Phone: (610) 825-9360 |
Delaware County School to Work The transition from school to work, according to federal IDEA updates effective July 1, 2005, should begin before the student's 16th birthday. From that age until graduation, students with special needs and their parents must be proactive in coordinating transition services to plan for adult life opportunities. The first step in the transition process is to make certain that your child's file is open and active at your local Office of Mental Retardation. The Office of Mental Retardation is the "gatekeeper' for adult services such as job coaching and housing. Equally important is to develop, write and implement a meaningful and specific Transition IEP. Customized Employment: An Overview. http://www.dol.gov/odep/documents/811bef0c_5dc9_479a_9c22_146dde82c7ed.doc. The Customized Employment process is a flexible blend of strategies, services, and supports designed to increase employment options for job seekers with complex needs through voluntary negotiation of the employment relationship with an employer. The job seeker is the primary source of information and drives the process. The Customized Employment process begins with an exploration phase, which lays the foundation for employment planning. Planning results in a blueprint for the job search where an employment relationship is negotiated to meet the needs of both the job seeker and the employer. Job Seeker Exploration. Time spent engaging with the job seeker to explore their unique needs, abilities, and interests, as well as their complexities, is essential to establishing successful employment. Unlike traditional testing or standardized assessment, Customized Employment engages the job seeker in controlling the exploration process, and captures their preferences and connections in the community. The job seeker selects friends, family, and colleagues to participate in the exploration phase so that they can share positive perspectives and potential connections to employment opportunities. At the conclusion of the exploration phase, the job seeker makes decisions about their employment goals and potential employers to approach. Customized Planning. Information gathered from the exploration process is the foundation for Customized Employment planning. The Customized Employment planning process should result in a blueprint for the job search. Transition from High School to Work: Issues, Needs, Supports and Successes
The employment outcome for people with disabilities is a serious issue. Consider these statistics from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability:
The contributing factors to employment declines for individuals with disabilities include: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE, including the Guiding Principles for Effective Transition Employment Programs CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT SOFT SKILLS EMPLOYERS SEEK CLICK HERE TO READ "The Day the School Bus Stops" |
So, What Are My Options? Work and day programs after high school. There are several different work and “day programs” available, and sometimes it can be very confusing to understand what they are each all about! A brief description of some of those services and options is listed below. Please keep in mind that services do tend to differ from location to location and agency to agency ~ this is only a basic introduction. Click here to read more... Office of Mental Retardation The Office of Mental Retardation (OMR) is the gatekeeper of services for adults with mental retardation. Call the main office at 20 S. 69 th Street in Upper Darby, Your OMR supports coordinator will assist you in contacting other agencies such as the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Social Security Administration, County Office of Assistance for Medical Assistance , transportation services, and local provider agencies that will support your child's post-high school plans. Invite your OMR supports coordinator to attend each IEP meeting. What is Waiver Funding?
After I Apply for Waiver Funding, What Happens Next? If you are found eligible for waiver services and there is sufficient funding and capacity, you will begin to receive services. If there is not sufficient funding and/or capacity to serve you, you will be placed on a waiting list. Your county will determine your place on the waiting list based upon the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) form that you complete with your Supports Coordinator. How Long Will It Take to Get the Supports and Services That I Need? The primary factors that determine when you receive services are whether funding is available in your county and the urgency of your need. Each county gets an annual allocation of state and federal funds from DPW. Counties must prioritize people in the emergency and critical categories and enroll them in services up to the limit of their allocation. Your urgency of need for services is determined from your completed PUNS form. There are 3 categories of need. The first, "Emergency Need" means you need support immediately. The second, "Critical Need" means you need support within one year. The third, "Planning for Need" is when your need for supports or service is more than a year away. To read the entire article on Waivers, go to http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ Office of Vocational Rehabilitation OVeRVIEW - The OVR Online Newsletter - OVeRVIEW is a monthly online publication with news and events of interest to customers of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Pennsylvanians with disabilities. OVR, a division of the Department of Labor and Industry, works with families, the Office of Mental Retardation, and schools in assisting adults with disabilities prepare for and find appropriate employment. During the final year of high school, students should be referred to OVR by the high school transition coordinator or their family. Clarify who will contact OVR during the IEP meetings two years prior to graduation. You should:
Social Security Administration Phone: 1-800-772-1213 The Social Security Administration pays monthly cash benefits to people ages 18 to 64 with disabilities who are not able to support themselves. Currently, eligibility for benefits restricts earnings to no more than $800 per month and restricts savings or personal assets, including life insurance policies, to no more than $2000. Social Security disability programs also offer healthcare coverage or medical assistance through Medicare and Medicaid. You should:
The Red Book serves as a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals, and counselors who serve people with disabilities. Available online at http://www.ssa.gov/redbook/ PABSS Project. Pennsylvania Protection & Advocacy, Inc. (PP&A) is concerned that the state’s citizens with disabilities are not taking full advantage of one of our programs. It is called PABSS, which stands for Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security. The PABSS Project assists Social Security beneficiaries to overcome discrimination and barriers to obtaining work, returning to work, and/or maintaining work. This includes barriers that impede access to vocational and rehabilitation services, barriers to employment and support services (including transportation) necessary to enter the workplace, and reasonable accommodation s for your disability at your place of employment.
