Two ladies with intellectual disabilities lead lives like most other people in the community at our Beverwyck residence.
At Advancing Opportunities, we excel in providing residential and respite services to people of with all disabilities, along with advocacy and education services for parents and guardians and assistive technology support. As a leader in the field, we are pleased to share our experience, knowledge, and expertise with the disability community through our social media outlets: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest. In our bimonthly column, we will select the best of what we found and shared and present them. Please click on the titles with embedded links to find the full article.
In addition, we are specialists in the area of assistive technology and offer a huge array of services; the Assistive Technology Center is New Jersey’s premier source of information and equipment.
Advancing Opportunities Job Announcement of the Week
Advancing Opportunities is looking for a part-time Registered Nurse, licensed in New Jersey, to deliver health services to clients who are experiencing mental and physical conditions associated with mental illness and developmental disabilities in northern New Jersey. Interested candidates should forward résumé and salary requirements to: hr@advopps.org, or fax them to 609-882-4022.
Advancing Opportunities News
Advancing Opportunities offers many services in the area of assistive technology. To inform the public of our efforts, we have launched our #AssistiveTechTuesday initiative. The first article in the series introduces Dave Lam, Technology Center Coordinator. The TLC enables people with disabilities throughout New Jersey to borrow assistive technology devices free of charge to try them out before making a substantial investment.
Disability in the News (Mostly in New Jersey, the Population We Serve)
Governor Christie signed an executive order to transfer key mental health services of the Department of Human Services to the Department of Health. Several state legislators say they need time to evaluate what this move will mean for various groups of New Jersey residents with an intellectual disability.
For Parents of a Child with a Disability (Parenting)
Here is an online article with timely advice for parents to help their autistic children with social skills and their emotional health.
ZOOM Magazine for parents of children with autism: The latest issue is out! Another free publication in PDF format is Autism File.
Washington Post Perspective | Lessons from my son with autism, as he nears the end of high school
Special Education
NPR this week featured a study: Holding Kids Back a Grade Doesn’t Necessarily Hold Them Back
Many children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities gained access to the magical world of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels. That trend continues, with a British publisher releasing an edition for dyslexic readers (children and adults).
Opinion – Why model autism programs are rare in public schools: The United States is failing most of its half million school-age children with autism by not giving them a good education.
Assistive Technology
Like many children, nine-year-old Fernanda dreamed of owning a bike. However, her muscular dystrophy posed challenges. So engineering students from a community college designed and built a “chariot” for her. After a test drive, the young girl was the proud owner of her pink assistive technology mobility device.
Assistive technology is creative! A blind artist teams up with engineering students to create a cane like no other
http://on.wsj.com/2tZqyZK
A new app will serve as “Trip Advisor” for people with disabilities regarding accessibility. http://bit.ly/2sYjzQH
Employment for People with Disabilities
Autism and the workplace: Adults with autism are the fastest-growing group among the neurodiverse workforces.
Informative, positive, noteworthy (or all three!)
When this Australian girl with Down syndrome was born, doctors said she’d never speak. Now, she aspires to be an actress.
A love for music is a gift this blind and autistic teen wants to share with the world.
The Arts and People with Disabilities
After losing most of her sight more than a decade ago, an Ohio woman took up painting as an outlet. Through years of trial and error, she has devised unique methods that work best for her.
A painter with autism opens an exhibit. Unable to express himself verbally, he does so through his art.
When he was born, his doctors said he’d never walk. That did not stop him… from becoming the “Break Dance King of Zimbabwe.”
People with a disability in the community (disability rights and acceptance; inclusion)
Recreational and sports activities offer positive life-skills challenges to New Jersey teens with autism.
Federal officials find fewer states meeting special education obligations.
Doctors with disabilities offer important insights and perspectives.
Disability Awareness and Appreciation
Depression is often part of many learning disabilities and autism. One writer compiled a list of what she believes to be best 10 blogs on depression.
Here’s a beautiful piece in the New York Times: The Importance of Finding a Community Family – Especially when both mother and daughter have Ehlers syndrome
Medical news—research
The New York Times featured an article on the challenges children with autism face in recognizing faces. Genetics often plays a part.
An early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder may be possible, according to a recent study.
Researchers scour datasets (Big Data) for clues to autism: “needles in a genetic haystack of 20,000 people”
People with autism may be more rational in their economic choices.
The social ties between autism and schizophrenia: the two conditions share a long history. Comparing the social features of the two conditions could lead to better treatments and a deeper understanding of each. Links to earlier related articles are included.
