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Parents of Children with Disabilities Find Sources for Funding Mobility Products

		Tuesday, 07 July 09 - 08:09 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

 

Parents of Children with Disabilities Find Sources for Funding Mobility Products

PowerPumber.com announces nationwide funding resources for its mobility products for children with developmental disabilities such as autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and other developmental, sensory and learning disorders.

All children love to move around Mobility products like the Power Pumper have been proven helpful for children with autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and other developmental, sensory and learning disorders, because they provide these children the fun of movement as well as therapy. Families supporting children with developmental disabilities need choices for mobility just as much as for their other children Finding sources for funding mobility products are scarce and we've put them all in one place to help them. Now that we have resources for assisting with funding for all 50 states, we're working to connect families with funding resources It's a time-consuming process, but we're doing it to help children with disabilities and their families.

Oregon City, OR (PRWEB) July 7, 2009 -- Columbia-Inland Corporation (CIC) today announced the latest results of its research to find sources across all 50 states that fund mobility products for children with developmental disabilities. These resources are listed on the company's Website at http://www.powerpumper.com.

"All children love to move around," said Mark Shih, M.D., medical director at Columbia-Inland Corporation. "Mobility products like the Power Pumper have been proven helpful for children with autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and other developmental, sensory and learning disorders, because they provide these children the fun of movement as well as therapy."

The company also recently hired facilitators to cover all 50 states and work with parents, therapists and hospitals seeking funding to buy Power Pumper as a therapeutic device. Some of the larger states, like California, have more than one facilitator. Facilitators for each territory are ready to help parents, therapists and hospitals looking for a therapeutic mobility product develop their applications.

"Families supporting children with developmental disabilities need choices for mobility just as much as for their other children," said Craig Kiser, M.D. and board chair at Columbia-Inland Corporation. "Finding sources for funding mobility products are scarce and we've put them all in one place to help them."

Parents, therapists or hospitals seeking funding can go to funding tab to find their state and review the funding sources available. Or they can call 1-888-215-7867 (in Oregon, 1-503-657-6676) to ask how to connect with a facilitator.

"Now that we have resources for assisting with funding for all 50 states, we're working to connect families with funding resources," said Dr. Kiser. "It's a time-consuming process, but we're doing it to help children with disabilities and their families."

About Columbia-Inland Corporation
Since 1996, the privately held Columbia-Inland Corporation has designed, produced and marketed quality recreational and rehabilitation mobility devices that improve people's lives. The Power Pumper is popular with therapists, educators and parents because it improves the lives of people and children with disabilities. Children with developmental disabilities simply like it because it's a fun ride. The therapeutic success of the Power Pumper has strengthened the company's dedication to provide other innovative mobility products delivering the same high standards and producing similar results. The Power Pumper is being used by a number of hospitals and clinics such as Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital Pediatric Development and Rehabilitation Portland, Oregon; All Children's Hospital St. Petersburg, Florida, and Johns Hopkins Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland.

Toy Packaging

		Tuesday, 09 December 08 - 02:21 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

The song of the year so far seems to be this neat little diddie by Christian Singer/songwriter Sara Groves called "Toy Packaging.  Who of us haven't bought a toy, CD, electronics gadget and have wondered how in the world did they espect us to open it.?  Or did they expect us to open it?   Maybe there would be a prize if we did open it.  Anyway you can save this song and download it here  http://zi.ma/43b372

Humble stick enters Toy Hall of Fame

		Sunday, 09 November 08 - 06:50 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

