Transcript VR Counselors Working with Schools During Transition

VR Counselors Working
with Schools During
Transition
Laura Spears & Kelley Ali
Transition Specialists,
South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation
Department
November 18, 2013
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Why partner with the schools?
“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole
orchestra to play it.”
—H.E. Luccock
If we are going to provide services to transition
age students, we must partner with the schools.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Webinar Overview
• Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
• Educating our school partners
• What we can do for our school partners
• Supporting data
• What works and what doesn’t
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
4
MOA’s with School Districts
• We have a MOA with each of the 81 school
districts in SC
• It describes each role in the collaboration
between the school district and VR
• New counselors learn about the
MOA in Transition 101
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
Educating the schools about VR
Outreach Materials
• Website- scvrd.net
• DVD’s
• Brochures
• Posters
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Educating the Schools about VR
Activities
• Additional activities
 Presentations
 Meetings
 VR’s counterpart meetings
 Attending school related meetings such as IEP, 504
• Open House
• Newsletter
 Sample of the school newsletter article
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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VR Presence in the schools
• SCVRD currently has 85 counselors that are
involved with transition age youth
• Transition Services Programs
 High School High Tech
 TSS/TSC
 General Transition
• Counselors have assigned schools they cover
• Guideposts for Success/Activities
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Guidepost Activities
• Skills to Pay Bills
http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/softskills/
• High School High Tech Activities Toolkit
http://www.abletrust.org/hsht/resources/
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
How we provide support to schoolsTeacher’s Perspective
• Teachers are required to provide Transition
Services to all students with an Individualized
Education Plan (IEP)
• Career Specialist Services are funded because
of Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools (SACS) recommends a guidance ratio
of 500:1, but South Carolina Education and
Economic Development Act (EEDA) 2005
legislated a ratio of 300:1
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
9
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Teacher’s Perspective
• Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA)
reauthorized December 3, 2004 and became
effective July 1, 2005.
• Requirement by US Department of Education (US
DOE) through the Office of Special Education
Programs (OSEP)
• Submission of progress towards 20 indicators
toward state implementation of IDEA is reported in
Annual Performance Reports
http://nichcy.org/laws/idea#indicators
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
Teacher’s Perspective – Indicator 1 &
2
• Indicator 1: Percent of youth with individualized
•
education plans (IEPs) graduating from high
school with a regular diploma compared to
percent of all youth in the State graduating with
a regular diploma.
Indicator 2: Percent of youth with IEPs dropping
out of high school compared to the percent of all
youth in the State dropping out of high school.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Teacher’s Perspective - Indicator 13
• Indicator 13: Percent of youth aged 16 and
above with an IEP that includes coordinated,
measurable, annual IEP goals and transition
services that will reasonably enable the child to
meet the post-secondary goals.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
13
Teacher’s Perspective - Indicator 14
• Indicator 14: Percent of youth who had IEPs,
are no longer in secondary school and who have
been competitively employed, enrolled in some
type of postsecondary school, or both, within
one year of leaving high school.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
14
Teacher’s Perspective
• Minimize the search to provide opportunities
•
available for students because students, parents
and teachers may not be aware of available
opportunities
Research and evidence based strategies and
programs that work and are effective to engage
students resulting in successful outcomes for all
involved
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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How we provide support to the schools
• Work Experiences
• Employment & post secondary education
activities
• Job Readiness Training
• Community resource
• Family support
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
16
Give Recognition
Richard M. Kuffel Excellence in Education Award Winner
at the 2013 SCVRA Conference
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Collaboration on Statewide Level
• Advisory Councils
• Transition Alliance of SC
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Supporting Data
School Referrals increased from 1806 in FY 2009
to 2917 in FY 2013.
Successful Employment Outcomes for students
referred by schools increased from 589 in FY
2009 to 658 in FY 2013.
New referrals of students in regular education
increased from 170 in FY 2009 to 532 in FY
2013.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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What Doesn’t Work
• Not maintaining a regular schedule with the
•
•
•
•
school.
Not maintaining contact with the school if there
was a counselor vacancy.
Reaching out only to special education teachers.
Trying to make the school meet VR’s needs.
Using VR language.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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What Doesn’t Work (cont.)
• Not letting the school know about the progress
•
or successful outcomes of students.
Not collaborating with the principal and other
decision makers.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
21
What Works
• Maintaining a consistent presence in the
•
•
•
schools.
Reaching out to other school staff in addition to
special education teachers.
Involving the school in activities such as
Disability Mentoring Day.
Attending school activities such as school
registration or Parent Night.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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What Works (cont.)
• Attending IEP or 504 meetings when possible
•
•
and providing updated information when you
cannot.
Proving work experiences for students.
Providing VR services in collaboration with the
school.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Contact Information
• Laura Spears, Transition Specialist
 [email protected]
 803-896-6574
• Kelley Ali, Transition Specialist
 [email protected]
 803-896-7047
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Questions?
Comments?
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Register for Upcoming Webinars
December 10
Role of Work Experiences in Transition
February 3
Work Experience Expectations
February 26
Experiences with Transition and Work
March 18
Work Experience Site Development
April 24
Working with Youth in the Justice System
May 15
Using technology with youth for employment
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
26
Thank You
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
27
Education Credits
CRCC Credit
By December 18th participants must score 80%
or better on a online Post Test and submit
an online CRCC Request Form via the
MyTACE Portal.
My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
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Southeast TACE Region IV
Toll-free: (866) 518-7750 [voice/tty]
Fax: (404) 541-9002
Web: TACEsoutheast.org
MyTACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal
Email: [email protected]
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013
29
Disclaimer
This presentation was developed by the
TACE Center: Region IV ©2013
with funds from the U.S. Department of Education,
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) under the priority
of Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Projects
(TACE) – Grant #H264A080021. However, the contents of this
presentation do not necessarily represent the policy of the
RSA and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal
Government [34 CFR 75.620 (b)].
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013