Maine Medical Center’s Department of Vocational Services is pleased to offer another free webinar: COVID-19 and SSI/SSDI Benefits July 8, 2020

Maine Medical Center’s Department of Vocational Services is pleased to offer another free webinar:   COVID-19 and SSI/SSDI Benefits July 8, 2020 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Register here by July 1. Zoom invitation will be sent to all accepted participants by July 6.

This free webinar is for Maine service providers and Maine SSI/SSDI beneficiaries who want to learn how public benefits are impacted by the recent COVID-19 economic recovery bills. We will address topics such as:

 

·       Are SSI/SSDI beneficiaries eligible for Unemployment Insurance?

·       How does Unemployment Insurance impact public benefits?

·       How do Economic Impact Payments impact public benefits?

·       How do SSI/SSDI beneficiaries get their Economic Impact Payment?

·       Can MaineCare health insurance close during COVID-19?

·       What Social Security services are currently impacted By COVID-19?

·       Reporting job changes to benefits agencies

·       Trusted websites for COVID-19 information about public benefits

 

 

Presenter: Stephanie Desrochers is the Program Coordinator for Benefits Counseling Services, a statewide service to help Maine SSI/SSDI beneficiaries understand how working affects their Social Security disability and other public benefits. For more information, visit www.benefitsandworkinme.org or call 1-888-208-8700.

 

The 2020 Guide for Maine Families on AT and AEM is available at Maine CITE!

The 2020 Guide for Maine Families on AT and AEM is available at Maine CITE!

The Maine CITE Program is pleased to release the revised 2020 Guide for Maine Families on Assistive Technology and Accessible Educational Materials. This Guide provides Maine families who have children with disabilities an easy to use resource describing how to get the assistive technology (AT) devices and services they need. Information about accessible education materials (AEM) and families’ important role in the planning process are also provided.

This 2020 Guide updates general information about AT and AEM. It includes new resources about AT used during “learning at home” activities, as well as AT device demonstration and loan services - AT4Maine.org.

The Guide may be downloaded from the Maine CITE website at www.mainecite.org/education

FMI contact Maine CITE at iweb@mainecite.org or call 207-621-3195 or Maine Relay 711.

Thank you.

Kathy Adams OTL, ATP

Maine CITE Program Director

kadams@mainecite.org

mainecite.org

AT4Maine.org

maine-aem.org

Financial Planning For Your Special Needs Youth/Young Adult June 16th at 3:00pm

Financial Planning

For Your Special Needs Youth/Young Adult

TUESDAY, JUNE 16TH 3:00PM VIA ZOOM & FACEBOOK LIVE

Jacki Farrell and Tudor Goldsmith will talk about investing principles to achieve your long term goals, how inheritance can affect a person's eligibility for MaineCare, proactive inheritance planning for families of children with special needs, and additional options for special needs financial planning.

Presenters: Jacki Farrell a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones with 15 years of financial planning experience and a mom to a son with Autism and an Intellectual Disability.

Tudor Goldsmith a practicing lawyer at Jensen Baird & Henry in the area of trusts and estates, probate litigation, and related tax matters.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TlTfVTPHQaKLWp0qwOn9-Q

June Webinar from Maine Parent Federation. - June 23rd, 2020

June Webinar from Maine Parent Federation

Family Guide to Assistive Technology &

Accessible Education Materials

TUESDAY JUNE 23RD 3:00PM VIA ZOOM & FACEBOOK

The Maine CITE Program staff will update families on Assistive Technology (AT) and Accessible Educational Materials (AEM). We all use
technology to improve our lives. AT and AEM support students in learning, living independently, and transitioning into adulthood. Along with an opportunity for questions, this live web session will update families with the latest information on AT and AEM and the importance of the family's role in planning. The revised 2020 "Guide for Maine
Families on AT and AEM" will be featured.

Participants will:
Learn about AT and AEM in the program planning process.
Learn about AT and AEM devices, resources, and funding in
Maine.
Discuss the importance of AT and AEM in Transition

Presenters: From Maine CITE - the state's Assistive
Technology Program:
Kathy Adams OTL, ATP- Director and John Brandt - Training
Coordinator
Tuesday, June 23rd at 3:00pm

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/register/WN_rXTnV7okRTqN9gufzlb9Gw

If you have any questions, call Maine Parent Federation at 800-870-7746 or E-mail: parentconnect@mpf.org.

Upcoming Webinars for June 2020 - Maine Parent Federation

SELF ADVOCACY

Finding Your Voice

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH 11AM VIA ZOOM

Self Advocacy is one of the most important skills a young person with disabilities can have.  Join our Youth Coordinator Dylan Campbell as he explores ways you can find your voice and advocate for your own needs.

Dylan will provide you with tools and activities to identify and use your strengths to effectively self-advocate in school, community, social, and job settings.

Parents/In-Home Adult Support aides are welcome to participate if

needed.

Register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpde2vpz4tGdVt6kaEYWyEbcPRn70RjW14 

SUPPORTED DECISION MAKING

Exploring Alternatives

to Guardianship

THURSDAY JUNE 18TH 11AM VIA ZOOM

Supported Decision Making is one of the many alternatives to Guardianship. As of September 2019, the probate code (the law that oversees Guardianship) was changed for the first time in decades. This webinar explores what the changes implemented in September 2019 mean for your family. 

Obtaining guardianship is a legal process where an individual is stripped of their rights, and another individual can now legally make their decisions. This option is not right for all families, and other options should be explored first. Join us as we discuss Supported

Decision Making and these other "Less Restrictive Alternatives" to guardianship.

Register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rwne7JDIQUqK_pnrPrFadw

If you have any questions, call Maine Parent Federation at 800-870-7746 or E-mail: parentconnect@mpf.org.

Maine Parent Federation Parent Connection Summer 2020

Hi, The Summer 2020 edition of the Maine Parent Federation newsletter, Parent Connection, is now available on our website at:  http://mpf.org/newsletters/ParentConnectionSummer2020.pdf We have new and updated information packets, upcoming events, webinars, informative articles,  and much more. Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to others who may be interested.  If you would like a printed copy of the newsletter, E-mail dnewcombe@mpf.org.

Enjoy the summer, The MPF Staff

Virtual Youth Support Group May 28th

Come Join MPF's Virtual Youth Support Group!

Maine Parent Federation is offering a virtual youth support group on Thursday, May 28th at 3:00 PM. We are encouraging youth and young adults, middle school age and above, with special needs to come and hang out in a safe space. 

Our Youth Coordinator, Dylan Campbell, and colleague from Maine's Department of Education, Leora Byras, will facilitate conversations around self-advocacy and becoming an adult. Even though this is a virtual event we are hoping it will provide youth an opportunity to connect with each other. 

Thursday, May 28th - 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcud-irqzorH9Ci03xJe-5d1EYz2GSRu6va

If you have any questions, call Maine Parent Federation at 800-870-7746 or E-mail: parentconnect@mpf.org.