april 6, 2009 university of montana rural institute transition projects um rural institute

April 6, 2009

University of Montana

Rural Institute Transition Projects

http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/transition

11UM Rural Institute UM Rural Institute

http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/transition

Tracy FillbachAge 22

Graduate of Corvallis High School

Home Care Attendant

Active member of community


I live in my own apartment in Hamilton

I plan and prepare my own meals

I have my own car and drive places I need to go (I’ve had my driver’s license for a long time)

To keep connected with the world, I have a land line telephone and a track phone (like a cell phone but I purchase minutes every month)

I have a computer but no Internet access

I work out regularly at a local Health Club


I write appointments and other important things on calendars

If I can’t be somewhere I’m supposed to be, I call ahead of time and let the other person know


I can call 911 if I have an emergency

My apartment has smoke detectors

Susanne, my Community Rehabilitation Provider, joins me in my cooking and meal planning twice a month

My mom is supportive and helps if I need it


I am currently a Home Care Attendant

I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 – 11:30

I help an individual get ready in the mornings, assist her with her breakfast, and feed her rabbits

Prior to being a Home Care Attendant, I worked as a Dietary Aide


I volunteer at the Teller Wildlife Refuge

My volunteering is in the summer

I weed and do other garden work

I volunteer with two ladies from the area


Raising and showing rabbits

I own three rabbits

They live at my sister’s house in Corvallis

Breeding and showing rabbits is a family event for us

Entering photographs at the county fair

Going to the Ravalli County Fair

Taking vacations with my family (my mom and I went to Oregon…in 2001, we went to Hawaii)

On my days off, I like to relax a bit but always work out!


I have several friends I spend time with

Randy and I hang out sometimes


My mom told me I needed to start exercising, so:

I go to the Iron Horse Health Club with friends

I use the machines

Twice a week for an hour at a time

I ride my bike

I downhill ski

I compete in Special Olympics

And I go horseback riding

Once a week with Bitterroot Therapeutic Riding


Get ready for the day

Drive to work (from Hamilton to Corvallis)

Work from 8:30 – 11:00

Run errands

Go home

Eat lunch and relax

Go to the Iron Horse and work out

Watch television

Go visit friends

Make and eat dinner

Go for a walk

Watch a rented movie


I am eligible for Community Supports funding through the Montana Developmental Disabilities Program

The money is used for

*Fitness Membership

*Meal Planning, Preparation, and Budgeting

*Horse Back Riding

*Long-Term Supported Employment


Yes! Don’t we all?

When I get bored, I ride my bike, watch television, or find something else to do


My Name is Ryan Monson• I graduated from Hamilton High

School in May 2002. This is my senior year picture.

• I am 27 years old now.• I live with my parents and have 5

brothers and sisters and 12 stepbrothers and sisters, though I am the only one living at home.

• We moved to Montana from Utah nine years ago. Some of my family members still live in Utah and some live in Montana and I have lots of nieces and nephews.

14UM Rural Institute

I have a job delivering newspapers:

I deliver the Bitteroot Star every Wednesday morning starting at nine o’clock. I deliver to the businesses downtown and it usually takes me about two hours. 15UM Rural Institute

People who have helped me since I graduated:

• My family and I do fun things together. Sometimes we go swimming, hiking, have picnics or barbeques and watch movies or play chess.

• Susanne Meikle is my job coach and also helps me in finding suitable employment. She is my friend, too, and helps me learn things about working in the community and doing things the right way. She is with Montana Work Solutions and helps people with disabilities and special needs to find jobs. There is a newspaper article about her on the last slide.

• Jane Shigley is my case manager for Community Supports. She helps me with Special Olympics, government funding for job supports, and helps with any problems I encounter.

• Jerry Zook, the counselor with Montana Vocational Rehabilitation in Hamilton, helped me in finding work and providing government funding.

• My parents provide transportation when I need it.


Things I do for fun:

• Ride horses• Attend People’s First

meetings and events• Visit my brother’s video

store to play and trade games.

