Fall 2005Volume 13, Number 4 
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services 
Rita Cobbs, CRS Parent Consultant


Celebrating life is a great opportunity to 
show others that there are many joys in 
our lives even in the midst of the toughest 
situations. That is what makes my world 
of laughter, love and faith so important. 
These three things create within me an 
attitude of opportunity when I talk about 
my family and my job. 

I serve the Huntsville CRS office as 
parent consultant. Although I have been 
employed in this position for just one year, 
I have volunteered in this office for 
eighteen years. I have been privileged to 
serve on the local and state parent advisory 
committees since they began and chaired 
the committee that brought the diaper 
voucher program into existence. Though 
the voucher program has ended, it has 
helped so many people. 

Being a parent consultant has given me 
many opportunities to help others with 
resources, IEPs and educational supports, 
lend a listening ear and comfort, and be a 
support person for families, co-workers 
and the community. Most of all it has 
allowed me to turn tears into smiles and 
to offer a hug when one is needed. I love 
being a parent consultant because of you 
and your families. 

I am working on a project to develop 
three specific support groups—one for 
parents and guardians of individuals with 
disabilities, another for teenagers with 
disabilities, and one for siblings of 
individuals with disabilities. Increasing 
the resources in our parent library so that 

more materials will be available is an 
ongoing project. 

My family is a tremendous circle of 
support. My husband of twenty-four years, 
Jerry, has a gift for working with our sons, 
living with a zany person like me and 
sharing the hobby of amateur radio 
(KE4AHL). Jerry and I have a date night 
once a week, allowing us time together as 
a couple and to not forget, in the daily 
routine, that we need time to simply talk. 
We have three sons, Garrett 19, Joel 16 
and Ethan 10. All three are individuals 
with disabilities. Garrett was born with 
cerebral palsy and at age four was labeled 
mentally challenged. Garrett attends 
Brewer High School, loves baseball and 
NASCAR. Joel and Ethan share varied 
seizure disorders. Joel, is home schooled, 
plays a twelve string guitar and writes for 
the local newspaper as a teen editor. Ethan, 
whose passion is cooking and art, is also 
home schooled. Together we all love 
baseball, music, reading, traveling and 
attending First Baptist Church, Huntsville. 
We live in Hartselle with a service dog, 
Beau, three cats, a hamster, a fish, two 
frogs and millions of dust bunnies that we 
have declared as science projects. 

Celebrating life means scrapbooking, 
graphic and website design, playing with 
my dog Chocolate, hanging with my sons, 
reading, and going to the movies. With 
my family’s help, I am learning to play 
golf, but refuse to play until I get my own 
set of pink golf clubs and bag. I am a 
member of the Red Hat Society, although 

I am not yet fifty! Dressing up in great 
outfits, flashy hats and lots of accessories 
make these the best tea parties one can 
attend. You might see me with a green 
facial mask, wearing my fuzzy wuzzy 
slippers, a ratty house coat, my hair up in 
bright colored rollers, or my frizzy hair 
up in a sleepy style with a furry boa around 
my neck. Then there is the coffee mug 
filled with hot French vanilla, a chocolate 
bar beside it, while I’m surfing the 
internet. 


I am a 2005 Partners in Policy Making 
graduate. I might be found on the Alabama 
State Capital steps helping others push a 
bill to make a better life for our families, 
our children and our future. I will be there 
for families as a support for the future of 
their loved ones. I will wrap my arms 
around the teenagers and young adults 
who are in transition, trying to make sense 
of it all. Why do any of this? 

(Continued on page 11) 

Inside.... 

Cultural Competence...........................................P. 3 Family Voices..............................................P. 
8
Hurricane Relief Information.............................. P. 5 Let’s YAC About It......................................P. 
9
2010 Conference.................................................P. 6 Local CRS News.........................................P. 10



