Guest guest Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Transportation is certainly a key issue for young adults with disabilities. You might consider having someone from PACE come out and explain Pace and the Paratransit system. I cannot find his number, but Rocky Donahue would probably be who you need to speak to. The Pace number is 847/364-PACE. I think you may be able to reach him at that number. I believe it is DuPage county that has done some additional work on transportation services for the elderly and the disabled. Lake County has also done some work on transportation and State Rep. Kathy Ryg chaired (or perhaps still chairs) a committee on transportation (847/680-5909). I would say that key issues for when the bus stops coming are community employment opportunities, including job carving and developing self-employment opportunities, participation in community volunteer work, additional community based day supports and services to round out the day, that incorporate continued learning, socialization and physical fitness, and transportation. All of these need to be at least partially subsidized by a mix of state and federal dollars. Hope this helps. Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@... Transition Planning I am a member of the Will County Transition Planning Committee. My focus this year is on Transportation and resources for the Parent day at the annual conference, which will be held in March or April. I am on this committee to represent parents, and so I would love your input.If you are at this stage of the game (individuals with special needs from about 12 and up, or planning ahead for that time), what would you like to see presentations on? If you are aware of any transportation that is working in any community, would you send me that info. We aren't going to solve the problem, but would like to come up with some workable alternatives. Thanks for any input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 all good points. basics..home, work, fun/ recreation. How do we get there? DuPage has done a lotm more needs to be done. thanks for all your input. Cindi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 Thank you very much. I will pursue these. It will be helpful to present as many different parental views and requests as possible. I am the only parent in the room with mostly vocational staff from local schools and agency reps. Everyone has a great heart and energy around the issues but we come from a different perspective. One of the comments I made, and I would appreciate anyone's comments in agreement or disagreement, was that I would prefer information and resources be the primary focus. There was discussion of having a "keynote speaker" (3 suggested were young adults who were successful) who would be paid and would be at the beginning of the day for about 45 mins. I said that I would appreciate the speaker during lunch, if at all, but not to take valuable time from the resources and information. Do you feel the same, or am I out in left field on this one (been there often, don't have a problem with it or being told I am!!!!)? I want to represent parents as a whole, so let me know. Transition Planning I am a member of the Will County Transition Planning Committee. My focus this year is on Transportation and resources for the Parent day at the annual conference, which will be held in March or April. I am on this committee to represent parents, and so I would love your input.If you are at this stage of the game (individuals with special needs from about 12 and up, or planning ahead for that time), what would you like to see presentations on? If you are aware of any transportation that is working in any community, would you send me that info. We aren't going to solve the problem, but would like to come up with some workable alternatives. Thanks for any input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 I reread your message regarding a panel of self advocates versus providers and determining how much time to alot to each. . The Arc has taken to an annual Expo where providers set up booths, and have break out sessions at the same time, a good ompliement to each other. The lnger I do this owrk, the more I see the value of self advocates playing a bigger and bigger role .. Often providers tell us what they can offer, but in reality they may ot have the resources to actually provide. Self advocates often tell the story of how they actually got what they want/need. Good luck to you in this work. Cindi Swanson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 Why is the label self-advocates bothering me? Does it bother anyone else? I have been thinking about that terminology and I am wondering if there is another way to talk about people with disabilities who are more vocal about their needs... Any thoughts on this? Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@... Re: Transition Planning I reread your message regarding a panel of self advocates versus providers and determining how much time to alot to each. . The Arc has taken to an annual Expo where providers set up booths, and have break out sessions at the same time, a good ompliement to each other. The lnger I do this owrk, the more I see the value of self advocates playing a bigger and bigger role . Often providers tell us what they can offer, but in reality they may ot have the resources to actually provide. Self advocates often tell the story of how they actually got what they want/need. Good luck to you in this work.Cindi Swanson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 Gloria: I agree completely. If your focus is helping families, then families must come away with practical, useful information they can implement. There is no benefit in churning the matter over or restating the problem or citing the depressing statistics over and over again. Families need to know what to do and how to do it in terms they can understand. They will learn best from others who have been there and done it. You must know who your audience is, what they need/want, and how to give it to them. Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@... Transition Planning I am a member of the Will County Transition Planning Committee. My focus this year is on Transportation and resources for the Parent day at the annual conference, which will be held in March or April. I am on this committee to represent parents, and so I would love your input.If you are at this stage of the game (individuals with special needs from about 12 and up, or planning ahead for that time), what would you like to see presentations on? If you are aware of any transportation that is working in any community, would you send me that info. We aren't going to solve the problem, but would like to come up with some workable alternatives. Thanks for any input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2006 Report Share Posted September 24, 2006 Hey Ellen: It is actually a Self-Advocacy Movement. I'm not sure that it bothers the individuals in the movment. So, I guess I'm wondering why it should bother you? It reminds me of the story that the last Exec of The Arc of the US told about something his son said in the car pool on the way to school. He overheard his son say to his friend, ''That's so developmental...'' referring to the friend's behavior. So whether we change from MR to DD or call people self-advocates because they advocate for themselves or consumers because they consume services, it boils down to semantics. I guess I'm wondering about this, since you asked, but also because HSRI out of Portland is not working on the self-advocacy CFI for Self- Advocates in Illinois. The first phase of this project is to identify what self-advocates want to see discussed as issues on a statewide level and then implement the parameters to set up an effective self-advocacy organization in Illinois. Perhaps one of the items they could work on is what they would like to be called. Just a thought. You may find the logo link to the information in the ISAIL Project (Illinois Self-Advocates in the Lead) and application for employment for people with developmental disabilities & personal assistants on the www.illinoislifespan.org Site and the www.thearcofil.org Site. Mike Kaminsky, Director www.Illinoislifespan.org 800-588-7002 Re: Transition Planning Why is the label self-advocates bothering me? Does it bother anyone else? I have been thinking about that terminology and I am wondering if there is another way to talk about people with disabilities who are more vocal about their needs... Any thoughts on this? Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeld egskb@... Re: Transition Planning I reread your message regarding a panel of self advocates versus providers and determining how much time to alot to each. . The Arc has taken to an annual Expo where providers set up booths, and have break out sessions at the same time, a good ompliement to each other. The lnger I do this owrk, the more I see the value of self advocates playing a bigger and bigger role . Often providers tell us what they can offer, but in reality they may ot have the resources to actually provide. Self advocates often tell the story of how they actually got what they want/need. Good luck to you in this work. Cindi Swanson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2006 Report Share Posted September 24, 2006 I do agree with Ellen, the " self advocate " bothers me as well. And you're right, it is semantics. Jerry Newport, from the ASA board, calls himself a " consumer " . I have no problem with that. But some times, the names we call ourselves and others are important. There was a movement in the 1990s that dismissed calling our kids " autistic " . The thought was we were making the " autism " too important and we should use 'autism' as a modifier to who they are-- my " son with autism " and your " daughter with autism " instead of my " autistic son " and your " autistic daughter " . They are people first, not autism! I know all this because I sat in a meeting where they argued about this--on the national level--for about two hours. Looking back, I think it was a diversion from real issues. So ends your " autism history lesson " for today. We are back to calling our kids " autistic " --I can't after all that. As long as the " self advocates " remember my less able kid, and advocate for him as well, thay can call themselves the " Grande Poobahs " for all I care! Marie > > Hey Ellen: > > It is actually a Self-Advocacy Movement. I'm not sure that it bothers the individuals in the movment. So, I guess I'm wondering why it should bother you? It reminds me of the story that the last Exec of The Arc of the US told about something his son said in the car pool on the way to school. He overheard his son say to his friend, ''That's so developmental...'' referring to the friend's behavior. So whether we change from MR to DD or call people self- advocates because they advocate for themselves or consumers because they consume services, it boils down to semantics. > > I guess I'm wondering about this, since you asked, but also because HSRI out of Portland is not working on the self-advocacy CFI for Self- Advocates in Illinois. The first phase of this project is to identify what self-advocates want to see discussed as issues on a statewide level and then implement the parameters to set up an effective self-advocacy organization in Illinois. Perhaps one of the items they could work on is what they would like to be called. Just a thought. > > You