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Preparing Special-Needs Kids for the Future — as We Did With Our Son Morgenthal: Parents should maximize their children's independence, be flexible, seek out other families, stay involved & enjoy the successes that come By Marion Morgenthal August 21, 2023 The views expressed here are those of the author. As the mother of a 37-year-old son with special needs living independently, I often reflect on our journey. Alex, an original member of the POINT (Pursuing our INdependence Together) residential community in White Plains, NY, is thriving beyond our expectations. Here are key lessons from our experience: Maximize Independence: Encourage self-reliance early on. Overprotection limits potential. We sent Alex to camp from ages 9 to 17, fostering leadership and independence. Be Flexible: Adapt as needs change. Alex transitioned from inclusive classrooms to a special needs boarding school, each providing unique growth opportunities. Seek Visionary Professionals: Find educators and mentors who focus on potential rather than limitations. Key figures in Alex's life included supportive school staff and proactive camp directors. Build a Community: Join forces with other families. We collaborated with others to create POINT, providing a supportive network for both Alex and us. Stay Involved: Actively engage in your child's education and development programs. Advocacy and support partnerships have been crucial. Celebrate Successes: Focus on achievements, big or small. Alex now leads a productive life with friends and community interaction, milestones that were once unimaginable. By fostering independence, adapting to changing needs, and building a strong support network, we’ve seen Alex flourish. Our journey underscores the importance of community, flexibility, and celebrating every success. #Autism #SpecialNeeds #Independence #InclusiveCommunity #Parenting #DisabilitySupport #ResidentialCommunity #SpecialEducation #AutismAwareness #FamilySupport #CommunityBuilding #AutismParents #IndependentLiving #SupportNetworks #SpecialNeedsHousing #InclusiveHousing #AutismAcceptance #VocationalSkills #SelfAdvocacy #DignityOfRisk #DevelopmentalDisabilities #Neurodiversity #LifeSkills #PeerSupport #Empowerment

There is a new issue of Fostering Perspectives out! View this link to read it: https://lnkd.in/gZZ6Km2K This issue examines how youth, resource parents, and professionals in the child welfare system can build resilience as they navigate extremely challenging times. This issue features articles about: • Promoting mental health awareness and strategies • Tips for building resilient resource parents • Nurturing and supporting children and youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilites • Keeping children and youth connected to their culture while they are in care • How to keep serving as a resource parent after children and youth have been reunified • The role of the Guardian ad Litem in child welfare • How stable housing builds resiliency in youth • Innovation in foster care through Intensive Alternative Family Treatment • Those with lived experience in foster care sharing tips for resource parents and professionals • And much more. This issue also features news from Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina (our statewide resource parent association), SAYSO Inc.(Strong Able Youth Speaking Out), and profiles of children and youth seeking permanence through adoption. Fostering Perspectives is sponsored by the NC Division of Social Services and produced by the Family and Children's Resource Program, part of the UNC School of Social Work.

https://lnkd.in/eeiHmTXf 12,000 students in metro Atlanta, across Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties, are experiencing homelessness, according to data from the Georgia Department of Education compiled by Neighborhood Nexus. This number is equivalent to filling almost 400 classrooms or packing major venues like Georgia Tech’s basketball stadium. The staggering figure, representing nearly 2% of the region's 631,274 public school students, highlights the severe impact of the housing shortage, the end of eviction prevention programs, and gaps in the foster care system

Here is the next video in our new series of board members, volunteers, and supporters of Bennett's Village sharing their why. Want to be featured? Send us a short video (less than a minute) and we'll get started! Video description: Board Member, Steve Gaines, talks about why supporting Bennett's Village is important to him. Transcript: You know, I got involved with Bennett’s Village a few months ago and it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever gotten involved with. Because the idea of an all-abilities playground is so heartwarming. It’s a chance for kids of all abilities to play together. It’s also a great chance for parents or grandparents who maybe have mobility issues to come out there with their kids and have fun at the playground. It’s a wonderful, wonderful story behind how it came about, and it’s a great idea to have in Charlottesville. So, I love supporting Bennett’s Village. And really you should love it too and look at ways that you can do that. #BennettsVillage #APlaceForAllToPlay #Play4All #ItTakesAVillage #InclusivePlayground #InclusivePlay #InclusivePlaySpace #PlayIsLearning #DesignForAll #BuildCommunity #PlaygroundFun #Accessibility #InclusionMatters #Inclusion #AllAbilities #LoweringBarriersToPlay #Charlottesville #CharlottesvilleVA #CvilleVA #BennettsVillagePlaySpace #AccessiblePlaySpaces #AllAbilitiesWelcome #ILoveCville #AlbemarleCounty

Excited to share that my latest article was published in The Morning Call last week! This piece dives into the impact of community colleges in fostering local talent and driving economic growth. Let's celebrate #CommunityCollegeMonth by recognizing the invaluable role these institutions play in shaping our communities and empowering individuals. #HigherEducation #CommunityCollege #CCMonth #TransferNation #PublishedAuthor

It's time to prioritize fatherhood programs, highlighting their role in nurturing personal success and community advancement. Let's support initiatives that empower fathers to be present and active. #FatherhoodPrograms #StrongConnections #CommunityAdvancement #EmpowerFathers #BePresent #TransformFutures

Hi Everyone! Check out this quick video featuring tips from my story about how to help foster youth (and yes, that’s my voice!). I was honored to be asked to collaborate with The Children’s Bureau Learning & Coordination Center (CBLCC) on this important project. Please share this link and resource. You never know who you might be helping! Https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/ #fosterkidsmatter #fostercareawarenessmonth

Young people today have lost the opportunity to grow up in a neighborhood where they can roam freely and build lasting connections. Working parents, caught up in long work hours, find it challenging to supervise their children playing outside and interacting with neighbors. As a result, many kids end up isolated in their rooms, glued to their phones, behind closed garage doors. In the past, leaving garage doors open symbolized a sense of community and trust. Children thrived in these environments, learning valuable lessons on friendship, respect, and navigating the world around them. It's time to revive these connected communities and empower our youth to become change-makers. By launching youth-led initiatives that inspire citywide transformations, we can reclaim the sense of togetherness and safety that we've gradually let slip away. Let's work together to create a future where neighborhoods are vibrant, supportive, and filled with opportunities for our young people to grow and thrive. #CommunityBuilding #YouthEmpowerment #NeighborhoodTransformation #loveyourcity

What is Pittsburgh building? Bridges! Mission: Pittsburgh Builds Bridges is a community outreach movement fostering diversity, inclusion, and connections through simple actions, the stroke of a paintbrush, dialogue, and awareness. 🎨 Let's build bridges together! 🌉 لنواصل معا بناء جسور بيننا 🌎 #PittsburghBuildsBridges #PGHLove #Explore #اكسبلور"

The words we choose when looking after children in care and #careexperienced people, can make or break the culture you create. 🟣What do I mean by "culture"? Culture is a system of learned and shared beliefs, language, "norms", values, and symbols that we use to identify ourselves and provide a framework within which to live and work. 🔴An example that I have seen and heard many times over the years is... An adult standing in close proximity to a young person, arms folded, saying "It's time to grow up and stop acting stupid."🤦 There are so many reasons why this very example needs to be reconsidered. Have a watch of this short video 📹 👀 Changing takes time, there's no better time to start than NOW 🌎💜 #socialworkers #educators #teachers #residentialcare #fostering #therapists #traumainformed #community #weareallresponsible #accountability #prisons #probation I'm talking about everywhere.. in schools, in children's homes, in foster homes, at college, in the workplace and out in the community. I'd love to know your thoughts and experiences with this.