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The state’s leading autism advocacy organization, Autism New Jersey (formerly COSAC or Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community), encourages all residents to help spread autism awareness during April, National Autism Awareness Month. New Jersey has the nation’s highest prevalence rate, 1 in 94 children, compared to the national rate, 1 in 150. While there is no known cause of or cure for autism, early diagnosis and appropriate intervention are vital to the future development of children and adults on the autism spectrum. Since 1965, Autism New Jersey has been providing advocacy and information for parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and the professionals who support them. Continue reading April is National Autism Awareness Month - Renamed NJ Agency Sheds Light on Awareness

Jill Mayo, M.Ed

The anticipated event  is finally here! Five candles on the birthday cake are lit and blown out, and the criteria for entrance to Kindergarten are met! That’s it? Should there be more??

Absolutely!! Age isn’t the only factor to be considered. The whole child must attend kindergarten. That includes not only adequate intellectual capabilities, but also social maturation and physical and emotional readiness. If a child is not “ready” in any one of these areas, it is our strong belief at St. Andrew’s Nursery School & Kindergarten (a winner in the “Best of South Jersey contest” from 2001 through 2007) that the child should be given the gift of time – another year to develop and mature. For a child who is not developmentally ready, kindergarten can lead to frustration and failure. Childhood should be a journey, not a race. Continue reading St. Andrew’s Nursery School and Kindergarten Voted “Best Nursery School” by The Inquirer & Courier Post Offers Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten Enrichment for 2009

David S. Bross, Esquire

In previous columns, I have offered mostly “nuts and bolts” instructions for filing and succeeding in disability claims. Here is a modest suggestion, which I think, kills two birds with one stone:  LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR. This strengthens your chances of winning when you make a disability claim, while also (it is hoped), helping restore to you some quality of life. 

In a prior column, I exhorted the reader to be fully complaint with her doctor’s instructions and prescriptions. It always amazes me how often this simple advice goes unheeded at the patient’s own peril. For instance:

Continue reading How to Succeed in Your Disability Claim While Saving Your Life

Barbara Winiarski (Photography by Christine Foster)

Burlington County resident Barbara Winiarski is the Executive Director of a nonprofit community-based organization called Helping Other People Evolve (H.O.P.E). According to Barbara, “H.O.P.E. is the best kept secret in the community.”  It is not unusual for her to hear people say, “It took me two years to find out about H.O.PE!”

H.O.P.E. is a support group that assists recently widowed men and women of all ages in redefining themselves as they go through the various stages of grief. This non-denominational organization has been in existence since 1979 and currently operates 11 chapters in six counties throughout Southern New Jersey. Continue reading Outstanding Woman – Barbara Winiarski

Cathy Rendfrey (Photography by Christine Foster)

Cathi Rendfrey is the Director of the Women’s Opportunity Center (WOC) located at the YMCA of Burlington County. The Center made its home at the YMCA in 1991 and serves women in Burlington and Camden Counties.

The WOC is a grant-funded program made possible by the New Jersey Division on Women, Department of Community Affairs that supports displaced homemakers – women who have lost their primary source of income due to divorce, separation, death, disability of a spouse, or a spouse who has been deployed in the military – and who must therefore obtain or upgrade their skills for transition into the paid labor market. WOC provides a broad spectrum of holistic and comprehensive free services that include counseling, support groups, life skills workshops, referrals, education, and training to help these women locate meaningful employment and become self-sufficient.

Continue reading Outstanding Woman – Cathi Rendfrey

Norma Hunter (Photography by Christine Foster)

Norma Hunter has been a United States Coast Guard Auxiliarist for more than 30 years. As an Auxiliarist, Norma is one of thousands of civilian, non-military, volunteer men and women who are dedicated to assisting the U.S. Coast Guard in nearly all phases of recreational boating safety and other interesting missions.

Through the years, Norma has devoted countless hours as a trained instructor, teaching boating safety, navigation, and other nautical skill courses to recreational boaters. She is also a trained Auxiliary Vessel Examiner who conducts free Vessel Safety Checks for owners of recreational boats to ensure that each boater has the required state and federal safety equipment on board and that it is in working order.

Continue reading Outstanding Woman – Norma Hunter

Phyllis Brown (Photography by Christine Foster)

The B-Thrifty II Shop, located on Main Street in Medford, has been in existence for 29 years.  For 25 of those years, the shop has been managed by Volunteer Chairwoman, Phyllis Brown.

The thrift shop is a business of the West Jersey Auxiliary Board. The WJ Auxiliary’s annual pledge includes proceeds from the B-Thrifty II Shop, which are donated to Virtua Health to support the many ongoing projects within Virtua’s four hospitals as well as construction of Virtua’s new hospital campus in Voorhees Township. These donations assist Virtua in carrying out their mission of providing each patient and their family with an outstanding experience and ensuring the highest quality health care for the community. Continue reading Outstanding Woman – Phyllis Brown

Marilyn Kleinberg, Executive Managing Director of eWomenNetwork, South Jersey

With spring comes a sense  of renewal. Our hibernating tendencies are shed along with our extra layers of clothes. 

But what if you’ve been hibernating from yourself? What if the extra layers are your comfort zone? We’ve all been there; it’s nice and warm and familiar. But is it allowing you to grow personally or professionally?  Probably not. So what’s a girl to do? Spring into action, of course!

Continue reading Spring into Action: Adapt, Change, Grow and GLOW

Arnold M. Baskies, MD, FACS

When a 63-year-old female patient was found to have an abnormality on her mammogram, she was referred to Dr. Arnold Baskies. The mammogram revealed an abnormality that doctors said could be breast cancer. The only way to know for sure was to perform a breast biopsy.

“I was so nervous. You never think that something like this could happen to you,” said the patient. “But I wasn’t going to jump to conclusions until I had the biopsy.” Continue reading Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy Offers Women an Alternative to Open Surgery in Diagnosing Breast Cancer

www.mentalhealthamerica.net

To help millions of Americans deal with the stress created by the tough economic times, Mental Health America is recommending strategies to help people feel better and protect their mental health. Continue reading How to Maintain Your Mental Health in Tough Economic Times