The C.I.T.Y. C.I.T.Y. Connections Connections Creating Individualized Transitions for Youth A Project of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Pittsburgh Public Schools Program for Students with Exceptionalities CITY Connections
Serving Students after High School � The start of CITY Connections � Looked at current programming � Looked at what others were doing � Looked at the research � Listened to staff and families � Looked at student outcomes CITY Connections 11/1/2007
PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS: CITY Connections CITY Connections is based on Valued Life Outcomes Valued Life Outcomes � Having a safe and stable home in which to live now and the future � Having access to a variety of places and engaging in meaningful activities � Having a social network of personally meaningful relationships � Having a level of personal choice and control that matches one’s age � Being safe and healthy CITY Connections Meyer, et al, 1991, Schalock, 1990, Giangreco, Cloninger, Mueller, Yuan and Ashworth, 1991
CITY Connections CITY Connections is Defined & Organized by Transition Outcomes Transition Outcomes Post Secondary Education & Training � Employment � Community Living � � Residential � Daily Living � Domestic � Community Access/Consumerism � Participation � Volunteerism � Citizenship � Sexuality CITY Connections Recreation and Leisure �
Embedded Skills � Self-Determination � Social Skills � Communication � Community Travel � Health and Safety CITY Connections
Long Range Outcomes � Students and families will be connected to the agencies and resources needed for adult life � Students and families will reach valued life outcomes because of: � Connections made � Educational experiences CITY Connections 11/1/2007
Where we are NOW…. What is C.I.T.Y. Connections? � Continued “day” programming for students aged 18-21 years old with moderate to severe disabilities � Educational programming based in an age appropriate settings, outside a traditional high school campus � Individualized education supporting movement to community participation in the adult world CITY Connections
Where we are NOW…. Current Sites Five apartment sites � CITY Connections West 1 (opened 2002) � CITY Connections West 2 (opened 2004) � CITY Connections East (opened 2003) � CITY Connections South (opened 2006) � CITY Connections North (opened March 2007) One college site � CITY Connections CCAC (opened 2005) CITY Connections
ACHIEVA / CITY Partnership � Adds an evening/overnight component to our programming � Ludwig Family Educational Enrichment Program � Southside of Pittsburgh, next door to the Southside Works � Two students at a time, for a two week period � Staffed overnight by “awake” staff who are trained personnel from ACHIEVA � No cost to the students CITY Connections 11/1/2007
Life’sWork of Western PA � Community based staff, part of the C.I.T.Y. Connections team, bringing all of their real and in kind resources to the students and families � Shape the vocational pieces through regular participation in team meetings, IEP meetings and parent networking CITY Connections
Community Partners Goodwill, UPMC, Easter Seals and Others � Provide a variety of services: � Vocational evaluation � Facility based training � Job development and job coaching through Federal grants and private funds CITY Connections
Travel Instruction � Critical to the success of the C.I.T.Y. Connections � Requires extensive coordination and communication so students can travel from home to the C.I.T.Y. Connections , to all community sites and back home from a variety of locations CITY Connections
Travel Instruction � Provide ecological assessment of community sites � One on one Instruction includes anti- victimization, stranger awareness, responsibility for personal belongings, problem solving, appropriate behavior, impact of weather conditions and emergency situations. CITY Connections
Social Skills training for post high school students � Speech-Language Pathologist’s freedom to participate in most CITY Connections activities � Needed: student to student interaction skills and improved ability to better navigate in the community CITY Connections 11/1/2007
Interventions to Support Students � Collaborations with CITY Connections Staff & parents � Small group instruction – role play at CITY Connections � Individual instruction as needed � Practice social skills in the community � Observations of students by SLP, student interns, and staff in the community � Collaboration with the Watson Institute for Social Skills Groups CITY Connections 11/1/2007
Typical Day at CITY Connections CITY Connections Apartment Sites Students at the East, South, North and West apartment sites follow daily schedules which reflect opportunities in employment, daily living instruction, community access and recreation and leisure activities. CITY Connections
Typical Day at CITY Connections CITY Connections College Site Students at CCAC go to lunch in the Cafeteria, join clubs and organizations on campus and attend college events. Based on individual professor permission, they may also participate in academic classes based on areas of personal interest. CITY Connections
All students in CITY Connections CITY Connections � participate in Travel Training and Stranger Awareness Training with the Pittsburgh Public Schools Travel Trainers. � access a wide variety of community locations and recreational opportunities available in the Pittsburgh area. � work in a variety of settings designed and supported by our community partner, Life’sWork or other agencies. � volunteer at a variety of community settings including the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, a variety of nursing homes and community groups. CITY Connections �
In the end our Students will be prepared to Live, Work, Connect, and Contribute in the Community CITY Connections 11/1/2007
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