FAMILY SUPPORT
PAL is a family organization that believes in “meeting people where they are” and providing them with opportunities to make informed choices based on best practices regarding individuals with disabilities.
We assist families and individuals in identifying their own personal communication style and then helping them build bridges in their communities to the supports and services they may need.
Peer Family Networking
PAL's family support efforts include quarterly educational workshops on various topics
of interest for people with disabilities and their families, such as futures planning,
negotiation and communication. Click here to learn about
our upcoming events.
Planning
There are lots of ways that people plan for the future. Some of them are formal. Some
are not. Sometimes people sit around a kitchen table and talk out loud about their
dreams for the future. Friends and family may add their hopes to the dream. They
certainly add their support!
There are tools that lots of people have found helpful in the planning process. Some of
them are:
- PATH Planning
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The PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) process begins with a person,
family, organization, school system, health care facilities, etc., putting themselves
in a ppositive and possible future. It was created and named to assist people walking
the road toward a more just society. For more information, visit the
Inclusion Press website.
- MAPS
-
The MAPS (Making Action Plans) process is a way to identify the dreams of an individual
and involve a team of people in developing and supporting a plan leading toward the
achievement of those dreams.
- CIRCLES
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PAL also provides one-to-one support, advocating at a child's Individual Educational
Plan meeting, navigating through confusing service systems, and shopping around for
necessary support. Visit our Success Stories page for
some first-person accounts.
Information
PAL is committed to the idea that information can be the most empowering hand offered.
In that light, we are in the process of developing a resource center. Browse though
our resource center page for a list of our current
offerings.
Would you like to be added to our family support mailing list?