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CC Newsletter July 2019
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COMMUNITY CHOICES

monthly newsletter  //  july 2019
IN THIS ISSUE:
spotlight - jen and gillian's media features
unconference wrap up and thanks!
portillos fundraiser 
staff updates
6 month calendar
community safety class
19/20 class calendar
parkland study group
leap family meeting take-aways
july social opportunities
participant survey
waiver resource
healthcare resources
partners in policy making 
 
There's a lot to cover, so don't forget to view the entire message! (Sometimes you have to click "view clipped message") 
 
SPOTLIGHT - JEN AND GILLIAN'S YEAR IN THE MEDIA!
Two Community Choices members have flexed their influence in our community over the past year by publishing articles in Smile Politely, a Champaign-Urbana online magazine.  In celebration, here are links to the articles they have written. We encourage you to read up on what Jen and Gillian have been up to!

Check out Jen’s articles!


Take a look at Gillian’s series of profiles with local people working to build a better Champaign-Urbana!
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE UNCONFERENCE!

Thanks to everyone who attended and supported Champaign-Urbana’s 1st UNconference! It was such a fun day and an amazing opportunity to see people of our community come together as equals learning from and with each other. When you set the expectation that people with disabilities CAN BE and ARE leaders, the whole dynamic changes and connections flourish! 

A special thanks to everyone who volunteered to lead a session - especially two of our members - Angela and her friend Adani who lead a dance workshop, and Tobie, who shared his wealth of knowledge about our fabulous National Parks! 

We are hoping this is an event that we can build on in future years - so start thinking now about the interests, gifts, and talents that you could share! 
COMING UP & GOING ON
SUPPORT CC BY EATING AT PORTILLOS!
On JULY 24th from 4-8pm come eat at Portillos on Prospect in Champaign and 20% of your purchase will be donated back to Commnity Choices! Just show this flyer when you check out!
STAFF UPDATES:
WELCOME KARLI & FAREWELL TO AMY AND ERIC!
Community Choices has had serveral staff changes happening this month. We were sad to say farewell to two CC Staff members: Amy Wyatt and Eric Enger, but we are excited to WELCOME Karli Oxford-Jordan. Karli will be taking over for Amy as our Community Support Specialist helping people and families manage their Home Based Support. 

A little bit about Karli: 

Karli is a native of central Indiana, where she attended Earlham College and got degrees in Psychology and Spanish. Urbana-Champaign is a second home to Karli. After graduating from college, Karli then spent 3 years working in research, and aims to integrate that knowledge into her role in the Community Choices team. In her free time, Karli enjoys roller skating and caring for her indoor plant family.

Please help welcome Karli when she starts on the 15th! 
6 MONTH CC CALENDAR!
Community Choices 6-month Calendar for July-December 2019 is complete! Browse through the upcoming events and opportunities and join us at our final events for the year. We hope that this 6-month calendar gives our members and their families the opportunity to plan ahead for Community Choices events and fundraisers.
 
If you have any questions or concerns about the 6-month calendar, please contact Kaitland, Membership Coordinator, at kaitland.communitychoices@gmail.com or 217-419-6222.
 
SIGN UP FOR THE SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY CLASS

The Community Safety Class is starting in August! Community Safety Class is a great opportunity for our members to address their concerns with travelling independently in the community.

If you have hesitations riding the MTD, using Ubers, and/or walking around town please consider signing up for the Community Safety Class! The class will have some predetermined curriculum but will also include safety tips and practice opportunities for concerns submitted in the participant questionnaire.
 

If you'd like to sign up, fill out the registration form HERE

If you have any questions about Community Safety Class, please contact Kaitland, Membership Coordinator, at kaitland.communitychoices@gmail.com or 217-419-6222.
2019/2020 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CLASS CALENDAR

Mark your calendars for Community Choices upcoming classes for 2019-2020! Community and Home Safety classes are great for developing the confidence and skills to travel and live independently. Our popular Men’s and Women’s Groups are a wonderful opportunity to talk about issues and receive peer support in a safe environment. And in our new Tech Safety Workshop members will learn how to safely browse the internet while avoiding online scams and harassment.  If you have any questions about the FY20 class schedule or our upcoming classes, please contact Kaitland, Membership Coordinator, at kaitland.communitychoices@gmail.com or 217-419-6222.
SEEKING INTEREST IN A PARKLAND STUDY GROUP
Are you a member of CC with a disability and interested in a Parkland study/support group? We have several members who currently attend Parkland College and would like peer support communicating with Parkland’s Accessibility Services office, talking to professors, completing homework assignments, and more.

If this applies to you or someone you support within Community Choices membership, please contact Kaitland, Membership Coordinator, at 217-419-6222 or kaitland.communitychoices@gmail.com to express your interest in a Parkland Study Group!
LEAP FAMILY MEETING TAKE-AWAYS!

On June 13th we held a LEAP Family meeting. The meeting focused on how to build employment into the transition process and how to work with teachers and adult service providers. We want to give a special thanks to Kathy B and Paul M for sharing their experiences as parents who’ve been through or are going through the transition process and to Jim Mayer and Kristina Castillo-Simons for their wealth of knowledge about the school system!

