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Paying for Assistive Devices?
Need assistance in paying for an assistive product? Well, there are many ways to get help with covering the cost. You may be able to get coverage through your own private insurance or via federal, state and local government programs. There are also lots of national and local organizations that might be able to help. If at first you don't succeed in getting funding from one resource, try another. You may also be able to appeal the decision. So, be sure to find out what your options are when you first apply for assistance. Read more.
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You Are Not Alone 
When parents learn about any difficulty or problem in their child's development, this information comes as a tremendous blow. One parent recalled, "The day my child was diagnosed as having a disability, I was devastated and so confused that I recall little else about those first days other than the heartbreak." Another parent described this event as a "black sack" being pulled down over her head, blocking her ability to hear, see, and think in a normal way. Another parent described the trauma as "having a knife stuck" in her heart.
Perhaps these descriptions seem a bit dramatic, yet it has been the experience of many parents that they may not sufficiently describe the many emotions that flood their minds and hearts when they receive heartbreaking news about their child. Many things can be done to help yourself through this period of trauma. Read more.
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Tests Balance Common Core, Those With Cognitive Issues
While the attention of most educators is focused on the millions of students trying out the general assessments based on the Common Core State Standards, a smaller, but no less momentous, set of field tests is underway for students with severe cognitive disabilities.
Dynamic Learning Maps and the National Center and State Collaborative are the federally funded consortia charged with creating alternate assessments tied to the common core. Forty-two states and regions have signed on to one of the alternate assessment groups, including two states-Alaska and Virginia-which have declined to join the common-core movement for students in the general population. Read more.
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A complete guide to college financing for students with disabilities. Find expert advice on loans, grants and scholarships specifically for students with disabilities, as well as resources to help with the job search after graduation. Read more.
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Frequently Asked Question
"Is supported employment a good Investment for taxpayers?"
Supported employment costs substantially less than sheltered workshops. Supported employment enables people with disabilities to become competitively employed within their communities. Sheltered workshops provide constant supervision and structure.
According to the Kansas' Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services website, for each dollar earned as a result of a VR placement (individual competitively employed), there is about $1.66 in total earnings generated through the economy, according to a study done by Wichita State University. Further, for each person employed through VR, there are about 1.85 total jobs created in the overall economy.
The reason for these differences in costs appears to be because the amount of services provided to sheltered employees remain relatively constant while the services provided to supported employees decrease over time. The cost of supported employment is initially higher than the cost of sheltered workshops, over the
entire employment cycle, supported employment is 65.9% cheaper to fund than sheltered workshops. Read more.
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(316) 945-7747 or (888) 815-6364
Wichita Parent Center
(316) 945-7747 or (888) 815-6364
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Part I: October 4, 2014 Part II: October 17, 2014 Wichita
Part I: October 18, 2014
Part II: October 24, 2014
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Serving Kansas families and their sons and daughters for more than 30 years.
Families Together, Inc. is the statewide organization that assists parents and their sons and daughters with disabilities. Our program's mission is to encourage, educate, and empower families to be effective advocates for their children.
Click here to view our archived publications!
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