Monterey Bay Forum

What can get a handle on gang violence? Healthy, supervised activities is one avenue. Other avenues include individual commitments by the youth and parents made publicly and supported by the institutions that they respect — school, church, neighbors.

Churches, for example, have Graduation Recognition ceremonies. How about Initiation for Peaceful Solutions Ceremonies for youth starting by age 9 that are renewed once a year? And to bolster that public commitment by youth and parents blessed by priests and ministers create safe communities that are gun/knife/weapon free. Encourage parents to create ways to swoop up the guns and weapons that are on the streets and in the hands of children. And yes — structured activities such as soccer that encourage cooperation and healthy competition will enhance self esteem.

Below is how Live Oak, California is addressing the problem of gang violence. It is a start!!

A Volunteer Opportunity
A FREE 6 week indoor Soccer Program for youth ages 6 – 17 is being offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00pm June 14th – July 21st. at Shoreline School in Live Oak. It is offered through a partnership between the Sheriff’s Activity League, the Live Oak Family Resource Center, Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action (COPA) and the Live Oak School District. VOLUNTEERS (adults and older teens) ARE NEEDED – coaches, refs, line refs, security, “team parent” etc. There will be a volunteer training on June 7th 6-8 pm. For more information call 476-7284 x 104.
Pre registration for players is June 3rd. Priority to youth living in the Live Oak School District but all kids accepted on a space available basis. Call same # to find out how to register There are many kids living in our community who cannot play soccer because their families cannot afford it. This program promotes self-esteem, teamwork and leadership skills while offering healthy activities in a safe space.

BlogBabel Tags: commitment by families, gang violence, sports

An excellent guide to local resources is the Perinatal Resource Guide, Santa Cruz County 2010. It is developed and revised by Family Health Unit and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Unit, Health Services Agency. For more information call (831) 454-4331 or email nancy.diehl@health.co.santa-cruz.ca.us

To see how to use it, I put myself in the shoes of a parent who is concerned about possible developmental delays. But not exactly sure as to what kind of delay.

In the Index at the back Under Special Needs (Children With) is listed San Andreas Regional Center. In that same category are: California Children’s Services, Special Education Local Plan Agency (SELPA) and Special Parents Information Network (SPIN).

It would be helpful if San Andreas Regional Center was also cross listed under Children Services — where SPIN and CCS are also cross listed. Through the Early Start services many, many children with suspected delays receive services from age 0 to age three.

Another appropriate cross listing for San Andreas Regional Center is Parent Education/ Support Services. For over age two children who do not have a 50 percent delay in one area there is parent education and support through the Prevention Program.

Perhaps in the 2011 edition of Perinatal Resource Guide a new listing could be included: Internet resources and blogs that provide useful information for Santa Cruz County. On that list might be this blog — Monterey Bay Forum — http://www.FreedomOK.net which provides free screening for autism and discussion of local health and other issues.

written by Cameron Jackson, Ph.D., J.D. DrCameronJackson@gmail.com

BlogBabel Tags: health guide, Perinatal Resource Guide, san andreas regional center

According to Dr. Bryna Seigel, for treating autism Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) IS the best method and it needs to be done from a developmental perspective.

That’s the problem. The ABA folks far too frequently do not use a developmental framework. Too often the ABA trainers do not use anything other than the one tool they know: stimulus – response. And far too often, ABA trainers do NOT know what is appropriate developmentally or culturally for that child.

The bottom line is that the ABA folks are narrowly trained and practise a narrow technique. It is good that they stay within the boundaries of their knowledge. Thank god for that! It is not good that they think that their method is the only way to go.

For example, too often ABA trainers will train the child during a time of day that typically the child naps. Does that make sense? Not from a developmental perspective. (more…)

BlogBabel Tags: ABA, applied behavioral analysis, Autism, developmental persepctive, Dr. Siegel, Early Start Denver Model, Education, sleeping autistic child, treatment of autism, UCSF

There are stories of courage and faith all around us. This one is about a Catholic family with a special needs child. Recently, now age 18, I had the opportunity to assess their son.

This young person has substantial, multiple difficulties. To protect the family’s privacy, some information has been changed.

I will call their son Thomas. Not Thomas the Doubter but Thomas the Tenacious.

Early on, Thomas’ family knew that their middle child was very different. Though not a problem at home, he got kicked out of a private pre-school for behavior issues. By age four, assessment suggested that he had substantial communication and social delays. Other assessment suggested an array of delays.

In Kindergarten, Thomas’ parents turned down an SDC placement (more than 50% in special ed setting) and insisted on mainstreaming him. His family wanted and got a regular ed placement. He had an aide.

Assessment in second grade showed that Thomas had normal, average cognitive IQ abilities and quite low other abilities. However, thereafter when Thomas’ cognitive IQ abilities were tested his scores were in the bottom 5 out of 100.

“No, we are not going to use the mental retardation label,” the parents said to themselves and to professionals. To Thomas they said, “You can and will graduate from high school”.

The parents set the bar high for Thomas. The parents helped him every night at home and negotiated with the schools for support services to assist Thomas. At times he had an aide. He had Occupational Therapy and Speech services. Throughout high school he had RSP support.

Outside school, Thomas was able to complete religious classes and in high school was confirmed in his church. But he never had any friends.

“If Thomas misses 1 class it is as though he missed 3″ said his mother to me when I tried to set up an appointment to assess him. ” And absolutely don’t take him out of History …” And I did set up appointment times that did not conflict with any of his academic subjects.

And guess what — this June Thomas age 18 will graduate with a high school diploma. True — he has not been able to pass the California exit exams. However, he has completed all the work and taken all the necessary classes. Thomas has worked hard and long to get a diploma.

It has been a hard road for Thomas. It takes him 2-3 times as long to finish his homework compared to fellow students. Though he would like friends — he has no friends. And he cannot drive a car. And except for work experience through Special Education, he has had no part time jobs.

Thomas has a disability called Autistic Spectrum Disorder. It substantially affects his communication and social abilities. Sometimes he mumbles and sometimes he nearly shuts down in his abilities to communicate with people.

When assessing Thomas, one thing shined through — Thomas has sold, normal, average cognitive intelligence. That Thomas has normal, average intelligence is a real strength that will help him in all of life’s situations.

All of us have strengths and relative weaknesses. Thomas has strong intelligence and incredible tenacity. Once he knows what to do and how to do it, he persists and keeps on trying until the task is done. And that willingness to persist and keep on trying was passed along to Thomas by the faith and courage of his parents.

BlogBabel Tags: autistic spectrum disorder, courage, Faith, RSP, SDC, special needs child