Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Media Alert-Terrific New Piece About RicStar's Camp by SpecialNeeds.com!


RicStar's Summer Camp: Looking Beyond Disability

RicStar's Summer Camp: Looking Beyond Disability
“Music therapy is a remarkably therapeutic tool that is used in a wide range of disabilities to help enhance social, physical, emotional, and behavioral skills in those individuals,” says Judy Winter, co-founder of the Eric “RicStar” Winter Music Therapy Camp in East Lansing, Michigan.
Music therapy is a research-based treatment modality with proven efficacy in a variety of populations.  Now in its 10th year, the Eric “RicStar” Winter Music Therapy Camp, also called RicStar’s Camp, has brought hope and positive change to hundreds of individuals and their families.
RicStar’s Camp started in 2003, just a few months after Winter’s son, Eric, passed away.  “Eric was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth and passed away in 2003 at age 12.  But during his life he was identified as having a great gift for music, and we were advised to put him in music therapy classes,” says Winter.  “He was composing music shortly before he died.  So when he passed away we decided to turn $10,000 worth of memorial gifts into beginning something that Eric always wanted, a summer camp where people could play music all day long.”
RicStar’s Camp is a three-day camp experience in music therapy and movement for individuals with disabilities and their siblings.  The “Buddy Up” program pairs campers without disabilities with their peers so they are able to learn from each other.  “We hope that those individuals go back into their communities and use inclusion to model acceptance of differences and people who might not be the same as us,” comments Winter.
The camp also allows anyone to join the camp, no matter their level of ability.  The camp is open to individuals of all disabilities and their siblings.  “We don’t exclude anybody at our camp -- everybody is welcome,” Winter explains.  “We take the very youngest to the very oldest.  We open up our doors to people with disabilities and without disabilities.”
The camp draws from around the state of Michigan, a few other surrounding states, and Canada.  Winter says, “We are filling in a need that certainly has not been filled in this way before.”  While the camp is full this year, there is a waiting list, and many other music therapists have expressed interest in starting similar camps in other areas.
What makes RicStars different from other camps?  The use of music therapists, volunteers, one-on-one attention, and enjoyable and therapeutic music activities offers a unique perspective that is honestly not done often.
Groups during the camp include Songwriting, Rock-n-Roll Combo, Silly Sing-Along, Xylophones and Tone Bars, Party Dancing (which “includes people in wheelchairs, so they, too, can do the chicken dance and YMCA at family gatherings and weddings and feel more included,” says Winter), Bean Bag and Parachute Fun, Handchimes and Boomwhackers (an amazing musical toy if you don’t know of them already), Movin’ to the Beat, Percussion Improvisation, Music Listening and Guest Performers, Sound Shapes, Song Stories, and Vocal Group.  Certified therapy dogs also attend camp to provide emotional support.  The entire camp culminates in the Be a Star Showcase, in which all campers get the chance to perform on stage.  Winter says, “That was very important to us because many of these individuals would not have had that opportunity or would not if not for this camp.  It’s wonderful to see the families storm the stage with their videos and cameras, just like other families do when they go to their children’s recitals.”
The amount of attention and care that goes into RicStar’s Camp is another distinguishing factor from other therapy camps.  “We focus on individual ability not disability, which means we look at each person and think about what might need to be modified to make them more successful while they are there,” says Winter.  “Everything is about giving them the opportunity to shine.” 
Many campers return year after year, which gives Winter and the RicStar’s Camp staff the ability to see progress and success stories in their campers.  “One camper, for example, couldn’t walk when she first attended camp.  Yet through camp she was motivated to take part in an activity that required that she stand up, and she did.  And now we see her walking into the camp doors every year.  We have individuals with autism who speak for the first time.  It’s pretty remarkable, and it speaks to the power of music therapy,” comments Winter.
Winter and the RicStar’s Camp staff are supportive of music therapy and its amazing potential, and they are very happy to share what they know.  Last week they received the 2012 Crystal Award from the city of East Lansing for going above and beyond the call of duty for improving quality of life in East Lansing, further proof they know what they’re doing and they’re making a difference.
As RicStar’s Camp has dreams to set up other camps in Michigan (the MSU outreach program in Detroit is first on the list), music therapists in other states are welcome to inquire about how they could begin their own camps.  “We would love to see this in the future as something that could be done in other communities and should be done in other communities.  We are really proud of the fact that we do it really well and that we’ve lasted 10 years.  It’s a popular camp and it’s life-changing for many families and individuals with disabilities,” says Winter.
Winter continues, “The camp is what it is today because we looked beyond disability and we focus upon individual ability.  So much of this population is undervalued, undereducated, undermployed, and undersocialized; we have so many stereotypes.  This population struggles tremendously with the stereotypes that prevent them from having better lives.  We’re all about taking those road blocks away and educating the public while showcasing the value of this population.  Disability impacts so many families, but we oftentimes don’t talk about it.  We try to take the shame out of disability.  We give campers and families a place to go where they are valued, we maximize their potential while they are there and treat them with the respect and dignity.”
Winter also mentions that people come up to the staff at the end of the camp with tears in their eyes and say the camp is the most important part of their year.  “That speaks volumes about what we do and I hope others can learn from our example and provides these kinds of opportunities for this population because they deserve the not only the opportunities but also the recognition,” says Winter.
Visit the Eric “RicStar” Music Therapy Summer Camp website for more information about volunteering or starting a music therapy camp in your community.
Visit Judy Winter at JudyWinter.com and her blog, Winter Ramblings.  You can also purchase her book, Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs on her site, bookstores, and online retailers.
Photos by Judy Winter and Erik Taylor.  Crystal Award photo courtesy of the City of East Lansing.
April 25, 2012

