engaging families to help students transition into post-secondary opportunities presented by: terri...
TRANSCRIPT
Engaging Families
to Help Students
Transition into Post-
Secondary
OpportunitiesPresented by:
Terri McLaughlin, Transition Specialist
Margaret C. O’Hare, Project Director
Federation for Children with Special Needs
INFORMING, EDUCATING, EMPOWERING FAMILIES617-236-7210 | www.fcsn.org | [email protected]
Families play a powerful role in their children’s education!
Today’s Outcomes
• Review research trends about families helping students during secondary transitions
• Explore how schools can partner with parents through whole school and special education processes
• Develop strategies for collaborating with community partners
• Identify ways that parents can support students through the transition process
What do YOU believe about how families can help their
students plan for their future???
Overall Findings from 40 Years of Research
When families are involved at home and at school…
children do better in school…
…schools are better at educating children.
AND
Parent Family Involvement Engagement
Random Acts Systemic
Events-driven Student outcome-oriented
Add-on Integrated
No infrastructure Sustainable over time
Compliance Ownership and continuous improvement
What are parents’
motivations for becoming involved?
Factors Motivating Parental Engagement
in Their Child’s EducationPersonal Motivators
• Parental role: “Do I believe I’m supposed to be involved?”
• Sense of efficacy for helping the child to learn:
“Do I believe my involvement will make a difference for my
child?”
*Adapted from work of Kathleen Hoover-Dempsey
Factors Motivating Parental Engagement in Their Child’s Education
Contextual Motivators• School climate:
“Is the school welcoming? Do people at school tell me they want me involved?”
• Invitation from teachers: “Does the teacher ask me to be involved? Does she
offer specific requests for my involvement?”
• Invitations from the student: “Does my child want or need my involvement?”
Factors Motivating Parental Engagement
in Their Child’s EducationLife Context Variables
• Parents’ knowledge and skills: “What can I do to help? What do I like to do?”
• Parents’ time and energy:
“What can I reasonably choose to do considering all the
demands upon my time and energy?”
• Parents’ culture:
“What are appropriate roles for my involvement? What do I
think would be useful for me to do?”
Why Families Get Involved
• Understand that they should be involved
• Feel capable of making a contribution
• Feel invited by the school and by their children
(Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler)
Family members are more likely to become involved when they:
How do families become engaged in
helping their students envision post-secondary options?
Cultural Differences
For students from culturally and linguistically
diverse backgrounds, the issues regarding
the unique difference between school-based
individualist planning and family collective
decision-making should be recognized and
addressed prior to TRANSITION
planning meetings.
(Wehmeyer, 2007)
• Leverage strengths among family members
• Build productive home-school relationships
• Go beyond typical school-based events
• Support mutual responsibility for education success
• Stress developmental readiness skills
Ready, Willing, and Able: A Developmental Approach to College Access and Success by Savitz-Romer, M., and Souffard, S.M.
Helping Families Support College & Career Readiness
Identity Development• Building upon strengths, interests and preferences
• Understanding self in relation to others
• Dealing with identity conflicts
Setting goals that set up success
Aiming high
Managing the motivational balancing act
Motivation & Goal Setting
Self-Regulation Skills
• Focusing and maintaining attention
• Delaying gratification
• Planning and overcoming obstacles
• Reflecting on behaviors and impact on others
• Finding opportunities for practice
Strategies to Engage Families
• Communicate with family members on an ongoing basis.
• Involve all families in post-secondary exploration activities.
• Help families connect and build networks.
• Facilitate family-youth discussions about post-secondary options.
• Organize student-led discussion and events.
It’s MYPlan !
Start
Getting Ready
Making the TRANSITION Plan
Planning Ahead
Leaving School?
Moving On Employment
Local Colleges
Residential College
Training
TRANSITION - PREPARATION FOR LIFE!
• School to community
• Exploration of: post-secondary vocational experiences employment opportunities housing transportation
• Each student’s BIG vision• Self advocacy & self determination• Skill based learning
LIFE’sPUZZLE
EMPLOYMENT
INSTRUCTION
EDUCATION
RELATEDSERVICES
RECREATION
Social Skills& Networks
TRANSPORTATION
COMMUNITYLIVING
POSTSECONDARYEDUCATION
FUNCTIONALVOCATIONALEVALUATION
COLLABORATION: Schools
How can families partner with: • Schools, especially in whole school initiatives
• Adult agencies
• Employers
• Higher education
• Other community partners
To Partner Effectively withTheir School Districts
Families need and want to understand the TRANSITION planning process.
• What should I ask about ?
