Life Planning with Home of Guiding Hands

https://www.eventbrite.com/preview?eid=1505281891659&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

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🍻 Grab your crew and join us on August 2nd at 1:00 PM for the Cheers for Charity Pub Crawl in North Park! Great brews, good vibes, raffle prizes, and even a chance to PIE the CEO all for a good cause. 🎯
🎟 Tickets: hghcheersforcharity.org

I'm looking forward to meeting some families in Imperial County tomorrow!

Seeing the Bloom | Wendy Smith For most of my son’s life, we have been teachers. We have done our best to teach him how to communicate his needs.

I am sharing information re the Ausism Social & Mental Health Conference coming up in February. I will be on the panel for the topic "Autism Parents Can Never Die!"





Autism Social & Mental Health Conference
Friday, February 7th, 2025

WHILE WE ARE SOLD OUT FOR IN PERSON ATTENDANCE, WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE OPTION!

Topics Include:
• GENDER & SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN AUTISM - What is the connection?
• PROFOUND AUTISM & THE MOVE TOWARD CLARITY
• AUTISM PARENTS CAN NEVER DIE!
• DEMAND AVOIDANCE-IS IT AUTISM, ADHD, ODD OR PDA?

Plus a keynote by Kate Swenson. Kate is the creator of Finding Cooper’s Voice and author of Forever Boy: A Mother's Memoir of Autism & Finding Joy. Her oldest son, Cooper, has severe non-verbal autism. Learn more: https://www.findingcoopersvoice.com/ https://www.facebook.com/findingcoopersvoice

Virtual Conference Registration is OPEN NOW

If using SDRC funding, please follow the steps below:
• Ask your service coordinator to add this event to your IPP
• Vendor Code is PY3056
• Ensure that you receive confirmation that it has been approved
• You will need to provide proof of funding approval to be able to register
• You MUST also register at our conference site in addition to getting San Diego Regional Center funding approval
• Email [email protected] with any questions
Register Here









Autism Society San Diego
www.autismsocietysandiego.org
[email protected]
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Autism Society San Diego | The Connection is You. The connection is you. We create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully. Find out about Autism related programs, support, resources, and events in the San Diego area.

Just 11 days until the next Life Planning workshop group kicks off!
Visit www.lifeplanninghelp.org to see the registration links and learn more about this empowering program!

Life Planning Workshop 1: WHY PLAN - GETTING STARTED In the initial workshop, families introduce themselves and discuss what plans they have in place, if any, what they think is needed, and any barriers they have experienced in the planning process. Video materials and exercises highlight the importance of ...

Wendy’s Weekly Wisdom – A Special Mom’s Journey
I facilitate a workshop series for families who have concerns about the future of a loved one with a disability. I have volunteered and worked in the field of disabilities for almost forty years. I am also the mother of an adult son with multiple disabilities including Autism. This makes me uniquely qualified to understand what goes on in the day to day. Each week I share a glimpse into our lives.
This week, I focus on my son’s growing decisiveness.
Want to plan an optimal, sustainable future for your loved one with a disability? Join my Life Planning Workshop series. It is virtual and bi-weekly. Click the link below to sign up for this life-changing experience!
https://www.guidinghands.org/disability-services-san-diego/life-planning/


Decisively So!
Almost twenty years ago, I changed the way I spoke with my son. For many years we struggled to communicate effectively. I always knew he understood what I was saying, but his expressive ability to answer was significantly impaired. Most often he would use a yes/no response, point to objects, or simply ignore me completely.
Over time, I began to believe the lack of response when he ignored me was not related to his mood at all. I began to think it was about uncertainty and a struggle to find the right language for a response.
So I experimented and discovered that when I offered a choice with every question, I was not being ignored! My son would echo back one of the choices!! To make sure he was not just repeating the last thing I said, I would mix it up. Frequently I offered what I thought would be his preference as the first choice. Despite hearing something else more recently, he proved his understanding by repeating the first option!
Once I was confident of the technique, I began to use it regularly and encouraged his support staff at school to do the same. An unanticipated benefit was that it helped new staff develop an “ear” for how my son pronounced certain sounds and enhanced everyone’s success understanding and supporting him.
Fast forward to the present and we continue to offer choices during all conversations.
This weekend I noticed how much more decisive he has become in expressing his preferences. I also noticed his absolute and unwavering expectation that the choice he expressed would be respected and acted on. He had a birthday and very decisively created the menu for his party! Once the gifts were opened I asked about where he wanted to put some of them – with no hesitation he told me. A package came from his grandmother with a new sheet set and comforter for his bedroom. Very clearly, he confirmed that he wanted to change the bedding right away. Everything was reversible and he was again decisive in which side to turn up.
After the bed was made I thought about the interaction. It has become the norm and I almost didn’t notice how quickly he answered questions and how clear his preferences were. I probably only noticed because it was late, I was tired, and I hoped he would be happy to change the bed in the morning. I even asked if he was sure when he wanted to put the sheets on right away.
Yes, he was sure. Decisively so.
All of the years offering choices have given him the confidence to be a self-advocate. To ask for what he really wants. To expect that he will be listened to and respected.
I don’t want any of that to change, so I put on the new bedding and took a picture for his grandmother of the big grin as he showed off his new comforter.
Registration is open for Life Planning workshops that assist families to identify, document and share the vital details of their loved one's life.
Life Planning Workshop registration site