may find the logo link to the information in the ISAIL Project (Illinois Self-Advocates in the Lead) and application for employment for people with developmental disabilities & personal assistants on the www.illinoislifespan.org Site and the www.thearcofil.org Site. > > Mike Kaminsky, Director > www.Illinoislifespan.org > 800-588-7002 > > Re: Transition Planning > > Why is the label self-advocates bothering me? > Does it bother anyone else? > I have been thinking about that terminology and I am wondering if there is another way to talk about people with disabilities who are more vocal about their needs... > Any thoughts on this? > Ellen > Ellen Garber Bronfeld > egskb@... > Re: Transition Planning > > > I reread your message regarding a panel of self advocates versus providers > and determining how much time to alot to each. . The Arc has taken to an > annual Expo where providers set up booths, and have break out sessions at > the same time, a good ompliement to each other. The lnger I do this owrk, > the more I see the value of self advocates playing a bigger and bigger role > . Often providers tell us what they can offer, but in reality they may ot > have the resources to actually provide. Self advocates often tell the story > of how they actually got what they want/need. Good luck to you in this > work. > Cindi Swanson > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2006 Report Share Posted September 24, 2006 Mike: You are right of course about the issue of labels being all about semantics. What bothers me is an advocate is an advocate, whether the advocate is a family member, a direct care or agency employee or the person with a disability. I was wondering why the need to differentiate, since we do not label other advocates, e.g.; parent-advocate, agency-advocate. Perhaps, self-advocates rather like the notion of their advocacy efforts standing out and being defined as THEIRS...But I was also wondering whether self-advocates would rather NOT be separated out from the other advocates... This is why I don't sleep at night These picky little issues are just mind games that give us a break from the real substantive issues, like actual lack of supports and services vis a vis no funding! Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@... Re: Transition PlanningI reread your message regarding a panel of self advocates versus providers and determining how much time to alot to each. . The Arc has taken to an annual Expo where providers set up booths, and have break out sessions at the same time, a good ompliement to each other. The lnger I do this owrk, the more I see the value of self advocates playing a bigger and bigger role . Often providers tell us what they can offer, but in reality they may ot have the resources to actually provide. Self advocates often tell the story of how they actually got what they want/need. Good luck to you in this work.Cindi Swanson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 > I guess I feel stupid that I am not familiar with the Will Conty Fair? Also when and where, etc. Thanks > Gloria: > I agree completely. If your focus is helping families, then families must come away with practical, useful information they can implement. There is no benefit in churning the matter over or restating the problem or citing the depressing statistics over and over again. Families need to know what to do and how to do it in terms they can understand. They will learn best from others who have been there and done it. > You must know who your audience is, what they need/want, and how to give it to them. > Ellen > Ellen Garber Bronfeld > egskb@... > Transition Planning > > > I am a member of the Will County Transition Planning Committee. My > focus this year is on Transportation and resources for the Parent day > at the annual conference, which will be held in March or April. I am > on this committee to represent parents, and so I would love your input. > If you are at this stage of the game (individuals with special needs > from about 12 and up, or planning ahead for that time), what would you > like to see presentations on? If you are aware of any transportation > that is working in any community, would you send me that info. We > aren't going to solve the problem, but would like to come up with some > workable alternatives. Thanks for any input. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Anyone know about the Will County Fair? I don't... Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@... Transition Planning> > > I am a member of the Will County Transition Planning Committee. My > focus this year is on Transportation and resources for the Parent day > at the annual conference, which will be held in March or April. I am > on this committee to represent parents, and so I would love your input.> If you are at this stage of the game (individuals with special needs > from about 12 and up, or planning ahead for that time), what would you > like to see presentations on? If you are aware of any transportation > that is working in any community, would you send me that info. We > aren't going to solve the problem, but would like to come up with some > workable alternatives. Thanks for any input.> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Hi Amy, Welcome to the group. You’re right – there are TONS of resources on the internet regarding transition planning, and it can quickly get overwhelming. Our group has a Files section at IPADDUnite/files/. This link takes you to our table of contents for files that IPADD members have either created themselves or found helpful. Scroll through the contents til you get to Transition Planning – that’s where I’d suggest you start. If you look at the templates for Day or Week at a Glance, that’ll give you a pretty good idea of what your end zone goal is going to be. Then skim through any of the materials uploaded by Meadowlark and you’ll find Illinois State Board of Education materials on transition planning. These can also be very helpful, and your school district should likely be familiar with them as well, which is always good! Ask us any questions you like – most of us are fairly recently through the transition process, or are going through it right now. It’s definitely a process, a journey, but one that does have a definite end date, too. So let us know what you need, we’ll try to help in whatever way we can. Laurie From: Amy Hebel Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 10:02 AM IPADDUnite Subject: transition planning Hello Everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I have a 14 year old daughter and we're starting transition planning or at least I am for her. Anyone have any good resources so I can learn this? I've been going to Google U. and am getting overwhelmed. Thanks, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 I have been only a reader of this group as of late and my 17 yr old son has made it known that I really need to invest myself more in it. He is very anxious about what life will be like for him. How will he work, what will he do when we die and many other ?'s. He attends a therapeutic day school that decided to take a full break of 2 wks for the first time. He needs the routine and is currently falling apart at the seams. Just calmed him down alittle but I have a feeling I will be sleeping with him close by tonight. Ahhh love him dearly and just wish I could make it go away. mom to Shane transition planning Hello Everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I have a 14 year old daughter and we're starting transition planning or at least I am for her. Anyone have any good resources so I can learn this? I've been going to Google U. and am getting overwhelmed. Thanks, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 , Breaks can be such difficult times for our sons/daughters, as well as for those who love (and live) with them. Hopefully he returns to familiar school/life routines on Monday. Remember this break, when you next talk to his school team about transition planning. It’ll give you a really concrete feel for what routines, pacing, supports, etc your son may need once he reaches adulthood. And then you can start to really plan for the future, one day at a time. Take care, Laurie From: Klippert Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 7:40 PM IPADDUnite Subject: Re: transition planning I have been only a reader of this group as of late and my 17 yr old son has made it known that I really need to invest myself more in it. He is very anxious about what life will be like for him. How will he work, what will he do when we die and many other ?'s. He attends a therapeutic day school that decided to take a full break of 2 wks for the first time. He needs the routine and is currently falling apart at the seams. Just calmed him down alittle but I have a feeling I will be sleeping with him close by tonight. Ahhh love him dearly and just wish I could make it go away. mom to Shane transition planning Hello Everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I have a 14 year old daughter and we're starting transition planning or at least I am for her. Anyone have any good resources so I can learn this? I've been going to Google U. and am getting overwhelmed. Thanks, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2012 Report Share Posted January 8, 2012 , Chat with the school folks about volunteering--this is easier to do before transition is over. (Afterward, everyone gets hung about about whether or not that's free work, and whether or not your kid is being exploited--never mind that volunteering can be a stepping-stone to a paying job.) Also, look into what your local SRA offers. Some have a few extra activities when school's not in session. If you have family or friends in the area, consider chatting with them about doing something with your son on a regular routine when school's out--Starbucks every other week, or library, or a walk. Try to talk with him about the short-term questions. Maybe get a calendar just for him to use in his planning. Consider seeing what's out there in your town and others nearby, to create a bit more routine for the slow times. In my town each summer there's a weekly vintage car show downtown. There's a lot of the same cars each week, but my son likes to go and take photos, and stop for a snack. At least one family member or another is always willing to go. -Gail ________________________________ From: Klippert <KlippertC@...> IPADDUnite Sent: Saturday, January 7, 2012 7:40 PM Subject: Re: transition planning  I have been only a reader of this group as of late and my 17 yr old son has made it known that I really need to invest myself more in it. He is very anxious about what life will be like for him. How will he work, what will he do when we die and many other ?'s. He attends a therapeutic day school that decided to take a full break of 2 wks for the first time. He needs the routine and is currently falling apart at the seams. Just calmed him down alittle but I have a feeling I will be sleeping with him close by tonight. Ahhh love him dearly and just wish I could make it go away. mom to Shane transition planning Hello Everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I have a 14 year old daughter and we're starting transition planning or at least I am for her. Anyone have any good resources so I can learn this? I've been going to Google U. and am getting overwhelmed. Thanks, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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