Re: work, Kathie Snow, Disability is Natural Beth

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/4/2002 10:11:59 AM Eastern Standard Time,

paul.3@... writes:

> Charlyne, I can't believe that someone would tell you that having Zeb work

> for you is a bad idea. The kid is 10 or 9?) years old, for crying out

> loud! I would say that is some phenomenal planning ahead, what you have

> done with your concessions work.

>

Hi Beth,

I must admit I planned Zeb's future before waiting until he was old enough to

consult. Zeb will have no choices to make which could be a bad idea. I had

very little knowledge and info about any type of disabilities before I

reorganized our lives. I just drew from my own community association and

experience. I rarely see any disabled person in this community with a real

job. The real jobs in this area are a bag person in the supermarkets,

dishwashers or rolling silverware in a restaurant. I wanted more for my son

than what I saw. The psychologist does not agree only because he will never

have any true friends. He was telling me that he should be with his own kind,

politely. I disagree with his opinion and will do what I think is best. Zeb

is very lazy and does not stay focused for very long. I feel that if he is

exposed to the enviroment throughout his developmental years he will grow

into the business. I have been working on coin recognition for years and

money still has no meaning. I am a determined Mom. In the past few years I

have been able to watch the transition process with my teen group from the

ARC. I am not impressed by what I see. Many of the kids are dumped into a

sheltered workshop situation or they sit home. The few kids that are

successful come from parents being very strong advocates, pounding the

pavement and networking. I had a friend that supervised a DMR group home, 10

yrs ago. They had no employment. She was told they were not employable and

she pounded the pavement and started them with a paper route. It was hard

work for her but they managed to learn to do this job very well. The jobs

grew from then on. Elaine passed away last year but her determination lives

on in each of us that knew her.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 9 DS/OCD ?

[Guest guest]

Charlyne,

I think it's outrageous for this psych to say that to you. YOU know

what's best for Zeb, not him. And if you have the wherewithal and the

opportunity to plan Zeb's future in a family business, I say go for it.

Hell, my kids and many of our nieces and nephews work or have worked in

family businesses, just like their Dad/Dads before them.

<<I think this is such an important topic, even though I don't like to think

about it because I can't yet imagine Ben involved in working steadily

at anything if I just look where he is right now. >>

Yes, I know what you mean MB!! I'm certainly in the same boat with Miss

Maddie. But Melmark has the most amazing adult program (they sell their

wares in Newtown, where MM also has many group homes), that my hope is to get

her into there in a day plan (unless we decide she can live in a group

setting but only IF that would prove in her best interests--Duff says no way,

but I have learned never say never). If that doesn't work, and we see that

she has the ability to do something beneficial in a work force, then

certainly we'd give her the opportunity to do something in the family

business, just like our other kids.

Donna

[Guest guest]

weve thought about a paper route for nathan, when is is just a little older

mayber after 12yrs starting witht the reminder, its only onwednesdays and

they get just certain blocks/streets wo he could start off with just one and

work up from there, the paper guy in charge thinks its a great idea, and

even some of the adults from the workshop will be out delivering when they

are short carriers, like all papers, always short carriers,lol. The main

issue would be getting him to walk or ride his trike, and then road safety

which beve all been teacdhing him for years but still to no avail does he

understand you cant walk or ride in front of a oncoming cars. And there is

no collecting but i dont think any papers have the carriers collecting

anymore. He would just get payed every wednesday with his bundle of papers.

otherwise all there is around here is restaurants and they are definately

OUT do to food obsessions and carry-out boy for hy-vee or fareway, not much

to do in our small rural town. shawna.

Re: work, Kathie Snow, Disability is Natural Beth

> In a message dated 11/4/2002 10:11:59 AM Eastern Standard Time,

> paul.3@... writes:

>

>

> > Charlyne, I can't believe that someone would tell you that having Zeb

work

> > for you is a bad idea. The kid is 10 or 9?) years old, for crying out

> > loud! I would say that is some phenomenal planning ahead, what you have

> > done with your concessions work.

