OPERATING TIPS FOR LOCAL ITC's

OPERATING TIPS: Existing local ITCs have been asked to describe at least one idea/activity and the “how-to” that has made it work well for them. Although the suggestions may include previous dates, they are still deemed helpful.

Additional suggestion: All ITC’s need to be aware of the needs of blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind students, especially their need to be prepared to function independently in a living situation and on the job. [Note: All young people need this preparation, but those with sensory impairments may require additional resources and specific training.]

Local ITCs

Athens-Clarke Co. ITC (Athens Council for Transition - ACT)
We hosted our first yearly Transition Workshop for our county and surrounding counties in 2006. It was a success and we hope to see it grow and improve every year.

We adopted employment specific goals for two graduating students last year. One goal was to help a student become employed within the Clarke County School District (CCSD) and the other was to help a student become employed in the community. We worked with VOC Rehab, CCSD and Hope Haven and other ACT members to coordinate support for our students. We kept that goal for 2006/2007. Working together to help specific students reach their transition goals really does help create a more cohesive group. We struggle through the challenges together and then we celebrate together.

Barrow Co. ITC
A good “how-to” strategy that worked well was showing a power point presentation at the very first meeting that described what an interagency transition council is, established why we needed to have one, and the types of ITC models. The presentation was an excellent tool for clarifying purpose and function for all members - from school system personnel to service providers to community leaders. I believe this was a tool that put everyone on the same page and helped make members comfortable and confident in contributing at that very first meeting. From there we were able to have an open dialogue to discuss what kind of council we wanted to form, i.e., informational, student-centered, or a combination of the two. The council was then able to begin brainstorming our mission statement based on the foundation that was laid out. We were able to accomplish all of this at the very first meeting! Educate members first, empower them with purpose so they are confident in their abilities to contribute, and it takes off from there!

Cherokee Co. Transition Council (CCTC)

The mission of the Cherokee County School District’s (CCSD) Interagency Transition Council is to facilitate a collaborative transition process for students with disabilities that will lead to the students’ and their families’ desired post-school outcome. We have been operational since 2005.

The purpose/goal of the Cherokee County Transition Council (CCTC) is to provide a clearinghouse to disseminate updated transition information regarding available services in the area. We offer a PLU Transition course each year that allows school staff the opportunity to become familiar with local and regional agencies through a series of panel discussions. The agencies are divided into three panel groups:

• post-secondary education;

• post-secondary vocational training and employment; and

• post-secondary independent living skills.

Panel groups present information about their agency and attendees have the opportunity to ask questions.

Other actions taken to facilitate student transition include:

• application for stipends/scholarships for special education students through the Service League;

• creation of forms for schools to use when referring students to the interagency transition council for assistance in brainstorming transition solutions;

• hosting an Agency Information Fair each spring that is open to parents, students, school staff and community members; and

• collaborating with community members to maintain existing services and develop additional resources for students and their families.

We meet four (4) times yearly, unless the ITC feels an additional meeting is needed to address specific concerns.

Cobb/Marietta/Douglas Interagency Transition Council
The mission of the Cobb/Marietta/Douglas Interagency Transition Council is to advocate together to provide resources for parents and teachers to support transitioning students in moving forward to achieve their highest level of independence.

Dawson Co. ITC
Last year our Post-Graduation Fair, “Choices for the Future,” was a big success.
We host informational sessions throughout the year. This year we will continue doing the same, but focus on transition from middle school to high school.

Decatur City ITC
Our team decided having meetings as a working lunch has helped increase involvement. Informational speakers and a preplanned and distributed agenda are musts, along with follow-up meeting notes to all members. We have recently changed to meeting on college bound students and those in our occupational program on alternating months, in order to respect team members' time.

DeKalb Co. ITC
Project Search is a joint venture of the following collaborative partners: DeKalb Co. Schools Community Based Training (CBT) Program, Briggs & Associates (the supported employment provider), and Vocational Rehabilitation. Project Search resulted in almost 100% student supported employment placement from fiscal year 2005 through 2007. (Project Search also has had a smaller program with Fulton Co. Schools.)

