Spectrum Public Health Strategies

If you run a business, please consider ways in which you can make it more accessible for autistic persons and their families. Training staff about autism and inclusive policies can go a long way!

This Inclusive Beach Town Welcomes Autistic Travelers Sensory-friendly restaurants, hotels, and attractions welcome travelers with autism to the beautiful resort town of Myrtle Beach.

I had a great time at the Leadership Conference. I was part of a panel discussion about Effective Partnerships to Engage Special Populations, which gave me a chance to speak on my work with the .

I’ve been volunteering with the Epilepsy Foundation since 2020 and it has been a rewarding experience. I look forward to future opportunities to collaborate with this wonderful team of individuals!

In April, a significant step was taken for in Georgia with the passage of AJ’s Law, which is in effect for the upcoming school year. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the bill’s namesake, AJ, and countless other advocates, Georgia schools will be able to provide a safer school environment for students living with epilepsy or a seizure disorder. The new law encourages the review and implementation of a submitted Seizure Action Plan for a student and mandates training for designated school personnel in seizure first-aid. If your child attends public school and has been diagnosed with epilepsy or a seizure disorder, parents or guardians must provide the student’s Seizure Action Plan to the school and request the school act on the plan. Learn more: https://epilepsyga.org/ajslaw/

Epilepsy Foundation of America is offering a FREE seizure first aid course that you can do online in the comfort of your own home! Check it out! You never know when you may need to help someone in need.

Seizure First Aid Recertification (On Demand) v1.0 The Seizure First Aid Recertification course will renew skills and confidence to apply the Epilepsy Foundation’s approved procedures for responding to someone having a seizure.

On May 19th, we'll be participating in Global Accessibility Awareness Day! We hope you'll celebrate with us by joining our Twitter Chat on the importance of , , and from 3:00 - 4:00 pm ET.

Learn more: https://aahd.us/2022/05/may-19th-all-of-us-twitter-chat/

April is Autism Awareness Month! Check out these upcoming activities from the Autism Faith Network, Inc.!

Have you heard about all of the things we have planned for Autism Awareness Month? If not, here's a quick summary! Mark your calendars and please share!

1. April 1st - 30th. Sensory Toolkit Giveaway. Places of worship will have a chance to receive a sensory toolkit by sharing information about the Autism Faith Network on social media or conducting an activity that promotes autism awareness, acceptance and inclusion. Get details here: https://bit.ly/SensoryToolkits

2. Tuesday, April 5th at 7pm EST - Webinar: How to Have a Successful IEP Meeting. Watch it live on our page. https://www.facebook.com/AutismFaithNetwork

2. Tuesday, April 12th at 1pm EST - Webinar: How to Start a Disability Ministry. Register via Zoom: https://bit.ly/disabilityministry

3. Saturday, April 23rd at 1pm EST - Webinar: Finding Balance and Support as a Caregiver. Register via Zoom: https://bit.ly/support4caregivers

Which event are you looking forward to?

We hope that these activities will be a blessing to you and your place of worship!

It’s Public Health Thank You Day!

We are making history and persevering through some unprecedented times as we deal with COVID-19 and work to protect the health of all people. To all of my fellow public health professionals, keep pressing forward! You truly are making a difference!

Sign up to get Seizure First Aid training today!

Understanding what seizures are and how to help if you ever see someone having a seizure minimizes misconceptions and inspires action. by getting in 30 minutes this National Epilepsy Awareness Month: https://bit.ly/3BG9F4F

Today is International Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Awareness Day.

"Tracy Dixon-Salazar knows firsthand the devastating effect of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) — her daughter Savannah developed it at 5 years old as a result of uncontrollable epilepsy, which began when she was 2. Having to do her own research to find answers, Tracy went back to school to receive her Ph.D. to help her understand the books and articles she was reading."

A Mom's Journey to Understand Her Daughter's Rare Disease - The Balancing Act LGS is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that evolves over time in very young children from treatment-resistant seizures.

