PA Transition Tidbits

Find transition lesson Starters and resources on the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) website.

You can find lessons and links to curricula on the following domains:

• academic skills
• community engagement skills
• employment skills
• family and agency involvement
• self-determination and self-advocacy
• social skills
• student support

The Invitation to Participate in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Meeting or Other Meeting is issued to invite the parents and the student, if the student turns 14 years old during the duration of this IEP, to a meeting to discuss special education programs and services. For students who are age 14 or older, the IEP team also must consider transition services and postsecondary goals.

As required by federal and state regulations, the LEA must invite the student to attend the IEP team meeting when transition services and postsecondary goals will be considered. Transition services and postsecondary goals may be considered at any age, but must be included in the first IEP to be in effect when your child reaches age 14

When a student turns 14 during the duration of an IEP, the IEP team will address transition planning and consider postsecondary goals based on transition assessments and transition services to promote the child’s movement from school to post school activities. On the Invitation to Participate in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Meeting, the box transition planning should be checked.

In addition, when a student turns 14 during the duration of an IEP, the IEP team must consider transition services. Staff from other public agencies that may be providing or paying for transition services will be invited to the IEP team meeting. The public agency or agencies will be listed on the Invitation and parents have the right to not give consent to the LEA to invite the agency representative to the IEP team meeting. On the Invitation to Participate in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Meeting, the box transition services should be checked. In addition, the agencies invited should be listed on the invitation in the section IEP Team Meeting – Invited IEP Team Members.

Things to consider:

• What agencies should the school district invite to an individual student’s IEP meeting?
• Have you communicated with the family and student regarding which agencies will be invited to the IEP meeting and what role they may play?
• Did you receive parental approval to invite agencies well before IEP meetings?
• How much time will another agency need to prepare for an IEP meeting?
• Have you scheduled meetings far enough in advance to allow partner agencies to attend?
• Should you invite more than one agency to an IEP meeting?
• Do you know where to find the names of people to contact in each agency?

Learn about the local agencies/partners that provide transition services after high school:

Education or Training

• Colleges/ Universities
• College-Disability Services
• Adult Education
• Short Term Certification
• Community Education
• Military
• Technical Training

Employment

• PA Office Vocational Rehabilitation Staff
• Job Corps
• Employers
• Career Technical Education Staff

Independent Living

• Supports Coordinators - Department of Human Services
• Centers for Independent Living

This 15-minute video from PASA Dynamic Learning Maps, High Expectations for Student Success, describes the connections between academic instruction and post-secondary success. Shows actual classroom instruction and includes interviews with teachers and state level leaders across 21 states. See why instruction matters!

Use this link to watch a recording of the discussion from January 19th, 2023 covering the topics of Employment. The gathering was hosted by Thomas Hassell and Mike Bomberger along with panelists Logan Walsh, Tracey Baxley, Kaitlin Salvati (OVR), and Liz Phillippy (The Vista School).

Are you looking to learn more information about transition?

The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) provides information, tools, and supports to assist multiple stakeholders to provide effective services and instruction for students and out-of-school youth with disabilities.

Check out their Training Resource Library.

If you're new to transition, be sure to check out Transition 101!

2023 PA Community of Practice Transition Conference
Our Voice, Our Plan, Our Future
August 9-10, 2023

Submission Deadline is February 27, 2023

Let’s use Our Voice to develop Our Plan to secure Our Future.

Thank you for your interest in presenting at the 2023 Community of Practice Transition Conference. This year's theme, Our Voice, Our Plan, Our Future, provides us the opportunity to come together as a community to discuss effective practices as we prepare our youth and those supporting them to be change agents for the future.

The conference committee is requesting proposals from interested persons who are able to connect their topic to one or more of the 9 Quality Indicators of Transition Discoveries. All presenters are expected to present in-person at the Penn Stater and offer sessions that will engage virtual and in-person audience members.

General Guidelines for Submission

- Proposals must be submitted via online application

- All proposals must support post-school outcomes and align with a conference strand.

