[tri-med] Re: an appt.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jwaite"
> For the upcoming meeting we'll need to ask for/indicate what services/help
> we are looking for that Alex needs.
>
> What do you all suggest we go for?
> And why?

I would suggest that you and Alex write down his goals for the future - 
include everything, even if you think its ridiculous.
What you ask for will depend on what he wants to achieve. eg does he want to 
go college? Its possible if he does - if Paige can do it so can Alex!!! 
Maybe its to get a job - if so what type? Maybe he simply wants to get 
married and move out of home.

They have to be his goals - not yours (or ours - this is happening for me as 
well and I have to be careful not to impose my expectations and goals on 
Alex, but let him set his own - its called being a parent :-)))

Whatever his goals are then you start working out what he needs to achieve 
them. Does he need a scribe/notetaker to go to college? Does he need to 
learn essential living skills? (eg how to develop a budget, write cheques, 
operate a bank account).  Does he need protection to do these things (we 
call them guardians here)? Or does he simply need assistance? Maybe he needs 
to learn basic living skills eg cooking, cleaning etc

Don't forget too the social aspects of life after school - eg dating help or 
even how to make friends out there in the bigger world. (goodness knows I 
know lots of NDA kids that need help with that one)

And when you ask for services - you ask for those things that Alex needs to 
achieve his goals - NOT what fits in with existing programs. This is all 
about Alex achieveing HIS goals - not some administrator deciding how his 
program will operate.

Is that enough to start you thinking?

The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved.
-- Victor Hugo

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (10 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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