July 2001 Power Connections

In this issue:
Options for One Hand Typing and Keyboarding
Sunday School for Kids with Special Needs
Featured Family
In The Library
KidPower Grant & Conference

**************************************************************

Options for One Hand Typing and Keyboarding
The obvious solution: My father always told me to look for it. In our world of exciting adaptive devices, and assistive technologies, we enjoy the opportunity of suggesting our new 'equipment' FIRST. Aren't they the obvious solution?
About 10 years ago we bought eight computers, and had them networked together here is our home office (it's a big house). The poor young technician trying to do the one hour installation was still trying to get the power to connect at 5 pm. I remember him standing there, sweat running down his face, upset, angry at life. My father walked in and asked how it was going. The tech gritted his teeth and said, "I can't get the power to the computers! I have tried, and retried all day!" My elderly father, a simple carpenter, who has never turned on a computer in his life thought a minute, "Did you check the fuse box?" The tech's face turned blank, and he walked off. In 5 minutes the network was up and running. The obvious solution.
But all too often, when suggesting a solution for those with a disability, we jump ahead, instead of starting with the obvious. I think we do a disservice to those who 'could' work with the tools commonly in use, when we suggest they do not attempt to adapt themselves to the workplace. This happens often for those with a disability of the hand.
Rather than the extreme of adaptive devices and assistive technologies, consider all four options for those who wish to become adept at using a keyboard, and possibly pursuing technology careers that center around this important skill. Using the standard keyboard; one handed keyboards; alternative keyboard layouts; and voice activation.
1) One Hand QWERTY
QWERTY is the term used for the standard keyboard used by 99% of the English speaking world (see the keys on your keyboard starting at the Q in the upper left corner.) With good use of either the right, or left hand, (at least four fingers) the student CAN type on a standard keyboard, with no overlays, assistance devices, or alternative keyboard layouts. One Hand QWERTY takes the one strong hand, and has it use FGHJ as home base. The thumb operates the space bar. This system allows the user to compete in any mainstream environment. (There are two one handed manuals available in the market place, $13.95 - $14.95) NOTE: Young children should use a child size keyboard, these are also helpful to many adults http://wwwaboutonehandtyping.com/littlefingers.html
2) Adaptive Devices (one handed keyboards, etc.)
There are many devices and alternative keyboards that can be used to enter data into a computer. These replace a standard keyboard. The most well known is the BAT Personal Keyboard, which uses a series of "chords" to type. New on the market is the Half Keyboard, using a system called Half QWERTY. ($99 - $1000 see http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/bat.html.)
3) Alternative Keyboard Layouts
QWERTY was designed to be so difficult, that it would slow the typist down, insuring the keys would not jam. As technology advanced, and jamming was no longer an issue, many looked for alternatives to QWERTY to ease the strain on the typist's hands. The two most well known are Dvoark, and Half-QWERTY. Half-QWERTY cuts the keyboard in half, using the left side of the keyboard, each key represents two letters, instead of one.
The Dvoark system has layouts for two hands, just the right, or just the left hand. It only takes 30 seconds to set up most computers to the Dvoark system, which is a setting within most computer operating systems.Both of these layouts are faster, and easier on the hands of the typist, but not necessarily smarter. (Dvoark is free, Half-QWERTY, $395. For more, see http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/dvorak.html)
4) Voice Activation
Using voice recognition software, the user speaks into a microphone, and the software transcribes the users words from the verbal dictation. The user must first spend time "training" the software to understand the users particular pronunciation. Voice Activation is the wave of the future and a great tool when used AFTER a good understanding of the standard keyboard is learned. Otherwise the user is not able to operate in environments that use only common equipment, i.e., the library, the workplace, at play with friends, etc. Telling the one hand typist they can to use voice activation instead of learning touch typing on a keyboard, is like telling someone they do not need to learn to read, after all, there are plenty of audio books on tape. In the big picture, this would be a great disservice. Before the one handed person makes a decision which choice is best for them, ask:
1) Is the "good" hand strong? Can it take the burden normally shared by two hands?
If one hand has good usage, then, although harder on the hands, the standard ONE HAND QWERTY is perhaps the best choice for two reasons. One: sell-ability in the job market. The reality is, the easier it is to bring someone into the workplace, the more appealing they are as an employee. If the prospective employee can use the same equipment as the fully-abled employees, with just as much skill (often more!) they are easier to employ. Two: selecting an alternative keyboard makes a child feel apart from their peer group.
2) Will the reason the hand/arm is disabled go away with time? Perhaps an injury that will heal?
As in stroke, sometimes full use is regained after therapy. Only learn the one hand method if you are sure there will never again be enough coordination with the affected hand to type in the standard two handed method. Although, very often the injured hand can be encouraged by having it operate the mouse (see more later at "Mouse: Adapt To The Circumstance").
3) Does this person work on their own - perhaps they are retired or an entrepreneur? Will they need to use other people's computers, or will others need to use their computer?
If not, adaptive devices and alternative keyboard layouts can be suggested. However, if possible to the circumstances of the one handed typist, avoid alternatives if they plan share a computer at work or at play.
Overview and Comparisons for the three top choices for one hand typing
1) Use the standard keyboard (ONE HAND QWERTY)* BEST FOR: Children, and those who have not yet learned to type* WHY? Sellablity in the job market. 100% compatible with the mainstream for work and play, enables the one hand person to use the same computer and keyboards as any two handed person. Least expensive.
2) HALF QWERTY KEYBOARD
BEST FOR: Adults who knew how to touch type before their disability to one hand (only available for the LEFT hand, until late in 2001) WHY: Learn Half-QWERTY in a matter of minutes, with little or no retraining. PRICE: $99.00
3) BAT ONE HAND KEYBOARD
BEST FOR: Those with disabilities in both hands
WHY? Uses simple "cords," with very little movement
PRICE: $199.00

