The Transition Alliance of South Carolina
Working together to increase successful postsecondary transition outcomes for youth with
disabilities through active interagency collaboration
CSAVR
Fall Conference
November, 2015
Presentation
Overview
 TASC Initiative Highlights
 Partner Agency Perspective
 Local Collaborative Team Perspective
 Getting Involved
Able South Carolina
Center for Disability Resources
Family Connection of South Carolina
Francis Marion University
Lexington Richland School District Five
Working together to
increase successful
postsecondary
outcomes for youth
with disabilities
through active
interagency
collaboration
ProParents of South Carolina
SC Assistive Technology Program
SC Department of Disabilities and Special
Needs
SC Department of Education
SC Department of Employment and
Workforce
SC Developmental Disabilities Council
SC Vocational Rehabilitation
SC Department of Educational Studies
Grantors
Working together to
increase successful
postsecondary
outcomes for youth
with disabilities
through active
interagency
collaboration
SC Department of Education, Office of
Special Education Services
SC Developmental Disabilities Council
Grantee
Center for Disability Resources at the
University of SC School of Medicine
South Carolina TEAM
A Model for Improving
Transition to Employment Programming
Grantor
South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council
Grantee
Center for Disability Resources at the University of South Carolina
Purpose
Utilize information and resources from local, successful high school transition
programs in the state, coupled with the evidence-based literature, to build
capacity for improved outcomes for youth with ID/DD transitioning from high
school to adult life.
Intent
Refine and implement a framework of support for local
interagency transition teams
1. Build awareness and understanding of evidence based practices in
secondary transition.
2. Assist local stakeholders in forming and cultivating interagency transition
teams.
3. Assist local interagency teams in creating collaborative strategic plans
for program improvement.
4. Assist local teams in implementing strategic plans.
5. Improve Post-School Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities
Capacity Building
Strategies
1. Statewide Interagency Team Transition
Conferences
2. Moderate Support System
3. Intensive Support System
4. Statewide Trainings
5. Website
6. Community Partner Support
Strategy 1
Statewide Interagency Transition Conferences
 2 Years, 3 Events
 52 Local Interagency Teams
 57 SC School Districts
 Education, Networking, Strategic Planning
 Participation Opens Access to Support System
Local Transition
Team Strategic
PATH Plan
Local strategic PATH plans
include goals grounded in
both legislation and literature.
Strategy 2
Moderate Technical Assistance
 Up to 20 Teams
 First-come, first-served application process
 Technical assistance, training, and/or provision of
materials/resources
 Supports implementation of EBPs & strategic plan
goals
 Connection of local experts for TA/Training
Strategy 3
Intensive Technical Assistance
 4 Local Teams
 Competitive Application Process
 Technical Assistance, Training, and/or Provision of
Materials/Resources
 Teaming/Collaboration
 1 Additional Domain Area
 Supports implementation of EBPs & strategic plan goals
 Connection of local experts for TA/Training
Strategy 4
Statewide Trainings




3 statewide or regional trainings
Spring, 2016
Topics based on local team priorities
2015 Trainings
• Interagency Collaboration/Teaming (January, 2015)
• Transition Assessment (February, 2015)
• Student Engagement (April, 2015)
Strategy 5
TASC Website
 Best Practices Training
and TA Content
 Local Team Pages
 Local Team Networking Component
 State Resource Clearinghouse
 Training Calendar & Registration
Strategy 6
TASC Community Partner Support
 TASC team members (e.g., DDSN, VR, Able
SC, Family Connection)
 Connection of state partners to support local
program development
Building Capacity in
South Carolina
Anticipated Results of TASC
Sustainable system of support for local interagency collaborative
transition teams. It is expected that this will result in:
 Increased collaboration among state-level transition stakeholders
 Increased collaboration among local-level transition stakeholders
 Increased stakeholder knowledge
 Increased local capacity to improve employment and other post
school outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities
 Ultimately, improved post-school outcomes for SC’s youth and
young adults with disabilities.
Partner Agency
Perspective
South Carolina Vocational
Rehabilitation Department
The Three C’s to Success
Collaboration
Consistency
Communication
Collaboration is Key!
“Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so
much.”
~Helen Keller
Collaboration
• Have a common mission
• Key players at the table
• Each agency has support from top
leadership (MOU)
• Collaboration cannot just be on
the state level
Communication
“Tell me and I’ll
forget. Show me and I
might remember.
Involve me and I will
understand.”
~Benjamin Franklin
Communication
• Communication is more than just talking to
each other.
• Understanding each other’s mission and where
it fits in our scope and purpose.
• Communication is not just amongst ourselves.
It can be what we project in our community.
Have a presence together in the community.
Consistency
“If you are
persistent, you
will get it.
If you are
consistent, you
will keep it.”
Consistency
• Have a presence together in the
community
• Each agency is able to send a consistent
message not only to the local teams but to
the top leadership as well
• Staying focused and keeping it simple
Our Path Plan
Experience
Angie Slatton, Ph.D.
District Five of Lexington and
Richland Counties
Where We Started with our Path Plan
May, 2014:
• 2 district reps with an
assigned community partner
• undocumented baseline data
• began to develop a plan for
improved practices to include:
– increased community
experiences
– increased student readiness
for community experiences
– increase student engagement
with community partners
– develop a PST team
Early Fall, 2014
o
o
o
o
o
Defined our Steering Committee and Core Teams
Identified Community Partners
Set monthly (Core) and Triennial (Steering)
meeting dates
Collected reliable baseline data
Updated goals
Fall, 2014
●
●
●
●
●
Signed Project Search MOA
Signed Community Options MOA
Began planning for Transition Fair
Attended the follow-up Path Planning conference
Updated progress monitoring tools for job coaches
Spring, 2015
● Meet 2 of 5 Path Plan goals
● Increased outcomes for other goals
● Held Transition Fair (17 community partners, 150
visitors)
● Initiated initial steps for Project Search
● Received DD Council grant for program evaluation
for PST programming
Fall, 2015
● Opened the second Project Search site in South
Carolina
● Attended the Interagency Conference
● Updated our path plan
● Expanded our partners on our Path Plan Steering
Committee
● Conducting system-wide evaluation of postsecondary transition services
What’s to Come in 2015-16
●
●
●
●
Second Annual Transition Fair with expanded activities
Increased Community Based Training
Increased community partnerships with exiting seniors
Continued work and progress monitoring of goals
through a thoughtful, organized plan
● Develop plan for Improved practices based on
evaluation of PST programming
For More Information,
Please Contact….
Joy Ivester
E-TASC Director
USC CDR
Angie Slatton
Special Education Director
Lexington School District 5
Joy.Ivester@uscmed.sc.edu
sslatton@lexrich5.org
Laura Spears
TASC Chair, Transition
Coordinator
SC Vocational Rehabilitation
Kinsey B. Carlson-Britting
E-TASC Assistant Director
USC CDR
Lspears@SCVRD.STATE.SC.US
Kinsey.Carlson@uscmed.sc.edu
References:
Antosh, A.A., et al. (2013, April). A collaborative interagency, interdisciplinary approach to transition from
adolescence to adulthood. Silver Spring, MD: Association of University Centers on Disabilities.
Cornell University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics. (2012).
Disability status report: South Carolina. Retrieved from: http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/
Health Information Technology Research Center. (2013). Continuous quality improvement (CQI) strategies to optimize your
practice. Retrieved from:
http://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/nlc_continuousqualityimprovementprimer.pdf
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 (2004).
National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center. (2013). Secondary transition evidence-based practices
and predictors of post-school success. Retrieved from:
http://www.nsttac.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdf/pdf/ebps/Description%20of%20EBPs_updated.pdf
Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network. (2014). Pennsylvania secondary transition guide. Retrieved from:
http://www.secondarytransition.org/
Test, D.W., Mazzotti, V.L., Mustian, A.L., Fowler, C.H., Kortering, L., & Kohler, P. (2009). Evidence-based secondary
transition predictors for improving postschool outcomes for students with disabilities. Career
Development for Exceptional Individuals. Retrieved from: http://www.nsttac.org/ebp/practicedescriptions/