It's True! You Learn Something New Every Day.

Every day I do more research and uncover more local gems, the "Teens to Adulthood" support group hosted by the ARC of Wake County is no exception. If you check their website they do not meet in the summer months, however they are working on their upcoming September 2009-May 2010 schedule and Steve Strom, the Executive Director with the ARC of Wake County assures me the schedule will not disappoint.

Do they have a website with details? Oh course they do: http://www.arcwake.org/teentoadult.html

This support group covers the questions most parents will have when the children start to transition into adulthood. And with most organizations, products and services...the ideas stemmed from a need and I've found the story.

HISTORY

When Kathy Honeyman moved to Raleigh five years ago, she went about identifying community resources for her teenage daughter, Rebecca. Having been assisted in many ways by The Arc of Monmouth County in New Jersey, she decided to contact The Arc of Wake County. There she was advised to start planning for her daughter’s future. Kathy began to realize that as children with disabilities become teenagers and young adults, a new set of issues emerges in every area of development and lifestyle. Social, emotional, safety, recreational, financial, housing, vocational and advocacy concerns needed to be addressed. Eventually, the idea for monthly meetings, where parents and professionals could come together to talk about some of these transitions, came to light. “Teen to Adulthood” was born.

With the help of other parents and area professionals the meetings started to take shape. Today, Teen to Adulthood boasts over 400 people on its mailing list. The group has covered issues including SSI, Vocational Rehabilitation, CAP services and registering our teens/young adults to vote in upcoming elections. The program is free of charge and offers a casual, friendly and supportive atmosphere for networking with other parents and professionals, while learning valuable information from community providers and experts in their areas.

I am very excited to learn more about this support group and the families they help educate thoughtout the state.