For help and information, please contact:
Pam Glasgow, Director
North Central GLRS
4731 Old Highway 5 South
Ellijay, GA 30540
Telephone No.: 706/276-1111
Fax No.:
706/276-1114
Did you know............
One in ten of Georgia's children have a sensory, emotional, physical, intellectual or language disability that may inhibit learning. And many of these disabilities are subtle, so they go unnoticed. As a result, children may have trouble in school, at home and with their peers. The earlier these disabilities are discovered and identified, the more effectively they can be managed. That means the child will have every chance to be successful in life.
The Georgia department of Education and local school systems have a mission to locate, identify and evaluate each child--birth through 21 years of age--with a suspected disability, and to provide appropriate educational services to these children throughout Georgia. We need your help to find these children.
Calling "Child Find" can lead to a more successful life experience for a child. Once a child's disability is identified and evaluated, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) can be created to meet that child's specific and unique educational needs.
For more information and assistance
about free educational services that are available for children with disabilities,
simply call the toll-free number for CHILD FIND, 800-282-7552 (V/TDD).
HELP IS AVAILABLE...... For more
information about free or low-cost services for children with special needs,
call your local school system and ask for the special education director or
call the North Central GLRS (Georgia Learning Resources System) in Ellijay
at 706/276-1111.
Do you know a child who has problems such as.........
1.) seeing
2.) hearing
3.) talking
4.) thinking
5.) moving
1.
Children with "problem seeing" are often unable to locate and pick up small
objects which have been dropped - they frequently rub their eyes or they
complain that their eyes hurt.
Holds head in a strained or awkward position (tilts head to either side -
thrusts head forward or backward) when trying to look at a particular
person or object - sometimes or always crosses one or both eyes.
2.
With "problem hearing", the child does not turn to face the source
of strange sounds or voices by six months of age - has frequent ear-
aches or discharge from the ears.
Talks in very loud or very soft voice - does not respond when
called from another room.
Turns the same ear toward a sound he/she wishes to hear.
Requests that the TV or radio be turned up louder than needed by
other family members.
Frequently does not pay attention at home or school.
3. "Problem talking": Cannot talk at all by age 2.
Cannot be understood easily family members by age 3.
Has difficulty in understanding and/or expressing his/her ideas.
Often responds to a question with an unrelated answer.
4. "Problem thinking" is another identifying factor.
The child is unable to identify hair, eyes, ears, nose and mouth
by pointing to them age 2 - does not understand simple stories told
or read by age 3.
Does not give reasonable answers to such questions as "What do
you do when you are sleepy?", or "What do you do when you
are hungry?".
Does not seem to understand the meaning of the words "today",
"tomorrow", or "yesterday" by age 5.
Tries hard to learn at school but fails.
5. "Problem moving":
The child is unable to sit up without support by age one.
Cannot walk without help by age 2.
Does not walk up and down steps by age 3.
Is unable to balance on one foot for a short time by age 4.
Cannot throw a ball overhand and catch a large ball bounced to
him/her by age 5.
Remember many children are born with or may acquire physical and/or mental conditions which handicap their normal growth and development. Fortunately, many of these conditions can be helped or completely corrected if parents and others recognize the problem early and seek help.
You can prevent an unnecessary life-long handicap by recognizing and dealing with a child's problem as early as possible.
Find out more about free or low-cost assistance for any child between the ages of 0-21 who is experiencing difficulty.
All information is confidential and non-discriminatory
1. Take a closer look for children with hidden disabilities.
2. What should you look for?
a.
stuttering, or baby talk.
b.
short attention span, both at home and at school.
c.
behavior problems, cannot get along with others.
d.
as mentioned earlier, thinking, seeing, hearing, movement, talking:
difficulty with one or more of these.
3. Who can help?
Anyone who comes in contact with children can be involved. If you think your child or one you know may have a hidden disability, you can help.
This includes...........
Parents
Foster Parents
Grandparents
Teachers
Doctors and nurses
School counselors
Social workers
Preschool, HeadStart or day care providers
Community, parent and civic organizations
4. Where do you go for help?
The Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS), Georgia Department of Education, maintains a statewide information service which matches the needs of children with disabilities to appropriate community agencies and resources. In this way, GLRS helps children with disabilities by providing information to families and school personnel.
