DC Resource Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs

The Assistive Technology Program for the District of Columbia has recently received a grant to establish an Assistive Technology Financing Loan Program for persons with disabilities or seniors to acquire assistive technology devices and services that can enhance their quality of life.
http://www.atpdc.org/atfinancingloandc.php
Many different items are considered assistive technology, including hearing aids, communication devices, computers, specialized software, home modifications and more. Persons with disabilities and their family members, guardians or advocates living in the District of Columbia can apply to purchase assistive technology that will allow them to live and function independently at home, school, work or in the community.

Assistive Technology Financing Loan Program for DC

Parent input is key in screening for developmental and other disabilities. Research reports that when parents share one or more concerns, their child’s risk is eight times as great as for children whose parents have no concerns. When parents share two or more concerns, the risk is twenty times as high. Glascoe, F. P. (2000). Early detection of developmental and behavioral problems. Pediatrics in Review, 27(8), 272-280.
Check out our Fact Sheet on Developmental Screening for information on screening and tips for implementing it in your practice. http://dccshcn.org/documents/DCRC_FactSheet_6.pdf

dccshcn.org

New report indicates that as many as 1 in 45 American children may have a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to survey results reported in an article published in the November 13 issue of National Health Statistics Reports. In the article "Estimated Prevalence of Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Following Questionnaire Changes in the 2014 National Health Interview Survey".http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr087.pdf

www.cdc.gov

Looking for a great way to talk to families about their children’s social and emotional development? What to Expect & When to Seek Help: Bright Futures Developmental Tools for Families and Providers, based on Bright Futures in Practice: Mental Health, offer a framework for providers and families to begin a conversation together about how best to support healthy social and emotional development in children and teens. The tools gently encourage families who have any questions or concerns about their child's development to "check it out" – and offer a number of tips for when, where, and how to seek help through local, State, or national resources.

Bright Futures at Georgetown University The What to Expect & When to Seek Help: Bright Futures Developmental Tools for Families and Providers supports the following principle:

Important dates for 2016 open enrollment for Health Insurance Marketplaces.
November 1, 2015: Open Enrollment. December 15, 2015: Last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start January 1, 2016.There’s no limited enrollment period for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Families can apply any time.
To learn more about the array of public insurance options for children and youth in DC check out our Factsheet: “Medicaid & Other Public Assistance Programs in DChttp://dccshcn.org/documents/DCRC_Medicaid_FactSheet_Updated.pdf

dccshcn.org

If you're a primary care clinician looking for support in serving children with mental health needs, here's a new resource in DC!

DC Map – Mental Health Access in Pediatrics DC MAP (mental health access in pediatrics) is a program aimed at improving mental health integration within pediatric primary care. Staffed collaboratively by a team of mental health clinicians (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and a care coordinator) from Children’s National Health Sy…

Read this story about what the Affordable Care Act meant for a family with two children that have Mitochondrial Disorders, complex neuromuscular conditions. “The ACA is not perfect -- I have yet to find any law that is -- but it is a life-changing, life-saving step forward for our country.”

Beyond the Rhetoric: What the ACA Means for My Family | Catalyst Center On June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was constitutional. As the first anniversary of the Court’s decision approached, I took a step back from the rhetoric and controversy that continue to overshadow what this historic legislation me…

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the ADA, FEMA announced the launch of a new PSA on emergency preparedness that shows people with disabilities taking charge to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies. The PSA provides equal access to all viewers. Please share with your patients!

Individuals with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs | Ready.gov "Prepare For Emergencies Now. Information For People With Disabilities."(PDF)"Prepare For Emergencies Now. Information For People With Disabilities" (Large Print PDF)

DC has one of the highest rates of pediatric asthma in the country. Unfortunately, most of the children who have had an attack serious enough to land in the emergency room live far from the wealthier neighborhoods in which asthma specialists work. Through his asthma center at Children’s National Medical Center, Stephen Teach is trying to address this problem.

‘A tale of two cities’: Confronting D.C.’s asthma problem The District of Columbia has one of the highest rates of pediatric asthma in the country, and among the highest rates of children who are..