____________________________

For more on one handed typing and keyboards:
www.aboutonehandtyping.com

(c) Lilly Walters, 2000, reprinted with permission.
Phone: 626-335-8069
Fax: 626-335-6127
E-mail: Lilly@aboutonehandtyping.com

*************************************************************

From the President's Desk
Welcome to our 3rd edition of Power Connections. I hope you are all having a fun summer.
I wanted to first mention the technical problems with our 800 # that some experienced soon after the April newsletter was published. These problems have been taken care of and the number is now fully functional. I am sorry for any inconvenience this caused.
The quickest way to get a response from us this summer will be through email as we are going to be out of the office frequently. If you leave a phone message we will return it as soon as we can.
We have been busy making conference plans for the last several months. Make sure to read the conference information on the back page and make your plans to attend. Space for the conference is limited so register ASAP to assure your spot. We hope to see lots of you in Texas in August.
KidPower has become a nonprofit partner with We Media. Look for our logo and ad in upcoming issues of their magazine. We have provided more information on their organization on page five of the newsletter. I hope you enjoy this edition of Power Connections and the rest of your summer vacation. See you in October.
As Always,
April D. Hernandez, President

We always welcome your comments on how to improve this newsletter. Please contact us with comments, concerns, questions or to be removed from our mailing list, at: newsletter@kid-power.com or toll free at (866) 543-7697. This publication is for informational purposes only. Please consult your physician or other applicable professional before making changes in your child's therapy, treatment, educational programs.

