BEINEINU NEWS & NOTES
January 10, 2013
Mazel Tov!!
The entire Beineinu Family would like to wish Mazel Tov to Mr. & Mrs. Meilech Glancz of Monsey and Mr. & Mrs. Lipa Berger of Boro Park on the engagement of their children Shprintsy and Pinchas Shalom. The wedding is scheduled for Kislev.
Both Chassan and Kallah have Cerebral Palsy and are wheelchair users. They are well known and quite active in their communities.
May both families merit to see much Yiddishe Nachas from this couple and all of their other children.
INTERNATIONAL
Speech Apps for Aphasia & Apraxia--Lingraphica, a healthcare technology company in New Jersey, has introduced several therapy apps to download onto Apple iPads to help adults with aphasia and apraxia to regain basic skills to restore speech comprehension and expression. TalkPath apps bundle sound, recorded voices, graphic icons and animations that stimulate learning processes that lead patients through graduated reading, writing, speaking and listening exercises. A free trial is available at www.apple.com/itunes .
USA
Replacing Visual Aids--Visions Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired will replace vision rehabilitation equipment and prescribed walking canes that were lost or damaged by Super Storm Sandy, free of charge. All residents of New York City or Long Island who are legally blind are eligible. For information contact
911 Texting Coming Soon--The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced that the four major wireless carriers have agreed to accelerate the availability of text-to-911, with major access expected in 2013 and complete access by May 2014. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile will provide consumers, including millions with hearing and speech disabilities, the ability to send a text message to 911. This could also help all consumers in situations where a voice call could endanger the caller. The FCC clarified that text-to-911 will be available in addition to, not a substitute for, voice calls, and consumers should always make a voice call to 911 during an emergency if they can.
Scholarships--The Arthur E. and Helen Copeland $500 scholarships are awarded annually to one male and one female legally blind student enrolling or enrolled at a technical institution or university. Applicants must have participated in United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) sports programs. For information call 719- 630-0422.
Social Security Expands List of Compassionate Disabilities--The Social Security Administration announced that they have added 35 additional compassionate allowance conditions, bringing the total number of disabling conditions that qualify for expedited processing to 200. Compassionate allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that meet SSA’s standards for disability benefits. The program speeds up the usual process to ensure that Americans with the most serious conditions receive their benefit decisions within days instead of months or years. These conditions primarily include certain cancers, adult brain disorders and a number of rare disorders that affect children. The conditions that meet the criteria are deemed so severe that SSA does not need to fully develop the applicant’s work history to make a decision. For the complete list see www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances .
Communication Technology Products--New Jersey residents who have both hearing and vision impairments may be able to receive communication technology through iCanConnect /NJ, a two year federally funded pilot project administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program. Communication devices, such as Braille note takers, iPads, zoom text, amplified telephones and internet access, will be available for individuals whose income doesn’t exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $44,680 for an individual and $76,360 for a family of three. To apply call Allen Reposh 609 771-2575.
Shomer Kashrut Cub Scout Pack--B'nai Shalom of West Orange, New Jersey, is announcing a new Shomer Shabbat Cub Scout Group. Jewish Scouting is a time-honored program of character and leadership training for our boys of all backgrounds and skill levels. Boys learn outdoor skills, character values, and citizenship all within a Jewish context. Pack 365 (The number of "Positive Mitzvot" in the Torah), is open to all boys grades 1-5, and has a mix of day school and religious school families. Shabbat is fully observed while camping, Kashrut (kosher laws) is observed with mainstream packaged hechshers only (O/U, StarK, etc). The pack is open to all boys and adult volunteers of any family background, and is chartered by Congregation B'nai Shalom, 300 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange NJ 07052. For more information contact Rabbi Tobin at B'nai Shalom, 973-731-0160,
ISRAEL
Sibshops--KESHER Tel-Aviv wants to invite your son/daughter to join the special group for siblings of children with special needs. During the group meetings, baking will be used as a tool for sparking conversation about things that bother your child – the children will bake yummy things together, talk and of course - eat! The group will be directed by Simon and Roni – social work students who are receiving guidance from a professional social worker. Meetings will begin the end of February, for 12 sessions which will take place in the afternoons in the center of Tel Aviv. For additional information and to register, call KESHER Tel Aviv – 03-5257467
Tourette Workshops--TSAI – The Tourette Syndrome Association in Israel is inviting you to a special workshop in conjunction with the Clinic for the Treatment of Tourette in the Schneider Hospital. Workshop will begin mid-February, and is geared for parents of children up until age 18. It is suggested that both parents attend the meetings. The workshop includes 10-12 sessions, 2.5 hours long each, once a week at the TSAI house in Raanana. For more information and to register, contact:
Information Center--DAAT is an information center for health and medicine sponsored by Yad Sarah. It provides professional, updated information about topics related to medicine and health for the general community. The center is connected to Israeli and international information databases, which deal with health and disease. At the center, we have volunteer researchers, doctors, nurses and professionals from various health and medical fields. Information is provided in Hebrew and English and sent by mail. SERVICE IS FREE OF CHARGE.
To contact us: Jerusalem – 02-6444500 Rishon L'Tzion – 03-9543349