Free/reduced meals available during Summertime

Summer Meals Illinois, a federally funded program, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education, provides free, healthy and nutritious meals during the summer months to qualifying children in need, ages 18 and under.

Summer is a critical time for food access for children. A recent report from the Food Research and Action Center shows that only 14.8% of Illinois children who receive free and reduced meals in school also receive meals in summer. Many families simply don’t know that meals are available in their neighborhood—at more than 1,700 sites statewide.

For more information, call (800) 359-2163, text FoodIL to 877877, or visit SummerMealsIllinois.org. You can also view the SummerMeals Flyer.

Specialized camping programs are available near Carbondale.

Camp Little Giant offers programs for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, autism, ADD/ADHD, traumatic brain injuries and special needs individuals. Registration is now open!

Many camps are available depending on the age and needs of the camper.

Visit Camp Little Giant’s website for more information.

NMEDA is giving away 4 wheelchair accessible vehicles for National Mobility Awareness Month.

One vehicle in each of the four categories will be given:

• for a caregiver
• for a senior
• battery-powered vehicle
• general category

To enter, NMEDA asks you to get a quality needs assessment from your local dealer, complete an entry form, and submit your story.

For more information, visit NMEDA’s website.

Federal government requires transition plan for waivers and Illinois responds.

Earlier this year, we posted about a new regulation that requires states with Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services to develop a transition plan. This includes services offered through the Home Care Program. Read our January 2015 post New Medicaid Rules for Home and Community Based Waivers.

The plan is intended to help individuals receiving these services gain full access to benefits of community living. It also promotes services in the most integrated setting that is appropriate.

For more information, or to read the specific transition plan submitted by The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, visit their Statewide Transition Plan webpage.

How will you prepare to make the most out of your next IEP meeting?

Individualized education programs (IEPs) offer special education services to meet children’s learning needs. IEPs are created through a planning process that involves parents and school members. Each IEP meeting is an opportunity to discuss what works and what can be improved to make the most of your child’s school experience.

Since most IEPs are written in the Spring time, it’s best to prepare now. When you prepare for an IEP meeting, you’ll understand the process and you’ll know what you want to talk about and questions that you have. Planning ahead helps you make the most out of the meeting.

If you want to know more about IEPs or need help planning, your care coordinator can assist you – call us at (800) 322-3722.

If you prefer to plan on your own, the Spring 2015 Family Matters Newsletter introduces several resources from it’s lending library.

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.