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Transition Tidbits
Transition News and ResourcesNovember/December 2012
In This Issue
Training: MT, Online
Training: Other States
MT News
Announcements
Employment
Health
National News
Post-Secondary
Social Security
Technology
Transition
Web Sites

Learning Opportunities: Montana and Online 

 

Exploring Community Service as a Pathway to Employment: A Webinar for Social Security Disability Beneficiaries
 
December 5, 2012

1:00-2:30 PM MT

This webinar will introduce a variety of community service opportunities and benefits including The Corporation for National and Community Service, the Serve America Act, and service leading to work. 

 

Job Coaching and Workplace Supports

December 5-18, 2012

Cost: $149

This 2-week course will cover effective job design, instructional and behavioral support strategies, and the development of natural and co-worker supports.

 

How to Expand your Employer Network

December 6, 2012
11:00 AM-12:00 PM MT
Cost: $50 APSE Members/ $100 Non-Members

Learn which organizations are key to employer success and get involved. Get ready to think like a salesperson for on-going successful relationships.

 

SSA's Disability Programs: New Findings on the Dynamics of Employment and Health

December 6, 2012

10:00-11:30 AM MT

This forum will present new findings on the extent to which adults leave the SSA disability rolls, and remain off, because they found work or recovered from a medical condition.

  

JAN Webcast: Harnessing the Accessibility Features of Mobile Devices for Use as Reasonable Accommodations

December 11, 2012

12:00-1:00 PM MT

JAN Consultants will discuss the accessibility features of popular types of mobile technology and how to incorporate mobile devices, accessories, and applications into an accommodation plan.

 

Equitable Transitions to Adulthood: Issues of Cultural and Social Capital Webinar

December 12, 2012

1:00-2:00 PM MT

In this presentation, specific types of cultural and social capital relevant to special education are identified. Next, their potential to impact positive post-school outcomes is explained. Finally, the implications for research and practice that take into consideration culture and diversity as complex, interactional variables are discussed.

 

National Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) Webinar

December 12, 2012

1:00-2:30 PM MT

This webinar will discuss Ticket to Work and other work incentives that can help Social Security disability beneficiaries find work and become financially independent.

 

The Personnel Factor: Attributes of Highly Successful Employment Specialists

December 19, 2012

11:00 AM-12:00 PM MT
The Center on Transition to Employment invites you to an informational webinar on new research into the characteristics of employment specialists and their implications for successful transition to paid jobs for transition-age youth. 

iPad Adaptations in Minutes

January 8, 2013

1:30-3:00 PM MT

Cost: $59

This webinar will demonstrate over 30 ways an iPad can be adapted in five minutes or less using everyday materials. Participants will learn to mount an iPad so the camera can be stabilized and used as a video presenter, presentation, lecture, or capture tool; adapt a stylus or use innovative input methods; create tactile graphics for iPad apps; attach an iPad to a wheelchair, bed, crib, chair, or a person; recess an iPad into a table or tray; and learn creative ways to protect an iPad.

 

Retaining your Employer Relationships

January 10, 2013
11:00 AM-12:00 PM MT
Cost: $50 APSE Members/ $100 Non-Members
Learn how to build the employer relationship so it stands the test of time and increases opportunities for employment.

 

Self-Employment: The Other Option

January 15, 2013

11:00 AM-1:00 PM MT

Cost: $50 APSE Members/$100 Non-Members

This webinar will feature two talented Supported Entrepreneurs who will talk to the audience about their experience with self-employment and the type of assistance they received to be successful in their business.

 

Preparing for What? Employment and Community Participation

January 22, 2013

12:00-1:30 PM MT

This webinar will discuss factors related to job outcomes for students with ID who are attending PSE programs and present a case study of a program in CT that addressed these issues and improved their employment outcomes as a result.

 

College-Based (Dual-Enrollment) Transition Programs

February 6, 2013

12:00-1:30 PM MT

The speakers discuss the policies and practices that have been developed to promote successful college experiences for students while they are still in high school.

 

Montana CEC Conference

February 6-8, 2012
Missoula, MT

Make plans now to attend the Montana Council for Exceptional Children Conference. 

Learning Opportunities: Other States

National Disability Inclusion Leadership Institute

December 10-11, 2012

Crystal City, Virginia

This event is designed to meet the needs of experienced leaders in the national service field who are seeking state-of-the-art approaches as well as novice leaders who would like to be able to implement and/or provide basic disability inclusion capacity building.

