Transition Newsletter November 2022
NOVEMBER 2022
Community
Communities play a very important role in every aspect of our lives. We have communities within our families and our friends. We also have communities through school, our employment, our neighborhoods, and in so many other places.
Being part of a community provides us with a sense of belonging and can make us feel as though we are a part of something greater than ourselves.
There are so many positive results from being part of a family as well as a larger community. We are given unique opportunities to learn from each other. We give and receive support and encouragement. Being supportive of each other helps us all to feel good about ourselves.
With community participation comes empowerment. As we become able to accept more responsibilities, we can build new skills and confidence. As we meet new people, we have the opportunity to improve communication skills, make new connections, and hopefully form positive relationships.
Both classes have been working on identifying different levels of relationships that we have with people within our community as well as expected behavior with friends, family, acquaintances, community helpers, and strangers.
Elliana and Hannah with the community poster they helped to create
Notes from Dana's class discussion about community
A visual used in a discussion with Dana's class about relationships and expected behavior
As we begin the month of November, it is tradition to reflect on all that we are thankful for.
We wish to express our sincere appreciation for our community partners, our staff, and especially our students and their families who help to make Transition a truly special place.
Conversations about Community
Question for students
We asked the students to tell us what communities they most enjoy being a part of.
Here are their answers.
Tyler: I like being a part of Special Olympics, CROYA, and school.
John: I enjoy my school community, Special Olympics and my family.
Alex: I like being a part of Boy Scouts, I like sports teams and Special Olympics.
Nicolette: I enjoy being a part of Special Olympics, school, NSSRA and my family.
Elliana: I like my school community, family, friends, my work community and my neighborhood.
Hannah: I enjoy Special Olympics, my school and volunteer community.
Tommy: I like being a part of my school community and my family.
Rayane: I enjoy sports teams, Special Olympics and my family.
Irving: I like being a part of my work community, school, family and friends.
Max: I love my swimming community, Special Olympics, school, my family and my neighborhood.
Jane: I enjoy Special Olympics, tennis, my friends, Camp Hope and Scout Buddies.
Gillian: I enjoy being a part of NSSRA, Transition, my job, my PWS community and my family.
Luke: I love camp at CEL, swimming, my neighborhood, tennis, my friends and Scout Buddies.
Quinn: I like being a part of my work community, NSSRA, sports teams, Transition, friends and family.
Calendars
IMPORTANT DATES FOR NOVEMBER
November 8th - Election Day
- No school for staff and students
November 23rd through November 25th - Thanksgiving Break
- No school for staff and students
IMPORTANT DATES FOR DECEMBER
December 12th through December 15th
- We will be following the final exam schedule for District 115. School days will end at 1:10pm.
December 16th
- No school for students.
December 19th
- Winter Break begins. School will resume on January 4th.
Psychology with Poladian
With Thanksgiving Break around the corner, the topics of community and thankfulness are on many of our minds. Since the start of the school year, I have learned that many of our students are thankful for their pets and consider them part of their families: dogs, cats, fish, gerbils, and more!
For those who do not have pets at home, there are still plenty of opportunities to appreciate animals all around us in our community. We have spotted squirrels, birds, butterflies, and many other creatures on nature walks around West Campus. And, of course, we cannot forget the Transition pet turtle, Kim. Finally, some of our students even had the opportunity to pet mini-horses on a community trip in Barrington earlier this year.
Some studies have found that animals can reduce feelings of stress, increase feelings of social support, and improve our mood. Petting a pet or looking at a picture of a pet are even considered coping strategies that some people use to feel better when they are down.
Students have shared that they:
Feel relaxed with them
Feel happy around them
Enjoy spending time with them
Help take care of them
Take them on walks, bike rides, in the car
Look forward to seeing them at home
Definitely something to be thankful for!
Speech Tips with Sherry
Speech and Language Tips for the Holidays:
There are many activities during the holidays that allow you to incorporate language skills. You can plan a meal, make a list of the ingredients you need, budget, discuss where you will go shopping, and anything else you may need. While you are in the community shopping you may notice decorations or special foods that are available for the season. It may be fun to incorporate some of the items you see when planning your special holiday activities and meals.
Cooking and baking can target a variety of skills including receptive and expressive language, problem solving, and executive functioning. It also allows you to practice life skills such as hygiene and hand washing, kitchen safety skills, and following routines/sequences. Enjoy!
Using AAC During the Holidays:
There are a variety of ways we can incorporate AAC during the holidays including using core words. These might include greetings, commenting on activities or events in the community or at home, requesting to participate and more. Here are some examples of core words and ways to use them during special events:
Greetings: Hello/goodbye, please/thank you
Commenting: look (at the decorations), go (eat, visit), big, think, like
Requesting: want, put, play, more
Discussing activities in the community
We can also incorporate unique fringe words related to holidays such as turkey, pie, football, decoration, gift, present, community, and more.
Social questions and comments are also a great way to incorporate AAC. Students can use AAC to lead or participate in conversations surrounding special events, as well as conversations about favorite foods, sports, teams, TV shows, or something else. Some example questions include:
How are you?
What is your favorite part of_______?
What is your favorite_________?
What do you like to do for fun?
What do you think of_______?
What are you thankful for______?
Where did you go in the community?
Who did you see in the community?
