June 1997

A Report from the MDTAP Rehabilitation Services Program

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

• Success Stories from Winter 1997
• TAP / Easter Seal Parents Training
• Upcoming Training's and Presentations
• Accomplishments
• In the Planning Stage
• The Directory of Resources for the Eastern Shore
• Upcoming Events on the Eastern Shore

Success Stories from Winter 1997

Lower Shore Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities held a successful Telethon as a major fund raiser on February 21 in Salisbury, MD. Local talent was showcased along with interviews from past scholarship winners, disabled workers and their employers. Money raised from the call-in pledges funded scholarships for disabled students to attend colleges on the Eastern Shore. The committee goals are to create job opportunities for the disabled and increase public access as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

TAP / Easter Seal Parents Training "Everyone Wins!!"

Parents         Children with Disabilities      UMES Students
Easter Seals    Parents Place                   TAP

On February 15 and 22, twenty parents and their children with disabilities met at the Easter Seal location in Salisbury for an intense training on the laws that pertain to the rights of children with disabilities in the school system. The schedule for the day included three & a half hours of training by noted trainer and instructor, Dr. Larry Larson, Johns Hopkins professor and long time advocate for parents of children with disabilities.

While the parents were busy learning about law, their children were excited about a morning of play at Playtime Alley (same building as Easter Seals). Each child was greeted by an enthusiastic student from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Rehabilitation Services Program who provided one-on-one assistance during their playtime. UMES students need to fulfill service hours in their field and this opportunity gave them direct contact with children with disabilities and their needs. This type of experience for UMES students provides valuable training and preparation for their future in Rehabilitation Services.

Dr. Larson is a member/volunteer trainer for the Parents Place of Maryland. Along with other trainers, Dr. Larson provides valuable sessions for parents who are seeking direction and clarification on the rights and responsibilities of school systems. Parents Place provides a significant service to parents throughout the state of Maryland and on the Eastern Shore through Rosemary DiCrispino (e-mail at jd0025@mail.pratt.lib.md.us).

The Easter Seal location was the perfect site for training and provided a safe and fun-filled morning for the children. Too often childcare is the barrier parents face in attending a training. Resources for childcare are overburdened and costly. At our training, Playtime Alley graciously reduced their price for these children and scholarship funds from TAP and Easter Seals paid for their attendance. Easter Seals showcased their pediatric therapy location in their new suite of offices since their move within the building a few months ago.

Maryland TAP is proud to be a sponsor of these excellent on-going training's for parents, provide scholarship funds for children to experience Playtime Alley, collaborate with Professors at UMES for students in the Rehabilitation Services Program to receive service hours and provide a needed service to the children. We are proud of our collaborative association with Easter Seals and Parents Place in these training's. Because we have been so successful, we are searching for a location to hold a similar training in the Upper Shore of Maryland in the fall.

For further information on training dates, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Rehabilitation Services Program, how to contact Easter Seals of Del-Mar or Parents Place of Maryland, Eastern Shore representative, please call

410-546-2181, ext. 273 or
410-651-6262
800-735-2258 Maryland Relay
410-546-0034 fax
janet_parke@umail.umd.edu

Upcoming Training's and Presentations

• Wicomico County Social Services presentation Salisbury, March 18, noon
• Chesapeake Care Resources, Northeast, MD Staff Development Training, March 21, North East
• Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day Chesapeake Rehab Hospital, March 22, 10:00 - 2:00 Display (see attached sheet)
• UMES Rehabilitation Class presentations - March & April
• AARP Health Fair Display April 1, Ocean City, 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Arthritis Support Group April 9 - Chesapeake Rehab, Salisbury - 6 p.m.
• Augmentative Communication Training - April 10, 9:30 a.m. - noon Holly Center, Salisbury
• Nancy Inman from Prentke Romich will be presenting overview of their augmentative communication products, new software and infrared technology UMES Rehabilitation Class presentations - March & April
• Caroline County "Transition Night" presentation, April 23, 7 p.m., North Caroline High School, Denton An evening session by numerous agencies to inform parents of students transitioning from school to work about local resources
• Multiple Sclerosis Camp presentations in June (2) These are two one-week camps for adults with Multiple Sclerosis are sponsored by Multiple Sclerosis Society at the lovely Fairlee Manor Recreation and Education Center in Chestertown, MD. Presentation by TAP on Aids for Daily Living, June 18 and June 25

Accomplishments

• Disability Awareness Week at UMES - Display & demonstration of technology
• Arthritis Support Group Training in Snow Hill by UMES Rehabilitation Services student
• Maryland Disability Law Center referrals & consultation School Assistance to Caroline County (two students) and Cecil County (one student) for Selection of Assistive Technology in cooperation with the Adapted Equipment Clinic out of the Holly Foundation.
• Training at Chesapeake Head Injury, Easton
• Training to staff and consumer on use of Uniphone and hearing carry over assistance through the Maryland Relay Easter Seals Evaluation Team

In the Planning Stage

• Salvation Army - Stroke Support Group presentation
• DynaVox Update and Overview by Linda Carmen - May 1997
• Low Vision Training - in the planning process ADA Training for professionals/consumers - Continuing Education class at Chesapeake College, proposed for fall in collaboration with the Maryland Coalition for ADA Education
• Lower Eastern Shore / Upper Eastern Shore Networking Conference proposed One-day Resource training for special education teachers

Directory

The Directory of Resources for the Eastern Shore has reached its first draft stage and we are in the process of refining material and preparing for printing. The Directory will be a useful tool for service providers, parents and individuals with disabilities. Key information includes contact person, hours of operation, services, disability groups served, eligibility, counties served, and available equipment for loan. Accessible format available.

If you would like to receive a copy of the directory or have questions, please e-mail or mail a request to the following address:

janet_parke@umail.umd.edu

MD TAP
PO Box 2358
Salisbury, MD 21802

Upcoming Events on the Eastern Shore

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day - March 22 (see attached)
Holly Center Festival, May 10 Carnival type of family affair on the campus of Holly Center. Numerous activities for children, and for the adults there are local displays, food, craft show, auction of wonderful gifts including trips! Campus is accessible for disabilities including the accessible garden. Wheelchair Games - Salisbury Sate University, May

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