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For Dawn and others with older / adult special needs children, The frustration is horrible, I know. I understand the problems that come from these types of situations since my husband is visually impaired and is often believed to be completely incompetent (even with his degrees in education, physical education, and visual impairment certification). Much of this is public attitude is actually ignorance, the rest is "intolerance" of those individuals with special needs. Both are inexcusable, in my opinion. But we shall educate, right? While your daughter is an adult, there should still be services available to her through rehabilitation services in your state. I would definitely check to see what resources might be available AND find out about a "job coach" --if possible--to help your daughter to develop those skills that others find they need from employees. I would also check into programs / businesses that OFFER employment to disabled / special needs individuals because these businesses often have developed programs with special individuals who manage them along with job coaches AND provide support while allowing for employment. Remember that the ADA will also be a great leverage to help with these types of situations, so check out what is happening and try to support, document, and defend your daughter's right to work without fear of termination because of her disability. I will admit that these programs are rare (and I can see an avenue for future business ventures here, if others are interested in pursuing this as a "What I Would Like To Be" later in life), there are some programs out there. Here are some links to investigate further avenues for help AND I would also encourage YOU, as the parent, to become actively involved in a parental support group to help you begin to make the transitions necessary to help your daughter to become an independent adult--especially later in life when you and your husband are not there to help. Now is the time to set up financial trust-funds for your daughter and assign a guardian who will help her to transition throughout life (perhaps a younger family member, cousin, or friend of the family that you trust and who is your daughter's age or slightly older). I know you've heard all of this before (probably as she was attending school), but this is probably the most difficult time in the lives of special needs adults. Putting the plan in action is the hardest when you don't have the support that you found (hopefully) when she was in school. I would definitely seek out those services within your state (Department of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Human Services, or Department of Education---at least one of these types of state / federal service divisions should be able to direct you to services that are available to adults with learning disabilities / special needs. Good luck! (Take deep breaths and know that you are not alone....hopefully, there are some paths that you can take to find the answers!) http://nisonger.osu.edu/Links.htm http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/special.needs.trans.html http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/ld/bridges/bridges.html http://ldlink.coe.utk.edu/jobseekers_employers.htm http://ldlink.coe.utk.edu/service_providers.htm http://www.thearc.org/ http://adulted.about.com/od/specialneedsassociations/ http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/index.htmlx http://www.google.com/Top/Home/Family/Parenting/Special_Needs_Children/ ~Shonda Shonda Brisco, MLIS US / Technology Librarian Fort Worth Country Day School Fort Worth, TX sbrisco@fwcds.org http://www.fwcds.org/campus/libraries/default.asp -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------