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Visions for Tomorrow

An Education Course for Caregivers Of Children with Brain Disorders

Visions for Tomorrow  is a series of workshops for parents or other caregivers* of children with brain disorders.  The teachers are local NAMI affiliate members who have experienced first-hand the rewards and the challenges of raising children with brain disorders and who have undergone training to present the program. 

Visions for Tomorrow  covers educational materials and provides the basics for day-to-day caregiver skills. The sessions also offer caregivers an opportunity to share mutual experiences and learn valuable lessons from one another. 

 The course covers the following topics:

  • Introduction to Brain Biology

  • ADD/ADHD, PDD/Autism, Tourette’s Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder

  • Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Eating Disorders

  • Anxiety Disorders: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Post-Traumatic Stress, Separation Anxiety, Panic Disorder; Phobia; Generalized Anxiety Disorder

  • Early Onset Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder

In addition, the program includes workshops on

  • Empathy & Sharing Our Unique Life Experiences

  • Organization of Data and Record-keeping

  • Techniques for Communicating with the Child 

  • Coping & Self-Care

  • Problem Management

  • Rehabilitation, Recovery & Transition

  • Advocacy & Combating Stigma

As one parent put it,  "On an emotional level, the understanding, support and unconditional acceptance addressed our painful feelings of isolation.  The wealth of information provided helped us to overcome the overwhelming sense of helplessness and identified what we could control, energizing us to move forward in life." 

* Caregivers are those who have direct primary care-giving responsibilities for a child with a brain disorder.  In addition to parents, primary caregivers could be grandparents, aunts, uncles or other members of the extended family, respite care providers or foster parents.

For more info about the Visions program, please call Marci at 815-355-5395.

NAMI Barrington Area will also be offering Family to Family, an educational course structured to help caregivers understand and support individuals with mental disorders while maintaining their own well being.
 

For more information, please call Maryrose at 847-382-6623