Using Interagency Collaboration to Assist Students in Meeting Postsecondary Goals

What is Collaboration? “A way of thinking and relating, a philosophy, a paradigm shift, an attitude change. It requires a set of behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, and value. The result is a sense of shared ownership, shared responsibility, and shared success” (Bishop, Wolf, & Arango, 1993, pp. 11-12). Those who have been doing YTP for a number of years, it is getting out of you silo. this is great especially for those who are the only school in a site. Also, while you have great ideas about transition, there may be a new staff member at your school or in an agency who has a great new perspective.

What is Needed for Successful Collaboration? Building relationships Determining a shared vision Identify mutual goals Determine each member’s responsibilities to meet the goals Share resources Share knowledge Share expertise Share the rewards from successful outcomes (Mattessich, 2003;PACER Center, n.d.) Relationships=shared goals instead of being in a silo, Shared Vision = while we know that each transition specialist brings their own personality and great ideas, it is important that all involved have the same vision and mutual goals. Members responsibilities = This is not a job that the transition specialist can do alone, each member should know the goals, Resources = There is so much to know especially for a new TS. Rob’s story, same with expertise Rewards = all celebrate together

Transition Specialists, get to know your school staff Who are the Sped Staff? Who is the case manager for which students Work with them to get information about each student to find out student needs. What is each students disability Create a spread sheet so that you have all of the information How do they do in school Learning styles What are other concerns that the teacher may have about the student Meet the students Go to Sped department meetings. They are on your team. How is a student in class? On time? Gets work done? Work Ethic? Socializes? Quiet?

Who Does the Transition Specialist Collaborate with? Administrator Special Education Teacher Vocational Rehabilitation Case Manager Other Transition Specialists in your area Families Brokerages DD Services CTE Teachers General Ed. Teachers Foster Care Juvenile Justice Housing authority Social Security

Building a Trustworthy Relationship Find out who your “people” are Spend time with them, go out to lunch, meet for coffee Invite them to your Special Education team meeting to talk about what they need from you and what you need from them. Sped. Teachers may know that they need to connect students with agencies but may not know names and faces. Darci, Cindy, Yo

Determine the needs of your students and who is eligible. Look at prior testing Current IEP Adaptive testing IQ testing Relationship building with student and family

Who is responsible for what and how do I know who to call? The difference between Social Security and Social Security Disability and who qualifies for what DD Services: what is it and how do I know who qualifies Why would a student qualify for SSDI and not DD Services Brokerage Services Call your Technical Network Facilitator (TNF) Regions of the state can be different