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MMI Monthly
The electronic newsletter of the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
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A message from the director:
One institute.
That is what we are here at MMI. We are a group of very strong and diverse disciplines, from Occupational Therapy to the Human Genetics Laboratory, but we are more than that. We work together, and together we provide a positive impact for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in many areas of their lives.
We are stronger together. We are more effective together. So as you look over this issue of MMI Monthly, I'd like you to remember to take pride in the accomplishments here -- all the accomplishments, across the scope of the institute. Take pride in what the institute is doing together.
I am excited by what is going on at MMI, and I am excited for the future. Yes, there will be changes. Yes, there will be challenges. But working together, we will continue to do great things.
Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Munroe-Meyer Institute
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MMI LEND program to continue making a difference
The Munroe-Meyer Institute's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program grant was just renewed.
Click here to read more.
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Left to right: Jamie Gehringer, Denise Gehringer, Jacob Gehringer, Sen. Kate Bolz, District 29, Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., Jeff Gehringer, Clark Lauritzen, executive vice president-corporate banking, wealth, investments, First National Bank, and Deborah Goodkin, managing director savings plans, First National Bank.
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MMI backers helped state push through ENABLE accounts
From board members to staff members, the Munroe-Meyer Institute played a role in the state's embrace of savings accounts for adults with developmental disabilities.
Click here to read more.
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Cornhusker football players visit Camp Munroe
Four members of the University of Nebraska Cornhusker football team came to visit Camp Munroe this week. Posing for a photo with the campers, in front of a banner the campers made to honor Husker punter Sam Foltz, who died in a car crash on July 24, are (all in back row) Grant Jordan, second from left, Spencer Jordan (in white), Jordan Nelson (second from right) and Harrison Jordan (far right).
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MMI Profile: Beth Hughes
Beth Hughes is a speech therapist in the Munroe-Meyer Institute's speech-language pathology department
. Below, she shares some information about herself.
Name:
Beth Hughes
Time at MMI:
10 years
The best part about my job:
Improving childrens' and families' lives by maximizing their ability to communicate.
Best MMI memory:
The Speech-Language Pathology Department participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge two years ago. We recorded the challenge to share on the MMI Facebook page and our reactions were priceless. Being uncomfortable for a few minutes, in order to to raise money and awareness for ALS, was so worth it! Many of the therapists in our department work with families whose lives are impacted by ALS to ensure they are able to communicate with their loved ones as the disease progresses.
If I had another career, it would be:
A kindergarten teacher!
Not everyone knows that:
I don't have a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter account.
One more thing:
I have an uncanny ability to remember people's birthdays. It's a great party trick!
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Legislative update
By Mark Smith, UCEDD associate
When the legislature is not in session, state senators are still working, meeting with constituents and other policymakers to develop ideas for possible legislative initiatives for the upcoming session. One of the ways they accomplish this is through the interim studies. The Legislature authorizes these through Legislative Resolutions (LRs). Information on Legislative Resolutions is available on the Bill Search page of the Nebraska Legislature website.
Among the studies being followed by the UNMC Legislative Team that impact MMI's work and those we serve are:
LR 530: Examine the voting processes and procedures available for citizens who are hospitalized or who reside in nursing homes or extended care facilities. There have been several disability voting and access to voting initiatives in Nebraska over the past several, so this is extends the work on this aspect of disability rights.
LR 507: A study with the intent of pursuing the development of a public notification system to broadcast alerts when vulnerable adults go missing. This is quite significant to disability service providers (and parents of adult children with significant disabilities).
LR 578: A study on the Developmental Disabilities Court-Ordered Custody Act is a high priority in Nebraska as regards developmental disability service eligibility in court-involved cases.
LR 545:
Examines Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, with an emphasis on children that are eligible but unenrolled in these programs.
LR 463: A study on family cost for hearing aids with an emphasis on examining ways to improve the coverage of these costs for Nebraska families.
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MMI staff turn out
for RiteCare events
The Eighth Annual WalkRite for RiteCare was held on Sunday, June 26 at Lake Zorinsky, and MMI turned out in force for the event. In the top photo, from left in the back row, participants included B
eth Hughes, Kim Bainbridge, Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., Zeljka Korade, Ph.D., Paul Laikko, Korey Stading, and Leslie Van Winkle; in front,
Tina Meinecke.