Editor: Susan Colburn 
State Parent Consultant 
Layout & Design: Joann Brothers 
Resource Assistant 
Contributing Writers: Rita Cobbs 
Diana Denboba 
Jennifer Thomas 
Stephanie Fore 
Sandra Hazzard 
Penny Strickland 
Address Inquiries To: 
Susan Colburn 
Children’s Rehabilitation Service 
2129 East South Boulevard 
Montgomery, AL 36116 
Phone: (800)846-3697 
(334)613-2284 
Fax: (334)613-3553 
E-Mail: scolburn@rehab.state.al.us 
Parent Connection is a complimentary newsletter 
published by Children’s Rehabilitation Service for 
families of children with special health care needs. 
The goal of this newsletter is to increase 
communication and share information about children 
with special health care needs and their families. The 
newsletter reflects a family-centered theme 
throughout and serves as a forum for family members 
to share information, thoughts, feelings, concerns, 
etc. Nothing printed or implied in this publication 
constitutes an endorsement by the Alabama 
Department of Rehabilitation Services. 
This material is available in alternate formats upon 
request. Alternate formats include braille, large print 
or audio tape and may be obtained by calling the 
phone numbers listed above. 
In the provision of services and employment 
practices, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation 
Services does not discriminate on the basis of sex, 
creed, national origin, religion, race, age or disability. 
Hello, Families! 
Hooray!! It’s fall, my favorite time of the year. The change of season 
brings football, holidays, family gatherings, great food and cool weather. I 
can’t wait! 
Speaking of “can’t wait”: We have an extremely important activity that 
must be addressed this fall, and that is communicating the critical funding 
needs of the CRS program to Governor Riley and our legislators. It can’t 
wait! 
I mentioned in a previous newsletter that ADRS requested a budget 
increase of $2.6 million for CRS during the last legislative session. In the 
end, we received a $519,000 increase. While we are appreciative of the 
increase, it was $2.1 million short of what we needed. The result was 
more service cuts to families, just as we had predicted. We were not “crying 
wolf” last year, and we are not “crying wolf” now. The hard truth is that 
failure to receive a significant state funding increase in FY 2007 could be 
disastrous for CRS! We have got to stop the bleeding of our services and 
programs and its terrible impact on our families! 
CRS is working on our 2007 budget request as I write this letter. We are 
also beginning to develop a plan for doing a better job of communicating 
our critical need for increased funding support to the governor and 
Legislature. We will soon be providing you with information about our 
funding needs and our communication plan. We will also be asking you 
again for your support in the effort to return CRS to an adequately funded 
position. Your support last year was tremendous and made a great difference 
in getting our funding increase. Together, however, we have got to do a 
better job of raising the needs of our families up the funding priority flagpole. 
We must all join together to accomplish our mission, and I am convinced 
that united we can do it! CRS exists to serve you – our families – and I 
personally promise that we will do all that we possibly can to stop the 
bleeding and provide you the services you deserve. THANK YOU for your 
support of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services and CRS. 
We will be back in touch with you soon! 
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 
Cary Boswell 
Assistant Commissioner 
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services 
CaryFrom The 
Director’s Chair 

Cultural Competence


What It Is, What It’s Not 

by Diana Denboba, Health Resources and Services Administration 

Diversity, cultural awareness, cultural 
sensitivity, cultural effectiveness and 
cultural competence — you may think 
these terms are interchangeable, but 
they’re not. The Maternal and Child 
Health Bureau (MCHB) has chosen to use 
the term cultural competence as a value 
across all of its activities and partnerships. 

Culture means the integrated pattern of 
human behavior that includes thoughts, 
communications, actions, customs, beliefs, 
values, and institutions of a racial, ethnic, 
religious, or social group. It is learned 
behaviors common to a human society that 
acts like a template, shaping behavior and 
consciousness from generation to 
generation. 


Culture is not 
synonymous 
with race. 
From Russian 
immigrants to 
rural Appalachians, 
to the 
Amish, to you 
and me — 
everyone has a 
culture. 

Competence is the ability to function 
effectively. Many definitions of cultural 
competence have evolved from diverse 
perspectives, interests, and needs. 
Definitions are incorporated in state 
legislation, federal statutes and programs, 
private sector organizations, and academic 
settings and accreditation criteria. Any 
comprehensive definition must address not 
only attitudes but actions and practices. 

Cultural Competence Defined 

Cultural competence, as defined in The 
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and 
Bill of Rights Act of 2000, means services, 
supports, or other assistance conducted or 
provided in a manner that is responsive 
to the beliefs, interpersonal styles, 
attitudes, language, and behaviors of 

individuals who are receiving services, 
and in a manner that has the greatest 
likelihood of ensuring their maximum 
participation in the program. 

