Chicago Special Parent Magazine 2008

PLANNING (800) 244-4906 www.assistivetechnologies.com Services include vocational assessment; applications training on most computer software and rehabilitation adaptations. Personalized training is provided specific to job expectations and/or learning needs of people with disabilities. Planning for the transition to adulthood tate law requires schools to help children with special needs begin the transition process into adulthood at age 14, but it is an unfunded mandate that leaves most school systems lacking the resources to act, says Mary Anne Ehlert, president and CEO of Protected Tomorrows Inc. Transition, she says, consists of getting government benefits on time, making sure you have guardianship if needed and making the decisions on where your child will work, live and play. “It’s not like our other kids where they are going off to college and we’re keeping our fingers crossed. We have a huge responsibility to make sure this all happens. And it doesn’t happen because we just wish it. You have to have a strategic plan to make this happen,” she says. Here are a few of her tips: ■ Government benefits. When a child reaches 18, they can receive federal FSSI and Medicaid. The common mistakes parents make are not applying immediately, losing out on money, incorrectly answering the questions on the forms and facing disqualification by S CARES Chicago 3333 W. Arthington Suite 139 Chicago (773) 265-3300 TTY (773) 265-3309 www.careschicago.org Nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and self-sufficiency of youths and adults with disabilities and other underserved populations allowing their child to have more than $2,000 in their name and letting them live at home without paying rent, she says. ■ Guardianship. Even though children can stay in school until they are 22, when a child turns 18, parents lose legal authority to attend school meetings, obtain medical records or make financial decisions for them unless they are appointed guardians. ■ Work, play and housing. Consider what your child can do well, not what they can’t do, she says. Consider if a special college program might be the next path or, if they can work, what they can do. Consider where they are going to live. Some parents just assume their child will live with them forever, but Ehlert cautions, “if they wait until their child is 40 or 50, or if (parents) wait until they pass away, is that fair?” Moving into the community allows your child to develop their own friendships while you help ease the transition. Waiting lists are long for funded residential housing, so begin thinking early about housing options. “You can’t accept the status quo, you have to be an advocate forever… You don’t start it at 18, you don’t start it at 14, you are always thinking about it. Get active in organizations,” Ehlert says. “This is life, this is your child’s future. This is pretty serious stuff.” Your Child’s ‘ACHIEVEMENT GAP!’ DR. BILL’S LEARNING CENTERS SPECIALIZED TUTORING, BETTER VALUES! WE CAN HELP WITH 8 and 16 week Tutoring & Educational Rehabilitation Support Courses for Grades 2 through 10 featuring: • Individualized intensive tutoring for children challenged by Attention Deficit, Learning Disorders, Testing anxiety, school referrals. • Comparatively low hourly rates (no financial contract) • Experienced and certified tutors • Culturally relevant resources • Multifaceted instruction for diverse learning styles and motivational counseling Doesn’t have to become an Gap Weekdays 3-8pm Saturday 9-5 At Two Locations Oak Park: 18 W. Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60602 Chicago: 4909 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60651 708-434-0336 773-626-5551 Call Now for Limited Enrollment, call Mark at 708-434-0336 Program offering varies per Treatment Plan with consented Evaluation if required. ChicagoParent.com | Specıal Parent 2008 CHICAGO | 59 http://www.assistivetechnologies.com http://www.careschicago.org http://www.wehmeierportraits.com http://ChicagoParent.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Chicago Special Parent Magazine 2008

Chicago Special Parent Magazine 2008 Contents In Our Shoes Of Mothers and Mission Control A Love Story Keeping the Whole Family Well What Do I Do? Resources God's Special Child Our Kids Inspirations

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