A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who:  share a craft or profession, and  come together to share that common interest.

Come together through:  Online: web meetings, discussion boards, newsgroups  Face to Face: lunch room, agency office, local Parent Resource Center meeting room, etc.

 To share information and experiences  Gain knowledge  Develop personally and professionally

 Encourages sharing of ideas  Newcomers o Observe or perform tasks as they learn how the group works  Ex. Apprenticeship, Student Teacher, Internships

 Creates a social context for learning  Create common ground  Guides learning  Gives meaning to action  Fosters interaction

 Decrease the learning curve  Respond rapidly to needs  Reduce reworking the same ideas

Spark new ideas, solutions, products and services Management of knowledge

 Group of people from Virginia  State agencies  State organizations  Advocacy groups  Advocates  Youth  Parents

VITC members come together to improve the transition from school to the postsecondary world:  Education  Training  Employment  Interdependent Living  Community Membership

Promote successful transition outcomes for youth by providing leadership and innovation in: Employment

Education and Training

Living Independently

Community Participation

Community support systems that can influence the success for all youth in transition

Take the Steps Towards Person Centered Thinking

Communities Communicate!

Local Transition Councils

 To improve the support and advocacy services available to youth with disabilities to help them achieve long term goals and enhance the quality of their lives

 Areas of need are identified and strategies are created to improve services  Transition councils improve our capacity for delivering effective transition programs and services  Information is exchanged about local, regional, and statewide agencies  Clarification of agency roles and responsibilities

 Identify potential localities  Determine who is interested  Attend transition council meetings in other localities to determine:  What they do  How they operate

 Organize a stakeholders meeting  Special Education Director  Transition Coordinator  DARS  Agencies that provide services to youth ( i.e. CIL, CSB, ESO, WIA)  Disability Support Personnel  PERT/WWRC  TTAC

 Determine interest of stakeholders:  How to utilize Indicator 13 and 14 information to improve transitional services  Networking opportunities with other practitioners  Community agency resources  Independent living resources  Employment options within the community  Access to Career Technical Education classes  Resource information (i.e. DMV, Benefit Planning, SSI/SSDI)

 Determine meeting dates, location, and time  Identify roles of facilitator and note taker  Develop an agenda: Celebrations Announcements Review Past Meeting Notes Guest Speaker Items/issues to be discussed Planning for future events and guest speakers Upcoming events

 This is an important component of the council in order to maintain purpose, function, and focus  Brainstorm ideas for a vision and mission statement with council members

 Grant Opportunities  Guest Speakers  Identify what is working  Develop a college night/career night  Communicate with local and state leaders  Develop a Resource Directory  Future Planning  Discussions-Group Think  Identify challenges and barriers

 See handout for more planning ideas  Contact your area TTAC or DRS representative