August 2022 Issue 2 Work Independently
Image Description: The Center for Exceptional Families logo with 3 hearts: 1 green, 1 orange, and 1 blue heart. The hearts are interconnected and hanging off the letter E in the word Exceptional.
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LWLI
Live, Work, and Learn Independently
A Newsletter for Arkansas
Teens and Adults
with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood

The Center for Exceptional Families' goal is to improve the quality of life and opportunities for all students with disabilities, including teens and young adults (age 14-26) who are transitioning from school to adult life. TCFEF will offer regular workshops, training, resources, and 3-4 annual newsletters specifically with information on transitioning to adulthood.
Image Description: Logo with a gray robot character with yellow eyes winking, with a tv/computer monitor for head, and antennas coming out the top of head. The phrase around the character says, "Live Work and Learn Independently" and the letters on the side of the character are LWLI.
What is Post Secondary Transition?
Meet TATE, our Teen Adult Transition Expert (TATE).
TATE will give you important facts, vocabulary, and info related to Living, Learning, and Working Independently. TATE was created by a teen with a disability specifically for this purpose!
Post secondary transition is part of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and it helps prepare teens with disabilities for life after high school. It should include assessments, goals, and services for living, working, and learning as independently as possible. It should be specific to the needs of the student! One size does not fit all!

A post secondary transition plan should be in place by age 16 and the student should be invited and included in the meeting and planning as much as possible!

To learn more about about post secondary transition planning, Click Here!
Teen Spotlight
Kudos to Clay Lewis for being an entrepreneur and creating a job that works for him! And way to go to his parents and community for supporting his efforts to work independently as possible!
An entrepreneur is a person who runs their own business. It can give teens and adults with disabilities flexibility and financial independence. Being your own boss has its risks and benefits! To learn more about being an entrepeneur, Click Here!
Events
TCFEF Events

Stay up to date with our events by checking out our calendar:

Monthly Events

August 27th, September 24th, October 22nd, November 19th - 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM Adults on the Autism Spectrum Meeting at Downtown Little Rock Library. 1st Floor. Fribourgh Room. Virtual Option: 

Various Dates: Young Adult Social Group (ages 15-25) Community Connections Little Rock, Conway, Russellville.

Various Dates: Club Connect for young adults with Down Syndrome. Held every 6-8 weeks. 
Lead Inspire Focus Excel!
Loreena Hegenbart, Parent Mentor of the North Central region of Arkansas, had the privilege of working with teens with disabilties during the summer for the Meyer Davis Transition Services Program in Batesville.

She presented information from the Lead Inspire Focus Inspire (LIFE) program. She helped students dream and develop a vision for their future and learn how to bring that dream to reality with self-advocacy in their transition plan in the Individual Education Plan (IEP).

To learn more about Meyers Davis, Click Here

To have TCFEF present Transition information at your event or school district, email Shelby.Knight@tcfef.org
Puberty Workshop
Join the Texas Partners Resource Network and The Center for Exceptional Families' board member Ruth Eyres on October 22nd from 10AM-12PM at Cathedral Heights Church of the Nazarene, 40101 Fairgrounds Road, Texarkana, Texas 71854. Families from Texas and Arkansas are welcome to attend this presentations on teens with disabilities and puberty

Arkansas families, email Karen.Lutrick@tcfef.org for more information.
Pool Party
Sponsored by Jonesboro Mayor Youth Advancement Council (MYAC) and Project Care! September 10 from 12-2:00 PM for ages 12 and up.
For flyer, Click Here
For info about MYAC, Click Here
For info about Project Care, Click Here
The 7th Biennial Employment First Conference.

Hosted by the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) on Wednesday, August 31 – Friday, September 2, 2022 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
To learn more, Click Here
Independent Futures That Work
Image Description: Logo with the title "Independent Futures that Work. Live. Work. Learn." Logo is in blue and green. There is a person in a wheelchair, a person with a backpack on, and a person with a walking cane on a path with 3 arrows pointing in different directions.
To expand the goal of reaching teens and young adults, TCFEF has partnered with The Independent Futures That Work Project. IFTW is a multi-state program with a mission to work together with families, schools, and other organizations to help teens and adults with disabilities plan their futures! Click the link below to learn more and connect with IFTW on their website and social media sites!
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Our last issue focused on Living Independently. Click Here to access the past issue.

This issue is about Working Independently. Below are some checklists and guides to working independently and accessing vocational rehabilitation services.
IFTW Arkansas Organization Spotlight
Each newsletter, we will highlight organizations that are part of the Arkansas advisory committee for Independent Futures That Work. These organizations offer different services to teen and adults with disabilites and their families to help with the transtion to adulthood.
Arkansas Transition Services helps parents, school districts, and other organizations come together to help teens and young adults transition to life after high school. To learn more:
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services offers training and career preparation services to help people with disabilities work and lead productive and independent lives. To learn more:
Project Search is an ACCESS intitiative with Arkansas Rehab Services that provides adults with disabilities who qualify internships with local hospitals to teach them the skills to gain employment. To learn more:
988 is now active!
The Suicide and Crisis Hotline has now activated it's new and shorter phone number to make it easier for people to get help! It can be used 24/7 across the United States. To learn more:
Want to know more?
To see more state and national resources for living, learning, and working independently, click below. The button will take you to the Resources for Teens and Young Adults tab on The Center for Exceptional Familes' website!