The reality of striving to achieve cultural 
competence is a dynamic, ongoing, 
developmental process that requires a 
long-term commitment. At a systems, 
organizational, or program level, cultural 
competence requires a comprehensive and 
coordinated plan that includes 
interventions at the levels of: 

• policy making; 
• infrastructure building; 
• program administration and 
evaluation; 

• the delivery of services and 
enabling supports; and
• the individual. 
Five essential elements that con- tribute 
to a the ability of a system, institution or 
agency to become more culturally 
competent include: 

• valuing diversity; 
• having the capacity for cultural self-
assessment;
• being conscious of the dynamics 
inherent when cultures interact; 

• having institutionalized culture 
knowledge; and
• having developed adaptations to 
service delivery, outreach, and

 advocacy reflecting an under


 standing of cultural diversity. 

At the individual level, cultural 
competence is an examination of our own 
attitudes and values, and the acquisition 
of the values, know ledge, skills, and 
attributes that will allow us to work 
appropriately in situations with other 
cultural groups. Such self-reflection is an 
ongoing journey. Consider this example: 

“Scheduling appointments (with my 
child’s doctor) is difficult. You have to 
prepare for a ceremony...so you can’t make 
the appointment… then there’s a big NO 
SHOW in your chart. They (providers) 

need to be flexible.” This Native American 
parent is saying that, at times, they can 
not make scheduled appointments if they 
have to attend healing or other ceremonies. 
Has this Native-American family been 
unfairly labeled noncompliant? 

Did you know that ... 

—The perception of illness and 

disease and their causes varies by 

culture. 

—Diverse belief systems exist related 

to health, mental health, healing 

and well-being. 

—Culture influences help-seeking 

behaviors and attitudes toward care 

providers. 

—Individual preferences affect tradi


tional and other approaches to care. 

—Patients must overcome historical 

and personal experiences of biases 

within health-care systems. 

Linguistic Competence 

A component of cultural competence is 
linguistic competence, the capacity of an 
organization and its personnel to 
communicate effectively, and convey 
information in a manner that is easily 
understood by diverse audiences, 
including persons of limited English 
proficiency, those who are not literate or 
have low literacy skills, and individuals 
with disabilities. Let’s look at a few 
scenarios: 

“You go to a meeting concerning your 
child, and they talk 90 miles an hour, and 
you’re hearing it at 5 miles an hour, and 
understanding at maybe 2 miles an hour.” 
Has this family with English as a second 
language really understood the diagnosis 
and treatment prescribed? 

“I do this dance all of the time (trying 
to elicit information with families). 
Sometimes its forthcoming and sometimes 
it just simply is not.” Does this provider 
understand the cultural implications for 
some families of sharing information? 

(Continued on page 4) 


(Cultural Competence 
continued from page 3) 


Cultural brokering is the act of 
bridging, linking or mediating 
between groups or persons of 
differing cultural backgrounds for 
the purpose of reducing conflict or 
producing change. A cultural broker 
acts as a go-between —one who 
advocates on behalf of another 
individual or group. 

The 2000 Census data show that over 47 
million people speak a language other than 
English at home, up nearly 48% since 
1990; and, although the majority are able 
to speak English, over 21 million speak 
English less than “very well,” up 52% 
from 14 million in 1990. Are we prepared 
to serve and outreach to this population? 

Cultural Competence and 
Family-Centered Care 

Cultural competence is intricately linked 
to the concept and practice of family-
centered care. Family-centered care 
assures the health and well-being of 
children and their families through a 
respectful family-professional partnership. 
It honors the strengths, cultures, 
traditions, and expertise that everyone 
brings to this relationship. Family-
centered care is the standard of practice 
that results in high-quality services. 

The foundation of family-centered care 
is the partnership between families and 
professionals, so that families feel they can 
be decision- makers with providers at 
different levels—in the care of their own 
children and as advocates for systems and 
policies supportive of children and youth 

with special health care needs. It requires 
culturally competent attitudes and 
practices. It often requires building 
relationships with community cultural 
brokers (see box at right), who can assist 
in understanding community norms and 
can provide links with other families and 
organizations, such as churches, beauty 
shops, and social clubs. 

