May Vision/OPTIONS Program Newsletter

May 2021

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

May CALENDAR

DID YOU KNOW?

May was named for the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants.

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May 1 is May Day: celebrating the return of spring!
May 5 is Cinco de Mayo (“The Fifth of May”). This day celebrates the victory of the Mexican army over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862.
May 9 is Mother’s Day—don’t forget! Do you have something planned to show appreciation for your mother?
May 16 is Armed Forces Day, which honors those who serve in all branches of the United States military.
May 22 is National Maritime Day. Created in commemoration of the first transoceanic voyage via steamboat (completed by the U.S.S. Savannah in 1819), this holiday recognizes the efforts of the U.S. merchant marine during both war and peace.
May 24 is Victoria Day in Canada. This holiday celebrates the birthday of Queen Victoria, who was born on May 24, 1819. The holiday is observed on the penultimate Monday in May.
May 31 is Memorial Day—a poignant reminder of the tenacity of life. It’s tradition to raise the flag on this day

DCIU Student Services

2020/2021 Calendar

Click Here for Calendar

The Interesting History Of Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a special day in which we honor mothers each year. It’s a wonderful occasion to shower mom with flowers, goodies, brunch—all things to let her know how much she is appreciated. But how did the “holiday” originate?

The origin of Mother’s Day has been associated with Miss Anna M. Jarvis. Jarvis (b. May 1, 1864 – Nov. 24, 1948), an especially devoted daughter who was concerned about the neglect shown to mothers by grown children.

After her own mother’s death in 1905, Jarvis grieved. The following year, she asked friends to come to her church in Grafton, West Virginia, on the first Sunday in May to commemorate the anniversary of her mother’s death. In 1907, Jarvis promoted a Mother’s Day service at the church, and she donated carnations (her mother’s favorite flower) to every mother in the congregation.

Anna Jarvis worked hard to promote the holiday, writing letters to churches, politicians, and city leaders. She had enlisted the help of John Wanamaker (the pioneer of marketing and advertising) and Henry J. Heinz (of Heinz Ketchup fame) to help her start a movement, and it worked.

Jarvis’ efforts resulted in a resolution ultimately being passed in Congress, dedicating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. By 1911, all of the states in the union had Mother’s Day proclamations. And she was very clear that the holiday was to be called “Mother’s” Day (singular) —”to honor the best mother who ever lived—yours.”

In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day an annual national observance.

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/when-mothers-day

Summertime is coming!

Are you interested in attending camp?

Pa Lions BLC is made up of 2 separate camps.

Adult Camp and Children’s Village.

Adult Camp:

Virtual Camp for Transitional Care and Assisted Living – July 10th to July 14th (7:45 am to 9:45 am)

Virtual Camp for Hearing Impaired – July 10th to July 14th (1:00 pm to 3:00 pm)

Blind/Visually Impaired Session 7 – July 17th to July 27th

Blind/Visually Impaired Session 8 – July 31st to August 10th

Children’s Village Camp:

Virtual Camp for Camp ALIVE, Assisted Living, Blind/VI, and Camp Energy – July 10th to July 14th (10:00 am to 12:00 pm)

Family Camp Session 1 – July 17th to July 21st

Project New Hope Session 2 – July 24th to July 28th

Family Camp Session 3 – July 31st to August 4th

Project New Hope Session 4 – August 7th to August 11th

Daily Operation at Pa Lions Beacon Lodge Camp

Below is a breakdown of what a typical day looks like.

