Virginia’s Transition Community of Practice:

Virginia Intercommunity Transition Council(VITC)

Marianne Moore, Virginia Department of Education Kris Allen, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitation Services

Wanda Bass, Virginia Department of Education Training and Technical Assistance Center at VCU

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who:

share a craft or profession, and

come together to share that common

interest.

What is a Community of Practice?

Come together through:

Online: web meetings, discussion boards, newsgroups

Face to Face: lunch room, agency office, local Parent Resource Center meeting room, etc.

How do CoP members Communicate?

To share information and experiences

Gain knowledge

Develop personally and professionally

Why do they communicate

Why are CoPs Important?

Encourages sharing of ideas

Newcomerso Observe or perform tasks as they

learn how the group works

Ex. Apprenticeship, Student Teacher, Internships

Creates a social context for learning

Create common ground

Guides learning

Gives meaning to action

Fosters interaction

Decrease the learning curve

Respond rapidly to needs

Reduce reworking the same ideas

Spark new ideas, solutions, products and services

Management of knowledge

Group of people from Virginia

State agencies State organizationsAdvocacy groups AdvocatesYouthParents

VITC: What

VITC members come together to improve the transition from school to the postsecondary world:

Education Training Employment Interdependent Living Community Membership

Promote successful transition outcomes for youth by providing leadership and innovation in:

Employment

VITC’s MISSION

Education and Training

Living Independently

Community Participation

Community support systems that can influence the success for all youth in transition

Virginia Intercommunity Transition Council

Core Belief

Take the Steps Towards Person Centered Thinking

Ask

Listen

Commit

Respect

Regional (East and West)

State agencies/organizations

Local area teams: Schools, VR, MH/ID, SS, IL, Regional Programs, etc.

VITC

TPC

LTC

Virginia IntercommunityTransition Council

Transition Practitioners Council

Local Transition Councils

Communities Communicate!

LocalTransition Councils

To improve the support and advocacy services available to youth with disabilities to help them achieve long term goals and enhance the quality of their lives

Why

Areas of need are identified and strategies are created to improve services

Transition councils improve our capacity for delivering effective transition programs and services

Information is exchanged about local, regional, and statewide agencies

Clarification of agency roles and responsibilities

Purpose

Identify potential localities

Determine who is interested

Attend transition council meetings in other localities to determine:

What they doHow they operate

Groundwork

Organize a stakeholders meeting Special Education Director Transition Coordinator DARS Agencies that provide services to youth

( i.e. CIL, CSB, ESO, WIA) Disability Support Personnel PERT/WWRC TTAC

Getting Started

Determine interest of stakeholders: How to utilize Indicator 13 and 14 information to

improve transitional services Networking opportunities with other practitioners Community agency resources Independent living resources Employment options within the community Access to Career Technical Education classes Resource information (i.e. DMV, Benefit Planning,

SSI/SSDI)

Developing the Transition Council

Determine meeting dates, location, and timeIdentify roles of facilitator and note takerDevelop an agenda:

CelebrationsAnnouncementsReview Past Meeting NotesGuest Speaker Items/issues to be discussedPlanning for future events and guest speakersUpcoming events

Develop Operational Procedures

This is an important component of the council in order to maintain purpose, function, and focus

Brainstorm ideas for a vision and mission statement with council members

Develop a Vision /Mission Statement

What Can A Local Council Do?

Grant OpportunitiesGuest SpeakersIdentify what is workingDevelop a college night/career nightCommunicate with local and state leadersDevelop a Resource DirectoryFuture PlanningDiscussions-Group Think Identify challenges and barriers

See handout for more planning ideas

Contact your area TTAC or DRS representative

Next steps and resources