Was: Camp Meeting; Now: What's After Camp?

[Guest guest]

So many of us in the same place as our children (and us!) age out of the pediatric population. We're lucky if they have med waiver for job support, however as many parents can attest to - its a nightmare with finding the right services and with funding cuts our now adult children (many of our kids will always have the childlike demeanor but in adult size bodies) are left to watch videos or something at home without support for the families. My daughter can barely handle chores at home without vigilence can you imagine without a secure job coach or a place to go for a safe yet purposeful job that is meaningful and not just a day care. Oh what I would do with a huge grant!

To: sList Sent: Wed, January 26, 2011 12:45:13 PMSubject: Re: Broward: Autism Society Summer Camp Meeting

This is so scary to me. Noah's camp will take him til he's 21, or maybe it's 22. All year long he looks forward to his 8 weeks of summer camp. Not many more years til he's too old. And not many options out there.Kind of like, what do we do when the yellow bus doesn't come to the door any more?The years are going by too quickly.

To: sList Sent: Tue, January 25, 2011 9:38:04 PMSubject: Re: Broward: Autism Society Summer Camp Meeting

My daughter is 27. Do you think there will be any summer activites or camps for her age. She goes to broward schools for a reding program during the school year but during the summer she wll have notheing to do.

To: <deniseslist >Sent: Tue, January 25, 2011 2:18:01 PMSubject: Broward: Autism Society Summer Camp Meeting

----- Forwarded Message ----To: deniseslist@...Sent: Mon, January 24, 2011 10:09:32 PMSubject: Autism Society Summer Camp Meeting

Autism Society of America

Broward Chapter

February 16, 2011

7:00pm

ARC Broward

10250 NW 53 St, Sunrise

(Just south of Commercial Blvd and west of Nob Hill Road )

Upcoming Meeting

Annual Summer Camp Options

Presenter: Variety of Summer Camps

Attend this meeting to hear from various summer camps that offer programs for kids with disabilities. Summer is an awesome time for kids to have fun while developing their social skills. In Broward County we have some great camps that offer so much to so many.

At this meeting each camp will have the opportunity to give a brief presentation on what their camp has to offer. Plus, each camp will have an information table/area to distribute flyers for parents and caregivers.

Childcare is provided.

Meeting Topic & Events

January 28 Lynn University Transition Conference

January 29 DMF Walk About Autism

February 11 Golfing Fore Autism-Middle & High

March 23 Transitions

April 20 Fitness

May 18 Safety

SPEC: Support for Parents of Exceptional Children is a monthly autism support group that meets at the Miami Children’s Hospital/Dan Marino Center in Weston on the first Wednesday evening of each month at 7PM.

Autism Society Broward provides free information to parents, professionals and educators. Visit our website at: www.asabroward.org or

[Guest guest]

I know what you mean about wondering what comes next. My child is 28 and it is

difficult to find organized activities for a child who has " aged out " of the

system. I know there used to be a group in Boca who would meet at the library

and each week a different mom would teach an art/ craft project to the kids.

During the summer each mom took a turn arranging a once a week event,(each

parent paid for their kid to take part.) such as bowling, a movie, dinner out,

etc. Maybe you could find a group of mom's to do this with.

I thought voc. rehab. was a waste of time and the people who were supposed to

find my son a job and help him get settled in were useless. I became so

frustrated that I finally took the training to get my certificate as a job

coach, and found my son a job (I found the job the day after we dropped v. r. -

they said " no one was hiring " ). I helped him settle in and he has had the job

for 3 years. Before doing that I came up with ideas for several types of

businesses I could start to employ kids on the spectrum, because it is difficult

to find people willing to hire our kids. You really have to sell the idea to

them. There isn't a lot out there for our kids. It is difficult especially in

this economy to find funding for projects.

My son works 1 day per week (his employer cut everyone's hours.) and I try to

keep him enrolled in a community school class or the theater classes for the DD

that are offered, so that he has some social interaction. Maybe you could

suggest a class or even offer to teach a class via the community schools for

kids on the spectrum. I know if you go to Browardeducator.com there is a

section on the site to suggest a class or apply to offer a class. It doesn't

pay well, but it would be a way to offer something for kids who have aged out.

I wish you the best of luck.

Glenda