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Upcoming TACE Transition Topics | |
Career Exploration, Development and Planning for Consumers w/SMI
February 2, 2012
12:00-1:00 PM ET
Participants will gain knowledge of career planning and employment training, as well as learn about benefits retention, disclosure and in vivo assessment.
How To Talk About Money in Vocational Planning
February 14, 2012
1:00-3:00 PM ET
This webinar will look at the steps in the rehabilitation process and what needs to be talked about at each stage of counseling and guidance concerning money.
Making Work Pay
March 6, 2012
1:00-3:00 PM ET
This session will explain the different work incentives connected to SSA and how to use them as a tool in asset building strategies.
Career Exploration, Development & Planning for Consumers w/SMI- Part 2
March 9, 2012
12:00-1:00 PM ET
During this webinar, participants will gain knowledge of career planning and employment training, as well as learn about benefits retention, disclosure and in vivo assessment.
Strategies to Enhance Successful Closure Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
March 21, 2012
12:00-1:30 PM ET
This webinar will begin by reviewing the medical nature of traumatic brain injury (TBI), reviewing functional limitations while emphasizing the demographic and employment outcome data.
Job Development, Placement & Support Strategies for Consumers w/ SMI
March 30, 2012
12:00-1:00 PM ET
During this webinar, participants will gain knowledge of job development, disclosure, reasonable accommodations, supports and the individual placement services model.
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TACE Training Archives | |
2010 and 2011 TACE webinar recordings, handouts and PowerPoint slideshows are archived and available for you to access at your convenience.
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TACE Learning Communities | |
Job Development Exchange
Target Audience: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Community Rehabilitation Providers
Started in July 2011
The Exchange focuses on what a counselor needs to know, whether they are buying job development services or doing it themselves. The Exchange launched with an Online Toolkit for Job Placement and Employment Professionals and a series of webinars, followed by an evolving menu of timely resources, tools and interactive learning opportunities.
Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities Learning Community Series
Target Audience: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Area Directors
Started in October 2011
Information, tools, and tips to communicate, interact, and support individuals with mental health disabilities to reach integrated, competitive employment goals.
Asset Development Exchange
Target Audience: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Administrators
January through May 2012
This five-webinar series is aimed at providing information that allows Rehabilitation professionals to help clients think about how to become financially stable.
Helping Your Team Improve Employment Outcomes for Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities-Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Target Audience: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Area Directors
March through September 2012
This four-webinar series will provide
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Area Directors with information, tools, and tips to communicate, interact, and support individuals with TBI to reach integrated, competitive employment goals. |
| Upcoming Training Events | |
Natural Job Supports: It's about having fun and the right attitude!
February 2, 2012
2:00-3:00 PM ET
Registration: $50 APSE members/$100 non-members)
The presenter will demonstrate how job development can be more natural, and even fun, when you learn to be yourself and approach employers with the right attitude.
Assistive Technology (AT) Evaluation: Hitting the Target and Supporting Implementation
February 8, 2012
2:00-3:30 PM ET
Registration: $50.00
This presentation addresses the components of a successful Assistive Technology (AT) evaluation, who needs to be involved, models for effectiveness and how to make sure that the evaluation results support successful implementation.
Foundations of ASD: National Autism Online Training Series
February 13-March 19, 2012
Tuition: $125
This course will provide participants with an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders, an understanding of the characteristics of ASD, and a discussion of the impact ASD has on the person and the family unit.
Utilizing Clients Social Networks to Partner with Business
February 21, 2012
2:00-3:00 PM ET
Registration: $50 APSE members/$100 non-members)
This webinar will discuss successful methods for how to best obtain and utilize clients' social networks as well as how to discover business needs and ultimately define how to connect the two to ensure a successful job match.
Got Transition Radio- Episode 6: Transition and School: Health & the Individual Education Plan (IEP)
February 22, 2012
1:00-1:30 PM MT
Tune into this first episode of a series related to how healthcare transition might be addressed in the school setting.
Into Adulthood: Transition to Work for Individuals with Autism
February 27-April 10, 2012
Tuition and Textbook: $298.07
This course will provide the participant with an in-depth understanding of the concepts related to positive transition planning for youth with autism.
Career Development for Youth and Adults with Disabilities
February 28-March 12, 2012
Registration: $149
This 2-week online training covers developing career goals through innovative vocational assessment, career development skills, and vocational profiling for youth and adults with disabilities.
Autism Works National Conference
March 6-7, 2012
St. Louis, Missouri
Causes of the Chasm: Factors that Impact Employment among Persons with Disabilities Webinar
March 15, 2012
12:00-1:30 PM ET
This Center for Studying Disability Policy (CSDP) forum will examine the persistent employment gap between people with and without disabilities, with the goal of identifying the factors that may reduce the employment gap and help facilitate the development of more effective policies, programs, and services.
