Author Archives: The Arc

Website: Self-Directed IEPs

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Link

http://www.thearctn.org

Description

The Arc of Tennessee is providing self-directed IEP training to students, educators, and families who are involved in the secondary transition planning process. Typically developing peers are also trained to help co-facilitate meetings with students who need additional support. The purpose of the project is to teach students how to do their own IEP meetings and to teach parents, educators, and typically developing peers (where appropriate) on how to support them in this process. Self-directed IEPs are not common practice in Tennessee and will provide educators with a new tool that will help improve secondary transition outcomes for students receiving special education services.

Source

Submitted by The Arc of Tennessee.

Website: Keep Achieving (KACH) at Brookdale

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Link

http://www.arcofmonmouth.org/kach

Description

The Arc of Monmouth has collaborated with Brookdale Community College to address the needs of transitioning young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities ages 18 – 21 that have accepted their high school diploma and elected a college experience; and 21 – 26 year-olds who have graduated high school and would like to continue their education. The project provides a variety of classroom and experiential learning at the college and in the community over six college semesters during a three-year period. At the completion of their college experience, students should gain the skills and confidence necessary for them to succeed in their chosen paid or volunteer career field.

Source

Submitted by Arc of Monmouth.

Website: ARCedu

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Link

http://www.arcric.org

Description

ARCedu provides a structured curriculum which allows students to gain basic skills in a particular field, helping make them stronger candidates for job placement. The curriculum consists of classroom training as well as hands-on experience. ARCedu involves five 6-week courses in specific areas, based on areas of interest identified by students attending their last high school year. Successful students receive a Certificate of Completion for the course. The first 6-week course offered is in industrial/light assembly, building on The Arc of Rock Island County’s expertise in this area. Subsequent courses relate to the areas of retail and customer service, clerical, food service, housekeeping and custodial, data entry, and landscaping. Curriculum components are tailored to specific job skills and job related issues for each of the five areas and include topics which carry across curricula such as: dressing for success, resume building, time management, and managing conflict in the work place. The courses include pairing students with business mentors in the particular field and job shadowing. This allows individuals the opportunity to interact with business professionals and build a network with adult individuals with developmental disabilities.

Source

Submitted by The Arc of Rock Island County.

Website: Community Transition Partnership

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Link

http://www.rensselaerarc.org

Description

With self-determination as the cornerstone of this project, young adults with disabilities utilize person-centered planning to direct the course of their own life while surrounded by people that know and care about them. A variety of person-centered planning tools are utilized including the Framework for Planning which provides a structured approach to helping people with disabilities think about their life focus, develop a positive profile, and an action plan to achieve their goals.

Source

Submitted by NYSARC – Rensselaer.

Website: Ready @ 21

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Link

http://www.thearcofpgc.org

Description

Ready @ 21, students develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP) that outlines skills needed in the area of education, employment, and community living while focusing on self-advocacy, self-awareness, and self-determination. As the students develop their portfolios and complete career assessments, they identify their own likes, dislikes, strengths, challenges, and areas of interest. The process of developing resumes and cover letters, as well as learning business etiquette, goal setting, public speaking, and interviewing skills provides the students with a multitude of employment readiness skills. In addition, they are supported in locating community resources through role-play, games, group discussions, art projects, and community outings. Students are able to gain awareness of a variety of employment activities on the college campus through workforce development classes and community employers such as Walmart.

Source

Submitted by The Arc of Prince George’s County.

Website: Creating Environments for Ongoing Success

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Link

http://www.arcphiladelphia.org

Description

The Philadelphia ARC’s transition program focuses on student-focused planning and transition goal development; career exploration and natural environment learning. The belief is that, people with disabilities can be capable employees if skills and interests are matched and appropriate education and supports are provided. Students are referred and must demonstrate a commitment to being employed. Person centered planning is facilitated and transitional goals are developed. Short-term competitive employment situations are used to transition to longer term vocational opportunities. Training of job site staff is provided to assure that the staff is comfortable with issues of disability and employment.

Source

Submitted by The Arc of Philadelphia.

Website: Project Employ

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Link

http://www.arcoregon.org

Description

Project Employ training provides participants with person-centered employment planning strategies, identifies their roles as professionals, gives participants the opportunity to better understand the difference in service deliveries among agencies, and a chance to share ideas that will provide greater success for transition students to obtain employment. In addition, two full-day Person-Centered Employment Planning Workshops are conducted each school year, whose primary design is to help students and parents develop an initial draft of a Person-Centered Plan. Students are matched with peer mentors from Emerging Leaders Northwest (ELNW) for on-going technical assistance and support related to employment and education goals. Parents benefit from technical assistance and resources provided by Family and Community Together (FACT). Professionals are supported with technical assistance through direct interaction with Project Employ staff and technical assistance support contractors.

Source

Submitted by The Arc of Oregon.

Website: School-to-Community Successful Transition

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Link

http://www.thearcnw.org/programs/school2comm.html

Description

The Arc of Northwest Wayne County (The Arc NW) promotes and increases successful school to community transitional outcomes for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) through advocacy and information. The Arc of NW works to provide the information and advocacy support needed to achieve the development and implementation of successful self-determined transition plans that result in access to continuing education, community-social-civic connections, employment, their own home, and appropriate services from Community Mental Health and Michigan Rehabilitation for a successful self-determined life in the community. The project utilizes group and one-on-one training sessions for students with I/DD and their families about Person Centered Planning, Self-Determination to incorporate parenting and educational goals that promote independence and choice. Additional components include: referrals that support transitional outcomes to the appropriate agencies; monthly meetings and contacts with collaborative partners; training and advocacy support to acquire entitlements and support from Social Security, Medicaid, Community Mental Health, etc.; educational advocates promote appropriate Individual Education Plan transition goals and objectives; and Arc staff independently facilitates Person Centered Plans (PCP) or advocate at the PCP for transitioning students.

Source

Submitted by The Arc of Northwest Wayne County.

Website: Family Circles Program

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Link

http://www.thearcofnova.org

Description

Through the project’s seminars families and students with I/DD actively learn to navigate the systems, to ask the right questions within those systems, and to write plans which they can put into place to best prepare their family for life after exiting the school system. Individuals with I/DD learn to identify their strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes so that they may advocate for themselves. They also continue to learn social skills and life skills to further their independence; to confidently speak up using whatever modality they prefer; and to actively participate in changing their lives and changing systems.

Source

Submitted by The Arc of Northern Virginia.

Website: PATH Facilitation

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Link

http://arcnm.org/how-we-help/personal-plan-facilitation/

Description

Person centered planning has become a powerful way to help people with developmental disabilities and their families achieve their dreams. The PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) is one of many tools that can help individuals and families into a more positive and possible future. The Arc of New Mexico recognizes this process as an important advocacy strategy and uses it to empower students to envision their future in new ways. Upon completion of the PATH staff meet with each student on a regular basis, depending on each individual’s needs, to review progress on goals, barriers to goals, and to develop strategies to overcome barriers. In addition, the students come together to discuss progress on goals, share ideas, and discuss other issues that affect them and strategies to address them.

Source

Submitted by The Arc of New Mexico.