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Supported Decision-Making
A User's Guide for People with Disabilities and Their Supporters Promoting Independence as an Alternative to Guardianship in Maine Created by Disability Rights Maine Click here for the guide! How to Help Your Child with Autism Overcome Picky Eating
The Ultimate Guide to Improving Sleep in Autistic Children How to Help Your Child with Autism Cope During and After a Move 20 Tips for Keeping Your Child with Special Needs Safe in Your Home Banishing the Babysitting Blues Travel Tips for Children with Autism Maine Parent Federation has partnered with Maine's Developmental Disabilities Council to pilot a program to provide education, resources, and referrals for parents and families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs around providing Supported Decision Making as an alternative option to full guardianship.
Supported Decision-Making ("SDM") is a method of developing decision-making skills by relying on a team of Supporters to assist an individual in collecting information, processing information, and coming to a reasoned decision. SDM is an alternative to guardianship in that it provides a trusted and formalized environment for individuals who are seeking assistance with decision-making while still promoting self-determination. In contrast to guardianship, SDM is flexible and can change with the needs of an individual to provide more opportunities for independence and autonomy. We have started the first year of this program and are currently seeking more families of youth who are transition age, 8th grade through 11th grade, who would like to participate. Participation in this pilot would require attendance at a one-day training, working closely with employees at Maine Parent Federation to receive support and allow observation of the implementation of the school transition plan, and completion of surveys so we are able to collect data to show how the support and resources have changed outcomes for families and ultimately to help create a program curriculum to implement the second year of our project. In addition to the resources and guidance around Supported Decision Making, Maine Parent Federation will also offer a stipend, meals, and mileage reimbursements to families who participate. Our next training will be held on March 2, 2019 at the University of Maine in Augusta from 10 AM to 3:30 PM. For more information, or if you would like to participate please contact; Carrie Woodcock Maine Parent Federation 800-870-7746 cwoodcock@mpf.org Maine Parent Federation (MPF) is seeking parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs who would like to become a trained Family Support Navigator (FSN) to support other families in your area. The FSN program matches experienced parents with other parents who need help navigating systems such as Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, MaineCare, etc., and helps locate need resources.
As a parent who has been involved with MPF in the past, we are contacting you to see if you would like to use your skills and knowledge to support other Maine families. A Family Support Navigator is a consultant position where MPF contracts with you to provide up to 10 hours of support to a family. We pay $13.50 per hour for direct contact with a family and .44 cents per mile travel reimbursement. This is a flexible opportunity as you set your own hours/schedule. MPF provides on-going supervision and technical assistance. We are in need of Navigators in all areas of the State. MPF is holding a FSN Training on Friday, February 8th from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM in the Augusta area. We offer a $75 stipend for the one-day training, mileage reimbursement, and lunch is provided. If you are selected to attend the training and travel distance is a problem, we may be able to provide overnight accommodations. Please contact Deborah Newcombe at (800) 870-7746 or email: dnewcombe@mpf.org for a job application or to answer any questions. Maine Parent Federation is pleased to collaborate with Maine CITE in offering a webinar to assist families with the knowledge they need to support their students with Assistive Technology (AT) and Accessible Educational Material (AEM) in school, independent living, and work.
Participants will:
Date: Jan 15, 2019 Time: 6 pm Presented by: Kathy Adams and John Brandt - Maine CITE and Ann Long - Maine Parent Federation. To register, please visit the Maine CITE website: https://mainecite.org/training/webinar-family-guide-to-assistive-technology-and-accessible-education-materials/Maine Parent Federation is pleased to collaborate with Maine CITE in offering a webinar to assist families with the knowledge they need to support their students with Assistive Technology (AT) and Accessible Educational Material (AEM) in school, independent living, and work. Participants will:
Date: Jan 15, 2019 Time: 6 pm Presented by: Kathy Adams and John Brandt - Maine CITE and Ann Long - Maine Parent Federation. To register, please visit the Maine CITE website: https://mainecite.org/training/webinar-family-guide-to-assistive-technology-and-accessible-education-materials/ An exciting program for young adults to socialize and have fun!
