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Illinois Transition Conference Sells Out

By on October 19, 2012 in Post Transition, Special Event, State Agency

The 8th Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference is no longer accepting registrations and is discouraging walk-ins.  The conference brings together professionals, policymakers and families concerned with making the transition from student to adult in Illinois.  The conference  rotates between different parts of the state, and this year it is in St. Charles from October 24 – 26, attracting an overflow of Chicagoland participants.

The Conference targets high school aged students and young adults with disabilities, their family members and teachers, vocational professionals, caregivers, health care professionals, college students pursuing careers in special education and community advocates.  Historically, some attendees receive stipends from the ARC to attend this conference.  Refer to TheNemoNews article here for information on stipends.

Next year’s conference will be held on October 24-25, 2013 at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham, IL.

According to the website the Conference goals include:

  • Family Involvement (e.g., parents and families as partners in planning for and delivering transition services)
  • Student Self-determination (e.g., using transition assessment information and facilitating students’ self-determination to develop individualized plans based on their post-school goals)
  • Interagency Collaboration (e.g., involvement of community businesses, organizations and agencies in all aspects of transition-focused goals)
  • Effective program structures (e.g., efficient and effective delivery of transition-focused education and services to all transition-aged youth)

For more information about the conference contact Tara Dunning, Transition Conference Co-Chair,  217-744-7777 or tara@silcofillinois.org.

 

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CLC College Expo October 18

By on October 11, 2012 in Education, Post Transition, Special Event

Over 150 colleges are expected to attend the College Expo at the College of Lake County in Grayslake on October 18, 2012 from 6pm – 8pm.  High school students and families are invited to attend the Expo.  A list of participating colleges is here.   The event will be in the Physical Education Center (Building 7).

There will be two sessions on Financial Aid during the College Expo.  The first runs from 6:30pm – 7pm and the second from 7:15pm to 7:45pm.

CLC also offers a series of Transfer College Days for students transferring to a four year college.

For more information about the College Expo, call (847) 543-2090.

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Bodies, Boundaries and Sexuality: Parent Training

By on October 10, 2012 in Education, Health, Post Transition, Relationships, Social Life

Bodies, Boundaries and SexualityParents and educators from SEDOL and member districts are invited to attend a training session titled “Bodies, Boundaries and Sexuality:  Teaching Youth with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities”.   The session is on Thursday, October 25, 2012 from 7:00pm-9:00pm.  It will be held in the Gym at Laremont School, 17934 W. Gages Lake.  There is no charge for the program, but pre-registration is required.

 

The session will be conducted by Terri Couwehowen, who is the Clinic Coordinator for the Down Syndrome Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.  She is the author of several books including “Teaching Children with Down syndrome about their Bodies, Boundaries and Sexuality:  A Guide for Parents and Professionals”, “The Girl’s Guide to Growing Up:  Choices and Changes in the Tween Years”, and her newest book “A Boy’s Guide to Growing Up:  Choices and Changes during Puberty”.   She is a Certified Sexuality Educator with the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

Specific areas to be discussed:

  • Reasons sexuality education is critical.
  • Key concepts before transitioning out of school.
  • Roles of parents and professionals.
  • Qualities of a good sexuality education program.
  •  Resources for further education.

This program is sponsored by the SEDOL Transition Program and the Parent Mentor Project.  For more information contact Joy Bux,  jbux@sedol.us, 847-986-1126.

 

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Directions Fair Tonight – D114

By on October 2, 2012 in Education, Post Transition, Special Event

 

Tonight’s  Directions Fair  focuses on post-secondary options for students with special needs.  There will be a Fair in the field house and breakout sessions.  The Directions Fair is from 6:00pm until 8:30pm at Forest View Educational Center, 2121 South Goebbert Rd in Arlington Heights.

The Fair will run continuously with exhibitors from 25+ programs for special needs students.  These programs represent a variety of approaches to post-secondary education and reach for different kinds of students.   Programs  include Life Skills Training, Career Training, Community Colleges and Universities.  A list of exhibitors is here.

Breakout sessions will take place concurrently with the Fair.  The breakout sessions correspond to the four kinds of programs listed above.   Details are shown on the flyer. 

The event is sponsored by the Northwest Council for Educational Success.  For more information contact Lyndsay Janura,  ljanura@barrington220.org, 847-842-3498.   The URL for the event is  http://www.d214.org/directions

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377 Board Initiative in McHenry County

By on September 28, 2012 in Government, Housing, Lifestyle, Post Transition, Recreation, Transportation

About 25 people  attended a Developmental Disability Task Force meeting on September 19 at the Shah Center in McHenry.   They learned about  a county-wide initiative to create a 377 Board to support the unmet needs of the estimated 5200 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.   This initiative would involve a referendum on the Spring 2013 ballot in McHenry County.

