Meeting minutes are posted below…

DuPage Family Disability Network
Minutes
January 11, 2006

The meeting was opened by Barb Petersen at 7:07pm. Prior to the introduction of the guest speaker, an announcement concerning an upcoming meeting on residential options sponsored by Ray Graham on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 7:00pm was made. Guest speaker, Sara Tatham, was introduced. Ms. Tatham, representing the Divisions of Rehab Services (DRS), presented information regarding vocational services her department provides to individuals with special needs. She discussed the STEP Program which is currently being used in many area high schools for transition planning of such individuals. Her department also provides grants to individual schools to help with job coach’s salaries, stipends, vocational guidance, counseling and job placements for the students. Once an individual has been working successfully for approximately ninety days, DRS support is phased out.

Other private agencies that work with DRS to provide job coaching and placement are Ray Graham Association, Spectrum Services, Supported Employment Associates (SEA) and Parent’s Alliance. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of DFDN will be February 8, 2006 at 7:00pm at the Lisle Public Library.

Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Ann Ricketts
DFDN Secretary