•Read books

•Go for walks or ride my bike

•Play computer games and watch TV


Things I do for fun:

• Work on my computer• Practice typing by

copying books• Attend Special Olympics• Play and compose

music on my keyboard• Play chess• Volunteer


I volunteered at Kids First


Carol Monson• I am Ryan’s stepmother. He has

lived with me since he was seven years old.

• I help Ryan with his projects, teach him proper use of his computer and electronic equipment, and encourage him to be outgoing and participate in things that are useful for his growth and intellectual progress.

• His father also helps in caring for his special needs and provides transportation whenever he needs it.


Tips for other parents and teachers:

• Find what is available in services and providers in your community. In Ravalli County, check with the Opportunity Resources people.

• Sign up for Developmental Disability services and Community Supports as soon as you can, even while your child is still in school. Once your child is out of school, Community Supports funding can help in paying for job coaching and searching for possible employment.

• Apply for SSI for your child (and keep applying if you are initially turned down…they always seem to turn you down at first but be persistent and keep applying).

• Access all available work programs while your child is still in school- summer jobs, work experience programs, etc.

• The Rural Institute at the University of Montana in Missoula can be of help sometimes, too.


Tips for other parents and teachers:

• It helps to be aware of your child’s strengths and weaknesses and what special abilities they might have that could be marketed in the business world. Then plan to increase their capacity.

• Start looking around for businesses that might be willing to take on an employee with your child’s special abilities and strengths.

• While he was in high school, Ryan participated in a special “Job Profiling” through the Rural Institute. This helped us to realize just what he was capable of. Then we brainstormed with his teachers to think about and find possible businesses that could be shown how someone with Ryan’s skills could be of benefit to their workplace. We met often to discuss and help discover further opportunities to help Ryan. His teachers in the Special Education Department were very helpful.


Was it easy to build a full day?• After Ryan graduated from high school, the Community

Supports program (Jane Shigley, case manger, and Susanne Meikle with Montana Work Solutions) started working and doing IP (individual planning) meetings to help Ryan. We applied to Montana Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) for help and they paid for some of his funding in finding a suitable job. His Community Supports funding kicked in and paid Susanne after funding with VR ran out.

• We met often in IP planning meetings to decide the best businesses for Ryan to apply at and then Susanne called them and set up appointments for interviews. She let them know Ryan would have a job coach at first until he was comfortable with the job enough to not need one anymore.


Was it easy to build a full day?

• It took awhile to get things worked out because not all businesses are willing to take a chance on people with disabilities but they can be shown how someone with disabilities can be of benefit in their workplace.

• It took almost a year to find something he could do. He worked at Vann’s Appliances for awhile until they no longer needed him and he worked at Print Works until they had cutbacks due to various failures in their business. While he was waiting for employment he kept busy doing volunteer work and the fun things he likes to do.


Introducing…Introducing…Melissa “Lissie” Clark (my Assiniboine given name is Eya Be Washday Weya, which means Good Words Woman)


My BackgroundMy Background

Gros Ventre Assiniboine Native American from the Fort Belknap Reservation

Born in Havre in 1976Graduated from CMR High School in

1996 and Secondary Life Skills in 1998

One of the first diagnosed children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in the state of Montana


Living Living SituationSituation

I live in Great Falls with my foster mom and support person, Sister Johnelle, and my dog, Tiger (Tiger a 105-year-old lab/Akita cross)

My mom drives me to places I need to be

Eventually I will be in the 10% of people with FAS who successfully live on their own…with proper supports in place 28UM Rural Institute

EmploymentEmployment

I am the owner and CEO of Lissie's Luv Yums, a gourmet dog biscuit business

My mom provides necessary supports I’ve been in business for 10 years now Our products include “Montana Made Dog Biscuits,”

“Fun to Fix Dog Biscuit Mix” (includes directions and a cutter), and “Poochie Snack Pack”

We sell all over the U.S. and Canada via our web site, trade shows, and selected stores

I have three contracted bakers working for me and an informal franchise in Baker, Montana

I usually work 3-4 hours per day, 5 days per week (hours vary)

http://www.lissiesluvyums.com/29UM Rural Institute

My duties include:My duties include:

Grinding wheat berriesSetting up the dry mix for the contractorsBakingPackagingPreparing products for shippingRecording all orders and receiptsBookkeeping and record keeping by handAnd anything else that needs to be done!


