Youth Transition Toolkit : A guide for young people with disabilities transitioning to adulthood
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Transcript of Youth Transition Toolkit : A guide for young people with disabilities transitioning to adulthood
Youth Transition Toolkit: A guide for young people with disabilities transitioning to adulthoodRachel Stewart,
Youth Program Manager
Overview Personal and Project Background
Youth Transition Toolkit website design and features Contents Topics covered
Lesson Plans and Activities Demonstration of website
Born with spinal muscular atrophy, used a wheelchair since the age of 5
Use personal care assistanceTransitioned to living independently for
collegeSupplemental Security Income (SSI), Medi-
Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Ready to transition into the workforce -- SSI
as an employment support vs. poverty trap Work incentive programs
Resources are out there to help, but they’re hard to find if you don’t know where to look…
My Personal Background
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 with disabilities telling their transition stories, and giving tips on avoiding pitfalls
Helping you to realize what’s possible!Sneak preview…
Things are About to Change Video
www.TKNLyouth.info Website Development and Refinement
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 Youth with disabilities: Nothing about us,
without us! Content is designed to EMPOWER YOUTH
Target audience is YOUTH! – ages 12-28+ Tips for Parents Information relevant to teachers, transition
specialists, and service providers
Youth Transition Toolkit Website
Chapters include:EducationIndependent LivingEmploymentFinancesHealthcareSocial/Recreation
HTML website pages and downloadable PDFs of each “chapter” and worksheet
Youth Transition Toolkit Website
Empowering youth while in high schoolPerson-centered transition planning,
leading your own IEP/ITP, etc. Information to assist in the transition to Post-secondary education: community college, 4-year university, or vocational schoolUnderstanding the differences between
high school and collegeInformation on financial aid and
scholarships
Education Chapter
Background on disability history, independent living movement
Information on housing, transportation, and personal assistance services
Worksheets to help you set goals for your future and checklists to ensure preparation for independence
Independent Living Chapter
Career planning - Choosing a career and job search resources
The impact of employment on benefitsDisability benefits 101 website
Job accommodations and disability disclosure
Tips on resume writing and successful interviewing techniques
Building work experience, including volunteerism and internship programs
Personal assistant services at work
Employment Chapter
Tips on money management, including: basic budgetingbalancing a checkbookpaying billstracking your spendingopening up a bank account
Credit cards and how to avoid getting into debt
Worksheets on financial planning and budgeting
Finances Chapter
Keeping track of medications, making doctors appointments and communicating with your doctor
Insurance information, including Medi-Cal, healthcare through employment and continuance of coverage under the family’s plan
Worksheets on handling your own healthcare needs
Tips for your parents on how they can empower you to start handling your own health-related needs
Healthcare Chapter
Clubs/activities specifically designed for youth with disabilities Youth Organizing (YO!) Disabled and Proud
Program Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) People First
Adaptive sports programsWays to become more involved in your community
Tips on traveling with a mobility impairment
Social/Recreation Chapter
25 Pilot Sites! High Schools/districts
Includes Workability I, Transition Partnership Programs, and special education/adult transition programs
College 2 Career Program Independent Living Center Family Empowerment Center Center for Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities Other Community-Based Organizations
providing transition services
Pilot Sites
Lesson Plan materials are geared towards teachers, transition specialists, independent living center staff, etc. to help them lead transition-related activities
Main goal of Lesson Plans 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
Lesson Plans
All materials located in the secure section of the Youth Transition Toolkit website – currently will only be available to pilot sitesWill be available to anyone by the middle
of 2012Complete flexibility in how
facilitators/teachers choose to use lesson plans:Lead only certain activities or lesson plan
chaptersModify activities
Lesson Plans
“Lesson Plan Overview”Comprehensive summary and instructions on
the lesson plans and tips for how to enhance activities (i.e. inviting guest speakers, showing video)
“Workshop Planning Tips”Guide for community-based organizations on
how to organize workshops – information on:Participant recruitment strategiesTips for success: finding a youth co-
facilitator, providing food, assisting with transportation, accessible venues, etc.
Lesson Plans
The Future’s Wide Open... Filling out worksheets to prepare youth 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
Education 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
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
Independent Living Lesson Plan Activities, Cont.
Connecting the Dots… Brainstorming personal 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
Resume Writing Workshop to begin the process of writing a resume and
learning about different resume styles
Employment 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 Work Incentive Programs: Working it!
Understanding basic information about Social Security cash benefit programs and how these programs interact with paid employment
Finances Lesson Plan Activities
www.tknlyouth.info
Website and Lesson Plans Demonstration
For questions or to request information on lesson plan activities/materials contact:Rachel Stewart, Youth Program Manager 916-319-8519 [email protected]
Contact information