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Exposure to Toxic Chemicals and Learning Disabilities

GEAR is a Parent-to-Parent Network of Information & Support For Parents of Children with Special Needs

Workshops for Parents

Exposure to Toxic Chemicals and Learning Disabilities
Guest Speaker: Evelyn deFrees, Learning Disabilities Association of Maine

We believe that the education, children's health, and developmental and learning disabilities communities can benefit from information about the effects of toxic exposures on children in order to help eliminate those exposures. Why is environmental health so important? Consider the following information:

Twelve million American children or 17% of all Americans under the age of 18 have one or more developmental, learning or behavioral disabilities; About 1.5 million Americans are autistic. In the 1970's, autism was estimated to have affected about 1 in 2,500 to 5,000 children; studies show it occurs today in 1 in 150 to 500 children;
127,000 adults and children in Maine are identified as having learning disabilities; 37% of the children receiving special education services in our public schools have learning or attention disabilities.

While there are several factors that lie behind the large numbers of children with these problems, the National Academy of Sciences has estimated that toxic exposures cause three percent of the incidences and play a role in at least another 25%. Further, we likely know only the tip of the iceberg about the size of the role these toxic exposures play. Staff from LDAME will share information about this important connection and how to get involved in some efforts to reduce toxic exposures in Maine.

Date: Tuesday July 17th, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: WINGS office, 900 Hammond Street

We are a gathering of parents, grandparents and foster parents who have children with special mental health needs who are learning from our own experiences, sharing our knowledge, our pain and our successes with other parents. We use parenting education, some referral services and a lot of emotional support! We offer no guarantees, only hope, sharing, caring and perhaps some helpful suggestions. We have been there; we know how you feel and You Are Not Alone! For more information about this group, please call:

Helen Jones, Regional Parent Representative for
Penobscot and Piscataquis counties
1-800-264-9224 or 564-3361 gearregion3@verizon.net

*For professional staff there is a $10 fee at the door or you may attend free–if you bring a parent!