innovativesocialservices.org/do-you-have-a-special-needs-high-school-graduate-in-your-home
We all look at our kids and wonder where the time has gone. High school graduations are only months away and the panic may be setting in. Do You Have a Special Needs High School Graduate in Your Home? What is the next step for my special needs graduate?
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Thankfully, there are a variety of opportunities for students with disabilities. Most school districts offer some type of transition services that assists the student with transitioning into the workplace and adulthood. Students may attend a transition program that teaches employability and independent living skills. These programs may partner with local businesses to allow the students to learn job skills working side by side with the business’ employees. There is also supported employment where an agency supports a student while at a job learning the skills necessary for that job. There are agencies that offer sheltered employment. The student will go to the agency and work within the agency’s building or go to a job site with close supervision. Typically, there is a daily rate to attend these agencies. Do You Have a Special Needs High School Graduate in Your Home? Another option is that the student remain at the high for additional time to continue to polish their employability skills. Students with a disability are able to remain in school until age 22. Can You Use Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Your Special Needs Graduate? This is so much info that my head is spinning! What service is best for my special needs soon to be high school graduate? The best place to start is with your student’s school. Ask your ESE (exceptional student education) contact if a referral has been made to Vocational Rehabilitation Services. This agency will be critical for the years to come because it assists with job placement, purchasing of work uniforms, bus or other types of transportation, while offering other services. Once the referral is made you will be contacted and you must respond or they will move on to the next name. Please click on the link below for information. Click The Link To The Right To Learn More —>>>> Vocational Rehabilitation Services Next determine what the ultimate goal is for your student. Independent employment or supported employment?? Living with you, living in a group home, or living independently?? What are the action steps that will get your student to that goal? If your student requires additional instruction in employment skills a school district transition program geared toward practicing employment skills may be best. These district programs partner with local businesses to enable the students to gain real world experiences working (unpaid) side by side the company’s staff. Another option is for your student to remain at the school for an additional year or more to continue to polish certain skills.
Do You Have a Special Needs High School Graduate in Your Home? Another agency to apply to is the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). This agency will assign a case manager to you and assist with getting financial resources for the various types of supported employment or medical services. Click on this link to learn more about other services APD provides and the Medicaid waiver. Click Here To Right To Learn More About ->>>>Agency for Persons with Disabilities Sheltered employment is offered to young adults that are no longer in the school system but 2/3
will benefit from continued services. The young adults will participate in paid work experiences on the campus of the agency or at a work site off campus and be supervised at all times by agency staff. The family or young adult does pay a fee to be at this agency, but this is where agencies such as APD can step in and assist with paying those fees. Do You Have a Special Needs High School Graduate in Your Home? There is so much information to navigate through during this time of transition. I can only imagine how difficult this is as you watch your child get older. The best advice I can give you is to find a champion at your school that you trust and go to with questions and know you will receive honest answers. This person may be a teacher, guidance counselor, or another parent. Join local parent groups and network within them to gain insight on what has worked and not worked for others. Wishing you the best. Butterfly Transforming Lives Daily
Do You Have a Special Needs High School Graduate in Your Home?
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