The DeKalb Project Search students are VR clients and have their own classroom at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta. A DeKalb Co. Special Education teacher and two parapros, who also serve as job coaches, staff the classroom.

Briggs & Associates developed training sites at both Crawford Long and Emory University Hospitals. Students rotate through two to three departments in the hospital as part of their community based vocational training. Several of the students, with excellent job coaching, were hired by the department head following their very first rotation.

The first Project Search student was placed in Crawford Long Hospital’s Business Office during FY 2005. All Project Search students from the 2004-2005 school year are now working either at Crawford Long Hospital or at Emory University Hospital in such departments as the Business Office, Central Supply, Anesthesia Services, Medical Records, the ER, etc. Starting salaries are in the range of $8.50 - $10.00 per hour.

The students’ primary diagnosis is MR; several have secondary diagnoses of traumatic brain injury (TBI), end stage renal disease, or a MH disorder.

By the end of October 2006 it was anticipated that a total of 16 students would close their cases with VR, having achieved and sustained successful employment. The only student who was not hired within the hospital system was hired by Target. Briggs & Associates is providing supported employment to that student, also, as they have made a commitment to place and support all Project Search clients.

Douglas Co. ITC
We had our representative CWIC come to a meeting and update us on SS benefits, programs, regulations, etc. [Note: WIPA, pronounced “whip-pah,” stands for Work Incentives Planning and Assistance; it is funded by a Social Security grant. WIPA replaced BPAO (Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach), a previous Social Security grant program. Benefits specialists are now being called Community Work Incentives Coordinators, or CWIC – pronounced “see-wick.”]

Our group sponsors a Parent Information Workshop each spring. Various service agencies and providers are invited to set up a booth for dispensing information. We usually have a guest speaker dealing with one or more transition issues.

Fayette Co. ITC
The idea for school-based teams came out of our ITC. The County Office provided two days of training for each school on the transition manual, service providers, and accommodations for colleges, etc. Each team at the school is called the START (School Transition Action Resource Teams). The team is made up of an administrator, regular education (usually Tech/Career teacher), special educator and LEA for the school. Each team helps to provide information needed to help implement a transition plan. If the team comes up against a problem at that point the START refers the student and family to the ITC.

Forsyth Co. ITC
We have tried to develop subcommittee groups so that we can address several issues at one time. Currently, we have 3 subgroups:
1) Parent Support and Networking for children/adults with moderate to severe disabilities and finding/establishing transition resources for this population within the county.
2) Transition Night for teachers, parents and students
3) Transition Program for 18-22 year olds who would benefit from a vocationally focused curriculum while on the job the majority of the day.

Fulton Co. ITC (College Park and Union City)
Transition Conference for Parents

Houston Co. ITC
Houston County Schools had their first “Transition Fair,” April 2006, sponsored by the ITC. About 20 agencies provided students with information on what services they provide. Approximately 100 students attended from four high schools. This will be an annual event and will hopefully expand to provide individual sessions on various important topics.

Mitchell Co. ITC
Mitchell Co. HS has a High School/High Tech Program through Vocational Rehabilitation.

Additional ideas/activities that have worked well for transition, in general:
• Taking students and parents to tour the Roosevelt Warm Springs facilities re: vocational training
• “I have been successful in transitioning students into the work-force, tech and college programs with the support of GDOL/Vocational Rehabilitation/ Americus/Columbus, Georgia.”
• We have an Interagency Council that meets [once] per month, but not a Transition Council. School personnel and our Parent Mentor participate. It is one hour in length and is purely informational.

Americus/Columbus, Georgia
• We have an Interagency Council that meets [once] per month, but not a Transition Council. School personnel and our Parent Mentor participate. It is one hour in length and is purely informational.

Walton Co. ITC
The Walton Co. ITC is going strong in its second year and is planning a Special Needs/Transition Fair in April 2009 at the Walton Career Academy. The specific date will be announced early in 2009.