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This Policy Brief calls attention to the challenges faced by youth and young adults with mental health needs during their transition to adulthood and provides information to help policymakers at the state and local level develop and improve service delivery systems for this population.

New 2010 IACC Strategic Plan Emphasizes Research Infrastructure, Non-Verbal People with ASD and the Full Spectrum from Young Children to Adults

This fund offers financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome who want to enroll in postsecondary programs or take classes that will help them with employment, independent living and life skills. To date, over thirty students have received grants from the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to help cover the costs of pursuing their postsecondary education and enrichment goals.  More information is available at http://www.ndss.org/

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 16, 2010

One of the hardest things about parenting older kids who are on the autism spectrum is recognizing that the issues they're dealing with as teens are very different from the ones they dealt with in elementary school. It's so much easier -- and more comfortable -- for us to think about birthday parties and playground friendships than it is to tackle the prom and dating, isn't it?

 "Suddenly, the question is not simply, 'How do I teach my child this or that?' but a much more complicated 'How do I teach my child not to need me to teach him anymore?'" writes Claire Scovell LaZebnik in Growing Up on the Spectrum: A Guide to Life, Love, and Learning for Teens and Young Adults with Autism and Asperger's.

Calling ALL Youth! Have you had experience in a youth-serving system? (Like Child Welfare, Foster Care, Juvenile Justice, Special Education, etc.) Do you have expertise and experience that others may benefit from? Have you developed training materials or presentations to share with others? Youth MOVE National is looking for YOU to share your voices and experience! We are looking for Youth and Young Adults to serve as Consultants in our newly established Consulting and Technical Assistance Pool. Consultants are paid to provide training, speeches, technical assistance, and more to organizations interested in learning more about youth engagement, empowerment, and youth voice in systems change. If you are interested, please see the attached application and return all required materials to YouthMove@ffcmh.org. Consultant Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and applicants will be notified whether or not they were selected. Applicants may also be contacted to provide more information than was provided in the application. Please feel free to call us with any questions: 202-679-0452. 

We are looking for examples of young people, age 18-30, in Montana who have a developmental disability according to the Montana definition and have creatively organized their supports to: Live in the community (on their own or with family or  friends) and/or Work in the community (including owning their own business) and/or Access inclusive education (high school, college, trade school, community classes) and/or Participate in recreation and leisure activities that are inclusive (that is, alongside people without disabilities) We want examples of supports that have been creatively organized around the person, individualized to their interests and needs.  These supports can be organized and managed by a funded adult agency or family and friends.  We are also looking for examples of creative funding such as blended services and natural supports, use of Social Security Administration work incentives, privately funded services or traded or bartered supports. Selected leaders will have their stories featured on the Montana Transition Listserv and in the annual Emerging Leader Showcase. They will also receive a monetary stipend for their time. To nominate yourself or someone you know as an Emerging Leader, visit the Rural Institute Transition Projects Website for a brief nomination form and a consent form.

Imagine you're a child or an adult with a developmental disability: You just want to live your life, like everyone else. But at some point in your young life—probably at the time of diagnosis—everything changed and people have treated you differently ever since. Most people pay attention to what you cannot do. Few make the effort to see what you can do. And some of what you can do looks different as compared to others, so it's still "wrong" or doesn't count. Throughout your life, you've been surrounded by people trying to "help" you: trying to get you to do things you cannot do—"normal" things—that must be important to them. Your feelings about these things, and your other wants, needs, hopes, and dreams, don't seem to matter much to anyone else. And for as long as you can remember, people have "placed" you in special settings, surrounded by others who also cannot do "normal" things. You're not allowed to have experiences like other people; your parents, teachers, service providers, etc. think you're not ready, not able, not competent. You're also not expected to do what others do, like learning the three Rs, being responsible for yourself, living on your own, having a real job, and more. They also work hard to protect you. So you learn not to expect too much out of life; you learn not to do too much; you learn not to try, because it doesn't make any difference; you learn to be helpless. You've never really had friends—not really, not like other people do—no one to call when you're lonely or when you want to share a secret. You'd like to fall in love and kiss and more, but that will probably never happen. You'd like to have the freedom to do what you want, when you want, how you want, and the freedom to say NO—but that seldom happens. There are so many things you want to do, so many places you want to go, so many people you'd like to know, and so much you want to feel—and you've wanted these things for days, and weeks, and months, and years. You've waited and waited and waited; it's so hard to keep waiting. You really feel angry and you also feel sad. You don't feel very important; you don't feel needed; and you haven't accomplished much in your life—but then no one expects these from you, so maybe you shouldn't expect these things for yourself. All the different people in your life exert a great deal of control over you, and they probably all have good intentions, but...

