Achieving the Dream – Transition to Post – Secondary
Education for Students with Disabilities
What is your dreamfor your child?
Agenda:
• Transition Planning Overview• Helping Your Teen Build a Dream• DVD: Real Life Stories• Five Steps of Transition Planning
Student
Student-Centred Planning:
• Keeping the “best interests” of the student as the focus of planning.
• Helping the student build their dream and share it with others.
• Having high expectations for the student, along with needed supports to ensure success.
Advance planning for entry into post-secondary education is essential Parents will need to: • Communicate to others the student’s needs• Become familiar with resources, supports and funding, including: 1. Accommodations and adaptive technology 2. Ensure the student applies early 3. Be actively involved
• Selecting courses• Exploring interests, skills and dreams• Volunteering, extra curricular activities, work experience • Taking part in IPP team meetings• Learning to describe the disability and to identify the accommodations that help
Start Planning During Junior High:
Start with the dream:
…all that life can be…
A full and rich learning experience …
in the company of students and friends
… with people to help along the way
… and the satisfaction of meeting goals and achieving dreams.
Tips for Helping Your Teen Build a Dream
Your teen may need to learn how to dream
Start with the dream:
...all that life can be…
Student
Get Ready
Form Planning
Team
Develop & Implement
Plan
Monitor &Update Plan
Hold Exit Meeting
TRANSITION PLANNING
Help Your Teen Create a Portfolio
Portfolio - a collection of documents and photographs.
- the portable, self-contained record of your teen’s experiences and accomplishments.
Carly’s Career Exploration:
• Gradual approach• Real life situations • Interests and strengths• Challenges and limitations
The Duty to Accommodate: ….. To the point of undue hardship …..
The Disability Service OfficeExamples of Accommodations: • Note Takers
• Software voice programs to assist students with reading or writing• Extended time for exams, oral exams or special locations for exams
Vulnerabilities and Safeguards:
Vulnerabilities: Being misunderstood Being underestimated Being Ignored
Being Taken Advantage of
Safeguards: Participation in student activities Knowing their rights Learning how to self advocate
Choosing a Post-Secondary Program
Your teen may be considering learning at:
• A technical institute• An apprenticeship or industry training program• A college or university
FUNDING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION:
“Are You A Post-Secondary Student With A Permanent Disability?”
Visit: alis.alberta.ca/disabilities
Step 2: Form Transition Planning Team
Student’s Role: … Expressing his/her wishes and needs
Parent’s Role: … Supporting students inexpressing their wishes and needs
… Assisting the team to stay focused on the students strengths and abilities.
Step 3: Develop and Implement Plan
A plan is put into action:
• Choose institution and a program• Visit Disability Service Office• Make an application• Required assessments and required documents • Funding for tuition and accommodations• Support network on and off campus• Living arrangements, etc.
Step 4: Monitor and Update Plan • Team reviews plan every six months.
• During grade11 team meets more often to review and update plan and ensure deadlines are met. • An important role of the teen and parent is to ensure all short and long term goals will be met…
before the teen starts post-secondary studies.
Step 5: Hold Exit Meeting
Hold final transition planning meeting well before graduation to allow time to follow upon any outstanding items.
Dream Facilitator … having a group of supporters and champions to call upon can have tremendous benefits for the young adult and for the family of the young adult.
Parent Workshop Evaluation
Please take a few minutes to complete the workshop evaluation sheet.
Thank you for attending!