Finding Your

Perfect Cup for Success

College

Job

Volunteering

Dating

Marriage House

Healthcare

Family

Be Bold: Steps

to Success

Things  you  can  control:  •  What  you  wear  •  Your  a5tude  •  What  your  going  to  eat  for  lunch  

•  Music  choice  •  What  you  want  to  do  with  your  life  

   

Things  you  can’t  control:  •  Weather  •  Other  people  a5tude  towards  you    

•  Who  is  family  •  TV  Schedules  

What  is  in  your  control…  

Steps to

Success •  Be a good communicator – Talking is important

but listening is more important

– Communication solves problems

Problem Solved Great

Work

•  Keep  an  open  Mind  • Working  together  is  important    •  Be  open  to  new  ideas  •  Celebrate  differences  

Steps  to  Success    • Take  Dme  for  yourself    

– Keep  your  mind,  heart,  and  body  in  shape  

 

Envisioning

Your Dreams

Se3ng  Goals    

– Think  of  a  goal  – Think  of  whether  it  is  realis:c  to  achieve  goal  – Who  can  help  you  achieve  that  goal  – What  are  the  steps  to  achieving  the  goal  

 

Steps  to  Achieving  your  Goal  

Develop a Plan to Achieve Your

Goals… What goal do you want to achieve?

•  Select a goal that you want to accomplish. Something you can do every day or every other day.

"Advocacy is an action that produces

change.

What is advocacy?

"  Do Research   Communication   Compromise   Teamwork

The 4 keys to being a good self advocate

Making Your Own

Blend

Putting the I in

IEP IEP

"The definition of accommodations is:

Supports that help you succeed at a given task. It is important to know what accommodations you are getting now so that you can ask for them and succeed in the future. As an adult you are expected to know what you need and what your accommodations are; people are not going to be able to read your mind

Understanding your Accommodations and Supports

What is an IEP?  IEP stands for

Individualized Education Program (IEP).

 The purpose of the IEP is to make sure that you, your family, and school staff knows what your educational program and accommodations will be this year.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Services detailed in IDEA include: 1.  Transition services and planning 2.  Individualized Education Programs 3.  Early intervention services 4.  Due process provisions 5.  Disciplinary services 6.  Free appropriate public education

How you can participate in your IEP   Do Research- Ask to know what your IEP says before the meeting.

You should try to truly understand what it says   Write it Down- Think about what you want to say and write it

down so you don’t lose track of your thoughts   Communicate- Your IEP is about you! Know your strengths and

weaknesses and tell people what you could use to help to do better. Tell your IEP team what you see for your future (if you don’t know that’s ok).

  Be a part of the team- Get to know the people that are on your IEP team, know what they can do for you. Letting the adults know what you want is important, but also keep in mind that adults might have some good ideas and suggestions-they are “professionals.”

Assessments

What is assessment? Why should you care?

Assessment is all about learning about what you can do. It’s a process that you go through to try to map out your future. Assessment helps you:

– Get concrete ideas about what you want to do – Plan your next steps are – Learn about yourself & your interests – Know your strengths – Learn about your needs and accommodations – Plan for your future goals.

" Transition assessment looks at your whole life.  Career assessment helps you plan for your career

throughout your lifetime.  Vocational assessment and evaluation help you

understand yourself as a worker.

What are the different types of assessments?

  Take  assessments  seriously…they  can  help  you  learn  about  your  strengths,  needs,  likes,  and  dislikes  

  That  means  you  need  to  tell  people  about  your  needs,  likes,  and  dislikes  to  your  teachers,  parents,  and  case  workers.  

  Assessments  can  help  you  achieve  your  dreams!  

  Assessments  are  all  about  you!!  

Employment

Education

Independent Living

Transition

Outcomes

Employment

The Right Fit •  Decide what works for you.. College or the

world of work, or both! •  It is important to follow your path and make

smart decisions – talking to teachers, parents, and professionals can help you make the right move!

•  Ultimately you need to self-advocate and speak up!

•  The  Americans  with  DisabiliDes  Act  (ADA)  –  helps  people  with  disabiliDes  get  accommodaDons  in  school  and  work  

•  BUT,  employers  only  have  to  provide  “reasonable”  accommodaDons  –  they  define  what  is  considered  reasonable    

The  Law:  ADA  

On the Job • When  considering  a  job,  you  need  to  be  realisDc;  can  you  perform  the  essenDal  duDes?  

•  You  don’t  always  get  every  job  you  apply  for,  or  get  into  every  school  –  but  DON’T  give  up!  

•  Persistence  and  staying  posiDve  are  important;  believe  in  YOURSELF  

Overcoming  Barriers  to  Employment  

•  According  to  the  2010  US  Census    only  33%  of  people  with  disabiliDes  are  employed,  versus  77.7%  of  those  without  disabiliDes  

•  Why  do  you  think  that  less  people  with  disabiliDes  have  jobs?  

Finding Job Training Programs

•  Search for – Office of Vocational

Rehabilitation – Visit the Jobs

Accommodations Network askjan.net

Finding a Job

•  Ads •  Internet •  Career Centers •  Vocational Rehabilitation •  Personal Connections

Employment Checklist

Employment Checklist: First Cup

•  Know how your interests can help you learn about jobs.

•  Take part in job shadowing experiences. •  Talk to your family, friends, and people in the

community about employment opportunities. •  Investigate support services available

through vocational rehabilitation, public welfare, local transportation systems.

•  Practice job interviewing skills.

Employment Checklist: The Second Cup

•  Know what accommodations you need to work and be able to explain them to someone you trust, so you’re ready to talk to an employer.

•  Find out if your school or OVR counselor has employers that would help you practice interviews.

•  Practice interviews. •  Attend job fairs to find out about jobs. •  Use tools and resources on the

internet to learn about jobs, like what training is needed, salaries and whether the jobs are in your community.

•  Apply for jobs.

Employment Checklist: The Third Cup

•  Participate in a community-based work assessment and learn your strengths and weaknesses are, and the supports you need.

•  Ask your teacher if you can explore work through unpaid work experiences as part of your transition plan or an internship.

•  Be honest with yourself about what you’re good at.

•  Continue to build your portfolio

Employment Checklist: The Fourth Cup

Education

College and Accommodations

•  In high school you may have an IEP – colleges are different!

•  In order to get accommodations/supports in college you need to disclose aka share your disability

•  To disclose or not to disclose, that is the question!

From  High  School  to  College!  

 Talk  to  your  guidance  counselor  and/or  transiDon  coordinator  

 They  can  help  you  pick  classes,  work  on  applicaDons,  and  get  you  ready  to  apply  to  college  

Getting the Perfect Blend: Characteristics to Consider in Picking a Higher Education Program

Student/Professor Ratio

Location & Safety

Student Services

Academic Programs

Counseling Notoriety & Integrity

Scholarship

Academic Support / Tutoring

Disability Services

EducaDon  Skills  Checklist  

•  A_end  college  fairs.  •  Research  college  disability  services  Web  sites  or  call  the  office  to  learn  about  eligibility  for  services,  documentaDon  guidelines,  and  services  offered.    Also,  pay  parDcular  a_enDon  to  admissions  criteria,  admissions  deadlines,  financial  aid  informaDon,  scholarship  informaDon,  programs,  cost,  housing  and  food  services.  

EducaDon  Checklist:  The  Second  Cup  •  Contact  the  disability  services  office  for  a  meeDng.    Learn  more  about  the  accommodaDons  and  supports  that  are  offered  and  that  you  qualify  for  .      

•  Meet  with  a  representaDve  from  the  admissions  office  to  find  out  admissions  criteria.    What  will  be  needed  in  addiDon  to  filling  out  an  applicaDon?  

•  Be  aware  that  accommodaDons  and  supports  in  postsecondary  educaDon  may  be  different  than  they  are  in  high  school.    

EducaDon  Checklist:  The  Third  Cup  •  Research  college  web  sites.    Research  applicaDon  procedures,  and  entrance  requirements.  

•  IdenDfy  tests  required  for  admission  at  the  colleges  chosen:  (e.g.,  SAT  I,  ACT,  or  SAT  II  Subject  Tests).    

•  Register  and  take  the  SAT  and  the  ACT,  if  not  taken  in  the  tenth  grade.    Explore  possible  accommodaDons  for  the  test,  and  apply  for  them.      

•  Discuss  the  results  with  guidance  counselor  and  parents.  •  Contact  the  Office  for  VocaDonal  RehabilitaDon  (OVR)  for  informaDon  about  services  for  high  school  and  college  at  h_p://www.dli.state.pa.us.  

•  Complete  an  assisDve  technology  assessment  

Education Checklist: The Fourth Cup •  Obtain documentation of disability from

current assessments (within two years of graduation date) because colleges require assessments.

•  The summer prior to senior year, visit the disability office, learning centers, computer labs and assistive technology labs at postsecondary schools and colleges of interest.

•  Ask your teacher or OVR counselor is there are any pre-college experience programs that you could attend over the summer, or take a college course for the experience.

"Transition is the deliberate, coordinated provision of developmentally appropriate and culturally competent health assessments, counseling, and referrals to ensure successful transition to  The adult health care system  Work  Independence  Inclusion in community life MCHB: McPherson, Weissman, Strickland, van

Dyck, and Newacheck 2004.

Switching to the Adult Healthcare

Why is Transition Important?  You become responsible for decisions

related to your healthcare when you turn 18.

 You need to know as much as possible about your health and how to stay healthy to make informed decisions.

 Staying as healthy as possible will increase your chances of successful transition.

 Knowing about your healthcare needs and managing services will increase your independence.

 It will also help to build skills related to team work, which is important both in transition and in life.

"• Know name, birth date, address, telephone number,

• Can describe likes & dislikes

• Know height & weight

• Know when & how to ask for help

• Can describe needed accommodations

Accept Yourself: Who Am I? Self-awareness

Self

•  Brief health history

•  Disability

•  Allergies

•  Basic knowledge of diagnosis

•  Medications and dosage

•  Insurance information

Knowledge

Know Your Limits

Independent Living

Independent Living Skills Checklist •  Begin making connections to agencies that

could help you, like centers for independent living

•  Find out if you are eligible to get financial supports such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, and state waiver programs.

•  Eat healthy and exercise daily. •  Practice and learn independent living skills

such as budgeting, cooking, shopping, and housekeeping.

•  Start thinking about how you are going to pay for living on your own. If living on a fixed income, think about getting on a waiting list for low income housing.

Q & A

Questions