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Parent Power Blog |
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
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
Tuesday, 02 June 2009
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 1st, 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
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
According an email that the Massachusetts ARC sent out this week, over four hundred individuals with disabilities, family members, staff and friends gathered at the Grand Staircase at the State House to rally and speak out against the DDS and DMH budget cuts. That is a great turnout and sends a clear message to our legislators.
Besides the ARC, kudos also need to go out to the following statewide disability advocacy organizations for supporting and spreading the word about the rally: The Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP), Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC), Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM) Mass Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) and Mass Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC).
Thank you for getting the word out there and showing our legislators what “Parent Power” is all about!
Sharon Marie
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
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
Saturday, 02 May 2009
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
Wednesday, 08 April 2009
Fight the Massachusetts' Budget Cuts!
An urgent email from The Autism Resource Center of West Boylston, Massachusetts, is asking that those with special needs, the disabled, their friends and family members and all other concerned citizens to attend Thursday's "The Rally For People First", to be held at 1 p.m. at the Grand Staircase of the Massachusetts State House, 2nd Floor.
According to the email, which the Center sent out on Tuesday, the Rally will begin at 1 p.m. At 1:40 p.m. the press will be interviewing Rally attendees, after which, there will be opportunities to visit with legislators and tell them "No More Budget Cuts For The Disabled."
The email also states "If the Governor's House 1 Cuts stand, thousands of people will lose services at the Department of Developmental Services (DDS on July 1-now Department of Mental Retardation) and other disability agencies. Over $78 Million in cuts for 2010 (includes some 9C cuts) translates to almost 11,000 children and adults losing support services (many services essential to keeping family together), 500 losing employment or day services, more than 200 children with autism losing all or partial services. Several hundred more adults are losing training or employment funding because of a $7.6 Million cut in extended employment at the Mass. Rehabilitation Commission."
If you cannot make it to the Rally, you can still find and contact your legislator at www.wheredoivotema.com. Don't forget to tell them: No More Budget Cuts for the Physically, Emotionally and Mentally Disabled!
Sharon Marie
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Goodbye Question 1 A collective sigh of relief could be heard across the Massachusetts landscape last Wednesday as the defeat of Question 1 became clear. Like many parents of special needs children, I was worried about how a repeal of the state income tax would impact both my disabled child, and my "typical" child's education.
But according to BallotPedia.org, more than 70% of the vote went against this initiative. That number sent a powerful message to our legislators. We're letting them know we're concerned about our children's' futures. We've already seen cuts in SPED programs, teacher layoffs, elimination of administrative positions, the DMH/DMR denying services, and many other infrastructure, public safety and social programming budget slashing.
The next step for our lawmakers is to guard against raising taxes, yet strive to ensure monies are distributed to where they are needed most. And that will be most challenging in the difficult fiscal days ahead.
Sharon Marie
Friday, 14 November 2008
Welcome. The content and goal of the site are the same as the former Initiate. Educate. Advocate. title implied.
But for some time now, I have felt that the true message of this website should be empowerment.
- Empowerment for the parent.
- Empowerment for the child.
- Empowerment for the young adult.
There will be more changes to the look and content of this site. And it will always be with the same goal in mind: Initiate reaching out. Educate yourself or your child. Advocate for yourself or your family.
When you're done, reach out to another to share what you've learned, and to show them what Parent Power is all about.
Sharon Marie
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