PA Transition Tidbits

Navigating the world of work as an individual with a disability can be overwhelming, particularly if you are receiving benefits. This resource aims to help youth and families and their teams better understand different types of benefits available and where to get support!

The toolkit helps users explore different types of available benefits, what is benefits counseling, steps to take to get benefits counseling, important information to know about benefits counseling, information about retaining benefits while working and links to resources to further explore benefits counseling,

Click here to access the toolkit!

The Arc’s Center for Future Planning has developed a series of new videos on the following topics:

• An Overview of ABLE Accounts
• An Overview of Special Needs Trusts
• Special Needs Trusts and ABLE Accounts: How Are They Different?
• Pooled Special Needs Trusts
• How Death Affects the Money Left in ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts

The Arc recently shared a new Virtual Program Library, a free hub full of on-demand activities that can be done from home by people with disabilities, their families, and service providers.

Topics include arts, community and life skills, health and wellness, virtual clubs, and more. Visit the hub to check out the resources added so far and share it with your networks so it can continue to grow into a robust resource for people with disabilities and their supporters!

If you have a resource you would like to share, please contact The Arc!

Mental health problems affect approximately one in four people. This time of year may include additional stressors for some individuals. The Federation for Children with Special Needs has released this fact sheet to support creating a culture of wellness and avoiding common pitfalls.

The Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ACR) created this tip sheet to support young adults with serious mental health conditions as they consider college opportunities.

The goals of Transitions ACR include:

• Improve outcomes by effectively disseminating knowledge to key stakeholders. Many of our tip sheets were developed & reviewed with input from young adults with serious mental health conditions.
• Support youth & young adults as students, learners, and workers. Youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions face obstacles in learning & working.
  

Additional resources can be accessed on the Transitions ACR webpage.

Help the Pennsylvania Community on Transition learn more about how youth set goals and plan for their future. Please share this flyer with youth you know!

PEAL's 21 and Able project, powered by United Way, is gathering information from families about their teenagers/young adults and what they'd like to learn about secondary transition and how PEAL can support them!

Parents and caregivers have a lot of questions about secondary transition. The survey link posted below aims to understand what PEAL’s 21 and Able Project can do to support families and caregivers in the secondary transition process. Complete the survey here!

Please contact Lucille Piggot-Prawl with questions: lprawl@pealcenter.org

The PEAL Center is a statewide organization that serves children and young adults with disabilities and their families. This two page guide provides lots of information about the PEAL Center and their services. You can also find out more on the PEAL Website.

Congratulations to the following LEAs who were announced as recipients of stipend funding to implement Transition Discoveries in Cohort 2:

Western Region:

Bethel Park School District

South Park School District

West Jefferson Hills SD

Central Region:

Commonwealth Charter Academy

Curwensville Area School District

Dover Area School District

Troy Area SD

Moshannon Valley School District

Reach Cyber Charter School

Eastern Region:

Abington School District

Agora Cyber Charter School

Hill-Freedman World Academy

Insight PA Charter School

Maritime Academy Charter School

Pleasant Valley School District

To learn more about the Transition Discoveries framework visit the website!

To learn more about implementation of Transition Discoveries in Pennsylvania, visit the PaTTAN Secondary Transition website!

Part 2 of a 3-part series

January 25, 2022 2:00-3:00 p.m.

How can families be active members during the IEP meeting? It takes some preparation, but all families, along with their students, should be ready to share their future goals and offer plans for accomplishing these goals. Together, the IEP team can develop IEPs that address the students’ postsecondary goals. During this session, the presenter will provide an overview of how families can engage during the IEP meeting to create meaningful plans for students.

Register on the PaTTAN site.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), is offering a webinar on the topic of the PA Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Savings Program. A PA ABLE account gives individuals with qualifying disabilities (eligible individuals) and their families and friends, a tax-free way to save for disability-related expenses while maintaining government benefits. Federal and state law authorized the creation of PA ABLE accounts. The Presentation will be given by a Representative of the PA Treasury Department.

OLTL Service Coordinators, Direct Service Providers, CHC-MCO staff and any individuals that work on employment are strongly encouraged to participate in this webinar that will help you understand the PA ABLE Program and how it can benefit the OLTL participants you serve.

