As we build our staff and services, we are offering Daily Living Skills training for children with disabilities ages 7-18. Children will be split into two groups: ages 7-12 and ages 13-18. Children will work on the following skills among others:
- Functional Communication
- Social Skills
- Employability Skills
- Hygiene Skills
- Simple meal and snack preparation
- Recreation and Leisure
- Self-Advocacy
It’s hard to be the best advocate when you just don’t know what you don’t know! Weekly training will help families get the information and support they need to be the best advocate for their child. Training will be offered in person at the YWCA with a virtual option. Each session will include time for questions, sharing experiences and concerns, and resources that are ready to use at home or in the community. Providing information and support around structure and routine, high expectations, functional communication, and skills to increase independence will help families and caregivers lighten their load as the child becomes more aware of their own safety and how to meet their own needs. Weekly training will include topics such as:
- Understanding your role and your rights at the IEP meeting
- IEPs, PTPs, SOPs, Oh my!
- Behavior Management in the home and community
- Community-based Employment
- Outside Agencies such as ADRC, DVR, etc.
- Financial Literacy
- Guardianship and Special Needs Trusts
- What can life look like after high school?
I will work with families in their home, neighborhood, and community to develop a safety plan that enables children to be safe in multiple environments. The plan will be developed collaboratively with those who best know the child’s needs and will be monitored and updated as needed. As an educator, I have seen the struggle for families and community members to fully and safely include children with special needs. When all members of the child’s team are on the same page in different environments, the child will make greater gains and faster progress. This service will be implemented based on each family’s needs. I will be available during the day and evenings to work on the plan and implementation. Individualized plans may include:
- Functional Communication strategies
- Structure and routine supported by visuals
- Sensory tools and materials
- Special locks and sensors for windows and doors
- Collaboration around high expectations for the child and their family members
- Training and technical assistance to make the plan manageable and sustainable
- Bridge the IEP developed by the school team to what that can look like in the home and community