Welcome!

Celebrating Abilities Inc. started as a support group located in southwest Florida for parents of children with different abilities. We are no longer active as a group because we've all moved on to other areas of the United States. I've decided to keep the blog active so that information can be shared with our loyal families and some new ones, too.

If you have any further questions, please contact:
hawkinsj68@gmail.com or ceenic123@aol.com


Have a blessed day!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

“Dance/Movement class for special needs students”

Naples Ballet, Inc.(a non-profit) is pleased to announce the beginning of NEWYour browser may not support display of this image. Your browser may not support display of this image. 
“Dance/Movement class for special needs students”
 
We are now offering a creative dance/movement class for special needs students who are 5 years and older.
The class uses the basics of dance to allow the children to explore how their bodies move, how to expand their imagination and creativity and much more.
For more information, please visit our websitewww.dancewithnolimits.com        or email tomartina@dancewithnolimits.com
Naples Academy of Ballet
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      1005 5th Avenue North, Naples, FL 34102                                 
Phone: 239.732.1000

Cape youths among Kids Who Care winners


Three Cape Coral youths are among the more than 2,000 honorees for the Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program.
Cape Coral winners include Rachel Barnen, 10, Brittany Kawa, 12, and Reno Williams, 11.
Today, Kohl's Department Stores honored more than 2,000 kids nationwide for the good deeds they performed in their communities through volunteerism as part of the scholarship program. Ninety-five youths from Florida will receive $50 gift cards and recognition certificates from Kohl's for making a difference in their communities.
These winners have qualified for the chance to receive a $1,000 regional scholarship for post-secondary education that Kohl's will award in July. Of the regional winners, Kohl's will then award 10 national winners an additional $5,000 scholarship for their outstanding service and donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization of the national winners' choice. In total, Kohl's plans to award more than $350,000 in scholarships and prizes this summer.
"We are proud to recognize so many young kids that are volunteering to help benefit their communities," said Julie Gardner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Kohl's. "The Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program allows us to reward kids who are doing selfless acts across the country."
Since its inception in 2001, the Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program has given more than $1.8 million in scholarships and prizes to recognize and reward young volunteers. The Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program is part of Kohl's Cares for Kids, Kohl's philanthropic program which is focused on improving the lives of children. Kohl's Cares for Kids benefits children's health and education initiatives nationwide through its merchandise program featuring books and plush toys, a children's hospital program, fundraising gift cards and the A-Team associate volunteer program.
For more information or a complete list of Kohl's Kids Who Care store-level winners, visitwww.kohlskids.com
 

New York TV show films at local bistro



"The Kids Can Cook" television show, a program televised in New York City, recently filmed coverage for a documentary involving children with the eye disease Macular Degeneration at the Bayfront Bistro at 4761 Estero Blvd.

Local kid chefs with vision loss caused by macular degeneration from the surrounding communities displayed their cooking skills in front of a television camera, their parents and the Division of Blind Services, the organization that represents children who have vision loss. The children were aided by assistants throughout the filming.

Macular Degeneration is an eye disorder that makes it difficult to

see fine details. The condition affects the macula, the part of the

retina responsible for central vision.

Sylvia Garson, the executive producer of the show, has partial Macular Degeneration and is directly involved in the filming of the documentary due to her own family's history of the eye disease.

"It's important for kids to not be stereotyped and to be able to know what is good to do," she said. "In any situation, you need to get past it to do the best you can."

Garson said her work on the documentary concerning macular degeneration is very important. She has met with doctors researching this ailment and has learned that this and other related eye diseases causing blindness can start in childhood.

"Since my work as an independent producer is with children, I want to do what I can to help," said Garson.

Garson began "The Kids Can Cook" show 18 years ago to wedge a gap between countries and cultures. The show is seen by well over a million people in the New York City area and is a federal trademark, says Garson.

"I began the show in 1991 to work with children and to bring children of all countries and cultures together by cooking together," said Garson. "Our first show was at Martin Luther King High School in New York City."

KCC airs in New York City on channel 56 every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

"The Kids Can Cook" television show is a vehicle to teach proper nutrition, build a social exchange and create a learning experience in an entertaining format," said Garson.

The show has helped such organizations as the Ronald McDonald House and the Children's Hospital.

Bayfront Bistro is located behind Publix Supermarket within Snook Bight Yacht Club and Marina. Other sponsors for the show include Edward Jones; Pastry Shoes of Immokalee; Frescos Seafood Trattoria of Cape May, N.J.; Six L's Packing Company of Immokalee; Sandpiper Gulf Resort of Fort Myers Beach; Baby Togs of New York City; and Victorian Lace Inn of Cape May, N.J.

Eric Tibbs of Edward Jones attended the filming and taught the children about financial matters as part of the program. He used a piggy bank called the Money Savvy Pig as a prop to help the kids learn."