Connections that Work: Pathways to Employment for Young People with Serious Mental Health Conditions
March 22, 2012
1:00-2:00 PM ET
Rise, Inc. and Career Visions will be featured as two examples of programs supporting young people to access employment, and a young adult will share his experience seeking and maintaining employment.
Council for Exceptional Children Conference
April 11-14, 2012
Denver, Colorado
Registration is now open for the 2012 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Convention & Expo. The conference will feature a number of strands, including "Transition as an Evolving Field: Our Continuing Successes" and "New Developments in Interventions for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders."
2012 Disability Policy Seminar
April 23-25, 2012
Washington, DC
Save the date!
2012 National Transition Conference (NTC): College & Careers for Youth with Disabilities
May 30-June 1, 2012
Washington, DC
Join other critical partners in the transition community to exchange innovative ideas and approaches; demonstrate knowledge gained from policy implementation; share transition practices and research findings; and promote and facilitate the development of networks and relationships.
Be sure to check the TACE Events page
for the most up-to-date training announcements.
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Other Learning Opportunities | |
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Greetings!
Good afternoon to all our monthly electronic Southeast TACE Talks Transition subscribers! We hope 2012 is off to a great start for you. For our January issue, we've gathered transition-related information from across the country to help you guide the young people you serve successfully into adulthood. We encourage you to let us know about your creative local practices, transition tips for VR Counselors, and Customized Employment success stories. Send an email to Kim Brown at brown@ruralinstitute.umt.edu and she'll schedule a telephone interview with you to learn more about what you are doing. The information will be written up and shared in a future TACE Talks Transition and on the TACE Transition Services web site. |
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Asset Development Exchange Launched:  The Southeast TACE is pleased to announce its new Asset Development Exchange (ADX) and webinar series designed to help improve employment and retention outcomes through financial self-sufficiency. In our current economy we all understand how difficult it is for our clients to attain economic stability. Asset building strategies and information can sometimes make the difference between an unsuccessful closure and a successful employment outcome. SE TACE wants to ensure counselors have the information and resources they need to assist their clients in obtaining financial stability. What does Asset Development have to do with Vocational Rehabilitation? Employment alone does not break down the array of barriers clients frequently face such as poor credit, limited or no assets, predatory lending, a lack of rudimentary understanding of how public benefits are connected, inadequate medical insurance or poor money management skills. Some or all of these factors can impact a person's ability to "obtain and maintain" employment. We have all had clients who lost their jobs due to one or more of these factors and returned to public rehabilitation. If we start to think how economic stability can be a component of counseling and guidance then more clients will be able to maintain employment and be on a pathway to financial self-sufficiency. The ADX provides information that will assist vocational counselors and community providers. The first webinar, An Overview of Asset Development, was held on January 24th and featured Michael Morris, CEO, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, providing an overview of asset building, including what is occurring on a national level and the impact changing policies and attitudes could have on Vocational Rehabilitation. On February 14th Thomas Jensen from CASA of Oregon will address how to talk about money, what needs to be talked about at each stage of counseling and guidance concerning money. On March 6th Elizabeth Jennings from the National Disability Institute & Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University will talk about how to use work incentives as a tool in asset building. On April 3rd Jackie Wilks-Weathers from the Center for Financial Independence & Innovation, Inc. and Richard Keeling from the IRS will talk about concrete strategies to leverage programs together to build a better financial future for clients. On May 8th Mike O'Brien Executive Director for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Service will talk about the connection between financial stability and job retention. Please encourage your staff to join Southeast TACE in this new strategy that will enhance Vocational Rehabilitation's capacity to help jobseekers achieve financial stability and meaningful, sustainable employment outcomes. |
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Counselor Tips:
With income tax season just around the corner, now is the time to talk with your Vocational Rehabilitation clients about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). A Tax Tips video describing the EITC is available on YouTube. The EITC is a federal income tax credit for low-income workers. Did you know only 17% of people with disabilities claim this credit? The credit can reduce the amount of tax your clients owe, or be a direct refund to them. The tax credit ranges from $475 for an individual with no children, to $5,236 for a family with two children. The refund does not count as earned income against Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. This tax credit is a great incentive for many of your clients who are struggling to make work pay. |
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Transition Innovation:
Southeast TACE has posted the live streaming video and presentations from the highly acclaimed national Employment for Youth in Transition conference held in conjunction with the TASH National Conference, "No Excuses", November 30 - December 1 in Atlanta. Archived presentations include:
When Vocational Rehabilitation & Schools Work Together to Improve Youth Transition - Innovative Strategies from Iowa, a January 19, 2012 NCWD/Youth blog, highlights the Iowa Transition Alliance Program (TAP), "a partnership between the local school system and the local Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services that helps high school students or graduates, ages 16 to 25, who are eligible for VR services prepare for and transition to employment, independent living, and postsecondary education."
