Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities (IPADD)
What is IPADD?
We’re a Yahoo group formed by Illinois parents who have young adult children with DDs, to connect with other parents, self-advocates, or professionals throughout the state. Ever hear about an adult service or funding stream and wonder ‘Why don’t I know about this?’ Well, we’d like to change that! Let’s share information in an online venue dedicated to our issues. Our focus is creative solutions to day programming, employment, housing, transportation and fun in our home communities, either through existing systems of care or by thinking outside the box. Please join us!
How can you participate?
Join Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities (IPADD) by going to:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/IPADDUnite/ and click on the blue button at the bottom that says “Join This Group”.
Upcoming Events
It’s time again for….Ask the Experts! A chance for you to get your questions answered by guests who are in the know.
How does Ask the Experts work?
IPADD moderators invite guest ‘experts’ based on the group’s interests and need for information about specific topics. Guests agree to be available to IPADD members for a Q&A session that lasts four to five days via our online Yahoo group. During that time, post your question(s) for the guest ‘Expert’ and they respond within 24 hours. It’s that easy!
November 26 – November 29
Topic: Identifying and using your child’s talents & interests to help guide the transition process.
Guest Expert: Dr. Jackie Marquette, the Marquette Group, Louisville, Kentucky.
About Jackie:
The Marquette Group provides consultation, training, planning, organizational development, and policy analysis for agencies and families who want to create “meaningful daily living” and increased capability and independence for individuals with ASD and developmental disabilities. Jackie also provides educational family consultation in adolescent and young adult transition, both ASD and DD.
She has over 20 years of experience as a special educator, school consultant, and has publications in books, journals, and monthly newsletters. Jackie has a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville where she studied how youth with ASD successfully reached independent living. She developed and validated a new assessment tool, the Capability and Independence Scale (CAIS ©). The CAIS measures capability and independent levels in individuals and is a protocol for evaluating needed supports to enhance personal growth outcomes as life planning occurs.
She delivers seminars on her Walking the Path Model©. Her latest book, Becoming Remarkably Able: Walking the Path to Gifts, Interests, and Personal Growth, was published in 2007. Her son, Trent, has autism, is employed at Meijer department stores, has his own art business, Trent’s Studio LLC, and has lived independently for 6 years with “creative supports.”
January 14 – January 17
Topic: Transition Specifics in Illinois
Guest Expert: Sue Walter, Illinois State Board of Education
Transition Coordinator
More information coming soon....