Swallowing Problems)
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University
School bans disabled girl from using walker
Kristi Roberts was stunned when school officials insisted that her disabled 5-year-old daughter switch to a wheelchair from the walker she’d been using for the previous two years. Little LaKay had battled cerebral palsy and epilepsy since she was born, a
OlliNepal Update – March 29
The Ollibean/OlliNepal team finished up their trekking outside of Pohkara, Nepal and are headed back to Kathmandu for 7 days where they will volunteer at a local school, meet with OLE Nepal ,Kanti Children's Hospital, and SEEDs Nepal. The team's internet access & email has been fairly limited, so we are all exicted hear their reports of working with children with a range of diffabilities and delivering communication tools/tablets. Can't wait to see the pictures and videos!
Ollibean Team Arrives in Nepal
The adventure begins! Beautiful start ! Greeted at Nepalese Airport by longtime friend, Topden Lama. Topden brought Tibetan scarves for the group
Helping Rare Disease Patients Find Their Voice
Stephen P. Spielberg, M.D., Ph.D., FDA’s deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco, talks about lessons learned from the study of rare diseases. Patients often need advocates, and that can be especially true for people with a rare disease, who
Whizz-Kidz
Our aim is to ensure that every disabled child has an opportunity to be something special…a kid. There are an estimated 70,000 disabled children and young people in the UK waiting for a wheelchair that fits their young lives. That’s where we come in. Whizz-Kidz provides disabled children with the essential wheelchairs and other mobility equipment they need to lead fun and active childhoods.
250 children living in nursing homes in Florida should get home care
Five year old Andi lives in a nursing home in Tampa because his family says the state won't pay for 24-hour care that would let him live with his two brothers and parents. A second lawsuit claims several thousand other children could end up in those facilities in Florida because of decisions by the state about their care.
Autistic Man, Jesse Saperstein Free Falls to End Bullying
Best-selling author, autism advocate and motivational speaker Jesse A. Saperstein is spreading an Anti-Bullying movement across America with his “Free-Falling to End Bullying in 2012” YouTube video hoping to put an end to torment in and out of the classroom.
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Georgetown University
The mission of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) is to promote self-determination, productivity, independence and inclusion of individuals with developmental and other disabilities across the life span, and in all aspects of community life. The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, P.L. 106-402, authorizes the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research and Service (UCEDD). The University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research and Service (UCEDDs) are funded through the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) to provide leadership, advise federal, state and community policy makers about, and promote opportunities for people
Nordic Network on Disability Research
NNDR is a multidisciplinary network of disability researchers interested in cultural, societal and environmental dimensions of disability and marginalization. The purpose of NNDR is to advance research and development in the field of disability. NNDR provides a forum for researchers, particularly from the Nordic countries, to meet, present and discuss their research,, as well as encouraging Nordic and international exchange and collaboration. NNDR was established in Fredrikshavn, Denmark in 1997. In just a few years it has grown into a large network of disability researchers, reflecting the growing interest in and importance of disability research in the Nordic countries. The
Kathleen McClaskey
EdTech Evangelist, innovative leader, consultant, presenter and trainer of tools! Truly amazing resources for Founded on the vision that every child should have the opportunity to develop a foundation of 21st Century learning skills, EdTech Associates provides services to empower all students to succeed.
The Center for Courageous Kids
The Center for Courageous Kids, also known as CCK, is a world class medical camp located in Scottsville, KY, serving children and families from across the country who are living with a variety of medical challenges. We are open year round and can host 120 kids at a time. When you add our counselors, volunteers, trained Programs and Medical staff, our mascot, Dr. Cubby the Courageous Lion, and our top notch facility, you start to see just how "We Prescribe Fun!" What makes The Center for Courageous Kids spectacular? *We are a 20 million dollar facility. *Our 168 acre campus encompasses an onsite
Understanding Our Differences
In 1978, a group of parents of children with disabilities in Newton, Massachusetts founded Understanding Our Differences (UOD) as a nonprofit organization to increase information, understanding, and acceptance of people with disabilities and individual differences. The Understanding Our Differences disability awareness curriculum has grown rapidly in recent years and has been disseminated to more than 200 schools and youth organizations nationwide. More than 27,000 elementary school students and some 8,000 adult, high school and college students have participated as trained, volunteer instructors. The nationally recognized, award-winning program uses a hands-on, participatory curriculum to foster respect, tolerance, and compassion in elementary
New ADA accessibility requirements took effect March 15
For the first time in history public fitness centers, public swimming pools, recreational facilities, parks, golf and mini-golf courses, detention facilities and courtrooms, playrooms and amusement rides must adhere to the governments accessibility requirements. The rules also clarify issues that have come up in the 20 years regarding bathroom dimensions, reach ranges and accesible routes.
