Handouts

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, allows for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services to students with disabilities. This presentation will provide participants with an overview of the definition of pre-employment transition services, and how PA OVR has implemented services in the last year. Success stories will be highlighted, as well as the vision for the future of Pre-Employment Transition Services.

Presenter: Sarah Vogel

Pennsylvania is committed to improving Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) outcomes for all people with disabilities and making the Commonwealth a leading Employment First state. Hear providers share their experiences as they transform to support more youth and adults in CIE through participation in the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP).

Presenter: Devon Grant

This is a follow-up presentation to the April 2017 regional sessions entitled: Successful Practices in Secondary Transition: A Focus on Competitive Integrated Employment. During this session, the presenters will continue the discussion of how Career Technical Education, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Special Education can support students with disabilities in gaining the skills needed for Competitive Integrated Employment. Effective practice programs, activities, and strategies currently being utilized in Pennsylvania will be discussed.

Presenter: Multiple Presenters

This presentation will cover neurodiversity's definition of Autism, challenges, and opportunities, as well as the role the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation plays in Secondary Transition, Early Reach, and Pre-Employment Training for youth with Autism. Presenters will engage participants in sharing the specifics of the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Information regarding how to access resources and understand Pre-Employment Transition Services will also be discussed.

Presenter: Tanya Regli, Jose Velasco

Participants will examine transition planning with a particular focus on assistive technology (AT) by considering questions that might be asked throughout the IEP planning process. An emphasis will be placed upon developing a student's independence with and self-advocacy for individual AT tools.

Presenter: Gill, Laffey, Ziegler

Lincoln IU 12 has recently become a provider with OVR which enables students to experience paid Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLE). In this session, information will be shared on establishing your organization as an OVR provider, connecting with businesses, and supporting students on the work site.

Presenter: Bowersox, Hrycek, Krebs

During the 2016-17 school year, eleven competitive employment grants were awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education to educational entities across the Commonwealth. The purpose of these grants was to plan, develop, and implement transition goals that would assist at-risk students in completing school and community-based assessment(s) and instruction leading to competitive integrated employment. This presentation will showcase the grantees’ projects by providing participants with an overview of program goals and student data related to assessment(s), instructional techniques and strategies, resources, and professional development that were proven effective.

Presenter: Michael Stoehr

During this interactive session, learn about the tools available to evaluate what’s happening in transition, as a young person, family member, or transition stakeholder. Through the PA Development Disabilities Council project, a transition quality indicator survey package is now available to evaluate transition, based upon research grounded in the dreams and goals expressed by youth and families in statewide focus groups. Free resources such as infographics or “how to” guides and youth stories will be shared. Participants will be encouraged to provide input and to showcase practices. This information will be available to everyone through the www.secondarytransition.org website in the near future.

Presenter: Multiple Presenters

Legislation has opened the door for ALL individuals interested in college. Institutions of higher education now are racing to find ways to provide equitable programming for students with all types of abilities, leading to wonderful collaborations and universally designed curriculum. Join us to explore one such journey as a community college and center for independent living partner to plant and harvest the SEED (Success, Engagement, Education, Determination) program.

Presenter: Michelle Mitchell

This session will provide a working model of how county and state stakeholders, employers, educators, parents, and job coaching agencies can work collaboratively to achieve a goal of helping high school students with disabilities transition from high school to competitive integrated employment.

Presenter: Multiple Presenters