Worth Repeating. Best Buddies International


I like. I share.


Working Through New Blogger Changes

Patience with me, please, as I try to figure out all the new Blogger changes.  It's slowing down my posts, and messin with my creative brain as I try to find out new ways of doing the same old things (older dog/newer techno tricks). Bad combination.


But I will prevail!!  I hope....





















Why does everything always have to change, especially technology?

Monday, April 16, 2012

Unnerved -Special Needs and Staring


Most families hate the staring their children and they endure when they venture out in public. It can and does keep families from going out at all. Been there. Done that. That's not okay. I've shared my column/tips on staring before, but given the on-going prevalence of this unnerving issue, here it is again as reprinted on Terri Mauro's popular special needs site at about.com.

When it comes to staring, shake it off and venture out. Your child, and you, deserve to move about in public freely. The more you do this, the less of a novelty your children with special needs will become, and the easier it will be for you to ignore the stares. Plus, you never know why someone is staring.

Advocate. Advocate. Advocate. Educate. Educate. Educate.

And then, take a nap and get ready to jump the next hurdle.

Judy Winter photography

Worth Repeating -April IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH






APRIL IS AUTISM IS AWARENESS MONTH


Images courtesy of Design by Raven Muse, the mom of an 18-year-old with autism. You can get a ribbon there, too.

Best Buddies International



"Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization... that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)."

Find out how you can get involved in this terrific organization and mission, here.

True inclusion happens peer to peer.

Photo courtesy of Best Buddies.

Spread the Word -Actor/Ambassador John McGinley PSA


Actor, John C. McGinley of the television program Scrubs, is an ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). Watch his PSA on behalf of Special Olympics and call for the end of r-word use, here.

Then, please join us both in signing the pledge.


Respect is a much better word.

Here's my post briefly stating why I support this effort.

Watch Circle of Friends video 'Disable the Label' here.

Courtesy image. Used with permission.

Winter Rant -OWN Goes to India


I can't wait to watch Oprah's (OWN) travels to India, a country that fascinates me. I want to go, too, but for now, I'll happily armchair travel courtesy of O. Part 1 airs next Sunday, April 22 at 9 p.m. and Part 2 airs Sunday, April 29th at 9p.m. You betcha I'll be watching.

I'll also continue to travel to this complex and intoxicating country by savoring my stash of Vogue-India and its cool website.

Such beauty, grace and style. Fashion with smarts.

Oprah's Next Chapter schedule here.

My beautiful niece. Judy Winter Photography 2012

Judy Winter

KUDOS CVS Caremark ALL KIDS CAN -Play Ball!!






More kudos for CVS Caremark All Kids Can, which continues its solid and impressive commitment to helping kids with special needs live fuller lives.

Here's some especially cool spring/summer news from CVS:

CVS Caremark has launched its eighth season partnering with the Boston Red Sox on a special series of baseball camps for Little League Challenger teams, Miracle League teams and inclusive baseball teams. The CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camps provide New England children with disabilities an action-packed, dream-fulfilling experience playing ball at Fenway Park and getting batting tips from Red Sox Batting Coach Dave Magadan. The camps are part of CVS Caremark’s national philanthropic All Kids Can program, which focuses on helping children with disabilities learn, play and succeed in life.