National Centers for Cultural 
Competence 

The Division of Services for Children 
with Special Healthcare Needs (DSCSHN) 
within MCHB is currently funding its 4th 
National Center for Cultural Competence 
(NCCC), through competitive funding 
opportunities; the first was with the Texas 
Department of Public Health, and the last 
three, with the Georgetown Child 
Development Center. DSCSHN, in 
collaboration with these national centers, 
families, State Title V programs, and 
grantees have promoted and helped put 
cultural competence into action at the 
policy, guidelines, and practice levels in 
many Title V, Sudden Infant Death 
Syndrome (SIDS) programs, Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Administration 

(SAMHSA) activities, and in research and 
training programs. 

The mission of NCCC is to increase the 
capacity of health and mental health 
programs to design, implement, and 
evaluate culturally and linguistically 
competent service-delivery systems. The 
NCCC has been able to provide on-site 
organizational assessments with Title V/ 
Public Health programs that have 
included community partners and focus 
groups with families. A “Cultural and 
Linguistic Competence Self-Assessment 
Questionnaire” developed by James Mason 
(OR) has versions relevant for 
administrators/ policy makers, consumers, 
and providers. 

Organizational self-assessment can lead 
to a collaboratively developed plan of 
action with clearly defined short- and 
long-term goals, measurable objectives, 
and identified resources. It provides a 
vehicle to measure outcomes for personnel, 
organizations, and the community at large. 
NCCC is also developing self-assessments 
that can be used by family organizations 
and hospitals. 

Look what other centers are doing around the country: 

—The Florida Institute for Family Involvement (FIFI) has a cultural competence 
advisory committee that assists with activities and reviews materials. 

—The California F2F Center, Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, 
has linked with translators and has family information, education and 
support in a number of languages, including English, Spanish, Cantonese, 
Mandarin, Hmong, Vietnamese, Hindu, Urdu, Farsi, Hebrew, Japanese and 
Tagalog. 

—The PACER F2F Center in Minnesota (Parent Advodacy Coalition for 
Educational Rights) uses American Sign Language interpreters and makes use 
of PACER’s Simon Technology Center with information about Braille and 
assistive technology. 

—In the F2F centers in Maine (Project REACH) and Vermont (Parent to 
Parent), family health partners are located across the states in community-
based organizations to reach isolated rural families. 

—In Tennessee, the F2F center with the TN Disabilities Coalition is outreaching 
to the Hispanic and Appalachian population using cultural brokers. 

—New Jersey’s Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) program provides 
training to organizations/providers on how to recruit, train and maintain 
relationships with diverse family members for committees and ongoing 
feedback. 

—Maryland’s F2F center and their organization Parents’ Place of Maryland, 
along with NCCC, has made a commitment to cultural competence with 
infrastructure and other changes, increasing the participation of culturally 
diverse families by 11%. 

(Continued on page 5) 


(Cultural Competence
continued from page 4)


In addition, the NCCC provides a 
number of services, including the 
provision/coordination of on-site 
consultation by its staff or state and local 
leaders in the area of cultural competence; 
assistance with planning and needs 
assessment processes; a variety of 
materials, family stories and a Spanish 
language portal that can be accessed on 
the website www.gucchd.georgetown.edu/ 
nccc/. 

The Vision of MCHB 

Cultural competence has been 
incorporated into MCHB goals, key 
strategies, and performance measures 
across MCHB programs. Other Division 
grantees have been integrating cultural 
competence into their activities and 
philosophy as well. Through funding from 
MCHB and Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid (CMS), Family-to-Family (F2F) 
Health Information Center and Family 
Voices network, members have been able 

to increase their outreach and services to 
culturally diverse and geographically 
isolated communities. 

Family Voices, Inc., with funds from 
MCHB, has a cultural competence/ 
outreach initiative and has their 
commitment to diversity and cultural 
competence on their web-site. They work 
collaboratively with NCCC and will be 
piloting the family organization self-
assessment. 

State Title V Programs have also been 
busy integrating cultural competence into 
policies, guidelines, and activities. The 
Washington state CSHCN program hosted 
a “Family Gathering on Cultural 
Competency.” This meeting brought 
together four Department of Health/ 
CSHCN program contracts that focus on 
parent issues: Washington State Parent to 
Parent, Washington Fathers Network 
(WFN), The Medical Home Leadership 
Network, and Children’s Hospital and 

Regional Medical Center. The family 
gathering was an opportunity for 
contractors and MCHB staff, as well as 
parents, to listen to Parent to Parent Ethnic 
Outreach Coordinators describe strategies 
that increase cultural competency and 
reach diverse populations. Contract 
managers and staff were exposed to 
creative ideas and strategies as they 
developed their contracts for the next year. 

