Milestones Magazine - Summer 2019

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determination to become a driver must come from the student—not just the parent. The process of working towards the student’s driving goal can be a significant undertaking and relies on the collaboration of the student, parent, and therapist. Here are some questions to ask yourself when considering if your child is ready. 1. Does he want to become a driver? 2. Can he verbalize a few realistic driving goals? With this activity, the student is encouraged to speak aloud what he is seeing (pertinent signs, potential hazards) and verbalize what he plans to do. “I see the pedestrian crossing sign ahead. I am going to slow down. I’m looking. There are no pedestrians so I am going to keep driving.” The driver rehab specialist works with the driver to maximize his potential. Some drivers have visual disabilities. If the driver meets the state vision requirements for driving, she may be a candidate to be a driver. The driver rehab specialist works with the driver to teach compensatory strategies and use of visual aids. Visual aids may include devices such as additional mirrors, different tints, special visors, etc. Some people are candidates to use Bioptic telescope lenses. The person’s vision specialist can determine if she is a candidate for such specialized lenses. These lenses are like small magnifiers which sit on top of the person’s normal glasses. They allow 3. Can he cross a busy street safely and independently? 4. Is he allowed to be home alone for a few hours? 5. Does he (and do you) have the time, at this point, to commit to practicing regularly? Here at the Marianjoy Driver Rehabilitation Program, we are passionate about supporting people with disabilities in meeting their driving goals. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the program or if your child is ready to pursue driving. Nicole Thonn, an Occupational Therapist and Certified Driver Rehab Specialist at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, works to help individuals with special needs move towards this major step towards independence. She sees people who have various physical, cognitive, and visual disabilities, evaluates their driving potential; and for individuals she believes can become safe drivers, she will develop a plan that should lead to that person attaining a driver’s license. the person to identify potential hazards sooner, read roadway signs, or even identify the color of the traffic light sooner. The driver rehab specialist works with the person with visual disabilities to introduce adaptive equipment and teach compensatory strategies. Nicole Thonn, Occupational Therapist, Certified Driver Rehab Specialist Driver Rehabilitation, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital 26W171 Roosevelt Road Wheaton, Illinois 60187 630.909.6084 office Additionally, here are further points to consider. Setting realistic goals is vital for the success of the 630.909.6081 fax nicole.thonn@nm.org driver. For some drivers, the goal may be to drive to a few familiar places. Being able to drive independently Special note: This article is intended for informational to even a few places can change someone’s life. Motivation is also necessary for success. The purposes only. M 19
MY FIRST JOB My older son’s first job was at a seasonal pop-up toy store at a local mall. The store was called “All Wound Up” (which we privately and not so jokingly referred to as “All Screwed Up”). His second job was a summer position as help desk at a computer lab at a local college. His next gigs were at fast food joints. He eventually ended up going for a Master’s Degree, and landed a career-track civilian job at the National Security Agency (NSA) in the Baltimore / Washington D.C. area. My younger son’s trajectory was quite different. He has autism and some cognitive impairment. While in school, he had a handful of training opportunities, mostly involving recycling at his school and other district schools to which he was transported. The vocational coordinator’s assessment of his abilities was that he can succeed at a volunteer job with maximum support. His only real work experience is as “team member” at a greenhouse whose mission is to provide job training for people with disabilities. He has a weekly shift there and I am his volunteer job coach. Each family pays a monthly fee, of which roughly half comes back to the worker as minimum wage for about 10 hours of work per month. For many teens and college age adults, their first job is a milestone; providing them an income, independence, and a starting taste of adult life. For many people, there are sometimes obstacles to getting and/or keeping that job (or subsequent jobs). However, as my son’s experiences show, for people with challenges, those difficulties are often compounded, resulting in an unemployment rate that can approach 80% (or higher). In addition, even when a suitable job is available, there are often reservations about taking it due to the effects, real or perceived, that the income can have on government benefit programs for which the individual qualifies; specifically: Medicaid and/or the Social Security program Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To speak (o.k., write) to this point, I am pleased to introduce Alexandra Baig, a financial planner who specializes in working with families and individuals with disabilities. Here is a recent blog post of hers on the subject. “In the novel “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” the protagonist tricks his friends into doing a large chore for him for free. The story does not recount whether the boys who did the work remained his friend when they 20
Page 1 and 2: eyond disabilities Summer Issue 201
Page 4 and 5: Milestones and Beyond Just about al
Page 6 and 7: THE LANGUAGE BARRIER PARENTS TOP 3
Page 8 and 9: Won’t you be my Friend? The title
Page 10 and 11: MELTDOWN INAisle5 While it’s unli
Page 12 and 13: their goals within the community, h
Page 14 and 15: Is it wheelchair accessible? What w
Page 16 and 17: 1. Manage Your Expectations: When w
Page 18 and 19: Mom, Can I Use the Car Tonight? One
Page 22 and 23: ealized they had been duped. I’m
Page 24 and 25: IT’S MY MONEY! “earning one’s
Page 26 and 27: GO to SLEEP! For virtually everyone
Page 28 and 29: Of all the milestones a person can
Page 30: Connections child care Child Care C

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