Project Logo
Transition Tidbits
Transition News and ResourcesJuly 2014
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


The Autism NOW website houses an extensive webinar archive on topics related to autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Many of the sessions can be viewed for free.

 

Improving Transportation Access to Support the Transition of Students with ID & DD

July 22, 2014

12:00-2:00 PM MT

The webinar will focus on multiple strategies to improve transportation access to support the transition of students with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities.

 

High Quality Apps for Accessibility

July 24, 2014

12:00-1:30 PM MT

Learn about high quality apps for reading, writing, communication, and more. Advance registration is required.

 

More Jobs for People with Disabilities: What New Regulations Can Mean for You

July 30, 2014

1:00-2:30 PM MT

The presentation will include information on what the changes to Section 503 mean for Social Security disability beneficiaries; tips for self-identification during the application and hiring process; and how to find and prepare for Section 503 opportunities.

 

Job Development

August 4-Sept.1, 2014

Cost: $125

This course covers specific principles associated with job development via online lectures and readings and then requires the learner to take action on his or her behalf to further develop a particular skill.

 

Autism 2014 Conference: Social Thinking
August 5-6, 2014

8:30 AM-4:00 PM MT
Billings, Montana
Cost: None
A treatment framework and curriculum developed by Michelle Garcia Winner targets improving individual social thinking abilities, regardless of diagnostic label. Professionals and parents alike are using these methods to build social thinking and related skills in students and adults.

 

Post-Secondary Education and Students with Disabilities - ADA Live! Radio Show

August 6, 2014

11:00-11:30 AM MT

Students with disabilities don't usually know about other college students with disabilities, their opportunities in higher education, or what accommodations are available and how to request them. This episode discusses recommended resources to get you started in learning more about higher education and students with disabilities.

 

Western MT August Institute

August 6-8, 2014

Missoula, Montana

The annual institute includes strands on Google Apps, Google Tools, Technology Tools and more.

 

Supported Employment Web-Based Certificate Series (ACRE Certified)  

Sept.8-Dec.1, 2014

Cost: $325

 

Transition to Work for Individuals with Autism

Sept.22-Nov.3, 2014

Cost: $300.05

This course will provide the participant with an in-depth understanding of the concepts related to positive transition planning for youth with autism.

 

2014 Chronic Illness and Disability Conference: Transition from Pediatric to Adult-based Care

October 2-3, 2014

Online Broadcast Live & in Houston, Texas

The Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital 15th Annual "Transition Conference" delivers practical, insightful, and relevant information for physicians, social workers, counselors, faculty, staff, students, youth and young adults with chronic illness and their parents and guardians.

 

Self-Employment         

Oct.13-Nov.17, 2014

Cost: $250

 

Real Work for Real Pay for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder                

Nov.3-Dec.1, 2014

Cost: $150

This course will highlight the best practices that facilitate employment outcomes for individuals with ASD.

 
Learning Opportunities: Other States

Autism Society of America National Conference

July 23-26, 2014

Indianapolis, Indiana

Featuring over 100 speakers, nearly 100 exhibitors, and Temple Grandin, this year's conference is not to be missed!

 

Reinventing Quality 2014

August 3-5, 2014

Baltimore, Maryland

The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota, the Human Services Research Institute The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and The University of Delaware's National Leadership Consortium come together to organize the Reinventing Quality Conference.

 

National Pathways to Adulthood 2014: A Convening on Youth in Transition

August 6-8, 2014

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The convening will present innovative practices, highlight successful public and private collaborations assisting youth in transitioning to adulthood, showcase strategies involving youth and family members/caring adults, and provide cross-system networking opportunities.

 

The Arc's Annual National Convention

Sept.30-Oct.2, 2014

New Orleans, Louisiana

Absorb the energy of committed volunteer leaders, chapter professionals, family members and advocates. And keep your skills fresh by learning from the best in the field and sharing experiences with colleagues from across the country.

 

14th Annual Autism Conference: Autism - Advances in Research and Services

October 16-17, 2014

Baltimore, Maryland

Join the premier educational autism event in the area for educators, clinicians, families, researchers and healthcare professionals.

 
Join Our Mailing List
Like us on Facebook
fireworks-summer.jpg

 

Welcome to Transition Tidbits. We hope you find the news and resources in this issue useful as you support young Montanans with disabilities in their transition to adult lives.

Montana News

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services is recruiting applicants for the position of Independent Living Program Manager (listing number 13380-14BE). Applications must be received by midnight on July 23, 2014. For more information, contact:

Public Health and Human Services Human Resources

P.O. Box 4210 
Helena, MT 59604 
Phone:(406)444-3136 
Fax:(406)444-0262 
TTY:(406)444-2590 
- OR -
Local Montana Job Service
ID Number: 69110030

Planning Your Transition from Pediatric to Adult Health Care: A Workbook to Help You Take Charge of Your Health is designed for Montanans under age 30 living with special health care needs and/or a disability. However, all young adults can benefit from the workbook's resources, suggestions and guidance. It offers information about preparing for the transition from pediatric to adult health care, choosing medical providers, paying for services, taking responsibility for one's own health, and much more. Ideally, the workbook will be used as a guide for conversations between youth, their parents, and their medical providers.

