Hello everyone, now that the March 15th deadline has passed to hold spots for districts, PSAs and WISD programs, we can now open up the remainder spots to those who turn in their permission slips to Kelly or I. It will be on a first come, first basis until the bus is completely filled. This is a reminder that a chaperone(staff member) must be in attending along with students. The field trip to MCTI is on April 23rd and students and staff must bring a bagged lunch and to Job Corps(Grand Rapids) on May 7th, lunch will be served. Please see your special education director, supervisor, or principal for details regarding your district's field trip's permission slip.

A special thanks to attorneys Joelle Gurnoe-Adams and Sarah Schairbaum for presenting and answering the questions of families attending. The WISD Transition Planning Parent Workshop was well attended. In attendance were families from:

• Chelsea Young Adult Program
• Dexter High School
• EMU Young Adult Program
• High Point
• WCC Young Adult
• Red Oak
• Ann Arbor Young Adult
• Skyline
• Downtown Ypsilanti Young Adult
• Lincoln High School
• and Alumni of Washtenaw County.

Thank you to all who passed flyers out and encouraged families to attend.

You read that right- FREE CEC(Council for Exceptional Children) membership for new members! Check it out-you can’t beat FREE!!! CEC has a ton of great resources, webinars, workshops, newsletters and more! Plus, discounted conference registration is also a great way to keep abreast of the latest legislative changes and their impact.

For all Transition colleagues: DCDT Division of Career Development and Transition is a small additional fee and has WONDERFUL resources available specific to Transition!

Hello and Happy Tuesday! This week’s transition tip features Exceptional Journeys. The mission of Exceptional Journeys is to encourage personal growth, build lasting friendships, and create a supportive, inclusive environment for individuals with special needs and their families. Kelly and I have had the opportunity to meet Zee on several occasions, and her passion for working with individuals with disabilities is truly inspiring.

Exceptional Journeys offers both full- and part-time day programs, skill-building programs, as well as after-hours and weekend activities for individuals 18 and older. They provide a variety of fitness activities, including yoga, and offer a unique program called Culinary Journeys, where guest chefs come in to host hands-on cooking classes. This month, they feature a chef from Sprouting Chefs!

In addition, Exceptional Journeys will host their annual 2025 Fashion Show Gala on April 13th, 2025, featuring live music, a DJ, and dinner. They are still looking for models, and models can attend the event for free!

Exceptional Journeys is also expanding their services in Washtenaw County with new sites expected to open by the end of the year. To access their programs, individuals must open a case with Community Mental Health and request Exceptional Journeys.

For more information, you can visit Exceptional Journeys, email: Zee Kennedy or call: 734-216-3375.

What an incredible organization!

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

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.

Remainder date:

• March 18, 2025 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

START Project: Transforming Transition Together(T3)

Early Interest Form

Applications for Summer 2025 open January 2025.

https://washtenawliteracy.org/

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.

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.