Meet our New Director of Development

Sinergia is pleased to announce the addition of Mais Z. Jasser as Director of Development. Ms. Jasser adds to the multicultural staff composition of Sinergia.  She was born in Syria, raised in Lebanon and France and speaks Arabic and French. A recent transplant to New York via California, she has an M. A. in psychology and will be implementing behavioral intervention plans for consumers, as well as providing staff development to the residential habilitation staff. In California Ms. Jasser authored and implemented a clinical behavioral program (R-E-W-A-R-D) for youth designed to address their individual needs, particularly their need to learn positive healthy human behaviors. She has developed and taught classes at the college and university level in the disciplines of psychology, social sciences and humanities. A specialist in cross-cultural mediation, conflict resolution and crisis intervention, she has held the post of professor in psychology for the past twelve years. Her approach to the study of human behavior has focused on human diversity and cross-cultural issues. Ms. Jasser has also held administrative positions and is expert in organizational development. We proudly welcome Mais Z. Jasser to the Sinergia family.

Sonia Sotomayor Book Signing

Two staff members of Sinergia, Myrta Cuadra-Lash and Sandra Ruiz had the pleasure of attending the presentation and book signing of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the CUNY Hostos Community College on February 2, 2013. Reading excerpts from her book, My Beloved World, she spoke about her childhood growing up in a housing project in the Bronx and being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of eight. Her presentation was very touching and engaging. Many in the audience identified with her experiences and laughed and relished her stories, which gave a vivid portrait of life as a Puerto Rican child, her close bonds with her family, especially her “abuelita”, her love of community and transition into womanhood. It was very special to be part of the audience which embraced this unique woman who has become the first Puerto Rican to be appointed to the Supreme Court. The signed book will be placed in Sinergia’s library. Here's a review from the NY Times.

Protect Access to Early Intervention Services

As part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Early Intervention (EI) program provides evaluations and services to infants and toddlers who have developmental delays or disabilities and their families. Early Intervention is cost effective and helps infants and toddlers at the time when services can make the biggest difference.

Governor Cuomo’s 2013-2014 Executive Budget proposal would restructure Early Intervention, linking EI services with health insurance coverage. The budget proposal would:

• Allow a health insurance representative to be part of the team that develops and reviews a child’s Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP), giving the health insurance company a voice in determining a child’s EI services for the first time.
• Require EI providers to join health insurance networks, negotiate their reimbursement rates with health insurers, and exhaust all appeals of claim denials by health insurers before being paid by EI, likely leading to a further reduction in the number of experienced EI providers available to serve children.
• Require children to be evaluated and served by evaluators and service providers within the children’s health insurance network, without a clear process for obtaining an exception for children who need specialized service providers. 

For more information contact Randi Levine at RLevine@advocatesforchildren.org

Schools' Have an Obligation to Provide Equal Opportunity to Students with Disabilities to Participate in Athletics

Sinergia consumer enjoys playing baseball during our summer picnic

Students with disabilities have the right, under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, to an equal opportunity to participate in their schools' extracurricular activities. But a 2010 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that many students with disabilities are not afforded an equal opportunity to participate in athletics, and therefore may not have equitable access to the health and social benefits of athletic participation.

The U S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights issued a guidance letter clarifying school districts' existing legal obligations to provide equal access to extracurricular athletic activities to students with disabilities.

The guidance letter provides examples of the types of reasonable modifications that schools may be required to make to existing policies, practices, or procedures for students with intellectual, developmental, physical, or any other type of disability. Examples of such modifications include:

• The allowance of a visual cue alongside a starter pistol to allow a student with a hearing impairment who is fast enough to qualify for the track team the opportunity to compete.
• The waiver of a rule requiring the "two-hand touch" finish in swim events so that a one-armed swimmer with the requisite ability can participate at swim meets.

"Participation in extracurricular athletics can be a critical part of a student's overall educational experience, said Seth Galanter, acting assistant secretary for the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). "Schools must ensure equal access to that rewarding experience for students with disabilities." To learn more about OCR click here.

Additional reading:

Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Clarifies Schools' Obligation to Provide Equal Opportunity to Students with Disabilities to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics

Blog: We Must Provide Equal Opportunity in Sports to Students with Disabilities Posted on January 25, 2013 by Arne Duncan 

Sexual Health Workshops

Our friends at Harlem RBI will be presenting a series of workshops on sexual health at Sinergia through their program called “The BASE.” Participants who attend all seven workshops will be awarded with a certificate upon completion at a luncheon celebrating their accomplishment. Each workshop will take place in the afternoon, 1pm to 3pm.

