Handouts

Inclusive post-secondary education programs provide students with intellectual and developmental disabilities with an opportunity to attend college. This session highlights the process of choosing the right program and navigating the application process. Information and student perspectives on applying to, financing, and transitioning to university life will be shared.

Presenter: Jan Bechtel, Jessica Mattis

The Next Step program at Manheim Central provides students with disabilities job experiences, community awareness skills, and independent living skills in a house setting. Through the non-traditional classroom setting, students receive functional academics to increase the skill sets needed for a job. With supports available, students are assisted on the job to monitor safety and assure tasks at hand are being successfully completed. Representatives from Manheim Central School District and OVR will showcase the successful completion of the first year of the Next Step Program. Information will be shared about the development, challenges, and individual accomplishments of students and staff.

Presenter: Multiple Presenters

A panel presentation focused on the work-based learning experience program will feature a partnership between the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Manheim Central School District, and Fenner Drives manufacturing. This session will highlight how these three partners came together to provide Work Based Learning Experiences (WBLE) for students within a local business.

Presenter: Collins, Donatucci Pham, Stauffer

Through on the job experiences, staff and managers’ feedback has provided the framework to develop critical social skills resources for the transition of youth to successful employment. Learn about these exciting new materials available through the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) website developed in a collaboration with Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Robert Naseef, the Arc of Philadelphia, and Systems, Applications and Products (SAP's) Autism@Work. Learn about the content of the Successful Transitions for Youth on the Autism Spectrum program that includes a focus on self-disclosure, navigating electronic communications in the workplace, discussing unwritten and unspoken rules of society often referred to as "hidden curriculum," and stress busters.

Presenter: Tanya Regli

An awareness of one’s own disability is critical to developing self-advocacy skills and independence. In session one, students will have the support of OVR and their families to learn and participate in activities to explore their own disability, while gaining an awareness about their own “UNIQUENESS”. Families will benefit from being prepared to provide supports to help youth develop these skills.

Presenter: Multiple Presenters

Presenters will share the current Philadelphia Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) office’s efforts to work with high school/college-aged students with disabilities in finding competitive integrated employment. As a bonus, participants will have an opportunity to make their very own video resume to share with employers!

Presenter: Multiple Presenters

Presenters will discuss R.E.A.C.H. with families, schools, and agencies. Participants will learn about the mission of the REACH program, wherein students participate in the early stages of the transition process. Learn about how the students develop the knowledge and experiences necessary to achieve competitive integrated employment outcomes.

Presenter: Multiple Presenters

Self-advocates and family members will learn how to effectively find resources and evidence-based research related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), to inform treatment planning and decision making during and throughout transition periods. Presenters will discuss the pros and cons of participating in a research study, including how to effectively ask questions and understand the rights of a research participant. Presenters will also share how to create, organize, and find transition resources that are both accessible and informative for individuals with autism and their families.

Presenter: Multiple Presenters

As adults with developmental disabilities look for more opportunities to be fully included in community life, it is incumbent on the service system to change how supports are delivered. Efforts to increase the availability of person directed models of support have been implemented across Pennsylvania to help provide people with more options and greater control over their lives. The availability of more options is a benefit to many, and it is important that people are supported to navigate the system and hire, train, and manage their own staff. This session will describe the basic principles of person-directed supports and services, the benefits of supports brokerage, and how these supports can assist people in leading self-determined lives.

Presenter: Marian Saulino

Although the coordination of secondary transition services is essential to students’ success both during and post high school, administrators have a unique and complex role in coordinating those transition services for students with disabilities. This session will explore the role of the administrator when it comes to balancing how to manage compliance and exhibit leadership when it relates to transition services for students with disabilities. Areas that will be addressed include understanding students moving from entitlement of services while in school to eligibility of services when out of school, coordinating a continuum of transition services for students, exploring best practices when working with outside agencies, and overcoming barriers to effective transition programming for students with disabilities.

Presenter: Hillary Mangis, Paula Schmitt