1. Achieving the Dream – Transition to Post – Secondary Education for Students with Disabilities What is your dream for your child?

2. Agenda: Transition Planning Overview Helping Your Teen Build a Dream
DVD: Real Life Stories
Five Steps of Transition Planning

3. Student Keeping the “best interests” of the student as the focus of
Student-Centred Planning:
Keeping the “best interests” of
the student as the focus of
planning.
Helping the student build their
dream and share it with others.
Having high expectations for
the student, along with needed
supports to ensure success.
Student

4. Advance planning for entry into post-secondary education is essential
Parents will need to:
Communicate to others the student’s needs
Become familiar with resources, supports
and funding, including:
1. Accommodations and adaptive technology
2. Ensure the student applies early
3. Be actively involved

5. Start Planning During Junior High:
Selecting courses
Exploring interests, skills and dreams
Volunteering, extra curricular activities,
work experience
Taking part in IPP team meetings
Learning to describe the disability and to
identify the accommodations that help

6. Start with the dream:
…all that life can be…

7. A full and rich learning experience …
in the company of students and friends
… with people to help along the way
… and the satisfaction of meeting goals and achieving dreams.

8. Tips for Helping Your Teen Build a Dream
Your teen may need to learn how to dream

9. Start with the dream: ...all that life can be…

10. Develop & Implement Plan
TRANSITION PLANNING
Get Ready
Form Planning Team
Hold Exit Meeting
Student
Monitor &
Update Plan
Develop & Implement Plan

11. Help Your Teen Create a Portfolio
Portfolio - a collection of documents
and photographs.
- the portable, self-contained
record of your teen’s experiences
and accomplishments.

12. Carly’s Career Exploration:
Gradual approach
Real life situations
Interests and strengths
Challenges and limitations

13. The Duty to Accommodate: ….. To the point of undue hardship …..
The Disability Service Office
Examples of Accommodations:
Note Takers
Software voice programs to assist students
with reading or writing
Extended time for exams, oral exams or
special locations for exams

14. Vulnerabilities and Safeguards:
Vulnerabilities: Being misunderstood
Being underestimated
Being Ignored
Being Taken Advantage of
Safeguards: Participation in student activities
Knowing their rights
Learning how to self advocate

15. Choosing a Post-Secondary Program
Your teen may be considering learning at:
A technical institute
An apprenticeship or
industry training program
A college or university

16. FUNDING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION:
“Are You A Post-Secondary Student
With A Permanent Disability?”
Visit: alis.alberta.ca/disabilities

17. Step 2: Form Transition Planning Team
Student’s Role: … Expressing his/her wishes and needs
Parent’s Role: … Supporting students in
expressing their wishes and needs
… Assisting the team to stay focused
on the students strengths and abilities.

18. Step 3: Develop and Implement Plan
A plan is put into action:
Choose institution and a program
Visit Disability Service Office
Make an application
Required assessments and required documents
Funding for tuition and accommodations
Support network on and off campus
Living arrangements, etc.

19. Step 4: Monitor and Update Plan
Team reviews plan every six months.
During grade11 team meets more often to review and
update plan and ensure deadlines are met.
An important role of the teen and parent is to ensure
all short and long term goals will be met…
before the teen starts post-secondary studies.

20. Step 5: Hold Exit Meeting
Hold final transition planning meeting well before graduation to allow time to follow up
on any outstanding items.

21. Dream Facilitator
… having a group of supporters and champions to call upon can have tremendous benefits for the young adult and for the family of the young adult.

22. Thank you for attending!
Parent Workshop Evaluation
Please take a few minutes to complete the workshop evaluation sheet.
Thank you for attending!