Schedule of Activities

7:00 Wake Up Call

8:00 Morning Medication

8:30 Breakfast

9:15 Flag Raising

9:30 Morning Activities

10:45-11:45 1st Break (1/2 staff ½ hr. at a time)

12:00 Noon Medication

12:30 Lunch and Announcements

1:00 Afternoon Activities

1:00-2:00 2nd Break (½ staff ½ hr. at a time)

5:00 Late Afternoon Medication

5:30 Dinner and Announcements

6:30 Evening Program

6:30-7:30 3rd Break (½ staff ½ hr. at a time)

8:00 Evening Medication

8:15 Camper/Counselor Time

10:00 Break (½ staff 1 hr. at a time)

12:00 Breaks end… CURFEW

During breakfast the campers are offered a choice of morning activities. (usually 2)

During lunch the campers are offered a choice of afternoon activities. (usually 2)

During dinner the campers are offered a choice of evening activities. (usually 2)

For campers who do not wish to participate in the offered activities, we always have arts and crafts, bingo, trivia, movie time, etc. Activities we offer are Zipline, Climbing Wall, Fishing, Pedal Boats, Mini Golf, Hiking, Biking, Bowling, Swimming, Lawn Games, Hayride, Caving and various indoor activities such as Karaoke, Board Games, Cooking, etc. Some of our campers prefer to just sit and relax with counselors and other campers and enjoy some good quality conversation.

We have a fully staffed infirmary on site from 7:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. (on call after regular hours).

Housekeeping does daily rounds throughout the camp. The 2021 season will have extra attention paid to the sanitation of high traffic areas due to COVID-19. Hand sanitizer will be readily available.

Our Kitchen Staff offers a balanced, healthy and tasty menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sugar Free desserts are always available. Drinks and applesauce are provided to the infirmary to aid with taking meds. Brown bag lunches and made available for any hiking or off-site trips that may be scheduled.

Our cabins are all air conditioned and have their own private bathrooms with shower. Most cabins have 7 beds for campers, 6 if a counselor is needed to stay in the room with campers. We also have a primitive camp site for those wanting to do an overnight experience without the comforts of home.

Visit the Beacon Lodge website

Life is full of transitions. One of the most important transitions occurs when students get ready to leave high school and head out into the world as young adults. When the student has a disability it’s especially helpful to plan ahead for that transition . In fact, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that transition planning begin by the time the student reaches age 16, but transition planning may start earlier if the IEP team decides it would be appropriate to do so.

Transition Information: Pennsylvania Timeline

By the age of 14:

o Transition planning should begin when the student is 14 years old or earlier.

o A transition team should be assembled to start to create a transition portion of the IEP that will help address the student’s post-secondary goals.

o At this age, the IEP only needs to include course work and the educational program that the individual is to be involved in. It should also include some prospective information about the possible post-secondary goals that the student is interested in.

By the age of 16:

o The transition plan goes into effect at age 16.

o At this age, there should be a statement of needed transition services and specific post-school outcomes and the instruction and training that is necessary to ensure that those goals are achieved by the time the student turns 21 years old.

Before the age of 17:

o The guardianship/conservatorship process should begin. (The age of majority in Pennsylvania is 18, BUT it is 21 for special education purposes).

 The student and their family should be informed of this transfer at least a year in advance. A form of consent should be included in the student’s IEP and the student should be reminded of and prepared to handle the transfer.

 If families and students feel uncomfortable with the transfer of the decision making abilities to the student, the prospective guardian needs to petition for guardianship at the local probate court.

o The vocational rehabilitation process should begin at least 2 years prior to high school graduation.

Before the age of 18:

o Apply for Social Security benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicaid.

 If ineligible for Medicaid, look into other health insurance options, as it is likely the individual will no longer be covered by the parents plan after age 19 if not enrolled in college or covered by Medicaid.

o Add your name to the waiting list for residential placements in the state. Regardless of future residential plans, it is good to be on the waitlist, as these lists can be extremely long, and it is easy to remove your name than it is to add it.

At age 18:

o Register to vote.

o Upon an individual’s 18th birthday, he or she changes from a system of being entitled to certain rights and privileges to a system of eligibility.

o Male students should register for the draft, no matter the level of functioning.

o If applicable, individuals should apply to adult agencies for vocational and day programs, as well as for supported living.

RESOURCES:

Social Security: Applicants may apply online or by contacting Social Security directly.

Local Social Security offices can be found using SSA's office locator or by calling 800-772-1213.

