School

The information here is intended to help students, parents, teachers and service providers plan a smooth transition from high school to higher education, vocational training and work. Everyone is expected to work and students with disabilities are included. It's important to use the services available in high school to best advantage. The information here on services and assistive technology will make further education and competitive, integrated work possible for students with disabilities including students with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

To help you get started, review the Passport to Independence. It has information on transition planning, services you and your student should consider applying for and the timing of when steps should be taken.

988 Mental Health, Substance Use or Suicide Crisis Help Line

Advocacy

Advocacy - active support of an idea or cause etc.; especially the act of pleading or arguing for something

The definition of Advocacy from The Free Dictionary

Everyone advocates at different times. For example:

Parents advocate for their children at school.
Students advocate for classes they want, or programs, or events, etc. In college, a student may advocate for an accommodation to participate more fully in the class (i.e. a note taker, interpreter, longer testing time, etc.)
Teachers advocate for students, parents, programs, events, and many other things.

When not at school, parents, students, and teachers advocate for what they want in many other situations. For example:

At the doctor's office or in the hospital, they often need to speak up and clarify what is wrong and what someone's needs are.
At a store, if a clerk gives you the wrong change.

It is important to understand how to advocate on your behalf or someone else's behalf so that we can get messages across clearly.

The Process

If we disagree with a decision that is being made, it is important to understand the other person's point of view and why they made that choice/decision, before advocating for a change. In "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," Stephen Covey describes this process as:

Listen carefully
Ask questions to understand completely what the other person (whether it is a doctor or teacher or whomever) is saying,(not argue or discuss) and get all of the information from them.
After you have all the information, assess and come back to the other person with what you would like to propose or advocate instead, and the reasoning behind it.

As a parent, you are your child's greatest advocate, supporter, and cheerleader. By becoming knowledgeable regarding educational laws as well as services and programs available within your community, you can ensure that your child receives a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). There are two primary laws that cover your child's rights to a public education:

Individuals with Disability Education Improvement Act (IDEA)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Understanding how Section 504 and IDEA work with and complement each other allows you as the parent to better assist your child's educational team to ensure your child's right to a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) is provided allowing for maximum educational success.

The Differences between Section 504 and IDEA

Here are some sources of assistance when your advocacy is not working.

Families Together is a parent organization with information and training for parents of children with disabilities on their rights and how to access the education system.
Disability Rights Center takes complaints against schools for possible violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is the federal enforcement agency for violations of IDEA, ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Assistive Technology

What is assistive technology?

Assistive technology or adaptive technology (AT) is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks.

Source - Assistive Technology, Wikipedia

Resources

Quick Links

Assistive Technology 101
Legal Rights - Assistive Technology for Your Child
K-Loan - K-Loan provides financial products to Kansans with disabilities and those with critical health needs in ways that help potential borrowers acquire specialty equipment as cost effectively as possible.
Kansas Equipment Exchange
Kansas AgrAbility Project - specifically for people with disabilities who work in agriculture.
Kansas Audio-Reader

Career / Job Skills Training and Assessment

Career/Job Skills Training and Assessment

Please remember the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC) does not endorse any of these links, nor takes responsibility for any claims they may make. If their claims seem too good to be true, please use caution and check them out before committing to anything.

College Career Technical Education - tuition free while in High School!
- College Career Technical Education Brochure
- College Career Technical Education FAQ Sheet
Career Technical Education Institutions - Here you can search the institutions participating in career education training opportunities from eight Kansas public technical and community colleges.
KansasWorks.com This is the official website of the Kansas career centers which includes the training resources link to the Unemployment Insurance claims website.
Kansas Rehabilitation Services (KRS) - KRS is the federal employment and training program for people with disabilities. The KRS Handbook give information on the process and what to expect.
Skills for Today's Workforce - provides links to important information on the range of skills necessary for career success, such as workplace, personal, life, math and study skills.
Best Career Planning Tools - a listing of most recommended career planning tools from CareerOneStop
Career Exploration Tools - This is a listing of most recommended career exploration tools from CareerOneStop
Military Career Guide - allows you to explore military careers and related topics.
Vocational Information Center
How You Use Math at Work
Interest Assessments - Department of Labor Free Assessments:

Quick Links

Vocational Information Center
Project Search - a vocational training program for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD)
Career Exploration Resources
How You Use Math at Work

Financial Aid

Post secondary education is expensive and most students need financial assistance, commonly called financial aid. The first step in receiving financial aid is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The schools that you list on your FAFSA will let you know how much financial aid you are eligible for and may be able to give you further assistance. Some will have scholarships available from the school you are attending.

