Achieving Positive Post-School Outcomes Through
STUDENT EMPOWERMENT
Presenter: Freda M. Lee, RttT Coordinator
Teacher and Leader Preparation
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
freda.lee@dpi.nc.gov
Activity
Describe to your neighbor a transition
time in life.
– How did you feel?
– Did you feel empowered at the
time?
– Were you prepared for the
change?
– Did you have support from
anyone?
– How did you cope with the
change?
Empowered Transition Process
• Embraces risk and
possible failure
• Provides support and
scaffolding as needed
• Includes formal and
informal transition
assessment
• Is ongoing, nimble and
flexible
• Includes adult services
Student Empowerment
• Begins at birth
• Inclusive
• Not easy
• Looks different for everyone!!!
Empowered Transition Process is:
• Student Driven
• Collaborative
• Futures Oriented
• Involves Backward
Planning
Why is Self-Determination Important
for Students with Disabilities?
• Helps to shatter pervasive stereotypes
• Increases employment options
• Student self-selection of future goals is
critical for success in all domains of life:
– Independent living
– Employment
– Community integration
– Personal relationships
Transition Assessments can include:
• Interest Inventories
• Dream Sheets
• Informal pencil and paper
assessments
• Interviews
• Situational and/or CommunityBased Assessments
• Role-Playing
• Observations
• Formal Placement/Screening Tests
• Formal/Standardized Transition
Assessments
Live, Work and Play
Balanced Planning
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Home
School
Social
Employment
Church
Community Involvement
Recreation
Three Stages of Career Planning
Self Exploration (Birth- 8th Grade)
Career Exploration (9th-12th Grades)
Career Planning and Management (Ages 18+)
Youthhood.org
•
The Youthhood Web site is a dynamic, curriculumbased tool that can help young adults plan for life
after high school. Although the site addresses
youth directly, it is intended to be used as a
curriculum within a classroom, community
program, or in any setting where adults are
working with youth to set goals and plan for the
future. The Youthhood includes informational
content, interactive activities, an online magazine,
and a wealth of other opportunities for youth to
connect what's important to them to their learning
experiences.
Youthhood Site includes:
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Private Journal: An online journal allows youth to write down their thoughts, ideas, issues, or anything
else as they work their way through the Web site. This journal is completely private, with access only to
the student through use of their password.
Activities Folder: Each content area has corresponding activities to reinforce what youth learn. These
can be saved to an Activity Folder for viewing, editing, or printing at a later date.
Life Map: The Life Map is a tool to help youth plan for the future. Youth can write down goals, steps to
achieve goals, and other important information related to what they’re learning on the Web site. Teachers
can also use this for assignments. For youth with disabilities, the Life Map parallels the Individualized
Education Program and can be used transition planning meeting preparation by young adults.
Class Notebook: Each content area has a corresponding Class Notebook for youth to reflect on the
material they just read. Instructors can give youth an assignment to write in their Notebook about what
they learned on a certain topic. Instructors can also read and comment on the student’s work in the
notebook.
Links to Web Sites: Each content area has corresponding Web sites where youth can go to learn more
about specific topics. Sites are arranged to correspond with the content sections of the Web site.
Youthhood Poll: Monthly poll questions relevant to different areas of transition allow youth to reflect on
their answers, submit comments, view poll results, and read comments from youth around the world
(currently under construction.
Under the Hood e-Zine: Youthhood’s online magazine, Under the Hood, is written by young adults to
share what youth are thinking, saying, and experiencing across the U.S. and around the world (currently
under construction).
TRANSITION ADVANCES
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PAST
Students Isolated
Watered Down Curriculum
for SWDs
Attendance Certificate
Bound
Technology Limited and
Very Expensive
Few Opportunities for CBT
PSE Opportunities Rare
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NOW
Students More Integrated
Increased Rigor for SWDs
Diploma and Graduation
Certificate
Technology More Abundant
and Less Expensive
More Opportunities for CBT
PSE More Accessible
CHALLENGES CONTINUE
• Accountability measures that do not
always accommodate SWDs and their
needs (4 year graduation rate, etc.).
• Parents/caregivers who are “over
protective” or “unrealistic”
• Failure to have “high expectations” for all
SWDs
• Society that continues to stereotype SWDs
• Lack of ongoing interagency collaboration
• Limited number of PSE options
Promising Transition Practices=
• Early Intervention
• Student Empowerment
• Direct Instruction and Academic
Support
• Extensive Use of Technology
• Comprehensive Transition
Assessment and Planning
• IHE Partnerships
• Interagency Collaboration
• Post-Secondary Education
Programs (PSE)
NSTTAC Case Study
• Read and think about Lissette’s case study
• Discuss with your partner
• Determine the following:
– Does it appear that Lissette has
participated in transition assessment of any
type and/or CBT?
– Do we need additional information? If so,
what information is needed and how might
we get it?
– Do you think Lissette is an empowered
student? If so, what evidence is there of her
demonstrating self-determination or
empowerment?
Select Transition Web Resources
National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center NSTTAC.org
Post-Secondary Outcomes Center- www.psocenter.org
Division of Career Development &Transition dcdt.org
North Carolina Division of Career Development &Transition ncdcdt.org
College & Career Readiness Center ccrscenter.org
Exceptional Children Assistance Center- ecac.org
Think College thinkcollege.net
North Carolina Post-Secondary Alliance cidd.unc.edu
Post-Secondary Education Research Center
www.trasitiontocollege.net
College Fund of North Carolina (CFNC-Gear Up) www.cfnc.org
Zarrow Center
http://education.ou.edu/zarrow/
U.S. Dept. of Labor O*NET www.onecenter.org
University of Kansas transitioncoalition.org
Cradle to College Collection ideapartnership.org
Select Transition Resources
• Assess for Success –Sitlington, Nuebert, Begun, Lombard,
and Leconte. Publisher: Corwin Press
• Transition Methods for Youth With Disabilities-Aspel,
Everson and Test. Publisher: Pearson, Merrill and Prentice
Hall
• Teaching Self-Determination-Field, Martin, Miller, Ward and
Wehmeyer. Publisher: Council for Exceptional Children
• Life Centered Career Education (LCCE)- Donn Brolin.
Publisher: Council for Exceptional Children
• Life Beyond the Classroom- Paul Wehman. Publisher:
Brookes Publishing