Paying For Summer Camp

The annual summer-camp Parent Panic is now in full swing.
   Besides facing the difficult problem of finding the proper program to accommodate your child's disability, there is also calculating in family vacations, parent work schedules, drop-off/pickup times and the expenses of keeping kids safe and involved over a long season. 
  To keep costs reasonable, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

 Always ask about camp scholarships. Check with your desired camp, your local Lions Club, Rotary Club, local community groups and city and state disability programs.
 Ask about discounts for referring a friend.
 Offer a skill or service for a discount or even free tuition. Can you teach swimming, CPR, arts and crafts, web design, a sport or obtain equipment and supplies for your chosen program? 
 Attend in late summer. Many families take vacations around this time, and camps have a harder time filling their bunks.
 Have a fund-raising project such as a garage sale. 

I hope these tips help you chip away at some of the costs and get your child into the program of your choice.
Sharon Marie

May Is Children's Mental Health Month

Many of our children have emotional and mental challenges along with their physical disabilities. Children's Mental Health Month in Massachusetts will showcase many family support services that are participating in a month- long series of events to promote community awareness and spreading the word about and helping the mentally impaired and their families.  

The Wayside's Parent Partnership Program is just one of many mental health organizations in Massachusetts hosting events in cities and towns such as Arlington, Billerica, Brighton Framingham, Lexington and Watertown.

Their community workshops include themes such as a Forum for Children's Health Campaign, Legislative Breakfasts, Helping Parents Learning Parenting, There's No Such Thing As A Bad Kid and much more.  The month long campaign will end with a May 31st NamiWalks at Artesani Park in Brighton. Please visit the Wayside at www.waysidepp.org for details on many more events.
Sharon Marie
 
Don't Let Him Do It
Do not let Deval Patrick cut $78 million from the DMR's budget. And unless a whole lot of us a make a whole lot of noise, our Governor and his administration will make this next chop to the DMR's budget on July 1^st, which is the beginning of fiscal year 2010. 
   
And, according to the ARC of Central Massachusetts, the State of Massachusetts can place Federal Medicaid dollars into the General Fund. That menas Medicaid re-imbursement increases can be used for other areas of the state budget instead of the family supports they are intended for. 

Well it's our money too. And we have the right to tell our local legislators how we want our hard-earned Massachusetts tax payer dollars spent. 

So get on the phone or your email already. House Member phone numbers and email addresses can be found at: www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm. Senate Member phone numbers and email addresses can be found at: www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm.

Or go to the ARC's "Action Alert" page www.capwiz.com/thearc/
issues/alert/?alertid=12710406&type
=ST&show_alert=1
and send a message to your legislators to voice your concerns. 

Remember, its our money too.
Sharon Marie

The DMH Layoff Outrage
The elimination of 100 case worker positions from the Massachusetts Department of Mental health was the state kicking a dog that was already down.  A callous and heartbreaking move that decimates a department hard hit by previous cuts. 

I want the state to know that there are faces and families behind the numbers they throw around. That people are hurting and don't know where to turn. That dedicated case workers are once again left stretching themselves farther then ever before to help those who are unable to help themselves.

If these dire economic times continue, there may be more cuts still to come for the DMH. I implore Governor Patrick and his administration to stop this outrage, this abomination to the well being of our mentally challenged.

Every one of us needs to call our state legislators right away. You can find their contact information at www.wheredoivotema.com. Tell them: No more cuts. No more layoffs. No more.
Sharon Marie

Speaking Loud and Clear
Recently my town's school committee held an emergency meeting to discuss the future of certain aspects of the SPED programs. 

It was heartening to not only have so many parents pack the room
and diplomatically voice their strong opinions, but also for the town's
leaders to be listening and agreeing.

And that is what Parent Power is truly all about. Standing up. Being heard.
Taking action and advocating for the child that cannot.

At the end of the night, one parent stated "The People Have Spoken."
And so they have. And so they will. 
Sharon Marie