S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom's Slogan!

S.M.A.A.R.T.Moms DON'T Just Roar....
WE ROAR , FLAP, AND JUMP!

Join Me @ The Autism Support Network

Join Me at The Autism Support Network!

Friday, October 24, 2014

My Singing & Dancing Dustin Video :) Another S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom Mini-Moment


              
Had a great visit with our family, but I think Dustin was getting a little too excited the day he knew we were going home :) (LOL) I caught him singing and dancing just in time too......Love you Sweetie !


    I don't think he was happy about getting caught on video, but seeing him in this light and even more to see him have "any" type of reaction like embarrassment was, well ,  I'm sorry kinda cool for this mom :)  If your a mom like me that is walking in those shoes of Autism.....I'm certain you know what I mean :) Isn't he Adorable :)

BIG HUGS!
S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom

Friday, October 10, 2014

"P.O.A ? Guardianship ? The Alternative 101 Video": S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom's (OCT.) Mommy Time-Out Need to Know Video



S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom
(Strong Mothers Altering Autism's Reality Together)

I am so happy you are here to watch this month's very informative video.I wanted to bring this to all of you last month, however, I injured my ankle and posted a different video in it's place. Of course, also informative:) This month I really hope you will share this video with mothers living with autism and other developmental disabilities such as Mental Retardation, Cerebral  Palsy, 
Prader- Willi Syndrome, and Spina Bifida.  I know you will not only find this video to be comforting, but it will certainly save you big dollars as well. So if that didn't intrigue you....lets not wait another moment to find out what my alternatives are regarding a Power of Attorney or Guardianship, which is needed when your special child turns 18 years old.
S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom has found the "Alternative" just for YOU! Please don't forget to share this and please be sure to read below FINAL IMPORTANT  NOTE:

BIG BIG HUGS!
 S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom


                       (Click on the Court Room  Below to Watch the Video)
                                                     

FINAL IMPORTANT  NOTE(Be sure to read this!)  

>Form I: The Initial Plan & Form K. - Order Approving Initial Guardianship Plan of Advocate 
  It needs to be filled out and submitted 60 DAYS AFTER the date that is stated on your ACTUAL Guardianship Advocate Forms which was stamped by the judge in her chambers. As for the date on the Initial Form. My Guardianship Advocate documents are dated on August 20, 2014. Therefore, on the (I) Form , the date would be from August 20, 2014- August 19, 2015. FYI: There is no cost for this filing process.

> What happens ONE  YEAR  after I have become my son/daughter's Guardian Advocate?
Time to fill out FORM J : The Annual Plan and  FORM I . This is just to keep everything updated with the county.

>Form J: The Annual Plan & Form L. - Order Approving Annual Guardianship Plan of Advocate  Needs to be filled out and submitted EVERY  YEAR. So don't misplace the case number on your documents. This is your son/daughter's assigned number. You will need it every year when you fill out Form J. 
How to date the Annual Form ?....My Guardian Advocate Document was dated August 20, 2015. So on my "Annual Form" I will date it: August 20, 2015 to August 19, 2016. In addition, you will need to attach a current doctor's report along with Form J. 
Here is a Re-visable form for you to give your son/daughter's doctor to fill out : 
http://circuit8.org/web/forms/probate/guardianship/Physician's%20Report%20Adult%20Ward.doc
Again, there is no cost to do this filing process. Lastly, You can either bring this form to the court house in person or send it in by mail. Just remember, Form J is a form you will have to file every year. The court house will not send you this form in the mail or give you any reminders to have the annual form re-submitted. This is YOUR responsibility. So mark your calendar every year to renew (FORM J) .

2016' UPDATE! Yeah! I noticed that the clerks office updated their site for us :) 
If you are located in Lake County Florida...you can now get the forms you need for becoming a "Guardian Advocate" without having to revise forms from other counties like I had to . So Click on Dustin & I below to get your forms directly :) 
                                      (Click on Pic to get Forms in Lake County, Fl)
                                                                                 

   UPDATE!
Lake County Florida now has forms available for Guardian Advocacy !!! Yeah! 
So if you are a Lake County resident, just click on this link to fill out and print your forms.
https://www.lakecountyclerk.org/documents_and_forms/guardian_advocate_forms.aspx   

Volusia County Florida now has forms available :  http://www.volusiabar.org/zupload/user/files/guardianadvocatehandbook.pdf                                                                      

Guardian Advocate Re-Visaable FORMS & Manual Below:

" I Just loved this Willy Wonka Picture:) How fitting to the Topic"

(Click-On Willy Wonka to get your "Re-Visable" Forms & Manual)

BIG  HUGS & All the Best!


Please feel free to contact me if you're unable to find
 or put together a Spouse Consent Waiver Form. 

     

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Kids Home Depot Workshop in Orange City: S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom and Son (18yrs) are Going. Come Join Us!

I called a head and informed Home Depot of Dustin's age and that he had autism. The age range for the kids shop is 5-12. Of course Dustin is 18 now, but still has the mind of 5 or 6yr old. The lady there was so sweet and said that it was not a problem. She thought it was great that I was wanting to bring him to the workshop:) He may not be in school any longer, but that doesn't mean I will stop trying to teach him something new and to continue working on his social skills. Feel free to join us Oct. 4th. It is FREE , but you do have to register FYI. Maybe this Home Depot isn't near you, if that's the case I still want to encourage you to contact a store near you. Check out their Kids Workshops to see their calendar dates and bring your special son/daughter :)

UPDATE: Today is October 4, 2014. What a wonderful time we had! Dustin did great and the other
families there, with of course much younger children, were so friendly to us.They were absolutely sweet as can be. That's always a plus :) Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the employees of the workshop.
I was of course on crutches still because of the ligaments I pulled in my ankle , so in light of that, it would have been nice to have been offered a chair, stool, box.....sorry standing for almost an hour like that was not too comfortable. But I love my Dustin and endured the discomfort. I was a bit surprised that everyone was expected to stand for and hour or more? And what about those pregnant moms, that's a long time, you know? Then of course as you all can see ...Dustin is wearing a child's apron (LOL) Kind of expected that considering it's a kids workshop and Dustin is 18yr old now. However, I did call a head and we were the only ones like us there. And  clearly we were an unexpected guest. I know they have bigger aprons. But I guess one larger apron was being unreasonable and I didn't ask for one, hoping after seeing him in a smaller one, that just maybe Dustin would be offered a larger apron :(  I guess being a business owner myself I was  overall pleased with Home Depot's workshop itself and the crafts offered for free . It just would be nice if those little acts of kindness which mean a lot to me; well  there was none of that with any of the employees handling the workshop. Lastly, kind of puzzling, why did I register him online and have to do it again when we got there? I try to do things in advance because I know that with Dustin I have to get right to things once he's been informed of what we are doing before hand. So to have to (on crutches) fill out another registration form, I mean , REALLY? Any way, like I said, little acts of kindness mean a lot to me. Next week we're going to Lowes. I wonder how they will be in comparison with Home Depot now ? I guess I'll let you all know then :)  BIG HUGS S.M.A.A.R.T.Moms!!!

P.S. Dustin built this using wood,nails,hammer,paint, and stickers!