Bridge to your future! Transitioning high school seniors with documented disabilities to college

1. Bridge to your future!Transitioning high school seniors with documented disabilities to college Spencer Poling-Disability Services Counselor Carla Blankenbuehler-Assistant Dean of Students BridgeValley Community & Technical College

2. Todays topics Why we created this program The Planning Process of a Transition Fair Creating an Agenda & Workshops that are beneficial to students Recruiting process from the college perspective Getting your campus community involved

3. Why we created this? The transition from high school to college can be challenging for most students. This transition can be even more challenging for students who have a documented disability. Each year BridgeValley CTC and the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS) hosts a transition fair for local high school seniors who have an IEP or 504 plan. The transition fair is a day full of workshops to benefit students, as well as introduce them to the college campus environment.

4. Population we serve Local High School Students IEP or 504 Plans Students receiving support through Division of Rehabilitation services

5. Planning Process 3-5 meetings Planning around both schools academic calendar Knowing your time frame for your day Services we are able to provide Meeting the needs of students through workshops Assigning tasks

6. WV Division of Rehabilitation Services' Role Main contact with High School instructors Inform students of the services they can provide Workshops

7. Working with high school instructors Maintain communication with instructors Permission slips Bus schedules Dates work with their academic calendar

8. Planning the workshops Information sessions about WV DRS Services Interview skills demonstrations Like Skills Workshops

9. College’s Role Campus Community Involvement College Student Panel Information session about Disability Services at BridgeValley CTC

10. Campus community involvement Reservations of classrooms Working with our facilities department Admissions tours Advertisement throughout campus

11. College panel Disability Services Counselor provides introductions and information Students receiving accommodations through Disability Services A “Thank You” for volunteering Prep them with a discussion guide

12. State your name • Major • Disability (if you choose) • Accommodations you receive • How do your accommodations help you? • Differences between High School & College • Student life on campus College Panel Discussion Guide

13. Resource fair Invite 3-5 vendors or more! Information sessions for students about services Networking for the vendors Vendors Fair Shake Network West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services Good Will Industries Disability Rights of West Virginia West Virginia Aging & Disability Resource Network

14. Gift bags & Giveaways Donations from both organizations Gift bags for each student Giveaways for one student from each school

15. Our learning experience Planning around snow days Best time in the school year to host Transition Fair Planning around the number of expected students Agenda is always in edit mode

16. Moving forward Involving other Schools Utilizing our other campus Building our Resource Fair Expanding on Workshops Visiting classrooms after the Transition Fair

17. Questions?