July 2023 Issue 3 Living, Learning, and Working Independently | |
Image Description: The Center for Exceptional Families logo with 3 hearts: 1 green, 1 orange, and 1 blue heart. The hearts are interconnected and hanging off the letter E in the word Exceptional. | |
If you have used our services, take our survey! | |
It's almost school time again! Be prepared, don't get left behind! | |
Image description: A gif with a cartoon person holding a book running after a bus. The bus has the word Monday written on it. | |
|
LWLI
Live, Work, and Learn Independently
| |
|
TCFEF Parent Mentor and IFTW State Lead, Karen Lutrick would like to schedule a training session with you, your staff, students and/or parents!!
Topic: Working Independently, Here We Come!
The full training is approximately four (4) hours or can be done in 1-4 segments, each segment approximately one (1) hour long.
Contact Karen at 501-398-1667 or karen.lutrick@tcfef.org to schedule a training. Click Here to view the 'Working Independently, Here We Come" checklist.
| |
|
Spilling the TEA,
What is Transitional Employment Assistance?
| |
Here is a video from the Arkansas Developmental Workforce Board that explains transitional employment assistance. Even though this program isn't specifically for teens/adults with disabilities, if you are a teen/adult with a disability who has a child, this program may help you with childcare assistance, transportation, job training, attending school, and even cash assistance. | |
Meet TATE, our Teen Adult Transition Expert (TATE).
TATE will give you important facts, vocabulary, and info related to Living, Learning, and Working Independently. TATE was created by a teen with a disability specifically for this purpose!
| |
Transitional Employment Services (TEA) are services that can help low income parents achieve a more independent life by providing educational or work opportunities plus supports like childcare and transportation assistance and even a cash subsidy! You can apply at a local DHS or apply online by Clicking Here! | |
|
TCFEF Events
Stay up to date with our events by checking out our calendar:
Click Here
Monthly Events
July 8th: 9:30 Sensory Friendly Viewing of Indiana Jones or Elemental at the Malco Towne Theater in Jonesboro. Click Here
August 4th: 9:30 Sensory Friendly Viewing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem at the Malco Towne Theater in Jonesboro. Click Here
July 22nd, Aug 22nd, Sep 23rd - 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM Adults on the Autism Spectrum Meeting at River City Coffee in Little Rock. Click Here for flyer. Click Here for virtual option.
July 9th-30th: Beyond Your Limits Summer Camp for Blind or visually impaired transition aged youth held by World Services for the Blind Arkansas. Click Here
Every Tuesday 6-6:30 CST: Teens who Spell to Communicate are invited to a virtual social meet up. Click Here
Various Dates: Young Adult Social Group (ages 15-25) Community Connections Little Rock, Conway, Russellville. Click Here
Various Dates: Club Connect for young adults with Down Syndrome. Held every 6-8 weeks. Click Here
| |
|
The Independent Futures That Work (IFTW) project is preparing to launch a Learning Management System (LMS) providing various topics on transitioning to independent living, learning, and working. As part of the the project, they would like to include short videos of individuals from each Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) participating in the project. To be considered as a nominee for the videos, we ask that the student be in the process of transitioning from high school to independent living, learning, or working.
Click Here to download the nomination form. Submit it to:
transition@alabamaparentcenter.com
Thanks for your consideration and participation in this effort. Please share this information and nomination form with others in your network. Let’s represent Arkansas!
| |
Independent Futures That Work | |
Image Description: Logo with the title "Independent Futures that Work. Live. Work. Learn." Logo is in blue and green. There is a person in a wheelchair, a person with a backpack on, and a person with a walking cane on a path with 3 arrows pointing in different directions. | |
To expand the goal of reaching teens and young adults, TCFEF has partnered with The Independent Futures That Work Project. IFTW is a multi-state program with a mission to work together with families, schools, and other organizations to help teens and adults with disabilities plan their futures! Click the link below to learn more and connect with IFTW on their website and social media sites! | |
|
Webinars!
Check out different informative webinars about transition, supported decision making, puberty, navigating sex education, and much more!
Click Here
| |
|
July is Disability Pride Month!
Do you want to celebrate Disability Pride Month? Want to know when it started, the colors of the flag, and more? Click Here
Want to be a better ally to people with disabilities? Learn more in the video from self-advocate Emily Ladau.
| |
|
Parent Mentor Loreena Hegenbart had the wonderful opportunity to present information about self advocacy to teens with disabilities in Batesville during a summer program hosted by Meyers Davis on June 13th.
To learn more about Meyers Davis and what they can do for you,
Click Here
| |
Each newsletter, we will highlight organizations that are part of the Arkansas advisory committee for Independent Futures That Work. These organizations offer different services to teen and adults with disabilites and their families to help with the transtion to adulthood. | |
Arkansas Support Network (ASN) provides services from birth to adulthood for people with disabilities and their families in Springdale, Fort Smith, Camden, and Jonesboro. These services include personal care, supported living, vocational assistance, Autism resources, family support, educational help, and advocacy services. Click Here to go to their website to learn more! | |
Self-Care for People with Disabilities | |
National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) Resource
Self-care is taking action to take care of your health. It can be physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, sexual, and many other kinds of wellness. Click Here to check out a handy guide on different ways you can practice self-care! Click Here for a video on how to prepare to exercise! Check out more resources below!
| |
Image description: A gif with a spinning thinking emoji | |
To see more state and national resources for living, learning, and working independently, click below. The button will take you to the Resources for Teens and Young Adults tab on The Center for Exceptional Familes' website! | | | | |