"These piggy banks have four chambers so you can teach them about investing and donating and spending and saving," said Tibbs. "They can learn exactly what it means to put money aside for short-term goals, things you want to buy and long-term stuff."

Tibbs talked to Principal Wood at Beach Elementary School and plans on showing the local students his piggy bank teaching device.

In Honor of Parents

Congratulations! You've been awarded a new title. You're super qualified. I know, you're
just a parent. You're not an SLP, an OT, a PT, or an MD, a Psych or a BCBA.

You're the person who got up at 4 am because your child only needed 3 hours of sleep last night.

You smiled as you watched him play out his favorite movie script, word for word.

You felt despair as you did everything in your power to convince him to put down his Game Boy and get ready for school.

You reveled in his endless delight with the soap bubbles when he washed his face.
You thought you were going to tear out your hair as you reminded him 40 times to put on his shirt.

You happily made his regular breakfast and cut his waffles into perfect squares with one dot of syrup in the middle, just the way he likes it.

You rejoiced when you watched him and his brother playing and laughing together.

You felt like you were on the verge of insanity when you listened yet again to the baseball statistics and answered the same question 23 times in a row.

You laughed heartily when he told you the weather was going to be poor and he was excited to see lots of Nimbostratus clouds and very few cirrus clouds.

You felt frustration and admiration when you asked him where his lunch bag was and he replied by naming 30 carnivorous dinosaurs, in size order and explained which period they lived in.

You felt pride when you watched him independently organize his school bag and gather his belongings.

You patiently waited 8 minutes for him to tie his shoelaces even though you grew increasingly anxious about the time passing by.

Your heart sang when he looked up at you as he was done, so proud of himself that he had done it alone.

Your eyes brimmed with tears when just before he stepped on the school bus, he turned back and without a word and without any eye contact, he gave you a big hug, letting you know in his own special way how much he loves and appreciates you for everything that you do.

This is the profile of an Absolutely Exceptional Parent. So from now when you sign your name, make sure to include your new title such as, Jene Aviram, AEP.

By Jene Aviram, AEP :-)
This article is property of and copyright 2003-2009 Jene Aviram of Natural Learning Concepts. Reference of this article may only be included in your documentation provided that reference is made to the owner - Jene Aviram and a reference to this site http://www.nlconcepts.com

Teacher accused of unecessary roughness with special education students retains job

Teacher accused of unecessary roughness with special education students retains job
Sarasota County, Florida September 3, 2009


A school district in Sarasota County, Florida was told today that firing a teacher who had mistreated students would not be allowed as they had not followed proper procedure in warning her about behavior.

Diana O'Neill was originally arrested after her aides gave a report to the principal detailing how she had hit and kicked her severely handicapped students as well as hitting them on the head with a water bottle and pulling skin off the lip of one child. Although she was acquitted of those charges, O'Neill's school district attempted to fire her for her "flagrant violation of her responsibilities as a teacher".

Sources say that Diana, an 18 year veteran of special education, was warned several times about her behavior. However, she was not specifically told at any time that she was receiving a 'verbal warning'. Because of this, an arbitrator ruled in O'Neill's favor, stating that she must be given her job, or a similar one, as soon as she completes her required 4 week suspension and required counseling. Her current salary is approximately $80,000 per year.

Nobody has mentioned if there is an investigation into why nobody called the Child Abuse Hotline when abuse was first suspected and witnessed. According to the district, Mrs. O'Neill was given many chances to stop mistreating students, but she did not stop. Nobody called the hotline or said anything substantial about the abuse claims until teachers aides began taking notes on the abuse and turned them in, in writing. Once many months of abuse were cataloged, the aides made the report to the principal.

Parents of the special needs children who were mistreated do not want Mrs. O'Niell to return to the classroom. Most likely, Diana O'Neill will be moved to a different school when she is reinstated. In any event, she will not be in the same classroom as those she was charged with abusing.

According to the teacher's union, there is still a possibility that her license could be revoked because of these incidences.

Collier County Autism Support Group

Hi!
The next Collier County Autism Support Group meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 7-8:45 p.m. We will meet at our usual location: North Naples United Methodist Church. A flier is attached with complete information. Feel free to post copies of the flier, or share it with others who may be interested in attending.

Wilbur Hawke (Regional Coordinator, Family Network on Disabilities) and Barb Southwick (Parent Educator Exceptional Resource) will present information about IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This is a very informative presentation, particularly if you've never been to a workshop or program about exceptional student education.

In October, we will return to our schedule of the third Thursday of each month. We are deviating from that schedule in September because of the Collier County Public Schools' open house on the 17th.

No RSVP is necessary. We hope to see you on the 24th!



Collier County Autism Support Group