{"id":1198,"date":"2013-03-26T05:14:11","date_gmt":"2013-03-26T05:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/grafton.local\/?p=1198"},"modified":"2014-10-29T12:42:58","modified_gmt":"2014-10-29T16:42:58","slug":"vol-4-issue-2-mar-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grafton.org\/vol-4-issue-2-mar-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Vol 4 \u2022 Issue 2 \u2022 Mar 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Message<\/a><\/div>\n

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Grafton Celebrates Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month<\/strong><\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Governor McDonnell proclaimed March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in the state of Virginia. In his proclamation, the governor recognized the value and potential of the nearly 145,000 children and adults across the Commonwealth who are estimated to have a developmental disability.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIndividuals with developmental disabilities do not want to be defined by their disability; they want to be known for their abilities,\u201d<\/em> said Governor McDonnell<\/strong>. \u201cThere is much we can do to encourage their independence and allow them the choices anyone else would want\u2014such as having a home, being near family, having employment opportunities and being accepted in their own communities. As people with developmental disabilities successfully engage in these aspects of society and live more productive, fuller lives in their own communities, we begin to see what they are capable of, instead of taking a limited view of what they cannot do.\u201d<\/em> The text of the March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month proclamation can be found below.<\/strong><\/div>\n

http:\/\/www.governor.virginia.gov\/OurCommonwealth\/Proclamations\/viewproc.cfm?id=268<\/a><\/p>\n

According to recent data and statistics from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of Developmental Disabilities has increased 17.1%–that\u2019s about 1.8 million more children with Developmental Disabilities in 2006-2008 compared to a decade earlier. The prevalence of autism has increased by 289.5%. Today, one in 88 children is diagnosed with autism.<\/p>\n

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month provides a great opportunity to raise awareness and educate community members about how organizations providing services across the Commonwealth are partnering with one another to create better outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities. Kaitlynn, who you will meet later in this newsletter, is an engaging five year old with autism who is making remarkable progress in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program.<\/p>\n

Grafton\u2019s ABA program focuses on antecedent and reinforcement-based strategies to improve skills acquisition in the areas of communication, social interactions, motor control, daily living activities and play. We work with children and their families in home, school, clinic and community based settings to target skill acquisition such as language, self-care and social skills as well as reduce challenging behaviors that may be a barrier to success. For more information about our ABA services offered in the following areas (Charles Town, West Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia and Richmond), please contact Bonnie Zampino via email at bonnie.l.zampino@grafton.org<\/a>. For ABA services in Bradenton, Florida, please contact Bob Schnorf via email at ABAFlorida@grafton.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Grafton and Project Horse<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grafton is pleased to announce a partnership with Project Horse, a not-for-profit organization based in western Loudoun County, Virginia that provides equestrian therapy to our clients. Equine therapy offers
\nan experiential learning model that helps clients deal with symptoms and feelings associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Trauma, Depression, Anxiety and other disorders.<\/p>\n

93% of adolescents in inpatient setting reported a history of trauma and 32% had severe symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Lipschitz et al, 1999). We often attribute behavioral problems in children to non-compliance, assuming that they have the capacity to perform to our expectations. A child or adolescent survivor who is in a state of hyper-arousal due to perceived threats in their environment may not have the cognitive or emotional capacity to perform to our expectations. Project Horse provides a safe haven for children to explore feelings, develop trust and meaningful relationships, improve problem solving skills and improve their self-concept.<\/p>\n

Horses are sensitive, social creatures fully attuned to an individual\u2019s emotional needs. Within a safe and non-threatening environment, children can learn and practice new behaviors and new ways of thinking. Horses provide immediate feedback, while remaining nonjudgmental. This encourages the children to try new ways of being and acting, as they develop meaningful connections with the horses. Many of the program\u2019s horses have experienced trauma, neglect and abuse, and the children deeply relate to this and develop a sense of empathy. The horses, having been rehabilitated and now living productive and happy lives, inspire hope for healing and a better future.<\/p>\n

The program offered at Project Horse for Grafton clients is organized around the following themes:<\/p>\n