From Learning to Earning: Transition from School to Work

1. From Learning to Earning: Transition from School to Work Joy Kniskern, AMAC Accessibility Solutions, Georgia Institute of Technology Ava Scearce, HSHT and Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant Karen Royston, Executive Director, Georgia Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, Inc.

2. Welcome! We are Glad you are Here!

3. Session Objectives • Identify data that highlights why transition services are critical for high school students with disabilities • Define HSHT’s innovative approach to providing additional resources and services to students with disabilities • Discuss steps to establish laptop refurbishing, AT services for HSHT students, and alternative media technology solutions to ease higher ed transitions • Discuss strategies to involve VR leadership in HSHT

4. Why Are Transition Services Essential? • ¼ of high school students fail to graduate on time • Students with disabilities have a dropout rate that is twice as high as students without disabilities. National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) • 70% of youth with disabilities remain unemployed two years after graduation from high school and have higher rates of incarceration than the general population • Drop outs will earn $200,000 less than graduate over a lifetime

5. Every 26 seconds one student drops out of public school…. 7,000 each day…1.2 million a yearSources: America’s Promise Alliance and www.dosoemthing.org

6. High School/High Tech is…. A comprehensive community-based program providing youth with disabilities a link to academic and career-development experiences that enable them to successfully meet the workforce demands of the 21st century.

7. Brief History of HS/HT Programs Nationally Provide information & services to students with all types of disabilities to assist them with identifying a realistic vocational goal and transitioning to post secondary education and/or gainful employment.

8. Who is eligible? Student in grades 8-12 (ages 14-22) and have a documented disability that’s physical, sensory or learning related.

9. Who is involved? DOL/Voc Rehab Families Educators Students Advocacy Groups Colleges, Universities, & Technical Colleges Business Leaders & Employers

10. Goals of HS/HT Program • Reduce the dropout rate of students with disabilities • To improve education and training outcomes for youth with disabilities • Teach students how to advocate for themselves • Opportunity awareness • Explore career options • Facilitate a successful transition to post-secondary education or gainful employment

11. Five Guideposts for Success Georgia’s HS/HT program’s services are based on research that identifies five guideposts that support young people transitioning out of high school… • School Preparation • Youth Development & Leadership • Career Preparation & Work Based Learning Experiences • Connecting Activities • Family Involvement

12. Georgia’s HS/HT is not a Cookie Cutter Program. HS/HT in Georgia looks like…. • Curriculum-based • VR – School –Community Partnership • Club • Elective credit • School partnerships – CTI and Special Education • Community Organizations • Sponsored by Civic Organizations and Employer Committees–” Adopt a Program” • Other Options: • Afterschool Program • Out of School Youth (WIA/RFP) • One Stop / Career Center • Partnerships with existing programs; i.e. Housing Authority, Junior Achievement

13. High School\High Tech Services • Sites may be multi-county and multi-school with 200 students or they may be one county and one school with 5 students. • HS/HT is an additional resource for students with disabilities. • Services at each HSHT site may vary based on the needs of the students. • All services provided should be geared to post-secondary education or employment.

14. Possible Services • Tours to post-secondary education sites • Industry site visits • Advocacy • Motivational speakers • Job Shadowing • College Fair or Career Day • Leadership opportunities • Internships • Awards Ceremony

15. Data and More Data Georgia has developed a secure web based reporting system has been developed to track data on students served in the High School High Tech Program. Data entry is simple and requires the following: Students complete a simple high school high tech application that is entered into the web based reporting system. Each service that the students receives must be entered into the system. Narrative reports on services provided are requested at the end of each quarter. End of Year Reports

16. Key Data Elements • Demographics • HSHT Services • Assistive Technology • Participation of VR Caseload (from 20% to 60%) • Outcomes after Graduation

17. Use of Data • Quantitative Information • Track Trends and Outcomes • Improve the Range and Quality of Services • Sustain the Program

18. High School/High Tech Laptop Program The High School/High Tech computer competition generates a lot of interest with the students to participate in the program

19. Refurbished Laptop Program • Rising juniors and seniors with disabilities • Competitive application process to committee • Essay or PowerPoint • Goals to attain with award of laptop • Leadership • “I help my little brother get ready for school every morning.” • Teacher and Parent Recommendations

20. HSHT students tell us……. We need a laptop to: • Because of transportation issues – can’t get to library! • Complete research for homework • Communicate with teachers via email • Get and turn in assignments • Conduct job searches • On-line assessments – career and interest • Become proficient in using assistive technology • Study for high school graduation exam • Use tutorials and apply for college scholarships • Complete online job and college applications

21. Approximately 350 laptops, assistive technology, and electronic notepads have been awarded to rising HS/HT juniors and seniors at schools in: Augusta, Albany, Atlanta, Columbus and DeKalb, Jasper, McDuffie, Paulding, Newton & Bibb counties

22. Thank You Note from Student I really appreciated the generous donation. I value the fact that I was accepted to receive a laptop computer. It brings me great joy knowing that I will have extra help in my transitionfrom high school to college. This computer is a great investment in my future. I know I will be able to keep up in school and challenge myself to be the best. The laptop will go to good use. Thank You, Brandy

23. Laptop Computer Award Maritza is a student with orthopedic impairments…she uses a power chair and has difficulty with fine motor skills. She is unable to write legibly with pen or pencil, and uses the computer at home to complete classroom work. She has lost her ability to speak and also uses the computer for communication. Shewas very excited to apply for a computer and made it clear that it would help her to communicate her needs at home and at school. Her mom said that Maritza now clearly communicates her needs. Using the computer showcases skills no one realized Maritza had!

