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THE VOICE

Volume 6, Issue 7

  Page 6

Spotlight Family of the Month (continued)


his emotions rather than act impulsively when he became confused.  He even expressed to me, in retrospect, that many times he behaved the way he did because he didn't like where he was·the schools, the people, etc.  I told him that I guess I would have too.

He currently attends a school of his choice where he is an honor roll student, excelling well above average both behaviorally and academically.  He works a few hours a week at a local Metro grocery store and is exploring other vocational opportunities.  And his family?  We're following his lead.  I am still very active as an advocate working with advocacy groups and families of children with disabilities.  Because it has become my passion, I left my job in the Federal government to work in a nonprofit organization that provides services to families and individuals with disabilities. His dad also works in the field of human services, and his brother is pursuing degrees in psychology and music therapy.

As those wise words tell us: "...And a child shall lead them".

Legislative Advocacy Support Fund


The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council is sponsoring for the second year a fund to support people with developmental disabilities and their family members to more fully participate in educating and informing legislators and other policymakers about important issues that affect their lives.

Provided funds are available, the Legislative Advocacy Support Fund will support the following types of activities:

*    Meeting with legislators, their staff, and other policy-makers
*   Testifying before legislative committees
*   Attending legislative hearings
*   Participating in planning meetings directly related to the
     activities listed above
*   Participating in other activities directly related to educating and informing legislators and other policymakers

Examples of expenditures that will be covered by the Fund to support these activities include:

*    Transportation
*    Childcare
*    Personal assistance services
*    Support staff
*    Other costs directly related to participation in the activities listed above for which there is no other source of support.

To obtain a copy of the Legislative Advocacy Support Fund request form, please contact the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council by phone at (410) 333-3688 or (800) 305-6441 extension #1 or by e-mail at info@md-council.org.

Trained Babysitter/Therapist Available
By Allison Rayburn


I am a 9th grade student at Broadneck High School.  My family recently moved to Annapolis from Centreville, Virginia.  I began babysitting when I was 11 years old.  Our neighbors had triplets, three months premature, in March of 1998.  For more than three years I have spent all of my free time helping to take care of them.  During that time I completed a babysitting course at Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax.

When the triplets were two years old, one of the boys was diagnosed as Autistic. His parents wanted him to receive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, but were unable to afford a full-time therapist. Michelle Hurst, former Director of the ABA Pilot Program for Fairfax County Schools and founder and owner of Autism Outreach for Applied Behavior Analysis, trained several part-time therapists to work with him.  I was one of those trained.  I received formal training in discrete trial training and PECS.


I have always enjoyed playing and working with babies and young children, and plan to become an ABA therapist.

If you would like to contact me about providing services to your family, I can be reached by phone at (410) 757-2612 or by e-mail at rayburn@neighbors.com.  I can provide references for my experience.

New ABA-Type Therapy
Computer Program
By Mary Hepple


A parent in Prince George's County has developed a computer-based ABA-type therapy program for use in the home and/or school. It has proven so effective that the school system in Prince George's County is using this program in their class for young children with autism. It is reasonably priced and attractive to kids.

For more information about the program, please call (800) 853-1057 or go to their web site at www.computhera.com.

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