CVS Caremark Community Grants Program Accepting Grant Applications for Programs Serving Children With Disabilities

Deadline: October 31, 2009

CVS Caremark Community Grants Program Accepting Grant Applications for Programs Serving Children With Disabilities and the Uninsured

The CVS Caremark Community Grants program provides support to community organizations and public schools in states where CVS stores are located.

The 2009 Community Grants program is focused on a few key areas. The program will award funds to nonprofit organizations working to provide disabled children and youth (under age 21) with health and rehabilitation services and/or programs that enable and encourage physical movement and play. The program will also award grants to public schools that promote a greater level of inclusion in student activities and extracurricular programs for children with disabilities. Proposed programs must be fully inclusive where children with disabilities are full participants in an early childhood, adolescent, or teenage programs alongside their typically developing peers.

Additionally, contributions will be made to organizations that provide uninsured individuals with needed care, in particular programs where the care received is of higher quality and delivered by providers who participate in accountable community healthcare programs. There is no age limit on proposed programs that create greater access to health care services.

Qualifying organizations are eligible for grants of up to $5,000 each.

The online grant application process requires that all applicants answer a number of eligibility questions before gaining access to the application. Visit the CVS Caremark Web site for complete program information and application materials:

http://info.cvscaremark.com/community/our-impact/community-grants

Yummy Coffee at the South Street Seaport this summer

hello all,

we will be selling fresh roasted coffee for autism once again,
although this time on a more regular basis. we will be taking a small
space where we can sell coffee whole bean and pour samples to
customers that visit the south street seaport market in nyc.

if anyone out there has a spare moment and would like to
sell some delicious coffee for a cause we're accepting volunteer
applications ;).

check out our web site, www.yummycoffee.org, or ny mag's 'grub street'
blog for more details:

http://nymag.com/daily/food/2009/05/fulton_stall_market_announces.html

thanks for your support.

all our best from nyc,
john, jacquie, and max

Dr Seuss Game - I Gan Do That

We absolutely love the Dr Seuss Series game called, I can do that! This game is great for kids on the autism spectrum. Simple sequenced cards, (1,2,3) have actions with objects (from the story) and directions centered around a trick a ma stick that is so flimsy that it makes the game even more silly. The theme is centered around the Dr Seuess story 'The Cat in The Hat'. So for example you have to take four giant steps with put fish on your head. The game involves great visuals, sequencing and is really a challenge in motor planning several actions in a row. And then you yell out, "I Can Do That!" It has really been great fun as well as challenging. Enjoy!

Social Stories by Kids Can Dream

I found this on a Yahoo post. Here is a great link to a website that was created by kids with over 220 social story examples! Great job!

Social Stories Website and More

"Hi, I would like to share with you my daughters autism website with over 220 social stories examples. She started her website Kids Can Dream, for her brothers, and as a school project and it has became a huge passion for her. On her site it also has free printables, and pecs websites. Please check it out, it is very infomative. If you enjoy the website, please sign her guestbook. If you have any questions, you can email her at kidscandream@live.com . Thank you so much. Have a great day. Saundra (mom)"

Kids Can Dream - Main Page
http://www.freewebs.com/kidscandream/main.htm

Kids Can Dream Social Stories Page - Page 1
http://www.freewebs.com/kidscandream/page12.htm

Kids Can Dream Social Stories Page - Page 2
http://www.freewebs.com/kidscandream/page13.htm

20-question research-based screening tool

http://school.familyeducation.com/reading/early-learning/46528.html?WT.mc_id=FE_Your-Child_0-6_2009-01-09_email

I just used a very simple visual question screening tool that was helpful to figure out reading ability. Its worth checking out, and my son enjoyed it too. It is really helpful to see him actually figure things out.

Get Ready to Read! Overview
Use this 20-question research-based screening tool with your four-year-old. The score will show if your child's pre-reading skills are weak, strong, or somewhere in between. And activities and resources to improve those skills will be provided.

This tool is designed to screen a child twice during the year before kindergarten. Use the tool first in the fall one year before your child enters kindergarten, and again the next fall before kindergarten begins, to measure the child's progress. Don't use the tool more than three times in a year. It's not designed to measure small changes, and children develop new skills gradually.

Directions

The Get Ready to Read! screening tool has a sample question and 20 questions. When you've finished all 20 questions, the tool will be scored automatically.

How to use the Get Ready to Read! screening tool:

1. Find a quiet time to work and set aside about 10-15 minutes to complete the screening tool.

2. Sit next to the child in front of the computer screen. Give the child control of the mouse if he or she knows how to use it.

3. The screening tool begins with a sample question. Use this question to make sure that the child knows what to do. Point to the pictures in the sample question and say to the child: "Let's look at some pictures. I will ask you a question about them, and you point to (or click on) the picture that is the best answer. Let's try one."

4. Remember, read aloud the statement that appears at the top of the sample question, slowly, clearly, and exactly as it is written on the screen. Ask the child to point to (or click on) the best answer. This is a sample question, so you may give hints and feedback only on this question to make sure the child understands the instructions.

5. When you are confident that the child understands what to do, click on "start" at the bottom of the sample page to continue to the first question.

6. Read the statement at the top of the page to the child exactly as it is written on the screen. You or the child should click on the picture that the child chooses as the answer. Click on "next" to continue to the next question. Continue in this way through all 20 questions.

7. After the 20th question, click on the "Get Score" button to get the child's score.

What if:

* The child wants to stop? Say: "We have just a few more. Let's try to finish." If the child stops paying attention, take a short break. Start with the next unanswered item. If the child is not able to start again, restart the screening tool at the beginning a few days later.

* The child asks for help? Say: "Try to do it yourself." You can repeat a question, but don't offer more help.

* The child says the answer instead of pointing to or clicking on it? Say: "Can you show me? Put your finger on it."

* The child points to more than one picture or changes an answer? Say: "Can you pick just one?" Choose the child's final answer.

* The child asks if the answer is right? Give a vague answer: "You're doing a really good job." Respond the same way whether the answer is right or wrong.

* The child answers too quickly, or points to the picture in the same position every time? Say: "Take your time. Look at all the pictures before you decide." The child may be tired. Take a short break.