Today, we(Kelly and I) would like to give kudos to the Lincoln School District for opening 30 new cases with Michigan Rehabilitation Services(MRS). This is creating a great pathway for those postsecondary transition students. Thank you for you hard work Lincoln School District!

Employment for some is being able to contribute to one’s future, society, community, the economy and for others it’s a sense of belonging, a community, a means of support, financial stability for one and their family, and/or a sense of purpose. We all need a sense of purpose whether through employment or through volunteering.

For many educators our employment/career is important because our students depend on us, and we thrive on being able to assist in shaping the future of our students. Teaching for many is being able to be there for those people who need us the most. I used to joke with my students that I had to make sure that they were employable so that they could contribute to the social security system so that I would be able to retire one day.

I would like to wrap up the month with a couple of additional resources surrounding this month’s theme: National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). As special education providers we are constantly working towards transitioning/preparing our students for their life once they leave us. Many of our students are capable of being employed, however is up to us to ensure that the skills, talents, and desires of our students through their postsecondary goals are being worked on with well-planned postsecondary activities/opportunities leading to postsecondary education/training, employment/career, community/volunteer opportunities, and adult living as appropriate. Our employed students with disabilities should be paid competitive pay when doing the same work as their counterparts without disabilities, they should be paid the same as their peers and given opportunities to advance to earn more pay, benefits and incentives. Here are a couple of organizations taking on this important work.

CAPE Youth

LEADCenter: WIOA(Workplace Innovation and Opportunity ACT) Policy Development

• 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

Don't forget our monthly Countywide Transition Coalition 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)
• November 8th, 2024, 12:30-3:30pm at the WISD
• 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

Thanks to Shannon Gallatin from Columbus, Ohio for the fun idea for transferring skills to home! An October Bingo challenge- students/families take pics completing tasks and bring back a BINGO by Halloween for a special “treat”. ;)

***feel free to create your own with appropriate tasks to your student goals. This is just an idea.

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.

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.