May 15, 2017 / Mytransition region IV | Meeting Notes

Attending:

Cassie Weightman, MILP; Todd Hoar, Silver Bow Developmental Disabilities Council; Les Clark, MILP; Shaun Tollach, Vocational Rehabilitation; Cindy Smith, MILP

Announcements:

  • None
  • We are building separate list serves for issues and updates that directly affect Butte, Bozeman, and Helena regions.
  • To get updates from Helena: email Shanell,
  • To get updates from Bozeman: email Cindy,
  • To get updates from Butte: email Cassie,

** If you have an upcoming event or photos from a work experience or job shadow, please email and we will get them on the website.

Discussion:

Member Updates:

  • Real Life Fair Butte: Discussed the details of the event which was created to resemble the ‘Game of Life’. All involved felt excited and energized by this new way approach. There was also a great parent group turnout that was held from 12-1pm. MILP is happy to share this information.
  • Bozeman MILP office has been conducting region meetings and youth peer groups.

Transition Timeline:

  • Transition timeline has been sent out the listserve and the other districts.
  • Getting good feedback from the other districts.

Adjourned: 3:30pm

Next Region IV Meeting:

TBA-August

****If there are any agenda items you wish to discuss, please email me prior to the meeting.***

Region IV Goals:

Region IV Goals:

Short Term Goals (6 months-1year):

1)Resource Guides

Creating a usable resource guide/handout for each area that can be given to teachers and can be accessed on montanayouthtransitions.org

  1. Gain feedback from parents regarding what information is usable
  2. Prioritize information so that is not overwhelming
  3. Create a team to begin developing tool/resource guide
  4. Put any current usable resource guides on the website
  5. Start conversations about transition in elementary school with parents

2)Training/Presentation

Regarding community resources and transitions opportunities

  1. Coordinate with teachers to schedule in-school presentation, with materials they can give to parents
  2. Schedule community resource/information/transition fairs and open houses and have community programs attend to provide information about their services.

3)Pre-Employment Transition Services

Communication and collaboration on the best way to execute the service

  1. Refer all eligible students to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
  2. Establish methods that help parents follow through with VR applications
  3. Connect partners (schools/agencies) with the Pre-ETS Technical Assistance Center
  4. Help schools that do not currently have a contract with VR for Pre-ETS to obtain the service contract
  5. Establish a list of local businesses that are willing to offer work experiences to qualified students

4)Job Shadow Opportunities

  1. Have students fill out job shadow applications
  2. Create a list of potential job shadow sites
  3. Set a region goal of matching at least 2 students per month with a job shadow.

5)Separate Community Meetings to discuss local transition issues

  1. There will be coordinated meetings every other month (opposite of the MYTransitions call) at the MILP offices in Helena, Bozeman, and Butte to discuss local transition plans, concerns, and to develop usable information.

Long Term Goals (1-3 years):

1)Increase PR Locally and in Rural Areas

  1. Schools
  2. Students
  3. Parents
  4. Community partners

2)Recruitment of Rural Partners

Getting rural communities and schools involved so they have access to the same opportunities larger communities have.

  1. School Staff
  2. Students
  3. Community Partners

3)Resource Guides

  1. Create flow-chart style guide for several disability categories regarding transition points
  2. Create usable, streamlined resource guides for several disability categories
  3. Get publications on the mytransitions website
  4. Get publications in the hands of teachers and parents in the most effective way possible beginning in elementary school
  5. Update forms regularly

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