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Cheryl Haggard
04-09-2007, 03:31 PM
NILMDTS is honored to support Special Kids Photography of America.
Please pass this website along to those in need of their services.

http://www.specialkidsphotography.com/index.htm

Special Kids Photography of America (SPKA) began operation in 2002 when it separated from Picture ME Foundation as a "stand alone" program to address the approach to photographic services for children with special needs. The photography program's public "debut" was a photographyworkshop for professional photographers in 2001. Care providers of special children were invited to provide input along with some very special models (children with cerebral palsy) who afforded photographers the actual experience of working with special children. Valuable information for subsequent training was gleaned at this first "Discovery Workshop," sponsored by Epson America, Inc. and Pacific Life Foundation.
In addition to training of photographers, much of SKPA's attention is directed toward policy change in areas where special children could have potential for increased visibility in society, such as photography contests, acting and modeling. We theorize that if people can get used to beholding lovely images of children who have disabilities, they will not be so inclined to turn away when they see these beautiful children in person.
Objectives of Special Kids Photography of America all include some type of photographic involvement:


Training. Training (http://www.specialkidsphotography.com/training.htm) photographers in special techniques to photograph children with special needs

Referrals. Referrals (http://www.specialkidsphotography.com/photographers.htm) of photographers who have had experience with special children

Resources. Resources (http://www.specialkidsphotography.com/resources.htm) that will aid in better understanding children with disabilities, including books and addresses

Exhibits. Photographic exhibits (http://www.specialkidsphotography.com/events.htm) are planned for malls and airports in major cities.

Higher Visibility. Advocacy for increased "visibility" of special children through inclusion of their images in mainstream society

Financial Help to Low Income Families for Photographic Services. Our Smiles for Katie memorial program helps low income families obtain a professional photograph of their special child.

Book Placement. Awareness and sensitivity. Research shows that approximately 20 percent of the population has a disability of some kind. With that in mind, a certain percentage of a photographer's clientele will have a disability. Our main objectives include reaching out to photographers to inform them of the special photographic techniques (http://www.specialkidsphotography.com/tips.htm) that can be employed to photograph special children. One of SKPA's main objectives is to place a Photographing Children with Special Needs in every professional portrait studio.

Kirk Kief
04-09-2007, 08:02 PM
This is a good organization. I've gone through their training several years ago and am certified (well, almost-gotta send in the photos that I keep forgetting to do). Karen is a very sweet, and dedicated lady.

lori anderson
04-12-2007, 01:13 AM
Hhaving several friends with Special needs children, I have been interested in this for quite a while. I just never seem to get to it.
I am going to make it a priority, for them as well as for me.

Lori

Lindzy Foster
04-12-2007, 01:54 PM
This is wonderful....one of my other passions in life is working with mentally and physically challenged children as well as adults...for the past 5 years I have worked at Mid-Step Svcs in the childrens building..."children" from the age of 4 to 25....society is beginning to accept special needs children and adults much more in the last few years than what was seen 20 to 30 years ago but there is still so much ignorance and fear....at my job we go out to eat, go to mall, travel to many places with our kids and we have occasionally had someone get up and leave just so they didnt have to be near us, and a few who have said some very mean things...it angers me so much, i am very protective of all of them and i wish they did not have to be treated that way because they are just like you and me, they have feelings and emotions, they are human and deserve the same respect and dignity as everyone else. Sorry if I'm rambling this just like infant loss is very dear to my heart i have had many dear children that i have taken care of pass away in the last 5 years...
Lindzy

Kristen Morton
04-15-2007, 10:03 PM
Thanks for the info, gals!
I contacted them via email and offered to do what I can here in Nebraska, I got an email back and they were delighted and said that they would get back to me on how to get started. I also work with many special needs children as my full time job as a teacher, so its second nature to me :)