REACHING MY OWN GREATNESS (RMOG) Workshop

RMOG trainings have been held at the Austin (April 23 & 24) and Dallas (Dec. 8 & 9) CHIRP sites in 2008 and at the CHIRP sites of Gulf Coast Area/Angleton (Feb. 26 & 27), Amarillo/Lubbock (March 23 & 24) and Tyler (Aug. 17 & 18) in 2009. The Belton/Waco CHIRP site is scheduled for an RMOG training Dec. 2 & 3, 2009.

The “Reaching My Own Greatness” (RMOG) training, developed by People First of Washington, is a highly interactive, educational, teaching tool that focuses on self-determination.

Under the University of Arkansas CURRENTS’ CHIRP project, the goal is to provide, in conjunction with selected Texas CHIRP sites, a 2-day “Train the Trainer” event. The trainees are youth with disabilities, ages 14 to 26, who see themselves (or possibly could see themselves) in leadership roles. After completion of the training, youth trainers can then offer the RMOG to their peers and groups in the community.

Youth who participate in the RMOG have a great time as they learn about their own greatness. They explore issues of self-esteem and learn how to communicate their dreams and plan to reach those dreams. They learn about dealing with life’s “road blocks” when they occur and how to give back to their community.

The RMOG training includes the topics of:
• What is Self-Determination?
• Who am I?
• What do I want?
• How do I get what I want/need?
• Communication
• Road Blocks
• Responsibility and Community

Each youth participant can bring a support person who will be available to help as needed. That support person can be a teacher, a family member, a mentor or a professional working with the youth.

During the RMOG workshop, the youth experience fun, educational hands-on activities that teach many a life point. At the end of the training, each youth receives materials/curriculum to use when they do their own future RMOG trainings.

To Learn More

• PeopleFirst of Washington and RMOG.doc
• RMOG Training Interactive Activities.doc
• RMOG Training PowerPoint in RTF.rtf
• RMOG Training PowerPoint.ppt

CHIRP Project Description

“It takes a village to raise a child.” This often-quoted African proverb is especially true for children with disabilities, and the need for this supportive village or community continues as children with disabilities grow and begin the transition to adult roles within those communities.

The University of Arkansas CURRENTS’ CHIRP project* promotes Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) to coordinate services and develop working collaborative relationships with the State Public Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VR) to assist and sustain young people with disabilities as they make the transition from school to living productively in the community.

CURRENTS is currently beta testing CHIRP in the “incubator” State of Texas. With the input of our National Think Tank and Texas Incubator Council (comprised of youth run organizations and experts in training, transition, and CIL and VR services), CURRENTS has developed training, tools and strategies that are presently being implemented at eleven sites (Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Belton, Dallas, Lubbock, Houston, San Antonio, Crockett, and Tyler). Texas was chosen as the incubator site to develop the CHRIP project because the Public VR Program, the SILC and the Texas Association of Centers for Independent Living had already begun to explore ways to collaborate around the common goal of transitioning young people with disabilities.

Through partnerships with various national disability-related organizations, the CHIRP training, tools and strategies will be disseminated and replicated nationwide by 2010.

The project goals are to:
1. Improve cooperative working relationships between CILs, the SILC, the Public VR Program, and other relevant agencies in the State of Texas by focusing on the common goal of successfully transitioning young people with disabilities to adult roles in their communities.
2. Develop tools, techniques and strategies for CILs and VR to add value to transition services in the State of Texas.
3. Build a community of support for youth in transition by strengthening this collaboration.
4. Develop youth leadership through this collaboration.
5. Develop evidence-based practices for replication across the country.

CONTACTS

Carri George, Program Director
University of Arkansas CURRENTS
cgeorge@uacurrents.org
501.623.7700 (v)
Use Relay (TTY) - Phone 711

Julie Ballinger, Training Director
University of Arkansas CURRENTS
(Albuquerque, NM Field Office)
jballinger@uacurrents.org
505.797.8612 (V)
Use Relay (TTY) - Phone 711

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