Whose Life Is It Anyway?

98 Pages·2006·0.24 MB·English

Wisconsin Healthy & Ready to Work:
A Series of Materials Supporting Youth
with Special Health Care Needs
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
How One Teenager, Her Parents, and Her Teacher
View the Transition Process
for a Young Person with Disabilities
Janice Fialka, M.S.W., A.C.S.W.
Martha Mock, Ph.D.
Jennifer Wagner Neugart, M.S.
Waisman Center
University of Wisconsin–Madison
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Wisconsin Healthy and Ready to Work is a project of the University Center for
Excellence in Developmental Disability at the Waisman Center. Wisconsin HRTW is funded
by the Division of Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs (DSCSHCN) in the
Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Health Resource and Services
Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Grant
Number H01MC00044
The Waisman Center is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about human
development, developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative diseases. It is one of 9
national centers that encompasses both a Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities
Research Center designated by the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, and a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
(UCEDD) designated by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.
Waisman Center
University of Wisconsin–Madison
1500 Highland Avenue
Marsha Mailick Seltzer, Ph.D., Director Madison, WI 53705-2289
Daniel Bier, MPA, MSSW, Associate Director, UCEDD www.waisman.wisc.edu/ucedd
Whose Life Is It Anyway? Introduction
Wisconsin Healthy & Ready to Work:
A Series of Materials Supporting Youth
with Special Health Care Needs
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
How One Teenager, Her Parents, and Her Teacher
View the Transition Process
for a Young Person with Disabilities
Janice Fialka, M.S.W., A.C.S.W.
Martha Mock, Ph.D.
Jennifer Wagner Neugart, M.S.
Waisman Center
University of Wisconsin–Madison
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
June 2005
Whose Life Is It Anyway? Introduction
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following people for whom this book
would not have been possible. Thank you for your insight and
your open and honest feedback.
Sharon Berke, Kathy Blomquist, Rich Feldman, Patti Hackett,
Susan Hetherington, Sudie Hoffman, Ann Monroe-Baillargeon,
Elaine Morse, Jan Yoak-Newman, Michael Peterson, Cheri
Sanders, Ceci Shapland, and Beth Swedeen.
We are very grateful for the editorial expertise of Carolyn
McPherson, who guided us, moved us forward, believed in our
work, and knew the importance of finding the right words to
communicate what was in our hearts and heads. Her skills and
dedication are woven througout the story.
Whose Life Is It Anyway? Introduction
Dedication
To the young adults in transition who remind us that ALL human
beings want to be heard, want a sense of belonging, and want to be
valued in their community.
To the parents and professionals who believe in these big dreams
with respect, determination, and love.
Whose Life Is It Anyway? Introduction
I believe we can change the world if we start listening to
one another again. Simple, honest, human conversation.
Not mediation, negotiation, problem-solving, debate, or
public meetings. Simple, truthful conversation where we
each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard, and
we each listen well.
Margaret J. Wheatley
Whose Life Is It Anyway? Introduction
Table of Contents
Foreword...................................................................................... 1
Introduction.................................................................................. 3
About the Title: Whose Life Is It Anyway?.................................. 5
About Becky................................................................................. 7
Scene 1........................................................................................ 9
Scene 2........................................................................................ 21
Scene 3........................................................................................ 35
Scene 4........................................................................................ 47
Scene 5........................................................................................ 59
How This Book Came To Be........................................................ 72
About the Authors........................................................................ 75
Resources.................................................................................... 77
How You Might Use This Book..................................................... 85
Order Form.................................................................................. 86
Whose Life Is It Anyway? Introduction