Hello all, I hope that the beginning of the school year for you and your students is off to an amazing start. I had planned to share another subject matter for today’s Transition Tip however I was reminded that today is National Voter Registration Day. Although a Transition Tip was shared in March of the last school semester regarding voting, it is worth discussing again due to the importance of today and our upcoming election in November. Disability Rights Michigan states, “historically people with disabilities have voted at a much lower rate than the general population.” To many of us this is not surprising. Voting gives one a voice in the democratic process. It gives adults the opportunity to vote on issues that affect them.

Most of us know that you cannot show up at any election poll of one’s choice expecting to cast one’s vote because there is a process. Believe it or not, some of our students may not be aware of the process to become a registered voter. Many do not know that they must register and then they are sent a card/information in the mail directing them where to cast their vote. Some may not know that they can request an absentee election ballot and how to go about turning it in. We cannot assume that all students have been informed of this process and how to go about it. This is a good lesson/discussion/transition activity to work on. Last year when I shared the transition tip on voting one of our colleagues, Sara Acton shared a PowerPoint about voting that she uses with students that we adapted.

Here are some additional resources:

https://vision.icivics.org/

Khan Academy Foundations of Democracy

Voting Rights and Supports for People with Disabilities 2024

https://www.aapd.com/about-rev-up/

Michigan registration/voting instructions

Accessible voting in Michigan

Hearing impaired residents should contact the Department of State’s Bureau of elections by email at:elections@michigan.gov

• https://wisd.zoom.us/j/99008912734?pwd=9GGUDbr0jOWNkX4SRVu5n0uKsVXaLk.1
• Meeting ID: 990 0891 2734
• Passcode: 669019

This Tuesday’s Transition Tip is a review to some and introduction to others. It is important as special education providers/case managers that we create structured and detailed postsecondary transition plans for our students. The Washtenaw County Post-Secondary Transition Manual is a guide to assist special education staff with creating complaint post-secondary transition plans. This guide contains a table of contents to help locate information quickly. The manual also gives insight on how not only to build a complaint transition plan but a quality transition plan. It includes links, videos, and an appendix to assist. Please take the time to read and review the Washtenaw County Post-Secondary Transition Manual.

Washtenaw County Post-Secondary Transition Manual

The WISD Transition Services website has an assessment library with FREE electronic forms/materials. Check it out!

Also the WISD has a lending library of assessment and curricula resources using the WISD Destiny Library.

Job Fair on September 25, 2024 from 1-4pm at Washtenaw Community College at the:

Morris Lawrence Building

4800 E. Huron River Dr.

Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Don't forget our monthly WISD Transition Agency Meeting for Washtenaw County Transition District Designees, WISD teachers, consultants, and service providers is held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 9am-11am at the Teaching and Learning Center.

March 13, 2025 6pm-7:30pm

Hosted by:

Washtenaw Intermediate School District

1819 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor - Vogels B & C

Join us for discussion of the following topics:

• A Household of One
• Assisted Decision Making
• Securing Government Benefits
• Supplementing Government Benefits
• Community & Government Agency Supports & More!

Dates:

• October 8. 2024 9am-11am (at 1819 S. Wagner Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 in Seminar 1)
• January 15, 2024 11am-1pm (virtually)
• March 18, 2024 1pm-3pm (at 1819 S. Wagner Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 in Seminar 1)

Register via the WISD Workshop Link on the WISD website under staff

Need some assistance writing compliant IEP and appropriate PLAAFP statements and goals? Here is a great opportunity for you to receive training on these topics.

Professional Development you can attend:

· Interactive IEP Training: How to write a compliant IEP

· Creating PLAAFPs and Measurable Goals/Objectives

Collaborative Agency Highlights

Submit your student/staff/program/district Transition Triumphs to Joy Taylor or Kelly Higgins for possible inclusion in future Newsletters.

*When using student photos be sure to included photo release permissions.