The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid - information about scholarships and fellowships for students with disabilities

Look for scholarships in your area of study. There are lots of scholarships that are specific to different degree programs. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, known as STEM degrees, are in high demand and scholarships abound for students entering those careers. Sometimes the college you will be going to has scholarships for students in certain degree programs. Check with the financial aid department of the school you want to attend to see if those opportunities are available.

Quick Links

Fastweb - a resource to find scholarships
Through the Looking Glass - an organization for families of people with disabilities that provides scholarships for students of parents with disabilities and resources for other scholarships
NFB Scholarships - National Federation for the Blind
Kansas Board of Nursing Scholarship
More Nursing Scholarships
American Educational Guidance Center - a website with a variety of college and scholarship information
Free Scholarship Searches - is a website that connects with scholarship search engines
College Scholarship Search - this search engine has listings for scholarships for a variety of situations, locations, ethnicity and race
LA Tutors - $500 scholarships awarded every month
College Scholarships and Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities guidebook
On-line College Scholarships - Scroll down to Scholarships (left-hand side of screen)
AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarships - majors in public health, disability studies, health promotion or related field

Laws and Student Rights

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the law that governs schools and students' rights. The other laws listed here may also be related to students' rights in various situations. Each one has a different application. You will want to look at each one in order to understand how and when they apply.

Please also read the Letter to Parents from the Office of Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education dated March 16, 2007.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Transition is one of many important components of the IDEA 2004 because it's focus is on long-term outcomes for students.

Source: Storms, Jane, O'Leary, Ed, Williams, Jane. (2000) Transition Requirements: A Guide for States, Districts, Schools, Universities and Families. Stillwater, OK.

From the Colorado Department of Education, Special Education Services Unit.

One of the primary purposes of Public Law 105-17, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is to "ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for employment and independent living." (34 CFR 300. 1)(a) The focus of IDEA has shifted from one that only provided children and youth with disabilities access to an education to one that also strives to improve results for all children with disabilities. The IDEA and its amendments of 1997 strengthen the role of parents and students in the educational planning and decision-making process. It focuses the student’s educational program on participation and progress in the general curriculum. At the heart of the IDEA ‘97 is the Individualized Education Program (IEP).

The big ideas in IEP transition planning are that the team:

Engages the student and parents in thinking about the student’s goals for the future.
Identifies the student‘s needs, interests and preferences.
Knows how the student performed today.
Identifies what the student will learn and do both this year and in the remaining years in school to achieve his or her dreams and goals for the future.
Identifies the supports and services the student needs for success.
Ensures that the student learns to the maximum extent appropriate within the general curriculum and environment.

Schools, families and communities must work together to offer effective educational experiences so students with disabilities:

Achieve appropriate participation and progress in the general curriculum
Attain improved academic results
Are prepared for post-secondary education, employment and independent living.

In practical terms, the very real challenge is not only to ensure that all students achieve high academic standards but also gain skills needed to achieve their desired post-school goals (including post-secondary education, training or employment) and assume adult responsibilities in their communities. Further, the challenge is to keep all students in school and engaged in meaningful educational experiences so they will be prepared for post-secondary education, employment and independent living.”

If you believe your student's rights have been violated under IDEA, you need to contact Disability Rights Center to assist you with the process. Phone: (785) 273-9661, (877) 776-1541, (877) 335-3725 (TDD).

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for the most part, is a law providing access to people with disabilities. This access can be physical access, such as in buildings, on public streets, and public transportation. But, it also acts as a civil rights act, defining and protecting some civil rights of those with disabilities, such as the right to appropriate accommodations in order to perform a job. IDEA is considered an access law, providing access to a free and appropriate education for all students with a disability, and an educational civil rights act, while the ADA provides access both physically and through protection of civil rights in employment and other areas. So, the laws are linked especially when considering transition, since much of transition is focused on employment as an outcome of public schooling.

If you believe a student's rights have been violated under the ADA, you need to contact the U.S. Department of Justice. You can do this using the Title II Complaint Form. For more information about the ADA, visit the ADA website.

Rehabilitation Act, Section 504 and Section 508

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination because of disability in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance. It is important to note that the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and IDEA 2004 are completely separate Federal laws. Thus, a student who receives protection through Section 504, and has a 504 plan created by a school or school district cannot receive special education services through IDEA 2004 at the same time. A student who does not receive special education services, but still has a disability and needs specific appropriate accommodations and modifications in order to gain benefit from their public education has a right to legal protection through Section 504 and from a Section 504 plan. Section 504 provides such legal protection from discrimination, but does not provide the same, nor as in depth legal protection as IDEA 2004.

