VR Counselors Working with Schools During Transition Laura Spears & Kelley Ali Transition Specialists, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department

VR Counselors Working with Schools During

Transition

Laura Spears & Kelley AliTransition Specialists,

South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department

November 18, 2013

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2013

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Why partner with the schools?

“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.”

—H.E. Luccock

If we are going to provide services to transition age students, we must partner with the schools.


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Webinar Overview

• Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

• Educating our school partners

• What we can do for our school partners

• Supporting data

• What works and what doesn’t


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MOA’s with School Districts

• We have a MOA with each of the 81 school districts in SC

• It describes each role in the collaboration between the school district and VR

• New counselors learn about the MOA in Transition 101


5Educating the schools about VROutreach Materials

• Website- scvrd.net

• DVD’s

• Brochures

• Posters


6Educating the Schools about VRActivities

• Additional activities Presentations Meetings

VR’s counterpart meetingsAttending school related meetings such as IEP, 504

• Open House

• Newsletter Sample of the school newsletter article


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VR Presence in the schools

• SCVRD currently has 85 counselors that are involved with transition age youth

• Transition Services Programs High School High Tech

TSS/TSC

General Transition

• Counselors have assigned schools they cover

• Guideposts for Success/Activities


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Guidepost Activities

• Skills to Pay Bills

http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/softskills/

• High School High Tech Activities Toolkit

http://www.abletrust.org/hsht/resources/


9How we provide support to schools-Teacher’s Perspective• Teachers are required to provide Transition

Services to all students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

• Career Specialist Services are funded because of Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) recommends a guidance ratio of 500:1, but South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) 2005 legislated a ratio of 300:1


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Teacher’s Perspective

• Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA) reauthorized December 3, 2004 and became effective July 1, 2005.

• Requirement by US Department of Education (US DOE) through the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

• Submission of progress towards 20 indicators toward state implementation of IDEA is reported in Annual Performance Reports http://nichcy.org/laws/idea#indicators


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Teacher’s Perspective – Indicator 1 & 2

• Indicator 1: Percent of youth with individualized education plans (IEPs) graduating from high school with a regular diploma compared to percent of all youth in the State graduating with a regular diploma.

• Indicator 2: Percent of youth with IEPs dropping out of high school compared to the percent of all youth in the State dropping out of high school.


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Teacher’s Perspective - Indicator 13

• Indicator 13: Percent of youth aged 16 and above with an IEP that includes coordinated, measurable, annual IEP goals and transition services that will reasonably enable the child to meet the post-secondary goals.


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Teacher’s Perspective - Indicator 14

• Indicator 14: Percent of youth who had IEPs, are no longer in secondary school and who have been competitively employed, enrolled in some type of postsecondary school, or both, within one year of leaving high school.


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Teacher’s Perspective

• Minimize the search to provide opportunities available for students because students, parents and teachers may not be aware of available opportunities

• Research and evidence based strategies and programs that work and are effective to engage students resulting in successful outcomes for all involved


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How we provide support to the schools

• Work Experiences

• Employment & post secondary education

activities

• Job Readiness Training

• Community resource

• Family support


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Give RecognitionGive Recognition

Richard M. Kuffel Excellence in Education Award Winner at the 2013 SCVRA Conference


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Collaboration on Statewide Level

• Advisory Councils

• Transition Alliance of SC


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Supporting Data

School Referrals increased from 1806 in FY 2009 to 2917 in FY 2013.

Successful Employment Outcomes for students referred by schools increased from 589 in FY 2009 to 658 in FY 2013.

New referrals of students in regular education increased from 170 in FY 2009 to 532 in FY 2013.


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What Doesn’t Work

• Not maintaining a regular schedule with the school.

• Not maintaining contact with the school if there was a counselor vacancy.

• Reaching out only to special education teachers.

• Trying to make the school meet VR’s needs.

• Using VR language.


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What Doesn’t Work (cont.)

• Not letting the school know about the progress or successful outcomes of students.

• Not collaborating with the principal and other decision makers.


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What Works

• Maintaining a consistent presence in the schools.

• Reaching out to other school staff in addition to special education teachers.

• Involving the school in activities such as Disability Mentoring Day.

• Attending school activities such as school registration or Parent Night.


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What Works (cont.)

• Attending IEP or 504 meetings when possible and providing updated information when you cannot.

• Proving work experiences for students.

• Providing VR services in collaboration with the school.


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Contact Information

• Laura Spears, Transition Specialist [email protected] 803-896-6574

• Kelley Ali, Transition Specialist [email protected] 803-896-7047


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Questions?Comments?


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Register for Upcoming WebinarsDecember 10

Role of Work Experiences in Transition

February 3Work Experience Expectations

February 26Experiences with Transition and Work

March 18 Work Experience Site Development

April 24 Working with Youth in the Justice System

May 15 Using technology with youth for employment


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Thank You


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Education CreditsCRCC CreditBy December 18th participants must score 80%

or better on a online Post Test and submit an online CRCC Request Form via the MyTACE Portal.

My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal


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Southeast TACE Region IVToll-free: (866) 518-7750 [voice/tty]

Fax: (404) 541-9002

Web: TACEsoutheast.org

MyTACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal

Email: [email protected]


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DisclaimerThis presentation was developed by the TACE Center: Region IV ©2013with funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) under the priority of Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Projects (TACE) – Grant #H264A080021. However, the contents of this presentation do not necessarily represent the policy of the RSA and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government [34 CFR 75.620 (b)].

Documents

VR Counselors Working with Schools During Transition Laura Spears & Kelley Ali Transition Specialists, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department