Welcome Texas Parents & Students!
Higher Education Opportunity Act and Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Learn about how the Higher Education Opportunity Act and national initiatives support postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities. Madeleine Will and Stephanie Lee of the National Down Syndrome Society and Judy Shanley of the U.S. Department of Education present an overview of current college programs, strategies for promoting these opportunities, and resources for further information.
Government Web Site Offers Self-advocacy Tips for Teens with Disabilities
Disability.gov has a variety of self-advocacy resources to help teens begin to express their needs and wants by participating in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. These meetings assist teens in learning ways to talk about their disability with others, set goals, and practice other self-advocacy skills.
Another one: http://studentaid.ed.gov
And: http://www.going-to-college.org/
Preparations to Transfer Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) Case Management Service to Local Mental Retardation Authorities (MRAs)
The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) is providing updated information on preparations needed to move case management services under the Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) Waiver from service providers to local Mental Retardation Authorities (MRAs).
DADS has sent informational letters to HCS providers that will be distributed to individuals, legally authorized representatives (LARs) and actively involved family or friends of individuals who receive HCS Program services. The letters should be mailed by Dec. 11, 2009. Current plans are for the MRAs to begin providing service coordination to individuals served in HCS on June 1, 2010. For a copy of the letters, visit http://www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/communications/2009/letters/IL2009-165.pdf.
DADS has created a Web site to answer frequently asked questions regarding the transition. For more information, visit "Frequently Asked Questions about Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Case Management Transition".
To read more about HCS case management transition, go to the November 2009 "FYI" which is online at http://www.txddc.state.tx.us/resources/publications/fyi/fyindex.asp.
Graduation Texas Style
Check out this new Q & A about graduation from Susan Rose, our Transition Focus Center Coordinator. The Q & A includes the new HB 3 graduation credit requirements beginning 2009-2010. Read full article >
HEATH Resource Center
The HEATH Resource Center is an online clearinghouse with information for students with disabilities on educational disability support services, policies, procedures, adaptations, financial assistance, scholarships, and materials that help students with disabilities transition into college, university, career-technical schools, or other postsecondary programs.
New to their site is the addition of 14 training modules written for high school students with disabilities preparing for transition from high school to college, a module for parents, and a module for college/university professionals. These 16 modules are accessed by clicking on the "Modules" tab found at the top of their website. Development of these self-directed modules and their improved website was supported in part by Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation dedicated to expanding success in education beyond high school.
You will find their Guidance and Career Counselor's Toolkit vetted by the Office of Special Education Programs. The "Resources" tab you will find their Seasonal Programs (includes their Summer Pre-College Programs for Students), Frequently Asked Questions, Links, and File Repository (includes their collection of articles in pdf and PowerPoint presentations).
Transition Research Identifies Five Legal Issues “Themes”
One could make a case that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the most litigated law of the land. It is a law that affords parents and students with disabilities many rights and service entitlements while assigning public school districts primary responsibility for ensuring those rights and services are provided. It is important that parents, students, schools, and other responsible agencies learn from those who have fought the good fight ahead of us. By keeping abreast of case law and their significant findings, we can avoid making the same mistakes while learning what it takes to improve services to students as they transition from public school to adult life. Read full article >
Measurable Postsecondary Goals
Measurable Postsecondary Goals are not the same as Measurable Annual Goals in a student’s IEP. This is a new requirement in IDEA 2004 that specifies that the IEP for every student who turns 16 years (or younger if appropriate) must include measurable postsecondary goals and the transition services needed to assist the student in reaching those goals. CFR 300.320 (a)(7)(b)(1)&(2). Read full article >
Internet Resources about Transtion
Expanded & freshly updated, Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADD is a great resource for students searching for a college that will provide them with the programs they need. http://books. google.com/ books?id= A2Yd-VlGOTAC&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46&dq=Reinhardt+ academic+ support&source=web&ots=AydASXhZOO&sig=zp8ZOdbLlziVUpr esW-bre8svOc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result#PPP1, M1
Post-secondary Parent Teacher Education Connection – Parenting module @ www.tcet.unt. edu/pteconnect/ ?module=Parenting
Hands on Banking -- Developed by Wells Fargo as a free public service, this innovative, entertaining program is available in Spanish & English & contains no commercial content. The curriculum is designed for self-paced, individual learning for kids, teens & adults. It may also be used in classrooms & with community groups. More info @ www.handsonbanking. org or www.elfuturoentusmanos.org
