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Transition Tidbits
Transition News and ResourcesJune 8, 2015
In This Issue

Learning Opportunities: Montana and Online

 

A recorded archive of the March 25,2015 Redefining Home & Community Based Services: CMS Guidance on Non-Residential Services and Its Implications for Employment webinar [Video] is now available. The transcript and presentation materials are also posted for download.

 

The March 26, 2015 Understanding ABLE: Achieving a Better Life Experience Act webinar [Video] from the ABLE National Resource Center is now posted on YouTube. Slides and the transcript are also available.

 

The archived webinar The Personnel Factor: Exploring the Personal Attributes of Highly Successful Employment Specialists Who Work with Transition-age Youth [Video] is available for download.

 

The archived webinar Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act from a Disability Perspective: An Overview - Part 1 of 4 [Video] is now available for online viewing.

 

The video modules, PowerPoints, and other materials from the Expanding CIL Capacity through Youth Transition Services: Collaborating with School Districts and Vocational Rehabilitation training are now available for on-demand viewing.

 

The February Guideposts for Success to Support Employment Transition for Youths with Disabilities: Research, Policy and VR Practice webcast is archived and available for viewing.

 

The archived recording of the Guardianship for Individuals with Intellectual Disability: Trends and Issues webcast is now available.

 

Public Policy 101

June 10, 2015

1:00-2:00 PM MT

National Disability Institute Senior Public Policy Adviser Chris Rodriguez will provide an update regarding state and federal public policy affecting the financial well-being of individuals with disabilities.

 

Cognitive Innovations to Promote Independence in the Home and in the Community

June 16, 2015

12:00-1:30 PM MT

Cost: Varies (see website)

Explore innovative assistive technologies for individuals with intellectual, cognitive, and communication disabilities or disorders for use at home, schools, work and the community.

 

Uniquely Human: A Different Way to See Autism and Create Pathways to Success

June 16, 2015

11:00 AM-12:30 PM MT

Autism is usually portrayed as a checklist of deficits: difficulties interacting with others, sensory challenges, and repetitive--sometimes disruptive-- behaviors. Therapy has focused on eliminating "autistic" symptoms. Now there's a different perspective and a new approach-- a major shift in the way educators and parents understand autism and help students with autism succeed.

 

Protecting America's Children - Evidence Based Practices for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance

June 17, 2015

1:00-2:30 PM MT

Focusing on the early intervention of behavioral and emotional problems protects children from serious consequences including isolation, substance use, suicidal thinking, dropping out of school, and homelessness.

 

Supported Decision-Making and the ABLE Act: Achieving Better Life Experience

June 17, 2015

11:00-12:30 MT             

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act breaks new ground in exploring opportunities for eligible individuals with significant disabilities to rethink their future goals regarding work, income saving and investment, and community participation. Who will make decisions about savings goals and disbursements from ABLE accounts? Are there less restrictive options for account owners than guardianship and the removal of decision-making authority?

 

Understanding Changes Regarding Youth Services - Part 3 of a 4-Part Series on WIOA 

June 24, 2015

1:00-2:30 PM MT

Join this webinar to learn more about cross-system collaboration and WIOA opportunities to support career counseling, skills training, job exploration, leadership development, and financial literacy education for youth with and without disabilities.

 

Ticket to Work: Free Support Services for Young Adults

June 24, 2015

1:00-2:30 PM MT

 

2015 Autism Conference - The Verbal Behavior Approach

June 24-25, 2015

Billings, MT

 

Social Thinking by Michelle Garcia Winner

August 5-6, 2015

Missoula, MT

A treatment framework and curriculum developed by Michelle Garcia Winner targets improving individual social thinking abilities, regardless of diagnostic label.

 

Supported Employment Web-Based Certificate Series

August 17- Nov. 9, 2015

Cost: $325

This course provides an extensive overview of supported employment and how to facilitate competitive jobs for individuals with significant disabilities.

 

Supported Competitive Employment for Individuals with Mental Illness

August 17-Nov. 9, 2015

Cost: $325

This course provides an extensive overview of supported competitive employment for individuals with mental illness.
Learning Opportunities: Other States

Community Summit 2015: Exceed The Possible!

June 16-18, 2015

Wenatchee, WA

The Summit will offer a series of national and local presenters.

 

Disability and Employment Symposium: Research Informing Practice and Policy

June 24, 2015

Washington, D.C.

This full day event will address the interactions among employment research, practice and policy. Panels will focus on how research-based knowledge can affect practice and policy, and how practice and policy can influence research.