Best Buddies Friendship Walk, April 21, 2012 : 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is a fun-filled community fundraiser to support your local Best Buddies programs of inclusion. 4/21/2012 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm . Our friendship, integrated employment and leadership programs educate people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to be advocates for social inclusion in your community. Walk Registration: No Fees Register for the Friendship Walk and begin fundraising for Best Buddies Florida! Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park 601 Old Water Street Tampa, FL 33602 For more information Participant Registration Form Join Ollibean's Friendship Walk Team
The Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies
The Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies (CHPLDS) is an expansion of the Center on Human Policy, which was founded by Dr. Burton Blatt in 1971. The Center is a network of academic programs, centers, student organizations, and affiliated faculty whose research, teaching, and advocacy seeks to promote the rights of people with disabilities locally, nationally, and globally, and to facilitate a critical examination of disability as an aspect of diversity in society.
National Disability Rights Network
NDRN’s mission is to promote the integrity and capacity of the P&A/CAP national network and to advocate for the enactment and vigorous enforcement of laws protecting civil and human rights of people with disabilities. The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) network was created by Congress after the Willowbrook scandal unearthed the horrible conditions in that institution. Read more about the Network's history here. The newly created P&A agencies began to realize that in order to be able to advocate for their clients, they needed a national voice in Washington, DC for their own protection, survival and growth. This was especially true, as soon
A dark legacy of forced sterilizations
Sterilization victims seek compensation STORY HIGHLIGHTS California forcibly sterilized 20,000 people from 1909 to 1963 The goal was to rid society of people labeled "feeble-minded" or "defectives" California's response to victims stands in stark contras
Institute on Human Development and Disability
The Institute on Human Development and Disabililty (IHDD) has been Georgia’s University Center for Excellence in Disability Research, Education and Service (UCEDD), and ranks as one of The University of Georgia’s oldest continuously-funded federal programs. The IHDD works with people who have disabilities and others, to ensure that all people can achieve their highest capacity and quality of life.
Acceptance
Welcome new Ollibean writer, Amy Sequenzia! We know you're going to love her blog and her poems........ "Accepting myself is an on going process. A few days ago I wrote a poem about acceptance. It is easier for me, sometimes, to write about my life in verses. But after I write about what bothers me in verses and stanzas, I can talk about it in any format. I freed myself when I wrote the poem. In a way, I accepted myself a little more." It is very hard to have confidence in my abilities when all my life, when people
A D A Audio Conference Series
The ADA Audio Conference Series provides in-depth information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This program is designed to enhance an individual's existing knowledge base or facilitate continued learning regarding regulations and trends under the ADA.
Extreme Kids & Crew
Extreme Kids & Crew is a parent-run non profit dedicated to causing a great scene for Brooklyn’s kids with disabilities, their families and friends. They are all about creating a warm and encouraging atmosphere where children and adults of every ability and disability can relax, have fun, and enjoy the experience of being deeply accepted and celebrated for the people that they are. We offer workshops in the arts and movement with insightful and practiced teachers, parent education nights, free family concerts, and much more.
2012 Accessible Technology Webinar Series
All sessions are free and scheduled for 2-3:30pm Eastern/1-2:30pm Central/12-1:30pm Mountain/11-12:30pm Pacific utilizing the ElluminateLive! webinar platform. The Great Lakes and Pacific ADA Centers on behalf of the ADA National Network are pleased to announce the 2012 Accessible Technology Webinar Series. Electronic information and communications technology have become essential tools in all areas of our lives and working environments today, and are particularly important to people with disabilities by providing equal access to the workplace and social media. The 2012 webinar series will explore some of the latest technological trends and their accessibility to people with disabilities. Registration is available
P2PUSA::Parent to Parent USA
Emotional & Informational support for families of children who have special needs.For over 36 years Parent to Parent programs across the country have been providing emotional and informational support to families of children who have special needs most notably by matching parents seeking support with an experienced, trained 'Support Parent'.
Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
A society where all people are valued and respected, and where all people have the knowledge, opportunity and power to improve their lives and the lives of others. MISSION The Institute on Disabilities leads by example, creating connections and promoting networks within and among communities so that people with disabilities are recognized as integral to the fabric of community life.
UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’S mission and activities. The broad goals and concrete objectives of the international community – as set out in the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – underpin all UNESCO’s strategies and activities. Thus UNESCO’s unique competencies in education, the sciences,
SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD 03.07.12
Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with all disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the word “retard(ed).” It is time to address the minority slur “retard(ed)” and raise the consciousness of society to its hurtful effects.
