Views from the Cliff: Raising Your Special Needs Adult

This episode continues a brief introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) as a way to cope with the challenges of dealing with anxiety, stress, and frustrating events.  I discuss the importance of identifying one's inner core values, which can be used to provide motivation for moving past difficult or challenging  situations.  By combining the first set of processes introduced in Part 1 (acceptance and defusion), listeners can use their identified core values to ACT in a way that moves one closer towards those values, rather than engage in actions or behaviors that provide more immediate (but likely not long-term or productive) gratification.  Join me for a story of inspiration on how to use your values as a roadmap get you driving in a positive direction!  

Want to learn more about ACT?  Check out these resources:

Association for Contextual Behavioral Science - ACT for the Public

https://contextualscience.org/act_for_the_public

This episode, I introduce listeners to Acceptance and Commitment Training as a way to cope with the challenges of dealing with anxiety, stress, and frustration.  I talk about the process and strategies of accepting challenging events that happen, and identify a few simple ways to defuse (distance oneself) from them.  This is part one of a series of episodes designed to help reduce the negative impacts that stress and anxiety have on a parent, or anyone who is, well - human, and deals with such emotions.  

Resources for this episode:

Harris, R. (2017). I’m Learning Act – animated learning. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU9QzmoT6EJdrlZ3UyEwRg6PgksNKd8Ci

Hayes, S.C.,  Sthosahl, K.D., & Wilson, K.G. (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. Guilford Press.

Voiceover courtesy of Voice Changer Plus 5.06 by ARF Software, Inc., available on Apple IoS or Google Play.

This week, we are talking about the importance of, and how to develop or improve upon independent life skills for your special needs adult (or adolescent!!) The process of teaching independent skills is a learning experience for each of us – caregiver and loved one alike!! A little self-exploration is helpful here – you are reminded to check out your parental “auto-pilot” so that our loved ones benefit from the highest level of self-sufficiency!

Here is a great resource to help you get started!

Center for Independent Futures: https://independentfutures.com/blog/skills-for-independence/

This site houses specific resources for supplementing the teaching processes that I discuss in the podcast, and a document for assessing skills to focus on. Be sure to access the PDF of Preparing for More Independent Living.

Got questions or insights? I’d love to hear them! Reach out via Instagram at @views_fromthecliff or email me at [email protected]. In the meantime, cherish the view from the cliff!!

This week, we are talking about how to approach the importance of developing choice making for our adult children!  The process of working on teaching decision making is a learning experience for all of us, parents and loved ones alike!! There are a few resources that I included for your reference to learn more about enhancing self-determination and the decision- making process! You can link to these here:

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Position Statement

Charting the LifeCourse provides a wealth of tools that your family can use to chart and make decisions for your loved one.

Got questions or insights? I’d love to hear them! And remember, this is a safe and positive space! Cherish the view from the Cliff!!

Welcome to this introduction to Views from the Cliff: Raising Your Adult with Special Needs.  The purpose of this Podcast is to provide support, share experiences, and generate ideas for dealing with the challenges that we face as parents of adult children with special needs.  Join me each week for a new episode, where I will discuss important topics that we all can likely relate to as we view life from the cliff!