Transition Information
High Incidence Disabilities
9 December 2021
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
Topics:
December 9 - Leadership Skills Session
December 16 - Self Awareness 3
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 3
December 17
For questions or to request accommodations contact info@pealcenter.org
The Financial Stability Center
New partnership with great benefits for students and families!
The FINANCIAL STABILITY CENTER is here to help you. Service navigators and coaches help you clarify your financial goals, provide support and connect you to a set of services to achieve your goals. This facility joins the forces of PA CareerLink® – Chester County and United Way’s Financial Stability Center together in one building, with the goal of creating easy access to a coordinated network of employment and financial stability services provided by various partners.
Extensive Resources – Employment services, financial education, benefit enrollment, budgeting & coaching, credit counseling & debt management, training & education, free tax preparation services, and other health & human services.
Professional Guidance – Assistance to develop a plan and help you successfully navigate the various programs and services.
Confidential Counseling – Encouragement & support as you overcome obstacles getting in the way of achieving your financial and employment goals.
To connect to available resources, professional guidance and confidential counseling , call the Financial Stability Center at 610-280-1023.
In addition to these core services, the Financial Stability Center offers various supportive services including the following. ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES are available on site at 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton PA.
- Jobseeker Clinic – This one-on-one session, offer by Wings for Success, can prepare you with the confidence and information you need to overcome your obstacles to success, and put your best foot forward in your next interview and on the job. To schedule an appointment please call 610-644-6323 extension 2.
- Legal Clinic – This one-on-one session, offered by Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, provides free consultation on civil legal matters including family law, protection from abuse, bankruptcy, unemployment compensation, pardon and expungement, disability, welfare benefits, landlord/tenant law, elder law and estate documents. This service is offered once a month. Appointments are required and available by calling 610-280-1033.
- Individual Basic Computer Tutoring – This service offers a one-time free one-on-one basic computer and internet instruction session. This two hour session is offered on Tuesdays by the Chester County Library. Appointments are required and available by calling 610-280-1033.
- Family Benefits Program – This service, offered by Maternal Child Health Consortium, offers assistance in applying for health benefits such as Medicaid, CHIP, food stamps, and cash assistance to both the English and Spanish speaking community of Chester County, PA. To set up an appointment, call 610-696-7721 or the main number @ 610-344-5370.
- Disability Resources to Enhance Independence – This one-on-one session, offered by CPA of Chester County provides OPTIONS counseling and community resources for persons with disabilities so that they can have financial stability. If you have a disability or are newly disabled, we can help you access and understand supports that may be available to you in Chester County. In addition, as a Funding Assistance Center for the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) we can help you gain low or no interest loans for disability related assistive devices and home modifications. Services are offered the first and third Monday from 8:30 to 11:30, to schedule an appointment please call 610-524-5850, ext. 307.
- Get Affordable Healthcare You Can Afford – This service, offered by Clarifi, provides 1-1 sessions and workshops to assist individuals to find coverage that fit their needs and budget. To register for individual sessions, call 866-513-6328 and identify preferred location for your session at the PA CareerLink®-Chester County and Financial Stability Center. For workshop registration visit https://uwfsc-affordablehealthcare.eventbrite.com
- Adult English Language Tutoring – This service, offered by Volunteer English Program, provides one-on-one adult English tutoring services. To learn more call 610-918-8222.
- Free Tax Preparation Services – This service, offered by Life Transforming Ministries, provides seasonal tax preparation services on site as well as at various locations throughout the County. Why pay for your taxes to be prepared when you get it done free. IRS-Certified volunteers assist individuals to submit their annual taxes and claim eligible tax credits. To learn more call 610-380-9099 or check out www.ChesterCountyFreeTaxes.com.
Do you receive Chester County MHIDD Newsletters?
Career Research
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
High School versus Postsecondary Education - Differences in Supports
Tips 4 Teens with IEPs - HS versus College
PA Family Network Events
Waiver Basics for Siblings Part 1: December 8, 2021, from 6:00-8:00 PM
Click to Join the Zoom Meeting
Waiver Basics for Siblings Part 2: December 9, 2021, from 6:00-8:00 PM
Click to Join the Zoom Meeting
Family Forum Update: December 15, 2021, from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Click to Join the Zoom Meeting
Sibling Good Life Group: January 10, 2022, from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
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.
Health Care Transition - HCT 101
This is a great video to share with your student!
Also, be sure to check out the full Got Transition site, which is the federally funded national resource center on health care transition (HCT). Its aim is to improve transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of evidence-driven strategies for health care professionals, youth, young adults, and their families.
Wolf Administration Announces Free Substance Use Education, Prevention Tool for Commonwealth Workforce
Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration's Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) announced the availability of a free online tool for Pennsylvania’s workforce to enhance education and awareness about substance use disorder (SUD). The tool – called Just Five – is a self-paced program that aims to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and provide education about SUD prevention and treatment.
The six short learning modules each take "just five" minutes to complete and can be accessed virtually from anywhere at any time with no registration required. The interactive lessons touch on topics including:
- The Science of Addiction
- Are You at Risk?
- The Dangers of Opioids
- Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
- How You Can Help
- The Gift of Recovery
The website is a partnership with national non-profit Shatterproof and contains a pre and posttest to measure a participant’s knowledge on SUD when entering the site and effectiveness of the lessons. Use of the Just Five website is completely confidential and voluntary, and no personal information regarding utilization of the program is shared. The program is also available in English and Spanish and is accessible for individuals with visual and/or hearing impairments.
A version of Just Five was rolled out to Pennsylvania commonwealth employees during National Prevention week in May 2021. Since the rollout, more than 2,700 individuals have accessed the tool and a number of participants have expressed gratitude that the science-based, informational lessons will assist them in future conversations with family, friends, and coworkers.
For prevention resources for schools, families, and communities visit ddap.pa.gov/prevention.
Independent Living Resources - For Families
The links shared below have information about independent living resources in our area.
https://www.kencrest.org/adults/lifesharing/
https://www.pa-mentor.com/who-we-serve/adults-with-disabilities/lifesharing-program/
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Disabilities-Aging/Pages/Lifesharing.aspx
https://www.lifepath.org/programs-services/residential-programs/224-lifesharing
https://www.jevshumanservices.org/program/lifesharing/
https://www.accessservices.org/services/lifesharing/
https://www.hhinc.org/intellectual-and-developmental-disabilities-services-overview/residential/
Career Research - Start the Conversation Here
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
An Early Reach Coordinator from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) meets with PAHS students approximately once every month and a half to provide instruction on transition related concepts to students with IEPs. These sessions address students across the spectrum of disabilities and focus on skills related to employment, post-secondary education and training, and independent living skills.
For this year, we are planning one in person session from 9 am-12 pm with four sessions of the same presentation and then Zoom sessions for the remainder of the year. By doing the Zoom sessions, we will be able to service more students since we will not be limited on room capacity or class period restrictions.
Please, complete the following form to provide input as to whether you would like for your student to attend these sessions. Parent Input Form
An OVR Waiver will need to be submitted for your student to participate in the sessions. You will find the English version here and the Spanish version here. This can be printed and sent into your student's caseload teachers. Caseload teachers also have hard copies of these to send home if needed.
Our first session will be on December 13, 2021!
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