The Art of Possibility - Seamless Transition from School to Work and Adult Life
Friday, 05 June 2009 14:32
administrator
 This article is reproduced from VOICE, a publication of Down Syndrome New South Wales and Down Syndrome Victoria (Australia). It is authored by TransCen President, Richard Luecking, based on a lecture he gave in Melbourne, Australia earlier this year.
There have been so many advances in education and employment strategies that it is now possible to expect that any young person with Down syndrome can have a job upon completing education and becoming an adult. Not just any job, but a job that takes into account the young person's interests, talents, and particular need for support. And not just any employer, but an en employer who benefits from the individual's contribution to the enterprise.
This article summarizes what we know about how to make this happen, provides case examples of young people with Down syndrome on their way to satisfying adult careers, and discusses what families can do to encourage these outcomes. [ Article in PDF format ]
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 29 September 2010 13:37 )
Think College! Postsecondary Education Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Friday, 05 June 2009 14:32
administrator
 by Meg Grigal, Ph.D., and Debra Hart, M.Ed.
Foreword by Madeleine Will
As the Higher Education Opportunity Act opens the door to more options and supports, more and more students with intellectual disabilities are "thinking college." That means high schools, colleges, and universities must be fully prepared to meet the needs of students with disabilities—and this comprehensive resource is just what they need. Developed by two of the most respected experts on this hot topic, this book uncovers the big picture of today's postsecondary options and reveals how to support students with disabilities before, during, and after a successful transition to college. A critical resource for education professionals to read and share with families, Think College helps readers… - understand the three current models for postsecondary education (PSE): inclusive individual supports; substantially separate, noninclusive classes; and hybrid approaches
- overcome the common challenges and barriers to PSE for students with significant disabilities
- plan effective, person-centered transition services for high school students as they pursue PSE
- support students as they manage the practical aspects of a positive PSE experience
- connect students' PSE experiences directly to employment and their other individual life goals
- discover how exciting legislation and policy changes will affect future PSE options
Throughout the book, vignettes and first-person narratives from students and families underscore the benefits and challenges of PSE, and detailed profiles of real programs illustrate what a wide range of postsecondary options look like. Readers will also get the helpful tools they need to create effective programs and ease students' transition to PSE, including a self-advocacy checklist, a program evaluation tool, sample student schedules, and a college-planning checklist for students and families. With this thorough guide to today's PSE options and tomorrow's possibilities, professionals will help students with intellectual disabilities take full advantage of their educational opportunities —and set the stage for a successful, fulfilling community life Order now!
Last Updated ( Thursday, 07 January 2010 20:44 )
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The Way to Work - How to Facilitate Work Experiences for Youth in Transition
Friday, 05 June 2009 14:32
administrator
by Richard G. Luecking, Ed.D., with invited contributorsEmployment is one of the biggest contributors to quality of life for people with disabilities and that means well-planned work experiences should be an integral part of transition preparation for every secondary and postsecondary school aged youth. Make that happen with this practical guide, developed to help educators, transition specialists, and employment specialists facilitate individualized, person-centered work experiences and jobs for high school students and young adults with a wide range of disabilities. Readers will get the specific, ready-to-use guidance they need to: - uncover students’ strengths, needs, and interests through formal and informal assessments
- recruit and retain employer partners who gladly host youth in their workplaces
- help students decide when and how to disclose a disability to an employer
- guide students in advocating effectively for accommodations on the job
- support students and employers in making the most of work experiences
- involve families in supporting the work experience
- collaborate with other professionals to develop and sustain work experiences
- and much more
To help with every step of facilitating meaningful employment, readers will get examples of model programs, stories that illustrate what works and doesn't work, more than a dozen photocopiable tools and forms, and end-of-chapter “Learning Labs” with reflection questions and thought-provoking activities.
Teachers and transition specialists will rely on this strategy-filled guidebook to connect students with the early work experiences they really want and make lifelong career satisfaction the rule, not the exception, for people with disabilities. Order now!
Last Updated ( Monday, 24 August 2009 14:06 )
Monday, 08 June 2009 11:47
administrator
 Providing supports to youth with disabilities transitioning to adulthood: Case descriptions from the Youth Transition Demonstration by Richard Luecking and David Wittenburg, in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 30, no. 3, September 2009. Post-school employment rates for youth with significant disabilities remain intractably low. An important policy concern is whether youth who receive disability cash benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) are obtaining the necessary supports to make a successful transition to adult life. The SSA initiated the Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD) projects in an attempt to develop services and supports to assist youth in making a successful transition into adulthood. This article provides a detailed description of the intervention components for the YTD projects and presents three case descriptions to illustrate how youth can potentially benefit from these services. The selected cases in this paper illustrate the potential for youth with disabilities to leverage project services and move into employment.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 07 January 2010 15:03 )
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In this article that appeared in the APSE Connections newsletter (Nov. 2010), Dr. Richard Luecking explores some strategies to better engage employers and improve access to employment for people with disabilities. It was adapted from a presentation by the author at the 2010 APSE Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. [ Article in PDF format ]
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