ROCHESTER (NEW YORK): A magic wand, a fishing rod or a royal scepter? The lowly stick, a universal plaything powered by a child’s imagination, landed in the US’ National Toy Hall of Fame along with the Baby Doll and the skateboard. The three were chosen to join the Strong National Museum of Play’s line-up of 38 classics ranging from the bicycle, the kite and Mr Potato Head to Crayola crayons, marbles and the Atari 2600 video game system. Curators said the stick was a special addition in the spirit of a 2005 inductee, the cardboard box. They praised its all-purpose, no-cost, recreational qualities, noting its ability to serve either as raw material or an appendage transformed in myriad ways by a child’s creativity. “It’s very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price—there aren’t any rules or instructions for its use,” said Christopher Bensch, the museum’s curator of collections. “It can be a Wild West horse, a medieval knight’s sword, a boat on a stream or a slingshot with a rubber band.... No snowman is complete without a couple of stick arms, and every campfire needs a stick for toasting marshmallows. While dolls have been around since ancient times, the Baby Doll with its realistic newborn features emerged in the late 18th century and has been through hundreds of incarnations. Today’s models can crawl, drink and even talk via voice-activated commands. “Toy designers have spent decades making it ever more lifelike and true to form. ... It promotes imaginative play and brings out the nurturing side in all of us,” said Susan Asbury, an associate curator. The first skateboarders in the 1950s cruised walkways on California beaches trying to match the speed, turns and tricks performed by surfers. Apart from being fun, practicing ollies, grinds and primos it also “promotes individualism ... artistic expression and it’s also very athletic,” skateboard icon Tony Hawk said at the induction ceremony.

How to Save Money while Back-to-School Shopping

		Wednesday, 16 July 08 - 10:38 AM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

Agencies that Provide CareOne Credit Counseling Services Give Advice To Parents on How to Save Money while Back-to-School Shopping
It's that time of year again -- parents and college students are stocking up on school supplies, new wardrobes, and college dorm room needs. The cost can really add up. Providers of CareOne Credit Counseling Services are helping consumers save money by offering free money-saving tips on back-to-school spending. 2008-07-16

Pet Obesity Expanding in US

		Monday, 14 July 08 - 12:17 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

A new nationwide study indicates that pet obesity continues to expand. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), almost half of the nation's dogs and cats are now overweight or obese. The group conducted the National Pet Obesity Awareness Day study in October 2007 and found 43% of all dogs and 53% of all cats were classified as overweight or obese by a veterinary healthcare provider; 10% of all dogs and 19% of all cats were classified as obese. 2008-07-14

When it Comes to Fathering Girls, it Takes a DODO to Raise a Daughter

		Wednesday, 09 July 08 - 11:53 AM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

When it Comes to Fathering Girls, it Takes a DODO to Raise a Daughter  
The International Affiliation of Men Admired as Dads Of Daughters Only announced today the official launch of a website (www.iamadodo.com) creating an online community of fathers both challenged and privileged to raise daughters. Created to provide a humorous approach to parenting, the website also offers practical information to help men become better dads and to strengthen the father-daughter bond. 2008-07-09

