<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:12:44 GMT--><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><title>Blog</title><subtitle>Blog</subtitle><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/</id><link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/atom.xml"/><updated>2011-12-08T20:45:19Z</updated><generator uri="http://www.squarespace.com/" version="Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)">Squarespace</generator><entry><title>Special Needs Life Coaching</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/12/8/special-needs-life-coaching.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/12/8/special-needs-life-coaching.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-12-08T20:43:02Z</published><updated>2011-12-08T20:43:02Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[I was recently in Texas and about to settle into a big plate of barbecue when my cousin introduced me to the waiter as “my relative from California.” This cowboy took two steps backward, clutched his heart, and drawled, “Shit, howdy!  You ain’t one of them loonies from the lala land of fruits and nuts, is ya?” I’m serious, here….

I set down my fork (with regret; they DO have great barbecue) and said: Dude! Like, don’t be a buzz kill! Cali’s  like, you know, totally far out—radically epic.  Now mosey on back to the kitchen and snag some cornbread, okay?  Awesome!

People from California have a reputation in other states.  We try things others consider “out there”, and they never tend to believe us when we say they work. I’d  be willing to bet that Californians hire more Life Coaches than all the other states put together (well…maybe the Zonies give us a run for our money… I used to be one, so I can say this!).
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Something’s Gotta Change</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/30/somethings-gotta-change.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/30/somethings-gotta-change.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-11-30T16:57:07Z</published><updated>2011-11-30T16:57:07Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Those of us who live in California and have a child with developmental disabilities should thank their lucky stars for the Lanterman Act.  Take a look at what people in other states face on a daily basis (excerpt from an article):

Nearly lost amid the throng at the raucous hearing <about closing a state institution in New Jersey> earlier this year was the mother of Derek Legutko, a 26-year-old with autism who&#8217;s living at home while waiting for a community placement. It&#8217;s already been four years, and likely to be a lot longer.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Stories to Tell</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/22/stories-to-tell.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/22/stories-to-tell.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-11-22T17:19:35Z</published><updated>2011-11-22T17:19:35Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Everyone has stories to tell at Thanksgiving, either about past holidays or about things they are grateful to have in their lives.  Stories are powerful tools.  The stories we share with other people help define who we are and they color the perspectives people have about us.

This week, I want to tell you about a storytelling organization my colleagues and I have started specifically for people who have developmental disabilities.  It is called the SoCal Storytellers Guild.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Getting Ready for Adult Life</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/18/getting-ready-for-adult-life.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/18/getting-ready-for-adult-life.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-11-19T00:58:10Z</published><updated>2011-11-19T00:58:10Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Part of our goal in special education is to get students ready for adult life, and I have a few concerns about how we are doing in trying to meet this goal.  The problem, in my mind, is in the definition.

Take a look at this study that was recently completed by a researcher at San Diego State University who reviewed the transition goals of over 1.000 students:

More than 95 percent of students didn&#8217;t have an appropriate, measurable goal for independent living, which can include things like learning to ride public transportation or balance a checkbook. He also found that 41 percent didn&#8217;t have an educational goal and 21 percent didn&#8217;t have an employment goal.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>This May Be The Answer</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/14/this-may-be-the-answer.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/14/this-may-be-the-answer.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-11-14T21:59:31Z</published><updated>2011-11-14T21:59:31Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Those of us who have worked for many years with people with intellectual disabilities know that, while they are physically in the community, they often still have no place of belonging—they aren’t PART of the community.  There is a new social movement that may be at least part of the answer to changing this problem.

This social movement is connected to sustainability. Most of us are familiar with sustainable agriculture, sustainable fuel, and sustainable building. This is the “green” movement.  There is, however, another part of sustainability that has to do with sustainable well-being. These  folks believe that we need to place greater value on the QUALITY of our social lives&#8212;on caring attitudes, a slower pace in life, and to taking action collaboratively.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>No More Imperfect People</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/7/no-more-imperfect-people.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/11/7/no-more-imperfect-people.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-11-07T23:08:04Z</published><updated>2011-11-07T23:08:04Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[What if we eliminated developmental disabilities from the face of the earth?  If it sounds ridiculous it shouldn’t, because this is one of our primary research goals.

.  Read the following quote from a semi-recent article in AAIDD:

‘…an assumption supporting many of the programs and much of the research agenda in the field of developmental disabilities is that we, as a society and as individuals, would be better off if physical, mental and cognitive impairments ceased to exist&#8221;(p. 320) (Silverman, W. (2009)

This is a big thing to consider.  Would the world indeed be better off if people’s “disabilities” ceased to exist?  Let’s think about this for a minute.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>College for Life</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/10/25/college-for-life.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/10/25/college-for-life.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-10-25T22:43:43Z</published><updated>2011-10-25T22:43:43Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[These days, an ever increasing number of colleges and universities are developing programs and opening their doors to young adults with developmental disabilities.  One example here in California is the Pathways program at UCLA, which provides both dorm life and a 2-year certificate training program on life skills for independence and vocational training. 

If you look into these college programs, as I have been recently, you will notice a common thread:  they don’t appear to serve people who have more severe disabilities or who have significant behavior disorders.  I can see why this is the case, but it still leaves a huge number of people out in the cold when it comes to postsecondary educational options.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Just Joking?</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/10/19/just-joking.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/10/19/just-joking.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-10-19T17:06:28Z</published><updated>2011-10-19T17:06:28Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Is it okay for special education teachers, doctors, and other professionals who work with children and adults with special needs to use them as the brunt of a joke?

Disability Scoop recently carried the following story:

Celeste Dennis said she was outraged to find that her son’s second-grade teacher had posted disparaging remarks and photos on Facebook regarding her son and other students in his special education class.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>The Man Behind the Curtain</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/10/11/the-man-behind-the-curtain.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/10/11/the-man-behind-the-curtain.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-10-11T22:00:40Z</published><updated>2011-10-11T22:00:40Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Remember that scene in the Wizard of Oz when the wizard says “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain?”  This is followed by Toto pulling back the drapes to reveal that the Great and Powerful Wizard is really just a regular, mild mannered man who is doing his best to try to help people.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Ass Burgers???</title><id>http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/10/4/ass-burgers.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.qandawithdrk.com/blog/2011/10/4/ass-burgers.html"/><author><name>Dr. Krysti DeZonia</name></author><published>2011-10-05T03:45:34Z</published><updated>2011-10-05T03:45:34Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[It looks like all of us need to watch the season opening of South Park tomorrow night.  While I don’t usually catch this show, their focus is one that we should find interesting, to say the least.  Here’s the preview:

Comedy Central’s animated series “South Park” is setting its sights on autism with an episode premiering Wednesday in which one character believes he has Asperger’s syndrome.
]]></summary></entry></feed>