For information about children ages birth through two, contact the "Babies Can't Wait" Central Directory, Georgia Department of Human Resources, or at 800-229-2038. They can help locate appropriate services in your community.
For information about children three to 21 years of age, call the Georgia Learning Resources System "CHILD FIND" at 1-800-282-7552, (Voice or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf, V/TDD) and toll free.
Motion Speech Hearing Sight
Turns over or rolls
Laughs or squeals Turns to sound of
Follows moving
over from front to back
voices or noises
object with eyes
and turns head to
keep object in view
Sits up with support
Smiles at self in
Startles or jumps Stares about 5
mirror
at sudden noises seconds or more
at
picture held 8-12
feet away
Holds on to a rattle
Uses different sounds
for a few seconds
other than cries during
play "BA BA BA,
MMM"
Reaches with two
Uses different cries to
hands for an object
communicate needs
such as a rattle
(hunger, pain, discomfort)
Social
Reaches out to mother
Smiles spontaneously,
that is, without someone
touching or talking to child
Motion Thinking/Speech Social/Play Sight
Pulls self to standing Says a few words like
Plays infant games Focuses on small
position
"mama" or dada"
such as pat-a-cake objects when
picking them up
Eats small foods
Solves a simple
Waves Bye-Bye
Eyelids are not red,
such as raisins
task such as finding a
puffy, and encrusted
with fingers
raisin under a cup
Pushes a toy such Looks at
a person who Responds to simple
Does not rub eye
as a car
calls his or her name
commands such as as if they itch or
"No! No!"
hurt
Reaches for objects Copies Non-speech
Can recognize
such as a ball or cup sounds (cough, click)
parents from
and sounds ("MMM"
strangers
or "GAA"
Creeps and crawls well
Shakes head "Yes"
and "No"
Walks with both hands
held
Motion Thinking/Speech Social/Play
Walks well alone
Follows commands such as "shut Drinks
from a cup without
with some falling
the door" and "get your shoes"
spilling much
Scribbles on paper
Turns to person when name
Expresses wants, such as
with help when given
is called
when he or she has wet
pants or wants something
to eat, in some way besides
crying
Walks up stairs with
Says at least 10 words other
help
than "mama" or" dada"
Cooperates when parent is
dressing him or her, such as
Builds tower of at
putting out a leg to help in
least 2 blocks
having pants put on
Motion Thinking/Speech Social/Play
Builds a tower of at least
Gives names of toys and members Undresses self
4 blocks or cubes
of family
completely
Kicks a ball forward
Points to several named parts of
Asks for drink when
his or her own body (nose, eyes, ears) thirsty. Asks
for food
when hungry.
Walks up stairs well
Matches things that are alike such Unwraps paper from without
help, but may
as two shirts
a piece of candy
hold on to rail
Combines two words in talking
Uses spoon to feed self
such as, "big dog"
with little spilling
Uses at least 50 words and
Helps with simple house
knows the meaning of many more
hold tasks such as
picking up clothing
Motion Thinking/Speech Social/Play
Jumps a short distance such
When asked, names several of When
other children
from the top to bottom step
these pictures; bird, dog, house, are around, he or
she
and man
often plays near them
Walks backwards about
Joins in saying nursery rhymes Imitates
or copies adults
10 feet
and singing simple songs, re-
doing such things as
membering most of the words housework
Draws a good straight up
Says at least 200 words and
and down line
understands the meaning of many
more words
Builds a tower of 6 blocks or Uses
several words to make sentences
cubes
Motion/Motor
Thinking/
Social Play/
Language/Speech
Self Help
Runs without falling much
Uses plurals
Buttons up some clothing,
but may need help
Pedals a tricycle
When asked points to Dries
own hands
more than 6 parts of
body (hair, nose, eyes,
feet, hands, and mouth)
Climbs on easy nursery
Frequently using three-and Often wants to play alone
playground toys
four-sentences such as
with toys
"daddy, catch big fish" or
"mama go home."
Builds tower of 8 blocks or
Names many objects such as Puts on some of own
cubes.
car, chair, key, fork, and box. clothing.
Motion/Motor
Thinking/
Social Play/
Language/Speech Self Help
Cuts with scissors
Speaks in sentences of about 5
Dresses and Undresses
words
with little or no help
Catches a bounced ball Describes what a picture is about Dries face and hands
Traces a diamond shape
Understands the difference
Separates from mother
of words such as "cold", "tired", easily, i.
e., can be left
and "hungry"
with a babysitter with-
out getting very upset
Swings when given a push Understands the difference
Understands taking
between 1 and 2
turns, but may not
always want to do it
Runs well and rarely falls.