24. Assistive Technology! Michael – Juvenile Arthritis – Hand Writing! Jeovani – Learning Challenges – Text-to-Speech/ Reading Maxwell – Homework . . .and he will use it when he graduates and begins work in electrical wiring! Landis – Reading Challenges – Text-to-Speech/ Reading

25. Alternative Media Technology Solutions • Alternative format is any information other than regular print • Braille • Captioning • Voice output that converts text to speech using a screen reader • Windowing so Deaf students can read by means of an interpreter who explains using sign language what other people are hearing during a video presentation or broadcast. • DVS – Descriptive videos to explain sequences in videos

26. Assistive Technologies • Speech input and synthesized speech output • Screen readers, screen magnifiers, screen projectors • Audio recorded information • Hands free data entry • Intelligent word prediction software • Alternative pointing devices like mouthsticks, lasers • Keyboard controllers like Sticky Keys • Book holders, page turners • Accessible electronic e-pub

27. AMAC Accessibility Solutions - Georgia Tech • A social change organization providing practical solutions such as Braille, e-text, remote captioning, assistive technology and consulting to higher ed and public and private organizations sharing our commitment to accessibility. • Create accessible formats for information – PDF, DOC, DAISY, HTML, Math ML –produce one, make many as affordable way for post-secondary schools to accommodate information needs of students with disabilities www.amac.usg.org

28. Opportunities for VR Program • Identifying more secondary students from school systems who can benefit from VR services • Build stronger networks and partnerships between VR and school systems • Build and maintain more partnerships with local employers • Increase employer awareness and involvement • Create ongoing opportunities to discuss VR eligibility with schools

29. Opportunities for VR Clients in HS/HT • Participation in all local high school high tech services such as: • field trips to post-secondary education sites • industry tours • job shadowing • Participate in the laptop computer competition • Advocating for themselves after graduation. Learn self-advocacy skills necessary to survive after graduation

30. Opportunity for Employers • Identify workforce talent • Learn disability etiquette • Understand disAbilities • Help students learn what they don’t or do want to do • Help students understand real jobs, what work is and isn’t • Train students in soft skills they make lack • Demonstrate good citizenship

31. Opportunities for Schools • Try to sell “Hope” • Keep the students interested and engaged to lower the drop-out rate for students with disabilities • Additional resources to assist with providing field trips, opportunity awareness, career exploration, advocacy, job shadowing, and other services • Build stronger partnerships with Vocational Rehabilitation

32. Potential Challenges • Commitment of staff • Schools assisting with tracking outcomes • Employers • Family support

33. Closer Look at Augusta HSHT Site • Augusta HSHT established in 2001 • 2012 Stats • 300 students currently enrolled • 17 high schools participating • 5 counties: Richmond, Columbia, Burke, Wilkes & McDuffie • 2% dropout rate

34. HS/HT Awards Luncheon

35. Plant Vogtle Tour

36. Augusta Technical College

37. Richard Gayle, D.V.M.

38. The Cotton Patch Restaurant

39. Augusta Tech - Automotive

40. HS/HT Laptop Award Recipients

41. Steps to replicate HSHT in your state • Convene summit with key partners • VR-DOE-WIA-Employers • Get commitments • Identify funding sources • Conduct Pilot - rural and urban • Evaluate, improve, implement

42. National and State Resources • State Assistive Technology Act programs: http://www.resnaprojects.org/scripts/contacts.pl?ga&&State • National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability: http://www.ncwd-youth.info/topic/hjsht • America’s Promise Alliance: http://www.americaspromise.org/

43. National and State Resources • Georgia HighSchool/High Tech: http://www.gacomm-hsht.org • South Carolina HighSchool/HighTech: http://www.scvrd.net/i_hsht.html • Community Foundations: http://www.communityfoundations.net/

44. Contact Information Joy Kniskern, AT Initiatives Director, AMAC Accessibility Solutions, College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology joy.kniskern@amac.gatech.edu (404) 894-7669 Karen Royston, Executive Director Georgia Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, Inc., royston.Karen@gmail.com (706) 202-4792 Ava Scearce, HS/HT and Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant, ascearce21@gmail.com (706) 267-8221

45. Questions???

46. Thank You!