Achieving Positive Post-School Outcomes

Through STUDENT EMPOWERMENT

Presenter: Freda M. Lee, RttT Coordinator

Teacher and Leader Preparation

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

freda.lee@dpi.nc.gov

ActivityDescribe to your neighbor a transition time in life.

– How did you feel?– Did you feel empowered at the

time?– Were you prepared for the

change?– Did you have support from

anyone?– How did you cope with the

change?

Empowered Transition Process• Embraces risk and

possible failure• Provides support and

scaffolding as needed• Includes formal and

informal transition assessment

• Is ongoing, nimble and flexible

• Includes adult services

Student Empowerment

• Begins at birth

• Inclusive

• Not easy

• Looks different for everyone!!!

Empowered Transition Process is:

• Student Driven

• Collaborative

• Futures Oriented

• Involves Backward Planning

Why is Self-Determination Important for Students with Disabilities?

• Helps to shatter pervasive stereotypes• Increases employment options• Student self-selection of future goals is

critical for success in all domains of life:– Independent living– Employment– Community integration– Personal relationships

Transition Assessments can include:

• Interest Inventories• Dream Sheets• Informal pencil and paper

assessments• Interviews • Situational and/or Community-

Based Assessments• Role-Playing• Observations • Formal Placement/Screening Tests• Formal/Standardized Transition

Assessments

Live, Work and Play

Balanced Planning– Home – School– Social– Employment– Church– Community Involvement– Recreation

Three Stages of Career Planning

Youthhood.org

• The Youthhood Web site is a dynamic, curriculum-based tool that can help young adults plan for life after high school. Although the site addresses youth directly, it is intended to be used as a curriculum within a classroom, community program, or in any setting where adults are working with youth to set goals and plan for the future. The Youthhood includes informational content, interactive activities, an online magazine, and a wealth of other opportunities for youth to connect what's important to them to their learning experiences.

Youthhood Site includes: • Private Journal: An online journal allows youth to write down their thoughts, ideas, issues, or anything

else as they work their way through the Web site. This journal is completely private, with access only to the student through use of their password.

• Activities Folder: Each content area has corresponding activities to reinforce what youth learn. These can be saved to an Activity Folder for viewing, editing, or printing at a later date.

• Life Map: The Life Map is a tool to help youth plan for the future. Youth can write down goals, steps to achieve goals, and other important information related to what they’re learning on the Web site. Teachers can also use this for assignments. For youth with disabilities, the Life Map parallels the Individualized Education Program and can be used transition planning meeting preparation by young adults.

• Class Notebook: Each content area has a corresponding Class Notebook for youth to reflect on the material they just read. Instructors can give youth an assignment to write in their Notebook about what they learned on a certain topic. Instructors can also read and comment on the student’s work in the notebook.

• Links to Web Sites: Each content area has corresponding Web sites where youth can go to learn more about specific topics. Sites are arranged to correspond with the content sections of the Web site.

• Youthhood Poll: Monthly poll questions relevant to different areas of transition allow youth to reflect on their answers, submit comments, view poll results, and read comments from youth around the world (currently under construction.

• Under the Hood e-Zine: Youthhood’s online magazine, Under the Hood, is written by young adults to share what youth are thinking, saying, and experiencing across the U.S. and around the world (currently under construction).

TRANSITION ADVANCESPAST

•Students Isolated•Watered Down Curriculum for SWDs•Attendance Certificate Bound•Technology Limited and Very Expensive•Few Opportunities for CBT•PSE Opportunities Rare

NOW•Students More Integrated•Increased Rigor for SWDs•Diploma and Graduation Certificate •Technology More Abundant and Less Expensive•More Opportunities for CBT•PSE More Accessible

CHALLENGES CONTINUE• Accountability measures that do not

always accommodate SWDs and their needs (4 year graduation rate, etc.).

• Parents/caregivers who are “over protective” or “unrealistic”

• Failure to have “high expectations” for all SWDs

• Society that continues to stereotype SWDs

• Lack of ongoing interagency collaboration

• Limited number of PSE options

Promising Transition Practices=

• Early Intervention• Student Empowerment• Direct Instruction and Academic

Support • Extensive Use of Technology• Comprehensive Transition

Assessment and Planning• IHE Partnerships• Interagency Collaboration• Post-Secondary Education

Programs (PSE)

NSTTAC Case Study• Read and think about Lissette’s case study• Discuss with your partner• Determine the following:

– Does it appear that Lissette has participated in transition assessment of any type and/or CBT?

– Do we need additional information? If so, what information is needed and how might we get it?

– Do you think Lissette is an empowered student? If so, what evidence is there of her demonstrating self-determination or empowerment?

Select Transition Web ResourcesNational Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center NSTTAC.org

Post-Secondary Outcomes Center- www.psocenter.org

Division of Career Development &Transition dcdt.org

North Carolina Division of Career Development &Transition ncdcdt.org

College & Career Readiness Center ccrscenter.org

Exceptional Children Assistance Center- ecac.org

Think College thinkcollege.net

North Carolina Post-Secondary Alliance cidd.unc.edu

Post-Secondary Education Research Center www.trasitiontocollege.net

College Fund of North Carolina (CFNC-Gear Up) www.cfnc.org

Zarrow Center http://education.ou.edu/zarrow/

U.S. Dept. of Labor O*NET www.onecenter.org

University of Kansas transitioncoalition.org

Cradle to College Collection ideapartnership.org

Select Transition Resources• Assess for Success –Sitlington, Nuebert, Begun, Lombard,

and Leconte. Publisher: Corwin Press• Transition Methods for Youth With Disabilities-Aspel,

Everson and Test. Publisher: Pearson, Merrill and Prentice Hall

• Teaching Self-Determination-Field, Martin, Miller, Ward and Wehmeyer. Publisher: Council for Exceptional Children

• Life Centered Career Education (LCCE)- Donn Brolin. Publisher: Council for Exceptional Children

• Life Beyond the Classroom- Paul Wehman. Publisher: Brookes Publishing