 

Autism Society National Conference and Exposition

July 8-11, 2015

Denver, CO

The Autism Society's annual conference represents one of the largest gathering of autism families, service providers, educators, policymakers and key allies in the disability community.

 

Transition from Pediatric to Adult-based Care

October 1-2, 2015

Houston, TX

Plan to attend the Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital's 16th Annual Chronic Illness and Disability Conference.

 

OCALICON

November 18-20, 2015

Columbus, OH

Register now for this face-to-face gathering of national leaders, educators, parents, service providers, self-advocates, scholars, and policy makers to examine common concerns and share proven solutions that address issues faced by individuals with autism and low-incidence disabilities across their lifespan.


 

 

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Welcome to the latest edition of 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

Questions and Answers [PDF] from the April 7, 2015 "Addressing Barriers to Employment" webinar are now posted.

 

The 2015 Montana Youth in Transition Conference will be held November 4-6 in Great Falls, Montana. Youth with disabilities, families, educators and counselors are invited to attend to connect, collaborate and learn more about transition planning.

 

Achieving Success by Promoting Readiness for Education and Employment, or ASPIRE, is a five-year research project to learn which services work best to help teens with disabilities have a brighter future. The ASPIRE consortium includes Montana and state agencies in Arizona, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah. ASPIRE-Montana is now recruiting youth with disabilities between the ages of 14 and 16 who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and their families to participate in the project.

 

Disability Rights Montana offers a wrap-up of the 2015 Montana Legislative session.


The Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council is recruiting representatives from the Montana Developmental Disabilities Council and Disability Rights Montana, as well as individuals with developmental disabilities from the north and south central areas of the state to serve on the council.

 

The advisory council helps various Rural Institute projects determine necessary and appropriate activities, establish priorities, develop work plans, craft products, deliver training, and conduct evaluation activities. Term lengths run for 12 months and may be renewed. Meetings are held quarterly; one meeting is face-to-face (generally in Missoula or Helena) and the other three are conference calls. In addition, council members may be asked to serve on work groups or task forces, which could require additional meetings by conference call.

 

Travel reimbursement is available for council members. Honoraria are offered to youth/young adult members and family members of individuals with disabilities if their time to attend meetings is not compensated through a job. The Rural Institute is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to allow members to fully participate in the advisory council activities.

 

If you are interested in being considered for a seat on the Consumer Advisory Council, please contact Kim Brown and request an application form.

 

Announcements

"My Disability Is One Part of Who I Am" has been announced as the theme for this October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). NDEAM raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities.

 

The Campaign for Disability Employment recently released posters and a discussion guide to accompany its "Who I Am" public service announcement. "Who I Am" features nine real people with disabilities who are the sum of their many life roles - which includes working in jobs they love.

 

The LEAD Center is seeking Employment and Career Success Stories that feature Customized Employment strategies [PDF]. For every Success Story accepted, published and disseminated, the LEAD Center will fund up to $2,000 in professional development materials and activities chosen by the team, organization(s) or individual involved in the submission (e.g., professional memberships, conference registration funds, journal subscriptions, videos and books, items to support the continuing employment of the person who is the focus of the story, etc.).

 

The March 30, 2015 LEAD Center Policy Update - Employment, Health Care and Disability includes articles about a new report on home and community-based services, a New Jersey state transition plan update, pending Florida legislation on disability and workplace participation and more. The April issue features stories on a new Mathematica Money Follows the Person program report, the State of Minnesota's efforts to comply with the Olmstead community living standard, and more.

 

The Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), in partnership with the Kessler Foundation, is conducting a national survey focusing on employment issues for working age adults with disabilities. This survey is open to individuals with disabilities, or family members of individuals with disabilities, who are employed or seeking employment.

 

As part of its Accommodation and Compliance Series, the Job Accommodation Network has published Personal Assistance Services (WPAS) in the Workplace.

 

The Community-Based Non-Work: Developing Research-Based Guidance for States and Service Providers project recently published the first issue of ENGAGE...A Brief Look at Community Life Engagement [PDF], a research brief on community life engagement for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

In The HCBS Waiver Rule: Changing the Way We Think and Act - Supporting People with Disabilities in the Community [PDF], TASH discusses the new regulations around the home and community-based settings rule.

Employment

10 Things to Know about Becoming an Entrepreneur from the April 2015 Disability Connection Newsletter offers helpful tips for individuals interested in starting their own businesses.

 

Disability.gov houses a number of valuable resources, including the Guide to Self-Employment & Starting a Small Business.

