Family Voices Indiana

BY  SHELLEY CLARKE & MEME HIENEMAN originally posted here: https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/prevention-difficult-behavior/ In the past, children’s challenging behavior was typically addressed with consequences (usually punishment) imposed after the problem behavior occurred. Parents, teachers, and other people supporting children with special needs are now starting to recognize the power of prevention. Preventive strategies make problem behavior unnecessary because the situations that set the stage for the problems (e.g., boredom, difficult tasks) have been anticipated and changed. By getting ‘out in front of the behavior,’ parents can help children deal with daily challenges without resistance or aggression and build the skills children need to be successful. If behavior problems can be stopped before they even have a chance to occur, children may become more receptive to instruction and enthusiastic about learning in general. The changes also may lead to improve

By   Patti McGowan   on June 28, 2016 “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”  --  Dr. Seuss I remember when I was first groomed to use the word “advocate” as opposed to the word “fight.” It was when my son, Hunter, was very young. I had just started to engage with the educational system and was working to ensure that his educational team had the specific knowledge required to work with a student with both a vision and a hearing impairment. That is when I began to learn that getting what you want is not always about the fight. It is about educating yourself, improving your argument, and getting advice from and joining forces with others.   What is "Advocacy"? Advocacy is defined as any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues, supports, defends, or pleads on behalf of one’s self or others. There are many types of advocacy. Self-Advocacy:    I knew early on that this was a must. I had an obligat

The Hugely Important Upcoming Tax Cut Battle: Why it Matters If you provide services and/or advocate for low/moderate-income people, trillion$ in tax cuts pose a direct threat to everything you care about Webinar:  Wednesday, November 8 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET   ( 12:00 p.m. , Central;  11:00 a.m.  Mountain;  10:00 a.m.  Pacific) Register Here Co-sponsored by FRAC and CHN Presenters include: Senator Patty Murray  (D-WA) Frank Clemente , Americans for Tax Fairness Deborah Weinstein , Coalition on Human Needs Jim Weill , FRAC (Moderator) The tax cut plan to be taken up in the House Committee on Ways and Means starting  November 6  will blow a hole in the deficit, leading to enormous pressure to cut domestic programs of all kinds – SNAP, Medicaid and other health care, low-income tax credits, child care, Head Start, housing, education, job training, SSI, environmental and consumer protection – all threatened with cuts now or in the years to come. The plan will be a massive shif

from CCD: This is an important time to take a close look at your health care needs and options.  If you're uninsured or looking for more affordable health insurance, the “open enrollment” period is the time to visit healthcare.gov or your state’s marketplace or health insurance exchange. During “open enrollment”, private health insurance options can be reviewed and coverage can be purchased. People with low and moderate incomes may be able to get financial help to pay for health insurance coverage. Assistance to pay for premiums and other cost-sharing may be available for individuals and families, depending on which plan is purchased. If you get health insurance through your employer, Medicaid or Medicare, you are not eligible for this assistance.  You can also sign up for insurance outside of the open enrollment period, if you lose your job, married, divorced or had a baby. You may enroll in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at any time, year around

The 2018 Open Enrollment Period runs from  November 1, 2017 to December 15, 2017. IMPORTANT: 2018 Open Enrollment is shorter than ever This is a shorter enrollment period than previous years, so it’s important to act quickly. If you don’t act by December 15, you can’t get 2018 coverage unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Plans sold during Open Enrollment start January 1, 2018. You can  preview 2018 plans and prices now , and complete your enrollment starting November 1.