 Social Security Administration: www.socialsecurity.gov

 Social Security Benefit Application: www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityonline

 Social Security Benefits for People with Disabilities: www.ssa.gov/disability

 Social Security Office Locator: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

Bureau of Special Education Pennsylvania Department of Education (800) 879-2301 www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Special%20Education/Pages/default.aspx#.VhQ-gvlVhBc

Pennsylvania Vocational Rehabilitation Services Department of Labor and Industry

Service for Delaware County: 484-250-4340

www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/vocational_rehabilitation/10356

Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD)

Registration

Families contact the Delaware County Administrative Entity Intake Specialist to determine if the individual meets eligibility requirements. Contact 610-713-2330 for information.

Once it is determined that you are eligible for supports in the Intellectual Disability system, you will select a Support Coordination organization, meet with a Supports Coordinator in order to coordinate supports for you and your family.

http://www.delcohsa.org/sco.html#scoregistration

Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) www.pattan.net

Secondary Transition: www.pattan.net/category/Educational+Initiatives/Secondary+Transition Pennsylvania

Bureau of Autism Services (866) 539-7689 www.dhs.state.pa.us/foradults/autismservices

Pennsylvania Secondary Transition Guide www.secondarytransition.org

Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network Secondary Transition Toolkit

https://transition-guide-admin.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2012/07/17/PYLN%20Secondary%20Transition%20Toolkit.pdf

DCIU OPTIONS Transition Program is here

to help your student

Transition from High School to Adult life

DCIU OPTIONS

We welcome your child to DCIU OPTIONS Transition Services. Transition has been defined as a process involving “a change in status from behaving primarily as a student to assuming emergent independent roles in the community.” OPTIONS is a person-centered program providing opportunities in the community for students to develop the necessary skills, habits, and attitudes for employment, travel, daily living skills and recreation and leisure skills. All referrals to OPTIONS are made through the Director of Special Education or Pupil Services when a student’s IEP team believes he or she is prepared to participate in transition services offered at the Intermediate Unit. All placements are individualized and based on each student’s current needs and goals.
OPTIONS staff is available to attend all assessment (ER) and planning (IEP) activities. The staff wants to work with both you and your child’s current school program. As a team, we can help assess the content, direction and appropriateness of transition services for your child.

We want your son or daughter to feel empowered and embrace their own learning. We will distinguish current levels, and identify goals for their future. Whether they want to attend college, be independently employed or be meaningfully involved in their community we will work closely with the team so as adults they can achieve success. We look forward to working with you and empowering your students.

Regards,

Sonya Korinth

OPTIONS Supervisor

610-938-9000 x 2317

skorinth@dciu.org

Since 1994, under contract with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), OPTIONS provides a continuum of services for adults that include:

Community based vocational Assessments
Job-development and job coaching

Partnerships are built with employers throughout Delaware County focusing on establishing mutually beneficial relationships where jobs are tailored to employers’ needs and the applicant's individual strengths and preferences.

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) can provide many different services to help individuals with disabilities get ready to work, find a job, and keep their job. If you work with OVR, you will set a career goal and OVR will provide you with services to help you work toward it.

Some available services include counseling, job coaching, job assessments, training, job placement, and other support services you may need to help you be independent. OVR may also be able to provide assistive technology.

To qualify for OVR services you must meet two factors:

1. You have a mental or physical disability that causes a substantial impediment to employment and you can benefit from OVR services; and

2. You need OVR services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain employment.

You should apply for OVR services by contacting the Norristown office. Contact the OVR office and request an application for services. The phone number is: (484) 250-4340.

Once you complete the application an OVR Counselor will determine your eligibility for services after an assessment. The assessment will look at your abilities, limitations, interests, and skills.

If you are approved for services then you should receive individualized employment services based on your need.

*If you are eligible for SSI, you are automatically eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation services

When OVR offers for you to choose a service provider ~ Choose DCIU!

The DCIU is excited to report that within the past two months, 15 adult clients achieved new jobs at the following local businesses: Acme, Cheyney University, First Watch, Giant, Herr's, Marshall's, Panera, ShopRite, Taylor Hospital, Villanova University, and Wawa!

Pictured below are a few of the new employees!

Visit DCIU website