Zarrow Center Transition Resources For Individuals with Disabilities Dr. Amber McConnell Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment University of Oklahoma

Zarrow Center WHAT IS A HAPPY LIFE? WHAT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES DO YOU NEED TO HAVE THIS LIFE?

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Zarrow Center It’s OUR Story

Zarrow Center February 2016 Disability Employment Statistics Ages 16 years and over Labor Force Participation People with disabilities: 19.5% People without disabilities: 68.2% Unemployment Rate People with disabilities: 12.5% People without disabilities: 4.9%

Zarrow Center What makes a difference?

Zarrow Center Knowledge of Strengths and Limitations Students are able to: – Express personal strengths – Describe personal limitations – Explain academic situations where assistance is needed – Describe academic situations where success is experienced

Zarrow Center Disability Awareness Students are able to: – Report accurate information regarding one’s own disability – Express types of accommodations needed for success – View a disability as only one aspect of life – Explain the special education services that one receives to others

Zarrow Center Employment Students are able to: – Express desire for a job matching career interests – Demonstrate job readiness skills, such as being on time, completing work as assigned, and working cooperatively – Successfully participate in a career technology or job-training program – Obtain a paid job

Zarrow Center Goal Setting and Attainment Students are able to: – Participate in the systematic learning of goal setting and attainment – Understand of the importance of setting and striving for goals – Set post-school goals matching skills and interests – Attain at least one transition goal

Zarrow Center Persistence Students are able to: – Understand the importance of putting forth continued effort in school – Work toward a goal until it is accomplished – Utilize multiple strategies to stay on task – Continue to work toward a goal after facing adversity

Zarrow Center Interacting with Others Students are able to: – Maintain at least one good friend – Successfully participate in small groups to complete projects – Successfully participate in community organizations such as sport clubs and social groups – Successfully interact with peers, teachers, and other adults

Zarrow Center Involvement in the IEP Students are able to: – Identify effective and ineffective accommodations – Request additional accommodations when encountered with one that is ineffective – Discuss post-school goals with the IEP team – Actively lead an IEP meeting

Zarrow Center Supports Students are able to: – Recognize the difference between individuals who provide a positive source of support from those who do not – Identify situations when positive support people are needed – Use help from positive support people only when needed and necessary – Maintain a support network by showing appreciation or reciprocity

Zarrow Center The Zarrow Center TAGG Assessment – Assesses research-identified behaviors – Transition Education Materials – Self-Determination Materials – Resources for Parents and Teachers ME! Curriculum

Zarrow Center Timeline of Transition Activities s-and-partnerships/zarrow/timeline-of- transition-activities.html s-and-partnerships/zarrow/timeline-of- transition-activities.html

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DISCLOSURE

Zarrow Center 411 on Disability Disclosure youth.info/sites/default/files/The_411_On_Di sability_Disclosure_for_Adults.pdf youth.info/sites/default/files/The_411_On_Di sability_Disclosure_for_Adults.pdf Pg. 32

Zarrow Center Advantages and Disadvantages Allows for supports and reasonable accommodations Provides legal protection against discrimination Increases comfort level Can cause mistreatment Could be overlooked for a job, team, or promotion Could be embarrassing

Zarrow Center SSI Social Security Income The federal government pays $698 per month to individuals and $1,048 to couples. To those living independently, Oklahoma pays an additional $42 to individuals and $84 to couples, per month. Those living independently could receive up to $740 per individual and $1,132 per couple per month.

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DRS Department of Rehabilitation Services Ticket to Work – The Ticket to Work is a voluntary employment program administered by the Social Security Administration. – Beneficiaries with disabilities receiving SSI increased choices in obtaining services and supports to engage in work and attain self- supporting employment.

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Zarrow Center ADA and Job Interview An employer cannot ask you if you have a disability or the nature or severity of your disability. An employer can ask if you can perform the duties of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. An employer can also ask you to describe or to demonstrate how, with or without reasonable accommodation, you will perform the duties of the job.

Zarrow Center An Employer CANNOT Require a medical examination before you are offered a job. Following a job offer, an employer can condition the offer on your passing a required medical examination, but only if all entering employees for that job category have to take the examination. Reject you because of information about your disability revealed by the medical examination, unless the reasons for rejection are job-related and necessary for the conduct of the employer's business. The employer cannot refuse to hire you because of your disability if you can perform the essential functions of the job with an accommodation.

Zarrow Center Workplace Accommodations No-tech: costs little or no money…just time, support and creativity (e.g., additional preparation time for an individual, or a color- coded filing system). Low-tech: Technologically simple or unsophisticated, and readily available in most offices (e.g., replacing a door knob with an accessible door handle, providing a magnifier). High-tech: Advanced or sophisticated devices (screen reading software with synthesized speech).

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Zarrow Center Contact Information Dr. Amber McConnell Phone: (405) Website: ambermcconnellphd.comambermcconnellphd.com