Guideposts for Success Believe in YOURSELF!! 3/5/2014
Jan 14, 2016
Guideposts for SuccessBelieve in YOURSELF!!
3/5/2014
You Will Face Challenges and Difficulties
The Guideposts for Success help students deal with these
challenges
Students with disabilities may face:
• More obstacles finding employment than their peers and also higher unemployment rates
• Not having the academic skills you need, which leads to weak job skills
Don’t Be a Statistic!! • Special education students are more than twice
as likely as their peers in general education to drop out of high school
• Students with disabilities are half as likely as their peers NOT to participate in postsecondary education
• Two thirds of students with learning disabilities have not been identified by the school system as having such disorders
Guideposts For Success/NCWD,
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/sites/default/files/Guideposts-for-Success-(English).pdf
Rise Above Obstacles
The Guideposts Are for ALL Students
They include:
1. School Preparation
2. Youth Development & Leadership
3. Career Preparation
4. Connecting Activities
5. Family Involvement
Guidepost #1 School Preparation
• Preparing for post- secondary life includes gaining knowledge, learning skills, and developing a plan for college, technical school and/or job experience
• Creating a safe learning environment that is supported by highly qualified staff who are supportive of your goals and dreams
What is School Preparation?
Be Prepared!
• Access technology and specific individual learning accommodations while you are in school
• Develop knowledge of reasonable accommodations that can be requested in college or other educational settings
• Develop the skills and learning strategies you need to be successful, for example:
Ask Questions !!!!!
Accommodations Allow You to Be Successful
We use Accommodations throughout our life
• When you learn to ride a bicycle you use training wheels to learn balance until you can ride on your own
• In school you may need large print, a screen reader, computer, calculator, note taker or extended time to take a test
• Your ‘extra set of wheels’ are not always available and you must learn how to be successful without them
• Assistive technology provides access to course work and the workplace
It Works Both Ways!!!
• Students need to understand the reasonable accommodations they need and how to request them
• Then teachers, professors, parents and employers can do their part
Guidepost #2Career Preparation
What is Career Preparation?
•Identifying your job/career interests through career assessments •On-the-job training experiences (paid or unpaid), including community service that matches your skills and interests•Learning how to communicate about your disability and your work support and accommodation needs
Opportunities to learn first hand on the job so you can:
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Guidepost # 3. Youth Development
and Leadership
What is Youth Development and Leadership?
A process that helps you meet the challenges of adulthood which can include:
• Developing self-advocacy skills (expressing your learning needs and style to others)
• Mentoring opportunities which will develop leadership skills
• Learning how to resolve conflict
Qualities of Leadership
Guidepost #4 Connecting Activities
What are Connecting Activities?
•Mental and physical health services •Housing and transportation support•Financial planning and management services•Post secondary supports like tutoring and assistive technology•Adult service agencies, for example:
• BRS – Bureau of Rehabilitation Services• DDS – Department of Developmental Services• DMHAS – Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Stay connected!
Students may want to connect with:
Guidepost #5Family Involvement and
Support
What is Family Involvement and
Support?
Parents, families and other caring adults who will:
•Have high expectations that build upon your strengths , interests and help you achieve independence•Understand you and your disability to help you be successful in your education , work and your daily life•Remain involved in your life
Guideposts were created to help you on your journey through
adulthood.
CT State Department of Education, Transition Task Force
Where can I get more information?
Patricia L. Anderson, Ph.D.Education ConsultantCT State Department of EducationBureau of Special Education
Christopher
McCray Catherine D.
Forker
A presentation for the Connecticut Transition Task
Force developed by:
Acknowledgements
Patti Clay – Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS)
Cathy Felice – Tunxis Community College
Cathy Forker – State Education Resource Center (SERC)
Khampasong Khantivong – Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
(BRS)
Chris Librandi – Fairfield Public Schools
Christopher McCray – Student Representative
Beth Reel – CT Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
A special thank you to the members of the Guideposts for Success Subcommittee of the Connecticut Transition Task Force who developed, guided, and edited this presentation:
Acknowledgements, continued…Valerie Reyher – The Kennedy Center, Inc.
Barry Rita – Board of Education & Services for the Blind (BESB)
Dorine Russo – School Counselor
Pamela J. Starr – Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU)
Cindy Stevenson – Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
John Van Hare – African & Caribbean American Parents of
Children with Disabilities (AFCAMP)
And, to Patricia L. Anderson, Ph.D., CT State Department of
Education, Bureau of Special Education/Bureau of Rehabilitation
Services (BRS), for her ongoing leadership and dedication to
improving the lives of students with disabilities