YES WE CAN – Partnering with Parents in the Transition Process Community of Practice DE Transition Conference April 29, 2009

Agenda I. Introduction II. The Personality Test – Diversity III. Parent Panel IV. Snowball Activity – What is helpful? V. Group Discussion VI. Conclusion Community of Practice DE Transition Conference April 29, 2009

THE CANDY BAR PERSONALITY TEST Your favorite candy bar can reveal secrets about your inner personality. Which candy bar is your favorite? Community of Practice DE Transition Conference April 29, 2009

FLIRTATIOUS and ENERGETIC You are always ready to give and take in love. You are fun-loving and really like to get into life. ADVENTUROUS and BRAVE You love new ideas and you often come up with them. You stick up for people who can’t stick up for themselves. You have the personality to succeed in challenging endeavors! WARM and ROMANTIC You have a loving personality by nature. You care about other people and can be counted on in a crisis. You probably cry at sad movies. SASSY and FUN-LOVING You have a great sense of humor. Everyone enjoys being around you. You enjoy funny movies and know how to make someone laugh when they’re down. SMOOTH and ARTICULATE You express yourself well and you would make a terrific actor/actress or public speaker. You are also a natural teacher. Community of Practice DE Transition Conference April 29, 2009

Snowball Activity DO NOT PUT NAMES ON PAPERS!!!! Please put category on paper and answer the following questions: Teachers Direct Service Providers: What can parents do that is most helpful? What do parents do that is not helpful? Parents: What have you heard from a professional that is most upsetting? Community of Practice DE Transition Conference April 29, 2009

Resources National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center A non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving educational and employment outcomes for people with disabilities See what’s happening in DE and other states regarding transition Virginia’s Department of Education’s Self-Determined Project National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities A roadmap from school to the future Parent Information Center of DE Community of Practice DE Transition Conference April 29, 2009

Books Ordinary Families, Special Children: A Systems Approach to Childhood Disability, by Milton Seligman and Rosalyn Benjamin Darling Chronic Sorrow: A Living Loss, by Susan Roos, PhD, LMSW/ACP, BCD Guidebook on Helping Persons with Mental Retardation Mourn, by Jeffrey Kauffman Voices from the Spectrum: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, People with Autism, and Professionals Share their Wisdom, edited by Cindy N. Ariel and Robert A. Naseef Community of Practice DE Transition Conference April 29, 2009

Snowball Activity Comments Teachers/Direct Service Providers/Professionals:  What can parents do that is most helpful?  Tell the IEP team/teachers/administrators/school board what your child needs and can do.  Be an active member of the educational team. Give input. Parents know their child the best.  Educate themselves about their child’s disability. Show up for IEP meetings, be patient but persistent.  Discuss strengths their child has that teachers may not “see”. Follow up after meetings and remind nicely what teachers/agencies had promised. Share concerns before meeting so staff can be prepared to address them. Parents need to take a more active role in their child’s IEP. Be respectful. Follow through with what they say.

Snowball Activity Comments con’t Teachers/Direct Service Providers/Professionals: What do parents do that is not helpful? Being angry and hostile. Not showing up for meetings or participating. Not responding to calls and notes. Blame teachers or the system. Not communicating with teachers. Bringing up past mistakes from other schools/states to the table. (focus on issues at hand). Not staying informed of when report cards come home. Yelling at their child during the meeting. Talk for the student instead of letting child talk for himself. Not following through with required documentation. Not listening. Put child down and point out negatives. Not be able to express anger and stay in the room.

Snowball Activity Comments con’t Snowball Activity Comments con’t Parents: What have you heard from a professional that is most upsetting? They told me she was misdiagnosed. My daughter was stupid and is not able to learn There is nothing wrong with her. She doesn’t need testing. She isn’t capable of this. Your child is lazy. Your child doesn’t pay attention. My child won’t be successful. We can no longer service your child. We have no more available courses for your child. Relying on numbers rather than the child. He doesn’t belong here and I can’t teach him. Not helping my child find work. Your child will not learn at the same level as your older children. No upsetting professional comments.