"Not everyone with epilepsy is aware of or told about SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death In Epilepsy) and epilepsy risks, which can put them in danger of worsening seizures, injury or of dying prematurely. People with epilepsy & their families WANT to be told about SUDEP and epilepsy risks. Many bereaved families were NOT told about SUDEP & wish that this vital information had been shared as it might have saved their loved one’s life."



https://sudepactionday.org/

Visit bit.ly/rareepilepsyspanish for resources in Spanish about Epilepsy!

September is Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. Know the signs.

Su***de is complicated and tragic, but it is often preventable. Knowing the warning signs for su***de and how to get help can help save lives. Learn about behaviors that may be a sign that someone is thinking about su***de. For more information, visit https://go.usa.gov/xM4by. ***depreventionmonth

This is information for those in Georgia who are homebound and would like to get vaccinated.

Georgia residents who are currently sick, shut-in or homebound due to an ongoing physical or mental disability and are unable to travel to a COVID-19 vaccination site can request to receive vaccination at their home.

Parents are facing hard decisions right now about in-person schooling. They may not know, for instance, that HEPA filtration units help reduce COVID-19 spread in the classroom or that the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security has released detailed recommendations for improving air in schools.

Ask your child's school today what they have done to improve air quality and lower risk. If your child's school is not able to meet updated COVID-19 air filtration guidance (including MERV-13 filters and 6 air changes per hour), urge them to add individual HEPA filtration units to their classrooms. Schools can use their American Rescue Plan funds to help cover these costs.

For more information, visit: https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/publications/school-ventilation

“The public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock.

US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, a milestone that may help lift public confidence in the shots as the nation battles the most contagious coronavirus mutant yet.

"We're mandating vaccines for Title 38 employees because it's the best way to keep Veterans safe, especially as the Delta variant spreads across the country," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough said in a news release.

Department of Veterans Affairs will require health workers to be vaccinated The Department of Veterans Affairs will require many of its frontline health workers to be vaccinated, the agency announced on Monday, making it the first area of the federal government to require shots among some of its workers.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turns 31 today! We celebrate this important law that ensures that those with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities to thrive as everyone else!

Join the Seizure Action Plan Coalition for a free back to school webinar next week!

ABC to SAP: Why Your Child Needs a Seizure Action Plan

Wednesday, July 28
5 pm Pacific, 6 pm Mountain, 7 pm Central, 8 pm Eastern

Plan now to join us for this free back to school virtual town hall to learn about the importance of having a seizure action plan (SAP) in school settings. Following the presentations, you’ll be able to submit questions to our expert panelists.

Integrating Seizure Actions Plans with Individualized Education Programs
Shelly Meitzler
Epilepsy Mom and Community Programs Manager, East
TSC Alliance

Seizure Action Plans: The Patient’s Voice
Christie L. Van Cleave
Epilepsy Mom, Epilepsy Awareness Advocate, Business Executive

Seizure Action Plans from a Doctor’s Point of View
Elaine Wirrell, MD
Director of Pediatric Epilepsy and Professor of Neurology
Mayo Clinic

The Nursing Perspective on Seizure Action Plans
Kathy O'Hara, RN
Child Neurology
Virginia Commonwealth University

REGISTER TODAY: https://bit.ly/2VDoNAF

is hosting FREE Seizure First Aid Certification Training. Here are the dates and times available:

June 22nd at 4:00pm EST
July 8th at 12:00pm EST
July 20th at 8:00pm EST
August 5th at 4:00pm EST
August 17th at 6:00pm EST

Register at: learn.epilepsy.com

Epilepsy Foundation of America is hosting FREE Seizure First Aid Certification Training. Here are the dates and times available:

June 22nd at 4:00pm EST
July 8th at 12:00pm EST
July 20th at 8:00pm EST
August 5th at 4:00pm EST
August 17th at 6:00pm EST

Register at: learn.epilepsy.com