If we are not immediately available, please leave your name and telephone number with area code and we will return your call. Please feel free to pass along this information to other persons who may benefit from it and/or to include this information in other listservs and newsletters. Transportation Services Delaware County offers several transportation services for adults with developmental disabilities. If you live within 3/4 mile of SEPTA service and your destination is within 3/4 mile of SEPTA service, SEPTA should provide you Paratransit service. To apply for paratransit services, you must complete a lengthy application. Part of that application is a "Release of Information" agreement allowing SEPTA to contact the applicants' health care provider or rehabilitation professional to obtain information on the diagnosis, medications, and prognosis of the applicant to evaluate their need for SEPTA Customized Community Transportation (CCT) services. It may also be necessary for the applicant to have an in-person interview and/or functional assessment in order to complete the application process. Ride reservations may be made three (3) days in advance. There is a waiting list for long term scheduling. The cost is the same as the regular SEPTA fare (Trailpasses may also be used). Contact:
You should:
Promoting Employment for Youth who Receive or are Eligible for SSA Benefits
Many young adults with disabilities qualify for cash benefits and related health care through the Social Security Administration (SSA). For many parents, beneficiaries, and community agencies these programs are confusing. There is a good deal of misinformation which can undermine the goals and future aspirations of young adults. SSA administers two cash benefit programs for people with disabilities: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). These programs are different in their purpose, history, and scope. It cannot be overemphasized that employment affects these programs differently! Promoting Employment for Youth who Receive or are Eligible for SSA Benefits ~by John Miller, BPAO Project Director, AHEDD Many young adults with disabilities qualify for cash benefits and related health care through the Social Security Administration (SSA). For many parents, beneficiaries, and community agencies these programs are confusing. There is a good deal of misinformation which can undermine the goals and future aspirations of young adults. SSA administers two cash benefit programs for people with disabilities: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). These programs are different in their purpose, history, and scope. It cannot be overemphasized that employment affects these programs differently! Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is payable to adults or children who are “disabled or blind, have limited income and resources, meet the living arrangement requirements, and are otherwise eligible.” The monthly SSI amount includes a federal benefit rate ($603 CY 06) and a PA state supplement ($27.40). The design of the SSI program is such that a recipient is obligated each month to report changes in earned and unearned income, so that the SSI amount is properly adjusted. As a general observation, SSI is a work friendly program. Assuming on-going eligibility, the SSI recipient who works may have a reduced SSI payment but will have significantly greater monthly income. For CY 06, an SSI recipient who receives the standard SSI, excluding state supplement, with no unearned income or specific work incentives would need a monthly income of least $1,291 in order to have the SSI reduced to $0. Furthermore, the PA recipient would need to earn an annual salary of $26,451 (current PA Medicaid Threshold) in order to be at the point of termination due to income. There are a variety of work incentives specific to persons receiving SSI. The Student Earned Income Exclusion is specifically for in-school youth under 22. For CY 06, a student can have up to $1,460/mo. and $5,910/yr. of earnings excluded from reportable earnings.Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is the public’s long-term disability insurance program. One is eligible for “Title II” benefits as a result of working, but having/acquiring a disability which prevents the person from earning substantial gainful activity (CY 06: $860/mo.). In addition, children with disabilities may be eligible for a prorated share of a parent’s Social Security, under “Childhood Disability Benefits” (CDB). It is possible that these “children” may continue to receive CDB into adulthood. There are specific work incentives applicable to SSDI, as well as work incentives that are common to both SSI and SSDI. New work incentives include: Ticket to Work, and Expedited Reinstatement. Social Security's Representative Program provides financial management of the SSDI and SSI payments for beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security or SSI payments. Having power of attorney or a joint bank account with the beneficiary is not the same thing as being a representative payee. Representative payees are expected to report all relevant changes to SSA including changes in income, living arrangement, and other eligibility requirements. The Benefits Planning Assistance & Outreach Program (BPAO) has been established in each community through cooperative agreements with SSA. The BPAO service provides individualized information about the impact of work on the SSA cash and related benefits of the beneficiary. Individuals who receive SSI and/or SSDI may be eligible for BPAO services beginning at age 14. In PA, SSI recipients are automatically eligible for Medicaid. There are additional ways in which persons can become eligible for Medicaid. The PA Department of Public Welfare (DPW) offers Medical Assistance for Workers With Disabilities (MAWD) to persons 16 and older. Individuals must have a severe disability (i.e. comparable to eligibility for SSA benefits) and must be working. Under MAWD, DPW has increased the Medicaid asset limitation from $2,000 to $10,000. For further information, contact John Miller, AHEDD (717) 763-0968 ext 118 or john.miller@aheddorg Additional Resources For additional information about school to work transitioning, visit: A consumer guide to public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
