Guest guest Posted May 31, 2004 Report Share Posted May 31, 2004 In a message dated 5/31/2004 5:16:36 AM US Mountain Standard Time, thrill@... writes: > no one else wanted to take turns with the > planning, finding places to have our event, make phone calls, send out > flyers, ... it can be a lot of work and it gets discouraging when no one > else wants to help. I had suggested groups of 2-3 families get-together and > each plan an activitiy. This is what I am hoping will happen. I figure if other families see the need, then they can pitch in and help. Often, it just takes one person to get the ball rolling. If not, I'll just do what I can. I am just going to give it a try and see what happens. M. ¸...¸ ___/ /\ \___ ¸...¸ ,·´º o`·, /__/ _/\_ \__\ ,·´º o`·, ```)¨(´´´ | | | | | | | | | ```)¨(´´´ ¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-.¸ ......for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 3:33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2004 Report Share Posted May 31, 2004 Good for you for starting this. I agree, after elementary the social opportunities for kids/young adults/adults with disabilities are usually very limited. They are here. About six years ago, before I had either of my kids, I brought this up to our local Arc and they were very willing to help fund some social activities. I got the ball rolling and we had activities every other month for about a year. We did a dance/karoke party, bowling and Mcs, cook-out at a park, rode the ferry to Kelley's Island and spent a few hours there... We called them Family Fun Days as the whole family was invited because I also felt parents needed more opportunities to connect. I also utilized the kids from my Project Support group at school--they helped plan the event and activities we would do, most importantly they were there to interact with the kids with disabilities, get them invovled in dancing/singing, assist them with whatever they needed and help to give the parents time to enjoy not just worry about their kids (we did have some pretty involved kids). Most of our activities brought together about 15-20 people with disabilities, plus family and Project Support members so sometimes we had close to 75 people, a few we only had about 20-25. The last few the response was low (less than 20) and the problem, for me, was that no one else wanted to take turns with the planning, finding places to have our event, make phone calls, send out flyers, ... it can be a lot of work and it gets discouraging when no one else wants to help. I had suggested groups of 2-3 families get-together and each plan an activitiy...it would be like one a year (if that) if we continued to do it every other month (but NO ONE volunteered to help out). Eventually we just dropped it and I had hoped someone would call and ask why we weren't having anymore and no one did. I was really disappointed. I see myself having to do something similar when my kids are older. Good luck!!! Jill Re: Arlene and ...pete too..hahahahha I just decided that we needed stuff for older kids to do together AND that parents of older kids need to be able to get together some also. I did it alot when Mav was younger...then got away from it. NOW I talk to other parents as we pass at baseball but not enough. SO I just thought I'd try this. We are sending the announcement out to the older kids we know from soccer, baseball and whatever. A flyer will go out with the DS newsletter and an announcment was sent to all the DDD workers to tell their clients. We'll see what happens. Our first get together is going to be pizza and swimming at my sisters. I plan on having a short questionaire to get an idea of what they are interested in doing and how often. I am thinking one formal event a month and then hopefully little friendships will shoot of from this and they can do more on their own with those they have interests with. If anyone has any suggestions...I welcome them!! M. ¸...¸ ___/ /\ \___ ¸...¸ ,·´º o`·, /__/ _/\_ \__\ ,·´º o`·, ```)¨(´´´ | | | | | | | | | ```)¨(´´´ ¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-.¸ ......for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 3:33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2004 Report Share Posted May 31, 2004 I work for the Arc in the Seattle area and am also the parent of a 13 year old with DS and a 16 year old without. Last January I started a list serv for parents of teenagers with developmental disabilities in our county. We talk online about issues with our kids and then once a month a different family plans an acitivity. It really doesn't take very much planning. The person just needs to pick a date and time, contact the facility (if needed) and find out the details, email the group with the details, take rsvps as they come in. The events we've done so far are: swimming at a city pool, bowling and pizza, amusement park, open gym at the gymnastics center, and this month we are meeting to see Shrek 2 and have dinner. We are also including the parents and any teen siblings. We want it to be inclusive and so there are also teens without disabilities attending. Many of the teens have never met each other, so it is interesting to watch that dynamic. One of the challanges for our group is for the parents to stay in the background a bit and let the teens get to know each other. We are so used to be our kids " facilitators " . It's been really fun and good for my son, Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2004 Report Share Posted May 31, 2004 Our local communities here have a wide variety of activities and social events that are planned for people with disabilities. We have no ARC but our parks and recs in several cities help plan and hold events like dances and rec programs. Our local DS support group has social activities for different age groups. Parent volunteers chair each committee for each age group. They are given a budget and plan the activities throughout the year as they see fit. There are several activities different age groups do together (teens and young adults have combined dances). The kids that come get to know each other, as do the families, so friendships can blossom outside of the activities. Sadly, for as many families as we have in the area, there seems to be just a small amount of families that participate on a regular basis. Many of the kids and young adults I see with DS are not taken to the social opportunities made available. Even with families offering carpooling, it seems many do not attend because their families will not give the time or transportation needed for the person with DS to attend. Never mind helping plan or chaperone an event. Cheryl in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 We have so little family involvement in activities around here. I realize parents are busy, but shouldn't your kids come in the equation somewhere?? I work full time but there is no way I'm missing important events in or 's lives. We are trying to figure out what to do if we have to move this fall since 's baby is due the first week of December. Just hope they keep the deployment date back to Iraq in January as scheduled. She is terrified that she will be alone during this time and I definitely don't want her to be. Elaine Re: Social opportunities In a message dated 5/31/2004 5:16:36 AM US Mountain Standard Time, thrill@... writes: > no one else wanted to take turns with the > planning, finding places to have our event, make phone calls, send out > flyers, ... it can be a lot of work and it gets discouraging when no one > else wants to help. I had suggested groups of 2-3 families get-together and > each plan an activitiy. This is what I am hoping will happen. I figure if other families see the need, then they can pitch in and help. Often, it just takes one person to get the ball rolling. If not, I'll just do what I can. I am just going to give it a try and see what happens. M. ¸...¸ ___/ /\ \___ ¸...¸ ,·´º o`·, /__/ _/\_ \__\ ,·´º o`·, ```)¨(´´´ | | | | | | | | | ```)¨(´´´ ¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-.¸ .....for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 3:33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Hi all!Friday Night Fun is back at KidsLink! We will be having events every 4th Friday night - see attached flyer. Please call or email if you are interested and we will update you on details of the upcoming events/locations.Also, Dr. DePolo's SUCCESS (social skills and self esteem focused treatment group) club will be starting soon. One opening is left in the 10-13 year old group!Info on our parent series is coming soon....Thanks for all your support!Nevada Never miss a thing. Make your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Where is the SUCCESS group? I am interested in this for my 10 year old son.Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 check here: www.kidslinkohio.com directions are included there > > Where is the SUCCESS group? I am interested in this for my 10 year old son. > > > > **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. > http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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