Posting Guidelines -Friendly Reminder

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Hi all,

Since we've had a lot of new members join IPADD recently, seems like a good time

to review posting guidelines and our core IPADD mission. IPADD is unique to the

challenges facing parents and adult children in the phase of life we often refer

to as 'when the bus stops coming'. Here's what we say on our home page:

" Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities - Do you live in

Illinois and have a teen or adult child with a developmental disability --

autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, cognitive impairment, Down Syndrome or

other?

Many of us have worked and continue to work toward better funding for

established services and supports in Illinois. But IN THE MEANTIME, our children

get older and age out of the public school systems. We feel the need to become

more empowered, as families, to forge collaborative ventures with interested

professionals and other families in our local areas…to make positive changes in

our local communities so that our young people are not forced to sit at home

with nothing to do.

The purpose of this group is to give Illinois parents, self-advocates, adult

sibs and others who care about adults with developmental disabilities a

dedicated online venue for networking, advocacy and information-sharing so that

we know what's happening around the state. Our primary focus areas are:

Employment, Volunteering or other Day Programming; Housing Options;

Transportation; Transition; & funding strategies that support these efforts. "

We do welcome families with children of all ages at IPADD, because we know it is

never too early to start learning and planning for the future! Let's all please

remember, though, what our primary focus is (adulthood issues) and when you have

questions or information relating to a young child or to a very specific

treatment or diagnosis, please consider our core mission before posting to

IPADD.

If, on the other hand, you have questions about where to start in imagining a

meaningful day (after school services end) for your child, where to begin in

planning for his or her financial future, or anything else having to do with our

primary focus areas -- then PLEASE, post away your questions or tell us your

situation, and we'll try to help you navigate the winding road which leads to

adulthood. We're all on this journey together.

Thank you all -- for your interest, support and advocacy for all of our children

and families!

Laurie