There was TONS of great ideas and information shared during the panel discussion. Here are some of the big take-aways! 

Transition Panel: 
TIPS FOR WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS: 

  • Ask for Vocational and other services specifically!
  • Write down what you want. Bring it with you to meetings and don’t be afraid to tell people
  • Look for meaningful goals and skills for students to work on that link to their transition plan- make sure they fit the actual student!
  • You can meet with teachers more often and informally than just at IEP meetings. Build a relationship with this person and find a way to work and communicate with each other!
  • Talk to students (and adults) about long-term goals and share these with the school 
  • Being and respectful team member goes a long way, even when you’re pushing hard for what you want and need!


MINDSET TIPS: 

  • Be optimistic! Even if something doesn’t work the first time, people mature and things work differently over time. 
  • Identify what your son or daughter is good at! What draws people to them? 
  • Help kids (and adults!) learn to Sell Themselves! Speak up about what you’re good at! Encourage the people in your life to tell people about their skills and interests! 
  • Help kids and adults learn to be flexible. 
  • Encourage good manners – people notice!


ON THE JOB AND IN THE COMMUNITY

  • Employers can be great tools and resources! 
  • Employees are more likely to learn and respond from their boss or supervisor than from parents and teachers!
  • Help kids and adults in your life interact with people in the community, it will help on the job!


Think about the 8 Factors that Lead to Successful Transition and Job Outcomes for Young People with Disabilities: 
1.    Know Strengths and Limits
2.    Have an Awareness of one’s disability 
3.    Persistence
4.    Interaction with others
5.    Goal setting and attainment 
6.    Work experiences when young
7.    Self-Advocacy Skills and student involvement in the IEP
8.    Have a support Community! 
 
JULY SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES
CC MEMBERS with disabilities are welcomed to join us for our June Social Oppotunities! This months we'll be up to the following: 

Karaoke Night @ Star Karaoke
Lunch Club @ Black Dog Smokehouse
Hiking at Kickapoo
Dinner Club @ Portillo's 
Trivia Night @ Jupiter's 
Family Pool Party @ the Gorsuch's
 
Need to RSVP or want more Info? Contact Kaitland at:
kaitland.communitychoices@gmail.com // 217-419-6222
LOOK OUT FOR THE ANNUAL PARTICIPANT SURVEY!

If you participate in any of Community Choices services and supports we want to hear from you!


Be on the lookout for an email from Becca in the next couple of weeks! It will have a link for an easy and accessible online survey about your experience with CC’s services.

This year we would also like to get your feedback on some ideas we’ve been kicking around for services and supports for the future. Thanks in advance for everyone who participates! Your feedback is confidential and extremely helpful to us in making our cooperative responsive to your needs and the best it can be. 
HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY
A NEW RESOURCE FOR NAVIGATING THE DD WAIVER!
Check out this great guide created by the Arc of IL for navigating your way through the State DD Waiver System. It's a great visual to walk you through the process of getting on the PUNS list, updating your eligibility each year, and finding choosing services once you're selected!

It was put together by the Ligas Family Advocate Program which has lots of AMAZING resources to help people manage and advocate their way through our complicated system! Check out their website HERE
CU SPEAKS - HEALTHCARE RESOURCES AND OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY 
Chris Garcia of Champaign County Health Care Consumers will discuss the benefits made possible by the Affordable Care Act law and changes to the current healthcare system. CCHCC can answer questions and provide assistance regarding health care coverage for children, people aging out of their parents dependent coverage, adult coverage, and senior options. He will discuss the designated sites for applying and some important things to keep in mind when doing so. He will have literature available on resources in our community and discuss how you can use those resources to help.

CCHCC wants EVERYONE, including folks with disabilities to have knowledge of and access to quality healthcare options! Come Check it out!

WHEN: Wednesday, July 10th
TIME: 7:30-8:30pm
WHERE: Neutral Cycle - 624 S 5th St, Champaign, Illinois 61820
 
PARTNERS IN POLICYMAKING!
Partners in Policymaking is a free program designed to teach people with disabilities and family members the power of advocacy to positively change the way people with disabilities are supported, viewed, taught, live and work. Since its inception, Partners have worked to expand community opportunities and to hasten many fundamental changes in the nature of supports and services for people with disabilities in areas such as education, employment, civil rights, and community living.

Several members of Community Choices have participated in Partners in Policymaking in the past and cite it as helping them to understand the complicated DD service system and how they can have a real impact on making it better. 

As a cooperative, we grow and evolve because of the ideas, resources, and needs of our members. We would love to have YOU learn from Partners in Policymaking and bring those resources back to make our organization and its impact stronger!

Please reach out to Becca if you are interested or having any questions! becca.communitychoices@gmail.com // 217-840-4580

 
LEARN MORE AND APPLY HERE
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COMMUNITY CHOICES     44 E MAIN, SUITE 419    CHAMPAIGN, IL     61820