Transitional program to help disabled youths

The Fort Frances and District Association for Community Living is trying to help young adults with disabilities to make the move from school to work with its new “Transitional Planning Project.”
Allene Perusse, one of the co-ordinators, said the program has been in the works for some time. “Our contract started in March but we’ve spending the past couple months getting everything in place,” she noted.
Part of getting started is to spread the word as to what the program is all about at an information session here Wednesday (May 15) at 6 p.m. at the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau (old CN station).
The focus of the program will be to facilitate co-ordination for young adults and their families in the transitional years (aged 14-27).
During the transition from school to community life, a young adult and his/her family are faced with decisions involving accommodation, work, leisure, social opportunities, daily living, and community involvement, noted Perusse.
The emphasis of the FFDACL’s support will be to help young people develop their own life goals in these areas and then to implement them. There will be both individualized and group support provided.
The goal is for each young adult to become actively involved in the community.
Through participation in the program, young adults will gain confidence to make decisions and to access community resources. But the most important result will be the attainment of their personal goals, stressed Perusse.
The FFDACL, Rainy River Board of Education, Family and Children’s Services, and the Atikokan and District Association for Developmental Services have collaborated on the development of this proposal to bring a cohesive and integrated community-based service to district children from Rainy River to Atikokan.
The planning for transition may begin as early as age 14 and continue through high school and beyond up to the age of 27.
The students will have choices to develop skills in the areas of education, employment, living arrangements, community, recreation, leisure, transportation, relationships, and finances.
The agency linkages are important to the families and students for accurate tracking of the young adults’ development and progress. The end result of transitions will be the possibilities of living a more independent life with rich community supports.
The agencies involved will work closely to ensure an individual’s goals are met. This project will provide the catalyst for change and develop a seamless transitional planning process for these young adults.
For more information, call Denise Audette or Allene at the FFDACL (274-5556).