A Workshop on End-of-Life Issues for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

A Workshop on End-of-Life Issues for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Saturday, April 12, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC

For many years, advocates have sought equal access and equal rights for people with developmental disabilities. As a result, consumers with developmental disabilities have the right and increased opportunity to plan their own lives, choose their own support, and live their lives with dignity and respect.
In addition to the challenges that all people face at end of life, consumers with developmental disabilities, their family members, guardians and the health care system face a unique set of challenges:
. Consumers with developmental disabilities lack opportunities to
learn more about choices and options throughout the course of their lives, so that their wishes can be respected.
. Family members and guardians who provide care and/or assist their
family members in decision-making look ahead to their own aging and end of life. They want to ensure the best support will continue for their family members with developmental disabilities when they are no longer able to provide support.
. Professionals face challenges in helping consumers and family
members to explore their options, talk together about choices and have wishes honored.
Consumers with developmental disabilities, their family members, guardians and professional providers need specialized resources and support to plan ahead for end of life more effectively.
In the words of one consumer following the death of her parents, people with developmental disabilities need to know: "What Will Happen to Me?"

Event Description and the Keynote Speaker
On April 12, 2008, Project Compassion will offer a workshop for consumers
with developmental disabilities, their family and friends and professionals
to explore these important issues and offer tools and strategies for
planning ahead.
The keynote speaker will be nationally respected author and leader in the
field Jeffrey Kauffman, LCSW. Kauffman has taught at Bryn Mawr College
Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research and at the Center for
Social Work Education of Widener University. He has consulted with more
than 25 mental retardation agencies in direct grief support services for
staff and clients, training, and program development.
Kauffman is the author of Guidebook on Helping Persons with Mental
Retardation Mourn and is the editor of 2 books: Awareness of Mortality and
Loss of the Assumptive World. He is the author of numerous articles on
death and dying.
Kauffman's work has been widely praised nationally. Kenneth J. Doka, PhD,
one of the best-known national leaders in the field of grief and loss,
offers strong support for Mr. Kauffman's latest book: "Jeffrey Kauffman
has to be commended for meeting the needs of an underserved and
disenfranchised population of grieving persons. The Guidebook is both
theoretically sound and eminently practical, and a real gift to the fields
of developmental disabilities and thanatology."
Known as an excellent speaker and facilitator, we are fortunate to have
Jeffrey Kauffman lead this workshop.

The schedule for the workshop will be as follows:
9:00 - 9:30 Registration
9:30 - 10:30 Opening Keynote by Jeffrey Kauffman:
We Need to Talk: Bridging the Communication Gaps
among
Consumers, Family Members and Professionals When It
Comes to End
of Life
10:30 - 10:45 Break
10:45 - 11:45 Attorney Panel
Can You Help Me: Understanding the Key Legal Issues
Facing Consumers and Family Members at End of Life
11:45 - 12:00 Break
12:00 - 1:00 Closing Keynote by Jeffrey Kauffman:
They're Not Coming Back: How Grief and Loss
Affects Consumers,
Family Members and Professionals
The registration cost for this workshop is $25.00 for Participants and
$15.00 for Consumers, Seniors and Students who register by March 31, 2008.
The registration cost after March 31, 2008 will be $35.00 for Participants
and $25.00 for Consumers, Seniors and Students. Individuals my register
online by going to the Project Compassion website:
http://www.project-compassion.org/events.htm#whatwill or by calling (919)
402-1844.