1) Tuesday 02/19/13 - Understanding HIV &AIDS

2) Friday 02/22/13 - Making Sexual Decisions & Understanding Your Values

3) Tuesday 02/26/13 -Developing & Using Condom Skills

4) Friday 03/01/13 - Learning Assertive Communication Skills

5) Tuesday 03/04/13 - Practicing Assertive Communication Skills

6) Friday 03/07/13 - Personalizing the Risk

7) Tuesday 03/12/13 - Spreading the Word

For information contact DayHab Specialist Erin McSorley at 212-643-2840 ext. 343

2013-2014 Online Elementary School Directories

The NYC DOE has released a massive database of elementary schools in the five boroughs that contains valuable information on the kindergarten application process and on whether a zoned school accepted any students from outside its zone for this school year. Below is an extract from an a post on InsideSchools.org that contains the link to the directories:

“For the first time this year, the Education Department produced hefty directories now online - one for each borough - of all elementary schools in the city. There is a page for each school, listing the school's address, phone number. the principal's email address, website and nearest public transportation. It also lists state test score results, Progress Report grades for the past two years, Quality Review scores and highlights from school surveys.”

Families with children turning five years old in 2013 may apply to kindergarten beginning Jan. 22 through March 1. You must apply even if you want your child to attend your zoned school.

Apps for Education and Fun

MPC Co-Director Godrefy Rivera attended a workshop in December on iPad and Android apps for Children with Special Needs at UCP (United Cerebral Palsy) Technology Resource Center that discussed how the Apple iPad and Android tablets can be used as devices for educational and fun activities at home for children with special needs and their families. These apps are used to enhance communication and speech, art, music, and sensory activities.

The MPC will be hosting a workshop on Assistive Technology and the IPad and IPad Apps on Thursday February 21 from 10AM-12PM that will be conducted by technology specialists from United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). Contact Godfrey Rivera for information at grivera@sinergiany.org or call 212-643-2840, ext. 307.

Below is a list of free resources/apps for the iPad compiled by Dan Herlihy (www.connectivetechnologysolutions.com).

Free iPad Apps 

Story Creation, Writing
- StoryKit – create books, stories, record, write, draw
-Paperdesk Lite – free notebook, write, record
-Sonic Pics Lite
-TalkingPics Micro
-My Scene – create stories from backgrounds and characters
-Storie – create and share stories
-ZenTap – free word processing with word prediction program
-Poetry Creator
-iDiary for Kids Lite
-smartNote Free - note taking
-Picturebook – create and illustrate stories
-Scribble Press – create and publish ebooks for kids
-Poetry Creator
-Educreations - create screen movies with annotations, drawing, text, voice over tutorials
-ShowMe Interactive Whiteboard – create screen movies with annotations, drawing, text, voice over tutorials
-Screen Chomp - create screen movies with annotations, drawing, text, voice over tutorials
-Animoto Video Slideshows
-PaperPort Notes – voice recognition with embedded Dragon Dictate, record audio, type, draw
-Popplet Lite – brainstorming, take/add pictures within app, connect, add text
-PhotoPuppet HD Lite – animation program, work with your own images, export
-Write 2 Lite – simple writing tool, link files to Dropbox
-i Tell a Story – free audio recording app
-Present it Lite – import PowerPoint presentations (from Dropbox or similar program) and run on iPad – both ppt and pptx formats

Audio Books, eBooks
-Freebooks – free eBooks – import ePub from Dropbox
-Nook for iPad
-Ebook Search
-OverDrive Media Console – download/playback/sync to iPods audio and ebooks from public libraries
-Bookster – free books that read aloud, students can record their own voice
-iBooks – eBook Reader
-Stanza – eBook Reader
-I Like Books – 37 Picture Books for Kids – reads aloud, highlighting word by word
-Curriculum Books – CK12 Chemistry, CK12 Earth Science, CK12 Biology, CK12 Life Science, more
Dan Herlihy dherlihy@juno.com www.connectivetechnologysolutions.com 1
-Common Core Standards
-http://www.gutenberg.org/ - download over 36,000 free audio and eBooks for ipad
-Blio – ebook reader, can download free books that read aloud, can purchase voices and it will read your own ePub books

Audio/Recording/Notes
-Audio Memos Free – The Voice Recorder
-Quick Voice Recorder – record notes, memos
-AudioNote Lite
-Dragon Dictation – speech to text
-Dragon Recorder – record voice, export as MP3
-Talking Tom Cat – character speaks back what you record, can save as MP4
-Talking Anya Free - character speaks back what you record, can save as MP4
-Teacher Notes – take notes, add images, audio
-Scribbie Free – note taking and audio recording

 Photo Editing, Video, 3D Panorama Creation
-Tour Wrist – see 360 degree panoramas of sites around the world
-Photosynth – create 360 degree panoramic images using camera
-Arounder Touch –similar to Tour Wrist
-Time-Lapse HD Free – time lapse movie maker
-Instagram – photo sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, Foursquare and Posterous
-Gloop Free – warp images and photos
-DocScan HD – take picture of document – creates PDF file
-iStopMotion Remote Camera – (to be used in conjunction with iStopMotion) as a remote to run camera on

iPhone, iPod, iPad2
-Videolicious – add photos to slide show, add music, export
-Adobe Photo Express – excellent, better than most apps you would pay for
-iCoacher – add annotations on video
-Time Lapse Photography – create time lapse movies
Time, Money, Calculators
-Counting Money
-Counting Bills & Coins
-Telling Time Free
-Clocks 2
-Stop Watch Lite
-CheckBook HD Free
-SpinCalculator Free - talking calculator
-Grocery Gadget Free – Shopping List
-Calculator
-Calculator+
-Calculator++
-Calculator Pro for iPad Free
-Free Graphing Calculator
-powerOne Scientific Calculator – Lite, Free Edition