MCHB envisions a nation where there 
is equal access for all to quality health care 
in a supportive, culturally competent, 
family and community setting. 

Special thanks to Trish Thomas, Wendy 
Jones, NCCC, FIFI, and those families 
and providers who shared their stories 

For additional information visit: 

www.hotculture.com 

www.gucchd.georgetown.edu/nccc 

Hurricane Relief Information . . 
.



Family Voices of Alabama and Alabama 
Family Ties have joined together to help 
hurricane victims who have children with 
special needs. Contacts are: 
Family Voices: Jerry Oveson (251) 4381609, 
oveson@bellsouth.net or Susan 
Colburn (334) 613-2284, 1-800-8463697, 
scolburn@rehab.state.al.us 
Family Ties: Sarah Ellen Thompson 

(334) 240-8437, 1-877-834-0615, 
Help@alfamilyties.org. 
Telephone Contacts 

FEMA - 1-800-621-3362 or 

1-800-462-7585 
Red Cross - 1-866-438-4636 
Medicaid - 1-800-362-1504 
AL Department of Education (Special 

Education) - 1-800-392-8020 

To give, to assist hurricane victims who 
have family members with special needs, 
see: 
Family Voices, www.familyvoices.org or 
The Arc, www.arclink.org 

Websites 

www.cff.org - Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 
medications for all CF patients affected by 
hurricane, regardless of ability to pay. Pharmacy: 
1-800-541-4959 

www.thearclink.org - (The Arc), connecting 
hurricane families of those with special 
needs to the support people who can 
assist them. 

www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/katrina 


resource list 
http://katrinadisability.info - resource 
information 

www.hurricanehousing.org - housing 
resources 

New Medicare Drug Benefit 
You may have heard about the new prescription drug coverage being offered by Medicare. Although most Medicare recipients are older adults, 
there are some children who have both Medicaid and Medicare coverage. If your son/daughter or someone else in your family has Medicare, it 
will be very important to learn all you can about the choices available as this new program is implemented. 
A - APPLY FOR HELP - Some people with limited incomes will be able to get extra help paying for Medicare Part D. If you have Medicare 
and your income is less than $1,097 per month and you are not enrolled in Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program, call the State Health 
Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-800-AGE-LINE (243-5463) for assistance in applying for help paying for the new drug benefit. 
B - BE SMART! - Each drug plan will be different. Prices and coverage will vary. Know your needs. Know your choices. This is NOT the same 
as the Medicare-approved prescription drug discount card and some people will pay a higher premium if they wait to enroll. 
C -CHOOSE A PLAN - Everyone with Medicare is eligible for this benefit. Information will be available October 15, 2005 from 1-800MEDICARE 
(633-4227) or www.medicare.gov. For local help call the Medicare counseling program (SHIIP) at 1-800-AGE-LINE (243-5463). 

Traveling Together on Highway 2010



The “Traveling Together on Highway 2010: Along the Road to Healthy Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs” 
conference was held on July 14-15 at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham. Nationally and locally recognized speakers including Diana 
Denboba (Maternal and Child Health Bureau), Patti Hackett (Healthy and Ready to Work), Polly Arango (co-founder of Family 
Voices), and Dr. Carden Johnston (past president of American Academy of Pediatrics) led conference sessions and met with the 
individual workgroups. Over the two days of the conference 111 youth, family members and professionals participated in sessions and 
workgroups. Work continues on these six core outcomes listed in the President’s New Freedom Initiative. Please contact us if you are 
interested in becoming involved in this effort. 
National speaker, Polly Arango, 
meets with the Family/Professional 
Partnership workgroup. 

Diana Denboba spends time with some of 
the CRS Youth Advisory Committee 
members. 



Patti Hackett visits with Jennifer
Thomas, CRS Youth Consultant.


Mandy Jennings, CRS Parent Consultant in 
Opelika, and her son Brett view one of the 
many exhibits. 

