"a partnership in youth transition" presented by kathryn eckert-mason, ms
TRANSCRIPT
"A Partnership in Youth Transition"
Presented by
Kathryn Eckert-Mason, MS
In Collaboration With:
Camille Atkinson, MS, VR Counselor Rebecca Emmert,MS, CRC, LIFE Colleen Thayer, Job Developer, MA, MS, CDI, CLIP Anne Harrington, MS Transition Counselor, OSD Dan Haun, MS Branch Manager S. Salem OVRS
The Story of a Unique Collaborative Relationship
South Salem OVRSOregon School for the Deaf
Lane Independent Living Alliance / Living Independently for
EmpowermentColleen Thayer, Job Developer
January each year – VRC’s do a general orientation to OVRS services and begin doing intakes on seniors / final year transition program students.
March/ April by the time they were in VR system and found eligible.
Career exploration / plan development starting in approx. March / April
Graduation…… we lost many over the summer.
In the Beginning / The Traditional Transition Model
MAKING THE CONNECTION
Models Considered:
PEPNET Transition Summit spring 2011 – models reviewed – various nationwide transition programs for Deaf Youth
Project Access – on campus model / modified curriculum (language level issues)
YTP Model – OSD not eligible for YTP grant. Need for Culturally competent and ASL fluent
staff to work with Deaf students.
Pepnet Transition Summit
Pepnet Misson – Advancing educational opportunities for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
May 2nd – May 4th, 2011 Amazing Group of like minded representatives all
with a transition vision from all over the country. Included representatives from Vocational
Rehabilitation, various school districts, various Schools for the Deaf, various service providers all brought together for the purpose of discussing Transition
What was Learned / Conference Themes
What was missing / students were graduating without the academic and functional skills needed for success.
Variations throughout the country as to when adult services (including VR came into the picture)
Agreement that the later the introduction the adult services happened, the less smooth the transition.
Conference Themes
Many states waited until the end of senior / final year to begin adult services
Some states were starting much earlier in the high school experience with more success (sophomore / Junior year).
It was agreed that no one agency could do it all. Work experiences early and often facilitated
employment at graduation. Collaboration emphasized along with Creativity and
Thinking outside the Box.
Conference Themes
Youth and Families are an integral part of the process.
Keep Expectations high. Maryland at that time had a collaborative RSA grant
funded Transition Partners project starting with VR files open as juniors.
The goal – to be employed or moving on to education supported by adult services at exit from high school.
Conference Themes
A variety of community Partners were needed for success (VR, school, DD Services, MH, Workforce Youth programs, Post Secondary Education programs etc.)
The importance of Mentors – Successful Adults with Disabilities actively working with students for inspiration.
Creative ways to come up with paid work experiences (VR / Workforce etc).
Conference Themes
Some successful models included VR on the school campus.
Beginning exploration activities as early as the 8th / 9th grade (schools)
Student work programs – off campus experiences.
Culturally competent services provided in first language.
The Stars Align for Fall 2011
The Necessary Ingredients: Enthusiasm for thinking outside of the box for
Transition (S. Salem staff) Oregon School for the Deaf offers Office
Space on Campus Manager Support – Thank you Dan! The Right Job Developer resources for direct
instruction in ASL.
The Vision Emerges
Earlier introduction and intake into VR Services (December /January)
Referral of each student to a job developer (LIFE staff or Colleen) for 1:1 support with career exploration activities / exploring work experience options. (The individualized experience)
January - Beginning of bimonthly Job Club opportunities. (The Group Experience)
The Vision
VR Counselors on Campus in our office space twice / week.
Camille and Kathy separate days Job Developers meeting with students in our
VR office space Some meeting with students after school
hours / dorms etc. (Colleen)
The Lofty Goal
To Assist all students to Dream
To have all students in an IPE by exit time from school
The Specifics
Students split between Colleen and LIFE staff for 1:1 career exploration or development of work experience site.
Student cases split between Camille and Kathy Camille and Kathy had at least one ½ day / week on
campus. Job Club – 1st and 4th Fridays of the month during
“Advising Time”. - Group AFP’s
The Specifics: Job Club Topics
Overview of VR System and Process Facilitate what VR can and can not do for
them. Importance of choosing a career that fits! Importance of attendance and participation in
VR relate activities / job club. (1 credit) Address Deaf Culture perspectives on VR.
Specifics: Job Club Topics…
Self Advocacy Deaf Role models (successfully employed Deaf
employees from FEMA and Food Service) Interview Skills Life on SSI vs the Employed life How to use an interpreter and the importance of this. What are accommodations? ADA and How to Request Accommodations Disability Services Access. Career Exploration – Individualized
OSD Job Club - Presenters
Jon Cray, PUC Juan, Willamette Univer.
The Specifics
Job Club – Students divided into College Bound and Employment Bound groups.
Monthly Planning Meeting for the purpose of: Review of student specifics / concerns and
successes Review of coordination needs Review of Job Club topics and planning. Branch Manager support / participation
Student Composition (2011-2012)
17 Students / OVRS clients in total. 7 College Bound Students (NTID, SWCID,
Chemeketa, Le Cordon Bleu) 5 Employment / Hands on Training students 5 Students with additional adult services
involved (DD Services, OCB etc). Mixture of Seniors and Transition Program
students.