• The ARC • The ARC of Delaware County 610-325-3950 • Delaware County Intermediate Unit • Everyday Lives Advisory Committee 610-713-2154 • Education Law Center (215) 238-6970 • Freedom Valley Disability Center Assists persons with disabilities achieve independent living; serves Delaware, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties Newtown Square PA 610-353-6640 • Ken-Crest EmployNet • PA Office of Mental Retardation • Partners in Employment • Pennsylvania Parent Education Network • PaTTAN (Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network) • Transportation Advocacy Project, lists transportation options for all PA counties • Transportation Resource Manual to Facilitate Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities , published by The ARC. Click on Community Services • Transition Link - Supporting transition-age youth with disabilities • ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation In Our Nation) Delaware County High Schools Chester High School Chichester High School Conestoga High School Garnet Valley High School Haverford High School Interboro High School Marple Newtown High School Penn Wood High School Penncrest High School Radnor High School Ridley High School Strath Haven High School Springfield High School Sun Valley High School Upper Darby Senior High School Unionville High School Additional Resources: "To Work or Not to Work" Question: I have been told that my son / daughter is not ready to work in the community. Answer: Customized employment eliminates the need for a person to "get ready" to work. If your son / daughter wants to go to work, then it is time for him / her to go. A key aspect to customizing employment is finding work that matches your son's / daughter's interests and skills. Using this approach, a personal agent or employment specialist works closely with a job seeker to negotiate a specific position that uses the person's talents to match the needs of a business. The goal is not just to locate any job, but a job specifically negotiated that capitalizes on your son's / daughter's interests and abilities. (Click here to read the entire article) The 30-Day Placement Plan: A Road Map to Employment (August 2005). This brief from the Institute for Community Inclusion teaches readers how to break the job search process down into a series of tasks that will lead to employment, develop a plan for employment that is driven by the job seeker, and include the job seeker’s personal as well as professional support networks in the job search process. Impact: Feature Issue on Meeting Transportation Needs of Youth and Adults with Developmental Disabilities (Summer 2005) (Newsletter). For youth with developmental and other disabilities, the opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills, and experience in using public transportation as well as other transportation options is key to preparation for adult community living. This issue of the Impact newsletter from the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota offers strategies for meeting these and other transportation needs of youth and adults with disabilities. Neighbours Inc. High School Transition Project assists youth with developmental disabilities and their families build successful transitions from school to adult life. Program includes a Youth Leadership Forum and Parent Networking Groups and transition curriculum trainings. For information contact Matt DiMarco, Project Manager at 610-952-5154 or matthew.dimarco@gmail.com. www.neighbours-inc.com New Freedom Initiative Website . The President's New Freedom Initiative has developed a user friendly disability website that has links to more than a dozen governmental agencies and many non-profit organizations. People with disabilities, their advocates, and professionals can search by topic and don't need to know which organization to look for. The general topics are employment, health, transportation, housing, civil rights, benefits, technology, and community life. The web site can be found at: PA Assistive Technology Foundation provides low-interest loaks to people with disabilities so that they can buy the assistive technology devices and services they need. Contact 1-888-744-1938 or visit www.assistive-technology4pa.org. www.sharedwork.org is a Web site funded by the US Dept. of Education Office of Special Education Programs and sponsored by the IDEA Partnership and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education for the purpose of connecting stakeholders in the national Communities of Practice (CoP), participating states' CoP and Practice Groups to develop their shared work and best practices of transition
The next stop on the journey: Post-High School Education |
