“There are no guarantees in life, except that everyone faces struggles. This is how we learn (and grow). Some face struggles from the moment they are born. They are the most special of all people, requiring the most care and compassion and reminding us that love is the sole purpose of life.”– Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
These are our Hidden Angels – teaching all of us life’s most valuable lessons.
Miami Lakes Therapy Center
Miami Lakes Therapy Center
Miami Lakes, Florida
2010
The Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation announces donation of a Multi Sensory Facility to United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama 2 November 2010 – The Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation (CDHAF) is pleased to announce it will be supporting United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham in the establishment of a Multi Sensory Environment (MSE). CDHAF will design, produce and install the equipment required for the MSE as well as train the UCP staff. CDHAF has funded and built over 30 Multi Sensory Environments throughout North America which are playing a key role in enriching the lives of over 4000 individuals with special needs.
“We are extremely happy to be able to contribute to the excellent support and programs that United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham brings to our community.” commented Sandra Fornes, Executive Director of the Foundation. “From the first time we visited the organization we hoped that one day we would be able to provide a Multi Sensory Environment to help benefit the people they support.”
Dr. Gary Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham, commented, “We are very excited about receiving this funding for a Multi Sensory Facility. It will provide a unique therapeutic environment for children and adults with various disabilities including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, and head injury. It will also help us establish a partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham to begin researching the use of a multi sensory facility in providing therapeutic services to children and adults with disabilities.
The Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation
The Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation (CDHAF) is a nonprofit, charitable organization that is focused on creating a healthier, integrated future for persons with cognitive and physical impairments and their families by using techniques that improve social awareness and quality of life. CDHAF’s efforts include the design, development and implementation of Multi Sensory Environments (MSE) which create recreational, educational and therapeutic opportunities. The Foundation is also focused on education related to therapy, recreation, self determination and inclusion of special needs populations. To learn more about the CDHAF mission, visit their website at www.cdhaf.org
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham (founded in 1948) provides innovative services connecting people with disabilities to their communities and empowering individuals to live full and meaningful lives. Today they provide quality programs and services for over 3,600 infants, children and adults in Birmingham and the surrounding 10 counties. They are privately and publicly funded non-profit organization. www.ucpbham.com
For more information please contact:
Sandra Fornes, Executive Director
Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation
(205) 313-9168
sfornes@cdhaf.org
The Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation hosts the 8th Annual International Conference on Multi Sensory Environments
September 27, 2010, Birmingham, Alabama The 8th Annual ISNA Conference on Multi Sensory Environments (MSE) will take place in Birmingham, Alabama at the Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center, October 1-3, 2010. Hosted by the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation (CDHAF), this is the first time this groundbreaking conference, with presentations by more than 35 international MSE researchers and practitioners devoted to enriching the lives of individuals with Alzheimer’s and developmental disabilities such as Autism, and Cerebral Palsy will be held in the USA.
Sandra Fornes, Executive Director of CDHAF commented “We are pleased to have this opportunity to provide this resource to the community of professionals, practitioners, caregivers, parents and individuals with special needs. Educational forums such as this one are a compliment to our donations of facilities which to date have enriched the lives of over 4,000 individuals.”
The topics of this year’s MSE conference will include how multi sensory stimulation that is produced in sufficient frequency, intensity, and duration increases brain arousal leading to a more organized brain that permits increased functional activity and learning – a phenomenon related to brain plasticity.
There will be a number of distinguished speakers including Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor who is a Harvard-trained neuro-anatomist. At age 37, Dr. Taylor experienced a rare form of stroke, and chronicled this experience in her recent New York bestselling book “My Stroke of Insight, A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey”. Dr. Taylor has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people.
