New report on outdoor environments for children with special needs

Everyone familiar with the beautiful Sonoma Developmental Center campus can appreciate the benefits to anyone of access to natural outdoor environments.

Certainly people challenged by physical, mental and emotional disabilities -- the residents of SDC -- are especially fortunate to live and receive care in a setting that offers respite from their necessarily highly structured indoor living situations. In fact, when the Center was originally organized in the late 1800s, it was set up to be largely self-sufficient and residents who could worked outside and were believed to benefit from the experience.

While access as basic as a view out a window of green vegetation has been shown to improve treatment outcomes, providing more direct access for people with special needs requires special considerations.

InformeDesign has just published a report summarizing a webinar created last year by landscape architects Naomi Sachs, Director of the Therapeutic Landscapes Network, and Tara Vincenta, creator of SOL (Sequential Outdoor Learning) Environment, exploring research and design considerations for creating outdoor, nature-based play and learning environments for children with special and autistic needs. Many of the challenges faced by children with autism are shared with a broader community of children with special needs, including motor, neuromuscular, cognitive, sensory and communication issues, and visual and auditory impairment.

In the webinar, Sachs and Vincenta share ideas for creating outdoor spaces that allow children to play at their own comfort level and overcome common challenges in a safe, fun, nature-based environment that is equally engaging for any child.

You can view the webinar on kaboom.org. Scroll down the page to find the webinar Prescription for Play: Nature-based Play and Learning for Children With Special and Autistic Needs.

Download a pdf of the newletter with the article here: www.informedesign.org/_news/april_v09-p.pdf.

You can also find more resources on the healinglandscape.org blog at Outdoor Environments for Children with Autism & Special Needs” in InformeDesign’s ‘Implications'
photo credits: Robert Hurley

Checking in for Autism Awareness Month

April has been Autism Awareness Month - and still is right to the end. To mark the occasion, a number of organizations have stepped up their efforts to grow awareness of the condition and push for more research and services to improve the lives of those with autism.

One such organization is the California Autism Foundation, which launched a new website in April to mark the occasion. The mission of the California Autism Foundation is to provide people with autism and other developmental disabilities the best possible opportunities for lifetime support, training and assistance in helping them reach their highest potential for independence, productivity and fulfillment. Their new website includes more information, resources and links - find it at www.calautism.org.

They also still have a couple more events scheduled in April, if you're looking for an opportunity to connect.

Montclair Bistro Celebrity Bartender Event
Thursday, April 28th
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
6118 Medau Place, Oakland, CA 94611

CAF Parents and Friends Meeting & Parent Workshops
Friday, April 30th
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
California Autism Foundation, 4075 Lakeside Drive, Richmond, CA 94806
For more details, see the calendar of events page on the calautism.org website.

Additional autism groups in California:
The Autspot is a social network for families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Their website also provides resources such as available programs for children and adults with ASD, as well as a library of information to better understand ASD.

The Care Parent Network is a family support and advocacy group made up of parents with special needs children based in Contra Costa County. Their website also contains a lot of helpful information and links to resources. Check their newsletter for information on opportunities to connect.

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Even if you or a member of your family is not affected by autism, it's becoming more and more likely that we all know someone who is. Hopefully, efforts to raise awareness will soon lead to more and better information on the causes of autism, better diagnoses, and ever more helpful treatments, care and services.

Think about those with autism in April. Contribute to the improvement of the lives of those with developmental disabilities when you can.

Annual 'Meet Your Legislators' meeting reported in Kenwood Press

The turnout was good for the PHA general meeting on March 12. On the agenda was the annual 'Meet Your Legislators' session that gives elected officials a chance to receive first-hand testimony and the community the opportunity to meet their representatives. The room full of PHA members, SDC employees and other interested community members came with lots of comments, questions and requests for the legislators and their representatives who were in attendance.

Everyone was reminded of the value of the services at SDC and many spoke to the issues and concerns surrounding the continuation of those services. Most importantly, specific suggestions were offered for cost-savings and improvements. The legislators also left having received requests for public hearings and more transparency in how DDS operates, how money is allocated and spent, and on the results of care in regional and developmental centers.

Minutes from the meeting will be printed in the next edition of The Eldridge Gazette. When that becomes available there will be a link to a copy for download on the resources page of the Parent Hospital Association website. You can also add your name to our mailing list to receive a copy by email or snail mail.

Fortunately members of the press also attended the meeting, and the Kenwood Press subsequently reported on it. See: Legislators warned over developmental center transfers, by Jay Gamel, in The Kenwood Press.

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The next PHA general meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, May 14, 2011, in McDougall Hall on the SDC campus.

Sonoma Valley Footrace & Festival comes to SDC

May is a beautiful time of year to visit the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) campus. Even if you are not a runner, you can enjoy the outdoor festivities planned at the annual Sonoma Valley Footrace & Festival coming to SDC on May 14, 2011.

If you are a runner, the popular event includes both a challenging 10K on- and off-road run through the stunning landscape surrounding SDC, and a 5K run that takes a mostly level course through the SDC grounds. Enter the race of your choice!

Both races start at 8:00 a.m. Advance registration fees are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. You can register online at www.active.com or by mail. See the event brochure (pdf) for details. On race day, registration is $30 for adults and $20 for children and begins at 7:00 a.m. (Don't be late, or you'll be running to catch up!)

For those not running - and for runners after the race - a number of other activities and entertainments are planned. The Festival part of the day's events runs from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and includes:

• Live music from Harvey and the Wallbangers
• Children’s carnival attractions - including a bounce house, velcro wall and games
• Free fun run for kids at 10:30 a.m.
• Car show
• Beer and wine tasting starting at 9:00 a.m. (adults only, ID required)
• Food available for purchase
• Raffle

The Festival entry is free. There will be ticket sales for the beer and wine tasting, raffle, and the children’s carnival attractions and games.

For more information and to register for the race, visit the Sonoma Valley Footrace & Festival website (www.dds.ca.gov/SVFF).