Reba Early Learning Center

		Wednesday, 02 July 08 - 10:38 AM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2008   Gov. Blagojevich signs Preschool for All legislation; provides opportunity for early childhood education for thousands of Illinois kids Illinois leads the nation in providing preschool access for all three- and four-year-olds       CHICAGO – Surrounded by families, early childhood education advocates, elected officials and preschool students today at Reba Early Learning Center in Evanston, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed legislation that continues the state’s historic early childhood program.  House Bill 4705 immediately extends the nationally recognized initiative, Preschool for All, for two more years.   “The benefits children receive from early learning in preschool are limitless. Preschool for All provides those benefits,” said Governor Blagojevich. “Tools we can provide children today, to help them succeed tomorrow, are a step in the right direction. I am excited about the continued work we are doing with Preschool for All and serving as a national leader on this important issue.”   Sponsored by State Representative Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) and State Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Westchester), the bill extends the nationally recognized Preschool for All program from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2010.  In 2006, Gov. Blagojevich signed the Preschool for All program into law, making Illinois the first state to make preschool available for all three and four-year-olds.   Preschool for All allows every community to offer high-quality preschool in a variety of settings, including public and private schools, child care centers, and licensed family child care homes, private preschools, park districts, faith-based organizations, and other community-based agencies.  The program requires preschools to be staffed by experienced teachers who hold bachelor’s degrees and specialized training in early education, and provide at least two and a half hours per day of high-quality programming designed to foster all of the skills – social, emotional, physical, and cognitive – that all young children need to achieve success in school and later in life.   “I am a longtime supporter and advocate of early childhood education here in Illinois,” said Rep. Currie. “I am excited to see that our preschool program has benefited so many children, many of whom are at-risk.  I am proud to be a sponsor of legislation that will continue to benefit children into the year 2010.”   In Fiscal Year 2007 alone, Preschool for All served 85,186 children ages 3 to 5 years – 55,860 in downstate Illinois and 29,326 in the city of Chicago.  During Fiscal Year 2008, more than 90,000 children will have been served statewide.   Governor Blagojevich has made a multi-year commitment to early childhood education through Preschool for All, increasing funding by 90 percent, or $164 million, over the past five years.  The Fiscal Year 2009 budget includes additional funding to continue the expansion toward fully funding Preschool for All. The goal is to continue to increase funding until all children whose families want them in preschool have access to it.   Earlier this year, Illinois was singled out as a national leader for being the first state committed to serving all three-year olds with quality preschool, according to a report published by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) of Rutgers University.   Preschool For All, Illinois’ high-quality, state-funded pre-kindergarten program, was ranked first nationally for enrolling 19 percent of the state’s three-year-olds, according to The State of Preschool 2007: State Preschool Yearbook. Nationwide, enrollment of three-year-olds was up 10 percent, mostly due to increases here in Illinois, which became the first state to commit to serving all three-year-olds.  Illinois was also ranked 12th for percentage of four-year-olds enrolled – 27 percent.  The state’s pre-kindergarten initiatives also meet nine of ten quality benchmarks cited by the report.   “The heart of Preschool for All is very much in line with what the Ounce of Prevention Fund is all about. Both programs make sure that children living in poverty have access to the same opportunities as other children. We are making a profound impact on the next generation and we need to make sure that it is extended to 2010 and beyond,” said Harriet Meyer, Ounce of Prevention.   “Preschool for All is truly the blueprint for our state’s successful future,” said Jesse Ruiz, Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education. “Under Governor Blagojevich we’ve been able to almost double the amount of funding for early childhood programs, giving literally ten of thousands of children a shot at success in school that they otherwise would not have had.”   Recently, an eight-member bipartisan team from Illinois, including Rep. Currie, attended the National Symposium on Early Childhood Science and Policy at Harvard University.  Illinois was one of 14 states selected to attend the two-day event at the Center on the Developing Child in Cambridge, Mass.

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New Book Equips Teens to Recognize and Resist "Everyday" Evil

		Monday, 22 October 07 - 11:51 AM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

New Book Equips Teens to Recognize and Resist "Everyday" Evil  
Having tackled the bewitching subject of witchcraft, bestselling author and trusted teen expert Steve Russo dives deeper into the cleverly disguised evil bombarding teens today in his new book Fear No Evil. 2007-10-22

Win $1,000 Toys R Us Gift Certificate and Check Out the Children's Books at MrDuz.com

		Thursday, 11 October 07 - 11:34 AM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

Win $1,000 Toys R Us Gift Certificate and Check Out the Children's Books at MrDuz.com  
Publisher looks to lure parents to check out popular new children's book series. 2007-10-11

$1000 in Contest Prizes for the Best Essays on American Life

		Tuesday, 09 October 07 - 07:56 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

$1000 in Contest Prizes for the Best Essays on American Life
www.lifeintheusa.com and the Life In The USA Web Magazine are now offering $1000 in contest prizes for the best new essays on American life. 2007-10-09

Home Schooling Catalog Launched in Response to The Rise of Home Education

		Tuesday, 09 October 07 - 07:41 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

Home Schooling Catalog Launched in Response to The Rise of Home Education
Home education is steadily rising. The home school revolution is becoming widespread and the preferred education method for children in the United States. HomeSchoolingCatalog.com announces its debut as the one-stop shopping resource on the web for home school resources to aid many of the parents turned teachers in giving the best home education they could give to their children. 2007-10-09

#1 Means the Same Thing in Any Language, FamilyFun Magazine Dubs Karito Kids Dolls as the 2007 'Number One' Toy of The Year

		Monday, 08 October 07 - 10:44 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