Vocational Spotlight with Diana
Here at Lake Forest Transition, we practice and generalize skills through community-based instruction, job shadowing, community-based work experiences, volunteering, supervised employment, and service-learning. These practices are set in inclusive environments and allow our students to build relationships, skills, and independence all over Lake County.
Each fall, we are super thankful for our local community supports. This includes all of our community employers and community team members that support each student's experience. Community members from all over the county really come together to collaborate and work together to best support student needs. And for that, the Lake Forest Transition Center thanks you.
You all are making a difference.
Lake Forest Pack and Ship- Lake Forest Gerhardt’s Elegant Desserts- Lake Forest Walgreens- Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, & Deerfield Lake Forest Food and Wine- Lake Forest Jewel-Osco- Lake Forest Fresh Market- Lake Forest Little Scouts Day School- Lake Forest Gorton Community Day School- Lake Forest The Lake Forest Recreation Center- Lake Forest Lake Forest True Value Hardware- Lake Forest Lake Forest Library- Lake Forest Lake Forest College- Lake Forest Hilton Garden Inn- Lake Forest Mettawa McDonalds- Lake Forest- Mettawa PACE Transportation- Sheridan Township Suzy Swirl- Lake Bluff Donati’s Pizza- Lake Bluff Tropical Smoothie-Lake Bluff Heinen’s-Lake Bluff Bernie’s Book Bank The Sheridan Green Oak- Lake Bluff Blue Star Recyclers- Buffalo Grove Hawthorn Mall- Vernon Hills Mariano’s Grocery- Bannockburn and Vernon Hills Midtown Athletic Club- Bannockburn Eggspresso- Bannockburn Challenge Unlimited- Great Lakes Great Wolf Lodge- Gurnee College of Lake County- Grayslake IYIP Lake County- Lake Bluff Division of Rehabilitation Services- Waukegan
Vocational Employment Highlight of the Month
Congratulations to Sebastian Facundo for earning a certificate of completion through the Homeland Security Training Institute (HSTI) at the College of DuPage. Sebastian works at Hawthorn Mall as a Community Security Officer. His post-secondary goal continues to be working within law enforcement and he is consistent and persistent in achieving this goal.
This month, Sebastian persevered within his HSTI general curriculum, his paid security job, as well as his volunteer Explorers Police Program.
Congratulations on this amazing achievements and thank you for all your hard work this fall!!!
Sebastian proudly displaying his Training Certificate
Transition Highlights
Belonging to a Community at Work
Tyler and his coworkers singing happy birthday to an Eggspresso customer
Jane and her bosses at LF Food and Wine
Elliana with one of her favorite coworkers at Walgreens
Alex meeting with the Walgreens Regional Managers
Luke and his boss at True Value
Hannah with her Hilton Garden Inn community
Belonging to a Community at West Campus
Friends, Alex and Hannah, eating lunch together
Pete, Luke, and Max in the gym
Tyler showing his work to Bob, a building engineer at West Campus (one of our community helpers)
Sherry, Emerson, and Jane working together
Ruthie and John having fun
Playing basketball together
Holding the door open for others
Celebrating a job well done
Group discussions
Listening to the teacher
Celebrating special occasions together
Belonging to a Community at Lake Forest College
Walking through campus
Lunch with college friends
Exercising at the athletic facility
Being kind to each other
Enjoying mutual interests
Using the equipment safely
Playing card games with college friends
Great conversations
Meeting new people
Being Positive Community Members
Max with his teacher at CLC Tech Campus
Using the library resources appropriately and respectfully
Visiting restaurants
in the community
Gillian being a smart shopper
Elliana welcoming people with a smile at Walgreens
Tommy cleaning up after eating at Panera
Tyler volunteering in the community
Morgan and Gillian being open to new experiences
Nicolette helping the class buy
Halloween candy for Little Scouts
Helpful Resources
FREE Special Needs Legal and Future Planning Webinar November 21,10:00am
- An overview of Government Benefits, including SSI, SSDI, Medicaid and Medicare.
- An overview of types of an appropriate uses of Special Needs Trusts, including gifting by grandparents & extended family members; The impact of divorce & child support on government benefits; The impact of litigation settlements on government benefits; and Determining the appropriate amount to leave.
- ABLE Accounts...when, why...pros and, yes, cons.
- Guardianships (Plenary and Limited)& the alternatives including Supported Decision Making and Powers of Attorney.
- Letters of intent....Selecting and providing guidance, education & information for the "Future Team", the future Trustees, Guardians, Care Providers.
- Q&A
Attorney Brian Rubin, the founder of Rubin Law, a former IRS Agent, and former IRS Attorney, has been a practicing attorney since 1976, is the parent of three children one of whom, Mitchell, has Autism.
Handcrafted Wreaths and Decorations for the Holidays!
One of our students is having a fundraiser to benefit the Boy Scouts of America. To get your handcrafted holiday wreath and decorations, simply print out the below order form. You may either return the order form and payment with your student, or drop off to Nick Kramer at West Campus. Sale ends on Friday, November 4. Please contact Nick (nkramer@lfschools.net) with any questions.
Collaborative Community Housing Initiative Newsletter
Communities where individuals of all abilities live collectively, each determining their own path to a meaningful life.
300 S. Waukegan Rd.
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045