TRANSITION for STUDENTS with DISABILITIES
Purpose for Website: After beginning the new system of monitoring the official
paperwork that accompanies students with special needs (CIMS), Hastings
Area Schools has been notified that we have a huge weakness in the way we
address transition services for our students. Being a teacher of high school
students with special needs, I am especially concerned that I know what
resources are available for my students. In addition, I created this website to
assist with self-advocacy for my students and as a resource for their parents.
Why Advocating is Important: Change can only happen when
enough voices of concern and reason are formulated from a ground swell of
parents, guardians, and children with special needs. Transitional services are
only a single part of the system, but this particular part may hold the biggest
advantages in advancing children with special needs. Proper advocacy can be
instrumental in securing services, changing legislation, enhancing
opportunities, and provides an avenue for being involved and a part of the
solution. Below are Links for Federal and State Legislators serving Barry
County and the Hastings School District:
State Senator Patty Birkholz http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/senator/birkholz/index.htm
State House Representative Gary Newell http://house.michigan.gov/Rep.asp?DIST=087
U.S.
Senators for Michigan
Debbie Stabenow - http://stabenow.senate.gov/
Carl Levin - http://levin.senate.gov/
U.S. House of Representatives
Vern Ehlers - http://www.house.gov/ehlers/
Below and on the following
pages are various resources that anyone can utilize to better understand
transitional services and what is available to help with transition. This
compiled list of available websites should not be considered an all-inclusive
listing and additional research is recommended.
Resource
1:
Title: Michigan Department of Education: Special Education and Early Intervention
Services
Author: Michigan Department of Education
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-6530_6598---,00.html
This
site, produced by the Michigan Department of Education has valuable links to
current legislation regarding students with Disabilities. In addition, it provides comprehensive
access to the Michigan Department of Education website which will directly
effect the students and parents I work with.
Resource
2:
Title: Michigan Transition
Resources
Author: Michigan Department of Education
http://www.cenmi.org/tspmi/tnt.asp
This
transition project created by the Michigan Department of Education provides
links to Michigan Directory of Services, IDEA and the new monitoring process,
as well as a link to the Administrative Rules.
This site provides insight as to what Michigan is doing to increase the
productivity of its delivery of transition services as well as information,
which legally affects our students.
Resource
3:
Title: Paula Kohler
Ph.D. Western Michigan University
Author: Paula Kohler Ph.D.
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~kohlerp/links.html
Dr.
Paula Kohler is known as one of the leading experts in the field of Transition
Services for students with Disabilities.
She has created this amazing resource of links to employment skills,
volunteer opportunities, postsecondary and secondary education resources, and
residential supports for persons with disabilities.
Resource
4:
Title: Americas Career
Resource Network
Author: Americas Career Resource Network
http://www.acrnetwork.org/parents/transition.htm
This
resource accesses lists of state federal and national transition
resources. In addition this site is a
general overview of moving from high school to further work.
Resource
5:
Title: Bridges for Kids
Author: Jackie D. Igafo-Te’o (a non-profit parent organization for
transition services)
This
comprehensive resource for parents of students with disabilities provides
direct links to other necessary organizations such as The ARC, Michigan’s READY
program, and the Michigan Department of Community Health. This is a link created by parents for
parents and addresses concerns and issues many parents share.
Resource
6:
Title: Study Sphere- The
Sphere for Learning
Author: Study sphere team
http://www.studysphere.com/Site/Sphere_8617.html
This
web site has a list of colleges and postsecondary schools that are designed to
assist students with disabilities. Over
twenty different schools are listed with active links to each.
Resource
7:
http://www.iser.com/CAadvocacy.html
This list of resources provides national directories for attorneys
specializing in advocacy as well as local and national law pertaining to
students with special needs.
Resource
8:
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/special.needs.trans.html
This page provides overviews of transition, what defines transition,
and what is necessary to make successful transitions.
Resource
9:
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3nontrad.htm
This site provides a list of grants for adult students. Many of these
grants can be obtained for students who have gotten their GED and wish
to go on to more schooling.
Resource
10:
http://instruction.aaps.k12.mi.us/aapac/events.html
This link is the Ann Arbor Parent Advisory Committee. Here are a list
of upcoming events, tranings, seminars, and classes offered to assist
students and parents with transition skills.
Resource
11:
http://www.daisweb.com/node/64
Disability Access Information and Support is a website full of
information for students and parents. This particular link discusses
the expectations of parents and students as they prepare for
transition.
Resource
12:
http://www.heath.gwu.edu/usefulanswers.htm
This is an amazing resource with questions and answers concerning
college experiences for students with learning disabilities. Here you
will find grant resources, accommodation information, and other
important insight into the college experience for students with special
needs.
Resource
13:
http://www.finaid.org/
This site provides multiple tools and links to the world of financial
aide for post secondary school.
Resource
14:
http://www.asvabprogram.com/
For students interested in joining the military, this site discusses
the test required as well as multiple career options.
Resource
15:
http://www.military.com/ASVAB
This link gives you an opportunity to take a full length ASVAB test to
experience the military entrance examination.
Resource
16:
http://www.actstudent.org/
This is a student site geared to preparation for the ACT- a test
necessary for college entrance.
Resource
17:
http://www.careersintrades.ca/
This is an informative site geared toward apprenticeship, trade
schools, and careers in skilled trade areas.
Resource
18:
http://www.skilledtrades.com/
This site provides a skilled trades job and internship search system to
explore any skilled trade in any state.
Resource
19:
http://www.skilled-trades.com/
A great local site for Michigan, and surrounding states that provides
training and access to skilled trade information.
Disclaimer: The content of this Website contains links to sites
that are not maintained by the creator of this Website. While I will try to
include only links to those sites which are in good taste and safe for my
visitors, I can not be responsible for the content of those sites and cannot
guarantee that sites will not change without my knowledge, and inclusion of
such links does not imply my endorsement of the linked sites or their content.
These sites are simply provided to encourage further research and understanding
of transitional services where applicable.
Contact Information
Last revised: 12/12/06
Copyright: Melissa Patton