Because of this, unless decided and stated within the Section 504 plan, created by a team that should include the parent and students (best practices), any student who receives legal protection through Section 504 will not receive transition special education services. And, although some “outcome” oriented accommodations or modifications might be recognized within the student’s plan, a school or district only has to legally provide transition services to a student receiving special education services.

Thus, these two laws are linked, but quite different. Depending upon the needs of a student who has a Section 504 plan, the student and parents may be wise to seek assistance through other sources such as community resources, but the student will not likely receive transition services unless they receive special education services under IDEA 2004.

If you believe your student's rights have been violated under Section 504, you may contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights or the Disability Rights Center. Read the regulations for Section 504.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that all technology is accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. Learn more on the Section 508 website.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) combined several federal employment and training programs into a One-Stop employment and training system of service delivery. WIOA has two programs for students with barriers to employment.

Services available include, but are not limited to, tutoring, study skills training, summer employment, occupational skill training, paid and unpaid work experiences, leadership development, supportive services, adult mentoring. Youth with disabilities need to meet the eligibility criteria to participate in these activities.

Section 188 of WIOA prohibits discrimination based on disability. If you feel you have experienced discrimination under WIOA because of your or your child's disability, the WIA Equal Opportunity Officer will take and investigate your complaint. You can contact Mr. John Ybarra at (785) 296-5092. To read the regulations and law, visit the WIOA website.

Kansas Rehabilitation Services

Both the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Rehabilitation Act provide that people with disabilities have access to services provided by both systems. It should be noted that these services are different in each state and the determination of what services may be provided are dependent upon federal policy and state regulations. Thus, it is important to contact your local One-Stop Centers and local Vocational Rehabilitation office in order to learn more about what services they may provide, and how these services may pertain to a particular student.

If you believe your student's rights have been violated related to workforce and vocational rehabilitation services, contact the Disability Rights Center to assist you with the process.

Phone:
(785) 273-9661
(877) 776-1541
(877) 335-3725 (TDD)

Quick Links

Disability Rights Center of Kansas
IDEA Law and Regulations from Wrights Law (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
ADA Homepage
Section 508, requires technology be usable by people with disabilities
Section 504 - Department of Education Regulations on nondiscrimination in federally funded programs
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) link to the employment and training program law and regulations

Parent Education

Your participation in your student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) and transition process is critical. You serve as an advocate and a role model. It's important that you learn as much as you can about the IEP and transition process so you can help ensure that your student's goals and needs to become an independent adult are met.

The Kansas Department of Education - Special Education section can provide you with information about:

Parent Rights (Procedural Safeguards)
The Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Mediation
Formal Complaint
Due Process Hearings

Post-Secondary Education

Post-secondary education provides education and training for a career. When deciding what you want to do, consider first what you like to do and what makes you happy. Sometimes using an assessment tool to determine your career interests is a good starting point. If you don't know what you want to do, start with Kansas Career Pipeline below. The other links provide information about schools, support service offices in several colleges and technical schools, and state and private colleges in Kansas.

You need to know that public schools (those that run from kindergarten through 12th grade) are required to plan for and accommodate students with disabilities. Post secondary schools are not required to do this. Rather, you will need to advocate and may need to provide documentation of your disability for the accommodations you need. Post secondary schools are required to accommodate you if you qualify as a person with a disability. The process takes time and you need to request accommodations as early as possible. Verifying your disability and providing accommodations may take several weeks.

Kansas Directory of Colleges, Universities, Community Colleges and Technical Schools
Think College - Doors to colleges are opening for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in many different ways all over the country. This website is designed to share what is currently going on, provide resources and strategies, let you know about training events, and give you ways to talk to others.

Disclosing Your Disability

Knowing when to disclose that you have a disability is hard. You don't know when it is to your advantage or your detriment. Here are a couple of resources to read and decide for yourself whether or not you want to disclose your disability.

Know Your Rights

Know Your Rights and Responsibilities - For student with disabilities preparing for post-secondary education.

For College Students

Resources for college students with disabilities:

We Connect Now - One of the goals of this site is to help college students with disabilities to succeed in their studies by getting the information and support they need, both through resources, links, blogs latest news, studying existing laws and regulation and through personal contacts.

School to Work Transition

The goal of transitioning students out of high school is to prepare them for being on their own. But this process begins much earlier. Parents are responsible for helping children make choices and understand the consequences of those choices in an age appropriate manner.

Allowing students to make mistakes is a key part of the process of growing up. This is part of the maturity and growth process whether a student has a disability or not. The time frame, the parameters, and other things may change depending on the disability, but students still need to be able to make choices, make mistakes, learn from their mistakes and gradually become more independent. This is part of the transition process.

