Archive for the ‘Organizations’ Category

This WEEK is Autism Awareness Week!  So on Friday wear blue.

Autism Affects

1 in 110 children

1 in 70 boys

It’s time for everyone to learn the signs!

In clinical terms, there are a few “absolute indicators,” often referred to as “red flags,” that indicate that a child should be evaluated. For a parent, these are the “red flags” that your child should be screened to ensure that he/she is on the right developmental path. If your baby shows any of these signs, please ask your pediatrician or family practitioner for an immediate evaluation (local early intervention and school districts can help too):

• No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter

• No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter

• No babbling by 12 months

• No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving by 12 months

• No words by 16 months

• No two-word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months

• Any loss of speech or babbling or social skills at any age

*This information has been provided by First Signs, Inc. ©2001-2005. Reprinted with permission. For more information about recognizing the early signs of developmental and behavioral disorders, please visit http://www.firstsigns.org or the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/actearly.

I have been getting excited about the up coming Walk for Autism, BUT, it’s on May 1st the same day as Mrs. Utah United States (and I have mandatory all-day rehearsal at Kingsbury Hall).  I’m so disappointed that I can’t go, especially because it is raising money for Clear Horizons Academy, the amazing school I am so privileged to work at.  I strongly encourage you and your families to support and attend these events!

This organization does some amazing work: The American Child Photographers Charity Guild.

Their work is not specifically purposed for helping children with special needs but what they do is amazing and I just had to post about it. They volunteer their time for families with a child or other family member who is terminally ill and take pictures for the family. They even work in the NICU for a premature babies or wherever that family can and wants to go. I spent almost an hour crying while looking at pictures they had taken. These are photographers that are exceptional. I just wish I known about them years ago when my nephew had cancerous tumor the size my fist in his chest at 3 months old. Against the odds, my nephew recovered and we’re celebrating his 2 year remission mark soon. Yet so many stories do not have such happy endings. What a blessing having professional quality pictures with these loved ones must be for these families.

I just discovered this web site and I LOVE it! It provides information to primary teachers and church leaders who are teaching people with disabilities and it shows how in tune the leaders of the LDS church are with what is going on in the world today in this field. After being a Primary teacher for years myself, I have had student children with Autism, Learning Disabilities and ADD. These kids can at times be real challenge, but through really loving them and having really good lesson plans they not only behave better and learn but enjoy it too. The resources on this site also include helps for the family members of someone with special needs. This site is a great starting point and it has many links you can follow to other very good sites for resources.

You can get to this site via this link.

Early Intervention is key for children with special needs. This is a list of where to go for help for children under 3, in Utah. Find either the school district or county in which you reside.

Central Utah Health Dept. 435-896-5451
70 Westview Dr., Richfield UT 84701
(Juab, Millard, Sanpete, Sevier, Piute, Wayne Counties)

Davis Family Enrichment Center 801-402-0677
320 S 500 E, Kaysville, UT 84037
(Davis County)

DDI VANTAGE Early Intervention Program 801-266-3939
3950 S 700 E, Suite 101, SLC, UT 84107
(Salt Lake/Granite School Dist., Murray School Dist., Tooele, Duchesne Counties)

Jordan Child Development Center 801-412-2510
7501 S 1000 E, Midvale UT 84047
(Jordan School District)

Kids On The Move 801-221-9930
475 W 260 N, Orem UT 84057
(Alpine School District)

Kids Who Count 801-423-3000
PO Box 1039, Salem UT 84653
(Nebo School District)

Prime Time 4 Kids 435-789-5409
1360 W Hwy 40 Ste 1, Vernal UT 84078
(Uintah, Daggett Counties)

Provo Early Education Program 801-374-4965
100 N 600 E, Provo, UT 84606
(Provo School District)

San Juan School District E.I. 435-678-1222
200 N Main, Blanding UT 84511
(San Juan County)

Southeastern Utah Dist. Health Dept. 435-637-3671
25 W Main, PO Box 644, Castle Dale UT 84513
(Carbon, Emery, Grand Counties)

Summit County Health Dept. E.I. 435-615-3925
6505 Landmark Dr. Park City UT 84098
(Summit, Wasatch Counties)

Southern Utah University E.I. 435-586-6070
2390 W HWY 56 STE 1, Cedar City UT 84720
(Beaver, Iron, Garfield, Kane Counties)

The Learning Center for Families 435-673-5353
1192 W Sunset Blvd. #2, St George UT 84770
(Washington County)

Up To 3 435-797-3727
USU,UMC 6810, Logan UT 84322-6810
(Cache, Rich, Box Elder Counties)

Weber School District E.I. 801-476-5460
955 West 12th St., Ogden UT 84404
(Weber, Morgan Counties)

Statewide Services

Deaf/Blind Services 801-629-4732
742 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, UT 84404-5204

Parent Infant Program 801-629-4743
742 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, UT 84404-5204