With a smooth left-handed swing, Alessandra Glickman drops a single down the third-base line and arrives at first base with a smile. Just like countless other kids, she is thrilled to be out playing baseball on a warm Sunday afternoon.
But Alessandra Glickman isn’t like most kids.
Alessandra was born with Down syndrome. After beginning to grow into a life that would always include certain challenges, she started losing weight and energy. A few months before her sixth birthday, doctors finally determined why when they found three tumors in her brain.
Read full article on Menlo Park Patch: Beating Brain Cancer with a Baseball Bat.
Posted on August 1st, 2011
Twenty-one years ago, the United States became the first country to adopt national civil rights legislation, unequivocally banning discrimination against people with disabilities in the public and private sectors. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was remarkable, not only because of its groundbreaking provisions, but also because it was developed with the extensive participation of disability organizations, bi-partisan champions from the House and Senate, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and the business community.
Learn more.
Posted on July 26th, 2011
In June 2011, UCPGG awarded eight special education teachers in our four county service area (Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and Alameda) with Special Education Grants. These grants consisted of items the teachers had requested for their special education classes. The winners were picked based on the level of creativity and imaginativeness of their requests. Everyone was delighted to receive their awards. The winners are as follows.
Alameda County
Steven Edwards – Vannoy Elementary School – Castro Valley Unified School District
Johnetta Maduakglam – Eldridge Elementary School – Hayward Unified School District
Shannon Johns – James L. Bunker Elementary School – Newark Unified School District
Contra Costa County
Holly DeShazo – Buena Vista Elementary School – West Contra Costa Unified School District
Maria Graham-Tyler – Lucille Glass Mauzy School – Contra Costa Office of Education
Nicole Davis – Transition Program – West Contra Costa Unified School District
Shelly Wallent – John Swett High School – John Swett Unified School District (Crockett)
Marin County
Glenn R. Dal Poggetto – San Jose Middle School – Novato Unified School District
Merchelle Cettall – Bolinas Campus – Bolinas-Stinson Union School District
Posted on July 26th, 2011
Disability Rights California has produced a new YouTube video, weekly electronic newsletter, and CD to inform people with disabilities about their rights and the services available to them. As the state’s social safety net frays, Disability Rights California (DRC) is making a concerted effort to reach out to the hundreds of thousands of children, youths, and adults who need disability advocacy and legal services to become or remain independent, and to help them access education, health, or other critical services. Designated the state’s protection and advocacy system for Californians with disabilities, DRC offers free legal and advocacy services to those who need them to resolve disability-related issues. In 2010, the most frequently requested services concerned: obtaining Regional Center services for people with developmental disabilities; access to education, healthcare, and information about benefits; how to preserve autonomy and privacy; and how to fight against abuse.
YouTube Video: a short, six minute overview of what they offer and how to contact them.
E News: a weekly electronic newsletter.
CD: 10 of their most popular publications including special education rights and responsibilities, an effective tool for parents of children with disabilities. Call 800-776-5746 to order.
Annual Report: details how they serve more than 26,000 individuals, while impacting an additional 393,000 Californians with disabilities and their families through class action lawsuits. Available in English and Spanish.
Posted on July 7th, 2011
This policy note discusses the background of California’s developmental disability services and identifies the challenges facing this system. It recommends that the state adjust frozen rates for services, adopt equitable and transparent vendor payment systems, and maximize the efficiency of the current system of service provision, among other policy solutions.
Read more: Challenges to Sustaining California’s Developmental Disability Services System.
Posted on March 30th, 2011
A veteran James Logan High School teacher will be honored Saturday for her longtime work with special education students. Aurora Vinci, 53, of Oakland, will receive the Human Rights Award for Physically and Mentally Challenged Students’ Issues from the California Teachers Association during a ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose.
Read full article.
Posted on March 7th, 2011
Zach Anner, who has cerebral palsy, will get his own travel show on Oprah Winfrey’s new cable television network after being handpicked by the TV legend herself.
Read full article.
Posted on March 7th, 2011
Over 400 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and service providers showed up for today’s rally against California Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed cuts to Medi-Cal. Rocio Smith, Josh Sullivan, Steven Laramore, Eric Stern, and several others gave testimony about where we stand today in terms of the proposed cuts. The overall theme was that we appreciate what our legislators have done thus far, and we are counting on them to stand with us until an equitable and well thought out health care plan is signed by Governor Brown; one that cuts things not people. Lia Bristol, from Senator Mark DeSaulnier’s office, was in attendance. She remarked that our voices are being heard all over the state and that our advocacy efforts are extremely important. This was our first rally and we would appreciate any suggestions about how we could do some things differently next time. Please email suggestions to: fcgina@sbcglobal.net.
Posted on March 1st, 2011
Josh Routh greets all his customers with a smile five days a week at the Nob Hill Foods store in San Ramon. He works out at Fitness 19 when time permits on his days off, volunteers at the School of Imagination in Dublin, a school where half the students are autistic, meets with a job coach, lives on his own, balances his checkbook, cooks his meals, pays his bills, and takes vacations each year to work with the Wheelchair Foundation delivering wheelchairs worldwide and delivering supplies and smiles to an orphanage in Mexico. His life is full and his weekly schedule would be an ambitious one for anyone. Did I forget to mention — Josh Routh also has cerebral palsy …
Read more.
Posted on January 21st, 2011
From: The Contra Costa Times
By: Sean Kent, Correspondent
Date: 04/13/2010
All any athlete can ever ask for is a chance. Whether it’s the Butler basketball team coming within inches of winning a national championship, or a career minor-leaguer finally getting his shot with a major league team, the toughest part is just getting the chance.
Even if they’re not successful, they can at least be content knowing that they had a legitimate opportunity at their dream. While athletes at the highest levels yearn for championship glory, children with special needs strive simply for the chance to play.
One youth basketball camp in Pleasant Hill hopes to offer these children the chance to excel among their peers who face the same physical limitations. Simply called the Special Needs Youth Basketball Camp, the clinic is open to anyone ages 6-14 and scheduled to take place on three consecutive Saturdays beginning May 1 at the Oak Park Christian Center Gym.
The only fee is a $30 donation (which includes a T-shirt) to United Cerebral Palsy of the Golden Gate, which is sponsoring the event.
The camp’s main motivating force is Doug Senz, a longtime scorekeeper and assistant basketball coach at Miramonte High School in Orinda. For him, the cause is extremely personal. His son, John Scott Senz, suffers from cerebral palsy and has limited use of his left side. For a father who has been involved with sports for so many years, he soon searched for athletic opportunities for his son. He was disappointed with what he found.
John Scott’s limitations weren’t severe enough for him to play in a wheelchair basketball league, but when he participated in “normal” CYO games he received a sort of patronizing sympathy from opposing coaches and players.
Read more. »
Posted on April 13th, 2010