 #1 Means the Same Thing in Any Language, FamilyFun Magazine Dubs Karito Kids Dolls as the 2007 'Number One' Toy of The Year
Whether you say it in English (number one!), Chinese (shu ma yi!), Swahili (hesabu moja!), Spanish (numero uno!) or Italian (novero una!) it all translates the same way: The best of the best. Of course, these five languages are how the dolls who make up the Karito Kids World Collection® would say it. That's because this brand new and totally unique line of dolls and books is completely international. It is a testament to the high-quality of Karito Kids World Collection that they made the 16th annual FamilyFun Toy of the Year (T.O.Y.) Awards list in their flagship year. 2007-10-08

The Worlds A Little Brighter Today

		Saturday, 29 September 07 - 11:58 AM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

With all the trouble in the world today thats a hard title to write.  We can't lay around though and bemoan the fate of the world all the time.  As they say we have to stop and smell the roses.

My daughter just called and asked me if I wanted to go for a walk.  She had heard that walking helps speed the pregnancy process along and I think thats right.  So we're going down to the shores of Lake Michigan in Evanston and take in a stroll.  This will be my first grandchild and its going to be a boy.  What do you think of Gavin for a name?  We're of Scottish descent.

The Cubs won their divisional title last night and while I've outgrown the lunacy that usually comes with the Cubs winning anything it's good to see the young fans have their day in the sun.

Missed the Harvest Moon the other night, I'll have to put that on the calendar for next year.

Hope everyone who reads this is enjoying their day too.  Write a comment and let me know how your day went as well.

Halloween Costume Ideas, Games, Activities & Printables for Children Available on FamilyEducation

		Tuesday, 25 September 07 - 10:12 AM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

Halloween Costume Ideas, Games, Activities & Printables for Children Available on FamilyEducation       
Parenting site features family-friendly ideas, tips for safe, fun Halloween. 2007-09-25

WhoIsWrong.Com, the Newly Launched Conflict Resolution Website, Will Give Away $2,000 to the Users of Its Site Over the Next Two Months

		Tuesday, 25 September 07 - 09:57 AM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

 WhoIsWrong.Com, the Newly Launched Conflict Resolution Website, Will Give Away $2,000 to the Users of Its Site Over the Next Two Months       
WhoIsWrong.Com announces monthly contests with $2,000 in cash-prizes. The website provides a forum for users to post their arguments (with videos, images, documents and embedded links as evidence) for its web community to discuss and vote on. 2007-09-25

MyBaby.com Gets 'Sneaky': TheSneakyChef.com and MyBaby.com Team Up On Healthy Food Kids Actually Like

		Thursday, 13 September 07 - 05:25 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

 MyBaby.com Gets 'Sneaky': TheSneakyChef.com and MyBaby.com Team Up On Healthy Food Kids Actually Like       
TheSneakyChef.com and MyBaby.com announce a partnership to help kids get nutritious meals that are sure to please the toughest kid critic. 2007-09-13

SimplePath is Recruiting 30 Families in the Chicagoland Area to Compete for a Chance to Win $50,000 While Making the World a Better Place

		Thursday, 13 September 07 - 02:43 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

At a time when families are struggling to pay for basic necessities while also trying to save for retirement and kids' college expenses, SimplePath is providing some financial relief. SimplePath wants to share its success with 30 Chicago families by giving them a chance to compete to win a share of $50,000.

At SimplePath, we will ensure that we touch people's lives in powerful and enduring ways.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- SimplePath (www.simplepath.org), a social enterprise that helps families develop a tradition of philanthropy by providing them fun and easy ways to volunteer and donate to charities as a family, has developed an exciting way to continue its efforts of doing well by doing good. SimplePath is growing its customer base and allowing families from Chicagoland to benefit from its success.

SimplePath is recruiting 30 families in the Chicagoland area to compete for a chance to win a share of $50,000 in cash prizes. The 30 families will compete for three months to inspire 3,000 families in the Chicagoland area to join SimplePath. The contest will run from February 1, 2008 through May 31, 2008. The family that motivates the most families to join SimplePath is rewarded with $30,000. The family finishing second receives $15,000 and the family finishing third receives $5,000.

Michael McAfee, the CEO of SimplePath, can't wait to see families working together to encourage families to join SimplePath so that they too can make miracles happen in their neighborhoods.

