California Health Incentives Improvement Project Resources for Youth Transitioning to Employment and Independent Living Presenters: John Kerr and Rachel Stewart People First 2010

You Can Work! Are you having a hard time surviving on just your monthly benefit income? You can go to work and earn more money! There are many resources available to help you out

Advocate for Yourself The first step to employment is understanding how to go after what you want The first step to employment is understanding how to go after what you want –Work with your support team to help figure out what kind of work you would like to do –Take advantage of resources and services that are in place to assist you

Finding a Job Regional Centers Regional Centers –Assistance in finding and using community and other resources –Job coaching assistance –Support services to go to work (transportation etc.) –Talk to your case worker about your interest in going to work and earning money Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) –Provides services and advocacy in employment –They also assist with training, education, transportation and assistive technology 

Finding a Job Talent Knows No Limits Talent Knows No Limits –Provides resources on career planning, job training, job hunting and workplace support for younger job seekers –Highlights success stories of people with disabilities who are working – Independent Living Centers Independent Living Centers –Advocacy training, benefits planning and information to help you live independently –Go to to find an independent living center near you One-Stop Career Centers One-Stop Career Centers –Assess your skills to help you decide on the best career –Help you search for a job –Offer you education and training –

Working & Your Benefits Understanding how going to work may affect your Social Security and Medi-Cal benefits is an important first step Disability Benefits 101: Disability Benefits 101: –Brings together all the rules for health coverage, benefits and employment programs –Benefits planners are available to help you plan how your benefits might change when you start working

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Things are About to Change: A guide for young people with disabilities transitioning to adulthood Goal: To provide resources and information which can help with transition Goal: To provide resources and information which can help with transition Topics covered: Education, Employment, Healthcare, Independent Living, Financial, Social/Recreation Topics covered: Education, Employment, Healthcare, Independent Living, Financial, Social/Recreation

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Education Chapter Transition planning, including Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) and Summary of Performance Transition planning, including Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) and Summary of Performance Agencies which can assist in the transition process Agencies which can assist in the transition process Difference between a certificate of completion and a diploma Difference between a certificate of completion and a diploma Understanding the differences between high school and college Understanding the differences between high school and college

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Education Chapter cont. Alternatives to college, including vocational training and regional occupation programs Alternatives to college, including vocational training and regional occupation programs Worksheets to assist in the Person- Centered Planning and IEP process Worksheets to assist in the Person- Centered Planning and IEP process Tips for parents on how to prepare youth for education after high school Tips for parents on how to prepare youth for education after high school

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Independent Living Chapter Background on disability history, including information on Ed Roberts Background on disability history, including information on Ed Roberts Worksheet on disability self-awareness and setting goals for the future Worksheet on disability self-awareness and setting goals for the future Finding accessible housing, buying a home, finding roommates and housing rights Finding accessible housing, buying a home, finding roommates and housing rights Checklists to ensure preparation for independence Checklists to ensure preparation for independence Finding and paying for a personal assistant, best methods of transportation and finding a mentor Finding and paying for a personal assistant, best methods of transportation and finding a mentor

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Employment Chapter Choosing a career that fits with their interests and abilities Choosing a career that fits with their interests and abilities Resume writing and successful interviewing techniques and preparation Resume writing and successful interviewing techniques and preparation Building work experience, including volunteerism and internship programs Building work experience, including volunteerism and internship programs Job searching Job searching

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Employment Chapter cont. The impact of employment on benefits The impact of employment on benefits Their rights related to job accommodations Their rights related to job accommodations Disability disclosure, and how to decide when (and whether) to disclose their disability Disability disclosure, and how to decide when (and whether) to disclose their disability Personal assistant services at work Personal assistant services at work Finding transportation to and from work Finding transportation to and from work

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Financial Chapter Basic budgeting: how to balance a checkbook, pay bills, etc. Basic budgeting: how to balance a checkbook, pay bills, etc. Credit cards and how to avoid getting into debt Credit cards and how to avoid getting into debt Employee benefits and tax withholdings Employee benefits and tax withholdings Investments, such as mutual funds, stocks, bonds and retirement accounts Investments, such as mutual funds, stocks, bonds and retirement accounts

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Financial Chapter cont. Worksheets on financial planning and budgeting Worksheets on financial planning and budgeting Real-life stories about credit cards and car loans Real-life stories about credit cards and car loans Tips for parents on teaching their child to start managing their own finances Tips for parents on teaching their child to start managing their own finances

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Healthcare Chapter Worksheets on handling their own healthcare needs Worksheets on handling their own healthcare needs Keeping track of medications, making doctors appointments and communicating with their doctor Keeping track of medications, making doctors appointments and communicating with their doctor Best ways to keep track of vital healthcare information Best ways to keep track of vital healthcare information

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Healthcare Chapter cont. Insurance information, including Medi-Cal, healthcare through employment and continuance of coverage under the family’s plan Insurance information, including Medi-Cal, healthcare through employment and continuance of coverage under the family’s plan Tips for parents on helping their child transition into independently handling their own healthcare needs Tips for parents on helping their child transition into independently handling their own healthcare needs

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change Social Recreation Chapter Clubs which are designed specifically for youth with disabilities Clubs which are designed specifically for youth with disabilities Available adaptive sports programs Available adaptive sports programs Ways to become involved in the disability community Ways to become involved in the disability community How to become a disability activist How to become a disability activist Best ways to travel with a disability Best ways to travel with a disability Parent section prods parents to encourage their child to become more involved in their community Parent section prods parents to encourage their child to become more involved in their community

Transition Toolkit: Things are About to Change The transition toolkit will be completed very soon. It will be primarily available online The transition toolkit will be completed very soon. It will be primarily available online Please sign up on our contact list to be notified of when the transition toolkit is available and so you can keep up with some of our other upcoming events Please sign up on our contact list to be notified of when the transition toolkit is available and so you can keep up with some of our other upcoming events

Get Connected YO! Youth Organizing Disabled & Proud YO! Youth Organizing Disabled & Proud –Provides information, resources and opportunities for YOUTH with DISABILITES  IHSS  Education (Pre-K to Post Secondary)  Self Esteem  Jobs  Disability History  Disability Rights  Leadership Opportunities throughout the State – – (voice) (TTD)

Getting to Work Paratransit Paratransit –Door to door service –Mobility training – –To apply, call: Public transportation (buses & rail systems) Public transportation (buses & rail systems) –

Getting the Assistance You Need at Work In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) –Provides personal assistance services  At home  And at work – or

Follow Your Dreams Follow Your Dreams Self advocacy is the key Self advocacy is the key Know what you want and go after it Know what you want and go after it Make use of the resources available to you Make use of the resources available to you Do not let anything hold you back from doing what you want to do Do not let anything hold you back from doing what you want to do

Contact Information John Kerr Rachel Stewart