Planning for After High School My Next Steps: An Event for Students Receiving Special Education Services and Their Families May 17, 2018

Planning for After High School: My Next Steps

SPPS/Arc Minnesota /Ramsey County Social Services

May 17, 2018

Presentation slides
Directory

June is a time of transition for high school students, planning for the future, for adult life, for school, work, and whatever else comes next. This fair was an event for students receiving special education services and their families. Students receiving Special Education services are given access to rights and services through the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) up through age 21 after which services/protections are offered through laws like the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and Rehabilitation Act. At age 18 students are expected to take on more responsibilities for their life choices unless they are under guardianship or conservatorship. Thus as students prepare to exit high school there are a lot of decisions to be made about where to live, work, how to connect with your community, deciding which roles and responsibilities to take on your own and which you might need support with, deciding  who can help support you as you transition to an adult. 

The fair consisted of a panel of speakers, representatives of various organizations as well as self advocates.

Disability is a characteristic not a label, it describes but does not define a person. The speakers emphasized that youth and those helping them should not limit nor create barriers and that when helping youth in transition we should listen to people and their goals and do person centered planning. You won't always get everything you want, but if it is important to start with the person in mind.  When working with people it is important to understand that behavior is communication, to remember about protecting civil rights and working towards integration and inclusion.

Goals in transition are to connect the individual and his/her family to the community and have services occurring within the community not separate from it, to help solve, work around challenges so they don't become barriers, to use Self Directed, Family Assisted Employment Plans and Community Mapping, to find out what is important to the person going through transition , target work around this, and figure out where resources are.

Some resources for people going through transition for school, work, community, health, financial assistance, etc.:

1. Disability Hub (includes sections on Disability and Housing benefits)
2. Focus Beyond  (Saint Paul Public Schools Transition program)
3. Work Life Alliance
4. Cow Tipping Press (self expression, writing, community, fun)
5. Connect 700 (pathway to state employment for people with disabilities who may not be able to demonstrate abilities in interviews and testing)
6. Dungarvin, an agency that offers supports and services to help adults who have disabilities.
7. Kaposia " "
8. Metropolitan Center for Independent Living MCIL is dedicated to the full promotion of the Independent Living (IL) philosophy by supporting individuals with disabilities in their personal efforts to pursue self-directed lives. 
9. Metropolitan State University
10. MN APSE (MN Association of People Supporting Employment First)
11. Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance
12. MN Department of Education/Project Search, The program model takes place in a business setting where total immersion facilitates the teaching and learning process through continuous feedback and application of new skills. Upon successful completion of the Project SEARCH application and interview process, selected students become Project SEARCH interns. Student interns are provided work opportunities and practical learning experiences to enhance their academic preparation and expose them to the world of work.
13. MN Disability Legal Aid
14. NAMI Minnesota
15. PACER Center
16. Partners in Community Supports (PICS)
17. Partners in Policymaking (leadership, advocacy training and resources for people with disabilities and others on their website.)
18. Ramsey County' Citizens Advisory Council's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Committee
19. Ramsey County Children's Mental Health
20. Ramsey County Consumer Support Grant
21. Ramsey County Intake, MN Choices Assessment and Disability Services
22. Ramsey County Foster Care Services and Licensing
23. Ronald Hubbs Center
24. Saint Paul Public Schools Special Education
25. Social Security Administration (Ticket to Work program)
26. The TAP (community get-togethers, chances for self/creative expression) 
27. Arc MN
28. Vocational Rehabilitative Services

Assistive Technology Fair

Assistive Technology Fair

RCL/Roseville

5/12/18
Handouts 1
Handouts 2
Handouts 3

This fair was sponsored by RCL, Roseville Community Health Awareness Team, Roseville Area Senior Program Roseville Area Schools, RSVL A/D (Roseville Alzheimer’s and Dementia Community Action Team) , City of Roseville.

There were several tables around the room:

1. One with handouts from the library on Using Windows magnifier, Free/Low-Cost Assistive Technology options for windows, Mac and mobile devices, Accessible Reading Services, Disability Awareness Resources from the MELSA AT Task Force, Free Technology Training Resources, Accessible IOS Apps, accessibility features of meeting rooms at White Bear Lake and Shoreview libraries (they have an induction loop system) and also have handheld amplifiers (I believe like our Wilson system). They also had a list of the exhibitors with their contact information and a list of the AT on display, and handouts from the partner organizations of community events, some of which were being held at the library.

2. Other tables included: Star Program, Allina Health Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, Vitals Aware Service, MN Brain Injury, Strauss (Adapted Cycles), RCL, Therapy Dogs and a Service Dog with information on the difference, Low Vision Store, Learning Lab, and handouts for MN State Services for the Blind, MN’s Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) program, Twin Cities Adaptive  Cycling nonprofit, PACER-Simon Technology Lending Library, Autism Society of MN

3. RCL had a table with info on the library and also their Makerspace and a brochure on 3d Printing and Design with information on how to make a UBO (Universal Bottle Opener).

I also walked through the library a bit and I noticed that RCL has a Caregiver Collection for Care Partners of those with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or Memory Loss (the collection was purchased by a grant received by the Roseville Alzheimer’s & Dementia Community Action Team) and Memory Minders: a Kit for Caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or Memory Loss (the materials in the kits are specifically selected to spark memories, create conversation and provide positive and engaging interactions between people with these conditions and their care partners. The kits contain and interactive activity like bingo, puzzle, games, conversation cards, a book with colorful illustrations designed for people with memory loss, cd with music to soothe and spark memory, the book “A Caregiver’s guide to Dementia, which provides activities and techniques, book lists, tip sheets. The kits have activity levels for early stage, middle stage and late stage of these conditions.

Erin Zolotukhin-Ridgway, GLC