*************************************************************

Sunday School for Kids with Special Needs
(Parents: please feel free to pass this along to your Sunday School teachers, to help them grow and give them access to more resources.)
Our goal as Sunday School teachers should be to reach each child with the Gospel. Some of our students have special needs and we have to learn how to adapt our teaching styles and techniques to meet these special needs. The first step is to talk to the parent or other caregiver to learn best how to approach the child. Are there any verbal or physical prompts that are used with the child on a regular basis? Is there any special equipment that the child uses? The teachers should practice with the equipment so that they feel comfortable with that equipment.
There are some easy ways to change any instructional activity, if you take the child's special needs into consideration. The primary consideration is that when one sense is impaired, the other senses are heightened. For any activity, make sure that you have all students participate, not just be a spectator. We learn better when doing, not just listening. If they can't see, have them feel. If they can't hear, have things for them to touch and look at. If they can't do a craft, do it with them, putting your hand over their hand. If they can't vocalize to sing a song, have them clap along, or clap their hands with them, or shake a noisemaker with them.
God doesn't care what we sound like or what our finished craft looks like. He cares that we are growing closer to Him and learning about Him. As stated earlier, the goal of Sunday School teachers is to bring all children closer to God, and to gain knowledge about the Bible. To do so, many times crafts or other learning activities are used. Learning through doing is a great technique, but it can exclude some children if they have special needs and cannot fully participate in the activity. Here are some specific tips for adapting learning activities as needed:
1) If you are drawing a picture to accompany a Bible story you are telling, use a 3-D material instead, such as StickiWicks (bendable wax covered yarn sticks) to do an outline that can be touched by a blind child.
2) Outline your flannel graphs with the StikiWicks so that those who can't see the pictures can feel them
3) Use Velcro, heavy felt or other textured material to make your images or icons
4) Get materials brailed for those students you need it, or at least parts of the Bible that you are going to use
5) Use puppets for them to act out parts if the other students are acting out parts of the Bible story you are studying
6) Use play animals and characters to feel and move around to act out a story for them
7) If you are singing a song, and one of the students cannot verbalize, clap their hands with them or for them, or help them keep time on a noisemaker
8) If you are having the students make something, think ahead as to how to adapt the craft to your child with special needs. Can they put together a collage of felt to make a picture instead of drawing one? Can they paint a freeform picture to express an emotional reaction to the story instead of an actual event?
9) Be creative, and always keep in mind that God doesn't look at the outside of us or our crafts: just at our hearts!
Before you assist any child with any activity, tell them what you are going to do and move slowly, making sure that they know what you are doing. Ask them how much help they want and make sure that you give them only as much help as they want. Make sure you don't do things for them that they want to do on their own.
Prepare the class for a new student who has special needs. Mention it to the parents of the other students so that they can have discussions about appropriate behavior and understanding people who may look and act differently than most of them. Children are very accepting of others if they are given complete explanations and have the motivation to help instead of hurt.
During the workshop, we each were given a handicap to try out for the length of a short Sunday School lesson. Some of us were deaf (given ear plugs), some were blind (given face coverings to block sight), some were "given" a physical handicap needing a wheelchair. Then we had a helper who assisted us throughout the lesson. We learned so much about how it felt to be the one with the disability (even if for only 10-15 minutes) and about how it felt to be the helper. This is a good way to help your other students understand what the child with special needs is facing.
This article was based on a workshop given by Julie Ebert, of HandiVangelism. They can be contacted at 237 Fairfield Avenue, Upper Darby, PA 19082, for more information on specialized teaching or camps for children with special needs.

