Free Screening of Intelligent Lives
with Filmmaker Dan Habib Screening Location: University of Maine, Jenness Hall, Soderburg Auditorium 41 Flagstaff Road, Orono, ME 04473 Date and Time: Thursday – April 4, 2019, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Intelligent Lives stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities—Micah, Naieer, and Naomie—who challenge perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college, and the workforce. This screening is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is kindly requested. You may register online through Eventbrite or our Facebook event. For more information; to RSVP by phone or email; or to request a reasonable accommodation; please contact Ann Zielinski at 207.581.1084 or email [email protected]. Sponsored by the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies April 6, 2019
10:00 am Movie Event Dumbo Sponsored by: The Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club is sponsoring a movie event in support of families whose children with autism live in the Lewiston/Auburn area. The movie will be closed to the general public and will start at 10:00 am. You may arrive by 9:30 am. Reserved seating is required. Each child will receive a popcorn and drink. This event is FREE! Place: Flagship Cinema 730 Center Street Auburn, ME RSVP by 4/3/19 Phone: 1-800-273-5200 Fax: 207-377-9434 Email: [email protected] Special thanks to John F. Murphy Homes for financial sponsorship! Click here for the event flyer. You are invited to a private screening
Extraordinary People A New Documentary About Adults with Autism & Employment Orono Screening: Tuesday, April 2 University of Maine Orono Donald P. Corbett Hall, Room 115 6:30 pm viewing / 7:15 pm panel discussion Click here for the Orono flyer Biddeford Screening: Wednesday, April 10 UNE Biddeford Harold Alfond Forum, Room 283 6:30 pm viewing / 7:15 pm panel discussion Click here for the Biddeford flyer Autism Society of Maine in collaboration with the Maine Autism Institute for Education and Research invites you to a private screening of a new documentary film and panel discussion around innovative solutions to the unemployment crisis impacting adults with autism and disabilities. The 30‐minute film follows the stories of six individuals across the autism spectrum who tap into individual strengths and skills to find success working at a special purpose business called Extraordinary Ventures. “They’ve been told they can’t do it. Look at them now!” While a job can be a vital source of pride, self‐esteem and confidence, opportunities for this population are scarce. It is incumbent on us all—individuals, families, communities, employers‐‐ to become more accepting and open to new ideas. The film explores ways to create businesses and meaningful employment around what the people are good at and not what they can’t do. A panel discussion will follow. Forwarded Action Alert – Maine Disability Alerts – Public Hearing tomorrow, 3/5 at 1:00pm, regarding portions of the Biennial Budget that affect people with intellectual/developmental disabilities – including funding for slots on the waitlist
Dear Friends, Tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, 3/5/2019, starting at 1 pm) the Appropriations & Financial Affairs and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committees will have a joint public hearing to go over the portions of the budget proposal that deal with: (i) Substance Abuse and Adult Mental Health, (ii) adults w Developmental Disabilities, (iii) Brain Injury, and (iv) Children's Services. This portion of the budget includes waitlist funding. There are currently about 1600 people on the Section 21 waitlist, (about 600 people in the Priority 2 section of the Section 21 waitlist, and about 1000 people in the Priority 3 section of the Section 21 waitlist), 25 people on the Section 29 waitlist, 30 people on the Section 18 (Traumatic Brain Injury) waitlist, and 25 people on the Section 20 (Other Related Conditions) waitlist. The budget proposes to fund up to 300 people off the Section 21 waitlist. The budget does not propose any funding for anyone else off any of the waitlists. Please consider weighing in by testifying in person or submitting written comments. Your message can be simple:
If you choose to testify in person helpful information is provided below:
If you're unable to attend the hearing, or even if you are, you can email members of the committees with your thoughts. Contacting members of the committees is simple – their email address are below, and your message can be simple – simply tell your story and the importance of sufficient funding for services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, including fully funding the waitlists. Appropriations & Financial Affairs Committee Members: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] HHS Committee Members: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Thank you for taking action and raising your voice Call 1-800-264-9224 to Register Today!