The National Standards and Quality Indicators: Transition Toolkit for Systems Improvement is now available for download. The toolkit "combines the findings of current research on effective schooling, career preparatory experiences, youth development and youth leadership, family involvement, and connecting activities with the expertise of numerous individuals who work in these fields."
The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has issued a Dear Colleague letter and Frequently Asked Questions document to provide additional guidance on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act in elementary and secondary schools, in light of changes to those laws made by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.
Advocates for Youth has developed Sex Education for Physically, Emotionally and Mentally Challenged Youth. The document provides an overview of common myths and facts about the sexuality of people with disabilities, along with general guidelines for parents and a bibliography of sex education materials and resources.
The Division on Career Development and Transition has published a fact sheet outlining Transition Specialist Competencies [PDF]. Beginning specialists should have knowledge and skills in these areas:
- Philosophical, Historical, & Legal Foundations of Special Education
- Characteristics of Learners
- Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evaluation
- Instructional Content and Practice
- Planning and Managing the Teaching and Learning Environment
- Managing Student Behavior and Social Interaction Skills
- Communication and Collaborative Partnerships
- Professionalism and Ethical Practices
Money...What Young Adults Need to Know [PDF] addresses such topics as buying a car, credit tips and traps, identity theft and lending rip-offs.
The Forum for Youth Investment January issue of Ready Thoughts includes Ready, Willing and Able, an article that mentions two recent reports on the 6.7 million 16-to 24-year-olds who are out of school and out of work. "When asked what they would need to succeed, the youth asked for advice and mentoring from successful peers as well as from educators and employers. These youth don't just need programs; they need the people associated with these programs to understand how to meet them where they are personally, socially, emotionally, financially, academically. They need people who understand that many of them are disconnected now because they have not had these kinds of relationships in their lives." Echoing this theme, the January 12, 2012 NCWD/Youth blog Mentors: Superheroes without the Cape discusses the importance of mentors, what mentors do, and how to get started.
The 2012 National Transition Conference (NTC): College & Careers for Youth with Disabilities will be held in Washington, DC, May 30-June 1, 2012. Join other critical partners in the transition community to exchange innovative ideas and approaches; demonstrate knowledge gained from policy implementation; share transition practices and research findings; and promote and facilitate the development of networks and relationships. |
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Announcements:
Paving the Way: Meeting Transition Needs of Young People with Developmental Disabilities and Serious Mental Health Conditions [PDF] summarizes a number of programs and best practices for serving young adults with dual disabilities. The Wayne State University Developmental Disabilities Institute in Michigan has created the Possibilities Series, brief (4-7 minutes each) videos focusing on the lives and accomplishments of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The videos show what is possible in terms of inclusive education, friends, community participation, community work, and home ownership. The Campaign for Disability Employment is launching its second nationwide video contest to promote the talent and skills that people with disabilities bring to America's workforce. Submit your entry by March 30, 2012. On January 3, 2012, the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration and Office of Disability Employment Policy released a joint Training and Employment Notice (TEN) on Transportation Services [PDF]. Although the guidance was directed toward the public workforce system, it offered a number of links to transportation-related resources and included practical suggestions for anyone providing employment services. For example: - Participate in a community transportation planning process; connect with agencies and organizations that serve the same customer base.
- Use labor market information and other workforce data to facilitate the creation of van pools.
- Support regional transportation initiatives.
- Invite transportation partners to speak at in-service trainings.
- Talk about transportation with students/consumers/customers - can they get to and from work? Can they afford their chosen mode of transportation? Do they have a back-up plan?
- Involve local businesses in identifying transportation barriers and designing creative solutions.
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Customized & Supported Employment:
The Southeast TACE web site features a number of Customized Employment resources, including:
Read Dale DILeo's latest blog post on Job Customization and the "Babbage Principle." |
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National News:
Advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oregon filed a class action lawsuit charging state officials with violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act by "confining individuals with disabilities to segregated settings where they have little - if any - interaction with non-disabled peers. The workers are paid far below the state's minimum wage of $8.80 for doing rote tasks that offer no training, no skills, and no advancement."
The United States Department of Justice recently found Mississippi to be in violation of the integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act for unnecessarily institutionalizing people with mental illness or developmental disabilities. According to the letter of findings [PDF], the state spends approximately 68% of its developmental disabilities budget on institutional services and has a 1,900-person waiting list for community-based services.