__________________________________________________
Written by Marsha Melkonian

**************************************************************

Featured Family
On July 22, 1998 I was attempting a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) and my uterus ruptured . I was at the pushing stage and I felt a hot and ripping pain. I knew something was wrong. Unfortunately my nurses and Doctor did not listen to me. They had failed to recognize that I was having a uterine rupture and that my baby had been expelled outside of my uterus into my abdominal cavity, completely disconnected from any oxygen. They estimate that she lost approximately ten minutes of oxygen. She was not breathing when she was born and had to be put on a ventilator for 24 hours. We stayed in the hospital five days before they released us. At that point, there were no signs of seizures and we were told that she had suffered no permanent damage.
I came home feeling devastated. Why did this happen to us? Would my baby be OK? I felt something was wrong, but I just couldn't explain it. When we brought Delaney home, she did not cry for two weeks. My heart sank everyday as I got more anxious over the nightmare that we had both been through.
At five months I began to tell that she had a mild tremor when she held up her head. At eight months, she began to crawl but would repeatedly collapse on her left side. At twelve months she took her first steps, but I could tell at that time that she was having a balance problem. It is going on three years now, and she has recently been diagnosed with mild Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, with left hemiplegia.
After Delaney was born, I began to research uterine rupture. I was shocked when I found very little information on the subject. I decided I would create a home page and share our uterine rupture story with others on the internet. It wasn't until I was searching the internet on cerebral palsy that I came across the yahoogroups KidPower group. After joining, I realized that I could finally have a forum to get all the women who had suffered a uterine rupture together. Our group was officially launched on October 9, 2000.
Our group is S.U.R.V.I.V.E. (Supporting Uterine Rupture Victims in VBAC Education). We offer support and education to women in regard to uterine rupture, VBAC, C-section. As we continued to grow, I saw a need to offer subgroups to our members in addition to our main group. Our subgroups are: Survive With Hope (For women who have had a baby after uterine rupture, for those who are pregnant after uterine rupture and those who are trying to conceive after uterine rupture); Survive Our Loss (For women who have lost a baby due to uterine rupture); Survive Friends (Off topic discussion, sharing our daily lives etc..); and Birth Options (For women who are considering VBAC or repeat C-section). Our group address is http://www.uterinerupture@yahoogroups.com.
SURVIVE is still in its infancy. We've learned a lot along the way, but there is so much more our group wants to accomplish toward our mission of support and education. I recently participated in an interview with NBC Miami in regard to a story on the dangers of Cytotec (a cervical ripening drug). We have four of our group members who will be featured in an upcoming Dateline story in regard to the risks of Cytotec. Our group will also be mentioned in an upcoming book written by Lisa Whelchel "The Facts Of Life And Other Lessons My Father Taught Me", published by Multnomah Publishers . It will be released in September 2001.
Lisa Whelchel, played Blaire on the Facts of Life. Lisa suffered from a uterine rupture and found out about our group and was an angel to mention us in her new upcoming book.
SURVIVE is the first group of its kind for women who have suffered a uterine rupture. To date, we have 130 members from all around the world. We have six moderators to help keep our group organized. We are going to be launching our new website soon at http://www.wecansurvive.com.
Starting our group has been an overwhelming labor of love. The most important message we have for women is that if they are . considering VBAC is to learn all they can about the risks of inductions and Pitocin. Both can increase your chance of uterine rupture. Also, Pitocin can also increase your risk of uterine rupture during a normal vaginal delivery.
I feel blessed that Delaney and I survived my uterine rupture. Delaney will soon be three years old and is great. It wasn't easy getting her diagnosis, but we stuck in there and finally got the diagnosis we were looking for. Delaney manages her mild C.P. very well and recently performed in her first ballet recital. She has a bubbling personality and a "go get 'em" attitude. She is a true survivor.
I have learned a lot about mild cp through KidPower. I want to thank April and others involved for all the hard work they put into this organization and for allowing me the opportunity to share our story and our group S.U.R.V.I.V.E.

______________________________________
Written by Melissa Emerine and Delaney live in North Carolina.

*************************************************************

In The Library
You Will Dream New Dreams: Inspiring
Personal Stories By Parents of Children With Disabilities, By Stanley D. Klein,Ph.D. & Kim Schive.
This is the book so many of us wish we had had the day our kids were first diagnosed. In a series of 2-3 page short stories, parents tell about how they received their diagnosis; How they shared it, or hid it, what they wish they had known then, and what has helped them along the way. Since each family is different, their stories are all different, yet there is a common thread of having felt so alone in the start. Each stores expresses the desire of having found others to help lessen that feeling of isolation. Those feelings were there regardless of the severity of the disability. Different families filled that need in different ways.
If you read cover to cover, or pick out a few special stories you will immediately feel like this is your club, and you are a member. It is the kind of book that will help you through a rough day, or help you realize that everyone has highs and lows as they try to guide their child to their highest potential, whatever that may be. You will pick this up and reread stories as time goes by. You will relate to many. Some names may ring a bell from the internet, or other contacts you have. I loved finding stories of families I knew. And, felt like I knew others after I read their stories. This is really a must read for all parents, but especially those with special children. Leave it out and maybe grandma will pick it up too! Buy this one as you won't want to return it to the library.

