A Transition Story By Jessica Laine Hart Moderated by: Debbie - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Success of a Self-Advocate:

A Transition Story

By Jessica Laine Hart Moderated by: Debbie Wilkes

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Who am I?

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

Employee at Region 10 Self-Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Objectives

• Avoid pitfalls of transition planning –

– Learn to listen to the person – Avoid making assumptions – Follow through

• Discover what worked and didn’t work in

the school system and Vocational Rehabilitation

• Learn the role of Medicaid Waiver

Programs to enhance transition.

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

How You Can Help Today

• Audience participation

–Ask questions

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

I was born on January 3, 1984 weighing in at only 2 lbs. and 3

• z. The day after I was born my

parents found out that I had Cerebral Palsy.

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

CP is a group of brain disorders that affects movement. The brain does not send proper signals to the muscles. The person is unable to control how certain muscles tighten or relax.

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Cerebral Palsy

• Not a disease.
• Doesn’t get worse over time,
• Not contagious
• There is no cure
• Cases vary from mild to severe

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Control/Support versus Cure

• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Electric Wheelchair
• Botox treatment

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

CP and Me

• The Problem: My left hand basically is

fisted all of the time

• The Solution:

– Occupational Therapy – Touch Screen – Wireless Mouse and keyboard – Enlarged grip on fork

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

CP and Me

• Problem: Mobility, grooming, dressing,

and sometimes eating

• Solution:

– Mom helps me – Attendant care

• While in school – 30 hours
• After graduation- 60 hours a week

– Adaptive equipment at the home – Paratransit – Soup - someone helps me or I avoid it

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Elevator

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Track for lift

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Roll-in Shower Lift

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Wheelchair Accessible Van

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Getting to know ME

• Direct questions to me
• Don’t assume that I have an Intellectual

Developmental Disability

• If you don’t understand me, ask me to clarify.

It is worth listening to me. You may learn something new.

• Don’t be afraid of me

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Cortical Visual Impairment

• Larger font
• Customized computer (touch screen)
• Great memory

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

School Days

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Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

Terrace Elementary: PPCD

What worked

• Being around other kids

What didn’t work

• Expecting me to see and

learn like others

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Richland Elementary: K-6

What worked

• Aides who expected me to do my own

work

• Teachers who accommodated
• Third grade Mom began thinking

about transition

What didn’t work

• Aides who over helped
• OT who wrote inaccurate assessments

with no functional plan

• Expecting me to learn things on the

curriculum schedule and not my schedule

• Wasting time

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Elementary Transition

• Put on waiting list

for CLASS 1992

• Received CLASS

end of 1995

• Parent attending

Transition Information Team Meetings

• Began Person

Centered Planning

• Parent connecting

with other agencies

– UCP Dallas – UCP Texas

• Testifying in

Austin regarding CLASS

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Richardson Junior High

What Worked

• Switching aides
• Took state assessment with

accommodations only

• Math teacher recognized that some days

were better for learning than others

• Including friends my age at my person

centered plan

• Choir

What didn’t work

• OT didn’t want to try computer

programs Apple versus IBM

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Gold Award

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Berkner High School

What Worked

• Discontinued OT
• Rolinda Duran from TCB
• Continuing with Person

Centered Planning

• Relationship with Tyler
• Summer employment
• Riding DART
• Being part of the high school

What didn’t work

• Huge school/elevator

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Prom Ram Jam

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Transition Program: Richland

What worked

• Person Centered Planning
• Employability Skills Class at Richland
• Traveling to Chicago and New Orleans
• Starting and ending day at home
• Determining what I wanted to do (not take

classes, telemarketing)

• Got paid job

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

CLASS Medicaid Waiver

I am on the CLASS Medicaid waiver or Community Living and Assisted Support Services. CLASS provides funds for habilitation, therapy services, adaptive aids, case management, nursing and minor home modifications.

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

How I use CLASS

• 60 hours attendant care

– 12 hours helping at Region 10 and Police Department – 15 to 20 getting up in AM and ready for bed in PM

• Occupational Therapy (1 hour a week)
• 12 hours recreational therapy a month

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

There is a reason that God created each and every one

• f us. I believe God has

many purposes for me.

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

I hope you’ll feel free to ask me any questions, because I want you to have a full understanding about me.

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting

Jessica Laine Hart

Jessica L. Hart Self Advocate

D.R. Wilkes Consulting