Service Coordination, Inc. Conferences

I forget the last time I so much promotion. If public speaking was NASCAR I wonder what company would advertise on me, Josh Blue, John W. Quinn, and Handicap This. Maybe I could get an art company and I think we could figure what Josh Blue would Advertise.

Free Conference Registration: Service Coordination's 2013 Self Direction Conferences, featuring a presentation by Dan Keplinger.
Register today: www.servicecoordinationinc.org/selfdirection

 

"Above the Skyline" by Daniel Keplinger. Dan is our keynote speaker for Service Coordination's 2013 Self Direction Conferences.
Register for one of our conferences here at our blog: http://servicecoordination.wordpress.com/

 

OUR COMMUNITY: Together We Are Stronger!

Service Coordination will host our 5th Annual Self Direction Conferences this April and May. These conferences feature presentations by and for self advocates, interactive workshops, time to meet other self advocates, lunch and a very special presentation by our keynote speaker, Dan Keplinger, Jr.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION:

North Baltimore/Towson, Saturday, April 27, 2013, 8:30am—2pm, Oak Crest Village, 8820 Walther Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21234

Contact: Lisa Smith, 410-256-8441, lsmith@servicecoordinationinc.org

Allegany/Garrett County, Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 10am—2pm, Allegany College of MD, 12401 Willowbrook Road, SE, Cumberland, MD 21502

Contact: Amanda Paul, 301-772-1470, apaul@servicecoordinationinc.org

Washington County, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 9:30am—1:30pm, Ramada Plaza Hotel, 1718 Underpass Way, Hagerstown, MD 21740

Contact: Sarah Johnson, 301-791-0400, sjohnson@servicecoordinationinc.org

Howard County, Tuesday, May 7, 2013, 10am—2pm, Columbia Meeting House, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, MD 21045

Contact: Bonita Miller-Real, 410-772-8774,
bmiller-real@servicecoordinationinc.org

Frederick County, Thursday, May 9, 2013, 10am—2pm, Mount St. Mary’s Frederick Campus, 5350 Spectrum Drive, Frederick, MD 21703

Contact: Ann Verbeten, 301-663-8044, averbeten@servicecoordinationinc.org

Montgomery County, Saturday, May 11, Details to come

Contact: Sarah Johnson, 301-791-0400, sjohnson@servicecoordinationinc.org

Carroll County, Wednesday, May 15, 2013, 10am—2pm, Carroll County Nonprofit Center, 255 Clifton Boulevard, Westminster, MD 21157

Contact: Kari Borgealt, 410-876-0028, kborgealt@servicecoordinationinc.org

National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day 2013

It is official! March 25th 2013 has been designated by the US Congress as National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. Thanks to Cynthia Frisina Gray, co-founder of the Reaching For The Stars Foundation for her unrelenting efforts to see this through!

I think this is a good start for bigger things to come and it might make people  more aware of people with disabilities, but what does it really mean? Would it make C.P.ers feel better to be recognize as part of society for just one day of a year?  I would rather be seen as a person just as everyone else in the everyday world, because I think that I and many others C.P.ers take part in society on a daily bases.

Here I go again, having one of gimp world images.  Maybe in the near future, National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day could be celebrated with ceremony that would recognize  the accomplishments of both C.P.ers and non-C.P.ers for their contributions in Cerebral Palsy community.

"Inspiration Porn", What?

What is "inspiration porn", to me porn has always been inspirational. I DO NOT GET IT? As everything there is a down side to "inspiration porn" as in the case of Oscar Pistorius.  I think people are staying just because you see an image that makes you inspired, or feel good you do not know the full story of those people. 
Maybe I can compare "inspiration porn" this way, a lot  of people would see my film and look at me as I was a hero since I beat the odds. I am just living my life to the fullest!  My life has not been perfect and I have made my share of mistakes, in today's world almost everything can be edited.  Really I'm not a hero, anyone can accomplish anything as long as they have the passion.

Two Prints In Action As A Fundraiser March 25, ending on April 9

Libby is an orphan born with Down syndrome in E. Europe. We are fundraising for her adoption. Items are made by artists with special needs to increase support.

I donated two of my original photo-litho prints are up for auction. They are My Precious 2008, photo-lithograph on paper, 8 X 8 Inches(left) and Nurture,  2008, photo-lithograph on paper, 8 X 10 Inches(right). Both of the prints are valued at $250 all of the proceeds will go to Libby.

For more information: Jaime V.

Head Stick, Head Pointer

I often received questions about my Head Sticks, where did I get them, how did I start using them? I think I was about 7, or 8 when I first used a headstick. Back then they were hand made, even 32 years later I still get it specially made at Kennedy Krieger Institute, in the OT Department.

I did a search online and this is what I found, I cannot say what one would work the best.
http://www.disabledonline.com/products/direct-products/alt-input-devices/headeye-controlled-input/adjustable-head-pointer/
http://www.wisdomking.com/headpointers

People have asked, how to get a headstick for a student, or client. If they can’t pay for it out of pocket, or even know that the person would be able to use it, the first would be to work with an occupational therapist. I do not know how it compares to using a mouthstick, since I cannot keep my mouth closed to use one.