The Scottish Rite-sponsored walk netted approximately $4,000 to support speech and language programs at MMI, while the Scottish Rite's golf event, held earlier that weekend, netted more than $8,000. Event organizers noted that there were 19 teams totaling 72 players at the golf outing, while the 112 people who attended the walk was one of the largest crowds in the event's history.
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Occupational therapist Holly Dixon, left, works with Tatum Dibbern at the HABIT Day Camp.
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Camp getting to be a HABIT at MMI
Returning for its second year, the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT) Day Camp proved just as popular with parents and children as it did when it was offered last year.
Click here to read more.
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Santiago, center, and his crew
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PT students on a roll with Go Baby Go event
Six families with toddlers who faced mobility challenges took home modified toy cars as part of a collaboration led by the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
Click here to read more.
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News in brief
Dr. Kurz, Surkar present at IV Step 2016
Max Kurz, Ph.D. and one of his students, Swati Surkar, presented at IV Step 2016: Prevention, Prediction, Plasticity and Participation this July. This program is sponsored by the APTA Pediatric and Neurology Sections with the goal of disseminating current research to clinicians.
UCEDD will conduct surveys for Nebraska DHHS
The MMI UCEDD has received a contract from Department of Health and Human Services' Developmental Disability Services to conduct 400 surveys for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as Nebraska begins participation in the National Core Indicators Project. The National Core Indicators project is a voluntary effort by public developmental disabilities agencies to measure and track performance and outcomes of services to individuals and families. The indicators address areas of concern including employment, rights, service planning, community inclusion, choice, health and safety. For more information on the National Core Indicators, click here.
Dr. Shahan to speak on dynamic valuation modeling
The Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders & Pediatric Feeding Disorders
research team has engaged Timothy Shahan
, Ph.D.,
to teach a minicourse on dynamic valuation modeling using the temporal waiting rule. This quantitative model of behavior provides a novel approach for generating and testing hypotheses about variables that provoke and mitigate treatment relapse of destructive behavior in individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. The information gleaned from Dr. Shahan's minicourse may become the basis of a new NIH grant application. Dr. Shahan is a professor of psychology at Utah State University, where he directs a research laboratory focused on the quantitative analysis of behavior. His work is directly relevant to alcohol and drug addiction and problem behavior in individuals with developmental disabilities.
Shorts
- Amanda Zangrillo, Ph.D., was an invited presenter at the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Conference held in Melbourne, Australia, August 14 - 19. Dr. Zangrillo's presentation, "Effects of Thinning Positive Plus Negative Reinforcement Using Chained Schedules During Treatment of Destructive Behavior", was well attended.
- Physical therapy's Heidi Reelfs was appointed a four year term to the State of Nebraska Special Education Advisory Committee.
- Wayne Fisher, Ph.D., and Cathleen Piazza, Ph.D., have been invited to present at the 8th Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis in Enna, Sicily, Sept.r 14-17.
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The Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program welcomes its newest Ph.D. student, Jaime Crowley.
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Silver U winners
The following MMI staff members received Silver U Awards in the past months:
July: Jennifer Harmon, child development program evaluator
August: Jason Zeleny, behavior analyst specialist
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Upcoming Events
Upcoming events of interest to the MMI community.
Oct. 7: The Friends of Scottish Rite Dinner and Auction, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The Friends of Scottish Rite Dinner and Auction
raises funds to support the RiteCare Speech and Language Clinics at MMI through the Scottish Rite Foundation of Omaha. RiteCare Clinics
provide evaluations and therapy to any child in Nebraska with a speech or langauge disorder, providing them the necessary services to ensure the child a bright future as a lifelong learner. These services are offered without regard to a family's ability to pay. Tickets are $100 per person ($55 of each ticket is a tax-deductible donation). For information or tickets, call or email Micah Evans, (402) 342-1300, or register online.
Oct. 9 Phi Rho's Second Annual Golf Tournament Benefiting the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities, 18-hole scramble event with 1 p.m. shotgun start, 5:30 p.m. dinner, Benson Championship Golf Course, 5333 N. 72nd St., Omaha. Registration is $60 for UNMC students, $80 for non-students and $320 for teams of four. For more information or a registration form, email phirho.sigma@gmail.com.
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Send your news to MMI Monthly
Is there something exciting going on in your department? Send your news to MMI Monthly to share with your colleagues at the Munroe-Meyer Institute. MMI Monthly will be published during the first week of each month.
Send your news to us!
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Contact the Munroe-Meyer Institute
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