Young Adult Social Activities Group This group is a social space to meet new people, and integrates theater games, drama play, and coffee/tea house time. It promotes relationship building and fosters skills in social behavior, communication, and social/emotional problem solving. Dates: The group will meet on six Thursday afternoons from 4pm-6pm: Jan 10, 17, 24, 31, and Feb 7 & 14, 2019. Staff: The group will be led by professionals with experience in theater arts and working with individuals of all abilities. The group leader will be Susan Bahadori, Speech and Language Pathologist, and there will be guest artists. Enrollment: Limited to 8 Cost: $180.00, scholarships available Location: Aucocisco School and Learning Center, 126 Spurwink Avenue, Cape Elizabeth, ME Please call or email Aucocisco for more information and to register. Phone (207) 773-7323; Email: info@aucociscoschool.org AUCOCISCO SCHOOL & LEARNING CENTER Click here for the flyer Please take two minutes today to ask your U.S. Senators to complete the work begun by the House and vote to renew Money Follows the Person (MFP) program before this session ends!
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to renew the MFP program for three months. The Senate is NOW considering whether to pass it and send it to the President for his signature. Time is of the essence because Congress is slated to go on recess for the holidays in less than two weeks. The Ask: Email your Senators to ask them to vote YES on the IMPROVE Act (H.R. 7217) through an expedited process known as "the hotline". Our email tool will allow you to send an email directly to their health staff in Washington, D.C., who advise them on their decision-making. The Details: Money Follows the Person is an important program that has helped over 85,000 people with disabilities and chronic conditions voluntarily move from state-run institutions into the community. It expired in 2016, and with state programs now running out of funds this is already having consequences for people with disabilities. In its annual survey of state Medicaid directors, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that half planned to discontinue program services or administrative activities if Congress did not renew the MFP program's funding. By renewing MFP for three months, the IMPROVE Act gives the program a needed bridge into the new Congress in 2019, where we can advocate for a longer renewal. Read ANCOR's letter of support for the program here, and learn more about the expedited "hotline" voting process here (page 3, "The Operation of Unanimous Consent" section). Speak up today so that people with I/DD who want to live in the community can live with their family, friends and peers - just like everyone else Community Connect Maine is initiating a Collaborative Postcard Project sponsored by Maine Developmental Disabilities Council. The project effort is to encourage constituents to contact and introduce themselves to their new Maine state legislators. It is a way to help legislators increase their awareness about the disability community within their districts. Let your legislators hear from you! Several organizations are participating encouraging their members to reach out.
To learn more about the project, the organizations that are participating, download and send your postcard or electronic message visit: CommunityConnectME.Org It's easy! -Kim Fulmer Humphrey, MPH Community Connect Maine Testimonial- “This is an absolutely brilliant and simple way for this group of parents, family members, service providers, DSPs and any person receiving services to reach out to their legislators. I believe this well thought out graphic postcard with guided directions will help all of us bring well deserved awareness and recognition to tell lifelong news of the disability community. Please take a few moments from your busy day to complete. I know your personal message is important and can make a difference.” - Debbie Dionne-- TIME SENSITIVE: On December 11, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote to renew the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program for three months. Act today to ask your U.S. Representative to vote YES to help people with disabilities live in the community!
The Ask: Call your U.S. Representative or email them and ask them to vote YES on the IMPROVE Act (H.R. 7217), which renews the MFP program for three months. Our call tool will give you your U.S. Representative's office number and a script, our email tool will allow you to send an email directly to their health staff in Washington, D.C., who advise them on their decision-making. The Details: Money Follows the Person is an important program that has helped over 75,000 people with disabilities and chronic conditions voluntarily move from state-run institutions into the community. It expired in 2016, and with state programs now running out of funds this is already having consequences for people with disabilities. In its annual survey of state Medicaid directors, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that half planned to discontinue program services or administrative activities if Congress did not renew the MFP program's funding. By renewing MFP for three months, the IMPROVE Act gives the program a needed bridge into the new Congress in 2019, when we can advocate for a longer renewal. Read ANCOR's letter of support for the IMPROVE Act here. Speak up today so that people with I/DD who want to live in the community can live with their family, friends and peers - just like everyone else! |
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