Community Health Charities of Florida - August 2011

The diagnosis of a chronic disease or disability is devastating for an adult, and even more so for a child. A child suffering from a chronic illness or disability has to face a number of challenges at school. Sending your child to school eliminates the control and care that you provide to your child and leaves the responsibility to their teachers. There are many questions to consider, such as determining who will help your child get to class or how your child will relate to the other kids. Will they do well academically?  How well does the school staff understand your child’s condition?

Gretchen Voglezang from MommyCast joins us again to host Part 3 of our special Health Matters at Work® podcast series on caring for children with a chronic condition. Gretchen further explores the life perspectives of three mothers of children with chronic conditions. Cathy Kanefsky, representing Autism Speaks, is a mother of twin boys with autism who require special schooling that is not available in many places. Deb Cumbo, representing Muscular Dystrophy Association, talks about her son’s progression from high school to college and the challenges he faces living away from family. Liz Smith, representing the Arthritis Foundation, discusses the issues her daughter faced with teachers who were not well equipped to deal with her physical limitations.

This episode is both impactful and insightful and will help viewers understand how to build a support team that includes teachers, school nurses, principals and other key school staff.

Please click here to watch a free video podcast about their journeys.

About MommyCast

MommyCast.com is a unique online audio company by and for women immersed in the fullness of motherhood and life, “holding the world together, one child at a time.”© MommyCast.com is first and foremost about moms and motherhood. MommyCast’s shows offer great interviews with thoughtful leaders on the subjects of community, health issues, new products for the home, travel, food and nutrition, technology, new music through MommyCast Music Show, education, helpful hints, shortcuts and diversions.

The interviews are then streamed online and later archived on the Mommycast.com Web site. The mission of Mommycast.com is to enrich, engage and empower.  These are experienced, confidant, interesting women who lead very busy lives and MommyCast wants to be there for all their various stages. MommyCast is reaching out to women who are busily seeking all of life’s possibilities, and they are seeking this information from MommyCast daily.  Millions of moms worldwide are entering a new age of boundless possibilities, with one show as voice.  To learn more, please visit www.mommycast.com.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization. Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks brings hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. Autism Speaks also aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to our concerns and take action to address this urgent global health crisis. To learn more or get connected, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.

About Muscular Dystrophy Association

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.

MDA combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and support services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. With national headquarters in Tucson, Arizona, MDA has more than 200 offices across the country, sponsors some 200 hospital-affiliated clinics and supports more than 330 research projects around the world.  MDA supports more research on neuromuscular diseases than any other private-sector organization in the world. MDA scientists are in the forefront of gene therapy research and have uncovered the genetic defects responsible for several forms of muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), childhood spinal muscular atrophy and several other neuromuscular conditions. To learn more or get connected, please visit www.mda.org.

About Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organization that supports the more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions.  Founded in 1948, with headquarters in Atlanta, the Arthritis Foundation has multiple service points located throughout the country. The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis research in the world, funding more than $380 million in research grants since 1948. The foundation helps people take control of arthritis by providing public health education, pursuing public policy and legislation, and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation offers information and tools to help people live a better life with arthritis.  Whether it’s advice from medical experts to specialized arthritis self-management or exercise classes, the Arthritis Foundation has your solution.  For more information, please visit www.arthritis.org.