> >

>

> Hi Beth,

> I must admit I planned Zeb's future before waiting until he was old enough

to

> consult. Zeb will have no choices to make which could be a bad idea. I had

> very little knowledge and info about any type of disabilities before I

> reorganized our lives. I just drew from my own community association and

> experience. I rarely see any disabled person in this community with a real

> job. The real jobs in this area are a bag person in the supermarkets,

> dishwashers or rolling silverware in a restaurant. I wanted more for my

son

> than what I saw. The psychologist does not agree only because he will

never

> have any true friends. He was telling me that he should be with his own

kind,

> politely. I disagree with his opinion and will do what I think is best.

Zeb

> is very lazy and does not stay focused for very long. I feel that if he is

> exposed to the enviroment throughout his developmental years he will grow

> into the business. I have been working on coin recognition for years and

> money still has no meaning. I am a determined Mom. In the past few years I

> have been able to watch the transition process with my teen group from the

> ARC. I am not impressed by what I see. Many of the kids are dumped into a

> sheltered workshop situation or they sit home. The few kids that are

> successful come from parents being very strong advocates, pounding the

> pavement and networking. I had a friend that supervised a DMR group home,

10

> yrs ago. They had no employment. She was told they were not employable and

> she pounded the pavement and started them with a paper route. It was hard

> work for her but they managed to learn to do this job very well. The jobs

> grew from then on. Elaine passed away last year but her determination

lives

> on in each of us that knew her.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 9 DS/OCD ?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Charlyne, you are a " mom on a mission " !!:) I am glad that some of you

are echoing the same sentiments that I feel regarding employment in the

community one day for our children. When Tim was in early intervention

(before ASD diagnosis), I asked one of his therapist if perhaps she thought

he might be able to go to college for possibly a 2 year degree or a

training program of some kind. Her response to me was that " most children

with DS grow up to go into food service). I will never forget that comment

and am on a mission to prove her wrong one day!!! I still have high hopes

for Tim that he will one day be a " tax payer " and a vital part of our

community as well as impact how people think of people with

disabilities. Friends of mine that also have children with DS and I very

often think about starting a business together in which to employ our

children.....The Sugar Plum Bakery was something that one of them had seen

and we have tossed a similar idea around. We are living in a time, I

believe where we can really make a difference depending on how strong our

voice is.

At 01:16 AM 11/5/02 -0500, you wrote:

>In a message dated 11/4/2002 10:11:59 AM Eastern Standard Time,

>paul.3@... writes:

>

>

> > Charlyne, I can't believe that someone would tell you that having Zeb work

> > for you is a bad idea. The kid is 10 or 9?) years old, for crying out

> > loud! I would say that is some phenomenal planning ahead, what you have

> > done with your concessions work.

> >

>

>Hi Beth,

>I must admit I planned Zeb's future before waiting until he was old enough to

>consult. Zeb will have no choices to make which could be a bad idea. I had

>very little knowledge and info about any type of disabilities before I

>reorganized our lives. I just drew from my own community association and

>experience. I rarely see any disabled person in this community with a real

>job. The real jobs in this area are a bag person in the supermarkets,

>dishwashers or rolling silverware in a restaurant. I wanted more for my son

>than what I saw. The psychologist does not agree only because he will never

>have any true friends. He was telling me that he should be with his own kind,

>politely. I disagree with his opinion and will do what I think is best. Zeb

>is very lazy and does not stay focused for very long. I feel that if he is

>exposed to the enviroment throughout his developmental years he will grow

>into the business. I have been working on coin recognition for years and

>money still has no meaning. I am a determined Mom. In the past few years I

>have been able to watch the transition process with my teen group from the

>ARC. I am not impressed by what I see. Many of the kids are dumped into a

>sheltered workshop situation or they sit home. The few kids that are

>successful come from parents being very strong advocates, pounding the

>pavement and networking. I had a friend that supervised a DMR group home, 10

>yrs ago. They had no employment. She was told they were not employable and

>she pounded the pavement and started them with a paper route. It was hard

>work for her but they managed to learn to do this job very well. The jobs

>grew from then on. Elaine passed away last year but her determination lives

>on in each of us that knew her.

>Charlyne

>Mom to Zeb 9 DS/OCD ?

>

>

>