PA Transition Tidbits
Updates and Events - December 2023
TRANSITION NEWS
Hot From the Pennsylvania Press Room!
"Shapiro Administration To Invest Nearly $10 Million In Transition Services For PA Students With Disabilities
10/25/2023
Contact: Trevor Monk, dlipress@pa.gov
Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry's (L&I) Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) recently announced a $9.9 million federal grant the Shapiro Administration will invest in improvements to pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities who are preparing for life after high school. The Pathways to Partnership model demonstration project will improve the collaboration of the many organizations involved in helping high school students achieve their goals as they prepare for post-secondary education and employment.
This grant funding will be used to develop and pilot a new transition model that will provide students with more comprehensive transition planning services. The model will also identify new opportunities for teens to gain valuable work-based learning experiences and support the development of the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their post-graduation goals.
"OVR's current pre-employment transition services help nearly 17,000 students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. Doing this successfully requires the cooperation of many critical organizations at the state and local levels," L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker said. "The Pathways to Partnership project aims to improve the existing approach by identifying better ways for these organizations to collaborate effectively and meet the needs of students with disabilities and their families."
Governor Josh Shapiro has identified workforce development as a top priority of the Administration through an expansion of job training, career and technical education, and apprenticeship programs that give Pennsylvanians the freedom to chart their own course. Governor Shapiro signed a 2023-2024 budget that invests $23.5 million in job training and vo-tech programs, $6 million in apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programming, and $3.5 million in funding for L&I's Schools-to-Work Program to develop and expand career pathways for underserved populations via partnerships between schools, employers, organizations, and the Commonwealth.
The Pathways to Partnership project will be developed in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Departments of Labor & Industry, Education, Human Services, and stakeholders including Centers for Independent Living and the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network.
'Across the Shapiro Administration, we are committed to empowering our students with disabilities to unlock their full potential," said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. "By working with other agencies and community partners, the Pathways to Partnership project will build our workforce while helping students build skills for life after high school. Together, we can ensure all learners have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.'
'The transition from high school to adult life is a critical period for everyone, but this time can be especially critical as young people with disabilities, who may need supportive services, make decisions about post-secondary education and employment," said Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. "We must empower and support young adults through this period and help them pursue their interests and goals and be active members in their communities. Pathways to Partnership will improve the options and opportunities for these transitioning youth.'
The grant will fund three critical components of the Pathways to Partnership project:
- Professional Development, Capacity Building, and Training: This component will provide shared training opportunities for approximately 6,100 youth service professionals, including teachers, counselors, and rehabilitation counselors. The training will focus on best practices for transition planning and service delivery.
- Transition Discoveries: This component will implement a "train the trainer" model at intermediate units (IUs) and local education agencies (LEAs) to support the dissemination of curriculum that helps students with disabilities make transition-related choices from school to work. An estimated 1,914 additional students with disabilities statewide will benefit from this program by the end of the grant.
- Pathways to Partnership Work-Based Learning Experience (PTP-WBLE): This component will develop and pilot PTP-WBLE programs in six LEAs across Pennsylvania in two urban and three rural areas, and one cyber school. The PTP-WBLE programs will provide about 260 students with disabilities with valuable work-based learning experiences.
The Pathways to Partnership project is expected to benefit an estimated 2,200 additional students with disabilities by the time the model demonstration funding ends in 2028."
TRANSITION TOOLKIT
Transition Discoveries
What is Transition Discoveries (TD)?: TD is a unique non-profit fostering collaboration among like-minded individuals, breaking away from traditional structures. Emphasizing co-creation, we see ourselves as lifelong learners, aiming to empower young people to create their own paths. We focus on youth empowerment including knowing each person, promoting adult allyship, listening to young people, and implementing proven strategies. Transition Discoveries is beginning an exciting journey following the launch of our new online learning center with a vibrant support network looking forward to these next chapters. The TD team looks forward to sharing new resources, building new relationships, and empowering their network to share their stories!
New Login Feature Highlights: TD is thrilled to share that our Transition Discoveries website is now live, and it's a dream come true! This site is not just a transition resource – it's a hub where we highlight our project goals, share stories of young people, offer an engaging learning center, and hundreds of tools for families and professionals. A professional subscription offers additional features like tracking progress, exploring discovery dashboards, and creating customized group pages. The website also introduces Discovery Cards, designed to facilitate engaging conversations between adult allies and youth about transition. Our website is just the beginning of all that Transition Discoveries is and hopes to become. Explore the elements of the site that hundreds of youth, families, and stakeholders have held a role in creating. Our website is just the beginning of all that Transition Discoveries is and hopes to become.
Transition Discoveries YOUth Spotlight!
