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Family Connections Center

NEWSLETTER # 96 

THE NEMASKET GROUP May ‐ June 2019

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Believe in Your Child – If You Don’t, Who Will?

Never deny the diagnosis, but always deny the negative prognosis. Norman Cousins

Ignore the negative predictions of others – no one can predict your child’s future. What your child can achieve is determined by your child (with your unconditional support) and no one else! Let’s dream with

and for our children, so they learn to dream for themselves.

Go Back in Time

What were your dreams for your child with a disability before you knew about your child’s diagnosis? (The same kind of dreams any parent has for any child, right?) It’s time to get those dreams back – anything is

possible when we open our minds to possibilities.

You most likely did not dream things like: my child will talk…my child will walk…my child will have appropriate behavior…my child will read at grade level…my child will master the pincer grasp…my child

will write with a pencil…blah, blah, blah…

None of those (or similar things) are required to live a wonderful life. My son, Benjamin, cannot walk; he uses a power chair; he cannot write with a pencil; he uses a computer; and he’s a successful college student! Go back to those big dreams: that your child will be successful in school, have friends, get a

good education, go to college or vocational school, get a job, leave home, fall in love and get married, make you a grandparent, or whatever – we need to dream big!

It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the

hope of today and the reality of tomorrow. Robert H. Goddard

Think About Right Now

What does your child need to be successful right now? Let’s live in the present – that’s the only place any of us can be – while thinking about the future. A child who is successful is paving the path to success as an adult. But if a child is not successful today, as a 2-year-old, or a 6-year-old, or a 14-year-old? What assistive technology devises, supports, or accommodations does your child need to lead a wonderful, ordinary life, included in all areas of society? If your child does not have a disability, consider: Where would your child be throughout the day? Who would your child be with? How would your child be spending his/her time? The answers reveal what should be happening in the life of your child with a disability.

Food for Thought Dream Big Dreams!

Revolutionary Common Sense by Kathie Snow, www.disabilityisnatural.com

…continued on page 3

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Stories were full of hearts being broken by love, but what really broke a heart was taking away

its dream – whatever the dream might be. Pearl S. Buck

Belief in a thing makes it happen. Frank Lloyd Wright

Believe it can happen and it will! The belief comes first; the how follows. If you don’t believe it can happen, it won’t. The barrier is never a child’s diagnosis, but our attitudes and actions!

Think about privileges and responsibilities (those normal, ordinary, and precious activities that are the building blacks for a successful life) that are chronologically age-appropriate, not developmental age. Do you allow your child to make his/her own decisions (and live with the consequences)? Does your child pick out his/her own clothes? Is your child expected to do chores around the house? Does your child receive an allowance? Does your child participate in ordinary and inclusive activities at school and in the community? Keep thinking about other “normal” things that children without disabilities routinely do… What will it take to ensure your child is living a successful life right now? Success today paves the way for success tomorrow!

Reality can destroy the dream, why shouldn’t the dream destroy reality? George Moore

Support Your Child’s Dreams

The impossible talked of is less impossible from the moment words are laid to it. Storm Jameson On a regular basis, around the dinner table, while driving in the car, etc. – talk to all your children this way: “When you grow up and [drive a car, leave home, go to college, or whatever]… We don’t know that any of our children will achieve any of these things (they might run off and join the circus, instead), but let’s lay a foundation of high expectations. When we speak this way to our children, we send the message that we believe in them, we trust them, and we know they’re competent and able. When you talk to a child this way, the child will “talk back” the same way: “Mom, when I grow up and [fill-in-the-blank]…”Yippee – the child believes in himself! Then, when your child says, “I want to be an actor [or the president, or a nurse, or whatever], support your child’s dreams. Never pooh-pooh the dreams as “not realistic.” We’re “not realistic” with children who do not have disabilities – we don’t crush their dreams. So let’s not crush the dreams of our children who have disabilities. Again, no one knows what’s possible! When my son, Benjamin, said he wanted to be an actor, I encouraged him to learn more about acting by taking drama classes. For three years, he was a successful actor in children’s theater productions. His disability was irrelevant, and he demonstrated many strengths (great auditory memory, being a big ham,

and more). When my daughter, Emily, said she wanted to be a pediatrician, I suggested she become a junior volunteer at the hospital. After less than a week, she changed her mind – she couldn’t bear to see the babies crying after being given shots and more. She did however, continue

volunteering in a different part of the hospital. Learning what you don’t like is as important as learning what you do like! So when your child shares a dream, encourage that dream; suggest your child take a class in it, research it on the internet or at the library, identify a mentor who’s involved with the activity, and/or find another way for your child to explore that dream. And if failure occurs, value that experience. Your child will learn that failure is not the end of the world (kind of like tipping over the bicycle; we learn to pick it up and get back on). For all of us, disappointments allow us to learn and enable us to become stronger!