• When should I ask about it ?
• Whom should I ask about TRANSITION?
Community Based Planning Strategies…
While In High School or After Senior Year
* INDEPENDENT LIVING *
HEALTH & WELLNESS / FITNESS
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT / ADULT MEDICAL CARE
TECHNOLOGY DEVICES / SOCIAL NETWORKS
NUTRITION / MEAL PLANNING / FOOD SHOPPING
COOKING / HOME AND PERSONAL SAFETY
FRIENDS / RELATIONSHIPS
* EMPLOYMENT *
JOB CARVING / JOB COACH / MENTOR
CAREER EXPLORATION / JOB DEVELOPMENT
INCLUSIVE PAID COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT
REAL WORK - REAL PAY / NATURAL SUPPORTS
ONE STOP CAREER CENTERS / MRC
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARDS
COMPETITIVE WAGES
* COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION *
COMMUNITY SERVICE / VOLUNTEERING
TRAVEL TRAINING / LEISURE ACTIVITIES
VOTING / CULTURE / RELIGION / SOCIAL NETWORKS
SELF ADVOCACY / MENTORING / CITIZENSHIP
RECREATION in the COMMUNITY
CHARITY EVENTS
* EDUCATION *
COLLEGE / COMMUNITY COLLEGE
INSTRUCTIONAL COACH / STUDY HELP
ICE - Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment - DESE
TECHNICAL SCHOOL / SKILLS TRAINING
ADULT EDUCATION / CONTINUING ED MUSIC
ART / DRAMA CLASSES
TRANSITION PROGRAMS
To Support Their Children Through
the TRANSITION Process
Families Want To Understand:
• The unique differences in the IEP process during the TRANSITION years
• The federal law IDEA and state special education laws around TRANSITION
COLLABORATION: Adult Agencies
Chapter 688 referral process vs. ELIGIBILITY
• Department of Developmental Services - DDS
• Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission - MRC
• Massachusetts Dept. of Mental Health - DMH
• Massachusetts Commission of the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing - MCDHH
• Massachusetts Commission for the Blind - MCB
• Department of Children and Families - DCF
• Department of Youth Services - DYS
COLLABORATION: Employers• Identify services, agencies, and disability programs available in your
community. Start early especially around the issues of guardianship, supported employment and long-term living arrangements
• Job shadowing programs which may exist in your own community: local cable station, veterinary technicians, library, local hospital/nursing facilities
• When possible, introduce activities that will help find or lead to future employment: using computers, using a bank account, creating menus
• Interviewing people that have jobs in which the student might be interested
• Going to an actual workplace for a tour
• Getting a job and trying it out
• Community service
Great Websites for Youth Career & Job Exploration• www.careerideasforkids.com/kid's.htm Career Ideas for Kids helps students
uncover their special interests and abilities.
• www.Youthhood.org is a web-based program designed for students and adults in an interactive format around issues of post-secondary education, careers, and independent living.
• www.Mynextmove.org is a youth-friendly website developed by the Department of Labor to assist youth with career exploration, job expectations, and assists with appropriate high school or post-secondary course selection.
• http://www.onetonline.org/ O*Net OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals and students.
• https://masscis.intocareers.org Massachusetts Career Information System provides occupational and educational information to help people make better-informed career and school choices.
(c) Feb. 2009 belongs to Andrew Sinclair- use with permission
ICE Partnership Program• Dual enrollment/early admit opportunity for
students,18-22, with significant disabilities
• Grant-funded from the MA Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education in partnership with the Dept. of Higher Education and the Institute for Community Inclusion
• Supported by the MA Legislators
COLLABORATION: Higher Education
• Adult Agencies
• Multicultural community based organizations and groups
• City/town boards local government, Commission for Citizens with Disabilities
• Employers and Work focused groups i.e. Regional Employment Board, Workforce Investment Board, Career Center, job fairs
• Transportation systems, local para transit, Easter Seals Project Action
• Independent Living Centers
• Federation for Children with Special Needs, ICI
COLLABORATION: Community Partners
Support families to make the link to community partners who can play an important role in the child’s life after high school
Support Networks ….
• Leverage the support networks around your community
• Support comes from everywhere…. parents, teachers, agencies, community organizations, friends, mentors & others
• Given time, and lots of help along the way, a child can carve their own path, make their own way… and dreams can come true
• Thanks to your dedication and hard work, a child can reach the sky
Any Questions???
Thank YouTerri McLaughlin, Transition Specialist
(617) 399-8336
Margaret C. O’Hare, Project Director
(617) 399-8344