Transition from School to Community Based Employment for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Name of Grant: __Project EARN______________________________________________________ Contact’s Name:______Brenda Hartman_____________________________________________ Contact’s Email Address:___bahartman@iu12.org_____________________________________ Number of Students Targeted:___20___ Students with Employment Outcomes___17_____ Students with Post Secondary Outcomes ___3_____ Students Participating in Community Based Assessment _16____ Students Participating in Community Based Vocational Training__18___ Students Participating in Community Based Work Experiences __0__ Prioritize and list 2 -3 implementation goals: Goal: Cross-Systems Trainings: Presentations on Autism Spectrum Disorder to school district and alternative education personnel through organizations such as the York County Alliance for Learning (YCAL) and the York and Adams County Transition Coordinating Councils. Goal: Employer Outreach: Development of community-based vocational training/employment experiences based on assessment information gathered. Project EARN staff will travel to observe Project SEARCH in order to gather necessary information for replication. The goal for students is to obtain competitive employment within the setting upon graduation. List assessments used and recommended: Reading Free Vocational Interest Inventory My Career Journey Keys2Work Community Based Work Assessments Project Discovery Functional Work Sample Kits (Education Associates) – Entry level skills kits are not highly recommended. Also, as of completion of our project, standards are not yet aligned with PA Career Education and Work Standards. List curriculum used and recommended: Stepping Out In the Community Social Skills Training – Jed Baker Navigating the Social World Autism & PDD – Adolescent Social Skills Lessons 1 Thinking of You, Thinking of Me Teach Me Language LinguiSystems Autism and PDD: Things I can Say and Do 5 Is Against the Law Comic Strip Conversations Hidden Curriculum – Brenda Smith Myles Building Social Relationships – Scott Bellini List web resources used and recommended: www.pacareerstandards.com a comprehensive website containing information on PA Career Education and Work Standards, curricula, resources, career planning, post-secondary school information, etc. www.khake.com contains extensive information on careers, labor market, workplace competencies, skills assessment, lesson plans, etc. www.vaview.vt.edu contains various career development activities, teacher handouts, career research for students of all grade levels, etc. www.careervoyages.gov contains student self- assessment, occupational information, and videos of various careers (Videos are also close-captioned and youth-oriented) www.online.onetcenter.org student self assessments, crosswalk of skills to occupations, labor market information www.paworkstats.state.pa.us/gsipub/index.asp?docid=405 PA’s Career Guide online. This is also available through the PA Career Standards website under resources. www.jan.wvu.edu/media/asperger.html Job Accommodation Network’s list of simple, low-cost and nocost accommodations for individuals with Asperger Syndrome. www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/fmain1.html articles by Temple Grandin and various publications on functional programming for people with ASD Grant Title:_Project EARN _ 2 Curriculum/Career Development/Instructional Strategies Video Modeling Role Play Visual Supports Task Analysis Portfolio Development Career Assessment/Indicator 13/Social Skills/Work Related Scott Bellini’s Social Skills Checklist My Career Journey Keys2Work Career Quest Portfolio In-School Functional Work Assessments Community-Based Work Assessments Family/Caregiver Engagement/Trainings Parent training was provided by Parent Education Network, OVR and PASSABCO (The PA Social Security Administration Benefits Counseling and Assistance Project) as part of a collaborative effort between Lincoln Intermediate Unit and MH/MR for a multi-county Autism Awareness Spring Fling. Sessions were conducted on Parent/Professional Collaboration, Accessing OVR Services, and Social Security Work Incentives. In addition to these parent seminars, agencies also had information tables at a general resource fair as a part of the day’s events. Transition consultants provided training on transition planning for parents affiliated with the local Autism Society of America York chapter. In addition, MH/MR provided information regarding their Autism Case Management Unit and MH/MR services. Employer and Community Partnerships Brethern Home Diehl Collision ForSight Visions and Industries Gettysburg College 3 Giant Foods TJ Maxx York Chrysler/Kia York College of Pennsylvania York Country Day School Glatfelter Memorial Library Hanover Church of the