Meeting-+November+2012

=Meeting Agenda= Presenter: Helen Falguera Organization: Partnership for Community Supports Contact Information:467-350-4518 hfalguera@pfcsupports.org

Organization Website: []

Information on Supports Coordination from the Office of Intellectual Disabilities

Searchable database for Providers: []

Keystone Update:


PYLN Webinar Information: = = =New websites:= //Job Board: // A new diversity Career Site to help combat the high unemployment rate! Designed to LINK millions of unemployed and underemployed Americans with disabilities to employment opportunities, The Sierra Group is pleased to announce the launch of our FULL SERVICE JOB BOARD -- RecruitDisability.org. []

//Air Travel: TIPS FOR THE TRIP: EASING THE PROCESS FOR PARENTS//
Taking a child on an airplane for the first time is often a stressful experience, but for parents with children with autism, that stress is multiplied. What follows are some suggestions on how to minimize the anxiety and the potential for surprises.
 * •** Pick a short flight — an hour or so.
 * •** Visit the airport ahead of time to familiarize your child. If possible, participate in a mock boarding experience. If none is available, call your local airport to see if they will allow you to show your child the ticketing counters, security lines and waiting areas in advance. Parents interested in participating in a mock boarding experience at Boston Logan International Airport, either Nov. 3 or next spring, can use this link — [] — to register. Washington Dulles International Airport plans to offer additional mock boarding experiences in the spring. Check the “What’s New” section of the airport site — [|mwaa.com/dulles] — next year for information.
 * •** Call the TSA Cares hot line — (1-855) 787-2227 — 72 hours before your flight to alert them that you might need assistance going through security. Some parents ask to go through the handicapped line with children who have difficulty in crowds or waiting in long lines.
 * •** Call the airline ahead to alert them that you might need to board early or require additional assistance onboard.
 * •** Tell your child what to expect, including delays and long waits, in the airport and on the airplane. Philadelphia International Airport offers a story — [|www.phl.org/passengerinfo/Accessibility/Documents/SocialStories.pdf] — that can be read to children to help them prepare. It is designed for mock boarding experiences, but can be adapted to any trip.
 * •** Pack a carry-on bag with anything that might be soothing during a rough patch. Be sure to include documentation of your child’s diagnosis that you can share with security and airline personnel.
 * •** Autism Speaks, an advocacy organization, offers a page — [] — with additional online resources and travel tips.

//Yellow Dot PennDOT Program://
Pennsylvania’s Yellow Dot Program was created to assist citizens in the “golden hour” of emergency care following a traffic accident when they may not be able to communicate their needs themselves. Placing a yellow dot in your vehicle’s rear window alerts first responders to check your glove compartment for vital information to ensure you receive the medical attention you need. Website address: []

====//The Employment and Training Administration’s Workforce Investment Act Youth Program Launches “Credentials for Youth: Success in the 21st Century” Tool **. **////The tool is designed to //help workforce professionals identify promising occupations for youth served by the workforce system, and the credentials that help youth attain them. The tool provides a step-by-step process for helping youth attain credentials in high demand occupations. ==== []

//Workplace Flexbility Toolkit://
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently launched an online Workplace Flexibility Toolkit to provide employees, job seekers, employers, policymakers and researchers with information and resources on how to maintain a strong work-life balance. Work flexibility enables both individual and business needs to be met through making changes to the time (when), location (where) and manner (how) in which an employee works. Flexibility should be mutually beneficial to both the employer and employee, and result in the best outcomes possible. []

//New (FREE) Soft Skills Videos://
As a part of its "Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success" curriculum, the Office of Disability Employment Policy has developed a series of free video vignettes that are now available on the department's website. The videos, which can be used by youth programs, educators and others, emphasize the importance of communication, networking, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking, and professionalism in today's workplace. Although employers have identified soft skills as being among the most important competencies young workers need, three-quarters of those participating in a recent survey ranked new high school graduates as deficient in soft skill areas. Manual for Service Professionals: []

=Articles=

//SoftSkills Article: **'Soft Skills' Pushed as Part of College Readiness**//