Volume 14 Issue 5

Page 6

BLACKHAWK

What is TAP?

The TAP (Transition Alliance Program) is a program committed to serving young people in the community. It is designed to help them move from school to the world of work. The Hinton Community School is involved in the program with other area schools. The TAP program is a joint project of Iowa school districts and the Iowa Department of Education, and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. TAP is designed to assist students with disabilities in transitioning from school from school to adult life. The program provides guidance and training to help students obtain competitive employment and build careers. As a result, TAP youth become more aware of career and community choices and life. This year round program fills gaps for students in becoming productive and contributing citizens.

What are the benefits to the students?

The student will have individual attention from the Employment Specialist to help them achieve employment in the community in a job that matches their interest and abilities. The student will work with support to develop their own personal career plan. This service begins at age 16 so students can move from the school setting to the work setting. The student will have the opportunity to move into education and training with support.

What are the benefits to the school?

The local school district has the benefit of the Employment Specialist. The Employment Specialist has specific training for the job and will assist the local schools with student placements and training. The specialist can do the community activities that tend to be difficult for the teacher because of their classroom duties. This is important for the success of the student in achieving an excellent outcome of employment or more education at the time of graduation.

What does it cost to be part of TAP?

There is NO cost to the student or the schools. TAP is funded by the grant from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation with matching funds provided by Lawton-Bronson, Remsen-Union, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, and Hinton school districts.

If you want more information please contact IVRS office at (712) 255-8871 or Deb Jeffrey at (712) 490-7776.

By: Cale Kracmer

The following article was rewritten from an article by Alisa Schons, DPT, LAT, ATC-Clinic Director, Physiotherapy Associates, 5900 NW 86^th Street, Suite 200 Johnston, IA - (Provided by Mark Wilson)

As spring sports begin, both recreational and competitive athletes are gearing up to slip on their running shoes and get outdoors. Selecting the appropriate shoe for your foot is important in the prevention of chronic, repetitive injury to the soft tissue of your foot, early shin splints, and hip/knee pain.

The first important step in determining the right shoes is knowing your foot type. There are three common types of feet: a High arch foot or rigid foot, a normal foot with appropriate arch height, and a flat foot or floppy foot. To accommodate these types of feet, most shoe companies fabricate three different types of running shoes: cushioned shoes, stability shoes, and motion control shoes. Determining your foot type via your standing posture or gait is important in picking the right shoe. Next, shoes are made of different foam densities that help control your pronation, or flat foot, and provide additional stability. It is important to observe the construction of the heel and midsole to determine how much support they provide. The support and shock absorption in the heel and midsole of shoe are decreased by 40-50% by running wet shoes. If shoes become wet through sweat or rain, it is important to wait 24-36 hours before wearing them again to allow the midsole material to reform.

You should replace your shoes every 400-600 miles, or 6 months, because after 300 miles shoes lose more than 50% of their shock absorption. Shock absorption helps in reducing the stress on the soft tissue including the tendons and ligaments. One suggestion is to switch between two pairs of shoes and work out a different pair of shoes each day to increase midsole lifespan. Examining the midsole of the shoe for excessive wrinkles or compression of the sock liner is helpful in determining shoe life.

Finally, it is always a good choice to purchase your running shoes from a specialty store to ensure proper fit and appropriate selection. Remember to bring your running socks and any orthotics to the store to ensure you get the best fit. You can also consult with a local physical therapist or athletic trainer for appropriate gait analysis or injury consultation to get you ready for an injury free spring season

Track Shoe Selection

TAP?