For a student with a disability, there may be more things that need to be discussed, figured out and possibly managed. That's probably why there is more discussion about transition with students with disabilities than students without disabilities.

All students, including those with disabilities, should be expected to work. Work defines us, provides self sufficiency, and is part of socialization.

To try and ignore or not address that a student has a disability is a disservice to the student and will hinder them as an adult.

In post-secondary education, if a student needs classroom or living accommodations, a student has to identify him/her self as someone with a disability and clearly identify what his or her needs are in school in order to get help from student support services.
In the working world, if an adult needs an accommodation in order to perform the essential parts of his/her job, then they need to be able to identify that they have a disability, what it is, how it impacts their work, and what kind of accommodation they need (if they know).

If someone with a disabilities grows up with people not being willing to talk about disability openly, then it will put him/her at a disadvantage in the school and work world. Open discussion about disability and understanding their disability is part of the transition process as well.

Student Resources

Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy - Serves youth with disabilities all across the state through education, mentoring, and peer support.
Building a Life - Transition Guide for Kansans
Checklist for IEP Preparation
Youthhood - Helps youth plan for the future.
Youth as Self Advocates (YASA) - A national, grassroots project created by youth with disabilities for youth.
Adult Protective Services (APS) for reporting abuse and neglect of children, youth and adults
How to get and/or keep health insurance (Medicaid- Buy-in programs): Working Healthy and Kansas WORK Program
Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability - Youth
Telling Your Money What to Do: The Young Adult's Guide
The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities

State Universities - Disability Services Offices

In general, student support services offices provide help, guidance, and/or accommodations for students with disabilities. Students will need to talk with the office about their particular concerns to determine if they are eligible for services and how to work out the details.

Public Community Colleges and Vocational/Technical Campuses (Student Support Services)

Quick Links

Building a Life - Transition guide for Kansans
Advising Youth with Disability on Disclosure
Youth & Employment Resources - National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability
The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities

Students: Plans after High School

All Students leave school some day....what do you want to do? You have choices!

Technical training - the technical schools are mixed in with the community colleges, so you might have to scroll through to find the one nearest you.
Apprenticeship
Community College - two year college
College or University - four year college
Military
Work
Flint Hills Job Corps
Supported Employment - Supported employment is a service of Kansas Rehabilitation Services. Read about their services and then find a location near you.

How are you going to get there? You are in the driver's seat. Create your own future!

Make a Transition Plan. That means people in your life work together to help you move from school to the adult world. If you do an Individual Education Plan (IEP), you start working on it when you turn 14.
- Passport to Independence: Transition from School to Work Timeline
Explore a career
Know yourself: your strengths and weaknesses
Get work experience and/or volunteer experience
Graduate!

Who can help you?

Parents or Guardians
Family
Resource Families
Church
Teachers
Counselors
Therapists
Social Services
Case managers, mentors, tutors, transition staff or IEP managers at disability service agencies (e.g. Centers for Independent Living, Community Developmental Disability Organizations, Community Mental Health Centers - these maps show the locations and contact information for these agencies)
Disability Support Services at the technical schools, two year or four year colleges

Teacher Education

Madeline Will, Former Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS), indicated the critical need for successful transition when she said, "We have done a lot for students with disabilities. In fact, we have created a compelling problem. We have assisted students with disabilities in becoming young adults who are self-sufficient, better educated and independent with higher expectations of life, but with no place to go."

Transition planning means an organized system for providing instruction and identifying resources. As a result, after graduation students will be prepared to live as independently as possible in the community and as productive citizens with the necessary supports.

Source: CDE, (1991) Colorado Transition Manual, Denver, CO: Colorado Department of Education

Best Practices

Transition Steps for IEPs - Natural Transition Points
Resources on Employment and Youth with Disabilities - NCWD Youth
The Arcs Self-Determination Scale - Adolescent version (assessment)
AIR Self Determination Assessment - Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment

Resources

Building a Life - Transition Guide to Kansans
Passport to Independence Timeline
Tips for Transition By Transition Coalition
Assistive Technology and Transition for Families
Transition Resource Directory - Description of differences between Free Appropriate Public Education and higher education and other post-graduation from high school options.
A Guide for High School Educators - Addresses transition of students with disabilities to post-secondary education; from the US Department of Education - Office of Civil Rights
Transition Services Flow Chart
American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES) - is an organization comprised of special educators, general educators, related service providers, administrators, teacher trainers, researchers, and parents who are committed to the enhancement of services to students and individuals living in rural America. ACRES was founded in 1981 by a group of individuals interested in the unique challenges of rural students and individuals needing special services. ACRES is the only national organization devoted entirely to special education issues that affect rural America.

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