

PA Transition Tidbits
Updates and Events - April 2024
TRANSITION NEWS
Looking for Independent Living Skills Ideas?
"Self-care/independent living skills are skills necessary for management of one’s personal selfcare and daily independent living, including the personal management skills needed to interact with others, daily living skills, financial management skills, and the self-management of healthcare/wellness needs.
Provide instruction, as needed based on assessment data, in: financial planning, selfhelp, cooking, housekeeping, home maintenance, using transportation, clothing care, accessing community services, time/ organizational management, self-determination, social roles/ citizenship, community/peer relationships, and critical thinking and problem solving.
Provide instruction in self-care independent living skills in multiple settings including general education, special education, and community.
Provide individual, small group, or whole class instruction in independent living and selfcare skills, as appropriate.
Provide students multiple opportunities to practice independent living skills throughout the school day in real-life situations using real-life materials and equipment."
TRANSITION TOOLKIT
Looking for Resources to Support Independent Living in PA?
The mission of PA SILC is To use our collective power and legal mandate to develop and secure public policies that ensure civil rights and expand options for all people with disabilities in all aspects of life.
PA SILC has an amazing compliation of resources to support independent living.
PA Centers for Independent Living
Information Acquired from the PCIL website (2024)
"A Center for Independent Living is a consumer‑controlled, community‑based, cross‑disability, nonresidential private nonprofit agency that is designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities and provides an array of independent living services. At a minimum, 51% of staff are persons with disabilities and 51% of Board of Directors are persons with significant disabilities. (from Section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
All Centers for Independent Living offer five Core Services, including:
- Independent Living Skills Training: Individually designed training to increase confidence and self-reliance is offered to consumers in areas such as income benefits, social or recreational opportunities, self-care, transportation, education, communication, assistive technology, budgeting, housing assistance and job readiness and job networking. The consumer sets the pace, decides the goals and does the work with CIL staff serving as role models, advocates and supporters.
- Peer Mentoring: CILs schedule events that will facilitate the peer mentoring process. Peer Mentors are matched with persons to manage, remove or cope with the barriers they encounter. Goals are set by the person with a disability (consumer).
- Information and Referral: You have a question about services and programs in your community? Do you need help for yourself or your loved one? CILs are there to help. If they don’t have the answer, they will work to find the answer. That may mean another phone call or website to explore, but CILs will do their best to find the answer you need to know.
- Individual and Systems Advocacy: Empowering people with disabilities to speak for themselves and assert their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights is an important component of the four core services. CIL staff also advise and assist people with disabilities in advocating for the elimination of barriers and practices that preclude one’s access to the greater community at large.
- Transition: Facilitate the transition of individuals with significant disabilities from nursing homes and other institutions to home and community-based residences, with the requisite supports and services. Provide assistance to individuals with significant disabilities who are at risk of entering institutions so that the individuals remain in the community. Facilitate the transition of youth who are individuals with significant disabilities who are eligible for individualized education programs."
To find a Center for Independent Living (CIL) in your area, use the PCIL Directory.
Secondary Transition: Promoting Independent Living While Still in School
The concept of independent living, whether for individuals with or without disabilities, may initially seem daunting. However, with proper preparation, both independently and with assistance from peers, independent living becomes a viable option for nearly everyone. The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) offers various ways for students to prepare for this transitional phase. For example, through community engagement. This can look like encouraging students to engage in activities within the community such as exploring transportation options, opening a bank account at a local financial institution, and familiarizing oneself with important community resources like hospitals, parks, and emergency facilities. Another example is through school preparatory; encouraging your students to participate in school activities such as taking courses in food preparation, money management, and family planning, as well as engaging in social skills training and joining clubs
There are many aspects of independence for a young person with a disability and family members to consider. Independence can be defined as the ability to decide how a person wants to live, participate, and access community resources, as well as the level of supports that a person may need to be successful. This fact sheet assists in beginning the discussion.
Click here to download or order in English
Also available in Spanish.
Focus on Quick Guide in the Life Experience Series TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD
Transition means that you are moving from childhood to young adulthood and from school to adult life. There are many things to think about and do to prepare for this change. Transition is a point in time filled with change, growth, excitement, and sometimes fear and confusion.
Supported Independent Living Services for Adults with IDD or Autism (kencrest.org)
Pennsylvania offers various independent living options for individuals with IDD. One such option is through Kencrest, an organization providing support services for individuals with IDD, including unlicensed residential living and supported independent living services. Unlicensed residential living allows individuals to live independently in Kencrest-rented locations, while supported independent living assists individuals in finding their own homes with the help of a PA realtor. This serves as a showcase of the support options available in Pennsylvania.
Transitioning to living independently is a significant step for all individuals, which can be overwhelming and intimidating. However, numerous resources are available to facilitate this transition. Independent living is an essential aspect of autonomy and is achievable for everyone. Take advantage of the opportunity to explore available services and options—you might be pleasantly surprised!
YOUth Can Do It!
Youth Engagement Specialists (YES) on the MOVE
PaTTAN YES had the opportunity to participate in the PA Family Network summit on Participant Directed Services to the IDD community alongside of Families 2 the Max in March. This event highlighted the difference between a Supports Coordinator and a Support Broker. Broke down the important differences to consider when choosing Choice vs Vender Fiscal/PPL. Most importantly, Bob Sattler, Partner of Supports Development Associate delivered a keynote” Person Centered Plan is NOT the Outcome”. It outlined the importance of support plans to allow individuals to have control over their lives and to understand the difference between person-driven vs. person-centered is a thought process that can be shifted to best support individuals receiving services. Service plans should identify for four core things: strength, preferences, needs that require support and the desired outcome that the individual wants to achieve independence and control over their lives.