Grace Ashlin
Transition Discoveries is all about amplifying youth voice and finding youth with vibrant stories to share! We are so lucky to work with wonderful youth from several different TD sites. Sometimes we even come across youth in unexpected ways. 20 year old Grace Ashlin is a perfect example of using TD as an empowering network for young people to share their stories. Grace lives with multiple rare disabilities and connected with us through our social media accounts. Grace has a vibrant disability story that she has turned into a life purpose through her own social media account, @itsgraceashlin. We were able to interview Grace to find out more about her transition experience, and what kind of advice she may have for others in our community. Grace recently worked with TD to publish “Five Pieces of Advice from a Young Person with a Disability” on social media. To read more about Grace and her contributions to TD, see our Instagram or Facebook .
YOUth Can Do It!
Meet the YES (Youth Engagement Specialists)
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and the Bureau of Special Education (BSE) are collaborating on a new initiative to hire Youth Engagement Specialists (YES). The YES will assist OVR and BSE in their mission to create a seamless transition for students from high school to college or community employment. This exciting initiative will help facilitate communication with youth and educators on enhancing educational services for students with disabilities.
The YES will assist with providing technical assistance and training in assigned initiative/projects as part of OVR and the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN). The YES will represent the youth perspective at trainings, meetings, conferences, and other stakeholder events statewide. Additionally, the YES will assist with the development and implementation of training materials, resources, and publications to incorporate youth voice. Initial project goals include increasing youth engagement by assisting in the recruitment of Youth Ambassadors, engaging with youth organizations like the Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network (PYLN), and developing youth committees to provide feedback to OVR and BSE leadership to increase the effectiveness of Transition planning for PA Students with Disabilities. Please feel reach out to them to introduce yourself or invite them to local events—they are eager to learn more about OVR and would love to hear from you.
Now let's meet our YES!
Hunter Steinitz - PaTTAN West
Hunter Steinitz, Master of Divinity (MDiv) is a YES with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) in the West. Hunter is a self-advocate and speaker and brings her experience of living with a rare genetic skin condition. She has spent over a decade working with children and young adults through her church and disability communities and continues to connect and engage with those communities. Hunter's current areas of focus at PaTTAN include Secondary Transition, Employment, Family Engagement, and more.
As an adult ally with a disability, Hunter uplifts the voices of other young self-advocates. She works alongside others in the community to highlight the full life and participation of people with all abilities within their communities. She serves as the Vice Chair of Presbyterians for Disability Concerns in her free time and preaches at local churches regularly. Hunter considers herself a huge nerd who loves to sing and play games with friends. She can be reached at hsteinitz@pattanpgh.net or 412.826.6869.
Hayley Penn - PaTTAN Central
Hayley Penn is the Youth Engagement Specialist for PaTTAN Central region. She has a background in Behavioral Health and Psychology and many years working with young people throughout her time as a student and former employee of MCIU. She had the opportunity to work with MCIU as an assistant substitute aid at numerous schools throughout Montgomery County and interact directly with students with disabilities. Providing one on one support and building strong relationships opened her eyes to the gap in opportunity that students with disabilities are facing and the importance of advocacy when it comes to considering their lives after high school.
Furthermore, as a student at the University of Delaware, Hayley discovered her passion for public health and it’s never ending scope of work. She is intrigued by the interconnectedness of all aspects of health and understanding how environmental, psychological, and social factors influence our decision to engage in health positive behaviors for ourselves and in the community.
In her free time she loves to spend time with her family, run, read, make scrapbooks, and explore outdoors. She is excited to contribute to the wonderful work being done at PaTTAN, engage with young people in secondary transition, and advocate for equitable postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities. She can be reached at hpenn@pattankop.net or 610.878.7221.
Natasha Fletcher - PaTTAN East
Natasha Fletcher is a YES at PaTTAN East with over 12 years’ experience helping individuals with behavioral challenges and mental health concerns. Specializing in Behavioral Health management with youth, Natasha uses that experience to advocate for individuals with disabilities along with providing the knowledge to expand and defend their rights while supporting self-advocacy in the workforce.
By focusing on the youth, she understands that no significant learning can occur without first building a significant relationship. Natasha has been able to put her Behavioral Health/ Human Service associate degree from Community College of Philadelphia to good use. Her lived experiences as a child navigating the foster care system and as an adult who struggles with ADHD serve as reasons why she gets up in the morning and fights for those who are unable or have difficulties fighting for themselves.
When she’s not at work, Natasha enjoys loud music that tunes out the world or being surrounded by her 13 year old daughter, Brooklyn and handful of friends. She resides in Cheltenham, Montgomery County, right outside the Philadelphia area. She can be contacted at nfletcher@pattankop.net or 610.878.7248 .
