Transition Information
High Incidence Disabilities
12 January 2022
Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research: Considering College Tip Sheet
The Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ACR) created this tip sheet to support young adults with serious mental health conditions as they consider college opportunities.
The goals of Transitions ACR include:
- Improve outcomes by effectively disseminating knowledge to key stakeholders. Many of our tip sheets were developed & reviewed with input from young adults with serious mental health conditions.
- Support youth & young adults as students, learners, and workers. Youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions face obstacles in learning & working.
Additional resources can be accessed on the Transitions ACR webpage.
The ARC
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
The Arc’s Center for Future Planning has developed a series of new videos on the following topics:
- An Overview of ABLE Accounts
- An Overview of Special Needs Trusts
- Special Needs Trusts and ABLE Accounts: How Are They Different?
- Pooled Special Needs Trusts
- How Death Affects the Money Left in ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts
The Arc recently shared a new Virtual Program Library, a free hub full of on-demand activities that can be done from home by people with disabilities, their families, and service providers.
Topics include arts, community and life skills, health and wellness, virtual clubs, and more. Visit the hub to check out the resources added so far and share it with your networks so it can continue to grow into a robust resource for people with disabilities and their supporters!
If you have a resource you would like to share, please contact The Arc!
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
The state currently recommends that all students apply to OVR by the spring of their junior year or two years before graduating, if staying beyond the senior year. To apply, visit the PA Career Link website, create a log in, and look for the OVR button. The PA Career Link site can also be used to research a variety of occupations.
Our next session with our Early Reach Coordinator Ms. Webster will be held on January 24, 2022, via Zoom. The session will focus on budgeting. If you would like for your student to participate, and have not yet done so, please, fill out the Parent Input Form
Chester County Information
Accessing the Adult Serving Systems in Chester County
Date: Thursday, 1/13/22
Time: 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: via Zoom
Registration Deadline: 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 1/11/22
Goal: Identify the Chester County Adult Serving Systems and describe the criteria required to access and use each system.
Presenters From:
Adult Probation
Aging
Chester County Prison
Community Development Drug and Alcohol
Health Department
Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Who Should Attend: Staff from county departments and social service agencies, families and other interested community members.
To register, go to: http://www.chescodhstrainings.com for online scheduling.
You must be registered to receive the ZOOM link and a training certificate.
ZOOM link will be emailed to you on Wednesday, 1/12/22, after 1:00 p.m.
Believers Basketball
Believers Basketball
The BELIEVERS are so excited to offer in-person basketball practices beginning January 19, 2022. They will meet every Wednesday night, 6:00-8:00pm at Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center, Gymnasium.
Believers is a local program/group supporting individuals of all ages with disabilities in Chester County at zero cost to families.
Believers strives to promote inclusiveness and independence, while celebrating the accomplishments of our athletes as individuals within a team environment.
PEAL Center Youth Events
The PEAL Center is hosting Youth Virtual Coffee Drop In's every Thursday at 12:00 pm on Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/95790302310
Youth Development Trainings on Self Awareness are offered from 12:00 - 1:00 pm on Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/95790302310 on the following dates:
December 17
For questions or to request accommodations contact info@pealcenter.org
Free Virtual Parent/Caregiver Support Group
Is your child struggling with behavioral, social, emotional or mental health challenges and you don’t know where to start or how to get through it? Join us, the staff of Chesco LIFE, who are parents with lived experiences with our own children to engage in conversations on what to do when you don’t know what to do.
When: First Wednesday of every month from 12pm to 1pm (next session is Wed. December 1st, 2021)
Why Join the Support Group?
• Opportunity to meet other parents with similar struggles.
• Gain knowledge on the needs relevant to your situation.
• Facilitate connections with group members, and provide support and helpful resources.
• Encourage families to find a voice and advocate skills.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrcu6vqDwoGdaofp83gPrs4YXQLU8kM952
Chesco LIFE
760 Constitution Drive
Exton, PA 19341
Phone: 484-348-6392
Fax: 610-458-1013
Family Leadership Institute
PEAL Virtual Family Leadership Institute
You're invited to apply to participate in a Family Leadership Institute (FLI), a multi-session, in-depth training for families to build knowledge and leadership skills related to inclusive special education and health care, offered at no cost to families by the PEAL Center and our partners! For more information and to register:
Live sessions will be held on Zoom every Tuesday evening, from 5:00-6:30 pm, for 7 weeks between January 11th and February 22nd, 2022. Participants MUST COMMIT to attending all live sessions, in addition to completing "Learning On Your Own" (LOYO) assignments in between.
Participation is by application only, which must be completed and submitted by December 3rd, 2021. Complete the online application at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/PEALVirtFLI2022. Space is limited, please apply early! If you have been selected for this FLI, we will let you know by December 10th.
High Incidence Transition Coordinator
Michelle Rusanovschi
I currently hold teaching certifications in the areas of Special Education, Secondary English, Reading Specialist, Middle School Mathematics, Middle School English, Elementary, and Early Childhood Education. In addition, I hold an administrative certificate as a Supervisor of Special Education.
I earned my Bachelor's of Science in Education from Temple University and my Master's of Education in the area of Reading from West Chester University. I have also earned certifications through Penn State.
At the high school, I predominantly teach reading courses, such as Read 180, Wilson, and SRA Corrective Reading. I also serve as one of the special education Transition Counselors.
Teaching is who I am. I could not see myself doing anything else. Each day I do my best to work with students and parents to help the student be successful. I believe that communication between the student, teachers, and parents is essential to a student's success.
Email: rusanovschim@pasd.com
Website: https://www.pasd.com/academics/special_education/transition_to_postsecondary
Location: 120 Gay Street, Phoenixville, PA, USA
Phone: 484-927-5075