Circles of Friends: People with Disabilities and Their Friends Enrich the Lives of One Another, by Robert Perske
While this is not a new book, the issue of friendships for our special kids continues to trouble parents. In a series of short biographical stories we quickly learn how many families have solved these issues. You meet these individuals, hear their stories, meet their circle of friends and support , and want to be included also. The stories are told with warmth and true love, yet in a way that we as parents and caregivers can try with our own children.
The drawings throughout the book really make you wish you were part of each persons "circle of friends". I'm sure each one of us will be inspired in new ways after reading this book. Friendship, support, belonging, acceptance: Isn't this what we all want for our kids?

_____________________________________
Written by Joy Liebeskind

***********************************************************

His crippled legs deceive him,
As he struggles to stand up tall.
His tiny hands won't obey,
As he tries to catch a ball.
He tries to find another way,
To make us understand.
When his tongue cannot say the words
That his precious mind demands.
He doesn't want our pity,
He only wants his place.
For in his shinning eyes we see,
Gods plan won't go to waste.

_______________________________
Written by Stacy Bayne

***********************************************************

KidPower Grant & Conference
Grant:
Deadline for application submissions is July 31, 2001. If you would like more information please contact us.
Conference:
The 1st Annual KidPower conference and Third Annual Texas KidPower Get-Together will be held in North Richland Hills August 24-26, 2001. We have had to scale down the conference schedule due to time constraints on our staff.
Topics that will be covered are:
*Sensory Integration Dysfunction
*Management of Spasticity with neurosurgical options.
*Special Education
*Speech Language Pathology
We will have a fun session on creating memory books for special children and are including several fun activities for the children in attendance . Conference space is very limited. Please register ASAP.
If you did not receive a registration form with this newsletter and would like to attend, please let us know so we can mail one out to you.

*************************************************************

We are honored to be a part of KidPower and the mission to help children. Our Hyperbaric Center is dedicated to safe and productive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. If you are interested in this form of therapy please contact us at (909) 889-7628 or visit us online at http://www.hbot4u.com.
Dr Underwood DO,MD,JD
Patrick and Susan Rodriguez EMT, DMT, CHT

______________________________________________________________

WeMedia Inc. (www.wemedia.com) is the leading media company revolutionizing access for the millions of people with disabilities, their families and friends through print, interactive and broadcast communications. WeMedia magazine launched in 1997 and is a glossy consumer lifestyle publication with an innovative approach to cross-disability issues. In 1999, WeMedia launched wemedia.com, a comprehensive online resource providing targeted information and resources in the areas of news, sports, technology, advocacy and shopping, among others. WeMedia was the Official Webcaster of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and has been granted the worldwide television broadcast, Internet Webcast and magazine rights for the next three Paralympic Games. WeMedia is committed to the grassroots community and has established a nonprofit partnership program to share information, marketing and technology. The WeMedia Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropic organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Give yourself or someone you love a gift they will enjoy all year 'round. Get a free, one-year subscription* to award-winning WeMedia magazine, bringing you the best of travel, Log on to www.wemedia.com/freemagazine to subscribe now! * Offer only valid in North America. Readers who are visually impaired or blind who wish to receive the magazine on tape free of charge should contact : Cassette Library, The Jewish Guild for the Blind, 15 W. 65th St., New York, NY 10023, (212) 769-6332

*************************************************************

BACK