I'm new and want to introduce myself

[dmom32002]

Hi I'm donna and I am from Indiana. I haven't
been to the profile yet.

I am the parent of three boys and one grandson,
my sons all have various disabilities, and I have
dealt with schools for over 20 years. My oldest
is 23.

I am a advocate helping other parents with needs
for their special needs children. I work with
the group called IN*SOURCE, I don't think their
is a reason I can't post our site. If so please
fix it. Its a non-profit organization and we are
free for Parents in indiana. I help in a 7 county
area in the Northwest area, if your from Indiana,
please give me a holler if you need help.

I love helping anyone that needs it and I have
a list of the other advocacy groups that are
volunteer orientated, or free as far as I understand
to parents in all 50 states.

My son's are Danny, (23), Devin(19) and Derrick (13).

Donna
[e-mail]
www.insource.org I think

[ohmama]

Donna,
Hello and thank you for posting.

You are most welcome to be here, we are glad to have you. I look forward to hearing more from you on the different forum topics for discussion. Having raised special needs children I'm sure you could teach us a lot.

How's the weather in Indiana now? I'm originally from Chicago but I live in Oregon now and imagine you are experiencing a change of season that is quite beautiful this month?

[chaknine]

Donna and I met on the epilepsy foundation board. She has been a great help to me and is very knowledgeable about many things our kids deal with and is more than willing to help! Donna....

[Dakotah]

Hi Donna! Your info has been VERY informative. Thanks for sharing. I am at home now and everyone asks me what I am going to do when I go back to work. I would love to be some kind of middleman between special educ. and parents. Someone to inform parents of what is to come and things they need to know. I was a teacher for ten years. How did you become an advocate? Any info would be great! FYI I am in MN.

[d]

Welcome Donna.

d, another wannabe kids' advocate

[dmom32002]

Hi I was a volunteer advocate, just like most of
you are doing here on site. For about 10 to 12
years. I was trained by the people that I know
work for.

Not sure when but a few years ago the State
of Indiana Dept of educations, Specifically
the director of Special Education decided they
liked the services my bosses provided. But
that they were centered in one place, so they
supported the plan to put some of us all
over the state.

In the first few years they put some in different
parts every few years. I was one of the last areas
added. I've had my job for 3 + years. And its
awesome, see this is the one job that you can
have and still put your children first.

My Derrick has had to be hospitalized just in
a few hours more than once, I've had to cancel
meetings, tell parents I can't come, but my
bosses say MY Child comes first. They tell
me to do what I can and thats what I've done.
When I started I had just had surgery on my
Elbow a major put it back together. They were
so great to me. I was still one of them.

I do have a list of advocacy groups, I'm hoping
its okay to post this, if not tell me.

You say MN, so here is the contact place I
have, when my job became a job they sent
word to their volunteers, but if I hadn't applied
and gotten it they would have been looking
in other ways.

Minnesota
Discapacilados Abriendose Caminos
Ana Perez de Perez
608 Smith Ave South
St Paul, MN 55107
[e-mail]
651-293-1748

Pacer Center INC
Paula Goldberg
8161 Nomandale Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 65437-1044
800-53-2237

www.pacer.org
[e-mail]

Oh wow this is a great program, is Pacer.
At least from looks, we get all information
starting through here, not sure but believe
they may be one of the first 5 agencies like
we are.

donna

[Dakotah]

Thanks so much Donna!

[dmom32002]

I love my job. You will find me on the net
in any room that they want to learn or will
listen.

I also am gaining confidence by talking to people,
I have a really hard time talking in public, thank
goodness my immediate boss is really good at helping.

I will be missing for a while I go to conference soon.
So if you leave a question I didn't desert you,
I'll be back as soon as I'm home.

donna