1. TRANSITION SURVEY Three Year Summary (2004 – 2006) Presentation to: 3-5 Transition Task Force Jean Johnson, DrPH September 13, 2007

2. Sponsored by Autism Interagency Collaboration Work Group Early Intervention Section Interagency Transition Team (Hawai`i STEPS Project)

3. Purpose To identify strengths and barriers in the transition of all young children into the DOE special education programs from home and previous programs.

4. Methodology Survey form developed, refined Distributed with a cover letter to all DOE preschool programs to be sent to families of enrolled children Returned to CDS for analysis

5. Analysis Did your child receive early intervention services? yes/no Does you child have Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, or Asperger’s Syndrome? Yes/no

6. Response Rate IslandSentReturnedRate O`ahu  2004  2005  2006 69628729417711516325%40%55% Maui 20052005 200620063218121737%94% Kaua`i 20052005 200620066122833%67% Big Island 20052005 20062006233372630%79% State Total 2005 State Total 2006 34835713621439%60%

7. Summary Results: Received EI Services? IslandYesNoTotal O`ahu  2004  2005  2006 1146612265(36%)39(37%)42(26%)179105164 Maui 20052005 2006200612110(0%)6(35%)1217 Kaua`i 20052005 20062006270(0%)1(13%)28 Big Island 20052005 200620063203(50%)6(23%)626 State Total 2005 State Total 2006 83160 41 (33%) 55 (27%) 124214

8. Summary Results: Autism (Received EI) IslandYesNoTotal O`ahu  2004  2005  2006 1710198(32%)56(85%)1(5%)256620 Maui 20052005 20062006120(0%)0(0%)12 Kaua`i 20052005 20062006110(0%)1(50%)12 Big Island 20052005 20062006141(50%)0(0%)24 State Total 2005 State Total 2006 1326 57 (81%) 2 (7%) 7028

9. Transition Conference: State of Hawai`i IslandPopulation Yes No – Never offered No - Choice State Total 2005 EI Services 6479 Autism 1401 State Total 2006 EI Services 12972 Autism 2512

10. Visit Preschool Program: State of Hawai`i IslandPopulation Yes No – Never offered No - Choice State Total 2005 EI Services 50476 Autism 843 State Total 2006 EI Services 834015 Autism 2053

11. Received EI Services: Number of Positive and Negative Comments IslandNon-AutismAutism PositiveNegativePositiveNegative O`ahu  2003  2004  2005 403818613151434434 Maui 20042004 20052005126300010 Kaua`i 20042004 2005200531500110 Big Island 20042004 20052005112511120 State Total 2004 State Total 2005 6427 26 (29%) 16 (37%) 46 7 (64%) 4 (40%)

12. No EI Services: Number of Positive and Negative Comments IslandNon-AutismAutism PositiveNegativePositiveNegative O`ahu  2003  2004  2005 2521131104133443 Maui 20042004 2005200550001000 Kaua`i 20042004 2005200501100110 Big Island 20042004 2005200510000000 State Total 2004 State Total 2005 2614 4 (13%) 4 (22%) 44 5 (56%) 3 (43%)

13. Sample Positive Comments The staff at my son’s school was helpful and supportive. They made sure to include me and always asked if I had any questions (Big Island). They were very helpful. I was able to call the class teacher anytime to discuss my concerns. I really feel the communication between the teachers/speech therapy and me has been very good. I really like the teacher/student ratio. The only improvement I can see is the 60 day waiting period for services after transitioning (O`ahu). The only improvement I can see is the 60 day waiting period for services after transitioning (O`ahu). The staff at the DOE pre-k was really supportive. I could call the teacher any time of day or night if I had any questions or concerns (Kaua`i). Staff really helping—really great with understanding with my sons needs. Voiced any concerns they had. Also they had open arms, and hearts and ready to help. This is a great program and wish it continues to help other families dealing with similar situations. I commend all of them. (Maui).

14. Sample Positive Comments My son and I had a great experience making the transition (Big Island). I was very impressed with the level of devotion and commitment each person had. I felt very included and a large part of the whole team (O`ahu). The staff at the DOE pre-k was really supportive. I could call the teacher any time of day or night if I had any questions or concerns (Kaua`i). The staff at school was awesome. The IEP they made for Thomas was very good. I would have appreciated having a lay advocate on our side of the table at the meetings with DOE but it turns out it was not necessary. School is doing very well by Tommy (Maui).

15. Sample Negative Comments I have spoken many times on one very important issue: leaving the “warmth” of DOH/E.I. and entering the impersonal rushed DOE is very hard for many parents and caregivers. The need for parent advocates at IEP’s is great (Big Island). We’ve asked for a DOE evaluation to see if our son is in a correct placement, but we got turn down from school No DOE evaluation. At this point, we haven’t seen the principal neither even though we tried to ask (O`ahu). Principal needs to educate herself on what’s autism. ABA/Teacch programs. It was embarrassing when I asked her what it was and she couldn’t answer and said…it’s all new to her. Out Kaua`i autism research consultant surprised me when she was in the position and I knew more than she did (Kaua`i). when she was in the position and I knew more than she did (Kaua`i). The transition went very smoothly. Although, into the second year in DOE I’ve notices less and less support and less openness to suggestions from A.C. I feel that slowly by slowly my daughter will get lost in the DOE system and her needs not get adequately met ( Maui).

16. Recommendations Develop a Quality Assurance Plan Develop a Quality Assurance Plan Survey on a continuous basis at the same interval after transition Survey on a continuous basis at the same interval after transition Institutionalize a process for monitoring Institutionalize a process for monitoring

17. Charge to Task Force Conduct a needs assessment of families, focusing on their transition experiences.

18. Key Questions What do we want to learn from this survey? Who is the target? What period of time? (one year or two?) How do we want to conduct the survey? (mail, email, phone, in person) Do we want to sample or cover the entire population?