Natasha, our PaTTAN- East YES had the privilege to keynote at the Chester County IU Student Leadership Conference. She addressed how overcoming adversity is the setup of success. How we handle the storms (dis-ABILITY) of life allows for building of character traits. These traits are then used/ developed as a foundation of leadership qualities. Students learn that through resilience, one's character is strengthened while moving on from painful experiences and using those experiences to be standout and be a leader. She highlighted how a good leader communicates, displays integrity, empowers/ motivates, develops self confidence and balance for the betterment of not only themselves but others.
Finally, last month our Youth Engagement Specialists (YES) led a training for the Attract Prepare Retain (APR) Initiative on Engaging Youth in the Transition Process. The training focused on providing educators with help tools and resources to help their students through secondary transition. One resource being the Student Led IEP (SLIEP) Hub, an initiative being led by Erin Campion, at PaTTAN. A one stop shop for all things Student Led IEPs. Visit the Hub to discover more about the significance of student leadership during the IEP process, which can pave the way for future success in independent living.
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Congratulations to our Partenrs at George Washington University's Interdisciplinary Secondary Transition Services master's program and the graduate certificate in Secondary Transition Leadership for receiving accreditation from the Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Career Development and Transition, making graduates eligible for the DCDT Transition Specialist Certificate.
Reviewers stated that “It was a pure pleasure reviewing your staff’s curriculum vita and your 10 syllabi for your most impressive secondary transition program. You did an excellent job of demonstrating how the various CEC/DCDT Transition Standards were met in each of your syllabi, as well as how clearly the assessments for each course related to those standards!” This makes GW only the fifth program in the country to offer students this National Certification. Students who have completed these programs within 2 years of graduation are eligible to apply. Visit https://dcdt.org/dcdt-transition-specialist-certificate for more information. "
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
STUDENT LED IEP (SLIEP) RESOURCES
Do you want something to share with youth to explain the Student-led IEP (Individualized Education Program) process?
Are you looking for a tool to use to start conversations about how students can have more of a voice in their education?
Do you want resources for students to use to take ownership of their learning?
The Student-led IEP (SLIEP) hub has pages of ideas for youth to use on how to get started now, to help them understand their role as they grow, to share their perspectives, and to support them as they learn to self-advocate for their education and their future.
There is also an infographic that highlights the benefits, for students, by being part of the SLIEP Process.
Check out the SLIEP hub at www:bit.ly/sliep
Please share the flyer and QR code with school staff, families and youth!
US Department of Labor Introduces New Resource to Increase Competitive Integrated Employment for People with Disabilities
The resource released mid-March, The Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Transformation Hub, centralizes practical guidance, policy information and evidence-based practices that can assist in advancing CIE for people with disabilities. Comprising resources from across multiple federal agencies, the CIE Transformation Hub categorizes information by audience, with separate sections for individuals and families, employers, employment service providers and state agencies.
Competitive integrated employment ensures that people with disabilities are paid competitive wages and work in environments where the majority of employees do not have disabilities.
Expect, Engage, and Empower: Successful Transitions for All! Blog Post #4
Transition Planning to Prepare Our Youth for Success
Expect, Engage, Empower Resource Database
"In support of Secretary Cardona’s mission to improve equity across our nation’s schools, Director Williams is pleased to announce a new initiative to improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities: Expect, Engage, and Empower: Successful Transitions for All!
This initiative will challenge the field to join OSERS to raise expectations, engage families earlier, and empower all who support transition services to measurably and significantly improve postsecondary outcomes for children and youth with disabilities and their families. Every family that has an infant, child, or youth identified with a disability must be exposed to high expectations from day one. In order for improvement to occur, three things must happen:
- The education and vocational rehabilitation systems must work together,
- Critical discussions about the future and transition planning process must start sooner, and
- ALL students with disabilities should have the opportunity to learn about all post-secondary opportunities and make the best choice for themselves.
Our systems should be prepared to make their vision a reality by providing information about any needed support services, and proactively address needs."
From the IDEAS That Work Website, October 2023
Announcing: PA Secondary Transition – Public Square
Looking for a place where you can Connect, Collect, & Contribute
to all things secondary transition?
Connect with people from across our state to collect
resources, share events and contribute stories about positive post-school outcomes!
Click here to create an account and login to join our PA Secondary Transition- Public Square.
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C)
Are you looking to learn more information about transition?
Check out their Training Resource Library.
If you're new to transition, be sure to check out Transition 101!
Transition Events
Save the Date: 2024 PA Community of Practice Transition Conference
Charting Your Course
July 31-August 1, 2024
Virtual and In-Person Opportunities Will Be Available
Penn Stater Conference Center - 215 Innovation Boulevard State College, PA 16803
More information available on the conference website!
Call for Vendors and Resources
The Pennsylvania Community of Practice Transition Conference Planning Team invites all interested profit and non-profit transition related agency/organizations who provide information to students with disabilities and/or their parents to reserve a table at the Accommodations, Supports & Resources Expo at the 2024 PA Community of Practice Transition Conference – Charting YOUR Course on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at the Penn Stater Conference Center, 215 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA 16803. The Expo will be in-person beginning at 10:00 am and closing at 5:30 pm. This includes a Reception and Raffle scheduled from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
If you wish to reserve a table this year, please complete the following link at: https://forms.office.com/r/zM9ehNVYqh by July 5, 2024, to be included in the Expo program book.
CHOP LEND Autims Acceptance Month Event - Philadelphia Area
April is Autism Acceptance month!
You're invited to attend and share this resource event flyer with your families and network. This event is scheduled for April 2nd@ The Wynnefield Free Library from 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm. See the flyer attached for more information. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
PA SECONDARY TRANSITION EVENTS CALENDAR
Are you looking for transition events across PA?
This newsletter is brought to you by The Pennsylvania Community on 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