Mobile App Monday - Tinycards - Flashcards

Tinycards is a memorization flashcard app that has animated decks you can customize. Pre-loaded decks offer a chance to learn about the solar system, countries in Africa, vocabulary words in different languages or you can create your own decks with the subjects that you need to work on. "Trending decks" are popular decks that others are working on.

To learn more about this app, please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1109425556

Caring for a loved one with dementia: A mindfulness-based guide for reducing stress and making the best of your journey together

Caring for a loved one with dementia: A mindfulness-based guide for reducing stress and making the best of your journey together is a 200-page guide to supporting those who support people with dementia. Written by a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in bringing new, innovative solutions to the field of dementia care, this book offers a mindfulness-based dementia care (MBDC) program to help caregivers meet their own needs and lower their own stress levels while caring for a loved one. The author offers strategies she used herself while caring for her own mother.

In the first part of the book, readers will learn more about dementia and which professionals to turn to for more help. The connection between dementia care challenges and stress are explored along with the way in which mindfulness can benefit the caregiver. Basic mindfulness practices are discussed along with the importance of acknowledging grief. Readers will also learn how to integrate mindfulness into communication and response to challenging situations. Self-care and the fruits that can be reaped from this program are discussed.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check it out or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Tactile tools help students with vision impairments

In an article from Makezine.com, folks at the D’Arcy Lab in the Chemistry Department at Washington University in St. Louis are working with 3D printers to help students with vision impairments. A partnership between the Missouri School for the Blind has resulted in the creation of didactic tools to increase the students' ability to measure objects and understand spatial orientation.

To read the entire article, please visit:
http://makezine.com/2016/08/17/3d-printed-spatial-reasoning-tools-visually-impaired/

FSSA Resource Guide

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration has put together a resource guide of services in the state containing information about programs provided and administered by FSSA.  The guide also gives direction on how Hoosiers qualify to receive state assistance from a variety of programs including:

• Early Care & Education

• Employment

• Financial Services

• Food / Nutrition

• Health Coverage

• Home- & Community-Based Services for the Aged, Blind and Disabled

• Mental Health / Addictions

• Transportation

• Housing

The guide can be found in its entirety at:

http://www.in.gov/fssa/files/FSSA_Resource_Guide.pdf

Paralympics begin in September

The 2016 Olympic games are just about over, and the Paralympics are set to start on September 7th. According to the Paralympics website, "Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will travel to Rio to compete in 528 medal events in 22 different sports." The website has information on the athletes that are set to compete as well as the adapted sports and rules.

Check it out at:
https://www.paralympic.org/

Mobile App Monday - Duolingo

Want to learn another language for free? Duolingo offers more than 20 languages to learn in a single app! Learn a new vocabulary in stages and get extra help in weak areas. This fun game-style app lets you level up and even compete with friends. It keeps track of your points and offers an incentive for purchasing bonus lessons with "lingots" that you win by gaining experience points and leveling up.

Want to learn more about it? Please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id570060128

Two trainings available from About Special Kids

A Life with Stress, Balance and a Plan
August 24, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Bloomington, IN

Parents of children with special needs live with added emotional, medical, social and financial challenges. These extenuating circumstances can often lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, marital and family problems and health issues. This training will focus on identifying types of stressors, identify coping mechanisms and providing ways to incorporate them into everyday life, and the importance of good communication.

For more information and to register for this training, please visit:

http://www.aboutspecialkids.org/training/training-calendar/a-life-with-stress,-balance,-and-a-plan-bloomingto/

My Child Has Special Needs:  Now What?

August 24, 2016 – 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

 

Finding out that your child has special needs can be overwhelming. Some common reactions can be “What do I do now?  Where do I start?”  This training provides families with a brief overview of how to find support for your child and family, find information and services, find coverage to pay for services, and will help you start thinking about the future.  This training is geared to help parents map out the next steps for their child and family. 

NOTE:  This is a training for family members. This is not intended for professionals.

For more information and to register, please visit:

http://www.aboutspecialkids.org/training/training-calendar/my-child-has-special-needs-now-what-bloomington/