The 2010 conference was partially funded with a 
grant from the Champions for Progress Center at Utah 
State University. In August, Julie Preskitt, Beverly 
Mulvihill, Susan Colburn and Ryan Colburn represented 
Alabama at the Champions multi-state meeting held in 
Snowbird, Utah. 



Diversity Statement 

As a national organization, Family Voices values the diversity of many individuals who strive for quality health care for 
children and youth with special health care needs. It is only through the collective wisdom, experience and diversity of our 
family, friends and partners that Family Voices is able to speak with "One Heart, Many Voices" for children and youth with 
special health care needs. The following proclamation outlines the commitment of Family Voices, as a national organization, to 
provide services to all families, children and youth. 


Family Voices' mission as a national grassroots network of families and friends is to advocate for health care services 
for all children and youth with special health care needs that are family-centered, community-based, comprehensive, 
coordinated and culturally competent; 

Family Voices promotes the inclusion of all families and/or youth as decision makers at all levels of health care to 
assure the provision of quality care and the enhancement of care outcomes that are beneficial to the child, youth and his/ 
her family; 

Family Voices supports the exploration, development and maintenance of essential and supportive partnerships between 
children, youth, families and professionals; 

Family Voices affirms the principles that family-centered health care benefits and services for children and youth be 
flexible, guided by need, be affordable and within geographic reach; 

Family Voices is informed by an appreciation of cultural and ethnic diversity as essential to the quality of outcomes, 
products and services for which it as an organization is responsible; 

Therefore, Family Voices commits to making every effort to understand, value, include and incorporate considerations 
related to diversity and cultural competence into its work and operational structure in order to assure that: 
1.Issues of diversity are explicitly and implicitly at the forefront of policy, practice and research considerations; 
2.Its commitment to and recognition of diversity and cultural and linguistic competency is seen as intentional and 
infused into all aspects of the organization by those in the network; 
3.Its commitment to and recognition of diversity, cultural and linguistic competency is examined and assessed regularly 
and carefully as a desired outcome of work by board and senior leadership, embraced by staff, and integrated 
structurally in the operation of the organization; 
4.Children, youth and families, and the organizations it partners with recognize and understand its championship of, 
commitment to, and practice of diversity and culturally competent care; 
5.Improvements in the health care delivery systems for children, youth and families allow for the receipt of appropriate 
and responsive services that meet their unique needs; 



. 
Hence, Family Voices is committed to providing the necessary training and resources to its network to develop 
attitudes, knowledge and skills to enable staff to provide culturally competent services to families of children and youth 
with special health care needs. 
Family Voices, as an organization, operationally defines "Diversity" as valued differences based on ethnicity, age, socioeconomic 
status, religion, language, national origin, political belief, creed, race, color, sex, height, weight, geographic location, 
disability, gender identity, marital status and veteran status; and "Cultural Competency" as a fluid, on going life-long 
process that involves the individuals within the network's ability to think, feel and act in ways that acknowledge, respect and 
build upon ethnic, socio-cultural and linguistic diversity allowing individuals to work effectively cross-culturally. 

For information about Family Voices, please contact the Alabama state coordinators Susan Colburn
(334-613-2884, scolburn @rehab.state.al.us) or Jerry Oveson (251-438-1609, oveson@bellsouth.net)
.



From the Pen of
the Youth Consultant


Well, how are you? I am back again 
to share with you my adventures as 
the CRS Youth Consultant. Before I 
begin, I would like to encourage 
youth to think about the people who 
are still in great need as a result of 
hurricane Katrina. Please remember 
that no matter how old or young you 
are, there is always something you 
can do to help. 

This summer and fall have been 
very busy. In July, I had the 
opportunity to co-present with Patti 
Hackett at the Traveling Together 
on Highway 2010 Conference. Ms. 
Hackett is the co-director of 
Project Lead with the Healthy & 
Ready to Work National Center in 
Washington, D.C. Youth were invited 
to the conference and about 10 were 
in attendance. This was just one of 
the many conferences that I 
attended this summer. 

I will not bore you with the rest of 
the details about all of my summer 
and fall events. My hope is that I 
am representing you, the youth, in 
the right light and that more youth 
are becoming more involved in their 
communities. So please let us know 
what you are up to. We would love 
to hear about it and include it in the 
Let’s YAC About It section of this 
newsletter. 