So, What are Last Year’s Students up to?
National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology – film editor goal
1 at Le Cordon Bleu – chef training 2 Welding Mentor School – in job search now 1 employed at TJ Max 4 Students returned for ATP (including 1 of
the welding students)
So What are Last Year’s Students up to?
ATP students currently in work experiences, 4 recently completed food handlers and seeking food service work experience.
1 dropped out mid year / this year not last. NTID / RIT – 2nd student – tried / decided to
ret to Chemeketa. 1 Aged out – Engaged Vol. work / food svce.
So What are Last Year’s Students up to?
1 - Aged out – engaged in continued career exploration
1 - Aged out – engaged in CWE and job search / cleaning / maintainence.
1 - Employed at Pizza place.
Reflections on What Worked…..
VR Presence on Campus….. Students knew their VR Counselor and would seek them out.
Increased responsibility by students for appointments etc.
Students - More emotional investment in their own growth process with increased 1:1 support from Colleen / Jonathan.
Deaf Role Models Informational interview opportunities – Students
asking to join opportunities that friends were participating in.
What Worked….
Starting earlier – Most students has some sort of career goal idea by the end.
2 students accomplished standard diplomas after realization of the importance for college.
Test of motivation and desire for future goals. Many had fully explored their goals, participated in
informational interviews, participated in labor market research etc by the time of exit.
Increased communication and collaboration with all partners.
What Worked
Students and VR Counselor rapport was more established at the end of the school year.
Student rapport with Jonathan, Colleen, and Becky as additional supports in their lives.
Students are excited about their goals. We did not have the usual lost connection
over the summer.
Lessons Learned
Student maturity levels and understanding of the importance of our activities – some students did not realize the importance of what we were doing until the end….. Oops.
Job Club / Not enough Time – need for much more time to address issues that arise over the course of the whole year.
Scheduling… How to accomplish VR related services in conjunction with school required time and services. (Job Club and school schedule / time off campus, time in the school day for VR appointments, job shadow / interviews etc).
Lessons Learned
Modified Diploma Issues – The first year this has impacted many of those that would have previously been college bound… How does that then Impact OVRS policy with regards to training etc.
Backlog of College Plans in process / review / approval.
Missed the mark in having all students in plan by exit.. (Two of 17 in plan) – Better than most years though.
Transportation……..Quite a Barrier
The Vision Revised!This Year’s Goals
Start Sooner Still – September Intake Month…. All seniors and exiting transition students into OVRS. (actually this was completed by November)
Start Planning Sooner – Summer planning sessions / review of curriculum for ideas / job club.
September – Start Job Club up and running. September – Referral for the exploration process in
September (actually happened in November)
This Year’s Goals
OSD / Moving Transition Program to be co-located next to VR offices in the same building.
OSD – More emphasis on employment expectations within transition curriculum.
Collaborative discussion between OVRS, job developer and transition teachers / teaming for portfolio activities.
OSD Included – more computer access / technology access for transition students- IPADS for all.
. All Transition students in work experiences!!!.
Student Composition 2012-2013
18 Students total (possibly 2-3 more) 8 Seniors (2 targeted for possible standard
diploma and college / 6 Modified Diploma track)
10 Transition Students (19 – 21) - 4 of these students were in ATP last year, 6 students new to ATP / seniors last year).
Transition Students Work Experiences
OSD Cafeteria OSD Museum Monmouth Library Sunnyside Assisted Living – 1 in patient
support, 2nd in cleaning / food prep 3 recently passed food handlers test (plus 1
senior) – and seeking food service experience.
Transition Students Work Experience cont.
2 in Fashion Bug – breakdown as store went out of business.
1 in Local Tire Store / storage and cleaning. 1 in Welding / Job Search Transportation Experiences
OSD Adult Transition Class
Unique Training Partnership
Additional Goals:
More VR Counselor involvement in earlier IEP Transition planning meetings
Collaborative process / discussion occurring regarding current returning students and creative programming – ½ day off campus training (welding / CCC) or employment experience Inclusion of transportation experiences for those that need it provided by both OSD and VR.
This Years Goals cont.
Increased parental involvement and communication with parents…”One of the single most influential factors of success in transition is Parental Involvement”.
Food Handlers Class – for those interested in food service.
The idea of Electronic Portfolios Juniors – Intakes scheduled for March /April.
This Year’s Goals continued
VRC and Branch Manager Contracted agreement in training plan development
Special Thanks / Contact Info
Anne Harrington, Transition Coordinator, Oregon School for the Deaf, [email protected]
Matt Boyd, Principal / Athletic Director, Oregon School for the Deaf, [email protected]
Patti Togioka, Director, Oregon School for the Deaf, [email protected]
Sharla Jones, Academic Principal / Outreach, Oregon School for the Deaf, [email protected]
Special Thanks / Contact Info
Colleen Thayer, MS,MA,CDI,CLIP, Job Developer, [email protected]
Becky Emmert, Program Lead, MS, CRC, LILA / LIFE, [email protected]
Camille Atkinson, MS, S.Salem OVRS, [email protected]
Daniel Haun, MS, S. Salem OVRS Branch Manager, [email protected]
Kathryn Eckert-Mason, MS, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Counselor Specialist, S. Salem OVRS, [email protected]
Resources
http://www.pepnet.org/