Re: Post high school ideas

[Guest guest]

Don't rule out a sheltered workshop until you've visited one and

checked it out, Jeannette. The one my attends has a supportive

employment and job-coaching service, a greenhouse, ceramics shop, full

kitchen, and computer lab. They have classes in social skillls,

American sign language, hygeine and other lifeskills. They go on field

trips, swimming, bowling and have a Scout troop. loves it.

granny

On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 9:44 PM, <angel2cook@...> wrote:

> I am looking for ideas for post high school. My son is 20 and will be 21

> this summer. I am in Western MAss. He does not qualify for any of the

> programs

> at Holyoke Community College. He needs to move on out of the high school.

> School suggests sheltered workshop!!!!! I know they cannot talk placement

> until

> after the team meeting.IEP is coming up and I am running out of ideas. I am

> talking to the local Music academy and that is a small possibility but no

> promises. I need brain storm ideas and my brain is frying.

> We are in the hill towns and not much is available.

> He needs to work on Independance,lifeskills and mature some more. All of

> these are best done outside of a classroom that is composed of 14-22 year

> olds.

> Peers and real life seem to be the best options to me.

> Jeannette

>

> Meddle not in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and good

> With ketchup!

>

> **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family

> favorites at AOL Food.

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>

>

[Guest guest]

, 46, ds, works at a sheltered workshop. He LOVES it. However, was

raised in an institution and does not have a lot of the social, independent

abilities that our kids who have been raised in families do. I am very

comfortable with him working there.

One of our concerns when moved here to AZ was that his life for the past

20 years had been with the same people in the group home and sheltered workshop

in Wisconsin and we wanted him to have that core group of friends down here. He

does not make friends, but waits for us to tell him what to do. He is on a

bowling league through his work. We also have him on a Special Olympics

baseball team and many of his work mates are on that team. He is doing just

fine.

When we went to observe the work shop Maverick, 17 ds, was with us. OH boy, does

HE want to work there. They showed us all around and there are so many

different areas to work in. stays in one area and pretty much does the

same thing, although we are going to explore a few different things within that

workshop. However, there are others who are MUCH more independent and work all

over the place, even several teams who go in the community. There is a car

dealership who is very supportive both financially and work related to the sp

needs community. There is a team of workers who work at their dealership

detailing cars and stuff. There are office maintenance crews who clean

different office buildings. There are landscape crews, there is a crew that

works with some restaurant setting up banquets. One of their big money makers

is a papershredding business. This is done behind locked doors because they

get a lot of paperwork from local hospitals and banks. The man who runs this

big shredder is blind and does it all by hand/feel. There are a couple of

crews who go to the businesses and get the papers. Inside the workshop there

are two stations set up .. one for workers who can stand, and one for those who

cannot.. where they sort the papers to be shredded. They area all so busy and

enjoy themselves so much.

Much different picture than I had envisioned. is very happy and

comfortable with his little corner where he works and brings home about $50

every 2 weeks. And that's what matters. Mav still has a couple years of HS

left, but if he still wants to work there I'm sure he'll be very happy on one of

the work crews that is more active and challenging. We will look at other

options as well, but ultimately it's his happiness that is important. He also

wants to work at 's and a local bowling alley.

[Guest guest]

Have you checked with your church? One of the things we set up when I had an

inclusion committee at church was not only inclusion in the classroom or church

service area, but work for some of the adults. We had a woman with DS who

worked in the office a couple of days a week.

We also had a man with disabilities who worked there a couple days a week. He

would do some mopping, weeding, and general handyman type of work.

Both got paid for their work, and both loved it.

Both have since moved, lol, and the church misses their involvement bigtime.