PA Transition Tidbits
Updates and Events - October 2022
NEWS
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL DISABLITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH
Looking for ways to get involved? Check out these resources:
Ideas for Educators and Youth Service Professionals
TRANSITION TIP: DID YOU KNOW?
Transition Services
Transition services are a coordinated set of activities that promotes movement from school to the post school activities. When considering services to add to the transition grid, the IEP team should focus on academic and functional achievement to facilitate movement from school to post-school life
For each postsecondary goal, transition services can include:
- Instruction
- Related Services
- Community Experience
- Development of Employment and Post-School Objectives
- Acquisition of Daily Living Skills (if appropriate)
- Functional Vocational Evaluation (if appropriate)
Each transition service identified should be something that will occur during the current IEP (1 year). Additionally, the person(s) responsible and a timeline should be clearly identified.
Some questions to consider when determining transition services:
•What experiences must the student participate in this academic year that are necessary for achieving the identified post-secondary goals?
•What services and specific instruction are essential this year for the student to develop skills and knowledge to attain their post-secondary goals?
•Do we know enough about this student’s vocational skills to identify an appropriate post-secondary employment goal or design activities to support the identified goal?
In each annual IEP, the present levels related to transition should review the completion of services and activities from the prior IEP transition grid.
Adapted from NTACT "Improving Secondary Transition Services: Indicator 13"
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
Career Pathways Evidence Coffee Break Video Series
Do you want to learn more about career pathways programs?
Do you want to know more about workers’ real-world labor market experiences?
If so, keep an eye out for DOL’s new Evidence Coffee Break video series, being released over the next month!
Join DOL’s Chief Evaluation Office, in partnership with the Employment and Training Administration, for a series of four short videos highlighting key findings from our recently released Career Pathways Descriptive and Analytical Project. If you design and implement career pathways programs, work at a community college, or are a prospective career pathway grantee or business leader, this video series will provide you with helpful information about the research and evidence behind career pathways.
The first video in the series is up now; in it, researchers from Abt Associates review the results of a meta-analysis of career pathways evaluations that examined 1) whether career pathways programs have increased participants’ educational progress and helped them to find employment and earn higher wages and 2) what traits characterize more effective career pathways programs.
Check back on WorkforceGPS for new videos each week! You can also join us there for a screening of all four videos and a live Q&A with the research team on October 13.
To learn more about the project, find its reports, interactive data dashboard, and more, check out the Career Pathways Descriptive and Analytical Project webpage.
Updated Neurodiversity in the Workplace Toolkit
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion recently revamped its Neurodiversity in the Workplace Toolkit. The toolkit offers strategies to help employers recruit, hire, retain and advance neurodivergent workers and provides information on workplace accommodations, mentorship and more. Learn about how neurodivergent employees can help support workplace productivity, overall staff performance as well as other benefits of a neurodiverse workforce.
Research and Resources to Support Students with Disabilities Heading to College
Research and Resources to Support Students with Disabilities Heading to College
The National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) highlights research projects, publications, and tools designed to help students with disabilities achieve post-secondary educational and employment outcomes.
Supports for Deaf Youth
Resources for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C)
Check out their Training Resource Library.
If you're new to transition, be sure to check out Transition 101!
FUNDING
2023 AAPD Summer Internship
In 2002, AAPD launched the Summer Internship Program to develop the next generation of leaders with disabilities. AAPD places college students, graduate students, law students, and recent graduates with all types of disabilities in paid summer internships with Congressional offices, federal agencies, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations within the Washington, DC area and nationwide.
For Summer 2023, AAPD will offer a hybrid internship program with some interns joining remotely from across the country in addition to the interns based in DC. During the summer, each intern builds their leadership and advocacy skills in our Disability Advocacy Certificate Programs and is also matched with a mentor who has similar professional goals and interests. AAPD provides interns with a living stipend, transportation to and from Washington, DC, and fully accessible housing (if in person) or a technology stipend (if remote). They recruit a diverse cohort of interns, as a result they connect host employers to talented students and recent graduates with disabilities.
Apply for the Summer Internship Program by Monday, October 24, 2022 at 5:00pm ET.
AAPD will host a Zoom webinar on Thursday, October 6 from 3:00pm to 4:00pm ET for any individuals interested in hearing more about the application, asking questions, and learning more about the experience from alumni of the program. ASL and CART will be provided. Register here for the Summer Internship Program webinar. If you have any questions or additional access needs, please email internships@aapd.com.
UPCOMING TRAININGS & CONFERENCES
2022 Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference
Registration is Open!
2022 Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference
#PATCImplement2022
November 1 – November 3, 2022
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Full admission is $10.00 for professionals and allows access to all conference sessions over all three days. Admission is cost-free for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
To register, go to this link and fill out the registration form:
https://www.myodp.org/course/view.php?id=2067
Payment can be made by credit card or check. Payment instructions can be found at the bottom of the registration form.
For additional information about the conference, and access to resources, personal stories, and other features during the conference, please visit this page on MyODP: https://www.myodp.org/course/view.php?id=2067
Please see the attached flyer for additional information.
General questions can be sent to ra-bastrainings@pa.gov
Questions about registration?
Email: registrations@bridgeconsultingcorp.com
Telephone: 610.494.8044
The Nuts and Bolts of Job Coaching
Course opens Monday, October 10, 2022 and runs through Monday, December 05, 2022 - Online
This self-paced five module online course provides participants with relevant information regarding the role of a Job Coach to support students in community-based work settings.
Objectives
At the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe the responsibilities and competencies needed to support transition-aged students build work-related skills in community-based settings
- Identify relevant Labor Laws and implications when supporting students in employment settings
- Apply and implement strategies to provide community-based employment education to students with disabilities
- Reflect on personal skills and practices to identify strengths and areas for growth
Target Audience
Paraprofessionals, other support staff, teachers, transition coordinators, special education directors, or anyone interested in this topic.Family Leadership Conference
OCTOBER 18, 19, 20, 2022 | WASHINGTON, D.C. AND VIRTUAL
HYATT REGENCY WASHINGTON ON CAPITOL HILL, 400 NEW JERSEY AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001
Family Voices, the Center for Parent Information and Resources @ SPAN, and the Regional Parent TA Centers are hosting a national family leadership conference, Moving Forward: Embracing Change and Transformation.
The conference will bring together a diverse community of family and youth leaders, representatives from Parent Centers, Family-to-Family Health Information Centers, Family Voices Affiliate Organizations, and other professional partners and stakeholders from across the country.
Together we will learn from each other, share resources and expertise, explore ways to improve supports to families, learn new strategies for managing nonprofits, and increase capacity for families to partner in health and educational systems change.
PA SECONDARY TRANSITION EVENTS CALENDAR
This newsletter is brought to you by: The Pennsylvania Community on Transition
The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a group of various stakeholders from across Pennsylvania who work collaboratively to ensure appropriate transition outcomes for Pennsylvania youth and young adults.
The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a state leadership team consisting of representative from: the State Departments of Education, Health, Labor and Industry, and Human Services; Various Serving Agencies, Young Adults, Parent Organizations, Advocates, Higher Education, and Employers.
The shared vision and common goals of the Pennsylvania Community on Transition is achieved when all PA youth and young adults with disabilities:
- Successfully transition to the role of productive and participating adult citizens
- Are empowered to recognize their talents, strengths, and voice
- Have equal access to resources that will promote their full participation in the communities of their choice.
Email: pasecondarytransition@gmail.com
Website: https://www.pasecondarytransition.com/
Phone: 4128266878
Twitter: @hmangiskuntz