TRANSITION SERVICES THROUGH THE OHIO REHABILITATION SERVICES COMMISSION Mike Kinney Rehabilitation Program Specialist Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission

WHAT IS RSC? STATE AGENCY 3 SEPARATE ENTITIES (VR, BSVI, BDD) MAIN EMPHASIS-PROVIDING VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES SERVICES PROVIDED TO WHOM? ELIGIBILITY PROGRAM

TRANSITION SERVICES AT RSC COMPLIMENT THE SERVICES THE HIGH SCHOOL IS PROVIDING COORDINATED SET OF ACTIVITIES THAT LEADS TO THE STUDENT OBTAINING A JOB EXAMPLES OF SERVICES: COUNSELING, VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, VOC FOLLOW ALONG, SUMMER WORK PROGRAMS, JOB COACHING, JOB DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

REFERRING TRANSITION YOUTH TO RSC NO LATER THAN 2 YEARS BEFORE COMPLETION OF HIGH SCHOOL USUALLY AT AGE 16-NEW DIRECTION FOR AGENCY WHEN REFERRAL USUALLY BEGINS WHO INITIATES REFERRAL?

REFERRING TRANSITION YOUTH TO RSC (CONT) INFORMATION TO INCLUDE WITH REFERRAL A- COPY OF IEP B- 504 PLAN C-MEDICAL AND/OR PSYCHOLOGICAL DOCUMENTATION-MFE D-SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS E- SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE

CASE CLOSURE TRADITIONALLY CLOSED AFTER 90 DAYS OF INDEPENDENT EMPLOYMENT CASES USUALLY CLOSED AFTER STUDDENT GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL RE-APPLYING FOR SERVICES

RSA TRANSITION GRANT PROMOTING REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION RESULTS THROUGH STATE, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL COLLABORATION COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN RSC AND OHIO DEPT. OF EDUCATION “SYSTEMS CHANGE” PROJECT 5 YEAR PROJECT-4 TH YEAR STARTING OCTOBER 2010

GOALS OF GRANT IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN DIFFERENT TRANSITION SYSTEMS- AGENCIES AND EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL TRANSITION COUNCILS COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS-UTILIZATION OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES IMPROVED OUTCOMES ON INDICATORS 1,2, 13,14

WHAT WOULD SYSTEMS CHANGE LOOK LIKE? BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AGENCY PROCEDURES-BETTER REFERRALS MORE PARTICIPATION BY AGENCY STAFF IN IEP MEETINGS MORE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IEP GOALS- ALIGNMENT OF IEP WITH IPE RESOURCES FOR TRANSITION PROFESSIONALS MORE STUDENTS BEING “TRANSITION READY” BY JUNIOR-SENIOR YEAR ENGAGEMENT OF OTHER AGENCIES

AGENCY’S COLLEGE POLICIES FINANCIAL MEANS TEST-ALL CONSUMERS WANTING RSC FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH COLLEGE COMPLETE FAFSA RSC IS LAST PAYER FOR POSTSEC SERVICES LEAST COST OPTIONS ON WHERE CONSUMERS ATTEND TIME TO DEGREE REQUIREMENTS-18 MONTH RULE

CONTACT INFORMATION Mike Kinney Rehabilitation Program Specialist for Transition Services Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission