so much information

[Guest guest]

The transition system in Idaho has the school and the lead agency, that

would be our PAS Agency in Illinois, work together during transition..18-21.

During that time families with the support of the school transition people

and the lead agency do the paperwork and prepare the family and student for

post transition. That means the medicaid waiver that allows for what Idaho

calls the ' Family Group Home. " The total medicaid waiver is about $45,

000. The family recieves $1500 per month to help maintain the home for the

adult with a disability. Before getting designated the home goes through

some safety inspections, makes sure the proper smoke/fire alarms are

installed. The famly members have to get first aid certification. Further

the medicaid package pays for job coach who also transports the person to

and from work. ON not working days the individula can go to a day program.

The parebnts I know had goals that included using the internet safely. That

means there are computers at the dayprogram. That seemed to be a seamless

transition.

Here in Illinois we are told there is nothing for your student when he is

done. Every pas agency and Social Security person does things differently.

If there were a real road map to follow everyone would be sharing that. Now

about all we can share is the roadblocks and how we managed those

roadblocks. Sharing information is difficult because what was solid two

years ago may be not such solid information today.

People like Sherry Schnieder study the rules and regs

The professionals study this and have tons of experience and the often

differ on what is the right way to go with certain things.

There are dozens of people on IPADD who volunteer on local and state

committees, councils etc to help make this state better for the greater

good.