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Greetings!

 

Welcome to the November/December Transition Tidbits. This issue is filled with news and resources you can use to promote the successful transition of young Montanans with disabilities from high school to their adult lives.

Montana News

Do you know a Montana student with special needs who is excelling in one or more areas of her/his life? Nominate the student for the YES I CAN Award! The winner (and her/his parents) will receive a trip to Missoula to attend the CEC conference luncheon where they will be honored. The deadline for nominations is December 10, 2012. 

Announcements 

Share what you have learned about supporting people to lead rich, meaningful, integrated lives in their communities! The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) is launching a quarterly online peer reviewed journal, Inclusion [PDF]. The journal will provide a forum for discussion of interventions and strategies to promote full inclusion. The submission deadline for the inaugural issue is December 15, 2012.

 

The Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (ITAC) and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) have launched the Training Toolbox. The Toolbox categorizes innovative training strategies by topic (e.g., Transition, History of Disabilities, Family Centered Care, Maternal and Child Health, etc.).

 

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Searchable Online Accommodation Resource, or SOAR, allows users to explore accommodation options for people with disabilities in work and educational settings. The SOAR widget is now available for download to your agency's website.

Employment 

The National Telecommuting Institute is a non-profit organization specializing in assisting Americans who need work-from-home jobs. Their website resources include a list of common telework jobs available through the NTI and what types of skills or training are needed for each type of job.

 

The NCWD/Youth InfoBrief Everybody Learns, Everybody Works: Using Universal Design for Learning in Workforce Development Programs describes how UDL principles can be used in work experiences and training settings to more effectively and efficiently engage all youth. The brief describes specific ways to apply the principles and offers numerous examples.

 

Support for States Employability Standards in CTE and Adult Education is an initiative of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education. The project's purpose is "to consolidate and disseminate information on employability skills to form a centralized clearinghouse that helps inform the instruction and assessment of these skills." The project website includes an interactive framework that organizes employability skills; an online tool to inform the selection of an employability skills assessment; profiles of state, local, and employer-led employability skills initiatives; and links to related initiatives.

 

The Economics of Supported Employment: What New Data Tell Us [PDF] by Robert Cimera "reviews the literature on the economics of supported employment. By comparing results from research conducted prior to, and after, 2000, several important findings were identified. The first was that individuals with disabilities fare better financially from working in the community than in sheltered workshops, regardless of their disability. This is especially true given that the relative wages earned by supported employees have increased 31.2% since the 1980s while the wages earned by sheltered employees have decreased 40.6% during the same period. Further, supported employment appears to be more cost-effective than sheltered workshops over the entire 'employment cycle' and returns a net benefit to taxpayers." (Worksupport.com website)

 

The Autism DRRP Research to Practice Brief #5, Developing Model Programs for Supporting Individuals with ASD in Public VR Program through Knowledge Translation of Evidenced-Based Research [PDF], outlines why VR should invest in enhanced service models, what evidence-based research has shown, program components for autism pilots, critical training and skill-development activities,  and capacity development strategies.

 

Health

Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs) [PDF] are family-staffed organizations that assist families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and the professionals who serve them. F2F HICs provide support, information, resources, and training. Parents, Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) is the Montana F2F HIC.

 

The Family Voices website offers a variety of free and low-cost health resources, many of which can be downloaded directly from the site. Examples of available materials include "Bright Futures Family Pocket Guide: Raising Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents-2nd Edition" and "Families Partnering with Providers."

 

The Medical Home Portal provides information and resources to help physicians and parents care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). The Portal currently includes listings for Idaho, Oklahoma and Utah.

 

The webinar Approaches to Training Healthcare Providers on Working with Patients with Disabilities has been archived and is now available for viewing. The presentation slides and resources may also be downloaded.

 

The November 2012 Kaiser Health News features After The Election: A Consumer's Guide to the Health Law, a primer on the Affordable Care Act.

 

NCWD/Youth's Policy Brief Transition's Missing Link: Health Care Transition identifies strategies for improving health care transition for youth with chronic conditions and disabilities.

 

National News

The Department of Education is requesting public input [PDF] on the future direction of the Rehabilitation Training Program. "The Department will use the information and data gathered in response to this notice to support the design and implementation of future training and TA that is aligned with the current and future economic trends, reflects the needs of vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumers and ensures that VR counselors are equipped with new and emerging skills. The goal of these training and TA activities is to increase the achievement of high-quality integrated employment for individuals with disabilities." Comments are due by January 7, 2013.