Other distinguished speakers will include David Dobbs, foremost expert on epigenetics and author of “the Orchid Hypothesis”; Ad Verheul, co-founder of the snoezelen concept and author of “Snoezelen Homemade”; Gillian Hotz, Ph.D., Miami Jackson Pediatric Brain Trauma Center; Christopher Giza, M.D., University of UCLA and senior researcher around enriched environments, neurology and brain plasticity; Jason Staal, Ph.D., a director of Beth Israel Medical Center’s Snoezelen Behavior Therapy Research program and professor of psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Paul Pagliano, author of “Multisensory Environments”, “Using a Multisensory Environment” and Professor at James Cook University (Australia); Krista Mertens, Ph.D., a distinguished International professor in MSE and rehabilitation; Lesley Collier, Ph.D., an expert in using MSE with people with severe Dementia; Kim Ward, Ph.D. an expert in MSE and Autism; Linda Messbauer, a pioneer in MSE and professional MSE trainer; and many more exciting speakers discussing the benefits of MSE for people with emotional and intellectual challenges.
About the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation (CDHAF)
The Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation’s mission is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities through the use of Multi Sensory Environments. To date the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation has funded and built 30 Multi Sensory Environments enriching the lives of over 4000 individuals throughout North America.
For more information about the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation please call (305) 458-9335 or email sfornes@cdhaf.org or visit us on the web at www.cdhaf.org.
About Multi Sensory Environments (MSE)
A Multi Sensory Environment is a dedicated space or room where sensory stimulation can be controlled (intensified or reduced), presented in isolation or combination, packaged for active or passive interaction, and matched to fit the perceived motivation, interests, leisure, relaxation, therapeutic and/or educational needs of the user. Multi Sensory Environments are designed with two goals in mind: to promote intellectual activity and to encourage relaxation.
To learn more about Multi Sensory Environments please go to the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q37rftjGb0o.
About International Snoezelen Association (ISNA)
The International Snoezelen Association (ISNA) has been organizing this conference around the world since its inception in 2001. ISNA is headquartered in Denmark and fosters practice and research around the use of Multi Sensory Environments in education, recreation and treatment related to conditions such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Alzheimer’s. Last year, when held in Denmark, over 400 participants from around the world attended this conference.
Contact:
Sandra Fornes
Executive Director, Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation
P.O. Box 977, Gadsden, AL 35902
Phone: 205-313-9168
Cell: 305-458-9335
sfornes@cdhaf.org
George Canyon To Perform At Multi Sensory Environment Conference
On September 30th and October 1st George Canyon will be giving an intimate performance as part of the 8th Annual Conference on Multi Sensory Environments. Canyon who placed 2nd in the second season of USA Network’s popular “Nashville Star” has sold over a quarter of a million albums and has won multiple awards for his music including two prestigious Juno Awards in Canada (Canada’s version of the Grammy Awards).
In 2008 Canyon was given a humanitarian award from the Canadian Country Music Association for his charitable works. He is familiar and sensitive to the needs of special individuals, “They are wonderful human beings who are so deserving of the community’s kindness, they also teach us enlightening lessons all the time.”
His first performance will be a private performance for adults and children at the Birmingham United Cerebral Palsy Centre on September 30th at 11:00am. The second performance will be a part of the special dinner at the Birmingham Museum Of Art on October 1st at 8:00pm. George is deeply honoured to be a part of this incredible event and is more than happy to help bring a smile to the people attending.
The 8th Annual Conference on Multi Sensory Environments (MSE) will take place in Birmingham, Alabama, October 1-3, 2010. Hosted by the Hidden Angel Foundation, this is the first time this international groundbreaking symposium of more than 35 MSE researchers, practitioners, and experts from around the world will be held in the USA.
The theme of this year’s MSE conference will center on how enriched environments affect the brain and brain plasticity. There will be a number of distinguished speakers that will discuss cutting-edge topics around MSE along with progressions being made in that field. Check out George’s media kit to hear his album and get more info on his career, http://georgecanyon.com/media.html
For More Information:
Anya Wilson
Anya Wilson Promotion & Publicity
416-977-7704
anya@anyawilson.ca
The Hidden Angel Foundation brings Country Music Artist George Canyon to Give a Special Performance at United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama (September 26, 2010) Country Music Artist George Canyon will give a special performance for program participants at United Cerebral Palsy of Greater (UCP) Birmingham on Thursday, September 30 at 11 a.m. The performance will be held at UCP’s LINCPoint facility located at 101 Oslo Circle. This performance is made possible by the Hidden Angel Foundation who is hosting the 8th Annual International Conference on Multi Sensory Environments.
