Dozens of popular children’s programs are now accessible to those with hearing and vision disabilities.

TV episodes like “Magic School Bus” and “Bill Nye the Science Guy” are made accessible by the U.S. Department of Education with closed captioning and descriptions.

This programming is available for free through the Accessible Television Portal Project. This video on-demand content is made possible by participating networks such as PBS Kids, Cartoon Network, and Scholastic Media.

To start viewing episodes, visit Described and Captioned Media Program and apply for portal access.

View the original press release from the U.S. Department of Education.

Learn about scholarship opportunities for students with medical conditions.

180 Medical
Helps those with spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, transverse myelitis, and/or a neurogenic bladder.

Alexander Graham Bell College Scholarship
For individuals with pre-lingual bi-lateral hearing loss.

Bridges
Scholarships for deaf and hard of hearing students.

Illinois Academy of Audiology Scholarship
Helps high school seniors with hearing loss.

UCB Family Eplilepsy Scholarship Program
For people living with epilepsy, their family members, and/or caregivers.

Help researchers understand what helps families of children with special needs.

The University of Illinois at Chicago and Easter Seals are teaming up for this national initiative to learn about what supports are most needed. You can participate completely online and you can share your opinions in English or Spanish. Using the online forum you can post your thoughts, respond to other people’s comments and like topics. The environment is moderated to ensure a respectful experience.

To participate in English: Family Support Dialogue Forum

To participate in Spanish: El Apoyo Familiar Diálogo

For more information, contact the Family Support Research Center at (844) 781-4158 or visit their website.

Attend free courses on emotional disorders.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is offering a 6 session course that covers ADHD, Bipolar, Depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Substance Abuse, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and more.

Learn new ways to handle challenging behaviors and gain techniques that can help out at school.

This series is taught by trained parent volunteers who know what it’s like to raise a child with mental illness. View the NAMI Basics course flyer.

To register, call (618) 798-9788.

This program is the only one in Illinois, outside of Chicago, that currently offers dental anesthesia for children on Medicaid.

The Special Needs Dental Program says its goal is to provide high-quality, compassion dental car, regardless of disability or financial limitations. The Program is focused on serving children who have difficulty sitting still at the dentist because of anxiety or age. It also helps those with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, ADHD and other neurological disorders and genetic syndromes.

The Program is a collaboration between the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, and Touchette Regional Hospital. It provides an affordable dental care option for families with no place else to turn.

For more information about the Special Needs Dental Program, read the original article, or call (618) 332-2740 extension 109.

 

Your experiences and preferences with health insurance could earn you $75.

John Snow, Inc., a health care research and consulting organization, is conducting a family focus group to learn opinions about children’s health insurance. Focus group participants will help answer key questions related to enrollment and administrative simplicity, benefits, costs, and provider choice and networks.

The focus group needs individuals who:

• have health insurance
• have a child 18 or under on private insurance or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)
• have an approximate household income between 23,000-90,000

Individuals selected to participate will receive $75 cash. Participants will meet for discussion on March 5, 2015, in the evening, at EverThrive (located at 1256 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642)

For more information, or to see if you are eligible, call (877) 204-2830.

 

Kidde recalls disposable plastic fire extinguishers due to failure to discharge.

On February 12, 2015 the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of several disposable Kidde brand fire extinguishers. A faulty valve can cause the extinguisher to not fully discharge. Owners of the affected models are urged to replace them. Visit the recall summary for complete details on affected models.

A new adult day program is being planned but needs at least 8 participants to start.

Leisure in Full Effect (LIFE) is a year-round adult day program offered by the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association. This day program will offer independent living skills, socialization, community integration, and recreation and leisure.

A pre-admission (and then annual) assessment will help determine if you qualify for the program. General requirements are age 22+ or high school graduates who require 1:4 staff to participant support to be successful in the program.

LIFE program plans

• Monday – Friday
• 9:00am – 3:00pm
• 48 weeks per year
• choose to attend 2, 3, or 5 days per week
• Takiff Center, 999 Green Bay Road, Glencoe, IL 60022

LIFE is anticipated to start Monday, August 15, 2015 but needs a minimum of 8 participants. If you’re interested, visit the LIFE webpage for more information.

 

New affiliation agreement allows for seamless care.

The Shriners and UI Health created an affiliation that allows patients easier access to doctors. This UI Health article details how patients will benefit from the new arrangement. For example, Shriners will see children until age 18. Many of these young adults can now seek care with the same doctor at UI Health.

University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (UIUC) received a federal grant to fund master’s degrees for students who plan to work with children with disabilities and their families.

It’s known as the PCRP Project – Preparing Culturally Responsive Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education Personnel. The program is run by the UIUC Department of Special Education.

Students in the program study young children’s social-emotional development. The master’s program aims to prepare these students to provide culturally responsive and evidence-based services.

For more information, view the PCRP program flyer.