 

The 2014 Montana Youth in Transition conference will be held November 5-7 in Missoula. Presentation abstracts are due August 15, 2014. MYT is an opportunity for students, parents, teachers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, case managers and others to network, explore resources, and discover pathways to meaningful futures.

 

Announcements
Are you an adult with an Autism Spectrum Disorder or do you know someone who is? People 18 or older who have a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, Autism or PDD-NOS are invited to participate in an online research study about the experiences and attitudes of individuals on the autism spectrum. Participation in this study includes a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card.

 

The Youth Action Council on Transition (YouthACT) seeks youth/young adults ages 12-25 who want to develop leadership and advocacy skills, as well as professionals and organizations who want to increase youth leadership opportunities. NCWD/Youth will select four teams consisting of two emerging youth leaders (at least one of whom has a disability or chronic health condition), one adult partner, and a sponsoring organization to participate in this multi-year project. There's no cost to participate and each YouthACT team will receive a $3,000 stipend to use for team expenses. Youth and adult partners will also receive an honorarium of $500 for the year. The application deadline is July 31, 2014.

 

George Washington University invites candidates to apply for the 12-credit Transition Special Education Distance Education Certificate Program. Students who have enrolled in this program will be given priority when being considered for admission to the Master's program and all credits earned will be easily transferred. Through this program, students will acquire the knowledge and skills required to perform the roles and functions of transition specialists through assessment, interdisciplinary planning, collaboration, and implementation of services for individuals with disabilities. For further information about the certificate program and the application process, please contact Dr. Michael Ward, Program Coordinator, at [email protected].

 

Save the Date!

The 2014 TASH Conference, Be the Future, will be held December 3, 2014, in Washington, DC. For more than 38 years, the TASH Conference has impacted the disability field by connecting attendees to innovative information and resources, facilitating connections between stakeholders in the disability movement, and helping attendees reignite their passion for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life.

 

The June LEAD On! e-newsletter features stories about the recent Economic Advancement Assembly in Louisville, Kentucky; universal access strategies highlighted by the LEAD Center at the 2014 NAWDP Conference; efforts in Illinois to shape service systems to promote customized employment; and more. 

Employment

The Washington Post Magazine published a letter written by Assistant Labor Secretary Kathy Martinez addressing how people with disabilities can return to the workforce. The letter includes links to a number of employment-related resources.

 

The Workforce Recruitment Program connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are seeking summer or permanent jobs.

 

The Northeast ADA Center is now offering tutorials for employers and service providers to help with accommodating employees and veterans with disabilities.

 

The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision recently released presentations from its 2014 State of the Science Conference on Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.

 

Should People with Disabilities Work in Their Communities? Or do they earn more from governmental subsidies? [PDF] reports that while people may lose some government subsidies as a result of being employed, they gain far more money than they lose. In addition, they realize a number of non-monetary benefits through employment.

 

Group Discovery Training: Making Connections is a guest post on the LEAD Center Blog. The post, written by Janet Steveley, a senior consultant with Griffin-Hammis Associates and a LEAD Center subject matter expert, discusses the LEAD Center's recent group discovery efforts in Kansas for its Customized Employment Initiative.

 

The Workplace Mentoring Primer was developed "for employers and employees interested in establishing formal mentoring relationships and offers specific strategies, tools and activities for implementation. The Primer is based on the premise that workplace mentoring is a strategy to increase the retention, job performance and career advancement of any employee, but it is especially critical in supporting the inclusion of employees with disabilities, women and minorities."

 

Leveling Up to Business-Focused Job Development by J. Royer (Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 40(2), 131-136) explores aspects of business-based job development, such as striking the right tone, developing an elevator pitch, doing research, under-promising, and closing the sale. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

Research Brief: Employer Practices and Policies Regarding the Employment of Persons with Disabilities [PDF] summarizes the results of a survey designed "to assess human resource professionals' perceptions of barriers to the employment of individuals with disabilities as well as to measure the level of implementation of disability inclusive practices and policies in their workplaces."

Health

The Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire is seeking adults with disabilities to answer a brief health survey. The goal of the Health Disparities Project is to generate new knowledge about health access and health outcomes among sub-groups of people with disabilities and translate and disseminate the findings for researchers, policy makers, and others. Survey responses are due by July 25, 2014.

 

Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs) are family-staffed organizations that provide support, information, resources, and training around health issues to families of children and youth with special health care needs and the professionals who serve them. Visit the F2F HIC website to locate the center in your state.

 

HealthMeet�, a project of the Arc, offers a variety of health-related services, webinars and online tools for people with intellectual disabilities, their families and the health professionals who serve them.

 

The Catalyst Center State-at-a-Glance Chartbook includes data on indicators of health coverage and health care financing for children and youth with special health care needs, a detailed guide to interpreting and using the data, a database of ways states are addressing challenging financing problems, and an introduction to health care financing strategies and related terms.