Hops on 1 foot
Builds tower with 9 blocks
Recites a song or nursery
Joins in play with
rhyme from memory
children; Cooperates
with other children;
Likes to play games
such as tag.
Holds crayons with fingers
Speech is understandable
rather than fist
most of the time
Motion/Motor
Thinking/
Social Play/
Language/Speech
Self Help
Builds a tower of 10 or more
Explains what objects are used Able to go on simple
blocks
for such as, a knife is used to errands outside
the home
cut things
such as taking something
to a neighbor's house
Draws a simple house
Prints a few capital letters
Copies a circle
Child's speech is easily
"Shows Off" once in a
understand by adults
while
Rides a tricycle well
Uses words life "if", "when", Likes
to play with
"because", "but"
other children most
of the time
Climbs some trees and ladder
Turns somersaults
Understand the concept of
Likes to play
"more"
games such as simple
board games like
Candy Land
Pumps self on swing
Can button up clothing
well
Cuts with scissors in a
straight line
Your child will learn more during the first five years of life than in the next fifty. He or she will learn to talk, walk, feed and dress themselves. It's very important that children are able to learn and develop to the best of their abilities. BUT children can have problems - emotional, physical or learning - that get in the way of their development. The sooner these problems are identified, they are easier to overcome. AND THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN.
You probably see more of your children than anyone else. You have the greatest opportunity to watch their development and make sure they're growing and learning normally.
The following is a developmental diary
which has been designed to enable you to check your child's development during
the first five years of his life. It is easy to use and will take just
a few minutes at each level. It is a good idea to hang this diary on
the child's room or some area where you will see it often.
SUGGESTIONS FOR USE
At each level, read the activities and mark off the ones your child can do. If you are uncertain about a particular activity, take a minute to test your child to see if he or she can perform the task. If your child cannot do at least two or three of the tasks listed for his/her age group, there may be a problem and you may need to seek the help of a health professional. You may also call any of the numbers listed below.
Additional Resources
North Central Georgia Learning Resources Systems (GLRS)
North Georgia RESA Building
4731 Old Highway 5 South
Ellijay, GA 30540
706/276-1111 (In Ellijay)
1-800-282-7552 (Statewide Toll-Free CHILD FIND)
The GLRS Center located in Ellijay offers support services for parents, teachers, and agencies who work with children ages birth to 21 who have a disability. Services include workshops, in-services, materials for checkout (videos, books, games, kits, computer software, AAC devices) group and individual conferences, Child Find Services, Interagency Activities, Publications, Liaison for Diagnostic Evaluations of Severely Disabled Children, Parent Support Services, workroom facilities, surrogate parent training, and an educational toy library.
-- Do you know about the Supplemental Security Income Program, called SSI for short?
SSI is a special program for people who are:
-- 65 years old or even older
1. Provide money to help
pay monthly
expenses.
2. Provide
medical help called Medicaid.
What children can get SSI?
A. Children who are disabled -- physically or mentally. (Being disabled means the child has a condition that would keep him from working if he were an adult. The disability must be expected to last at least 12 months.
B. Or children who are blind (vision no better than 20/200 or a limited visual field of 20 degrees or less with glasses)
Of course, there are income
and resource rules.
Income includes:
- money from work
- child support payments
- benefits from Social Security
- other monies or gifts
Resources are things that a child owns. They include bank accounts, savings bonds, and other things of value.
But, some things don't even count as resources.
The Social Security Administration looks at income and resources of moms and dads who live with children.
Children and their parents can have some income and resources can still get SSI. The amounts change each year, so call Social Security for more information about income and resources.
Special rules apply for children who don't live with their mom or dad.
- Newborn babies who are still in the hospital might qualify.
- Or children in Foster Homes or Group Homes might qualify.
There are a few final rules that apply. Children must be citizens of the U. S. or lawfully admitted aliens, "And Most Important "-- An application must be filed -- but that's easy!.
An application can be filed by phone or at any Social Security Office. They can also answer any questions you might have.
"If you know a child who might be helped by SSI, call:
1-800-772-1313 (Free call)