Where Am I?  Where Am I Going?

And just how am I going to get there? Questions that all students struggle with and those in special education programs struggle with even more because those answers demand so much self- knowledge, self- advocacy, empowerment and direction. Traditionally, schools have not been particularly good at helping students transition into adulthood. That is why providing a Summary of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (SAAFP) is now the culmination of...

 Empowerment = Self Advocacy

Empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more confident in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights.

Empowerment is one of those things you gift to yourself. Empowerment can not be given to you by someone else. The more you practice empowerment the easier it becomes. Empowerment does not mean that you will never have feelings of anxiety or fear. It does not mean that you will never feel threatened or intimidated. It means that despite any...

CAREER AWARENESS/EMPLOYMENT GOALS

The assumption of competence on the part of parents, teachers and other authority figures who have contact with students who have intellectual or physical challenges can have a huge impact on post-secondary employment, education, lifestyle and life satisfaction. Part of that assumption of competence can be demonstrated in the care taken to expose the students to as wide a range of employment options as possible as well as creating an environment that assumes...

Self Advocacy Makes Transitions Work

If the truth be told, when it comes to transition, parents are frequently in the dark as to all of the areas that transition covers and just how comprehensive the umbrella of transition can be for their student. When there are inexperienced teachers, or other factors that do not support an informed set of goals in the areas necessary to making a reasonable transition from Secondary to Post-secondary education and independent living, it is up to the...

KEYS TO INDEPENDENT LIVING

It can be quite amazing when you have two students with evaluation profiles that are fairly similar yet you can tell that one is going to be able to create a life for themselves while the other seems destined to being maintained in a life that others create for them. Where do they find the energy, motivation and drive ? Self determination can go a long way in creating energy, motivation and drive. In fact, research shows that students who have self-determination...

BULLYING

“STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES, BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HURT ME” is, to say the least, highly inaccurate. In fact, if you are the target of those words it can feel like you are the world’s greatest loser with this great big “L” tattooed on your forehead. You may even start thinking ugly thoughts yourself. Who will talk to me at school? My  friends will all hate me? How will I ever get a date? How many times am I going to have to put up with...

TRANSITION PLANNING  - ASSESSMENTS COME FIRST

IDEA defines transition as a “results-oriented process” focused on improving academic and functional achievement that supports successful post-secondary training and programs, vocational training, work, independent living, recreation, and inclusion in the community. The focus in IDEA on transition planning is a reaction to the unacceptably low graduation rates and deplorable post-secondary achievements of students with...

5 Step Road Map for Person Centered Planning

5 steps that walk you through the entire process of Person Centered Planning. Regardless of the talents available without a plan for the planning, co-ordination and communication breaks down so once again we have a person wanting to be included, to participate, to do something besides play video games all day still playing video games all day.

TRAIN SERVICES PROVIDERS FIRST

• Discuss how will Person-Centered Planning likely affect the services they...

Life Plan of Possibilities & Discoveries

for Those Who are Disabled.

Person Centered Planning has the goal of allowing a person to move away from a number of obstacles and challenges to participation. It is hoped that PCP can move a person from

• isolation and seclusion to a community presence
• loneliness and rejection to working, shopping, playing, worshiping
• labels and bad stories of otherness to dignity and respect
• powerlessness and voicelessness to self determination and choice
...