 

Factors of Successful Self-Employment through Vocational Rehabilitation for Individuals with Disabilities by S.H. Yamamoto and C.Y. Alverson (Journal of Career Assessment, 23(2), 318-335) reports review findings that self-employment success for individuals with disabilities appears to be influenced most by accountability systems, level of supports, and individual characteristics. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

Separation from Supported Employment: A Retrospective Chart Review Study by M. West, P. Targett, P. Wehman, G. Cifu, and J. Davis (Disability and Rehabilitation, 2014) examines the types, causes, and factors contributing to job separations among individuals with severe disabilities who participated in a university-based supported employment program. Findings support the importance of finding the most appropriate job fit and workplace culture for each client. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

The 2015 AgrAbility Harvest newsletter [PDF] shares information and resources relating to disability in agriculture.

 

The May 2015 Employer Assistance and Resource Network's (EARN) newsletter features notices on upcoming webinars, links to employment-related resources, and more.

 

ABILITY Magazine provides information on issues related to employment and full inclusion of people with disabilities. Thanks to a partnership with the Cornell University Employment and Disability Institute, visitors to EDI's landing page can create a free digital subscription to ABILITY.

 

FAQs: Using Customized Employment's Discovery and Group Discovery Models to Promote Job Seeker Success in American Job Centers, published by the LEAD Center, can help American Job Center staff (and others) learn how they might effectively implement Customized Employment and Discovery.

 

Read Dale Dileo's April blog post, Perpetual Planning Syndrome: Don't Confuse the Plan with the Action.

 

Employers Learn to Embrace Disability Hiring looks at efforts to increase work opportunities for people with developmental disabilities by changing attitudes among employers.

 

Professional Development and Advancement of Employees with Disabilities [PDF] is a research-to-practice brief that "discusses key workforce trends and common workplace barriers, and provides recommendations for fully incorporating employees with disabilities into career development and advancement programs."
Health

The Rural Institute Consumer Advisory Council has revamped and updated the Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health [PDF] brochure.

 

The Inclusive Fitness Coalition promotes equitable access to, and safe use of, fitness and recreational equipment, facilities, and programs, to support health and wellness for people with disabilities across the lifespan.

 

Starting a Transition Improvement Process: Using the Six Core Elements of Health Care Transition 2.0 [PDF] shares initial steps to starting or improving a transition process for youth moving to adult care.
National News
The U.S. Departments of Labor and Education invite comments on proposed rules implementing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The five proposed rules address ways to improve education and employment services for people with disabilities, youth and many other jobseekers. Comments are due by June 15, 2015.

 

The LEAD Center recently published two new Policy Briefs. The first, Summary Description from a Disability Perspective - Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Workforce Development Activities) Notices of Proposed Rulemaking outlines key provisions of two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking pertaining to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The second, Summary Description of Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (State Vocational Rehabilitation Program) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking summarizes the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Title IV of WIOA.

 

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has issued a second round of WIOA frequently asked questions [PDF].

 

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration published a fact sheet [PDF] highlighting Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act reforms to the youth program.

 

In March, the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration released guidance for states, local areas, and youth service providers for implementing the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) youth activities.

 

The Rehabilitation Services Administration has developed Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law on July 22, 2014 - Overview: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) [PDF], which addresses the following:

  • A description of the five NPRMs related to WIOA;
  • The structure of a NPRM;
  • How to comment on a NPRM;
  • Opportunities to comment through public meetings on the NPRM; and
  • Proposed changes in the NPRM

The WorkforceOne website features PowerPoint slideshows and other resources related to implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

 

The Spring 2015 issue of The Riot! [PDF] describes what new rules and guidelines for home and community based services mean for people with developmental disabilities.

 

On May 7, 2015, New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan signed Senate Bill 47 into law, making New Hampshire the first state to repeal subminimum wage laws. New Hampshire will also begin to phase out segregated work environments.

 

The March 2015 issue of the National Disability Institute's
Washington Insider includes ABLE Act: Myth vs. Facts, an article providing readers with accurate information about the features and benefits of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act.
 
Post-Secondary Education

The Annual Report on the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) from the Think College National Coordinating Center is now available. This report includes:

  • Descriptions of the types of colleges that received TPSID grants
  • Characteristics of attending students
  • Detailed information about academic access, employment and career development
  • And much more

The College and Career Readiness Success Center website features an interactive state map showing what each state is doing to improve college and career readiness for all students.

 

Students with Intellectual Disability in Higher Education: Adult Service Provider Perspectives by K. Sheppard-Jones, H.L. Kleinert, W. Druckemiller, and M.K. Ray (Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, 53(2), 120-128) reports findings of an exploratory study of directors of developmental disability provider agencies in one state to assess their knowledge of postsecondary education for individuals with intellectual disability. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)


Self-Advocacy and Advocacy

The Arc of Aurora Self-Advocates' Group has produced several short videos, including #ItsTimeToTalkAboutIt: Hiring People with Disabilities [Video], which focuses on employment for people with disabilities.

