Transition Toolkit: Lessons Learned on Supporting Youth with Disabilities Rachel Stewart, Youth Program Manager
Overview Project
Background
Youth
Transition Toolkit website design and features Contents Topics covered
Lesson
Plans and Activities Overview of the format and materials
Pilot
Site Overview
Demonstration
of website
Funded
by a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – administered by San Diego State University’s Interwork Institute.
Overall
goal: increase employment of youth and adults with disabilities
Numerous
projects geared towards youth with disabilities Goal of empowering youth, developing self-advocacy skills, and providing access to information and resources Partner with a variety of state departments and non-profit organizations
Youth Transition Toolkit Website www.TKNLyouth.info Website
Development and Refinement Youth with disabilities Subject matter experts: Communities of Practice, CA Dept. of Ed, School District Personnel, Transition Alliance Dept. of Rehabilitation CA Foundation for Independent Living Centers and State Independent Living Council
Content Target
audience is YOUTH! Tips for Parents Information relevant to teachers, transition specialists, and service providers
Youth Transition Toolkit Website Chapters
include: Education Independent Living Employment Finances Healthcare Social/Recreation
HTML
website pages and downloadable PDFs of each “chapter” and worksheet
Education Chapter Empowering
youth while in high school
Person-centered
transition planning, leading their
own IEP/ITP, etc. Information
to assist in the transition to Postsecondary education: community college, 4year university, or vocational school Understanding
and college
the differences between high school
Independent Living Chapter Background
on disability history, independent living movement
Information
on accessible/affordable housing, transportation, and personal assistance services
Worksheets
assisting with goal setting and checklists to ensure preparation for independence
Employment Chapter Career
planning - Choosing a career and job search resources
The
impact of employment on benefits
Job
accommodations and disability disclosure
Resume
writing and successful interviewing techniques and preparation
Building
work experience, including volunteerism and internship programs
Personal
assistant services at work
Finances Chapter Tips
on money management, including basic budgeting, how to balance a checkbook, pay bills, etc.
Credit
cards and how to avoid getting into debt
Worksheets Tips
on financial planning and budgeting
for parents on teaching their child to start managing their own finances
Healthcare Chapter Worksheets
on handling one’s own healthcare
needs Keeping
track of medications, making doctors appointments and communicating with the doctor
Insurance
information, including Medi-Cal, healthcare through employment and continuance of coverage under the family’s plan
Tips
for parents on helping their child transition into independently handling their own healthcare needs
Social/Recreation Chapter Clubs/activities
specifically designed for youth
with disabilities Available
adaptive sports programs
Ways
to become involved in the disability community
Tips
on traveling with a mobility disability
Lesson Plans Lesson
Plans have been developed with activities for facilitators to lead in the classroom or in workshops for youth participants
Activities
on the six topics covered by the Toolkit (Education, Employment, Independent Living, etc.)
All
materials located in the secure section of the Youth Transition Toolkit website – currently will only be available to pilot sites Will be available to everyone by June 2012
Lesson Plans Main
goal of Lesson Plan goals is to lead activities designed to: Empower youth Build self advocacy and self determination skills Encourage youth to start thinking about and planning for their future Lead youth to www.tknlyouth.info to find additional resources which can help successfully transition into adult life
Complete
flexibility in how you choose to use lesson
plans: Lead only certain activities or lesson plan chapters Modify activities
Lesson Plans “Lesson
Plan Overview” Document Comprehensive summary on the lesson plans and tips for how to utilize them Tips on enhancing lesson plans/activities: Inviting guest speakers “Things are about to change” Video Vignettes Youth/student co-facilitator
“Workshop
Planning Tips” Guide for community-based organizations on how to organize workshops – information on: Participant recruitment strategies Tips for success: finding a youth co-facilitator, providing food, assisting with transportation, accessible venues, etc.
Lesson Plans Activity
format: Objective Suggested time frame Format Materials needed Vocabulary/terms Suggested facilitator preparatory activities Creating context Procedure Closure
Education Lesson Plan Activities
Me, Myself and My IEP Presentation and discussion on the purpose and importance of an IEP
The Future’s Wide Open... Filling out worksheets to prepare for leading their own IEP/transition planning meeting
Planning For College Learning about university and community college supports, preparing for the transition to college and requesting accommodations
Expanding My (Training) Horizons Researching vocational training options other than a traditional college setting, including ROP, trade schools, internships, and volunteerism
Independent Living Lesson Plan Activities The
Untold History Presentation on disability history (including the independent living and disability rights movements) and discussion of additional advocacy efforts
Models
of Disability Understanding the difference between the medical and social models of disability and how these impact how we perceive disability
Thinking
About Disability Thinking about how disability has impacted their life (both positively and negatively) and learning about disability as a shared experience
Independent Living Lesson Plan Activities, Cont. Living
on my Own and Reaching my Goals Understanding and planning for what steps need to be taken to live independently, including cost of living and finding personal care attendants
Setting
Goals Learning about different programs and services to assist with gaining independence (regional center ILS, IHSS, Independent Living Centers, etc.), and setting goals/next steps to transition into living independently
Employment Lesson Plan Activities
Work it Out Understanding the difference between a job and a career, and thinking about why going to work is personally important
Connecting the Dots…
Thinking about barriers to employment, and learning about services which can help break down some of these barriers (i.e. Department of Rehabilitation, Regional Centers, One-Stop Career Centers)
Employment Rights! Presentation on employment and anti-discrimination laws; personal planning related to disability disclosure and requesting accommodations
Employment Lesson Plan Activities, Cont. Resume
Writing Workshop to begin the process of writing a resume and learning about different resume styles
Employment
Shouldn’t Be in Jeopardy! Participants test their newly acquired knowledge around employment-related topics by playing a jeopardy game
Finances Lesson Plan Activities “Money
Smart for Young Adults” Curriculum Flexible FREE curriculum designed by the FDIC to help youth learn the basics around money management
Disability
Benefits 101: Planning your Future Learning how to navigate the Disability Benefits 101 website and going through an interactive benefits calculator demonstration
Work
Incentive Programs: Working it! Understanding basic information about Social Security cash benefit programs and how these programs interact with paid employment; learning about benefits planning best practices
Healthcare Lesson Plan Activities Learning
to Manage Your Healthcare Activity to help youth develop ideas on how they can begin handling their health-related needs
Creating
a Healthcare Journal Creating a personal healthcare journal as a way to track disability-related symptoms and quickly access all healthcare information in one place
Communicating
with Your Doctor Preparing for the transition from a pediatrician to an adult physician by practicing having a conversation with a new doctor
Social/Recreation Lesson Plan Activities Sports,
Hobbies, and Clubs - Oh my! Sharing current activities and brainstorming how other activities can be modified to be made more accessible; learning about social and recreational opportunities available in their community
Do
you like to move it, move it? Viewing a video about a guitar player born without arms, and then trying out adaptive ways to play musical instruments
You’re
Trippin! Planning a day trip by utilizing online resources and public transportation
Pilot Sites 30
Pilot Sites testing Toolkit website and lesson plan materials: High Schools/districts
Includes Workability I, Transition Partnership Programs, and special education/adult transition programs
College
2 Career Program Independent Living Centers Family Empowerment Centers Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Other Community-Based Organizations providing transition services
Website and Lesson Plans Demonstration
www.tknlyouth.info
Contact information For
questions or to request information on lesson plan activities/materials contact: John Kerr, Youth Program Specialist 916-319-9563
[email protected]
Rachel
Stewart, Youth Program Manager
916-319-8519
[email protected]
