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| Did you know... |
February/March
2007, Vol. 1 - N. 2 |
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IDEA...
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides equal opportunity to children with disabilities by guaranteeing a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. The law began as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. It has been amended several times, including recently as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004.
There are 41,933 students with disabilities in Miami-Dade County.
Over 5,000 parents of children and adults with disabilities contact Parent to Parent of Miami each year. To learn more about IDEA, its laws and procedures, see our "Events Section". |
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| Money Does Matter - Here's Help |
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Year 2006 Tax Benefits for Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities (Updated version)
By Michael O'Connor
If you have a child with a severe learning disability, you may qualify for valuable tax benefits. If your child has AD/HD, or other physical, mental, or emotional impairment, you may also qualify for tax benefits. More...
At the Beach Center on Disability we are getting an increasing number of requests from families from around the country who have sons and daughters with significant intellectual disabilities, who are transitioning from high school, or who are young adults.
These families very much want to create innovative supports that will enable their son or daughter who needs extensive and even pervasive support to access funding that will enable him or her to have their own home, have a real job, have friends, and have preferred places to hang out in the community. More...
The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) is now offering support to meet the needs of children nationwide with assistance grants for medical services not fully covered by health insurance. More... |
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| Legislation That Affects You |
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Proposed Medical Child Support Regulations
New legislation will require states to address health care costs and coverage in child support agreements. More...
Members are Named to Congressional Appropriations Subcommittees
The recently elected 110th Congress is in session and members have been assigned to their committees. The Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education deal with funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004). To find the committee lists online, click on Senate or House.
Bush Budget Proposal Ignores Needs of Kids with Disabilities; Gifts and Talents
In releasing a budget proposal that eliminates, cuts, and freezes spending on programs that benefit students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents, President Bush sent a disappointing message to the special/gifted education communities. More... |
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The Possibilities of Disabilities....
Gloria Lenhoff visits Parent to Parent of Miami and encourages the hearts of our staff by sharing her talent and the possibilities of disabilities. Gloria was born in Miami and lived in Coral Gables when children with disabilities did not have many rights. As Gloria discovered her talent, her parents continue to advocate and support.
Today, Gloria is an accomplished musician who lives independently and helps families understand the power of keeping the "Spirit of Hope Alive."
For more about Gloria Lenhoff, click here |
Gloria Lenhoff
Credits: John Nelson Photo/San Diego Union -Tribune
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How I Developed My Dream Job
About
the Author
I had a dream of becoming a Motivational Speaker. In order for my dream to come true I had to look for help. I hired a Non-Residential Support Services provider to help me achieve my career.
I had a positive attitude and you need a positive attitude to survive. I applied my Self-Determination principles to obtain my goals. I used the computer skills I learned when I worked at other jobs in the past. |
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I exercise the Principles of Self-Determination. The principles of Self-Determination are Freedom, Authority, Support, Responsibility, and Advocacy. Freedom is the power to do what you want to do with your life. Authority is the choice consumers have, which is the right to choose the services that they want. Use your Support system to help you achieve your dream.
Your support can be your parents, cousins, friends, and your community. We all need to be Responsible for our own lives. For example: when we vote. Advocacy is fighting for the rights of people with disabilities. As a Motivational Speaker I am an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.
The roadway to my goals has been like a rollercoaster. The Residential Support Service provider helped me outline the objectives to meet my goals as a Motivational Speaker. I used my computer skills to develop my resume, my business cards, and research materials to improve my advocacy skills and my presentations. I contacted organizations, schools, hospitals, and policy makers to be able to give lectures.
I accessed community resources to help me achieve and improve my business skills, such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Small Business Administration, Micro Business, and Benefits Planners. Vocational Rehab provided me with audio/visual equipment for my presentations. I attended Small Business Administration Development Seminars to open my business.
There were many obstacles that kept me from achieving my goals. What were the obstacles I faced? Professionals dismissed my career vision as unrealistic. I was told that I would not make it as a Motivational Speaker. Evaluations do not tell the whole picture. I was evaluated and was told I would never learn to use the computer. I know how to use Microsoft Word and Power Point.
The professionals who determined what I was able to do and not able to do, do not attend our conferences and are not involved in our workshops or task force meetings. They do not understand the needs of individuals with disabilities.
Professionals have low expectations of our abilities. How do they know that I am not able to improve my skills and abilities without providing me with the proper training, time, patience, and understanding?
I also believe that we have to give back to the community that we live in. I belong to different community organizations to achieve my goals. I work with Parent to Parent of Miami. I lecture in English and Spanish. I also write articles for their newsletter.
The Family Network on Disability hired me to be a speaker for their organization. I also work as a speaker for the University of Miami Mailman Center and share my perspective with their Interns. I also participate and present at conferences like Family Café and Linking Families. In 2004, I was appointed by Former Governor Bush to the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council.
If you want to be employed you have to know certain techniques to help achieve your goals. Here are some of the techniques that have helped me. Learn your goals and find someone to help you reach your goals. Don't give up your dream and learn to use your Self-Determination skills.
Learn to use your skills and experience or learn the skills you need to reach your dreams. Use the strengths from your support system to help you. You never fight with your boss.
I am informing my readers that this is the last article that I am writing for Parent to Parent of Miami. My parents are both ill and at this time I need a break from the self-advocacy world. I want to thank all the people that took time to read my articles. Let me say that I had a great time writing the articles and I learned a lot. I just want to thank Parent to Parent of Miami for allowing me to be part of their newsletters. I hope that one day I can come back. If you need to get in touch with me, this is my email ideliovaldes@hotmail.com |
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Mission
To empower and support a network of parents of children and
adults with disabilities.
Vision
All parents of children and adults with disabilities will have
universal access to information, training, support and advocacy
skills to ensure their children achieve their fullest potential,
while leading the community on the rights of all children. |
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Above all, we respect your privacy. We will never rent, sell or
share your information with anybody.
Changing your email? To update your contact information, email your
changes to newsletter@ptopmiami.org
(C) 2007 Parent to Parent of Miami Inc. All rights reserved. |
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