Hello, my name is Anna Riggins. I am the Learning Lab Instructor for the Detroit Learning Labs. I have been with the Program since November of 2010. I I am looking forward to the interesting conversations via email that will be helpful. Thank you.
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It occured to me I'm new to htis group and s hould introduce myself!
My name is Joan Medlen. I'm a dietitian. I have a masters in education with an emphasis on instruction design. I work in the area of helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live quality lives with quality health and connected community. I use health literacy tools to help with the messaging around health. So really, I do a lot of education for people who experience IDD and those who support them to create the life they seek. That means I do a lot of different things including nutrition therapy, wellness coaching, setting up visual systems, person centered planning, exploring augmentative communication, explorign assistive technology, coaching support staff regarding informed decision making and positive behavior support, and on and on and on.
This is challenging work, but it is also what is absolutely necessary for community based living to be successful. (or even living in group situations). It's also not something that is easy to be paid for!
I'm looking forward to learning from everyone, sharing experiences, and maybe developing a program that I can look to fund. Knowing how to package these services so that I can do that is the tough part. There needs to be some assistance that is not limited to a specific system or group, but is focused on creating hte solutions needed for the individual USING the resources - paid and unpaid - available.
I suppose I should also share that I come to this work and these conclusions because it is what we need. I am the mother of a 23-year-old with multiple "labels": autism, Down syndrome, Celiac disease, and who is nonverbal. I don't see those labels, of course, but they do paint a picture for you. I provide the service I wish I could hire for myself - as you know, it is far easier to be on the o utside of a situation and help people find their way than it is to see the forrest for the trees in your own.
Look forward to learning and sharing with all of you!
Joan