Challenger Division
The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 4-18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide. Today, more than 30,000 children participate in more than 900 Challenger Divisions worldwide.
The Miracle League
The Miracle League is proud to serve over 200,000 children and young adults with disabilities.Presently there are 250 Miracle League Organizations across the country including Puerto Rico, Canada and our newest member in Australia. Our goal is to offer this program to every city in the country so children, young adults and adults alike with special needs around the globe will have this same opportunity to play baseball. The Miracle League believes; “Every Child Deserves A Chance to Play Baseball.” To find a league or start a league
World Institute on Disability
The mission of the World Institute on Disability (WID) in communities and nations worldwide is to eliminate barriers to full social integration and increase employment, economic security and health care for persons with disabilities.
Don’t Play Me Pay Me
The Don't Play Me Pay Me campaign seeks to: Actively encourage disabled people to follow their chosen creative career path. Remove the barriers of prejudice that disabled actors face in finding work. Provide a forum for all disabled actors to encourage debate and empower them to have their voice heard and listened to. Encourage programme makers to feature disabled actors in all storylines to reflect real life. Encourage programme makers not to use non-disabled actors (even if a “name” means funding) to portray disabled characters. Encourage advertisers to feature disabled people in all advertising. http://www.dontplaymepayme.com
GCAC Presents: VSA Ohio at the intersection of art and disability
Since its founding in 1986, VSA Ohio has evolved to become a community that helps inspired artists connect with their passions. Bridging arts and disability, their programs and services focus on providing equal opportunity, full participation, independen
Sign up and Ollibean gives to a child in Nepal. It’s that easy.
Want to help kids in Nepal? We’re making it super easy. For every person that joins our community we will donate $2 to support children in Nepal.You can also enter for a chance to win an iPad**. Now share this with everyone you know and show the world how easy it is to make a difference.
OlliNepal: Why Nepal ?
You can help kids with diffabilities in Nepal. We’re making it super easy. For person that joins our community we will donate $2 to support children in Nepal.You’ll also be entered for a chance to win an iPad at the same time. Now share this with everyone you know and show the world how easy it is to make a difference.
A little bit about us
It's hard to convey all that we want you to know "about us" in a paragraph., hard to explain the million and one reasons we're so passionate about Ollibean and how much we want you involved in our community. We hope this does it. We'd love to hear an "about us" about you. Shoot a video response and send it to us at olli@ollibean.org or post to our youtube account. We'll send an Ollibean tshirt to the first 20.
Amy Sequenzia “Be Proud of Who You Are”
"Feeling sorry for our disabilities means not accepting ourselves. I feel sorry because disabilities rights are still lacking, not because I am disabled. My message is, hopefully, about our strength and similarities". Amy Sequenzia
My Voice, My Life : A Poem by Amy Sequenzia
This powerful poem from the book "MY VOICE, Autism, Life and Dreams" by self-advocate Amy Sequenzia says so much. We were fortunate enough to get to know Amy at ICI's Summer Institute at MIT and are very grateful to her for allowing us to publish "My Voice, My Life" here. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Amy's book, you can find her on Facebook. My Voice, My Life Look at me. Go ahead, take a good look. What do you see? Weird? Silly? Pitiful? Can’t do anything? You might feel sorry for me You might pity me
“Miles for Kids’ Smiles” Pediatric Physical Therapy
As a pediatric PT, I often hear requests for "another lap on the tricycle" or "can I go back to my room now? Puhhhleeeease!" But the question of going to Nepal to fulfill one of my life's dreams has only one answer: "YES!" I grew up playing soccer. My family and I dedicated much of my childhood free time to road trips, holiday tournaments and the goal of obtaining a college scholarship to play. I signed with a small, liberal arts university in Alabama. While training preseason, I heard and felt a "POP". I would spend the next 4 years
Hydrocephalus Association
The Hydrocephalus Association provides support, education and advocacy for people whose lives have been touched by hydrocephalus and the professionals who work with them. We strive to ensure that families are empowered with educational materials, informed about the latest research, and have access to quality health care. We advocate for increased research and funding to advance understanding, improve diagnosis and treatment, and find a cure.
Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation of America® is the national voluntary agency dedicated solely to the welfare of the almost 3 million people with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families. The organization works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and to promote research for a cure.
The Foundation for Children with Microcephaly
The Foundation for Children with Microcephaly is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to helping children and adults diagnosed with Microcephaly, Polymicrogyria, Lissencephaly and other closely related neurological disorders often get overlooked as well.