Supported Decision Making Presented by Nell Brimmer, Managing Attorney, Disability Rights Maine. Wednesday, March 20, 2019 5:30 pm-7:30 pm Dana Conference Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland Are you considering Guardianship of your youth? Then this is need to know information! Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is a series of relationships, practices, arrangements, and agreements designed to assist an individual with a disability to make and communicate to others decisions about their life. In July 2019, Maine’s new Probate Code will go into effect. This new law requires evidence that the needs of the individual cannot be met by less restrictive alternatives to guardianship, including use of appropriate supportive services, technological assistance or supported decision making. Join Managing Attorney Nell Brimmer to discuss Supported Decision-Making and guardianship under the new law. Laurie Cavanaugh, CPSP Regional Parent Support Coordinator Cumberland, Oxford, York, Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties G.E.A.R. Parent Network PO Box 558 10 Caldwell Rd. Augusta ME 04332 518-9546 (local) 1-800-264-9224 (toll free in Maine) www.gearparentnetwork.org May 14-15, 2019
9:00 – 4:00 pm The Senator Inn, Augusta, ME David Pitonyak The Importance of Belonging Supporting Confidence, Competence and a Sense of Well-Being: A Two Day Workshop focused on Youth in Transition Are you case manager, transition specialist, teacher, school counselor, family member, case manager, or state agency staff? If so, this workshop is for you! Description Being connected to people we love is critical to our emotional and physical well-being. Many youth experiencing our services are lonely and lack meaningful relationships. This workshop is designed to move beyond interventions and coverage to a system that supports enduring, freely chosen relationships, especially critical in the transition from youth to young adulthood. Difficult behaviors result from unmet needs. This workshop will examine seven quality of life indicators that are often missing and strategies to support belonging and build relationships. David's work is based upon a simple idea: difficult behaviors result from unmet needs. In a sense, difficult behaviors are messages which can tell us important things about a person and the quality of his or her life. People with difficult behaviors are often missing:
At the conclusion of this two-day workshop, participants will have developed knowledge in the following areas:
About David, in his own words… The largest part of my work involves meeting individuals who are said to exhibit “difficult behaviors.” Most of these individuals exhibit difficult behaviors because they are misunderstood and/or because they are living lives that don’t make sense. Often they are lonely, or powerless, or without joy. Often they are devalued by others, or they lack the kinds of educational experiences that most of us take for granted. Too often their troubling behaviors are the result of an illness, or even a delayed response to traumatic events. You might say their behaviors are “messages” which can tell us important things about their lives. Learning to listen (see Herb Lovett) to an individual’s difficult behaviors is the first step in helping the individual to find a new (and healthier) story. I also believe, to paraphrase Jean Clark, that a “person’s needs are best met by people whose needs are met.” Supporting a person with difficult behaviors also involves an honest assessment of and attention to the needs of a person’s supporters. Another part of my practice involves training. I provide workshops and seminars on a variety of topics, including supporting people with difficult behaviors and supporting the needs of a person’s friends, family, and caregivers. In the recent past, I have provided consultation and training for individuals, families and professionals throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, England, and the Republic of Ireland. I have worked with people in a variety of settings, including: home and professionally-staffed residential settings, schools, supported competitive job sites, sheltered workshops, and day activity programs. The best, and most important, part of my life is my family. I live in Blacksburg, Virginia with my wife Cyndi. We have two boys, Joe and Sam. Fee: $150 includes materials and lunch both days Click here to register! Did you know that Maine is an Employment First state? In 2013, the Employment First Maine Act was passed into law, requiring individuals served under the auspices of Maine DHHS, DOE, and DOL to be offered employment as a primary service option.
As a service provider, educator, advocate, or family member of individuals with disabilities, you may have heard individuals express concern about losing Social Security disability or MaineCare benefits if/when they work. Work and Benefits Navigator Training was developed specifically for individuals who support people with disabilities to help address these concerns. Please share this training opportunity with your agency, colleagues, leadership, and any individuals who may be interested in learning:
FMI and to register, go to: www.mh-edu.org/wbnt! Sessions will be held in: Portland on Thursday, March 28 Augusta on Wednesday, April 10 Waterville on Thursday, May 23 Registration is free for DHHS employees and $25 for all others. We hope to see you in the spring! Living Innovations, Maine Parent Federation, & Thornton Living Innovations team up to bring you a free screening of
“Intelligent Lives” This documentary, from award-winning filmmaker, Dan Habib stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities – Micah, Naieer, and Naomie – who challenge perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college, and the workforce. Academy Award-winning actor and narrator Chris Cooper contextualizes the lives of these central characters through the emotional personal story of his son Jesse, as the film unpacks the shameful and ongoing track record of intelligence testing in the U.S. INTELLIGENT LIVES challenges what it means to be intelligent, and points to a future in which people of all abilities can fully participate in higher education, meaningful employment, and intimate relationships. Event Details: Please join us March 12, 2019 @ Thornton Academy Auditorium, 438 Main St, Saco @ 6pm. This event is free, but pre-registration is required. Please click the link to register. http://mpf.org/form.html For more information, contact Jodie Hall at 207-841-4129 or [email protected] Click here for the event flyer 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 |
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