This month, Dorfman, now 22, will graduate from St. Joseph's University. He's a film major, a former NBC intern, and a paid mentor at the school's Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support.

He's also part of the newest wave of diversity to reach college campuses. As a generation of young adults - the first to be diagnosed with Asperger's as children - comes of age, it is demolishing stereotypes about its condition and prompting universities to respond to its needs.

What: The 2011 National Transition Conference will provide a forum for the development of an action agenda, bring together critical partners in the transition community to exchange innovative ideas and approaches; demonstrate knowledge gained from policy implementation; transition practices; research findings; and promote and facilitate the development of networks and relationships. The 2011 National Transition Conference will bring together: Youth and young adults Family members/advocates/caregivers Educators Vocational rehabilitation professionals Employment and training professionals Researchers State and federal officials Leaders in the transition community When: November 7-9, 2011 More info: Registration will be available online in the summer. Check the conference website at www.transition2011.org for conference news and updates.

Click here to register for this webinar -- $39 What: This webinar is a complete examination of the current technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired to access information on paper using video magnification, a.k.a. CCTVs. It will trace the recent evolution of this technology and the implications for today’s young students, college students, working adults, and seniors. When: Thursday, October 20, 2011 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time Presenter: William J. Bielawski III, Life Enhancement / Job Coach, The Chicago Lighthouse for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired Full Abstract – Including speaker biography and learning points

Click here to register for this webinar -- $39 What: This session is a thorough examination of the current technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired to access electronic information. Most of these individuals can use their computers effectively by using screen magnification software. Those with very low or no vision can use screen reading software. Braille literate folks use Braille translation software, Braille displays, Braille embossers, and Braille graphics products. We will trace the recent evolution of this technology and the implications for today’s young students, college students, working adults, and seniors. When: Wednesday, September 22, 2011 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time Presenter: William J. Bielawski III, Life Enhancement / Job Coach, The Chicago Lighthouse for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired Full Abstract – Including speaker biography and learning points

Click here to register for this webinar -- $39 What: This session is a thorough examination of the current technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired to access electronic information. Most of these individuals can use their computers effectively by using screen magnification software. Those with very low or no vision can use screen reading software. Braille literate folks use Braille translation software, Braille displays, Braille embossers, and Braille graphics products. We will trace the recent evolution of this technology and the implications for today’s young students, college students, working adults, and seniors. When: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time Presenter: William J. Bielawski III, Life Enhancement / Job Coach, The Chicago Lighthouse for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired Full Abstract – Including speaker biography and learning points

Click here to register for this webinar What: The Representational Portfolio was originally developed as a marketing tool for job developers to represent job seekers to employers. Portfolios are also used by youth to introduce themselves at their IEP meetings and to develop self-advocacy skills. During this webinar, you will learn how Portfolios can be an important piece of the health care transition for young adults. Through a Portfolio's concise text and photos, individuals with disabilities can describe the impact of their disability; list current medications and side effects they are experiencing; discuss seizures (what type, how often, etc.); introduce and explain medical equipment; share information about helpful accommodations and supports; and articulate what they want and need from their medical provider. Younger children can use Portfolios to learn to describe their own health care needs at an early age. Presenters will also share links to health care transition resources such as toolkits, web sites, and iPad apps that attendees may wish to explore. When: Tuesday, September 20. 2011 1:00pm - 2:30pm Mountain

Life is full of transitions, and one of the more remarkable ones occurs when we get ready to leave high school and go out in the world as young adults. When the student has a disability, it's especially helpful to plan ahead for that transition. In fact, IDEA requires it.

The Safer Health Care for Kids program is designed for physicians, allied health professionals, administrators, parents, and caregivers, who share a commitment to ensuring a safe health care environment for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

Our mission is to to empower all Children & Young Adults with Chronic Medical Conditions and Disabilities, and their families, to obtain Quality Health Care by building on the unique perspectives of Physician-Parents.

The Children's Clinic mission for the past 60 years has been to provide quality medical care and promote the well-being of infants, children and young adults. The providers at the clinic are excited about opening a second Westend location on June 6, 2011 at 3401 Avenue E. Check out http://www.childrensclinicofbillings.com for more information.

Click here to register for this webinar What: Going to college is both an exciting and scary step for everyone. If you are a young adult who happens to have a disability or chronic health condition, that transition can add a whole other list of things to think about- but it doesn’t mean that you can't have a great experience!  Tune into this episode of Got Transition Radio as hosts Mallory Cyr and Eileen Forlenza offer their insight about what high school students- with and without special health needs- might think about as they begin the college transition process. During the show, they will be asking their listeners to share personal lessons learned as well as taking their comments and questions. Don't miss this chance to hear and share your own adventures with college transition. When: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 1:00 - 1:30pm Mountain

StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying.