1. Strategies for Better Serving Youth with Complex Disabilities: Interagency Collaboration and Customized Employment January 13 th, 2009 3 – 4 PM (Eastern Time) David Test, NSTTAC Steve Gilles, Michael Lynak, Cynthia Cain/ Wisconsin DPI, WI DHS, WI VR Nellie Aspel, Cleveland County Public Schools Molly Sullivan, START-UP USA

2. Transition Model of Interagency Collaboration DPI, DVR, DHS Coordinating transition services with & for students with disabilities

3. Wisconsin Interagency Agreement http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dvr/pdf_files/dpi_ interagency_agreement.pdf http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dvr/pdf_files/dpi_ interagency_agreement.pdf Transition Action Guide http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dvr/pdf_files/tag. pdf http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dvr/pdf_files/tag. pdf

4. 4 Our New Chapter Transition services IPE Individualized Plan for Employment POST-SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT GOALS IEP Individualized Education Plan ISP Individualized Services Plan

5. 5 Wisconsin Exit Status for Students with Disabilities Year Total Exiters Regular DiplomaHSEDCertificateMax Age Dropped Out 2006-077,9726,23312455821,478 2005-067,8576,38011599761,187 2004-057,0445,69210568671,112 Students with Disabilities, Grades 9-12 Data Source: ISES

6. Examples of How Transition Services Have Improved? State Regional Local school district Local adult services Partners

7. Resources & Contact Info  Cindy L. Cain, WDA director & statewide transition coordinator 262-548-5880, cnythia.cain@dwd.state.wi.uscnythia.cain@dwd.state.wi.us  Steve Gilles, state education consultant-transition 608-266-1146, steve.gilles@dpi.wi.govsteve.gilles@dpi.wi.gov  Mike Linak, DHS transition coordinator 608-266-1140, michael.linak@wisconsin.govmichael.linak@wisconsin.gov

8. Interagency Collaboration: Community and School Level Transition Teams in Action Cleveland County Schools Dr. Nellie P. Aspel NSTTAC Teleconference January 13, 2009 TASSEL

9. Getting Started Maintain a high level of optimism Develop a proposal and present it to key people. Get administrative support Select appropriate agencies/individuals for the team. Arrange meeting times for “establishing need/vision” and “getting to know each other” Ensure strong leadership and commitment Establish basic procedures for communication, information sharing, meetings, etc. Go for it!!! Expect disappointments but take time to celebrate successes. (Aspel)

10. Community Level Team A group of administrative level professionals from the school system and adult service provider agencies that meet on a regular basis to oversee the quality of transition services. This team does not address individual student needs. (Aspel)

11. Potential Members of a Community Level Transition Team Transition Coordinator CTE Director EC Director DSS: Adult Services Division Director Mental Health: DD Division Director VR Unit Manager Recreation Representatives Residential Providers Employment Security Commission Director WIA Director Special Transportation Director Post-Secondary Education Representatives Advocacy Groups Business Leaders SSA Administrator Parent/ Student Rep. (Aspel)

12. Responsibilities of the Community Level Transition Team Conduct community needs assessments Develop interagency agreements and a network among service providers Clarify roles of service providers Provide information about agency services Develop strategies for overcoming barriers to transition and solving problems Coordinate staff development, job development, job placements, and community awareness Seek new funding (Aspel)

13. Operational TASSEL Framework – Key Points One school level team can serve several schools with different “levels of membership.” Students being presented to the teams should be primarily those that will require additional support after graduation. Students should be presented formally to the team no later than the first semester of the junior year. Some type of introductory activity should be planned for sophomores.

14. School Level Transition Team A group of front-line professionals from the school system and adult service agencies who provide transition-related services. This team meets on a regular basis for the purpose of assisting individual students with their transition needs. Aspel

15. Potential Members of a School Level Transition Team – Core Team VR Counselor Mental Health DD Representative Post-Secondary Education Social Services Representative Social Security Representative Community Rehabilitation Agency Residential Providers Recreation Representatives (Aspel)

16. Potential Members of a School Level Transition Team – School-Specific Special Populations Coordinator CTE Teacher(s) Career Counselor Business Industry Coordinator Regular and Special Education Teachers School Administrator (Aspel)

17. Potential Members of a School Level Transition Team – Student Specific Student and family members Job Coach Case Manager One-on-One worker Employer Therapists Natural Supports Teachers Counselor (Aspel)

18. Responsibilities of a School Level Transition Team Conduct transition pre-planning and exit meetings Assist students/parents in developing post-school goals and determining appropriate transition activities Collect and disseminate information on students Identify team member and agency responsibilities and establish timelines Solve problems in the delivery of services Provide team members with information about agency services Evaluate the effectiveness of the program (Aspel)

19. Basic Standard Operating Procedures Frequency, time, and length of meetings Environmental arrangements Breaks and refreshments Meeting reminders Evaluation Agenda Development* Team Member Roles and Behavior* Recordkeeping* (Aspel)

20. Agenda Introduction of Team Members Purpose of Meeting Student Achievements Discussion of Possible Post-School Goals Discussion of Possible Strategies/Ideas for Accomplishing Post-School Goals Discussion of Possible Team Assignments Summary/Review Plans for IEP Meeting (Aspel)

21. Team Member Roles and Behavior  Team Member Roles 1.Chairperson 2.Secretary 3. Greeter  Team Member Behavior 1.Listening Skills 2.Information Sharing 3.Student-focused 4.Accountability (Aspel)

22. Record keeping Transition Surveys (Parent and Student) Releases of Information Student Information Form Signature Sheet Meeting Minutes (Aspel)

23. Keep it Going! Ensure good orientation for new members Annually review mission, goals, and values Celebrate successes and review disappointments (ongoing evaluation) Review needs assessment data. Review membership and team roles. Review system changes that have occurred and their impact on the team’s success. (Aspel)

24. Customized Wage & Self Employment Molly Sullivan, Associate Griffin-Hammis Associates START-UP USA msullivan@griffinhammis.com 503-703-3650

25. Customized Wage & Self Employment Molly Sullivan, Associate Griffin-Hammis Associates START-UP USA msullivan@griffinhammis.com 503-703-3650

26. Customized Employment What is customized employment What are the steps of customized employment

27. What the Numbers tell us about Employment

28. Evolution of Employment Services Old way of thinking: – People with disabilities can’t work, don’t have viable skills to contribute in a job Sheltered Workshops/Day Activity Centers New way of thinking: – People with disabilities have skills and abilities to contribute in a job that is beneficial to the employer Supported Employment Customized Employment

29. What is Customized Employment? Basic Concept: Individualizing employment relationship Individualized determination of interests, strengths & needs of the person Individualized determination of employer’s needs Matching the two to create a mutually beneficial relationship

30. What is Customized Employment? ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Starts with information about job seekers Methods may include; job carving, entrepreneurship, other job development techniques Negotiations with employer

31. What is Customized Employment? ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Occurs in integrated environments Results in pay at least prevailing wage (no subminimum wage) Utilizing multiple funding sources to provide supports

32. What are the steps of Customized Employment? 1.Create a blueprint for employment – Assistance, not assessment – Discover interests, strengths & conditions for employment – Summarize findings and identify task list and environment, wage or self-employment

33. What are the steps of Customized Employment? 2.Job/Business development – Network—(wage employment) get to know business community to identify possibilities, (self- employment) get to know market, customers and competition to develop business plan – Negotiate—(wage employment) once a potential match is identified, negotiate with employer to determine if, (self employment) for business plan development negotiate location, suppliers, contracts, etc

34. What are the steps of Customized Employment 3.Job Training Plan and Resource Plan Identify training supports, tools/equipment/start-up expenses, other supports person will need and costs associated Identify funding possibilities and who to seek help for what with

35. What are the steps of Customized Employment 4.Secure funding and Implement Submit requests for funding Receive funding Implement

36. Resources on Customized Employment Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy – www.dol.gov/odep www.dol.gov/odep Self-Employment Technical Assistance, Resource and Training (START-UP USA) – www.start-up-usa.biz www.start-up-usa.biz National Center on Workforce and Disability – www.onestops.info www.onestops.info

37. Resources on Customized Employment University of Montana, Rural Institute Transition Projects – http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/transition/ http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/transition/ Griffin-Hammis Associates – www.griffinhammis.com/customized_employ.asp# www.griffinhammis.com/customized_employ.asp# Training and Technical Assistance for Provider – www.t-tap.org/strategies/factsheet/ceqa.html www.t-tap.org/strategies/factsheet/ceqa.html

38. Contact Us David Test or Catherine Fowler, NSTTAC; chfowler@uncc.edu, www.nsttac.org chfowler@uncc.eduwww.nsttac.org Steve Gilles, Steve.Gilles@dpi.wi.govSteve.Gilles@dpi.wi.gov Nellie Aspel, naspel@clevelandcountyschools.orgnaspel@clevelandcountyschools.org Molly Sullivan, msullivan@griffinhammis.commsullivan@griffinhammis.com Thank you for participating!