YES Explore Project SEARCH
YES’s, Hayley Penn and Natasha Fletcher, had the opportunity to tour Aramark Headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where they learned more about Project SEARCH and the skills students are learning through this program. Aramark hosted students form Mastery High school who are currently completing their internship at Girard College gaining practical skills in the food industry. This was an amazing experience for both staff and students to see work being done behind the scenes that is aiding students in the process of competitive integrative employment real world experience that Transition Discoveries has played a part in; supplying the tools for students to be confident in their knowledge and ability to succeed
YOUth Experience the FABLAB
FABLAB from Carnegie Science Center in collaboration with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) hosted a week dedicated to students creativity. Students, school staff, early reach coordinators, and youth engagement specialists, Natasha Fletcher and Hayley Penn, were hosted by the Allentown District Office to hone in on design and engineering with a model airplane crafting activity. This was one of the many sessions that were held throughout the week. Students used the online platform, Inkscape, to showcase their creativity by uniquely selecting and curating different airplane components. They then used FAB LAB’s laser printer to bring their designs to life and had the chance to test their planes at the end of the session. This was a wonderful work based learning experience for students to strengthen their design, computer, engineering, and STEM based skills that can be transferred and later used during employment and during transition!
Our YES’s will be looking for opportunities to engage with local OVR districts, attend engagement events, and help facilitate training where they are needed. Ensuring youth voice is being heard and understood during the secondary transition process is a critical component in integrative employment. Our YES’s are here to help implement effective and inclusive strategies that focus on self advocacy, disability awareness, and youth voice! #itsnotaperformanceitsprocess
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
THE SLIEP PROCESS RESOURCE HUB
- Are you searching for strategies to improve the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process and meetings?
- Are you looking for ways to increase youth voice and family engagement?
- Are you interested in building relationships between the school, staff, families, and students in your building?
The new Student-led IEP (SLIEP) Process Resource Hub has ideas for you to use. The Hub outlines next steps, ideas to get started today, ways to partner, resources, videos, and links for information that explain the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the student-led IEP process.
The SLIEP hub has tools for youth to use and understand their role, tools for families to use as they grow and share their knowledge, and tools for teachers and schools to use as they begin introducing and working with students with an IEP to learn to self-advocate and take ownership of their learning.
Expect, Engage, Empower Resource Database
"In support of Secretary Cardona’s mission to improve equity across our nation’s schools, Director Williams is pleased to announce a new initiative to improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities: Expect, Engage, and Empower: Successful Transitions for All!
This initiative will challenge the field to join OSERS to raise expectations, engage families earlier, and empower all who support transition services to measurably and significantly improve postsecondary outcomes for children and youth with disabilities and their families. Every family that has an infant, child, or youth identified with a disability must be exposed to high expectations from day one. In order for improvement to occur, three things must happen:
- The education and vocational rehabilitation systems must work together,
- Critical discussions about the future and transition planning process must start sooner, and
- ALL students with disabilities should have the opportunity to learn about all post-secondary opportunities and make the best choice for themselves.
Our systems should be prepared to make their vision a reality by providing information about any needed support services, and proactively address needs."
From the IDEAS That Work Website, October 2023
Announcing: PA Secondary Transition – Public Square
Looking for a place where you can Connect, Collect, & Contribute
to all things secondary transition?
Connect with people from across our state to collect
resources, share events and contribute stories about positive post-school outcomes!
Click here to create an account and login to join our PA Secondary Transition- Public Square.
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C)
Are you looking to learn more information about transition?
Check out their Training Resource Library.
If you're new to transition, be sure to check out Transition 101!
PA SECONDARY TRANSITION EVENTS CALENDAR
Are you looking for transition events across PA?
This newsletter is brought to you by: The Pennsylvania Community on Transition
The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a group of various stakeholders from across Pennsylvania who work collaboratively to ensure appropriate transition outcomes for Pennsylvania youth and young adults.
The Pennsylvania Community on Transition is a state leadership team consisting of representative from: the State Departments of Education, Health, Labor and Industry, and Human Services; Various Serving Agencies, Young Adults, Parent Organizations, Advocates, Higher Education, and Employers.
The shared vision and common goals of the Pennsylvania Community on Transition is achieved when all PA youth and young adults with disabilities:
- Successfully transition to the role of productive and participating adult citizens
- Are empowered to recognize their talents, strengths, and voice
- Have equal access to resources that will promote their full participation in the communities of their choice.
Email: pasecondarytransition@gmail.com
Website: https://www.pasecondarytransition.com/
Phone: 4128266878
Twitter: @hmangiskuntz