beginning with the end in mind: building an 18+ program
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Beginning with the End in Mind: Building an 18+ Program. ATS Adult Transition Services Pasadena Independent School District. What is ATS ?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Beginning with the End in Mind: Building an 18+ Program
ATSAdult Transition Services
Pasadena Independent School District
What is ATS ?The Pasadena ISD Adult Transition Services Program (ATS) is a researched based 18+ community transition program that assists students with disabilities in moving from high school to adult life.
ATS allows students to begin transitioning into adult life activities in the community while having the support of the school system. ATS is a community based program that uses the community as an extension to facilitate the transition to adult life.
The main objective is to support students as they transition into the adult life they will be living after they leave the ATS program. The last day of ATS should mirror the first day of adult life.
What is ATS ?
Where is ATS Located?
ATS is a community based program that uses the community as an extension of the classroom which facilitates the transition to adult life. Locations include:
Day HabilitationRecreation & Leisure sites
Volunteer sitesEmployment sites
Post secondary education
The specific locations where the instruction occurs and the supports needed are based on the individual needs of the adult student’s IEP.
ATS staff collaborate with adult students and their families to develop goals which is designed to implemented in the community.
ATSTransition Services Addressed
• Employment
• Education/Training
• Independent Living
• Community Education
ATS Employment
ATS students can enter independent employment or supported employment.
Independent Employment - the traditional model in which a person obtains a job and requires minimal or no support.
Supported Employment - when another person helps find and secure the job, and a job coach teaches on the job skills to the individual with disability. It is a process and the job coach will fade from the job site until the individual is independent or the support is replaced with a co-worker or agency support.
ATS Employment
The ATS program focuses on the development of the student’s work related behaviors and skills.
– Job searching– Application– Interviewing– Work etiquette – Maintaining a residence – Self determination– Taking breaks
- Task completion– Endurance– Dressing for work – Personal grooming– Hygiene – Social skills in work setting– Support system at work
ATS Education/Training
Training - It is the goal of ATS to work with students and their families to acquire paid employment. If the desire of the student and family not to find paid employment then the ATS staff will help the family identify what they want their adult life to look like after graduation. While some students enter ATS program employed, others have participated in community based vocational instruction (CBVI) classes and have not been competitively employed or have lost or quit their job. ATS make every effort to work with the student and their parent/guardian to find competitive employment
Education - ATS supports students participating in local community college enrollment and connection to the Office of Disabilities.
ATS Education/Training
ATS teaches skills needed to succeed in post secondary education, career exploration, apprenticeship training, and service learning/volunteering in the
community.
– Self advocacy– Organizational skills– Time management– Schedule changes– Applications for continuing
education and community college courses
– Applications for financial aide and scholarships
– Developing support system
– Adult agency connection– Interpersonal skills– Following directions– Assignment/task completion– Developing support system
ATS Independent Living
– Preparing meals– Budgeting– Paying bills– Maintaining a residence – Raising a family– Caring for clothing – Personal grooming
– Hygiene skills– Social skills within the
community– Register to vote– Accessing medical
services– Accessing adult services
such as social security
ATS prepares students for independent living skills that are needed daily or occasionally:
ATS Related Services
Related services are provided by Pasadena ISD Related Service staff in the community setting to ensure continuation of these
services beyond high school.
Related Services for ATS students have included:Visual Impaired Services
Physical TherapyOccupational Therapy
ATS Community Education
– Travel training – Pedestrian safety – Metro systems – Obtaining drivers
license/state ID– Taxis – Carpool
– Personal grooming– Hygiene skills– Social skills within the
community– Register to vote– Accessing medical services– Accessing adult services
such as social security
ATS prepares students for community education skills that are needed daily or occasionally:
Parents and family members are a vital part of ATS School districts and parents work together to help students with disabilities transition
into adult life.
• Encouragement, support and guidance• Network for job leads• Financial support• Connection with community agencies• Monitoring of health and safety• Support of self-determination for the adult• Provide opportunities for students to explore interests and learning
activities • Provide transportation
ATSFamily Partnership
How do I start this program
in my district?
Target Student -Criteria for Joining ATS
• Must be between the ages of 18-21
• Currently attending a Pasadena ISD school
• Have a current Individual Education Plan (IEP)
• Have completed all high school credits
• Seeking support in skills necessary for transitioning to adult life
• Typically participates in functional and/or social skills curriculum
The ATS Teachers
• Important qualities to look for when recruiting ATS candidates– Creativity– Problem solving– Compassion/Excitement – Classroom teacher is not always the best fit
• 1st semester research & development– Develop district guidelines and procedures– Develop/locate vocational assessment tools– Visit other 18+ programs
ATS On Going Support
• ATS Retreat– Beginning of each year
• ATS Monthly Checklist
• Bi Monthly Meetings with Supervisor– Fade to 1 meeting per month
• Conferences, Seminars, & Region IV Trainings
ATS Growth in Staff and Students
2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-20130
5
10
15
20
25
30
ATS TeachersATS Job CoachesATS Students
A day in the life of an ATS student…
ATS Students• A typical ATS student participates 2-5 days per week
for 2-6 hours each day
• Transportation provided by natural supports– Public Transportation– Walking– Parent, family member or friend– Car pooling – Riding bicycle
• Job coach is at job site to support student and gradually begins to fade his/her presence (on an individual basis) OR is replaced with natural/agency supports
ATS is Individualized!May include any combination of the following settings
• Day Habilitation
• Recreation & Leisure
• Volunteer
• Employment
• Continuing Education Courses
• Community College Prep Technical or Associate’s Degree
ATS Schedule 1Day Hab – Rec & Leisure - Volunteer
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
OFF Goodwill9am – 1pm
Goodwill9am – 1pm
Multipurpose Recreation
Center9am – 12pm
Day Hab9am – 3pm
ATS Schedule 2Rec & Leisure - Employment
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
OFF Chick-Fil-A8:30am – 1pm
Multipurpose Recreation
Center9am – 12pm
Chick-Fil-A8:30am – 1pm
OFF
ATS Schedule 3Continuing Education - Employment
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Driver’s EdPrep
Pasadena Library
1pm – 3pm
IT’z Pizza11am-4pm
OFF IT’z Pizza11am-4pm
IT’z Pizza11am-4pm
Exiting ATS
Exiting ATS*The last day of ATS should mirror the first day of adult life*
• Aging Out– Student turns 22 prior to next school year– The last semester ATS fades support – Using indirect support, the final 6 weeks is spent ensuring
student mastery of their schedule
• Mastered ATS Goals & Objectives – Student is successfully participating in his/her adult life
without ATS support
Exit by Mastering Goals & Objectives
Student is successfully participating in his/her adult life without ATS support
Participation includes one or a combination of the following:
• Day Habilitation
• Recreation & Leisure
• Volunteer
• Employment
• Continuing Education Courses
• Community College Prep Technical or Associate’s Degree
Successful, SUSTAINABLE, Post-Secondary Transition
ATS Thanks…
Dr. Vicki Mitchell with Mitchell-Panter Consulting, LLC for the collaboration, support and guidance in making our program a success!
