Re: Re: Autism Needs Survey - Transition planning

February 20, 2010

I think has a great idea...I can explore this with JJ Hanley and see if

jjslist is adaptable in this way...also...I can explore this with Laurie and

Marie with as an advisor to see if IPADDU is adaptable. I hate to see yet

another vehicle for communication developing which will add yet another huge

slew of emails out there...I also think that, though IPADDU might be a perfect

place to do this, we might need a fourth moderator to set up and manage

this...perhaps would be willing...unless we keep it simpler...maybe just an

every 3-6 month feature on IPADDU when we ask everyone to share their creative

strategies for post-transition vocational, social, recreational, housing...

And then, those who are interested can contact the innovators and creators to

learn more about how to replicate the model and/or, the best innovations may

result in an " Ask the Expert " feature on IPADDU.

For example, in reference to the Our Place of New Trier Township program, which

mentions, I did not create this program, but my son Noah is participating

in it...we could have those families who created the program, explain why they

created it, how they created it and what has been the result of their

creation...again...an " Ask the Expert " segment...

Our Place is not exclusively for those with autism...and now, you will get my

special bias...I believe and have always believed that cross categorical

programs produce better results for our loved ones. The Our Place program has a

pretty wide mix of individuals, many of whom have known each other from school

and the neighborhood. It seems to be working out quite well.

There are work initiatives like the Perk Center Cafe through Great Potentials

(they are now working on a bid/proposal for a second job site) and We Grow

Dreams...we could have those folks on IPADDU, describing, explaining and

mentoring...

My concluding thoughts...we cannot wait for someone to do this for us...most of

the great stuff out there has been via family initiatives...even the workshops

and agencies that have been around 40, and 50 years, most were founded by

families.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: Autism Needs Survey - Transition planning

Something we do in D214 is have a meeting every month of the parents of the

kids in the transition house program and, I think we're going to include recent

" grad's " parents too. Ideas, networking, etc.

As I learned this week, the New Trier area has several parent groups formed

around transition goals - employment, activities, housing, whatever. Ellen can

fill you in.

But my point with these examples is that, especially with the uniqueness of

autism, I think we could use a regionalized craigslist-type networking site so

we can search each other's posts for similar interests, transition activities,

and (now, but especially post-transition) social therapy, recreation, housing

and employment development efforts.

I realize for most general DD categories the groups of parents that start up a

project or program do it within their district or suburb, etc. But for autism, I

think we need wider areas to " cast the net " , yet not so wide as IPADDU as I been

finding over the years (the potential matched interests always seem to be in

Aurora or Midlothian or even downstate).

A few of you have been " accosted " by my efforts to do this with your direct

e-mail following your posting something here. It's always nice to make those

contacts, of course, but it's not very efficient for doing productive

networking.

This site could do this if the Member's area was expanded with profiles,

regionalized (e.g. " West " would get W, SW & NW; NW would get W, NW and N, etc.),

and added a section for searchable posts -- and if we all filled it in. But I'd

like to know if any existing sites have a structure even more adaptable (and are

willing to consider). I envision something like a cross between craiglist,

LifeMyWay, and autism-pdd/forum.

Okay, now shoot me down.

>

> I can so empathize with you! My son's transition IEP is in 2 months.

Meantime, I'm " shopping " for a good program for him in Lake Co. I guess deep

down I've held out hope that at some point during transition, he will stumble

upon a good fit for a job opportunity or that something will fall in our laps.

February 20, 2010

sounds like a fantastic idea ! I like the idea about parents meeting

monthly too from the transition house, I will definitely keep this in mind and

maybe my district already has this.

H.

PS: Autism is unique, isn't it?

Re: Autism Needs Survey - Transition planning

Something we do in D214 is have a meeting every month of the parents of the kids

n the transition house program and, I think we're going to include recent

grad's " parents too. Ideas, networking, etc.

As I learned this week, the New Trier area has several parent groups formed

round transition goals - employment, activities, housing, whatever. Ellen can

ill you in.

But my point with these examples is that, especially with the uniqueness of

utism, I think we could use a regionalized craigslist-type networking site so

e can search each other's posts for similar interests, transition activities,

nd (now, but especially post-transition) social therapy, recreation, housing

nd employment development efforts.

I realize for most general DD categories the groups of parents that start up a

roject or program do it within their district or suburb, etc. But for autism,

think we need wider areas to " cast the net " , yet not so wide as IPADDU as I

een finding over the years (the potential matched interests always seem to be

n Aurora or Midlothian or even downstate).

A few of you have been " accosted " by my efforts to do this with your direct

-mail following your posting something here. It's always nice to make those

ontacts, of course, but it's not very efficient for doing productive

etworking.

This site could do this if the Member's area was expanded with profiles,

egionalized (e.g. " West " would get W, SW & NW; NW would get W, NW and N, etc.),

nd added a section for searchable posts -- and if we all filled it in. But I'd

ike to know if any existing sites have a structure even more adaptable (and are

illing to consider). I envision something like a cross between craiglist,

ifeMyWay, and autism-pdd/forum.

Okay, now shoot me down.

I can so empathize with you! My son's transition IEP is in 2 months.

eantime, I'm " shopping " for a good program for him in Lake Co. I guess deep

own I've held out hope that at some point during transition, he will stumble

pon a good fit for a job opportunity or that something will fall in our laps.

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February 20, 2010