Oct/Nov/Dec 2018 Issue 76 Parent Support in a Casual Atmosphere: Crafting, Coffee & Chatting! “I love my son with special needs! That said, sometimes the unique parenting challenges I face feel isolating. One of the greatest gifts I have received through Crafting at Children’s Village (and other Parent to Parent activities) is the gift of friendship! That’s because we really can relate to each other. I usually bring some card-making or scrapbooking crafts to do around a large table but anything works! The point is we are together, talking and laughing and meeting new friends! If you don’t have supplies, Parent to Parent has supplies that were donated for you to use. Sometimes I learn new crafting ideas and techniques from my friends. But I go mainly to spend relaxing and creative time with others who really do understand!” ~Lisa “I like to attend the crafting group at Children’s Village because I feel like I’m in my home doing crafts, chatting with and meeting new people. That makes me happy and comfortable.” ~Rocio Craft Day is one of my favorite days at Children’s Village! For seven years crafting has been my safe place. A place where if I could not accomplish anything at home, I could actually finish one small craft project and feel good about myself. It was rare to have those special moments, when my Autistic son was young. While raising two children, and caring for my father-in-law who has severe dementia, knowing that I will get those crafting hours, every chance it’s available, gets me through some dark days. ~Margaret Parent to Parent Connecon Newsleer C R A F T & C H A T
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Oct/Nov/Dec 2018 Issue 76
Parent Support in a Casual Atmosphere:
Crafting, Coffee & Chatting!
“I love my son with special needs! That said, sometimes the unique parenting challenges I face feel isolating. One of the greatest gifts I have received through Crafting at Children’s Village (and other Parent to Parent activities) is the gift of friendship! That’s because we really can relate to each other. I usually bring some card-making or scrapbooking crafts to do around a large table but anything works! The point is we are together, talking and laughing and meeting new friends! If you don’t have supplies, Parent to Parent has supplies that were donated for you to use. Sometimes I learn new crafting ideas and techniques from my friends. But I go mainly to spend relaxing and creative time with others who really do understand!” ~Lisa
“I like to attend the crafting group at Children’s Village because I feel like I’m in my home doing crafts, chatting with and meeting new people. That makes me happy and comfortable.” ~Rocio
Craft Day is one of my favorite days at Children’s Village! For seven years crafting has been my safe place. A place where if I could not accomplish anything at home, I could actually
finish one small craft project and feel good about myself. It was rare to have those special moments, when my Autistic son was young.
While raising two children, and caring for my father-in-law who has severe dementia,
knowing that I will get those crafting hours, every chance it’s available, gets me through some dark days. ~Margaret
Parent to Parent Connection Newsletter
C R A F T & C H A T
A Partnership for Better Communication on
Developmental Disability Issues in Washington State
www.informingfamilies.org
Community Guide & Community Engagement Services
WHAT is it? Community Guide and Community Engagement Services are flexible, individually designed services to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities connect to their local community and reach goals that they set for themselves. A person can have more than one goal, or change goals as they discover more about themselves, meet new people and connect with their community. The goals are typically short-term, lasting 3 months to a year; however, service hours can be renewed at the person’s annual service planning meeting. Services are provided by an individual or agency who is contracted with the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). A provider may not be a parent of the participant or an employee of Aging and Long Term Care Services Administration or DDA. For a listing of providers by county, visit the locator map at: www.informingfamilies.org/locator
WHO is it for? Community Guide services are for individuals enrolled in DDA’s Basic Plus and Core waivers. Community Engagement services are for individuals enrolled in DDA’s Individual and Family Services (IFS) Waiver.
HOW do I request it? If you are currently enrolled in DDA’s Basic Plus, Core, or IFS Waiver, contact your DDA case manager to request services. If you are on DDA’s No Paid Services Caseload, fill out an online request form or call the Service Request & Information Line nearest you. For more information visit: www.dshs.wa.gov/dda/service-and-information-request
TRANSITION TIDBITS TRANSITION TIDBITS
Making Meaningful Connections
Ways Community Guides & Engagement Services have been used:
Pursue creative and educational goals
Access free and low cost resources
Get connected to community classes (cooking, pottery, dance, sign language, exercise, yoga, etc)
Locate housing and/or roomates Learn how to manage finances Explore assistive technologies to increase
communication, independence and con-nection to others.
Connect with people in the community who share similar interests like art, mu-sic, games, sports, etc.
Create an emergency preparedness plan that maximizes connections to neighbors and others in the community
Post-Secondary Education and Vocational Training www.informingfamiles.org
When your child turns 18 they have the option to:
Graduate and continue in the school district’s high school transition program until age 21. This gives them the benefit of a guided transition to adult life, a bridge to adult services, the development of independent living skills, and job skills and training.
Graduate and exit the K-12 system. Some choose to seek post-secondary or vocational training independently (or with help from family). Support from agencies such as DDA & DVR may be limited if you leave high school before age 21. Check with your child’s case manager.
Post-secondary educational and vocational opportunities exist for all adults, regardless of age or ability.
WWW.THINKCOLLEGE.NET is an online resource for students with intellectual disabilities.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) may be able to help you navigate local college offerings.
All colleges have a Disability Coordinator to help you plan for the supports needed.
Washington State Hands & Voices 2950 Newmarket St., Suite 101-124 Bellingham, WA 98226 Phone: 425-268-7087 Fax: 877-289-2796 E-mail: [email protected]
Guide By Your Side Coordinator: Christine Griffin E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 425-268-7087 Fax: 360-715-9970
Washington State Hands & Voices was founded on a concept to provide information and support to family’s raising children who are deaf or hard of hearing, equally across our state. We believe that all children can achieve their
highest potential with encouragement and advocacy from their families. For some of us this journey into deafness and hearing loss is brand new and there is much to learn. As a parent-driven
organization we understand first-hand the value that comes with learning up to date information, having guidance by experienced parents, and making connections with other families and community members regardless of communication mode.
Each year we are able to extend our supports further with the ongoing commitment of our volunteers, state funding partners and donations. We are an organization made up of parents, professionals and community members like you.
“We envision a world where children who are deaf and hard of hearing have
RESOURCES
Healthy Bodies Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
A Parent’s Guide on Puberty
for Children with Disabilities
https://vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/healthybodies/
Boys:
https://vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/healthybodies
/files/HealthyBodies-Boys-web.pdf
Girls:
https://vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/healthybodies
/files/HealthyBodies-Girls-web.pdf
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, BUILDING RESILIENCY
1) Shut down catastrophic thinking, it leaves you unable to
take purposeful action.
2) Identify your family’s strengths and leverage what each
family member does well.
3) Remember positive interactions, at the end of the day, and
why they were important.
4) Encourage positive risks and discuss lessons learned from
failures.
5) Rejuvenate regularly. Laugh. Exercise. Play.
6) Be there for each other when things go right. How you
respond to good news builds better relationships.
7) Allow family members to replicate successes by being
very specific about what you are praising them for.
“You’re such a great athlete” isn’t as satisfying as, “Wow!
The way you sprinted down the middle of the field,
blocked the defense, and kicked the ball to the right side