Independent Living Options for Adults with Disabilities

I just received the information below from Cathy Boyle of the Federation for Children with Special Needs.  This is very exciting news for our adult family members with disabilities! Check out the fact sheet link for more information.

S. 708, the accessory apartment loan bill, just passed through the Joint Committee on Housing and is on its way to Senate Ways and Means!!! This is huge, folks!!! If this bill goes all the way, it will help middle class families develop independent living options for their adult family members with disabilities.

To learn more about how your family might benefit if this bill passes, check out AHP's fact sheet on accessory apartments: http://autismhousingpathways.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Accessory-Apartments.pdf .

Thank you to Sen. Barbara L'Italien, Sen. Jason Lewis, Rep. Michael Day, Erin S. Riley, Maura Sullivan and everyone else at The Arc (Leo Sarkissian, Charlie Fiske), AFAM (Michael J Borr, Christine Hubbard, Karen Mariscal), and all the families who wrote or came out to testify!!!

Let's keep pushing forward!

Cathy Boyle

fcsntransition@yahoogroups.com

-- 

www.autismhousingpathways.net

building roads to home

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) & Other Neurobehavioral Conditions: 

Understanding a Brain-Based Approach

•   What is FASD?
  
•   How does it impact the brain?
  
•   Does brain = behaviors?
  
•   What to do about behaviors linked to FASD
  
•   Practical, individual strategies for reducing unwanted behaviors.
  
  Sponsored by Families Affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder fafasd.org
  

Description:
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a brain-based physical disability with behavioral symptoms. The brain-based approach to living with, caring for, and working with individuals and families impacted by FASD acknowledges the source of behaviors: the brain, and provides a set of research-based best practices for helping people with fetal alcohol exposure.
The 7-hour workshop includes current information on FASD and other neurobehavioral disorders, and a model for providing a brain- based approach when working with and caring for people with FASD. The goal is to shift from describing and reacting to behaviors to understanding them and structuring the individual’s environment for success.

Time & Place:
April 13, 2016  9:00 – 5:00 First Churches of Northampton 129 Main St., Northampton MA

Audience:
Parents and professionals caring for and working with individuals with suspected or diagnosed fetal alcohol exposure. Certificate of completion/contact hours will be issued at the workshop.

Pre-registration required.
$45 fee pre-pay, $55 at door. Seats are limited to 25. Pay via credit card through our website (fafasd.org)
or mail check to: FAFASD, 198 Sylvester Rd. Florence, MA 01062. Coffee, water, and snacks provided. Lunch on your own.

About the Presenter: Adrienne Ehlert Bashista is the mother of a 13-year old boy with FASD, and has studied with and been mentored by Diane Malbin, an internationally recognized authority on FASD. Adrienne is also the author of several books and articles about parenting children with neurobehavioral special needs including Easy to Love but Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids, True Stories. She is the founder of and Training Director of Families Affected by
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (fafasd.org). She lives in Florence, Massachusetts with her husband and two sons. She welcomes inquiries into training: adrienne@fafasd.org / 413 570 5966.

http://fafasd.org/workshops-and-training/

SAVE THE DATE!

Opiate Use & Disabilities: Increasing Resiliency & Decreasing Risk ​

When: April 2, 2016 - 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Where:Simmons College

How to register and get more information: http://www.masscec.org/events.html

 A Massachusetts Council for Exceptional Children Event