The Arc of the South Shore - Early Intervention

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Legislative Alert!

The time has come for an all-out effort to prevent the decimination of the Early Intervention System. We need action from everyone, like never before. We need hundreds of parents, children, staff, community members to attend our protest at the Governor's Office on Monday. We need at least 500 letters to be offered as testimony for the 24th Grant Application of Part C IDEA. We need to be heard by the Governor and to eliminate balancing the budget on the backs of children and families and to end this constant struggle for EI funding. We need everyone to make this their top priority this week to make to make this happen.

Attached you will find 9 important attachments to help solicit the support we need. Please make sure to download and make copies of all of them. (You may use this list to make sure you have downloaded all of them)

Here are some ways that you can help our efforts be a success:

Have Parent/Child Groups that would be taking place on Monday morning attend the Stroller-In instead
Approach other Parent/Child Groups as well to attend
See if your transportation company or agency will provide transportation
Have parents write letters during group time
Provide staff the opportunity to write letters during Staff Meeting
Have staff attend and inform their families to increase comfort level for parents
Have staff take 15 minutes out of their sessions this week to review the fee and eligibility tables demonstrating how the changes would affect their child and family
Encourage parents to write a letter and include a photo. (Letters do not have to be typed and could be written during your session.) Staff could bring the letters back to the office, make copies to mail out to DPH and Governor Patrick and to give Program Directors
Contact your local pediatricans and solicit letters
Contact your LEAs, Head Start, Community Collaborators
Discuss with staff families that would be willing to speak to the press
We simply cannot let these proposed changes happen to our amazing Early Intervention System that has helped so many children and families over the past 30 years.

Thank you for your dedication and determination.

Martha Levine

Consortium President

Anne Dolan
Consortium Secretary
(978) 774-7570

Visit us at: www.maeic.org

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Early Intervention ("EI") is an integrated developmental service, offering both evaluation and therapeutic services to children birth to three years of age for whom there are developmental concerns due to biological, medical or environmental factors. EI services are provided individually in the home, in small integrated groups at our center and in a range of community settings. A variety of parent support, educational and resource referral services are also provided.

The First Early Intervention Program works in collaboration with community resources such as center based day care, family day care, Family Network services, schools services, Head Start, and private therapy services in the area. We provide individualized services to families, attempting to meet their scheduling and therapeutic needs. Service plans are individualized and flexible in order to meet the changing needs of the child and family.

Services Offered:

Evaluations for all infants and toddlers;
Service Coordination;
Individualized therapeutic services in speech, occupational, and physical therapy, developmental education, social work, and counseling;
Transportation
Referrals to specialty providers including low vision, hearing impairment, and autism services
Transition planning with special education providers and private pre-schools
Training for community child care providers

For more information, please contact First Early Intervention at 781-331-2533 or email to First Early Intervention Email

April 13 & 14 - 31st Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium Conference -

An annual educational event for service providers of children birth to three with developmental delays, or at risk for developmental delays, and their families. This two-day conference provides an opportunity for practitioners, researchers, physicians, higher education faculty, families and policy makers to join in learning and networking together. Best Western Royal Plaza, Marlboroough - Brochure and Conference Schedule

First Early Intervention's Wish List:

The following is a list of items that are generally needed year-round by First Early Intervention. Any donations of these items would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your generosity!

Various sizes of zip lock storage bags	Preschool painting smocks
Portable tunnels	Velcro play food
Bingo Daubers	Pens
Beans, oatmeal, and rice	Vanilla and butterscotch pudding cups
Clorex wipes	Non toxic finger paints
Tissues	Vinyl gloves
Toddler size used clothing for emergencies

Thanks.

First Early Intervention Staff

Take 5

Looking to connect with other parents from Massachusetts and across the US then go to http://www.foggyrock.com/

There you will find parents, forums, over 60 different group topics, a library of articles and blogs. This is a great resource full of terrific families who are walking a path similar to your own!

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Autism Consortium Phenotypic & Genetic Factors Study

What are we studying?

We hope to learn more about possible genetic causes of ASDs. We want to better understand the behaviors of individuals with ASDs and their family members. We think that it is important to examine behavior and genetics together to learn more about ASDs

Who can participate?

To be eligible participants must:

• Have an ASD diagnosis

• Be at least 24 months old

Parents and some siblings will also be asked to participate in the study.
What does participating in this research study mean?
The study will involve providing a blood sample.

Each participant will also have an assessment that may include IQ tests, medical/family history forms, questionnaires, and behavioral observations. Some of the testing can be done in the family's home, if preferred. Agreeing to participate in this study will also give study researchers permission to view participants' medical records.

How will participants be compensated?

• Participating families will receive:

• Gift cards for each child

• Lunch vouchers for onsite visits

• Free parking

At the conclusion of participation, the results of the testing performed on the child with an ASD will be summarized in a report. The report will be reviewed with the family by a psychologist.

The Goals of this Study Are:

To discover new genes involved in ASDs

To establish a comprehensive and efficient assessment battery for improved evaluation of individuals with ASDs

To better understand characteristics of the whole family, such as medical history, to determine if there is a correlation between these family characteristics and any genetic differences so that we may better understand the gene(s) involved in ASDs.

The study is being conducted at all of our clinical sites in Massachusetts, including UMass Medical School, or can be performed at the family’s home. At the conclusion of the study, a detailed report of the assessment results for the family member with an ASD will be provided. The report will be reviewed with the family in-person or by phone if preferred. This valuable report and consultation is provided at no cost to families participating in this study.

For more info contact:Jean A. Frazier, M.D. or Carol A. Hoffman, Ph.D., M.S., LGC, Principal Investigator Genetic Counselor/Research Psychologist, Vice-Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Child and Adolescent Psychiatry UMass Medical School, UMass Medical School Worcester, MA 508-856-5055