Brethern Hollywood Video Kinsley Properties Luther Memorial Church Memorial Hospital Saubels Market Shrewsbury Lutheran Retirement Home and Village Spring Grove H.S. Cafeteria Stewartstown U.M. Church Zion Lutheran Church Interagency (Stakeholder) Collaboration Interagency collaboration was a major emphasis of Project EARN. Various partnering activities occurred involving collaboration with OVR, MH/MR, Penn Employment Services, AHEDD, Parent Education Network, the York County Alliance for Learning, York and Adams Transition Coordinating Councils, PASSABCO, the local chapter of the Autism Society of America, and the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital, The following activities occurred: Cross Systems Trainings Job Coaching Supports ( Provided by Penn Employment Services to LIU Paraprofessionals) Accessing the OVR System (Provided by OVR to Parents at the Annual Autism Awareness Spring Fling coordinated by LIU and MH/MR) Parent/Professional Collaboration (Provided by Parent Education to Parents at the Annual Autism Awareness Spring Fling coordinated 4 by LIU and MH/MR) Social Security Work Incentives (Provided by PASSABCO to Parents at the Annual Autism Awareness Spring Fling coordinated by LIU and MH/MR) Autism Spectrum Disorder (Provided by LIU to Job Coaching Agencies) Parent Issues in Transition (Provided by parents at the York County Transition Coordinating Council) Transition Planning (Provided by LIU to Asperger Parent Support Group) Community Based Work Assessments Provided by Penn Employment Services and AHEDD, job coaching agencies, for identified students in LIU Autistic Support and Emotional Support classes. Employer Brochure Collaboration with OVR on development of an employer brochure. Project SEARCH Replication Visit In collaboration with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, LIUtransition Consultants and the Assistant District Administrator of the York District OVR visited Philadelphia Children’s Hospital Project Search to explore potential for replication. Travel/Transportation Students on public bus routes received training on the rabbittransit system. This involved reading bus schedules, scanning tickets, following “social hidden curriculum” practices of using the public bus, making transfers, and identifying when to get off of the bus. In addition, students received instruction on pedestrian safety skills. 5 Staff/Professional Development Teachers received training on Indicator 13 and OVR services. Paraprofessionals were trained by Penn Employment Services, a job coaching agency under the Arc of York County. This training included information on the concept of supported employment, qualities of effective job coaching, consumer assessment, job analysis, task analysis, instruction, and fading. Staff attended all PaTTAN sponsored trainings including sessions on sustaining and enhancing grant practices, systematic career assessment process, Labor Laws, and Guiding Youth with ASD through the transition process. In addition, staff attended the PA Transition Conference, Penn State National Autism Conference, and the “Everybody Works Conference” held in Columbus, OH. Staff also attended the National Standards Project webcast. Transition consultants visited Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Project Search to explore replication potential. Marketing and Outreach An employer brochure was developed to increase employer awareness of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The brochure includes information on strategies to assist the employee with ASD to experience success, what a person with ASD brings to the work place, employer supports, and tax incentives for employers. Next Steps LIU and OVR are currently collaborating on seeking grant funding through OVR to conduct a Project Search model in York County for students with ASD. Philadelphia Project SEARCH staff have volunteered to travel to York County in order to meet with interested employers. In-School Functional Vocational Assessments will continue using functional work sample kits. Staff development will continue pertaining to Indicator 13, inclusion of vocational evaluation results in evaluation reports, present levels, and development of measurable post-secondary goals. Middle School staff will receive training on requirements for Transition Planning. Development of portfolios, beginning in Middle School, will be systematically implemented. Interagency collaboration will continue. Employer Brochure will be distributed to: OVR, Penn Employment, AHEDD, Parent Groups (Local ASA and Parent Ed. Network), Transition Conference attendees, Autism Conference attendees, Employers, District Advisory Council Representatives, Autistic Support staff, Emotional Support Staff, Parents of students in the AS program. **Electronic version is available for posting on sharedwork.org. 6