INDEPENDENCE

Independence and the desire for it are things we can all relate to. Independence is something we all strive for, so why should it be any different for someone who’s disabled? Making decisions for yourself based on who you are and what you want out of life is a basic necessity of all human beings for living a full and meaningful life.

On these links, read about independence and self-determination, information about transitioning to adult life from experts, self-advocates and parents and find links to independent living facilities and agencies that assist people to live independently.

Links:

Independence First: A resource for people with disabilities
http://www.independencefirst.org/home/index.asp

John Kerry on Freedom, Independence and Choice for People with Disabilities
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/awd/americanswithdisabilities.pdf

Increasing Workplace Independence for People with Cognitive Disabiltites by Leveraging Distributed Cognition Among Caregivers and Clients
http://www.cs.colorado.edu/~l3d/clever/assets/pdf/group03.pdf

Easter Seals
http://ma.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=MADR_homepage

The Arc
http://www.thearc.org

The Arc of Greater New Orleans
http://www.arcgno.org/

United Cerebral Palsy
http://www.ucp.org

Goodwill Industries International
http://www.goodwill.org/

Goodwill Industries of South East Louisiana
http://www.goodwillsela.org/

Recommended Reading:

Steps to Independence Teaching Everyday Skills to Children with Special Needs, Fourth Edition
By Bruce L. Baker, Ph.D., & Alan J. Brightman, Ph.D., with Jan B. Blacher, Ph.D., Louis J. Heifetz, Ph.D., Stephen R. Hinshaw, Ph.D., & Diane M. Murphy, R.N.
Parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers. That’s an important job — and this popular, highly respected guidebook makes it much easier. Already a trusted resource for thousands of families, this lively book gives parents of children from age 3 through young adulthood proven strategies for teaching children the life skills they’ll need to live as independently as possible. Parents will start with a reader-friendly overview of the basics of teaching and then go deeper with a step-by-step guide to teaching seven different types of skills: get-ready, self-help, toilet training, play, self-care, home-care, and information gathering skills. In this fourth edition, they’ll also find helpful updates and additions, such as managing behavior problems, including guidance on identifying the problems, examining behavior, initiating a behavior management program, and encouraging alternative behaviors; technology; strengthening partnerships with other teachers in the child’s life during IEP meetings, through classroom volunteer work, and in everyday communication with them;a companion website with downloadable blank forms from the book and more Internet resources, such as links to useful web pages; Based on years of work with parents and laced with humor, helpful illustrations, and vignettes, this is a must-have resource for families and all professionals who work with them. ISBN 1-55766-697-0 $29.95 Brookes Publishing

Retarded Isn't Stupid, Mom! Revised Edition
By Sandra Z. Kaufman
Nicole is 2 years old, and her family, after months of worrying, has just learned she has mental retardation. In a fast-paced, engaging story, mother Sandra Kaufman frankly reveals the feelings of denial, guilt, frustration, and eventual acceptance that result in a determination to help her child live an independent life. This edition, revised on the 10th anniversary of the book's original publication, adds a "progress report" that updates readers on Nicole's adult years and reflects on the revolutionary changes in society's attitudes toward people with disabilities since Nicole's birth. Retarded Isn't Stupid, Mom! remains a celebration of all that a child can grow to be. ISBN 1-55766-378-5 $22.95 Brookes Publishing