Transition Institute “Mentor Spotlight” Read bios on NCDB website: EnedinaDivya KevinAshley “Mentors strive to meet the needs of the many students who attend - serving on various panel discussions, providing assistance in the organization of activities throughout the weekend, and showing the world what it means to be a real hero. They share their successes and their struggles and teach the meaning of self-determination and self-advocacy; demonstrating the willingness to strive to access their dreams.” Transition Institute Links Linked to: Deaf-Blind Young Adults in Action: Participating in the Policy Process (June 21-27, 2009 Washington, D.C.) Mentors who attended meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office Mentors who attended World Federation For the Deaf-Blind: 9 th Helen Keller World Conference Southeast Region Transition Institutes Southeast Region Transition Institutes: Designed for deafblind students in their teens preparing to transition from high school to college or employment. Gives students the knowledge they need to know how to access their dreams for the future. Why an “Institute” for Transition Planning?  Identify & connect families & young adults  Create social networks among young people who are Deaf-Blind  Experience connections with local adult DB community - role models  Achieve IEP Transition Planning Quality Indicators (9.3) (9.3) The IEP reflects development of self-advocacy skills related to communication style and sensory needs in education, work, and social settings. (9.2) Student’s ability to engage in meaningful, enjoyable and productive self-directed leisure activities has been assessed. The IEP includes goals to improve the student’s ability to make choices and participate in activities during unstructured time as needed. DB Specific-Clear Info & Space Communication Modalities & Supports Diagram depicting typical learning vs. deafblind learning from Alsop, L., et. al. (2012) A Family’s Guide to Interveners for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss. Logan, UT: SKI-HI Institute. Southeast Collaboration Southeast Blog Southeast Teaming MOU Interdisciplinary Transition Task Force (ITTI) Educational Team Specific Distance TA including required webinars, activities, and agreement Collaborative across state lines Florida, Kansas, Maryland, New England Center (MA, CT, ME, NH), New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Mississippi Southeast Teaming Group Eleven state projects have agreed to work together to share resources, expertise, time and effort across some specific activities in order to strengthen the impact of each of their efforts. What states are participating? The Deaf-Blind Projects of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida-Virgin Islands, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. What are the activities? Checkout the plans for activities in the Southeast Teaming MOU document in the Group Materials. Transition Institute ToolKit: Enhancing Self Determination for Young Adults Who Are Deaf-Blind Components of the ToolKit A repository of information, tools and resources that serve as a model for hosting a workshop for deaf-blind teens ages and their families. Produced in July 2013 by NCDB, in collaboration with the Southeast Regional Transition Institute. Transition Institute ToolKit Table of Content IntroductionReferences & Meet the Team Why this model What’s in the ToolKit Quality Training Step-by-Step Guidance Section I Pre-Institute Planning Early Steps for Planning Gathering Partners Communicating Planning Venue Selection Pre-Institute Tools Section IICommunication Access Best Practices Modes of Communication Communication Styles Section IIIDeveloping Mentors Learning through Role Modeling Opportunities for Expanding Social Connections Developing Mentors Tools Section IVInstitute Content Our Program Philosophy- Self Determination Young Adult & Family Programming Purpose of the Transition Institute Institute Content Tools Section VPost-Institute Review & Follow-up Feedback is a Powerful Guide How do we Measure? Lessons Learned Post-Institute Review Tools National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) “Connections”  Initiative Groups  Transition “Groups are community workspaces where site members come together to share ideas and materials around a topic or practice. Group members can post to forums, share materials and use the wiki. Group activities and content are publicly viewable. Click on the group titles for specifics on group activities or joining the group.” What does the Transition Institute accomplish?  Provides opportunities:  Self-determination  Dreams & Goals  Leadership Skills  Self-advocacy Skills  Assists in building social networks  Identifies adults who are deaf-blind as role models  Increases family expectations  Develops a network of volunteers and interpreters Results of Transition Institutes, to date: 100 Students 10 mentors Mentors as Presenters Mentors integral in the planning process Students running their own IEP meetings Students advocating for needs and rights of persons who are DB Youth Voices Watch videos Watch videos of young adults talking about self-determination. This is Jeremy. He is in the student spotlight with a powerful presentation about courage, strength, and self-determination. View the sneak preview of Jeremy on "How to give a presentation". To see all of Jeremy's presentation login to this link: Southeast Region Transition Institute – 2012 Meet the participants, see videos, read blog posts from the event. Un-intended but Celebrated Results Model and tools applicable to any disability! Building leaders!! Transition Institute Ingredients Future PlanningRole Playing YouthPresentersQuality InterpretingTechnology Transition Institute Recipe for Success Mentors Plan & PresentFamily Focus Resource Sharing Deaf-Blind Role Models Table 2 Youth Strand Family Strand Speakers & Topics Facilitator Guides Communication access Interpreters and SSPs Forms and samples Applications Role Models and Mentors Video interview Action plans Evaluations Main Landing Page Pre – Institute Planning Workshop content Best Practices for Accessibility