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Four New Parent Videos on Supporting the Learning of Children with Significant Cognitive Disabilities at Home
The Parent Video Series, Supporting the Learning of Children with Significant Cognitive Disabilities at Home, supports families in understanding the important role that they have in teaching their children. The series has released four new videos, all of which give tips on making modifications for different disabilities, and provides sources for more information. Produced by ICI's TIES Center and National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). Read more.
Supporting our DSPs to Stay in Direct Support
Tony Thomas (pictured) is executive director of Welcome House in Cleveland, Ohio, an agency that employes direct support professionals (DSPs) who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this Frontline Initiative article, he recalls how a DSP's car broke down and she didn't have the cash to fix it. But she couldn't work without a car and payday lenders charge exorbitant interest rates. Thomas' solution was to create an emergency fund that lends interest-free money to staff, and then takes it back slowly out their paychecks. The repayments go back into the emergency fund, ready to help the next DSP in a bind. That was in 2008.
Thirteen years later, the program is still helping DSPs in emergencies, who can then remain on the job. Back in 2008, senior staff worried that DSPs might leave before repaying their loans, but that has only happened once. The program is strongly supported by the agency's trustees and it gives DSPs, who often live paycheck to paycheck, some peace of mind. Read more.
Virtual Conference on Improving Self-determination for Wisconsin People with IDD
The conference will be held online May 14-15. Register here for free. Learn about the current knowledge of self-determination, the current project on improving self-determination of youths with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and efforts from local organizations and programs helping people with disabilities increase independence, and more. The keynote speakers are ICI's Brian Abery and Renáta Tichá.
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