Coaches of New England baseball teams for children with disabilities are encouraged to complete an application for a spot at one of nine camps. To be eligible for a 2012 Camp, applications must be submitted by May 1.

Find out more and apply here.
_________________________________

Now, I've got to figure out how to get them to do the same with my beloved Detroit Tigers.

Play ball!!

Courtesy image.

Autism the Musical on OWN


Autism: the Musical by Tricia Regan, follows five kids with autism as they prepare to perform in a musical, live. The Emmy Award winner aired yesterday on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), and I missed it.

But you can see the promo here.

Reminds me of the end-of-camp Be-A-Star Showcase at RicStar's Camp.


Photo RicStar's Camp Judy Winter Photography

Different... Not Less by Dr. Temple Grandin




Another important read from Dr. Temple Grandin, popular author and speaker on autism. This work includes inspiring success stories of adults with autism, Asperger syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Find it here.

Did You Know? -April is Neuro Recovery Month




Did You Know?

At the Christopher Reeve Foundation, April is NeuroRecovery Network Month.

Find out more, including reading some inspiring paralysis recovery success stories, here.

Courtesy image.

Equal Time! -Call for Best Mom on Wheels







Special Needs Media Alert! -Push Girls Sneak Peek Tomorrow April 17th


Push Girls, a new program produced by Gay Rosenthal for the Sundance Channel about four Hollywood models who use wheelchairs, sounds promising, especially since Rosenthal also created the popular 'Little People. Big World.' I'll be checking it out when they give viewers a sneak peek tomorrow, April 17th at 10 p.m. ET. The program debuts June 5th. Special note: three of the four women acquired their disability due to auto accidents, a sobering reminder that disability can happen to anyone at any time (not to mention the real dangers of distracted drivers and driving while drunk).

Now, if we could just get the media to quit using the outdated terminology 'wheelchair bound,' (and 'confined to a wheelchair'). People don't live in wheelchairs. They use them to get from Point A to Point B.

A special needs activist's work is never done.

Find out more about 'Push Girls' here.

'A series that pushes beyond expectations.'

Faces of Ability-Jammin at RicStar's Camp


Tina, one of our terrific BuddyUp teen volunteers with camper, Kristen.

Focused on ability. Celebrating a Decade of Stars!


Judy Winter

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Special Needs Shout Out! -DJ Svoboda



Shout out to my friend, the talented artist, Daniel Svoboda, who has autism. His whimisical drawings, called Imagifriends, are headed to the University of Virginia to be displayed for Autism Awareness Month.

D.J., now 24, created the imaginary friends to deal with on-going bullying he experienced while in school. Now Daniel's career is on a roll. This image is an adorable custom Imagifriend Daniel made for me. See more of his work here.

Focused on ability, and one terrific talent.

Bravo, D.J.!


Courtesy Image. Used with permission of artist, D. J. Svoboda.


Faces of Ability-Jammin at RicStar's Camp



In honor of the tenth year of my favorite summer camp, I will be featuring weekly photos from campers from RicStar's Camp, the amazing music therapy camp that honors my son's life and legacy as it changes lives.

Special Needs Sports Alert! -Michigan Victory Games


For all my friends in Michigan, and those who want to make the trip, here's info on the 2012 Michigan Victory Games held May 17th thru May 20th at Michigan State University. "A competitive sporting competition for athletes with various abilities."

Special Needs Media Alert! Autism and Obesity During Pregnancy May be Linked





Obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure linked to autism? Important breaking news, since this is something people can do something about.

Read it here.

Judy Winter Photography/RicStar's Camp

Special Needs Media Alert -NPR & Cochlear Implants Redefine What it Means to Be Deaf


Heard a great piece this weekend on NPR's All Things Considered regarding technological advances involving cochlear implants and correcting deafness.

Read Cochlear Implants Redefine What it Means to Be Deaf, here.

Opening up the world with invaluable technological advancements. Still, not without some dissension in the deaf community.

Judy Winter Photography

Playing Photog-One more Easter Post


This year, the delicate and fragrant Easter Lily had to share holiday center stage with these magnificent, robust sunflowers.

I like mixing up the predictable, and I love diversity.

Judy Winter Photography 2012