My business is fun!My business is fun!The secret to success is to spend

a lot of time up front making sure the business is something:◦The person can do◦The person wants to do◦The person will enjoy

A home-based business works well for me…I work in my room, which is a safe space and reduces stress


VolunteeringVolunteering

I give presentations and interviews to interested groups about FAS◦ Idaho Governors DD Conference on Self-Employment◦ Melissa's Circle of Life at the Humility of Mary Center in

Davenport, Iowa ◦ Students Like Me in Grand Rapids, MI ◦ High school students in Valier◦ “Self-Employment for People with Disabilities” at the Illinois

State Transition Conference◦ “Meeting Ground” ½-hour radio show in Saskatoon,

Saskatchewan, Canada◦ Cover of “Apostrophe” magazine winter issue◦ Montana Made Products PBS film (in production)

I also give talks about business development I am a member of the SAMSHA Nationwide FASD panel (I

am the American Indian expert member) I have been a member of the Montana Council on

Developmental Disabilities for 5-6 years and was the Vice-Chairperson for 2 years


VolunteeringVolunteering

Soup kitchenPenny Fundraiser for AGAPE House

($1400) and now for Great Falls Rescue Mission

I am an associate member of the Sisters of Humility of Davenport, Iowa◦Not a nun◦Attend all meetings, including annual

assembly in Iowa◦Share prayers◦Contract with Sisters 33UM Rural Institute

Continuing EducationContinuing EducationTeacher provides computer

tutoring every TuesdayI just graduated from a 10-week

sign language class and plan to go through it again next fall (I want to be an interpreter)


FunFunWord searchesPuzzlesCollect penniesListen to music (all kinds)Read books (Raymond’s Room,

Murder She Wrote, Long Way to Simple, The Horse Whisperer…)

Play the violinWatch movies (“Slum Dog

Millionaire,” “Grand Torino,”…)Attend powwows and art shows


FriendsFriends

I have lots of friends, including Mary, Angie, Angie from QLC, Stephanie, and the Sisters of Humility

I also have a boyfriendWhen my friends and I have time, we like

to go out to eat and go to moviesSometimes QLC staff will host a get-

together at someone’s house and we’ll have popcorn and watch movies

I use a cell phone and the Internet to keep in touch…I just joined Facebook and I have a web site for my business


FitnessFitnessI work out on the machines at Gold’s

Gym for an hour every Monday and Friday (a staff person from QLC goes with me)

My mom and I attend Gentle Yoga for an hour every Monday at Paris Gibson Square

We have reflexology every WednesdayWhen Tiger feels well enough (she has

bone cancer), we go for walksI am at risk for diabetes, so try to eat

healthy foods (I’m an excellent cook!)


A Typical DayA Typical DayWake upMake biscuit doughGet the oatmeal

water and coffee going (on Sundays, cook breakfast)

Shower, dress, turn on computer, and eat

Bake, ship biscuitsStudy sign

languageCook and eat lunchGo to Gentle Yoga

Package and ship biscuits

Practice violinDo emailWalk TigerHouseworkReflexology,

computer class, or catch up on paperwork

Cook and eat dinnerRead, watch a

movie, or relax before bed


Community Supports $$$Community Supports $$$I receive Community Supports

funding through the Montana Developmental Disabilities Program

The money is used for:◦Computer classes to help my business◦Sign language classes◦Gym on Mondays and Fridays◦Social activities (cooking class, safety

concerns, community independence…)


My MissionMy MissionTo educate others about FAS and

give hope to others.


Questions?Questions?


april 6, 2009 university of montana rural institute transition projects um rural institute

Documents

corvallis work

long time

watch television

hamilton high school

iron horse health club

corvallis breeding

meal planning

ravalli county fair