PSN Issue
Transition
& Supported Employment Working for You
Transition is a term used to
describe post high school education planning processes for students with
special needs between the ages of 14 and 22. Specifically, it is used to help
students move from school to work, or secondary education. As these students
get closer to the time of transition (the process of moving from a familiar
system to one that is unknown) it often leaves them and their families anxious
and uncertain about the future. If you take some time to develop a
comprehensive plan during this period, you can be assured that the move to
adult services will be less stressful and may even be full of pleasant
surprises.
During the transition
process you may begin to hear some different terms that you might not be used
to. Supported Employment, IEP (Individual Education Plan), IPE (Individual Plan
for Employment), VR (Vocational Rehabilitation), and a variety of acronyms that
may be intimidating at first, but once you become more familiar with the
transition process, will become second nature.
As mentioned above, the
process of transition under federal guidelines starts at age 14 and continues
to age 22. During the ages of 14-17 the focus begins with on campus planning
activities. Between the ages of 18-22 students will begin to experience more
real work activities, which often take place at offsite locations throughout
their community. Have you ever thought about your young adult
living on their own, getting a job, or moving on to higher education?
Sheila and I are always speaking with parents and their sons or daughters, who
will confirm that these accomplishments indeed become a reality for the
majority of the people we serve. Some adapt more quickly than others, so it is
important to start planning sooner rather than later. Supported Employment for
individuals with disabilities is something that we are both very familiar with,
and will be the focus of the rest of this article.
One of the most important
tools utilized in transition is Supported Employment. This service will help
your son or daughter gain and maintain employment with the help of a
professional, called an employment consultant and/or job coach. These
professionals are tasked with seeking employment opportunities with help from
you and your son or daughter. This includes looking for leads, prepping
individuals for interviews, helping with resume writing, and arranging for
transportation to and from interviews and appointments, as needed. They are responsible
for helping to protect the rights of your son or daughter during the job search
process. They also assure that these young adults are treated fairly on the job
at all times. Job coaches will actually go to the job site with your son or
daughter to help ensure they receive proper training in a style that fits their
individual needs. If your son or daughter is involved in an employment program,
they might be able to receive job coaching services
for an extended period of time.
The philosophy of supported
employment is deeply rooted in the idea that everyone has a right to work. It
also means that individuals should have the opportunity to experience
competitive paid employment in a non-segregated environment. It is the goal of
supported employment to help continue the process of integration, and foster
the mainstreaming ideology that your son or daughter experienced in school. It
is believed that if persons with disabilities receive equal treatment while on
the job, they can also be equal partners in society. The self
esteem and pride experienced through gaining employment instills a sense
of pride and accomplishment from which everyone benefits.
Typically, supported
employment is funded through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
which covers the initial Phase I process. This phase includes discovery,
job development, job acquisition, stabilization, and transition to the second
phase or phase II of supported employment. Phase II, which is often referred to
as “follow along”, is typically funded through the Medicaid Waiver. If
individuals are not receiving funding through the waiver, other funding can be
explored through provider agency grants or Impairment Related Work Incentive
(IRWE) through Social Security.
Due to the waiting list for APD’s Med Waiver program, employment agencies are finding
it more and more difficult to serve persons who are not funded for Phase II.
However, it is recommended that all who are interested in working apply to
Vocational Rehabilitation as the first step toward employment.
We will be writing more
articles over the next few months to help explain the options available to you
and your loved ones. When transition starts to become more of a reality for you
as a family, supported employment and transition will not be such a foreign
concept.
If you
have any questions please feel free to contact Jose Pinto at the APD Area 15
Program office at 772- 618-5180.
Edited by
Peter Karlan
Disclaimer: All information on this site is of a general nature and is furnished for knowledge and understanding only.