- Submission Deadline – February 27, 2023

Required Information for Session Proposals
- Title of Presentation (100 characters or less)
- Narrative Description of Session (300-500 words)
- Session Abstract (50 words or less)
- Alignment with Conference Strand
- Name, Email, Employer, Title/Role of Presenters

Note: All required fields must be completed for proposals to be considered for presentation at the conference

Completed proposals must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Monday, February 27, 2023. For questions regarding the conference and/or proposal submission, please contact Kim Cole, kcole@pattan.net.

February 7

2 - 3 PM (Eastern)

This webinar will provide a synthesis of information gained from state personnel across Career Technical Education (CTE), Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), and Special Education (SpEd) interviewed regarding how their state developed collaborative processes across CTE, VR, and SpEd agencies/offices. Specific strategies were identified that enhanced the states’ interagency collaboration to strengthen transition programming to support students with disabilities participation in CTE and VR.

Use this link to register!

The National Center for Deaf Blindness understands the very unique needs of someone who is deaf-blind. Moving from school, where a microculture has been built around sensory needs, into a workplace takes focused planning, employer engagement, skills training, and education of coworkers. In this webinar recording, you will learn how to use low- and high-tech tools for self-advocacy, financial literacy, and an employer pitch that meets the bottom line.

Click here to access the recording.

PEAL is offering 21 and Able virtual sessions to help youth, parents, guardians and family members empower young adults with disabilities transition smoothly from the last day of high school to the first day of adult life by increasing education, employment, housing and independent living and other opportunities

PEAL Center’s 21 and Able Project, Powered by United Way helps young adults with disabilities transition smoothly from the last day of high school to the first day of adult life by increasing employment, housing opportunities and other support.

PEAL works with families:

1. Providing drop in sessions for support and information, training and individual support for transition.
2. Connecting families, especially for young adults with the most significant disabilities and complex needs to the community supports and services they need.

Use this link to register!

Join the PA Inclusion Collective and the PEAL Center’s 21 and Able Initiative for a 4-part series on how an inclusive education starting in the earliest grades prepares students with disabilities for transition to higher education and integrated employment as adults.

It’s never too early to be thinking about “transition” and adulthood. Starting from the earliest elementary grades, families and educators should be preparing all children for adult life in the community. This is especially true for our students and family members who have disabilities.

That’s why the PA Inclusion Collective has teamed up with the PEAL Center and the PEAL Center's 21 and Able Initiative to provide families and educators in Pennsylvania a 4-part series this February titled “Starting with the End in Mind” to learn how an inclusive education and social life starting at the earliest grades prepares students with disabilities for transition to higher education and employment in adulthood. Featuring award-winning documentary filmmaker, Dan Habib, Samuel Habib & Special Guests.

Session Titles/Dates/Times:
February 1, 2023: Including Samuel Virtual film screening and self-advocate panel discussion
February 8, 2023: Disabling Segregation and My Disability Roadmap for An Inclusive Life
February 15, 2023: Starting Early: Creating a Roadmap for Inclusive IEPs and Transition Plans
February 22, 2023: Action! Effective Practices in Transition to Adulthood

All sessions will be held virtually from 6-8 p.m. EST. Can’t make it live? No worries. Sessions will be recorded and available to registrants following the live presentation. BUT you have to register to get this access. So REGISTER RIGHT NOW!

“Nobody tells you how to be an adult, let alone an adult with a disability.”
– Samuel Habib

Use this link to register!

Are you looking for transition events across PA?

Don't forget to check the events calendar to stay up to date on all of the great events happening in PA and nationally related to secondary transition!

The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a group of various stakeholders from across Pennsylvania who work collaboratively to ensure appropriate transition outcomes for Pennsylvania youth and young adults.

The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a state leadership team consisting of representative from: the State Departments of Education, Health, Labor and Industry, and Human Services; Various Serving Agencies, Young Adults, Parent Organizations, Advocates, Higher Education, and Employers.

The shared vision and common goals of the Pennsylvania Community on Transition is achieved when all PA youth and young adults with disabilities:

• Successfully transition to the role of productive and participating adult citizens
• Are empowered to recognize their talents, strengths, and voice
• Have equal access to resources that will promote their full participation in the communities of their choice.

Email: pasecondarytransition@gmail.com
Website: https://www.pasecondarytransition.com/
Phone: 4128266878
Twitter: @hmangiskuntz