"Business should be about uplifting the quality of life of the families in the communities where we have the privilege of doing business," McAfee said. "At SimplePath, we will ensure that we touch people's lives in powerful and enduring ways."

Families interested in competing have until December 15, 2007 to submit to SimplePath their:

• Contact name
• Address
• Telephone number and e-mail
• Family photo
• A one-to two-page statement that describes how your family works together to make the world a better place.

Materials submitted become the property of SimplePath. The requested information should be mailed to:

 

SimplePath, Inc.
230 South Clark St., Suite 155
Chicago, IL 60604

The SimplePath team will select and notify families no later than December 31, 2007.

About Simple Path:
SimplePath helps charity begin at home by making volunteering and donating to charities fun and easy. By using SimplePath, families are developing a wonderful tradition of philanthropy. When families sign-up, they: (1) participate in local, pre-planned volunteer-service activities, (2) journal about how their lives are making a positive difference in society (3) learn about legendary and everyday families and individuals that have made or are making miracles happen in their community, (4) learn how to donate to charity wisely and (5) donate online to charities.

SimplePath Contact:
Michael McAfee
800-653-0602

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New Baby Website Service Takes Security to Heart

		Tuesday, 14 August 07 - 09:34 PM (GMT -06:00) By John C Thomson in Babies, Infants and Children

 

New parents are excited to share the accomplishments and adventures of their little ones with families and friends -- and the modern parent often turns to the Internet. What many parents don't realize is they're attracting some other very unwelcome visitors.

I decided to build a system that would be ultra safe, fun for me as a parent…and do good things at the same time.

Tuscaloosa, AL (PRWEB) August 14, 2007 -- A stranger walks up to you with pen and paper in hand and starts asking personal questions. Questions like, 'What's your birth date?', 'Where do you live?', 'Where were you born?', and 'May I take a picture of you?' Well, unless you have a serious case of compulsive over-sharing disorder, there's no way you would consider answering the stranger's questions. Then why would you give that same information about your new baby to anyone with an internet connection?

New parents are excited to share the accomplishments and adventures of their little ones with families and friends -- and the modern parent often turns to the Internet as a way to reach an audience of loved ones. It's simple: set up a blog, start writing, add pictures and a few videos, and suddenly Aunt Jamie is seeing little Spencer's first steps as if she lived next door! The problem is, most popular blogging services are meant for adults; and what many parents don't realize is they're attracting some other very unwelcome visitors.

Identity thieves have clued into blogging as a new and growing source for accessing personal information from one of their favorite targets: babies and children. And while some websites developed specifically with kids in mind have incorporated secure password access features, one newcomer to the field has taken extra steps to ensure that no one -- and they mean no one! - gets to read about Emily's trip to the dentist or see Aiden's new dance moves unless they have been specifically invited.

Launched in May 2007, Bundlo, LLC™ has all the goodies parents want from a blog site -- photo management, site customization, even an innovative on-line babybook -- while taking security one step further. Not only is every site password protected, but visitors must be invited by site administrators (that means the parents) who manage their children's "bestest friends" through a simple control panel. It's an extremely simple, yet very effective, system.

Bundlo takes security very seriously, but that doesn't mean they don't have fun -- lots and lots and LOTS of fun! Designed and written for the modern parent who's still a kid-at-heart, Bundlo's bright, fresh, cheeky presence also belies a powerful and highly functional service worthy of the most demanding web geek. And they make it so easy…for the non-geek parent who just wants to share their trip to the zoo with the grandparents.

To check out all the bells and whistles, parents can sign up for a free account…then, if and when they decide they need a few more bells and whistles, they can upgrade for just $6, $9, or $16 monthly (with the option to change or cancel their plan at any time for no charge). Parents also select where they want 10% of their monthly payment to be donated: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Make-a-Wish Foundation of America, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

"The idea for Bundlo hit me when the blog I was using for my own little guy just wasn't offering me the tools and the privacy I wanted," says Bundlo President and Founder Mark Barry. "I decided to build a system that would be ultra safe, fun for me as a parent…and do good things at the same time."

To learn more about Bundlo visit: Bundlo Homepage

For more information on Child Identity Theft visit: Identity Theft Resource Center

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