RESNA
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) RESNA's goal is "To maximize the health and well being of people with disabilities through technology." The purpose of RESNA is to contribute to the public welfare through scientific, literary, professional and educational activities by supporting the development,dissemination, and utilization of knowledge and practice of rehabilitation and assistive technology in order to achieve the highest quality of life for all citizens.
Office for Civil Rights
The mission of the Office for Civil Rights is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. An important responsibility is resolving complaints of discrimination. OCR also provides technical assistance to help institutions achieve voluntary compliance with the civil rights laws that OCR enforces. An important part of OCR's assistance is partnerships designed to develop creative approaches to preventing and addressing discrimination.
NORD – National Organization for Rare Disorders
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), a 501(c)(3) organization, is a unique federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare "orphan" diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them. NORD is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and service.
Releasing the Music In Your Head
Dan Ellsey and Tod Macchover on TED Talks, Macchover (the man behind Guitar Hero) of MIT's Media Lab , talks about Hyper Score. Ellsey,a composer with cerebral palsy uses some new tools to write and perform his own beautiful music. Very cool.
On Beauty
We are in love with 'On Beauty" the documentary by Joanna Rudnick. She follows the talented Rick Guidotti as he challenges public perception of difference and beauty through the lives of three exquisite women.
People First
People First is an organization run by and for people with learning difficulties to raise awareness of and campaign for the rights of people with learning difficulties and to support self advocacy groups across the country. People First promotes the social model of disability. This is a way of thinking about disability that says it is society that needs to change to include disabled people. We should not have to change to fit in with society. We are against the medical model of disability, which is the view that being disabled means there is ‘something wrong’ with you. Doctors and
National Arts and Disability Center
The National Arts and Disability Center (NADC) is a project of the University of California: their mission is to promote the full inclusion of audiences and artists with disabilities into all facets of the arts community. The NADC is a leading consultant in the arts and disability community, and the only center of its kind. Recipients of our technical assistance include museums, performing arts organizations, art centers, film and television companies and unions, universities and colleges, national publications, disability specific groups, artists with disabilities, arts educators, students, arts administrators and government policy makers.
Disability.gov
Disability.gov is a federal government website that provides an interactive, community-driven information network of disability-related programs, services, laws and benefits. Through the site, Americans with disabilities, their families, veterans, educators, employers and many others are connected to thousands of resources from federal, state and local government agencies, educational institutions and non-profit organizations.
Best Buddies International
Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to almost 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States, and in 50 countries around the world. Best Buddies’ seven formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies, Jobs
Benefits.gov
Benefits.gov (formerly GovBenefits.gov) was launched in an effort to provide citizens with easy, online access to government benefit and assistance programs. The program's mission is to reduce the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government while increasing citizen access to government benefit information. The site's core function is the eligibility prescreening questionnaire. Answers to the questionnaire are used to evaluate and compare with the eligibility criteria for more than 1,000 Federally-funded benefit and assistance programs. Each program description provides citizens with the next steps to apply for any benefit program of interest.
Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs
The Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP) is a national, member-based organization, comprised of state Assistive Technology Act Programs funded under the Assistive Technology Act (AT Act). ATAP was established in 1997 to provide support to state AT Program members to enhance the effectiveness of AT Programs on the state and local level, and promote the national network of AT Programs. ATAP facilitates the coordination of state AT Programs nationally and provides technical assistance and support to its members. ATAP represents the needs and interests of the state AT Programs and is the national voice of the AT Programs.
ADA Portal
The ADA Document Portal Allows users to search a collection of ADA-related documents that have been produced by federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funds.
The Gift of Knowledge
It’s been a couple of years now that I’ve been blogging about special education legal issues. Unfortunately, the realities of juggling a busy law practice, a family, and other professional commitments don’t allow me to do it enough, and I continue to ye
Thank You, Steve Jobs
Thank you Steve Jobs for thinking differently so that so many others may express their thoughts. Apple's products have changed the lives of so many people with disabilities - CP, autism, dyspraxia, motor planning issues, developmental delays, neuromuscular disorders, expressive language disorders, vision impairments. My son uses his iPad and iPod as a communication device, a way to surf the internet, watch youtube, and connect with friends. Until Apple came out with the ipod, the choices in AAC devices were very expensive ( the ones we looked at were between $5,000 and $8,000 and heavy- too heavy for someone that
Wretches & Jabberers Tampa Screening
The " World Intelligence Magnified Tour" took Tampa by storm. The screenings of Wretches & Jabberers the weekend of June 10 were an enormous success.
A Few of Our Favorite Things
There are so many products, doctors, therapies, and places out there that can help. Here's a list of some of our favorites. We'd love to know what your Favorites are and why. Shoot us an email at olli@ollibean.org and spread the love.
