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Texas Transition Resource Center

When you’re 18 | A health care transition guide for young adults

Information to help young adults understand what it means to be legally in charge of their health care and how to stay healthy as they grow into adulthood. Includes quizzes on being an adult with special needs, life as an adult, talking with doctors, plus additional Web resources on college and work. This link opens a PDF document. http://hctransitions.ichp.ufl.edu/pdfs/cms_wy18_lowres_09.pdf

KASA - Kids As Self Advocates Website

Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) is a national, grassroots project created by youth with disabilities for youth. We are teens and young adults with disabilities speaking out. KASA knows youth can make choices and advocate for themselves if they have the information and support they need. Visit the KASA website

Teaching Soft Skills Through Workplace Simulations in Classroom Settings

Soft skills, the employability skills that speak to a worker’s interpersonal skills and character, are a critical component of worker productivity. examples of soft skills are teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and effective use of resources. another commonly relied-upon soft skill is effective communication—not just around job-related tasks, but also around balancing work-life realities that may affect workers in their efforts to obtain and sustain competitive employment. the premise that soft skills are more important than even the technical and general education backgrounds of workers has been confirmed by the daily experiences of teachers, counselors, and job placement professionals working with youth and others who are entering the workforce for the first time. today, the need to coach new hires about soft skills is an accepted fact among employers and those who prepare individuals for the workforce. To find out more, read the full document “Teaching Soft Skills Through Workplace Simulations in Classroom Settings” on the website of the Office of Disability Employment Policy    http://www.dol.gov/odep/documents/TeachingSoftSkills.pdf

Higher Education Opportunity Act and Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Learn about how the Higher Education Opportunity Act and national initiatives support postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities. Madeleine Will and Stephanie Lee of the National Down Syndrome Society and Judy Shanley of the U.S. Department of Education present an overview of current college programs, strategies for promoting these opportunities, and resources for further information.

View the Archived Webinar

Download the handout

 

Government Web Site Offers Self-advocacy Tips for Teens with Disabilities

Disability.gov has a variety of self-advocacy resources to help teens begin to express their needs and wants by participating in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. These meetings assist teens in learning ways to talk about their disability with others, set goals, and practice other self-advocacy skills.

Another one: http://studentaid.ed.gov

And: http://www.going-to-college.org/

 

Preparations to Transfer Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) Case Management Service to Local Mental Retardation Authorities (MRAs)

The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) is providing updated information on preparations needed to move case management services under the Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) Waiver from service providers to local Mental Retardation Authorities (MRAs).

DADS has sent informational letters to HCS providers that will be distributed to individuals, legally authorized representatives (LARs) and actively involved family or friends of individuals who receive HCS Program services. The letters should be mailed by Dec. 11, 2009. Current plans are for the MRAs to begin providing service coordination to individuals served in HCS on June 1, 2010. For a copy of the letters, visit http://www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/communications/2009/letters/IL2009-165.pdf.

DADS has created a Web site to answer frequently asked questions regarding the transition. For more information, visit "Frequently Asked Questions about Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Case Management Transition".

To read more about HCS case management transition, go to the November 2009 "FYI" which is online at http://www.txddc.state.tx.us/resources/publications/fyi/fyindex.asp.

 

Graduation Texas Style     

Check out this new Q & A about graduation from Susan Rose, our Transition Focus Center Coordinator. The Q & A includes the new HB 3 graduation credit requirements beginning 2009-2010. Read full article >

 

HEATH Resource Center

The HEATH Resource Center is an online clearinghouse with information for students with disabilities on educational disability support services, policies, procedures, adaptations, financial assistance, scholarships, and materials that help students with disabilities transition into college, university, career-technical schools, or other postsecondary programs.

New to their site is the addition of 14 training modules written for high school students with disabilities preparing for transition from high school to college, a module for parents, and a module for college/university professionals. These 16 modules are accessed by clicking on the "Modules" tab found at the top of their website. Development of these self-directed modules and their improved website was supported in part by Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation dedicated to expanding success in education beyond high school.

You will find their Guidance and Career Counselor's Toolkit vetted by the Office of Special Education Programs. The "Resources" tab you will find their Seasonal Programs (includes their Summer Pre-College Programs for Students), Frequently Asked Questions, Links, and File Repository (includes their collection of articles in pdf and PowerPoint presentations).

Transition Research Identifies Five Legal Issues “Themes”

One could make a case that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the most litigated law of the land.  It is a law that affords parents and students with disabilities many rights and service entitlements while assigning public school districts primary responsibility for ensuring those rights and services are provided.  It is important that   parents, students, schools, and other responsible agencies learn from those who have fought the good fight ahead of us.  By keeping abreast of case law and their significant findings, we can avoid making the same mistakes while learning what it takes to improve services to students as they transition from public school to adult life. Read full article >

Measurable Postsecondary Goals

Measurable Postsecondary Goals are not the same as Measurable Annual Goals in a student’s IEP. This is a new requirement in IDEA 2004 that specifies that the IEP for every student who turns 16 years (or younger if appropriate) must include measurable postsecondary goals and the transition services needed to assist the student in reaching those goals. CFR 300.320 (a)(7)(b)(1)&(2). Read full article >

Internet Resources about Transtion

Expanded & freshly updated, Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADD is a great resource for students searching for a college that will provide them with the programs they need.  http://books. google.com/ books?id= A2Yd-VlGOTAC&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46&dq=Reinhardt+ academic+ support&source=web&ots=AydASXhZOO&sig=zp8ZOdbLlziVUpr esW-bre8svOc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result#PPP1, M1

Post-secondary Parent Teacher Education Connection – Parenting module @ www.tcet.unt. edu/pteconnect/ ?module=Parenting

Hands on Banking  -- Developed by Wells Fargo as a free public service, this innovative, entertaining program is available in Spanish & English & contains no commercial content.  The curriculum is designed for self-paced, individual learning for kids, teens & adults.  It may also be used in classrooms & with community groups.  More info @ www.handsonbanking. org  or www.elfuturoentusmanos.org

Resources about Graduation, Assessments, Standards Based IEPs, and the State Curriculum

Curriculum

Assessment

IDEA Coordination

 

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