Please note: Places on the course in September and October 2011 are now fully booked. However, further courses will be available in 2012.

For more information, or to put your name forward for the 2012 course, please call Frieda Finlay on 087 6573730

PATHWAYS TO POSSIBILITIES

This exciting 6-day course is for the parents of sons or daughters with an intellectual disability or autism. The course will help parents plan a positive future for their son or daughter, by enabling greater participation in the planning of that future. It will be particularly important as public policy moves towards greater involvement of families in  funding arrangements. Each parent should pick an ally/professional to work with them on the course.Over the duration of the course, (among other things) parents will experience what it is like to:

• Map their own and their son’s or daughter’s strengths, gifts, capacities and interestsParticipate in deciding what works and doesn’t work for their son or daughterHave a range of tools to develop and sustain self careBuild five valued experiences for themselves and their son or daughter: friendships and relationships, sharing ordinary places, making choices, being respected and having valued social roles and contributingWrite a plan and build networks of support
• Make the journey towards a desirable future for their son or daughter and for themselves

 Content of Workshops will include:Small groups will work together in a highly collaborative environment. Each participating family member will identify an ally or professional who will attend the course with them, and who will work with them between sessions to help translate the goals set during the sessions into action. Participants will all be supplied with a manual and other course material. The course will focus on outcomes – getting the results we want for ourselves and our children.

The workshops run from 10am to 3pm over six daysThe facilitator is Julie Simpson, Executive Director, Pathways to Leadership, Australia

 Julie Simpson is the parent of a 42 year old woman who requires substantial assistance to live within her community. Julie and her daughter Kara are successfully managing a self directed funding package. You can read her background and success at www.pathwaystoleadership.com.au

Leap would like to thank GENIO for funding this programme and the National Institute for Intellectual Disabilities (NIID) for their support.