National Disability Rights Network – Teleconference:
Teleconference on the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act, Employment and Mental Illness–Feb. 17
The teleconference about the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADA), sponsored by the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), will take place on Feb. 17 from 3:30– 5 pm EST. Register online by Feb. 11 at 5 pm.
People living with mental illness who work or desire to work may encounter many challenging employment issues. These may include:
- When and how to disclose a disability;
- Issues surrounding pre-employment testing; or
- Identifying and requesting reasonable accommodations on the job.
This session will review the ADA and its regulations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance and recent case law decisions surrounding employment issues for people with psychiatric disabilities in the workplace. Best practices for handling the accommodation request and disclosing medical information will also be explored, along with resources for employees and advocates.
Call-in information and handouts will be sent the day before the call. There will be a question-and- answer session after the presentation.
If you have questions or need to submit a request for reasonable accommodations,
please contact Cindy Smith (cindy.smith@ndrn.org) at least two weeks before this event.
NDRN will attempt to accommodate requests received after that but cannot guarantee the accommodation of late requests.
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Dealing With Anosognosia
Anosognosia, or the inability to perceive that one is ill due to impairment to the brain’s ability to process certain data, will take center stage at the 2011 convention.
Dr. Xavier Amador, who spoke on anosognosia to a standing-room only crowd at last year’s convention, will return to address the subject again on Friday evening, July 8. Anosognosia has been identified as the single biggest reason why some people living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder do not seek treatment or do not comply with prescribed treatment.
Dr. Amador, a clinical psychologist, professor at Columbia University and founder and director of the LEAP Institute, will address this thorny problem, explain how it differs from denial or simple stubbornness and help family members and others begin to learn how to deal with it.
Need A Good Laugh?
Debbie Ellison, certified laugh yoga leader, will present a special session at the 2011 NAMI Annual Convention on the benefits of laughter for individuals who live with mental illness. In this fun, hands-on session, you’ll learn how laughter:
- increases the “happy” chemicals in the brain and fosters a positive and hopeful attitude;
- decreases depression, stress and negative thoughts and feelings;
- improves many chronic medical problems; and
- makes you feel good.
The session is part of the convention’s Wellness Center–information and activities designed to increase well-being.
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Well known Chicago anchorman and humanitarian Bill Kurtis talks openly and forthrightly about his son who had Schizophrenia. He speaks with the depth of knowledge of a parent who has walked the walked and talked the talked.
This is a clip worth examining.
You may access it HERE, or below:
Bill Kurtis speaks out on his son's schizophrenia
Dr. Genevieve Thornton and Dr. Miri Arie again present their groups. Both doctors have spoken to a NAMI CCNS group in the past. Some of our members have greatly appreciated their skills. (They have no affiliation with our organization.)
January 16: New SociAbility Social Thinking Groups Begin
SociAbility: Developing Social-Emotional Competence and Confidence in Children
Our mission is to help children and young adults gain the necessary life-long social skills to succeed in school and beyond. We are offering winter semester groups to facilitate social and emotional competence and confidence. The groups are for children and teens with social cognitive challenges.
The curriculum is based on Michelle Winner’s Social Thinking (www.socialthinking.com) and also incorporates video modeling so group members can observe their interactions and see first hand how they come across in a group setting. This allows them the opportunity to make adjustments in their interaction styles and make improvements in their social skills.
Winter Social Thinking Groups Begin week of January 16, 2011
Boys and Girls groups meet weekly after school and on Saturdays
- High School Boys Group- 10:30 am January 22 – May 21
- 12 & 13 Years old Girls Group – 7:00 pm Thursday, January 20 – May 19,
- 11 thru13 Years old Boys Group- 8:30 am Saturday, January 21- May 21
- 12 & 14 Years old Girls Group- 6:00 pm Thursday, January 20 – May 21
- Young Adults (co-ed) Group- 11:30 am Saturday, January 22- May 21
SociAbility Curriculum:
- Nonverbal communication awareness
- Perspective taking – thinking about others and their feelings
- Flexibility and behavior regulation
- Conversational skills, exploring emotions of ourselves and others
- Social problem solving
- Cooperative and group activities, building on your strengths
- Improving social skills (especially for the bright but socially clueless)
The groups meet for an hour throughout the fall semester. Two experienced therapists for each group meeting (prices range between $100 – $120 per session commitment for the entire semester is required). Meetings will take place at the Northbrook office 899 Skokie Boulevard # 204 each week for the semester starting the week of January 16, 2011.
For more details or to sign-up:
Call Genevieve Thornton, Psy.D., Miri Arie, Psy.D.,
at 847 559-3240 or email at genevievethornton@yahoo.com
This fascinating examination of the Tucson shooting incident is well done, insightful and provides lots of food for thought. Cindy Crowley of CNN speaks to E Fuller Torrey and author Pete Earley among others, as they attempt to confront the various reasons this disastrous event came to be. All the speakers involved are articulate and passionate.
This piece provides yet another critically needed warning about the failures of this country to adequately treat its citizens who live with psychiatric disorders.
Watch this interview HERE or below:
CNN – Examining Mental Illness in America
Examining Mental Illness in America
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