Our guest speakers will talk about the stresses we often face as caregivers (or as the person with the disability). Maybe we can’t avoid them, but we certainly should be able to find professionals who can guide us to survive it.

What everyday techniques can we learn, and if we need assistance from a medical professional, how can we find someone who really understands what we are going through?

"Don't Stress Out: Finding Professionals to Help"

Thursday, September 21, Noon-1 p.m. CDT

If you'd like the information, but can’t attend, register, and we’ll provide you with a link to the recorded video after the class.  

For Zoom security, when you register, you’ll receive an email with a link to the class and a passcode—which you’ll be asked to enter when you log-on. (To avoid disruption, we'll close the class at 12:05. If you’re late, you'll be able to watch the video later.) 

Registration is required. Click here to sign up!

If you missed last month's Parent University class, "Power of Attorney vs. Guardianship vs. Supported Decision-Making," you can watch it for free—but only for a short time. The video is available with our compliments until September 20. Just use the coupon code 2023pu8guardian at checkout.

In this class, we discussed

• What each of these are and the differences between them
• What’s involved in implementing each process
• How to determine which one is best in your situation

To watch it using the coupon code:

• Click on the link below to access the class in our store
• Add the class to your cart
• Type in the above code at checkout
• Click “Apply coupon”

Parents who are the main caregivers for kids with special needs can be at risk for burnout, especially if they don’t have enough support themselves. In this article from the Child Mind Institute, writer Juliann Grey and clinical expert Dr. Matthew Rouse review the symptoms of caregiver burnout and what parents can do to take care of themselves, plus they explain respite care and how to learn more about it.

We will be discussing caregiver stress in our September 21 class. If you'd like to learn more about it in advance, be sure to check out this informative article.

Gerry's Cafe may look like an ordinary coffee shop -- in fact, it's a former Starbucks -- but it's not. Rather, it's a nonprofit that hired 45 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to staff the shop. Read the article from the Daily Herald.

Our July Parent University discussed what kinds of employers hire disabled individuals, and here is a live example! Natalie Griffin a former special education teacher, and local business owner Amy Philpott developed the cafe, named in honor of Philpott's aunt, Geralyn Wehmer, who was born with Down syndrome in 1958.

Similar to Will's Place in Skokie, the goal of Gerry's Cafe is to provide meaningful employment to adults with disabilities. We applaud the individuals who are making these dreams a reality.

Upcoming Events 2023