Transition Services Exploration + Experience = Employment! Erin Seeley, Community Employment Coordinator Jennifer Kane, Transition Specialist

4/20/152 Transition Services -Employment oriented services that provide real work experience. -Designed to guide and support students as they begin the journey from school to employment and independence. -Are individualized to each students interests and needs. -Follow students throughout their high school career, exploring options and gaining experience each step of the way. What are Transition Services?

4/20/153 Transition Services -Schools in our area continued to see budget cuts which resulted in non-essential programs being cut. This included career oriented programs. -There was a push from the state for schools to offer Transition Services. -Several schools reached out to us looking for help with meeting new state requirements. Why did we start providing Transition Services?

4/20/154 1.Enhance Self-Awareness/Self Advocacy 2.Explore Options 2.Gain Experience 4.Overcome Barriers to Employment Our Program Objectives Transition Services

4/20/155 – Identify strengths and areas to work on –Identify interests, preferences and skills –Understand what kinds of support one might need and who could provide that support – Learn to make informed choices and decisions – Understand one’s rights and responsibilities Enhance Self-Awareness Transition Services

4/20/156 –Skills & Interest Assessments –Career Exploration –Job Shadowing Explore Options Transition Services Explore

4/20/157 –Several different assessment instruments –Assess job preferences, employability skills, student interests and how they connect to job skills –Administered by trained Transition Specialists on a 1:1 basis Skill and Interest Assessments Transition Services Explore

4/20/158 –Identify available jobs types in the community –Identify skills needed for different job types –Learn how to match preferences, skills and abilities to available community jobs –Choose preferred job sites for Job Shadows –Develop questions to ask employers while on a Job Shadow Career Exploration Transition Services Explore

4/20/159 –Visit preferred job sites –Learn about the job –Meet employees and ask questions –Evaluate how closely the job matches personal preferences Job Shadowing Transition Services Explore

4/20/1510 –Develop a resume –Complete a job application –Practice interviewing –Learn how to search for a job Gain Experience Transition Services Experience

4/20/1511 –Identify strategies to overcome barriers to employment –Learn soft skills needed to retain a job –Participate in assessments at actual job sites Overcome Barriers to Employment Transition Services Experience

4/20/1512 –Student chooses preferred job site –Performs job tasks that actual employees would do –Interacts with coworkers & customers –Practices workplace behaviors needed for success on the job –Student receives a detailed performance evaluation from the Employment Specialist Site Assessments Transition Services Experience

4/20/1513 –Services begin as early as age 15 –Assistance with ACCES-VR referrals –Partnership with OPWDD ETP Traineeship –Links to other eligible services –Well-trained and experienced staff with extensive community employment connections –Customized, person-centered service packages –Uninterrupted flow of services –Helps schools meet new CDOS Requirements Benefits of Transition Services Transition Services Employment

4/20/1514 –Student works with a Transition Specialist from the beginning of services until graduation and will receive 1:1 support through the entire journey. –Students have more options. We develop assessment sites based on student interest. –Students leave with a personalized employment portfolio that will serve as a useful tool for years to come after graduation. What is Unique About Our Transition Services? Transition Services Employment

4/20/1515 –There is greater opportunity for students to find employment in their local community. –Students gain experience working with a Employment Specialist prior to accessing Supported Employment Services. What is Unique About Transition Services? Transition Services Employment

4/20/1516 –Meets state guidelines and best practices and helps schools meet new CDOS Requirements –Provides agency participation in CSE meetings and IEP development –Provides individual attention – which can be costly and time consuming for school staff to provide –Maintains uninterrupted flow of services How Transition Services Can Meet Student and School Needs Transition Services Employment

4/20/1517 –College –Working independently without the assistance of SEMP –Working with the assistance of SEMP through ACCES-VR or OPWDD including the ETP Internship –In Job Development or Discovery –In Pathway to Employment Success Stories: Where are some of our students now? Transition Services

4/20/1518 –Schools can access grant money to purchase Transition Services. –Number of service hours varies depending on the need(s) of the student/school. –Individual Rates: Cost per hour = $45. –Group Rates: Cost per lesson = $180. Funding for Transition Services Transition Services

4/20/1519 –Presentations at school districts –Send out mailings to local school districts –Word of mouth One school talking to another MSC’s mentioning the program to schools and parents Parents talking to parents Marketing for Transition Services Transition Services

4/20/1520 –Started in 2008 with 1 school and 3 students. 1 part time staff member. –Currently we work with 7 school districts, 32 students and 3 group classes. We now have 2 full time staff members. –Otsego County has 12 school districts, we have worked with 9 of the 12 through Transition Services over the 7 years the program has been in operation. –We have trained other local counties to provide similar services to schools in their area. History and Growth of Transition Services

4/20/1521 Erin Seeley- The Arc Otsego Community Employment Coordinator x Jennifer Kane- The Arc Otsego Transition Specialist Any ?? Transition Services