 

Disability.gov has created the What's Your Connection? initiative and accompanying toolkit to emphasize the connections among all people. The initiative will use social media and grassroots tactics to build support for inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace and in their communities.

Post-Secondary Education 

College Students with Disabilities: What Factors Influence Successful Degree Completion? A Case Study [PDF] is a joint publication of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development and the Kessler Foundation.  The study involved twenty individuals with disabilities who had successfully completed their college education at one of five community colleges and universities in New Jersey. Report findings include: access to accommodations was not a major issue for students but the stigma of going to the Office of Disability/Special Services was seen as a significant and inadequately addressed obstacle; students reported mainly using services on campus (instead of the expected college/community combination); students attributed their successful completion to a significant relationship with either a professional staff member at the Office of Disability/Special Services or a faculty member; and long-term positive relationships with mentors (on or off-campus) were also seen as critical.

Social Security 

As of March 1, 2013, all Social Security, VA and other federal benefits will be issued by electronic payment. Beneficiaries will need to sign up [Video] for direct deposit or a prepaid Direct Express debit card.

Technology

The Assistive Technology (AT) for Employers and Businesses Web Portal offers information on AT solutions and accommodations in the workplace, as well as resources and how to find additional assistance. Partners who worked with the RESNA Catalyst Project to create the Portal include the United States Business Leadership Network, Job Accommodation Network, the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, Southeast TACE, and the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration.

 

The fully-captioned Assistive Technology in Action video series is designed to strengthen awareness of AT devices that help individuals with disabilities participate fully in all aspects of their lives. The most recent video features Elle [Video], a young woman with cerebral palsy who uses AT to help her communicate with family, friends, and teachers.

Transition 

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Career Path Program was named an "Exemplary Employer" by the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. The program serves youth ages 17-22 with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses. A team consisting of a vocational support coordinator, job coach and social worker offers young adults work trials with various hospital departments and then helps them find employment within the hospital or in the community.

 

In September 2012, the Pathways Transition Training Collaborative published Strengthening Family Support for Young People with Mental Health Needs in the Transition to Adulthood: A Tip Sheet for Service Providers [PDF].

 

Navigating the Transition to Adulthood [PDF], theFall 2012 issue of The Child Indicator, draws upon current reports highlighting progress and challenges associated with transition-aged youth. The newsletter includes an examination of long-term trends in college, work, and living arrangements, as well as a summary of research findings about what young adults need to succeed in today's employment environment.

 

NCWD/Youth has posted videos for and by youth with disabilities, including clips discussing how young peoples' decisions to disclose their disabilities have affected them in school, work, and social situations.

 

The Guideposts for Success: A Framework for Families Preparing Youth for Adulthood, an NCWD/Youth InfoBrief, suggests a framework families of youth with disabilities can use to consider the support needs of their youth during the transition planning process.

Web Sites

Apostrophe magazine recently updated its website. Visit the site to read stories about people with disabilities making their dreams a reality, gather health and wellness tips, and learn more about self-advocacy.

 

The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy's ePolicyWorks provides an online collaborative workspace where stakeholders can learn and communicate about barriers to employment for people with disabilities.

 

The National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness is home to DB-LINK, the national information clearinghouse for children who are deaf-blind.

 

ExploreVR is a new tool from the Institute for Community Inclusion designed to provide vocational rehabilitation agencies options for planning, evaluation, and decision making.

 

Life After IEPs -It's Your Child's Future offers resources for parents and mentors of transition-age youth with disabilities.

 

The Wrightslaw website offers a variety of resources for military families who have children with special needs.

 

The Learning & Working During the Transition to Adulthood Rehabilitation Research & Training Center (Transitions RTC) is a national effort that aims to improve the supports for youth and young adults, ages 14-30, with serious mental health conditions who are trying to successfully complete their schooling and training and move into rewarding work lives. Their website offers a number of resources related to transition and mental health.

 

Please note: the Transition and Employment Projects at the University of Montana Rural Institute shares information and resources our listserv members may find of interest. We do not endorse the web sites or workshop contents or their providers, and we assume no responsibility for the validity of information provided on sites or in sessions not hosted by our agency.

 

This project is funded in whole or in part under a Contract with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The statements herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Department.