CPN News
When I started CPN, it was because I was
searching for answers for my daughter Amanda.
There were so many things not answered by just
the words Cerebral Palsy. Little did I know that
when I started CPN I would find those answers
and the knowledge needed to find those answers
nor the friends and support network that has
become CPN. This group is profound and words
can not express what you will find here whether
you are a parent, individual, professional,
friend or family member. Your welcome here and
will learn so much from others. I've found it an
HONOR that CPN has been recognized by some of
our top professional groups and medical people.
I'd like to thank Children's Hospital in Seattle
Wash. for including a link to us in their
welcome packets to parents. for the American
Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental
Medicine for listing us at their website. It was
a pure joy to speak to Dr. Dobbins and Dr.
Oswald personally. To be re inspired every time
I worked with Dr. McLaughlin for Amanda and his
wisdom in educating his parents, for him taking
the time to research for Amanda to find that she
was diagnosed with Bilateral Schizencephaly when
she did her evaluations. Answering every single
other question I ever had in regards to her
disabilities. There are so many I wish to thank
that I'd exceed my bandwidth just trying. So to
each of you a big thank you.
The countless people that have brought to CPN so
much. I would like to take a moment to give a
special thank you to the 100's of volunteers
that have helped develop CPN to what it is
today. Without you all CPN would not be what it
is. You've all taught me more than I ever could
have dreamed. EACH of you deserve a gold medal.
We
are currently in the process of beginning our
"Parents night on the town". The hope of this
night will be where parents can leave their
children with qualified caregivers in our local
Olympia area to spend a night on the town as
couples without the worries of caring for their
child for a few hours.
To
see this become a reality we need volunteer
caregivers, certified with the State of
Washington. We also are in need of a care
facility or daycare center willing to donate
their center for a few hours once a month for
our caregivers to come to care for all the
children with special needs in one location. We
are also in need of local business owners
willing to donate their business support to make
these nights a night for our parents to
remember. Advertisement of their support will be
greatly honored. Restaurants, gyms, clubs,
recreation or any other business willing to
participate please email us at the link listed
below..
Again I love you all so much for the work we've
accomplished through CPN.
Love always,
Dena Kirchoff
Email us:
The
Cerebral Palsy Network
Brighter Tomorrows
Northwest Special Needs Conference
What: Information about autism, cerebral
palsy, Down syndrome and more will be available.
The annual conference focuses on educational,
health and legal issues surrounding families of
children with special needs.
When: 7:50 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 7 and 8
at the Worthington Center at Saint Martin's
University, 5300 Pacific Ave. S.E., Lacey.
Cost: Exhibits are open to the public for
$5, while those wishing to attend the entire
conference must pay between $149-$249.
Scholarships and discounts are available; check
the Web site for information.
The event is sponsored by the Wyatt Holliday
Foundation, which helps families of children
with special needs through advocacy, education
and support.
Speakers: The event features talks by 28
nationally and internationally known speakers
and exhibits on the Hearing, Speech and Deafness
Center of Seattle, the Autism Research
Institute, Talk About Curing Autism, Washington
Virtual Academy and other agencies.
Vaccines and autism: Three speakers will
address the topic of vaccines and their link to
autism. Speakers include a geneticist and the
former editor for United Press International,
who has researched autism since 2004 and
authored the series "The Age of Autism," which
included interviews with Olympia families who
link their children's regression into autism to
vaccines.
Special education and parents' rights:
Several speakers will address special education
laws and advocacy, and how parents can get their
children's needs met in their school district.
IEP Workshop: A workshop from 6 to 9 p.m.
Friday to help parents formulate the
Individualized Education Program a contract
between parents and the school that determines
services to be provided to the child during the
school year, including a specialized curriculum,
therapies and dietary needs.
Teachers and the public can attend the IEP
workshop for $35 without paying the entire fee.
Film: There also will be a Friday evening
film screening of "Finding the Words,"
addressing recovered autistic children, and "The
Sandwich Kid," which interviews siblings of kids
with special needs. Filmmakers will lead a
discussion after the screenings. Entry is $7 per
person; conference attendees can attend for
free.
Information and registration:
www.WyattsHouse.org/2008conference.htm or
360-507-0944
Talk About Curing Autism
What: TACA provides support for families
living with autism, as well as connecting
parents with professionals.
Local chapter: The first meeting of the
Western Washington chapter will be at 10 a.m.
March 15 in Building E auditorium, at the south
campus of Bates Technical College, 2201 South
78th St., Tacoma
Online: www.tacanow.org
Information: denise_fulton@talkaboutcuringautism.com
More local support groups:
A local autism support group meets the first
Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Parent to
Parent,1012 Homann Dr. SE, Lacey. Information:
360-352-1126.
Exceptional Families Network Therese
Holliday 360-507-0944,
www.ExceptionalFamilies.Net (Family member
discounts for Brighter Tomorrows Conference)
South Sound Parent To Parent Chris Morris -
360-352-0115 (Groups for moms of kids with
autism, spina bifida)
South Sound Up with Downs Becka Brandt -
360-915-6276, beccabrandt@msn.com (meets at
Parent to Parent)
Cerebral Palsy Network Dena Kirchoff,
www.thecpnetwork.org - thecpnet@thecpnetwork.org
Autism Support Group Patty Gee,
360-556-8151, pattyjgee@comcast.net
Spina Bifida Support Group Heather Logan,
heather_logan@juno.com
Press Release
Olympia,
Wash. 9/11/2007. The Cerebral Palsy Network
announces today that the last project for the
Cerebral Palsy Awareness grant program has been
completed thus concluding their requirements for
the grant. For the past year they have worked
with Janet, Jenner and Suggs, LLC and a
marketing firm to help raise Cerebral Palsy
Awareness.
"We will
continue to raise Cerebral Palsy Awareness in
addition to the many projects we have planned
for the up coming year" said Dena Kirchoff
Founder and president of the Cerebral Palsy
Network.
The
Cerebral Palsy Network has been a non profit
support network for the past 10 years. Working
with Individuals with CP, their families and
loved ones as well as professionals working to
make a difference for all dealing with Cerebral
Palsy.
They
worked on Parent's Manual they called CPN's
Parents Survival Guide that will help parents
coordinate and organize the many things in their
lives in dealing with their child with CP. "We
are proud we completed this and look forward to
sharing it with the public shortly." said Dena
Kirchoff In the works is also a Self Advocacy
Manual for Parents and Individuals dealing with
Disabilities.
In
addition Vicki Hendrickson, CPN's California
Regional Director created a visual Power Point
for a project she teaches to students to raise
Peer to Peer Disability awareness within her
local school district. " I was very pleasantly
surprised to see the completed package that a
local kids organization in Olympia Washington
helped put together for this project" said Vicki
Hendrickson of San Jose, Ca.
For
further information on the Cerebral Palsy
Network or to help raise Cerebral Palsy
Awareness:
http://www.thecpnetwork.org
