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Transition and Promoting Self-Advocacy

Welcome to Transition!

As a student with a disability, (ages 14-21) you are involved in what is called Transition. This an exciting time, sometimes overwhelming and frightening, when you are making plans for your life after high school. Maybe it seems like all of a sudden everyone is asking: what do you want to be; what kind of job do you want; where do you want to go to college?  And you may not know the answers yet. There are so many choices!

Or maybe you ARE making choices, but you feel that the people around you are trying to talk you out of them. They tell you that you “can’t” do . . .

What can you do? What should you do?

First:

Know your rights. Because you are a student with a disability, you have rights under federal and state laws including:

  • The right to a free and appropriate education through age 21 or high school graduation, whichever comes first.
  • The right to take the same classes as other students if you are able and feel comfortable.
  • The right to have transition services included in your IEP (Individual Education Plan) starting at age 14.
  • The right to be present at and participate in your IEP meetings starting at age 14 or earlier if transition services are being discussed.
  • The right to be notified on or before your 15th birthday that all parental rights under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) transfer to you when you reach 18.
  • The right to have appropriate accommodations to meet your needs so that you can benefit from your education.

Second:

  • Know YOU!
  • What do you like?
  • What do you NOT like?
  • What are you good at?
  • What do you need help with?
  • What kind of help works best for you?
  • What are your hopes and dreams?
  • What should be part of your Transition Plan? Everything!
  • Education after high school – college, vocational school, adult school – where will you learn?
  • Employment – where will you work?
  • Housing – where will you live?
  • Transportation – How will you get around?
  • Money – How will you pay for what you need and want?
  • Independent Living Skills – How will you take care of yourself?
  • Health Care – How will you stay healthy? What if you get sick? How will you remember to take your medication?
  • Recreation – What will you do for fun and who will you do it with?
  • Emergency Planning – What will you do if something goes wrong?

 

Assistive Technology – What tools do you need to succeed?

That’s a lot to think about! So, where do you go for help? Talk to your parents and friends about your ideas and see what they think. Talk to your teachers about how they see you. Ask your Child Study Team. If you don’t know them, find out who they are. Get a copy of your IEP and READ it or have someone help you read it. Ask lots and lots of questions.

Oh, yes, and call your Center for Independent Living (CIL)! Each CIL has a Transition Specialist.  At MOCEANS, the Transition Specialist is Sue Pniewski, who has been helping students just like you plan for their adult lives for more than 4 years.

You can call (Monmouth County 732.571.4884, Ocean County 732.505.2310), e-mail Sue Pniewski, or write to her at MOCEANS CIL, 279 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740.

SERVICES ARE FREE and each student/family will receive a resource manual for either Monmouth or Ocean County.

Working with Sue is like having your own life coach. You set the pace. You decide what direction to go in. The Transition Specialist helps you with planning the next step, learning what you need to know. You can meet with her once a week, once a month, or you can call when you need information.

With the right supports and some hard work, you can make your dreams come true!

SCHOOL DISTRICTS/Child Study Teams

Contact the MOCEANS’ office for information on self-advocacy, self-determination training available for students in your classroom. The Transition Specialist is also available to attend IEP meetings as another resource person, in-services on CIL services for staff, coordinating transition events and speaking to student and parent groups.

PARENTS

Call the Transition Specialist to refer your child, receive a free copy of the resource manual for your county, or get answers to your question/concerns about Special Education and Transition.

Transition services are possible due to the Promoting Self-Advocacy Grant from the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services with funds from the NJ Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.