Transcript Document
Youth Transition
Toolkit:
A guide for young
people with disabilities
transitioning to
adulthood
Rachel 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
My Personal Background
Born
with spinal muscular atrophy, used a
wheelchair since the age of 5
Use personal care assistance
Transitioned to living independently for college
Supplemental 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…
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
Things are About to Change
Video
Youth
with disabilities telling their transition
stories, and giving tips on avoiding pitfalls
Helping
Sneak
you to realize what’s possible!
preview…
Youth Transition Toolkit Website
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
Content
with disabilities: Nothing about us, without us!
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:
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 your
own IEP/ITP, etc.
Information
to assist in the transition to Postsecondary education: community college, 4year university, or vocational school
Understanding
the differences between high school
and college
Information on financial aid and scholarships
Independent Living 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
Employment Chapter
Career
planning - Choosing a career and job
search resources
The
impact of employment on benefits
Disability 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
Finances Chapter
Tips
on money management, including:
basic budgeting
balancing a checkbook
paying bills
tracking your spending
opening up a bank account
Credit
cards and how to avoid getting into debt
Worksheets
on financial planning and budgeting
Healthcare 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
Social/Recreation Chapter
Clubs/activities
specifically designed for youth
with disabilities
Youth
Organizing (YO!) Disabled and Proud Program
Youth Leadership Forum (YLF)
People First
Adaptive
sports programs
Ways
to become more involved in your
community
Tips
on traveling with a mobility impairment
Pilot Sites
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
Lesson Plans
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 sites
Will be available to anyone by the middle of
2012
Complete
flexibility in how facilitators/teachers
choose to use lesson plans:
Lead only certain activities or lesson plan
chapters
Modify 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 strategies
Tips for success: finding a youth co-facilitator,
providing food, assisting with transportation,
accessible venues, etc.
Education Lesson Plan Activities
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
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.
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
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
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
Work
Incentive Programs: Working it!
Understanding basic information about Social Security cash
benefit programs and how these programs interact with paid
employment
Website and Lesson Plans
Demonstration
www.tknlyouth.info
Contact information
For
questions or to request information on
lesson plan activities/materials contact:
Rachel Stewart, Youth Program Manager
916-319-8519
[email protected]