Jennifer Thomas 
CRS Youth Consultant 

Youth Advisory
Committee


The Youth Advisory Committee 
(YAC) has been very active this 
summer, working on projects and 
offering their suggestions. On July 
14, 2005, a YAC meeting was held in 
Birmingham, AL. The YAC made many 
decisions and celebrated with the 
members who had graduated from 
high school this year. 

A big thanks goes out to all of the 
YAC members who helped out this 
summer. Many of them assisted with 
the 2010 conference, while others 
helped with the Youth Power 
Workshops. 

What’s Happening 

Kayla Beard, a Youth Advisory 
Committee member, wrote a 
beautiful article for the last 
newsletter. She is back again to 
share part two of her article. Here 
it is! 

I have had several people ask for 
an update on my cousin who is in the 
army. He is currently stationed at 
Redstone Arsenal in Alabama for a 
12-week period doing an Advance 
Training Course. He is now able to 
get weekend passes, and since I live 
in the area, he and his “battle 
buddies” came to see the family this 
past weekend. My, how he has grown 
up. It was such a pleasure meeting 
his friends Canto from Texas 

and Strikler from Florida. I truly 
believe that these young men will be 
a great asset to the service of our 
county. As for Jonathan, his next 
assignment will be at Fort Drum, 
New York; that is up by the Canadian 
border (at least it is not overseas). 
Thank you all for your thoughts and 
prayers, and keep remembering the 
fine young people that are serving 
our country. 

Kayla Beard 
The Proud Cousin of an American 
Soldier 
PFC2 Jon Lambert 

In August, the National Examiner 
magazine featured an article about 
a Youth Advisory Committee 
member, Samantha Manning. The 
article was titled Walking Tall: 
Youth Forum Helped Me Leave My 
Disability Behind. In it Samantha 
describes her experience as a 
delegate of the Alabama Governor’s 
Youth Leadership Forum for High 
School Students with Disabilities. 
The forum enhances the leadership 
skills of students with disabilities 
while giving them a chance to be 
surrounded by other youth who have 
disabilities as well. According to 
Samantha, “You have to have good 
self-esteem to be a good leader. 
That one little event changed my 
life. I’m sure it can do the same for 
many others.” 

For more information about the Let’s YAC About It section of this newsletter, please contact Jennifer Thomas, CRS state youth 
consultant, at jthomas@rehab.state.al.us. 


Brady’s Walker


My son Brady has Angelman Syndrome 
and is unable to walk or talk. This is a 
very rare genetic disorder of which there 
are only an estimated 1000 known cases 
in the US and Canada combined. This 
syndrome causes many symptoms. Among 
those are little or no speech, delayed motor 
skills, frequent laughter and happy 
demeanor. Brady is our angel and we are 
blessed to have him in our family. He has 
an amazing love for life—we could all 
learn from him. He is great. 

Brady is unable to walk. He used to walk 
in a baby walker until he started trying to 
tip it over. He needed a way to chase his 
big brother around. He needed an 
oversized baby walker, so his dad and I 
sat down and made out a materials list and 
got started. We built it out of PVC pipe 
and added a Johnny jumper seat for him 
to sit in. Brady does very well with his 
walker. We really wanted him to have 
something for outdoor use. Since he is 
unable to walk, he had to sit on a blanket 
on the ground and watch the other kids 
play. With this walker he is able to run 

with them and just have a good time. We 
put him under the sprinkler and even in 
the kiddy pool with his walker. 
Unfortunately this walker is pretty big and 
doesn’t fit well in a vehicle, so it isn’t 
convenient for travel; but it works very 
well for at home and outdoors. We have 
even used it on camping trips. It really 
helps give him some independence. 

If anyone would like instruction to build 
this walker call (334) 222-2873 or email 
us at craigfore@alaweb.com. To learn 
more about Angelman Syndrome, see 
www.angelman.org. 

Stephanie Fore 

Anniston Family Connection Picnic


On July 25, 2005, CRS and our 
Parent Advisory Committee held a 
picnic at Oxford Lake to promote our 
PAC and Parent Connection 
programs. Families enjoyed the 
opportunity to meet, share their 
experiences and relax while the 
children were entertained by CRS staff 
on the playground. 

