The Calais Foundation has announced that it will sponsor the “Transitioning to Adult Life” Webinar Series, a collection of helpful webinars to assist parents and caregivers of special needs students. The webinar series is part of partnership between The Calais School in Whippany and the ARC of New Jersey and other local resources. The webinars are offered on Thursday evenings through the Calais Institute.

The next workshop, titled “An Insider’s Look to the 12+ Program,” will be offered on Thursday, January 28 from 7-7:45 p.m. Join presenters Calais Transition Program Director Lisa Vallo and Calais Guidance Counselor Michelle Primiano as they introduce workshop participants to the Calais transition program for ages 18-21.

The program is designed to offer students the skills they need to move successfully from school into the adult world. Tailored to a student’s individual goals and strengths, the program provides students with community-based instruction, independent living, experiential work readiness learning, social-emotional development, post-secondary options and college preparedness. It also features a partnership with the County College of Morris where students get to take classes at the college in Randolph. To register please click here.

Each month the series will cover topics relevant to parents and guardians of teens and young adults with special needs. All workshops will be hosted virtually so attendees can join us from the safety and comfort of their own home. All attendees must register to gain access to the virtual meeting information.

The next workshop will be on “Getting a Dog in 2020-2021: The Ups and Downs of Raising a Canine During a Pandemic on Thursday, February 4 from 7-7:45 p.m. It will be presented by Calais Animal Assisted Interventions Coordinator Tiffany Shevchic and Calais Animal Assisted Interventions Handler Susan Greenbaum. Registration is required.

Other scheduled workshops are:

“Financial and Estate Planning” Thursday February 25 from 7-7:45 p.m. It will be presented by Trevor Jones, a Calais Foundation Trustee and Founder & Partner, The Jones Group.

“Understanding the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVRS) Thursday March 10 from 7-7:45 p.m. The workshop will look at the mission of the DVRS.

“Guardianship and Supported Decision: Just the Basics” Thursday April 29 from 7-7:45 p.m. This workshop, presented to Jerisa Chiumbu-Maseko, FLE Director, Planning for Adult Life, The ARC  of New Jersey and Samantha Alfonso, Esq., member of the Calais Foundation Board, will help parents and caregivers understand the guardianship process, levels of guardianship and alternatives to guardianship.

The series will conclude with a webinar on “Disability Rights” Thursday May 27 from 7-7:45 p.m. and will be presented by David Rostan, Esq., President of The Calais Foundation.

Additional workshops may be added.

For more information, please visit the Calais Institute here.

(This post was originally published on The Calais Foundation’s website here.)