Belonging to our community: Room for achieving full potential

Kennedy Krieger Institute has an excellent newsletter entitled "Potential" where they discuss inclusive child care training, assisting Spanish-speaking families with special needs children, helping teachers understand special needs, etc. Here's a link:

https://www.kennedykrieger.org/pdf/potential/communityIssue2008.pdf

This publication reminded me that our community has a rich history of providing a quality education for its citizens. One problem has been that families who have special needs are so busy trying to meet their child's needs, that they have little or no time remaining to participate in the community itself. Our school boards, without benefit of membership and substantive input from parents with high needs children, may not understand how some other school districts have evolved to provide greater support to help all of the students achieve their full potential. Some of these parents have even been told that it is not the obligation of the Winnetka Public Schools or New Trier to help children achieve their full potential. We cannot afford to have our community aim toward mediocrity.

We need to ask what our community can do to support all of its families, especially those with needs that have not been traditionally met by our school systems and other public bodies. Our train stations and many old buildings continue to be inaccessible by those who need "handicap accessible" ramps, elevators, etc. Many families indicated on the Caucus survey that they are having to spend thousands of dollars per year toward private tutoring to supplement and/or replace the educational services in our public schools.
If your family has underserved or unmet needs, I'd appreciate a confidential email contact at winnetkacommons@jeannebeckman.com or call at 847-446-1251 so that I can formulate a formal needs assessment we can utilize in including everyone into our community life.

Volunteering As a Job Search Strategy

In the Wall Street Journal on March 17th, there was an article entitled, "Volunteering: A Generous Job Search Strategy" where they indicated that volunteering while job hunting not only helps the recipient organizations but it sharpens critical skills that can be used in future jobs.

We just posted on using athletics as a way to find a job, while also getting in shape. A growing number of the laid-off are turning to another two-for-one strategy: Helping others in need through volunteering, while hopefully helping themselves by gaining career experience, contacts or job leads. For some, it may even mean a new career when the economy does turn around, as The Wall Street Journal’s Dana Mattioli reports today.
Take Laine Seaton, who was laid off from her development-management position for an Arizona nonprofit in December. According to today’s article, Ms. Seaton, 41, now volunteers about 35 hours a week at five nonprofits. She says that beyond supporting causes she cares about, she’s been able to nurture skills that will help her find a new position. One volunteer post, for example, involves setting up a fund-raising plan, grant writing and strategic planning; she plans to add these skills to her résumé and tout them in interviews. Continued...http://tinyurl.com/cv7ufb

So, think about ways you can volunteer, whether you have a job or are transitioning. In our own community, there is the Volunteer Center of New Trier Township: http://www.volunteercenterntt.org/new/index.php

On March 18th, there will be a special Volunteer Ability Forum entitled "How Volunteers with Disabilities Can Help Organizations Fulfill Their Missions"

Leaders of community non-profit organizations and persons with disabilities are encouraged to attend the Volunteer Ability Forum on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at the North Shore Senior Center, located at 161 Northfield Road in Northfield. Co-Sponsored by The Volunteer Center and New Trier Township, the Forum begins at 4:00 p.m. and concludes at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the event is to uncover the untapped resource of available, willing and able individuals to help organizations further their important work through volunteerism.

A panel discussion on effective practices for including persons with disabilities in volunteer opportunities will feature authorities in the disability community and self-advocates with disabilities. Moderated by Jane Doyle, Executive Director of Independent Futures, the panel includes:

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Alan Goldberg, Trustee, New Trier Township, noted advocate for the disability movement, former Chair of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Special Education Programs of the United States Department of Education as well as on the staff of The President’s Committee on Excellence in Special Education.

JJ Hanley, Founder, JJs List (www.jjslist.com) where people with disabilities review businesses and services.

Ken Bellis, Division Manager, Adult Learning Program of Search, Inc. a community-based non-profit providing personalized support services for adults with developmental disabilities.

Karen Noonan, Director of Programs & Support Services Northern Suburban Special Education District (NSSED), and Jan Sonderman, Program Supervisor from North Shore Academy, will present with young adult volunteers. NSSED is a special education joint agreement between 16 elementary and 4 high school districts to improve the quality of life for students with special needs.

The event will also provide an opportunity for networking with leaders of community organizations and persons with disabilities who volunteer or are seeking volunteer opportunities. For more information, contact Barb Tubekis, event coordinator, at 847-441-7665 or via e-mail VolunteerNTT@aol.com. For more information, go to http://www.volunteercenterntt.org/new/static_page.php?mode=62

For more information about joining others who are interested in "doing well by doing good" please contact Jeanne Beckman at winnetkacommons@jeannebeckman.com