Online file storage, organization, note taking
-Dropbox – free online storage
-Evernote – free online notebook
-SpringPad - free online notebook
-Remember the Milk – free to do list, sync online and with device
-Wunderlist – (www.wunderlist.com) sync to cloud, computers – tasks, homework
-WunderKit – additional features expanding on Wunderlist
-Teacher Pal, Teacher Notes

Autism
-Autism Apps – compendium and review of apps for Autism with prices, descriptions, reviews
-ABA Flash Cards and Games
-ABA Problem Solving – What Does Not Belong
-See.Touch.Learn
-Touch and Learn – Emotions
-Match it Up
-Matching Jobs
-Vis TimerFree – 5 minute visual timer
-Social Skills Builder
-Model Me Going Places 2
-Choice Board Creator
-Visual Cue Lite
-Talking Picture Board

Science
-Science360
-GPS by TelNav – GPS
-Commander Compass Lite – compass, GPS Tracker, Maps
-Planets
-AroundMe – GPS
-3D Sun
-HudsonAlpha iCell – cells
-Periodic Table of Elements
-Please Touch The Exhibit – from the Melbourne Museum, interactive
-Science Glossary – glossary of names and terms
-Natural Science for Kids. City of Light
-NASA Visualization Explorer
-Anatomy
-Heart (3D Human Heart)
-LabAssistant – chemical compatibility
-The Water Cycle
-Mission Antarctica
-Human Brain
-Compass for iPad (free)
-Compass 54 Lite
-Clinometer HD
-iElements

Math
-Simply Subtraction for iPad Free
-Algebra Explained
-Quick Graph
-Virtual Manipulatives
-Free Spreadsheet
-Just Numbers – learning numbers 1-20 in a variety of activities
-Fraction Basics
-Pizza Fractions: Beginning with Simple Fractions
-Math Kid
-Elevated Math
- Sketchpad Explorer **** excellent program – can download free modules from website including ability to take picture with iPad, measure lines and angles - http://sketchexchange.keypress.com/browse/tag/ipad
- Geometry: Volume of Solids

Misc
-Read it Later
-Total Recall – mind mapping
-DropMind Lite – mind mapping
-QR Code Reader and Scanner, QRafter, Scan, ScanMyDoc – free QR Code Readers
-WordSearch Star Free – word search creator
-Simplemind+
-Checkers 360 Free
-ABC Magnetic Alphabet Lite
-Little Speller
-WatchKnow Educational Videos
-Study Hall – create virtual study hall for class where students can log-into your class, chat and you can monitor
-Sign-N-Send Free – sign PDF files and e-mail back for printing
-Qwiki – free reference
-Doodle Buddy
-Draw 4 Free
-Paint with Time
-Draw!
-Rainbow Draw Free
-DrawFree for iPad
-Tracing Paper Lite
-MyHomework
-Kid Animation – animation creation
-Paint Sparkles Draw
-The ABC Song
-(there are many more free drawing apps – search drawing, draw or paint)
-iSwifter – flash enabled browser
-Caster Free – create and publish podcasts
-MyCongress
-Constitution for iPad
-TeacherTool One – attendance, grading
-Sparkle Fish – audio story completion
-Flat Stanley
-Magnifier
-Over 40 Magnifier and Flashlight
-PDF Reader Lite
-Perfect Reader - PDF Reader for iPad
-PDF Mate – PDF reader
-Small Talk Aphasia - Male (male voice)
-Small Talk Aphasia – Female (female voice)
-Verbally (AAC app)
-AlphaBaby Free – record sounds for letters and matching images
-LiveBinders – Access to LiveBinders to create, edit your online Binders – internet access required

Music
- Jell-o Jiggle-It, Virtuoso Piano Free 2 HD, Classical Guitar, Mandala HangDrum, GrooveMaker, Beatwave, BarrelTones (excellent drum app), Piano Free, Guitar Free, Steinway Etude, QQ Piano Free, PianoBand Free, Xylophone HD for Free, Pocket Bells, MelodyTouch Lite, Lo –Fi Folk Arranger, Pedros Pigiano, Piano Hero, Discover Musical Instruments Free, SoundPrism, Music Sparkles – All in one musical Instruments, Lego Duplo Jams, Keyboard Music 2 Free, Talkapella, Falling Stars (OS 5), Soundrop, Physics Draw Free, Singing Fingers, Simon DX Free, Harmonizer, Songify