Guideposts for Success Believe in YOURSELF !! 3/5/2014

1. Guideposts for Success Believe in YOURSELF!! 3/5/2014

3. You WillFace Challenges and Difficulties

4. The Guideposts for Success help students deal with these challenges Students with disabilities may face: • More obstacles finding employment than their peers and also higher unemployment rates • Not having the academic skills you need, which leads to weak job skills

5. Don’t Be a Statistic!! • Special education students are more than twiceas likely as their peers in general education to drop out of high school • Students with disabilities are half as likely as their peers NOT to participate in postsecondary education • Two thirds of students with learning disabilities have not been identified by the school system as having such disorders Guideposts For Success/NCWD, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/sites/default/files/Guideposts-for-Success-(English).pdf

6. Rise AboveObstacles

7. The Guideposts Are for ALLStudents They include: 1. School Preparation 2. Youth Development & Leadership 3. Career Preparation 4. Connecting Activities 5. Family Involvement

8. Guidepost #1 School Preparation

9. What is School Preparation? • Preparing for post- secondary life includes gaining knowledge, learning skills, and developing a plan for college, technical school and/or job experience • Creating a safe learning environment that is supported by highly qualified staff who are supportive of your goals and dreams

10. Be Prepared! • Access technology and specific individual learning accommodations while you are in school • Develop knowledge of reasonable accommodations that can be requested in college or other educational settings • Develop the skills and learning strategies you need to be successful, for example: Ask Questions !!!!!

11. Accommodations Allow You to Be Successful

12. We use Accommodations throughout our life • When you learn to ride a bicycle you use training wheels to learn balance until you can ride on your own • In school you may need large print, a screen reader, computer, calculator, note taker or extended time to take a test • Your ‘extra set of wheels’ are not always available and you must learn how to be successful without them • Assistive technology provides access to course work and the workplace

13. It Works BothWays!!! • Students need to understand the reasonable accommodations they need and how to request them • Then teachers, professors, parents and employers can do their part

14. Guidepost #2Career Preparation

15. What is Career Preparation? • Identifying your job/career interests through career assessments • On-the-job training experiences (paid or unpaid), including community service that matches your skills and interests • Learning how to communicate about your disability and your work support and accommodation needs

16. Opportunitiesto learn first hand on the job so you can: Practice, Practice, Practice!

17. Guidepost # 3. Youth Development and Leadership

18. What is Youth Development and Leadership? A process that helps you meet the challenges of adulthood which can include: • Developing self-advocacy skills (expressing your learning needs and style to others) • Mentoring opportunities which will develop leadership skills • Learning how to resolve conflict

19. Qualities of Leadership

20. Guidepost #4 Connecting Activities

21. What are Connecting Activities? Students may want to connect with: • Mental and physical health services • Housing and transportation support • Financial planning and management services • Post secondary supports like tutoring and assistive technology • Adult service agencies, for example: • BRS – Bureau of Rehabilitation Services • DDS – Department of Developmental Services • DMHAS – Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Stay connected!

22. Guidepost #5Family Involvement and Support

23. What is Family Involvement and Support? Parents, families and other caring adults who will: • Have high expectations that build upon your strengths , interests and help you achieve independence • Understand you and your disability to help you be successful in your education , work and your daily life • Remain involved in your life

24. Guideposts were created to help you on your journey through adulthood.

25. Where can I get more information? CT State Department of Education, Transition Task Force Patricia L. Anderson, Ph.D. Education Consultant CT State Department of Education Bureau of Special Education 860-713-6923 patricia.anderson@ct.gov

26. A presentation for the Connecticut Transition Task Force developed by: Christopher McCray Catherine D. Forker

27. Acknowledgements A special thank you to the members of the Guideposts for Success Subcommittee of the Connecticut Transition Task Force who developed, guided, and edited this presentation: Patti Clay – Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) Cathy Felice– Tunxis Community College Cathy Forker– State Education Resource Center (SERC) Khampasong Khantivong – Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) Chris Librandi– Fairfield Public Schools Christopher McCray – Student Representative Beth Reel – CT Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)

28. Acknowledgements, continued… Valerie Reyher– The Kennedy Center, Inc. Barry Rita – Board of Education & Services for the Blind (BESB) Dorine Russo – School Counselor Pamela J. Starr – Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) Cindy Stevenson – Department of Developmental Services (DDS) John Van Hare – African & Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities (AFCAMP) And, to Patricia L. Anderson, Ph.D., CT State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education/Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS), for her ongoing leadership and dedication to improving the lives of students with disabilities