Independent Living Skills Like From What You Have
Please answer the question:
From what you have learned about Jeff, Craig, and Maria so far, do you believe each is able to demonstrate an understanding of his or her rights as a person with a disability? Explain.
Respond to student discussion. DO NOT include question with discussion:
(Deb)
I think in their own unique, individual ways, Maria, Jeff, and Craig are able to understand autism spectrum disorder and express their wants, needs, and interests. All three individuals will need continued support from their families, teachers, job coaches, employers, mentors and agency representatives to continue the process of understanding and advocating for their individual rights. Maria had a great self-advocacy experience when she controlled her transition meeting. This was a great, self-advocacy experience for Maria. Maria needs to continue to work on handling schedule changes and letting co-workers know that she may need a break to regain her composure and process a schedule change. As Maria ventures into community college, she will need patience, support, and time to adjust to a new learning environment. Craig is supported in his assisted living situation. In assisted living, Craig’s daily living needs are met and he is being supported in a safe environment. Craig has limited communication skills, so he would need to have a communication system in place so that he could express his wants and needs. Since Craig has communication deficits, his family and support system will need to help him with a deeper understanding of his rights and how to ensure that they are not being violated. Jeff has high cognitive skills, however he may need support to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of certain situations, especially if it is a new situation. Jeff has a job as a plant care specialist and a plan for post-secondary education. All three of these individuals have a plan for their futures and support systems in place. As their personal lives and routines change, they will all need continued support to adapt to those changes. Maria, Jeff, and Craig will need continued support to live their best lives and to ensure that their rights are being adhered to.
Reference:
Wehman, P., Datlow-Smith, M., & Schall, C. (2009). Autism and the transition to adulthood: Success beyond the classroom. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
(ELIZ) An important aspect that the family/caregiver needs to do after transition planning, is that they need to compose legal documents that let others know their child’s lifestyle, financial, and other requirements for their care (Danya International, Inc., 2006). The child, parent/caregiver, and entire team should be involved in order to make sure that all aspects needed for the child’s future is correct and in order. It is important to have someone appointed to care and advocate for Jeff if something were to happen to parents/caregiver, even though he is able to do many things independently he may still need support at some point.
Jeff-
Jeff would be able to advocate for his understanding and rights as a person with a disability. I think it would still be important to have someone available if he needs any assistance with his rights, questions, or frustrations that he may go through. His team should all sit down and work together to get his legal planning, guardianship, will, special needs trust, and financial planning, etc. so that his future and needs can be met no matter what happens in the future.
Craig-
I feel that Craig is going to need a lot of support since he is not able to completely verbalize his needs and wants. Craig has significant needs in all aspects of life skills (Wehman, Smith Datlow, & Schall, 2009). I feel that he would easily be taken advantage of if someone wanted to. Craig needs someone to help him advocate and understand his rights. It would be very important for his family/caregivers to make sure he has a lifestyle plan in place. He will need legal planning, guardianship, a will, special needs trust, and financial planning, etc.
Maria-
Maria would be able to advocate and understand her rights and disability with some support and modeling. She will need some specific planning and instruction to help her learn to advocate her needs, wants, and rights. It will still be important for some supports to be put in place and a lifestyle plan. She will need legal planning, guardianship, a will, special needs trust, and financial planning. Etc.
Reference
Danya, International, Inc. (2009). Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide for Transition to Adulthood. Arlington, VA: Organization for Autism Research, Inc.
Wehman, P., Smith Datlow, M., Schall, C. (2009). Autism & the transition to adulthood: Success beyond the classroom. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
(Sar) Each student has been given supports and opportunities to learn how to express their needs. I think that Jeff, Craig, and Maria are each able to demonstrate an understanding of their rights as a person with a disability to a certain extent. All of the students have support and safeguards in place to help ensure that they will not be taken advantage of or left alone in case of an emergency. Jeff lives in a supervised apartment with 2 roommates and receives 10 hours of assistance per week to help him with independent living skills like money management and household chores. I would assume that his parents are still a wonderful part of his life as well as often as they find suitable. Craig also has two roommates and receives ongoing support from trained staff. Maria lives in a house with housemates (one of which is her best friend).
The students have all received multiple levels of support throughout the end of high school and the beginning of their adult lives, and I believe they have grown in self-awareness and self-management throughout the transition process. I think that ongoing care will be essential to help them continue to learn self-advocacy skills, especially when they require supports in a new environment. I think that because each person has a great support network, someone will step in to help and advocate if Jeff, Craig, or Maria are at risk of having their rights violated. Jeff might need more processing time for new environments or conflict. Craig might not communicate his personal needs in a way that everyone is accustomed to, which might mean that he won’t receive necessary supports in certain situations and environments unless someone is there to support him. Maria has worked hard with her transition team to understand her own strengths and limitations, which will benefit her in many ways. She might be more likely to ask for help and healthily express her negative emotions with others because of this. Living more independently requires greater autonomy, and though all three people have matured and gained multiple skills, they all still require some level of support. “Residential success is often hampered by lack of necessary supports” (Wehman, Smith, & Schall, 2009, p. 235). My hope for each person is that they know enough of their rights as a person with a disability so that they are able to advocate for their individual needs and ask for any accommodations they need. I also hope that they continue to develop self-advocacy skills with the help of trained staff, their parents, and their friends as much as possible.
Wehman, P., Smith, M. D., & Schall, C. (2009). Autism and the transition to adulthood: Success beyond the classroom. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Company.
Liz