Organizers pointed out that less than one fifth of developmentally disabled individuals currently receive services.   Long-term unmet needs include housing, transportation, life skills supervision, and other services.    Housing is of particular concern, mirroring the state shortage of disabled housing.  Currently, many individuals with developmental disabilities must move away from family and social supports in order to find housing at all.  With the aging of parents, their need for assistance is expected to grow.

Concerned individuals are now contacting members of the McHenry County Board to ask them to approve placement of a referendum on the Spring 2013 Ballot.   The deadline to obtain approval for ballot placement is October 16, 2012.

McHenry is not the first county in Illinois to pursue this kind of board.  Champaign County,  Illinois  has a 377 Board that has operated for several years.  The Board Members are listed here.

For more information on the McHenry initiative contact Options and Advocacy, 815-477-4720.

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Respite Care: Train the Trainer in McHenry

By on June 15, 2012 in Education, Lifestyle, Post Transition

Respite care is precious commodity to those of us who care for those needing 24-hour supervision. Often personal networks of family, friends, neighbors and church members are called on to help.   in our gratitude, the matter of training  may not be addressed, sometimes leaving us a bit unsettled.

As part of an initiative to train these volunteer respite providers, McHenry County’s Options and Advocacy is sponsoring a the two day workshop to prepare trainers who can then train additional volunteer trainers.  Schools, senior living facilities, healthcare and other groups are encouraged to attend. Some church communities plan attend in order to train members of their congregation who feel called to give families a little break from time to time.

Training will be provided by staff from Marklund, a Geneva,IL based non-profit using their Respite Education and Support Tools (REST) program

The free workshop will be held on June 19 & 20 from 9am-6pm each day.  For more information contact Options and Advocacy, Karen Rios,  847-477-4720.

 

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Stipends to Attend Conferences Available

By on May 8, 2012 in Other, Post Transition, Special Event

Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families are eligible to apply for funding to attend conferences that pertain to their disabilities.  The Consumer Involvement Program is administered by the ARC of Illinois.

Applicants may receive up to $300 per conference or $500 per family per year. The conference may be in-state or out-of-state.  Other rules apply, and these are clearly stated on the application form.  Find the application here.

These stipends allow those directly affected by a developmental disability to participate in and contribute to discussions of direct interest to them.

 

 

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Venture Crews in Lake County

By on April 26, 2012 in Lifestyle, Other, Post Transition, Social Life

At least two Boy Scout Venture Crews in Lake County have male and female members with special needs.  Venture Crew 273 (http://www.crew273vh.org) is based in Vernon Hills and has an emphasis on outdoor adventures.  For information, follow the link above or contact Steve Cerve, Crew Advisor, stevecerve@comcast.net

Horsefeathers Therapeutic Riding Center also sponsors Venture Crew 333. The Crew meets on Sunday afternoons and has a special interest in horsemanship.   For more information contact Nick Coyne,  or Kristi Horowitz at 847 234– 2411, info@horsefeatherscenter.org.

Boy Scout Venturing is a youth development program for young men and women between 14 and 21.  Individuals with special needs may continue beyond age 21.  Venturing’s purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.

Readers are asked to use the comment section to let others know about any other Venture Crews in the area.

 

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College First Open House on April 4

By on April 2, 2012 in Education, Post Transition

CLC College First Open HouseParents of students who plan to attend the College of Lake County (CLC) while in a SEDOL Transition Program are invited to an Open House on April 4  to learn about the College First Program.  The presentation will be at 2pm in room 111 of the University Center.

The College First program is cosponsored by SEDOL and the College of Lake County (CLC).

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Theology and Disability: ARC Webinar March 29

By on March 21, 2012 in Faith Based, Lifestyle, Post Transition, Social Life

“The Power of Inclusive Spiritual Supports for People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities” is the title of a nation-wide webinar sponsored by The Arc on March 29, 2012. The webinar is open to the public — including clergy, service providers and ARC Chapters.  Registration fees vary.

Noting that “For some…faith communities are a pathway to more inclusive and productive lives…”,  speakers Bill Gaventa and Erik Carter will discuss what the growing body of research shows , how to work with congregations of all traditions, and strategies to encourage engagement, even in residential placements..

For more information contact The Arc, 202-534-3707 or hull@thearc.org

 

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