Last year in PISD starts today!

Haven't posted in a very long time! Today is a big day because Austin is entering the "Beyond High School" program. I think it is going to be great for him learning about budgeting and riding public transportation to work. This is the transition before going out into the real world!

What is "Transition"? Where do I even begin?

Those are going to be big questions put to the parent when their child is about to enter high school. Around age 14-16, the child will be invited to the ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) meetings to discuss his own IEP (Individual Education Plan). They'll start doing certain screening tools and asking the interests of the child. But, rather than go into great detail here, check out this website to get started. It has a wealth of articles available for download.

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)

Another source presents a power point presentation:

Transition in Texas

Also something to think about when planning course choices for high school are the career and technology classes. It's not all about science, history, English, and math anymore. People get so caught up in getting their kids into "honors" or "AP" classes. Unfortunately, not all fit into this category, even with modifications. School systems are beginning to upload the course guides for their students. Here is the link to Plano ISD's high school course guides to show as an example:

PISD Course Guides

If you are interested in how teachers evaluate students and what is taken into consideration for placement in certain CTE (Career and Technical Education) classes check out the

Career and Technical Special Populations Center

This site has instructional videos for teachers but also resources for parents.

During my internet search on this topic, information about conference popped up. A conference on Transition!

Texas Transition Conference
February 23-25, 2009
Double Tree Hotel
Austin, TX

It can be very hard finding information about a school systems transition program. Some school websites won't even list their Special Education Dept.! But, it's nice to know that some do. Here's an example in Richardson, TX ISD:

Richardson ISD Transition Services

More links about transition:

Wright's Law section on transition

An article about an organization called College Living Experience

The Horizons School in Alabama which helps young adults with learning disability to transition into life. It's a non-degree program

A tip sheet about moving on to high school. Institute for Community Inclusion

A booklet from the ICI: "Transition Planning for Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs"

Another booklet from ICI about building personal networks to achieve goals when leaving high school: "Making Dreams A Reality"

"My Possibilities" - a new program in Collin County

A new program is starting in Collin County called "My Possibilities". Read the news article of a few mothers who took things into their own hands to initiate this wonderful program!

Dallas Morning News - "Plano Center to offer adults with disabilities place to develop life skills"

"My Possibilities is a unique holistic approach to help special-needs adults in all areas of their lives after high school," said Ryan Gafford, co-chairman of the department of special education at Plano West, which serves 150 to 200 special needs students each year."

You can visit the "My Possibilities" website here:

My Possibilities

A few other programs of interest for those with intellectual disabilitites:

Tarrant County College First Choice Program

The First Choice Program is a uniquely designed academic and vocational program that offers a multitude of educational opportunities for students with special needs to train for employment, polish their academic skills, enhance their ability and potential to live independently and build their self-esteem in an age-appropriate environment, while participating in a college experience.

The special needs population includes individuals who have borderline intellectual functioning (BIFS), individuals with learning disabilities and those who are mild to moderately mentally challenged. All students must be at least 18 years of age or are completing their senior year in high school.

The mission of the First Choice Program is to enhance the quality of life for special needs individuals by empowering them with the tools they need to meet the challenges that will confront them as they make the transition from codependency to independent living in the real world.

Another program is based out of the Houston area called V.A.S.T.

The goal of the V.A.S.T. Program is to provide educational opportunities and support services to individuals with intellectual and/or learning disabilities up through 8th gr. level. Through a broad selection of courses, students have a chance to enhance their basic academic , computer and independent living skills, assist with successful transition into college credit courses and/or learn to live more independently in the community through courses and activities that develop social skills and promote service learning.

There are some online brochures for the program as well. Click on the "V.A.S.T" above to go to their website to download.

Videos of VCFS

First of all, here is a pic of my children and niece. My daughter, Lauren, is 21 and my son, Austin, is just turned 20 on April 23rd. My niece, Bethannie, is 10. This pic was taken on a visit to my family in Evansville, Indiana. That's the Ohio River behind the kids.

I recently watched some videos of children with VCFS and I could see some resemblence to Austin in those stages of life. In the video with Quinn Bradley, there is some similarities of Austin and Quinn in their eyes and facial structure. Austin met Quinn at the VCFSEF conference last summer here in Plano, TX. They showed the video Quinn and his family made of life with VCFS. It was a small documentary made to help raise awareness as well as money for research.

Life With VCFS Part 1

Life With VCFS Part 2

Life With VCFS Part 3

This video is from about the study at the M.I.N.D. Institute and features an 11 year old boy named Justin. Again those features remind me of Austin at that age and a bit younger.

M.I.N.D Institute video

Another cute little guy on Youtube named Caden that brings back some memories. Austin, too, could not talk at this age. His words were "na-na". He signed and used pictures to communicate. He talks quite well now.

"Caden Says Mama" from Youtube

Plano ISD's Beyond High School Program

I found this description online but there is no website for this program. This is the program my son will go into before he exits PISD.

Disability Population

Significant

Ages Served

18-22

Funding Sources

Local Education Agency

U.S. Department of Education

Community Location

Postsecondary: Community College

Description

Beyond High School is located at Collin County Community College. Eight teachers and four paraprofessionals/job coaches currently support 23 students. Whose Future Is It Anyway is used to help students self-direct their transition planning process. Scheduling is highly individualized with the emphasis on employability skills and employment. All students participate in career exploration activities, job training or competitive employment. A job coach accompanies the students into the workplace to provide additional training according to each student’s level of need and remains with the student to support that employment as long as necessary. Community-based instruction is provided in the actual community settings in which the student plans to live, work and recreate. Staff at Beyond High School meet regularly with adult agency representatives to help provide a seamless transition towards postsecondary adult living.

Year Established

1988

Operated

school-year

Curricula

The following is sponsor for Beyond High School that provides job opportunities for its students. They highlight two of the students.

Which Which

Special Needs Fair

Today I went to a special needs fair in Lewisville, TX. I had discovered a flyer about it while internet surfing, comparing what surrounding school systems had to say about their programs for Transition and their class offerings for Special Education in high school. This fair was put on by the Special Education PTSA of Lewisville ISD. It was a very informative fair. They had representatives from DARS, Denton County MHMR, Denton County ARC, Dallas ARC, etc. They had booths for special needs camps like Camp Summit. I also found an organization that gives free outings for the disabled. I saw two booths from financial planners for special needs. One booth had babysitting service for special needs children which I guess would be categorized as a respite organization?

The LISD Special Needs PTSA also provided a directory for services which I need to read. The also have a resource directory online that includes names of doctors and lawyers and various organizations that deal with special needs. Here is the link:

SEPTSA Special Needs Service Provider booklet

The above file opens in an Adobe Reader. If you would like to request their hard copy booklet go here:

http://lisdseptsa.txpta.org/index.php?module=dynamic_pages&level=main&page=8

and to see the organization's main website:

LISD Special Education PTSA

Information Conference from TxP2P

Recently I subscribed to the Texas Parent to Parent website and newsletter. This is an awesome group of people who have a dedication to educate and support special needs families and issues. They are having their 4th annual conference in Austin, Texas this summer covering several topics dealing transition and advocacy. Definitely something to consider going to this summer! Here is the link to their registration packet that gives descriptions of their sessions during the conference:

4th Annual TxP2P Parent Conference:
We're All in this Together!
Friday & Saturday, June 27th & 28th, 2008
Omni Austin Hotel, Southpark, Austin