Self-determination and Youth Investment

1. Self-determination and Youth Investment Pathway to Success for all Students including Those with Disabilities IDEA Partnership

2. The IDEA Partnership acknowledges the contributions of cross-stakeholders, including persons representing, • Teachers, • General Education Administrators, • Special Education Administrators, • Related Service Personnel, • Families and youth,, • Higher education , and • Technical Assistance Providers -and- • is deeply grateful to Project Unify of the Kennedy Foundation /Special Olympics for its leadership and facilitation of this collaborative effort. IDEA Partnership

3. Agenda • Definition • Rationale • Key elements • Implementation issues • Additional Resources IDEA Partnership

4. Cradle to College and/or Career… • Aligns services • Public and private • School and community • Supports success • Academic • Social • Occupational • Benefits child/young adult and community IDEA Partnership

5. Why to / ? • Remain in school • Good attendance • Active learning • Go on to college or advanced training • Obtain a career and work for a lifetime • Live independently • Give back to the community High School Graduation IDEA Partnership

6. Students must demonstrate skills needed in today’s world… • Academics • Choice-making • Decision-making • Problem-solving • Goal-setting • Self-awareness • Self-advocacy and leadership IDEA Partnership

7. Dropping out…Students with Disabilities (SWD) • 7,000 SWD leave school each day • At this rate: 13 million SWD will leave school in the next decade • Economic impact (2009 dropouts) • Each costs the nation over $260,000 over his/her lifetime • If all had graduated, benefit of $335 billion to nation’s economy over their lifetimes IDEA Partnership

8. Most likely to drop out… Academic performance • Low grades • Low test scores • F’s in English and Math • Few credits • Retention Educational engagement • Low engagement • High absenteeism • Poor school behavior • Low extracurricular participation • Poor relationships with teachers and peers IDEA Partnership

9. Expected outcomes… • Remain in school • Good attendance • Active learning • Go on to college or advanced training • Obtain a career for a lifetime • Live independently • Give back to the community High School Graduation IDEA Partnership

10. Key elements… • Collaboration • School • Family • Agencies • Neighborhoods/Communities • Business Leaders • Clear communication • Culture and language • Use of technology IDEA Partnership

11. Support providers… • Schools • Title I, IDEA, Gifted, etc. • Breakfast and lunch programs • Families • Agencies & community after-school programs • School-based mental health • Faith Based organizations • Medical health • Etc. IDEA Partnership

12. High School • Last stepping stone into post-secondary education, employment, and adulthood • Preparation for systems of the future • Focus on transferable skills IDEA Partnership

13. Key elements of High School • Academic rigor • Curricular integration / transition services • Self-advocacy • Internships and work opportunities • Post-secondary education options • Mentoring and coaching IDEA Partnership

14. Support providers…… • Schools • Families • Mentor programs / Internship programs • Higher Education – career development specialists • Vocational Rehabilitation • Juvenile Justice / Probation • Etc. IDEA Partnership

15. Support providers – cont’d… • Colleges and universities • Technical schools • Internships • Military • Community agencies and work places IDEA Partnership

16. Key elements… post-secondary & employment • Self-determination • Empowerment • Self-advocacy • Mentoring and coaching • Social networks • Mental health services • Economic Development IDEA Partnership

17. Critical Skills Frequently Overlooked • Self-determination • Empowerment • Economic Development • Independent living needs IDEA Partnership

18. Self-determination is… • a concept reflecting the belief that all individuals have the right to direct their own lives • Students who have self-determination skills have a stronger chance of being successful in making the transition to adulthood, including employment and independence IDEA Partnership

19. Self-Determination Is Learned… • through real-world experience • which inherently involves taking risks • making mistakes • reflecting on outcomes • testing his or her strengths and limitations • identifying appropriate short- and long-term goals • and open, supportive acknowledgement and discussion of their disability IDEA Partnership

20. Tips for Promoting Self-Determination in Youth with Disabilities • Promote Choice Making • Encourage Exploration of Possibilities • Promote Reasonable Risk Taking • Encourage Problem Solving • Promote Self Advocacy • Facilitate Development of Self-Esteem • Develop Goal Setting and Planning • Help Youth Understand Their Disabilities IDEA Partnership

21. Empowerment is… a process which helps people gain power. People who are empowered have the knowledge and ability to lead. IDEA Partnership

22. What does it mean to be empowered? • Taking responsibility for your choices and decisions • Working toward your goals • Having confidence and pride in your abilities • Living with enthusiasm and passion • Knowing how your actions affect others • Economic stability IDEA Partnership

23. Empowerment includes having… • access to information • decision-making power • a range of options from which to make choices • a positive outlook on being able to make change • the ability to increase one’s self image and overcome stereotypes of discrimination IDEA Partnership

24. You are NOT empowered? • When you do whatever you want whenever you want and ignore expectations and rules • When you bypass everyone who will say “no” so you can get your own way • When you only do the what is easy IDEA Partnership

25. Successful transition to adulthood includes employment and independence which requires systems change IDEA Partnership

26. All levels in the process must include… • Collaboration • Coordination • Continuity Clearly articulated at each level …to create seamless systems of service IDEA Partnership

27. Systems that… • Value, honor and support all youth • Coordinate agency resources • Support smooth transitions from year to year, developmental level to developmental level • Emphasize child/youth growth in • Academics • Social/emotional well being • Health and fitness • Civic responsibility • Economic responsibilities IDEA Partnership

28. Systems that focus on… • Balance • Academic & social/emotional skills • Physical & mental health • Family life and building independence • Intentional transition plans from the beginning • Collaboration • Families, schools, agencies, community services • Shared resources & responsibility IDEA Partnership

29. Your involvement is key to the success of all our children and young adults! IDEA Partnership

30. Additional resources • The IDEA Partnership www.ideapartnership.org • Project Unify of the Kennedy Foundation /Special Olympics www.specialolympics.org/projectunify.aspx • Breaking Ranks http://www.nassp.org/tabid/3162/default.aspx • Breaking Ranks in the Middle School http://www.nassp.org/Portals/0/Content/53495.pdf • Ready by 21, Forum for Youth Investment http://www.forumfyi.org/readyby21 IDEA Partnership

31. Reflections!Questions?Discussion. ? . ! . ? ! ! ? IDEA Partnership