Special Education Transition Services Presentation to the Board of Education Dr. Stephanie Lamanno Interim Director of Special Education Mr. Joseph Maisano Assistant Director of Special Education March 15, 2016
What are Transition Services? Services provided to students and their families in preparation for “Post - Secondary” life (life after high school). They include, but are not limited to, independent living skills, job-readiness skills, access to adult services, and college or trade school exposure.
Increased Emphasis on Transition Services State-Wide Through a federal grant, the Long Island Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Center (RSE-TASC) has hired 3 Transition Specialists to help support schools with creating and implementing transition services for students.
What are the Transition Services offered by the Plainedge School District? Transition Services are provided through a collaborative effort between the Guidance and Special Education Departments; completing transition sections of the IEP starting at age 15 and Exit Summaries for graduation Level 1 Career Assessment: strength and weakness recognition, as well as • areas of interest for the student in both school and possible career(s). Assessment is completed at age 12. Interest Inventories: The district has utilized data from the EXPLORE, PLAN, • and ACT exams in the past to help determine areas of interest. Tech Programs : exposure to BOCES Barry Tech and GC-Tech, as possible • options for job training and/or CDOS mandates.
Plainedge Transition Services SEPTA Presentations : Transition to Middle School, Guardianship and Special • Needs Trusts, Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR). Assistance with OPWDD and ACCES-VR : The high school psychologist & • guidance department provide information to parents, schedule meetings with providers, and support parents in the application process. Career & Employment Options (CEO): District contracts with this agency to • provide a comprehensive Work-Based Learning (WBL) program for students who take the New York State Alternate Assessment(NYSAA). College Exploration: The Guidance Department provides information • regarding appropriate college options through department visitations, parental workshops and through the use of Naviance, the web-based college search program.
Transition Services: Recent Enhancements More Inclusivity: we have developed a broader building level transition • team to include guidance counselors, building psychologists, part-time Transition Coordinator, and special education teachers. Transition Fairs: distribution of flyers for local fairs for parents and students • to attend (Bellmore-Merrick, Jericho, Lynbrook, East Meadow, Sachem, Farmingdale University). Transition Information Folders: information packets distributed at high • school Annual Reviews with information of agencies and services that are available after high school (post-secondary). Best Buddies International : new high school club • that fosters improvement of social skills to be used independently. Work-Based Learning (WBL) Experiences: • job-related experiences supervised by our Transition Coordinator. Additional SEPTA Presentations: “ Transition to • High School” and “High School Diplomas & Credentials.” Students at Best Buddies Prom
Transition Services: Recent Enhancements • Addition of faculty member to focus on CDOS skills: • Career Development and Occupational Studies Credential (CDOS): learning job-readiness skills courses and work-based learning opportunities. • Skills Achievement Commencement Credential (SACC): learning independent living skills for New York State Alternately Assessed Students (NYSAA) using universal foundation skills.
Transition Services: Next Steps • Additional CDOS Specific High School Electives: taught by CTE/Special Education/WBL certified teacher to work towards CDOS credential. This will include all self-contained students, as well as a handful of other students deemed appropriate by the special education and guidance departments. • Variety of Work-Based Learning (WBL) Experiences: supervised by our Transition Coordinator (includes in-district and after school experiences). • Career Plan Folders: maintained in the guidance office to house all information related to transition (CDOS hours, transition assessments, applications, etc.).
Transition Services: Next Steps • Career Zone: a transition resource created by the New York State Education and Labor Departments to explore career opportunities and interests. • Exploration of Hosting a Transition Fair : a potential in-district or local fair with neighboring districts of similar size. • Increased Involvement by the Transition Coordinator: to support the building psychologist and families with OPWDD and ACCES-VR applications. • Grade Specific Transition Assessments: a variety of assessments to drive and improve post-secondary outcomes.
Transition Services: Next Steps • Expansion of Exit Summaries: documented information to be shared with colleges and prospective employers about a student’s educational and independent functioning skills and needs upon graduation. • Enhanced SEPTA Presentations: explore additional valuable topics related to transition planning. • Professional Development: exposure for staff members to the RSE-TASC (BOCES) catalog of transition related workshops. • Transition Meetings: possible expansion of the existing model which utilizes Annual Review to a more formal Transition specific model.
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