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A Centerport boy with a fatal disease teams up with his school and the star of a documentary to raise funds for a cure

Link: Partners in adversity All they want is a cure. Currently there is none. But a crusade sweeping the country sparked by a courageous teenage DMD patient has given her hope. Darius Weems, 19, of Athens, Ga., is at the center of a nationwide, grassroots movement to spread awareness of DMD and sell in one year, ending in September, a million copies of a $20 DVD: "Darius Goes West," which won 28 film festival awards, including the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Palm Beach International Film Festival in 2007. Seventeen dollars from every DVD sold will be devoted to DMD research.

Just Like Anyone, a Documentary on the Disabled in South America

Information on CASP and its history: Download CASP

Centro Ann Sullivan of Perú (CASP)is a nonprofit, non-government organization recognized worldwide as a model research and demonstration educational center for people with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other intellectual/developmental disabilities, and their families. CASP's mission is to educate all students, regardless of limitations, to become independent, productive and happy throughout life. Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Spain have programs that follow the Peruvian CASP Model. All students live at home, or with their parents or other family members. CASP serves more than 400 students/workers,100 of whom work in real jobs, and 50 of whom attend regular schools. CASP developed the Functional/Natural Curriculum, which is a model for many programs throughout Latin America and the world. CASP has the largest family education program in the world and has received numerous international and Peruvian awards. CASP uses on-site or distance education to train over a thousand parents and professionals annually to work with their children and students, or to create new or better programs following the model. CASP is also a cooperative affiliate of the Schiefelbusch Institute for Research in Life Span Studies at the University of Kansas . CASP has just released a documentary on its work with families (info below) and hopes that CIL staff might share it with their networks. An article about the Center's work is also attached. -- Diana Spas

 "Just Like Anyone", a documentary film created and directed by Alonso F. Mayo, that tells the story of 5 students with different abilities and their families from the Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú-CASP, is now available in its entirety online. The documentary explores the personal journey each family has taken in learning to appreciate the abilities of their children with autism, Down Syndrome and developmental delays, rather than focusing on what they cannot do, and then in working with CASP to help them to become independent and productive members of society with the abilities they have strengthened through their education. Please visit the film's website at: http://www.justlikeanyone.com/ The film is divided into 6 scenes and on the "view the film" section of the site you will have the option to click on each scene and view them on the site itself in a high quality YouTube embedded player, or a low quality version if you have a slower connection.
As we hope to make similar documentaries in the future, we would appreciate your opinions of this one. Please share the site's link with your colleagues, students and friends!
Muchas gracias
Liliana Mayo O., Ph.D.
Founder & General Director Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú- CASP Calle Petronila Alvarez 180 Urb. Pando V Etapa San Miguel – Lima – Perú
Telephone: 263 6296 – 263 4880 (extension 103)
Fax: 263 1237
E-Mail: lilimayo@ku.edu
Web: http://www.annsullivanperu.org

NYTimes.com: From Daydreaming to Filmmaking, Through the Lens of Dyslexia

Link: The New York Times

WHEN Harvey Hubbell V had difficulty learning in elementary school in the 1960s, his parents had him tested for dyslexia. He had no idea what that was. Nor did he care.

He was too busy making movies in his head.

“I would close my eyes and see pictures. I’d hear music, too — like from a marching band or something — and I knew right where it should come in,” Mr. Hubbell recalled.

"Through Deaf Eyes" Addresses Perspectives on Deafness

Link: PBS documentary

"Through Deaf Eyes," a two-hour PBS documentary exploring deafness in America over the last 200 years, will air on PBS stations nationwide on Wednesday, March 21, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Narrated by Stockard Channing, the film includes interviews with former AG Bell Executive Director & CEO, K. Todd Houston, Ph.D.; board member Irene Leigh, Ph.D.; Alan Marvelli, Ph.D.; filmmakers Kimby Caplan and Adrean Mangiardi; and members David James and Sally Taylor, among others.

ScienceDaily -- Children Health issues library

Link: ScienceDaily -- Browse Topics: Health - Children's Health - Children's health issues - from obesity and weightloss to learnin disabilities and parenting tips.

Learn valuable parenting tips and information on parenting toddlers through teens. Find out about children's health issues such as learning disabilities, weight problems and other common health problems with children.