Breaking News!
Happy Spring to everyone out there! We have had a great 2017-18 school year and it is soon coming to a close. If you have a graduating senior, you may be wondering what to do this summer and what your student's life will be like. There are many things to consider, such as guardianship, registering for the US military draft (for male students over 18), a job, housing, care during the day, and many more (check out the DSHS website). Here we will describe our understanding of the elements to consider.
If you think your student will need any support from the school district in the coming years, you can allow them to "walk" through the graduation ceremony, but do not let them "take their diploma." If they get their official diploma from their high school, they are no longer eligible to get resources from the school district, such as the 18-21 year old program, VOICE, in the Edmonds School District. They do not have to go to VOICE immediately if your family are considering other options, however the school resource options will not be available for students who choose to take their diploma in June.
Additionally, support from the DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration) does not kick in until age 21, so benefits from this organization cannot be used until later. Your student may be eligible for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), but there are requirements so check into it. DVR (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) can be used any time, but it is a short-term resource and there are restrictions.
Here are several important links where you can learn more information about your students' future:
Planning time away from home for teens with special needs
VOICE at the Edmonds School District
Project Search, Swedish Edmonds
Work Force Development, Everett
Information on when to disclose a disability.
DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration
The 21st Annual Snohomish County Transition Resource Fair is just around the corner!
When: Tuesday, March 27th 4:00pm to 8:30pm
Where: Cascade High School, 801 Casino Road, Everett, WA 98203
Workshops: 4:30pm to 8:30pm
Resources Tables: 4:00pm - 7:30pm
Questions? Contact Melinda 425-388-7259 ddinfo@snoco.org or see our Recreation and Resources page.
Recreation & Resource Info Fair for families impacted by special needs New This Year!
Saturday, February 3, 2018 9:30am-12:00pm Chase Lake Elementary School 21603 84th Ave W, Edmonds, WA DOOR PRIZES!
Expanded resources for all: AGES 0-21 (This event is the combination of the former Community Resource Fair and the Recreational Resource Fair)
Come to learn about local community resources and ask questions that will help you navigate services and supports available to your child and family based on your unique needs. Representatives from over 20 local organizations available.
Program Schedule
9:30am: Resource Tables open
10:00am: Brief Welcome and Introductions
Edmonds School District
Arc of Snohomish County—Advocacy & Resources
Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)—Overview, Eligibility, Why Apply?
10:30am-12:00pm: Resource Tables open
Free Childcare Available! We request that you pre-register your child(ren) for childcare so we can staff appropriately. Contact Ana Apter at p-aptera@edmonds.wednet.edu or 425-431-1977 to register.
Questions? Contact Ana Apter p-aptera@edmonds.wednet.edu or Kathie Davis daviska@edmonds.wednet.edu
[January 2018]
Thank you Donor's Choose Gifters!
We created a project with teacher Debra Sand at Edmonds-Woodway High School through the Donor's Choose website and it was a wonderful success! We earned $522 which bought needed materials. Our bulletin board shows the companies we work for, our coffee cart looks more professional, our STEM stations are more organized, and our electronic teaching tools are more streamlined because of your generosity. We bought: two coffee cart organizers, two folding tables, name tags, trays, a pointer, a water filter, digital watches, a cork board, and finally, storage totes. We cannot do this without help from people like you. Thank you!
[November 2017]
Crown Bees Appreciation!
We received a plaque today (10/7/2017) from the Crown Bees Company for delivering outstanding service, quality, and life skills experience. We are so fortunate that companies allow us to use their products to learn, and we are thrilled that they, in turn, are thankful for our service. More Bees Please!
[October 2017]
Alex Gilles with Kyle Vesely from Crown Bees. Alex worked hard on Crown Bees projects to earn Worker of the month for November!
Shelley Burnett on Mindfulness
Shelley Burnett, RN at Swedish Hospital, visited during a meeting to give Work Adjustment Staff a talk on Mindfulness. We were all impressed by the applicability of the information she shared. Being present in the moment helps everyone think more clearly, make better decisions, and reduces stress. Just what we all need!
[October 2017]
Thank You Foundation for Edmonds School District!
Thanks to a grant from the Foundation for Edmonds School District, we have implemented 12 new STEM work stations at Work Adjustment. There are three mechanical building sets (called Meccano), three green electrical snap circuit sets, and two snap circuit sets. Ask your senior about a kit called Makey Makey which the students use to turn an orange, a carrot, a stapler, a hole punch, and even a teacher into a piano using the computer (we have two of these)! We also have two Osmo for iPad kits which use numbers, letters, or shapes for spacial awareness and sequencing. One last kit we have is called Arduino. This is the most advanced kit for electrical connections and we are well on our way to learning about this one.
[Published October, 2017]
1st Annual 'Get Off the Couch" Recreation Resource Fair was held May 30th.
With various vendors, parents, students and district staff participating, this event was a definite success (especially for the raffle ticket winners).
Missed it?
See a list of the programs and organizations that were presented on our Summer Resource Page.
[Published May, 2017]
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Work Adjustment has just earned a Creative Classroom Grant from the Foundation for Edmonds School District!
This grant will help us continue this years' implementation of the new simulated STEM (science, engineering, technology, and math) component to our work rotation. We want our students to have hands-on experience with materials such as robotics, electric circuits, and design software. We have already begun to include sets such as the Meccano construction set. The most popular items being built using these materials are a catapult, however students have also constructed a car and a crane. In addition we have introduced a simplified electrical circuit kit called littleBits which has been used to create several flashlights and a hand buzzer. Who knew we had a bunch of humor-loving students?!
See our "What we're doing" page for pictures.
[Published April, 2017]