The day was sunny and hot, but 
families came from Calhoun, 
Cleburne, Etowah and Talladega 
counties to enjoy the event. The park 
donated two pavilions for some shade 
and tables to serve the food. Several 
area businesses provided plenty of ice 


and drinks. Some of our staff’s family 
members also helped to entertain the 
children with face painting, blowing 
bubbles and beading their hair. Susan 
Miller’s son, Officer Joshua Miller of the 
Oxford Police Department, volunteered 
his services to fingerprint the children in 
connection with the Child I.D. program 
and gave them badges. 

The location was perfect. The accessible 
playground is new with padding on the 
ground around the equipment and 
completely fenced in. The pavilions are 
located within the fenced area, so 
everything was convenient and safe. There 
is a paved walking trail around the lake. 

For information about our Parent 
Advisory Committee and the Parent 

Connection program in the Anniston, 
Gadsden and Talladega areas, contact 
Sandra Hazzard, parent consultant. 

Sandra Hazzard 
CRS Parent Consultant 
1-800-289-9553 
shazzard@rehab.state.al.us 


Jeremy Miller of Gaylesville, Alabama 
recently graduated from Gaylesville High 
School and is pictured at his senior prom. 
This summer Jeremy had an exciting time 
attending Camp ASCCA. He has been to 
camp for the past seven years and looks 
forward to future camps. His favorite 
activities are fishing and dancing. 
Vocational Rehabilitation is working with 
Jeremy to enable him to find employment. 
Jeremy would like to be a greeter at 
Walmart. He is also trying to get into the 
local adult training center. 

Sandra Hazzard 
Anniston CRS 

Wheelchair Wipe-out 

Mobile CRS celebrated summer with a special fun 
day called Wheelchair Wipe-out. During the event, 
20 wheelchairs were washed, 7 car seats were 
inspected and 2 nonfunctional seats were replaced 
with new ones. Radio Disney provided fun games 
and prizes. Outback Steakhouse catered the event 
with wonderful food. A first grade Sunday school class 
served lemonade, biscuits and doughnuts during the 
morning. The children also enjoyed face painting and 
tattoos. 

Penny Strickland 
Mobile CRS 

(Rita, continued from page 1) 

Celebrating life is not just cheering for 
the great things we are experiencing, but 
cheering when things are bad, when we 
can make a difference, and when we can 
simply be present. It is helping another 
person through any means possible 
without considering the odds or selfish 
motivations. Celebrating life is helping 
others to reach their potential and to 
believe in themselves. Join us in 
celebrating life through great 
opportunities to help others. I promise 
your life will never be the same. An 

example of this happened this past spring 
when we were working hard to get a 
legislative bill passed. My son was talking 
to an Alabama state representative, telling 
him why the bill was so important to 
children. Ethan said, “I am not doing this 
for me; I am doing this for you.” You never 
know when your life may be touched with 
a situation in which you will need the help 
of others. So take this time to consider your 
gifts and talents, even the gift of gab. Then 
call your local parent consultant to see 
what you can do to help. You would be 

amazed at how many ways we can allow 
others to celebrate life with us. 

Thank you for giving me and all the 
parent consultants in Alabama the 
opportunity to serve you. I would enjoy 
hearing from you. I can be reached via 
phone at 1-800-283-9352 or (256)5188671. 


Blessings, 
Rita F. Cobbs, Parent Consultant 
rcobbs@rehab.state.al.us 
Huntsville CRS 


HALLOWEEN WORD SEARCH


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COSTUMES 
OCTOBER 
SCARY 
WITCH 



Children’s Rehabilitation Service 
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services 
2129 East South Blvd. 
Montgomery, AL 36116

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What’s Ahead



November 14-16, 2005 Alabama Early Intervention and Preschool Conference; Sheraton Birmingham Hotel; 
Birmingham, AL; Contact: Jeri Jackson, JBH50@aol.com 

June 25-29, 2006 
Spina Bifida Association’s 33rd Annual Conference; Omni Hotel at CNN Center; Atlanta, 
Georgia; Contact: www.sbaa.org 

Please add me to your newsletter mailing list. 

Name: 

Agency: 
Clip & mail to 
Address: Susan Colburn 
Children’s Rehabilitation Service 
City/State/Zip: 2129 East South Boulevard, 
Montgomery, AL 36116