On January 26, 2012, the Justice Department announced a comprehensive settlement agreement [PDF] with the Commonwealth of Virginia to resolve violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). "As affirmed by the Supreme Court over a decade ago, people with disabilities should be given the same opportunities to participate in community life as those without disabilities," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "This agreement will enable people in Virginia who have developmental disabilities to live successfully in their homes and communities. I commend Governor McDonnell for his long-standing leadership on this issue, and we will continue to work with states around the country, as we have with Georgia, Delaware and Virginia, to ensure that people with disabilities are given the choice to live in community-based settings." The agreement calls for expanded community services, including supported employment.
In the fall of 2009, the Executive Board of APSE issued a statement calling for the phase out of sub-minimum wage by 2014. The National Disability Rights Network supported this effort with its report calling for the end of sub-minimum wage. This report, Segregated and Exploited: The Failure of the Disability Service System to Provide Quality Work calls for:
- Ending segregated employment and the sub-minimum wage by restricting all federal and state money that is spent on employers who segregate employees with disabilities from the general workforce.
- Strengthening current and creating new tax incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities in integrated workplaces at comparable wages.
- Increasing labor protections and enforcement of existing law.
Source:Action Alert from National APSE |
Post-Secondary Education:
Through funding under a Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety Grant, the Michael H. Minger Foundation has developed a Guide to Teaching Fire Safety to Students with Disabilities [PDF]. The guide is designed to raise awareness and better educate students attending colleges and universities across the nation about fire safety. Funding Your Education: The 2012-13 Guide to Federal Student Aid [PDF] contains information about all the federal aid programs available for students planning to attend college. See page 6 of the guide for information specifically for students with intellectual disabilities. According to Think College, there are now almost 170 post-secondary programs for students with severe cognitive disabilities. More Students With Disabilities Heading to College describes the expanding options and how to enlist state and federal support for these programs. |
Social Security:
How many of your clients have quit their jobs, worked below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) or refused to work after receiving four years of education due to misinformation about the impact of working on benefits? Are you unsure about the rules of SSA benefits and working? Keep the When to Contact a Benefits Planner [PDF] chart close at hand to assist you in advising your clients on when to contact a Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC) or Benefits Planner. |
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Featured Web Sites:
ReachOut.com seeks to improve young people's mental health and well-being by "connecting them with comprehensive resources and support through the media they use." The web site offers real stories of young people covering topics such as Transitions in Your Life, Work and Career, and Money Matters.
The Strength of Us web site features a number of tip sheets for young adults with mental health challenges, including Strength in Numbers: Financial Tips for Young Adults and Finding Employment Opportunities.
The Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence web site includes a variety of technology-related resources to assist individuals with autism.
The Job Accommodation Network Just-In-Time Training Modules are fully-accessible training resources designed to be used by accommodation specialists, disability managers and others responsible for workplace accommodations.
TASH promotes "equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities." Visit the TASH web site to read about the organization's latest projects, access resources, and/or become a member.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension web site provides access to a number of Family Financial Management resources.
The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center's web site includes a National Resource Map. Click on each state to learn about transition contacts and resources.
The Wrightslaw web site features a transition page with a variety of IEP, transition planning, assessment and other resources. |
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Have you accessed your Portal today?
Visit the TACE Transition Services web site. In the "Login For" section on the left-hand side of your screen, select "Counselor" or "Coordinator." This will take you to the "Login to MyTACE Account" page. You will use your MyTACE Account to register for available events, seek applicable credit, and access your specialized portal - Transition Services Counselor or Coordinator.
Attended a TACE Webinar? You may already have created a MyTACE Account. If you have a MyTACE Account, email
tacesoutheast@law.syr.edu and request to join the TACE Transition Network. If you don't already have a MyTACE account, follow the instructions to "Create a New MyTACE Account" and also apply for Portal access. |
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If you have any questions about TACE or would like to request technical assistance, please contact Civa Shumpert at norciva@gmail.com. For questions about the Southeast TACE Transition Listserv or the monthly Southeast TACE Talks Transition, please contact Kim Brown at brown@ruralinstitute.umt.edu.
Sincerely,
The Southeast TACE Transition Team |
Meet the Southeast TACE Transition Team
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About the Southeast TACE Talks Transition:
This free service is being sponsored by Southeast TACE, the Technical Assistance & Continuing Education (TACE) Center for Region IV. TACE is a partnership of academic, governmental, and community expertise that provides technical assistance and continuing education activities to meet the training and organizational development needs of State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and their partners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Southeast TACE supports VR, Community Rehabilitation Programs, Centers for Independent Living, Client Assistance Programs, and other agencies to enhance employment outcomes, independent functioning, independent living and quality of life for persons with disabilities throughout the eight states in the Southeast Region IV.
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To unsubscribe to the Southeast TACE Transition Listserv, use the SafeUnsubscribe link at the bottom of this message or send an email with "unsubscribe transition" in the "Subject" line to brown@ruralinstitute.umt.edu. |
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