Developing Quality Consumer Participation Through High School Transition Planning Meetings

1. Developing Quality Consumer Participation Through High School Transition Planning Meetings ADARA Conference May 27, 2005 Pamela Luft, Ph.D. Kent State University Transition Services Preparation & Training

2. Consumer Participation • Critical for productive meetings • Often not taught in school programs • Skills are needed in: • Self-knowledge • Self-determination • Decision-making • Advocacy Transition Services Preparation & Training

3. How to Provide Skills • Martin and Marshall’s (1998) Self-Determined IEP program • Identifies 11 steps for participation for IEP/transition planning • IDEA requires student attendance at meetings, but no requirements for participation Transition Services Preparation & Training

4. Applying Skills to Rehabilitation • Students/Consumers must know: • Why they are meeting • Who is attending and Why • What their own skills, strengths, and needs are • What their own goals are • Use IEP/transition meetings to practice and build needed adult-level abilities • The same 11 steps work for both types of meetings Transition Services Preparation & Training

5. Self-Directed IEP Begin meeting by stating purpose Introduce everyone Review past goals and performance Ask for others’ feedback IPE Meeting Skills Understand the purpose & meeting structure Know attendees & their roles. Describe work and living strengths & needs Solicit perceptions of others in developing goals Related Skill Development Transition Services Preparation & Training

6. Self-Directed IEP State your school and transition goals Ask questions if you do not understand Deal with differences in opinion State what supports you will need IPE Meeting Skills Summarize your prior plans, successes & barriers Recognize when you don’t understand and ask questions Explain your reasons and listen to those of others Describe the accommodations & supports you need Skills cont. Transition Services Preparation & Training

7. Self-Directed IEP Summarize your goals Close meeting by thanking everyone Work on IEP goals all year IPE Meeting Skills Restate key decisions and goals from meeting Show appreciation for the time and efforts of others Carry out responsibilities and demonstrate long-term commitment toward achievement of goals. Skills cont. Transition Services Preparation & Training

8. How Can RCDs Help? • Attend transition meetings • Ask for student participation • Don’t accept “attendance” only • Provide information on the 11 steps • Any Deaf/HoH student can accomplish these Transition Services Preparation & Training

9. Support Materials • Self-Determined IEP • Sopris West Publications http://www.sopriswest.com/ • Training Materials • Lesson plans and worksheets • Videotapes (captioned) • Students explain to each other how to use the process • Student interviews of their successes Transition Services Preparation & Training

10. Teacher & Student Units • Transition Services Preparation Project for Teachers of D/HH Students • Middle school and high school instructional units available at: http://www.educ.kent.edu/fundedprojects/TSPT/units/units.htm Transition Services Preparation & Training

11. Contact Information: Dr. Pamela Luft pluft@kent.edu 330-672-2512 Transition Services Project Information at: http://www.educ.kent.edu/fundedprojects/TSPT/grant.htm RCD Training Project: Dr. Pamela Luft & Dr. Connie McReynolds Kent State University Transition Services Preparation & Training