Transition Readiness by Christie Westmann Navigating Life Transition Readiness by Christie Westmann

Transition readiness Class  Five Focus Areas   Advocacy and Empowerment Education and Career Planning Work Habits, Skills, and Attitudes Independent Living Community Roles, Responsibilities, and Resources

Advocacy and Empowerment  Skills – Self-Awareness, Advocacy/Empowerment, Interpreting Reflects on progress and updates plan to strengthen personal skills for future goals. Identifies needs in school and develops a personal plan to meet those needs. Defines Advocacy and explains why self-advocating is important. Advocates for groups and others in school setting. Advocates for and obtains services and resources to initiate postsecondary plan. Describes a positive, proactive team approach to working with interpreters. Requests an interpreter when appropriate. Demonstrates through role-play or video of an actual encounter, an integration of all principles related to effectively working with an interpreter to ensure successful communication for self and others. ADA vs. IDEA

Education and Career Planning Skills: Career Exploration and Planning, Career Materials Preparation, Educational Planning, Learning/Study Skills Map It! is a series of four, online trainings created to assist students who are deaf or hard of hearing transition successfully from high school to postsecondary education or work. These trainings include activities that help students learn more about themselves, their career goals, and the skills they need to be successful in the postsecondary setting. Completes interest inventories and explores a variety of careers. Matches career requirements with own strengths and interests. Explains specific jobs within a career cluster. Identifies viable postsecondary career options. Explains and uses a decision-making process to compare education and career opportunities. Identifies requirements for postsecondary education and training to meet career goals. Reviews and revises academic or vocational training goals. Identifies study skills needed for each subject. Completes the college process (Application, FAFSA, scholarships, etc.) 

Work Habits, Skills, And Attitude Skills – Work Attitudes, Conflict Resolution, Teamwork, Time Management, Resource Management, Workplace Communication Describes the benefits and challenges of group work. Demonstrates appropriate social courtesies with deaf and hard of hearing people in professional and casual situations. Identifies appropriate processes to resolve conflicts in a work environment. Effectively interacts with a diverse group of co-workers. Describes the impact of work attitudes on gaining, keeping, and enhancing employment. Identifies own work habits and skills and their potential impact on academic and career success.

Independent living Skills – Emergency and Environmental Safety, Personal Safety, Money/Banking, Purchasing/Negotiating, Clothing, Health Insurance, Car Insurance Social Skills Class Biztown/Finance Park Financial Literacy Class Develops a monthly budget using typical income and expenses information. Explains procedures and responsibilities for banking services: applying for car and personal loans, using credit cards, and paying bills. Describes and uses strategies to protect self and maintain a safe environment.

Community Roles, Responsibilities, & REsources Skills - Travel, Community Roles and Responsibilities, Leisure, Community Resources, Community Service Uses a street map and develops a route with guidance. Explains why a license is required to drive. Uses street maps and writes directions. Participates in a driver’s education class. Knows driving rules and the meaning of road signs. Follows laws related to all forms of transportation. Identifies roles and responsibilities within the Deaf community and of deaf and hard of hearing people in other communities. Identifies key roles and responsibilities assumed in a postsecondary community.

Important agencies/Programs DVR – Division of Vocational Rehabilitation : Deaf and Hard of Hearing Counselor is Mahala Coker. (vp) 907-268-4306 Deaf Navigator – Mike Merritt (vp) 907-268-3274 TVR – Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation: Barbara Kariuki (v) 907-793-3360 Stone Soup Group 907-561-3701 Sorenson Communications 801-287-9400 Alpine Alternatives – Summer programs 907-561-6655 Special Olympics 907-222-7625 HKNC Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Angela Gray (vp) 206-518-9871

Colleges/Universities Gallaudet University (202) 651-5000 RIT/NTID 585-475-6700, 585-743-1366 (VP) SWCID (432) 264-3700 CSUN (818) 677-1200 WOU (503) 838-8000 UAA (907) 786-1800