Bobby Approved (v 3.1)

The Arc of Schuyler County Logo
of Schuyler

providing supports for people with disabilities and their families. 

 

Resources

Prevention and Safety - As we all know, there has been increased information recently on children’s toys and warnings relative to the use of lead paint as well as other safety issues. As parents, family members and caregivers, we all have a responsibility to keep our children safe. Lead and lead contamination is a major cause of developmental disabilities. As a matter of prevention, The Arc of Schuyler is providing the following information and resources on toy safety and Lead in Our Lives:

 

Parents need to be their own consumer advocates for children by following some simple, common sense tips for toy shopping: 

  1. Be informed – Use consumer protection and company websites.
  2. Pay attention to brands – Find products made by companies you can trust.
  3. Shop at familiar toy stores – Most retailers are well informed and can provide important information.
  4. Be skeptical of “hot toy lists” – Now is the time to trust your own judgment.
  5. Follow age recommendations – Parents of children under 3 need to be most vigilant. Be cautious about things kids put in their mouth.
  6. Beware of toys with small parts – This includes fuzz and other fabric. If it doesn’t look right, if it sounds too loud, trust your instincts.

 

For a complete listing of recalled toys, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Recalls/toys.htm or the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site at www.cpsc.gov and scroll down to "recent recalls."

 

You can also learn more about lead and lead poisoning by visiting the NYS Department of Health at www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/lead/index.htm.

  

Additional Resources for parents:

 

•Safe Toys NY Web site: www.nysconsumer.gov

 

•E-mail recall feedback: recallfeedback@consumer.state.ny.us

 

•WATCH Inc.: www.toysafety.org  


In addition to providing programs and services for individuals with disabilities and their families, The Arc can help you to access needed resources.
 

The following websites offer useful information and answers to questions.

Disability Related

Special Education

  • askERIC for education information from the ERIC database at Syracuse University
  • EDLAW, Inc for information on disability law


Family Support

  • The Family Village a global community of disability related resources
  • National Parent Information Network
  • Toys for Special Children. Enabling Devices develops and manufactures assistive and adaptive technologies for the physically challenged.
  • Council for Exceptional Children
  • National Child Care Information Center - A federally-funded project to complement, enhance and promote child care linkages and to serve as a mechanism for supporting quality, comprehensive services for children and families. NCCIC addresses the child care needs of children with disabilities.
  • The Sibling Support Project - An excellent site of sibling support resources, workshops and connections regarding brothers and sisters of people with disabilities, chronic illnesses or mental health concerns.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics - An organization of 50,000 pediatricians dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
  • Families USA - National nonprofit group which advocates for health and long-term care services.
  • The Arc of the US has developed a guide, A Family Handbook on Future Planning , to help families develop a future plan for their sons and daughters that provides personal, financial and legal protections. This guide will help families review and inventory the needs and strengths of their family member, determine what should be in a plan and then locate qualified professionals and resources to finalize the plan. We are grateful to The Arc for making this guide available to the people we support.
  • NY Family Resource Guide (PDF file) - information on benefits, supports, and services for families raising children with mental retardation and related disabilities. It is provided as a courtesy of The Arc of the US. Additional information on services and providers in NYS is available through The ArcLink, a comprehensive data and information base. The NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities website is another source of information for families and individuals. All of these issues can be complicated and confusing. Please feel free to contact our Director of Community Supports if you need assistance.
  • A Guide to Medicare Part D Prescription Coverage for People with Developmental Disabilities. This Web site will help individuals who receive Medicaid and Medicare benefits, known as dual eligibles, their families and caregivers, and advocates for people with disabilities nationwide understand the new Medicare prescription drug coverage, called Part D.  Dual eligibles must make decisions about which Medicare prescription drug plan will provide access to the medications they need. 
  • The National Education Association, (NEA), Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) and The Arc of the United States, have released a brochure that identifies mercury pollution as one of the greatest threats facing developing fetuses, infants and young children. This publication also shows parents how exposure to this potent neurotoxicant can adversely affect their child's learning potential. Click here to view the brochure in pdf format.
  • The Arc of the United States is pleased to present two new documents to help families, providers and advocates understand the revisions to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (better known as IDEA) enacted in the 108th Congress. First is a point-by-point analysis of the changes. Also available is a "Users Guide."

Managed Care

  • National Clearing House on Managed Care (MCARE) provides the most current information available on managed care, long term services and self-determination. The site includes links to news articles, government documents, research and policy papers as well as individual perspectives.

Government Agencies

Fact Sheets

  • The Arc of the US and UCP Public Policy Collaboration has released a series of updated fact sheets on eight priority disability issues.
     
  • The importance of Medicaid to people with disabilities in New York State fact sheet (PDF file) now available. This fact sheet has been released and provided by The Arc and UCP Public Policy Collaboration.
     
  • The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Task Force on Social Security has prepared a set of seven fact sheets to assist people in understanding what benefits people with disabilities receive from Social Security and the potential impact of privatization. Check out our resources page for new and up to date information on: Medicaid, the federal budget and more.

Resource Guides

Information of Interest

  • Click here to view  the “Ashley X Treatment”; a joint statement from The Arc of the US and UCP. The "Ashley X Treatment" is an issue which has received widespread attention in the media and has sparked discussion in the intellectual and developmental disabilities community.  Many of you have followed this case with great interest and are sensitive to this very complex topic; click here to read more about this story.
     

  • The Arc of the US, as well as The Arc of Schuyler County, has important information on issues related to the dangers of lead poisoning as well as information on the causes and prevention of mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. We do provide some supports and services to individuals and families in Tompkins County and are very willing to assist in getting information out to people on prevention issues. Here are a couple of resources specific to Lead and prevention:  

    http://www.thearc.org/faqs/leadpoisoning.doc
     

    http://www.thearc.org/faqs/causesandprev.pdf
     

  • Advocating Through Letter Writing - Booklet of information and tips for parents, by Parent to Parent of NYS.

Community Information


E-mail us at: manager@arcofschuyler.org for more information

Copyright © 2001 The Arc of Schuyler. All Rights Reserved

The Arc of Schuyler
203 Twelfth Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
USA
Phone: (607) 535-6934

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Last Updated 03/03/2008