Family Connections Center Newsletter

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This year The Nemasket Group, Inc. will be honoring a staff member of the organization who has shown exemplary service by with an Employee of the Year Award!! The winner of the award will be presented with the Employee of the Year Award and $500 at our Think N’ Grow Agency Staff Meeting in July 2019. We are asking family members, people who receive services, Nemasket Group employees and others to nominate a direct

support professional or employee (that is not a member of management) who they feel has contributed significantly to the organization, or has shown a deep level of commitment in their support of individuals and/or families. Please visit nemasketgroup.org/award for more information & to download the nomination form. The deadline for nomination submissions is 6/15/19. More information contact Jessica Marcotte Reilly, Human Resource Director at 508 999-4436

Runners take to the streets in support of The Nemasket Group

The Nemasket Group held its sixth annual 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, 5/4/19 at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven to raise awareness and support a great cause. The rain held off just long enough for the participants and volunteers to finish up the race. Congratulations to the winners: 1st man/overall, Andrew DaCunha 20.51; 1st woman, Alana Graves 25.21; 1st boy, Jackson Ponte 28.19; 1st girl, Sadie Hartley Matteson 31.40; 1st dog, Turkish. With 32 team members Lee Ann Wood and the Graves Team won Highest Fundraiser and Largest Team. Family pet Turkish also won first place for dogs. A big thank-you to all the major sponsors: BankFive, Claremont Companies, Symmons, Patricia Stone In Memory of Conrad Stone, Guard Oil, Bridgewater Credit Union, St. Anne’s Credit Union. Reprinted from May 8, 2019 Fairhaven Neighborhood News

KnowDid You

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Family Connections Center Newsletter Did You Know

Contact Your Legislators Today: Support a Strong FY 2020 Budget!

The FY2020 State budget is currently in Conference Committee and we need your help so that the highest amount of funding possible for our priorities is agreed upon by the two branches. The Conference Committee is composed of the House and Senate Ways and Means Chairs, Senator Michael Rodrigues and Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, and Vice-Chairs, Senator Cindy Friedman and Rep. Denise Garlick, and Senior minority members, Senator Viriato deMacedo and Rep. Todd Smola, to resolve differences in the House and Senate budgets and draft a compromise budget proposal.

We are grateful for the continued funding for the Turning-22 program, which supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) now graduating from high school in need of adult services. And for the increase in the DESE-DDS line item, which helps families stay together when a child is at risk of an out of home placement. We are also thankful for the boost of $300,000 above the Governor’s budget for the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI), which provides more access to college courses and learning opportunities for people with autism or I/DD. In addition, the budget includes essential funding to help additional families and individuals with DDS transportation services and Autism Waiver funding as well as other critical budget line items for the disability community. However, there are still significant shortfalls for the disability community. The following line-items are under consideration:

1. $3.5 million (House) in Family Support and Respite: DDS Line item 5920-3000. Although 12,000 served, many receive minimal funding, while another 8,000 unserved.

2. $3.4 million (House) in Community Day and Employment: DDS Line item 5920-2025. 895 people are being served but not getting enough hours, 300 people are not getting employment services and funding is needed to addressing changing needs, staffing ratios due to transition from sheltered workshops, and, compliance with Olmstead and CMS regulations.

3. $2.5 million (House) in Autism Omnibus: DDS Line Item 5920-3020. Turning-22 is being addressed, but other individuals with autism who are older are not yet receiving funding. We request an additional $2.5 million for the over 500 individuals not currently served.

4. $100,000 (Senate) for Aging with Developmental Disabilities: DDS Line Item 5920-3025. Thousands of individuals with DD are over the age of 40 and need more assistance.

Negotiations for the Compromise Budget of the House and Senate will begin very soon so your advocacy and action are needed now. We encourage all to contact your Representative and Senator to reach out to the Conference Committee re: these four important line items, customizing the letter with your personal experiences. The main number at the state house is (617) 722-2000 to reach all House & Senate members.

Contact Your Legislators Today!!

Reprinted from the Arc Massachusetts

 

NEW ADDRESS

Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council 108 Myrtle Street, Suite 202 Quincy, MA 02171 – 1791

Our main number and all staff extensions will remain the same.

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Our main number and all staff extensions will remain the same.

A Message from the Board of Directors and the Golf Committee

In an effort to enhance the programs and services individuals and their families enjoy,

The Nemasket Group’s Board of Director’s sponsor a few fundraising activities throughout the year. All members of the Nemasket community are asked to assist in these efforts in any way

possible. Staff, individuals supported, families, and friends can be a great help with these endeavors. Donations of cash or items to be raffled or auctioned at our fundraisers (such as the

upcoming golf tournament on August 26th) are of particular value. Please also consider reaching out to those local businesses that you frequent or may have a personal contact.

Charting the LifeCourse During the Transition Years

The Arc of Massachusetts 2019 Transition Conference

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The College of the Holy Cross, Worcester

Stay tuned to arcmass.org/conference for more updates.

Upcoming Events

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Family Connections Center Newsletter Upcoming Events