Canyon who placed 2nd in the second season of USA Network’s popular “Nashville Star” has sold over a quarter of a million albums and has won multiple awards for his music including two prestigious Juno Awards in Canada (Canada’s version of the Grammy Awards). In 2008 Canyon was given a humanitarian award from the Canadian Country Music Association for his charitable works.
Canyon will be in Birmingham as part of the 8th Annual Conference on Multi Sensory Environments and will perform again as part of the special dinner at the Birmingham Museum of Art on October 1st at 8:00pm. The 8th Annual Conference on Multi Sensory Environments (MSE) will take place in from October 1-3, 2010. Hosted by the Hidden Angel Foundation, this is the first time this international groundbreaking symposium of more than 35 MSE researchers, practitioners, and experts from around the world will be held in the USA.
Canyon’s performance will include songs from his newest album, What I Do. More information on George, his career and his latest album can be found online at http://georgecanyon.com/media.html.
The Hidden Foundation mission is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities through the use of Multi Sensory Environments. To date The Hidden Angel Foundation has funded and built 30 Multi Sensory Environments enriching the lives of over 4000 individuals throughout North America.
For more information about the Hidden Angel Foundation please call (305) 458-9335 or visit us on the web at www.cdhaf.org.
Scarborough Village school celebrates multi-sensory room
Scarborough’s first multi-sensory learning environment is to be unveiled this Saturday, Sept. 25, bringing new learning opportunities to the physically and developmentally disabled students at Scarborough Village Alternative Public School.
Coinciding with the school’s annual fun fair, the official launch of the new learning environment will demonstrate state of the art sensory equipment designed to stimulate students at the school with sensory difficulties.
Principal Maria Lo Bianco tried to explain the new room, but said is was, “something you really need to experience to get a better understanding of.”
The room, one of only three in Toronto schools, houses equipment to stimulate senses that particular students have trouble with.
For example, a student with hearing problems can listen to music through a machine that translates the beat into a vibrating platform. Other students with low vision can work on a station that coordinates tactile stimulation with changing coloured lights or work with an infinity light, which Lo Bianco said “looks like it goes on for ever and ever and they can manipulate it. It’s good for stimulating vision.”
The hope is that by stimulating senses that are underdeveloped, students will be able to improve in those areas.
There is therapeutic value, but it also provides a confidence boost for students that rely heavily on others in many situations.
“They really can’t control their environment. We take it for granted, where they cannot. This gives them that opportunity, which they find really rewarding,” said Lo Bianco.
The room was technically completed last spring, so the official opening of the space is intended to showcase its use and thank those who helped pay the $20,000 construction price tag.
With only about 200 students, Scarborough Village wouldn’t have such a progressive opportunity without external financial support.
The Toronto District School Board did contribute, but proceeds from last year’s fun fair as well as generous donations from Schaefer Family of Toronto and the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation helped with funding.
The entire community is invited to the school, at 15 Luella St., to take a look at the new room at 10:30 a.m., before the fun fair begins, running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The fair will include lots of games, activities, silent auctions, raffles, food and a steel pan band from a neighbouring church. Proceeds will be going toward upgrading technological equipment in the school.
Source: http://www.insidetoronto.com
Extreme Makeover Home Edition
Upcoming Facilities
The Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation is pleased to announce recently completed facilities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Milwaukee Center for Independence and in Rockville, Maryland at TLC – The Treatment and Learning Center. View our list of already completed rooms.
Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation awarded Life Without Limits Award
The Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation was honored as the Winner “Life Without Limits Award” as Outstanding Program Partner in 2012. Sponsored by United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham, CDHAF was honored February 9th at a celebration that took place in Birmingham, Alabama.
Anne Grady Center
Anne Grady Center
Holland, OH USA
2009
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