Specializing in Youth with ASD and DD

The CAIS© Assessment
Creating Supports
Sculpting Lives

Consulting
Coaching
 Walking the Path Seminars

 My Mission 

To guide as many advocates and professionals as possible to recognize the capability in persons with DD and ASD regardless of severity so all will be empowered to negotiate and create support systems where youth can thrive, realize true involvement, and enjoy personal growth.

 How I can help you?

 Are you a parent, guardian, or advocate:   

·        concerned about your son/daughter’s adolescent or adult years?

·        seeking help for building a life for a son/daughter?

·        wanting to know how your son or daughter can enter integrative community           settings and develop personally with options for continued growth?

·        desiring to learn what you can do to further identify strengths, then find support so your son or daughter can develop and apply to: employment, college, leisure, or living more independently?

 As your Guide, I Will:

·        introduce you to concepts and ideas all within a new context. An inside-out approach is necessary in order to reveal strengths and areas of living where the individual can experience new opportunities.

·        interview the individual and/or family to understand your needs as you see them. Your issues and concerns are unique to your family and so are the solutions.

 ·        assess the individual using the CAIS © scale. This new research tool highlights a
      person’s strengths and levels of supports needed to increase a person’s
      capability in all areas of living. With these findings I can help the individual
      and the family determine creative ways to establish assistance and facilitate
      personal growth.

·        offer suggestions and possible options to pursue in the areas of employment, 
leisure, making friendships, and increased independence.

You will Receive:

     ·        findings from the CAIS © assessment scale which can be useful in the adolescent or
     young adult’s educational goal setting and life planning.

      ·       a written evaluation complete with your son/daughter’s profile, strengths, needs,
         and action steps to start the process. Also included are creative options as well as
         state and federal resources to pursue for funding and/or support.  

·        a monthly online newsletter with new resources, activities, and research information about how other families have  guided the young adult with DD or ASD which can further help the individual and his or her family. 

·        the Walking the Path © workbook. It offers ideas and strategies to use and helps you through this sometimes complex process. The activities are action steps everyone can do and will get you started in creating a quality of life. It is all about  meeting life needs through individual strengths while moving toward goals and dreams.

Solutions that Work

I believe that youth with DD and ASD see in themselves what we see in them. As we the  family, advocate, or professional develop a larger vision of their capabilities, the greater their willingness to use and display the possibilities we have shown toward them. The keys are needed supports that can lead youth to recognize higher capability and realize their own influence about what happens in life. 

Often students arrive in places of isolation because of limited resources. Youth can develop through meaningful experiences and become intrinsically motivated to build resilience to the challenges of their disability. Real examples of individuals are living in the community, and doing work and activities they enjoy with people they feel safe and accepted (Marquette, 2007). 

The solution is taking initiatives to access and create supports that enable the individual to reach a higher level of capability and personal growth. The Capability and Independence Scale © is an assessment to determine current functional levels and higher capability levels with supports. The results can enhance planning by highlighting strengths  as well as to track ongoing progress. 

Professionals in collaboration with parents will benefit from using these tools that help to recognize the individual’s capability levels within diverse integrative settings and within the context of supports. The WP © model used with the Capability and Independence Scale © can help professionals and families work collaboratively for the student’s best interest.

Jackie can:

·        provide training using the CAIS scale to help evaluate students and young adults capability and independence. All consultation is tailored to your organizational/staff needs.

 ·        deliver a Walking the Path seminar in your area.
 

Introductory package available for individual or family CAIS evaluation