Achieving the Dream – Transition to Post – Secondary

Education for Students with Disabilities

What is your dreamfor your child?

Agenda:

• Transition Planning Overview• Helping Your Teen Build a Dream• DVD: Real Life Stories• Five Steps of Transition Planning

Student

Student-Centred Planning:

• Keeping the “best interests” of the student as the focus of planning.

• Helping the student build their dream and share it with others.

• Having high expectations for the student, along with needed supports to ensure success.

Advance planning for entry into post-secondary education is essential Parents will need to: • Communicate to others the student’s needs• Become familiar with resources, supports and funding, including: 1. Accommodations and adaptive technology 2. Ensure the student applies early 3. Be actively involved

• Selecting courses• Exploring interests, skills and dreams• Volunteering, extra curricular activities, work experience • Taking part in IPP team meetings• Learning to describe the disability and to identify the accommodations that help

Start Planning During Junior High:

Start with the dream:

…all that life can be…

A full and rich learning experience …

in the company of students and friends

… with people to help along the way

… and the satisfaction of meeting goals and achieving dreams.

Tips for Helping Your Teen Build a Dream

Your teen may need to learn how to dream

Start with the dream:

...all that life can be…

Student

Get Ready

Form Planning

Team

Develop & Implement

Plan

Monitor &Update Plan

Hold Exit Meeting

TRANSITION PLANNING

Help Your Teen Create a Portfolio

Portfolio - a collection of documents and photographs.

- the portable, self-contained record of your teen’s experiences and accomplishments.

Carly’s Career Exploration:

• Gradual approach• Real life situations • Interests and strengths• Challenges and limitations

The Duty to Accommodate: ….. To the point of undue hardship …..

The Disability Service OfficeExamples of Accommodations: • Note Takers

• Software voice programs to assist students with reading or writing• Extended time for exams, oral exams or special locations for exams

Vulnerabilities and Safeguards:

Vulnerabilities: Being misunderstood Being underestimated Being Ignored

Being Taken Advantage of

Safeguards: Participation in student activities Knowing their rights Learning how to self advocate

Choosing a Post-Secondary Program

Your teen may be considering learning at:

• A technical institute• An apprenticeship or industry training program• A college or university

FUNDING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION:

“Are You A Post-Secondary Student With A Permanent Disability?”

Visit: alis.alberta.ca/disabilities

Step 2: Form Transition Planning Team

Student’s Role: … Expressing his/her wishes and needs

Parent’s Role: … Supporting students inexpressing their wishes and needs

… Assisting the team to stay focused on the students strengths and abilities.

Step 3: Develop and Implement Plan

A plan is put into action:

• Choose institution and a program• Visit Disability Service Office• Make an application• Required assessments and required documents • Funding for tuition and accommodations• Support network on and off campus• Living arrangements, etc.

Step 4: Monitor and Update Plan  • Team reviews plan every six months.

• During grade11 team meets more often to review and update plan and ensure deadlines are met. • An important role of the teen and parent is to ensure all short and long term goals will be met…

before the teen starts post-secondary studies.

Step 5: Hold Exit Meeting

Hold final transition planning meeting well before graduation to allow time to follow upon any outstanding items.

Dream Facilitator … having a group of supporters and champions to call upon can have tremendous benefits for the young adult and for the family of the young adult.

Parent Workshop Evaluation  

Please take a few minutes to complete the workshop evaluation sheet.

Thank you for attending!