 

Got Transition recently released the updated version of Six Core Elements of Health Care Transition which define the basic components of health care transition support. Got Transition also launched its redesigned website.

 

The NIDRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Developmental Disabilities and Health is conducting a survey to understand the health needs of adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) as part of its Longitudinal Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Study. Adults with I/DD 18 or older in the US, their caregivers, or associated health professionals may participate. The survey will be conducted every two years through 2018. Participants will receive a $5 gift card for each completed survey. Register to enroll in the survey. For additional information, contact Sumithra Murthy at (312) 355-1396 or [email protected].

 

The Guide - Accessible Mental Health Services for People with an Intellectual Disability: A Guide for Providers provides an overview of intellectual disability mental health, why accessible services are important, principles that should guide service delivery, practical strategies for inclusive and accessible services, and the implications for the service system. Although the guide was written for an Australian audience, much of the information will be useful to U.S. practitioners as well.

 

Paving the Road to Good Health: Strategies for Increasing Medicaid Adolescent Well-Care Visits [PDF] highlights strategies designed to increase access to and utilization of adolescent preventive health care.
National News

H.R. 803, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), has passed the House and Senate and is headed to President Obama for his signature. The bill is intended to streamline and improve the nation's workforce development system. It includes an expectation of competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities and promotes greater emphasis on transition services for youth with disabilities. The June 26, 2014 issue of Disability Scoop featured an article describing some of the changes WIOA will bring to transition services.

 

The Supreme Court's Olmstead decision turns 15 years old this summer. Olmstead's Role in Community Integration for People with Disabilities Under Medicaid: 15 Years After the Supreme Court's Olmstead Decision examines the role of the decision in helping people with disabilities gain access to services to support successful community living.

 

The State of Rhode Island has entered into a consent decree [PDF] with the U.S. Department of Justice to create integrated employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. The agreement may serve as a blueprint for other states.

 

The Southwest ADA Center StoryTeller project highlights people who have been successful at removing barriers to employment, education, transportation, and housing.  
Post-Secondary Education

From College to Careers: Fostering Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in STEM contains chapters prepared by four groups of invited authors exploring current issues and future directions for improving the academic success and career entry rate of post-secondary students with disabilities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.


Social Security

The Faces and Facts of Disability is a Social Security Administration disability education and awareness initiative. Visit the initiative website to access videos, factsheets, and quizzes about Social Security Disability Insurance and disability in general.

Technology
Capti Narrator can be used to listen to news, blogs, and documents from browsers, Dropbox, Google Drive, clipboards, and Instapaper. Capti Narrator v1.6 offers both free and premium ($1.99-$4.99) synthetic voices speaking in multiple languages and accents.

 

BridgingApps provides caregivers and professionals with resources for choosing apps to enhance everyday life for people with disabilities. Their app review system focuses on skills rather than age, diagnosis or developmental level.

 

The Summer 2014: Self-Advocacy Edition of the AT Program News is now available. 
Transition 

Career Development: Preparation, Integration, and Collaboration by K. Webb, J. Repetto, J. Seabrooks-Blackmore, K.B. Patterson, and K. Alderfer (Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 40(3), 231-238) examines the history, impact, models and essential components of career development, as well as how to integrate career development into academic and community arenas. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

Critical Program Elements in Transition to Adulthood: Comparative Analysis of New York State and the NLTS2 by A. Karpur, D. Brewer, and T. Golden (Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 37(2), 119-130) reports the findings of a study examining the contributions of various transition program elements to student post-secondary outcomes. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

Person-centered Planning for Transition-aged Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders by D. Hagner, A. Kurtz, J. May, and H. Cloutier (Journal of Rehabilitation, 80(1), 4-10) reports study findings suggesting that person-centered planning can be an effective tool for enhancing participation in transition planning by youth with ASD. Implications for rehabilitation counselors are discussed. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

School-to-work Barriers as Identified by Special Educators, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, and Community Rehabilitation Professionals by T. Riesen, J. Schultz, R. Morgan, and S. Kupferman (Journal of Rehabilitation, 80(1), 33-44) reports 84 moderate-to-high impact barriers across 12 domains. Highest-rated domains included lack of student involvement/skills, parent/family involvement, and interagency collaboration. Highest-impact barriers included students' lack of employment skills, long-term supports, and students' and parents' unrealistic expectations for outcomes. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

This summer, are the young people you serve/teach/parent working or volunteering? According to the PACER Center, summer work and volunteer experiences can mean successful employment after high school for youth with disabilities.

 

The June 17, 2014 Promising Practices - Outreach to Transition Age Youth teleconference is now archived on the Virginia Commonwealth University National Training Center website.
Web Sites

MonTECH - Montana's Resource for Assistive Technology Tools and Services recently launched its redesigned website.

 

The ADA Anniversary website houses an ADA Anniversary Tool Kit, which contains background and history on the ADA, information about the Supreme Court's Olmstead Decision prohibiting the unnecessary institutionalization of persons with disabilities, case law updates, and other resources.

 

The Knowledge Translation for Employment Research Center (KTER) website offers information tailored to Vocational Rehabilitation practitioners and other employment support professionals.
 

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.