The webinar on PA ABLE is scheduled as follows: January 28, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Please register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4688310303994863883

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you have questions regarding this email, please contact Edward M. Butler, OLTL, at 717-214-3718 or edbutler@pa.gov.

Please join STRIVE WorldWIDE for a Free Virtual Seminar kick off the New Year with a healthy focus!

This Free Virtual Seminar will offer a taste of our full 5-week Healthy You course for neurodiverse learners, in which participants will learn about keeping themselves healthy in their bodies, minds, and spirits!

Make your own SMART Goal to attend our Free Virtual Seminar on January, 11, 2022 at 1:00, 6:00 or 8:30 PM EST or register for our full 5-week, 10-seminar, Healthy You course starting January 17, 2022 (day and evening times available). Other topics included in the course: Nutrition, Sleep Hygiene, Gratitude, Mindfulness, and Meditation.

Click here to register for a Free Virtual Seminar session on January 11, 2022. Choose from one of three times that is most convenient for you:

1. 1 PM Eastern Standard Time
2. 6 PM Eastern Standard Time
3. 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

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!

Did you know that there are 29 Intermediate Units across the state of Pennsylvania? Each IU has training and consultation (TAC) staff dedicated to secondary transition. The Transition TAC across the state do AMAZING work at the local level to help local education agencies improve transition practices for students with disabilities. Each month we will feature TAC across the statewide system!

Rivereview Intermediate Unit (RIU6): Serving Clarion, Jefferson, Forest and Venango counties and parts of Armstrong, Butler, Clearfield, Crawford and Indiana counties

RIU6 is proud to have three training and consultation staff assigned to secondary transition.

Deena Croyle

Deena is brand new to transition this year! She has experience with students with Autism, and significant cognitive disabilities. Deena is passionate about AAC, giving students a voice, and inclusion.

Get in Touch with Deena:

Email: dcroyle@riu6.org

Website: https://www.riu6.org/Page/1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverviewIU6

Amy Smith

Amy in her third year in Training and Consulting, working in the following initiatives: secondary transition, behavior, and assistive technology. She previously worked in the MTSS academic initiative. Amy's transition passion is to provide the best transition plans for students including student-centered planning; collaborating with families, agencies, and communities; and building relationships that support the future goals of the students.

Get in Touch with Amy:

Email: amy.smith@riu6.org

Phone: (814)221-3543

Website: https://www.riu6.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverviewIU6/

Bethany Wilson

Bethany is new to the initiative of Transition. She has been focused on the AT and Inclusive Practices Initiatives for the past 9 years which will bring great insight into this new role.

Get in Touch with Bethany:

Email: bwilson@riu6.org

Phone: (814) 226-7103 x5217

Website: www.riu6.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverviewIU6

Berk's County Intermediate Unit (BCIU14)

Serves all 18 school districts in Berk's County

Colleen Rios

Prior to starting at the BCIU14, Colleen was a Transition Coordinator for a local HS for about 15 years, and prior to that she served as a HS learning support teacher.

Get in Touch with Colleen:

Email:colrio@berksiu.org

Phone: (610) 987-8557

Website:https://www.berksiu.org/

Local Transition Coordinating Council: https://sites.google.com/view/berkstransition/home

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berkstransition

Instagram: berks_transition

Chester County Intermediate Unit 24 (CCIU)

Serves the 12 districts in Chester County with the support of 2 training and consultation (TAC) staff.

CCIU Transition Coordinating Council Meeting Dates:

Feb 15th, and May 10th at 9am

Maureen Keegan

New to Transition TaC but ready to work with a wonderful bunch within Chester County and across the state

Get in Touch with Maureen:

Email: maureenk@cciu.org

Phone: 484-237-5365

Website: www.cciu.org

Twitter: @moe_keegan

Michelle MacLuckie

Although Michelle is new to transition this year, she is not new to training and consultation! She is proud that the regional transition council meetings are held three times a year and include PATTAN Updates, new learning based on council member requests, and time for the transition coordinators to meet separately to network and brainstorm.

Get in Touch with Michelle:

Email: michellemac@cciu.org

Phone: (610) 256-8062

Website: https://www.cciu.org/Page/578

Twitter: @mmacluckie

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