an integrated transition systems project operated jointly by the knoxville area career center &...
TRANSCRIPT
An Integrated Transition Systems Project
operated jointly by the
Knoxville Area Career Center & The Cerebral Palsy Center
Stephanie [email protected]
Knoxville Seamless Transition Project
Characteristics of the Transition Systems Integration Model
No lag time between systemsSupports driven by the student Students learn in the community 6 hours a
dayServices managed by highly structured
schedules that include work & non-work activities
Staff are trained to set up environments and support job seekers in speaking up for self, decision-making & problem-solving
Supporting families as they transition from entitlement to eligibility
Partnership
Critical Stakeholders involved from the start:
Knox County Schools Division of Rehabilitation Services Division of Intellectual Disabilities Services
University of Tennessee San Francisco State University
How the Guidance Group Began
Built on existing relationships established through collaboration on: • Local Business Advisory Council• Regional Employment Consortium• Local Employment Consortium• TN Customized Employment Program
Knox County Schools wanted to replicate the Transition Integrated Transition Systems Model and pilot it in our county
Shocking Statistics Only 13% of Special
Ed. Graduates are employed 2 years post exit
Only 25% of Special Ed. Graduates are employed 3-5 years after exit
Of these percentages only 38% earn minimum wage or better
These graduates are at high risk for poverty
The majority of these graduates are in segregated programs
Study conducted in 2000 by the National Council on Education
Outcomes :No service disruption
“The day after graduation looks the same as the day before”
Same jobsSame community activities
Same support staff
Outcomes :100% found employment92% are currently employedAveraging 10.2 hours per week40% receive funding from Division of Intellectual Disabilities Services
31% growth in quality of life indicators after one year
Quality of life Indicators
31% growth after one year in the project
Handling money and making purchases
Understanding complex instructionsShowing initiativeInteracting with othersTaking care of personal belongingsFood preparation and eating in publicEmployment and other activities
What did it look like before?
Knox County Schools
Some work-based learning (average 2 x per week)
Very few referrals to DIDS or VROnly partnered with CRP’s for
sheltered workLife skills taught in a classroomIEP’s did not include long-term
transition goals
Cerebral Palsy Center
Very few referrals from transitioning students
Referrals would come after students graduated and sat at home for several months frustrated
Community-based and Employment-based services were separate
Participants saw staff as friendsSafety and protection first instead of
Employment First
Workforce Connections/Career Center
TN Customized Employment Grant ending
Career Center was fully accessible but people with disabilities were not utilizing the services
VR was a mandated partner but not truly integrated
Role of the StudentStudents MUST : want to work have family support attend and participate in all IEP meetings be open to home visits participate in person centered planning
and divulge information such as:• Likes, dislikes, experiences, personality traits, skills,
motivation• Support needs and accommodations• Work history, employment preferences, stamina, schedule
Role of Voc. Rehab.
Specify one case manager for all students in the project
Take the application as soon as students are identified
Fund the employment piece up to 90 days after placement
Role of DIDS
Assign one case manager to all participants
Take application as soon as students are identified
Fund post-employment follow up services and community-based services (only happened 40% of the time due to the long waiting list)
Role of Workforce Connections
Provide an employment specialist Conduct Self-Advocacy training Ensure all Career Center
resources are accessible Access WIA funds including
summer youth employment funds
Role of School System
oRefer appropriate studentsoModify IEP’s to match project goals
oFund community-based services until graduation
Role of the CP Center
Attend all IEP meetings Conduct interests inventories and home
visitsDevelop master and individual schedulesHire community specialists/ case managersProvide transportationSupport students in the communityProvide direct service
How in the world do we do this?
The Nuts and Bolts
Significant Scheduling Details
Heterogeneous groups based on common interests
Chronological age-appropriatenessNatural Supports from non-disabled persons
Use the students’ network (Including family, friends, classmates, church members, etc)
Significant Scheduling Details cont…
Natural ConsequencesNatural ProportionActivities based in the student’s
neighborhood (so they become regulars)
Supports driven by the studentEmployment: First Service to Consider
Required: Large Doses of Creativity, Perseverance & Commitment
Significant Staffing Components
Staffing support 1:3 ratio, Employment 1:1
Non-authoritarian approach
Natural consequences (follow behavior plans)
Staff support families and act as case managers
Significant Staffing Components
Staff help students by “fitting in”
Staff trained to support students in • Speaking up for self
• Decision making• Problem solving
EMPLOYMENT
Pick up time/
Staff/
Phone number
8:30am
Kevin
715-9716
8:45am
Susan
705-9720
8:45am
Rachel
705-8812
8:45am
Rachel
705-8812
8:30
Nikki
905-9717
Activities/
Items needed
Drop to work 9:00
Pick Up from work 11:30
Library/ Personal Shopping/ Bowling$2
Volunteer at Mobile Meals
YMCA workout/ swim(bring bathing suit, shower stuff and change of clothes)
Drop to work 9:00
Pick Up from work 11:30
Volunteer at Angelic Ministries
Swap to Kevin’s group
Grocery shopping-$5
Cooking class
Laundromat(bring 1 load of clothes, soap, $3.00)
Drop to work 9:00Pick Up from work 11:30
YMCA- workout (bring change of clothes)
Banking- cash paycheck
Lunch/
Where/
$ or sack
Sack lunch
CAC atrium
Lunch at Mall-
Sack or $5
Sack Lunch park Cooking class at John
23rd on UT campus
Fast Food $5
Drop off time/
Staff/
Phone number
2:45pm
Kevin
715-9716
3:00pm
Susan
705-9720
3:00pm
Rachel
705-8823
3:00pm
Kevin
715-9716
2:45pm
Nikki
905-9716
Eric’s Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
MASTER SCHEDULES
How Do We Fund it?
Additional grants, fundraisers, and WIA funds are required to supplement public funding
School System funds community and work based learning during the student’s last year in school
VR funds employment services during the student’s last year
DIDS funds begin when the school funding ends to continue community based activity and long-term employment supports
Success Stories
How YOU can get started today!
Build partnershipsIncorporate employment into every dayEmpower your participantsMake the day meaningfulRe-train or hire new staffGet creativeThink you can…think you can…think
you can!!!
For more information contact:
Stephanie PotterWorkforce ConnectionsPO Box 51650Knoxville, TN 37950