 

The Pacific Alliance on Disability Self-Advocacy (PADSA) website houses self-advocacy resources, information about upcoming webinars, a Bulletin Board for self-advocates and those that support them, and more.

 

Exploring Supported Decision-Making as an Alternative to Guardianship is a blog post by Aaron Bishop, Commissioner of the Administration for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. For additional information about supported decision making, visit the National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making website.


Social Security

The Ticket to Work program recently released a video series in American Sign Language [Video] to help job seekers who are deaf or hard of hearing learn about the Ticket to Work program. 


Technology

Google: IoT Can Help The Disabled features the head of Google's accessibility engineering team explaining how the "Internet of Things" can help those with disabilities.

 

Technology Tools for Students with Autism: Innovations that Enhance Independence and Learning, a book edited by K.I. Boser, M.S. Goodwin, and S.C. Wayland, offers guidance on technologies that support learners with autism.

 

Technology Breaks Silence for Nonverbal Students describes some of the ways in which iPads are proving useful for students with disabilities.

 

Visit the redesigned and reorganized AbleData website to search or browse for assistive technology products, manufacturers, and distributors.

 

Reducing the Need for Personal Supports among Workers with Autism Using an iPod Touch as an Assistive Technology: Delayed Randomized Control Trial by T. Gentry, R. Kriner, A. Sima, J. McDonough, and P. Wehman (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(3), 669-684) reports study findings that workers who received PDA (personal digital assistant) training at the beginning of their job placement required significantly less hours of job coaching support during their first 12 weeks on the job than those who had not yet received the intervention. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)
Transition 

The 2020 Federal Youth Transition Plan: A Federal Interagency Strategy [PDF] was developed by the Federal Partners in Transition, which includes representatives from the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor, and the Social Security Administration. The plan outlines how the partner agencies will improve outcomes for youth with disabilities through identification of a shared vision, compatible outcome goals, and policy priorities.

 

National Autism Indicators Report: Transition into Young Adulthood [PDF] from the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University covers a variety of transition-related outcomes for young adults on the autism spectrum.

 

The VCU Center on Transition Innovations Fast fact: Implementing the Discovery Process [PDF] provides information on how to use the Discovery process to assist transition-age students.

 

The Administration for Community Living experts compiled a list of resources to support youth, family caregivers, educators, policymakers and others involved in a successful adolescent transition.

 

Expectations from Different Perspectives on Future Work Outcome of Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities by A. Holwerda, S. Brouwer, M. Boer, J. Groothoff, and J. Klink (Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 25(1), 96-104) reports that expectations of school teachers and parents are valuable in predicting work outcome for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

An Ecological Approach to Understanding Barriers to Employment for Youth with Disabilities Compared to Their Typically Developing Peers: Views of Youth, Employers, and Job Counselors by S. Lindsay, C. McDougall, D. Menna-Dack, R. Sanford, and T. Adams (Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(8), 701-711) reports results of a study that examined the barriers to finding employment encountered by youth with physical disabilities. Implications for rehabilitation professionals are also discussed. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

Translating Research into a Seamless Transition Model by D.M. Luecking and R.G. Luecking (Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 38(1), 4-13) provides a descriptive report on the implementation of a seamless transition services model that is based on components of the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth's Guideposts for Success. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)

 

Understanding the New Vision for Career Development: The Role of Family is a NCWD/Youth InfoBrief that provides information for families about the three phases of career development: self-exploration, career exploration, and career planning and management.
Web Sites

Workforce3 One recently launched the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Collection site to provide information and resources for states, local areas, non-profits and other stakeholders to assist with implementation of WIOA.

 

The AgrAbility website houses resources designed to help eliminate or minimize barriers to success in agriculture-related occupations.

 

The Self-Advocacy Online website features dozens of videotaped stories from self-advocates, searchable by topic.

 

The Job Accommodation Network recently added an Accommodation Information by Limitation A-Z section to the JAN website. It allows website visitors to find workplace accommodation ideas by the type of limitation an employee experiences, regardless of the underlying disability.

 

The Disability.gov website now features a series of Guides to Information and Resources addressing a variety of topics such as self-employment, housing, and student transition planning.

 

The National Disability Institute website houses a number of webinars related to financial well-being.

 

Understood.org is a website created by 15 nonprofit organizations that have joined forces to support parents of children with learning and attention issues throughout their journey.

 

The Sexuality and Disability Consortium website offers a variety of resources related to sexuality and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

 

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.