Dream Based Transition Alliance
Newsletter
October 2003
We don’t plan to fail but we often fail to plan.
Getting Off to a Good Start
Cindy Anderson, Secondary Special Education Coordinator, and Mark Knight, Department Chair of the Alternative Career Education Program (ACE) and the Adult Community Transition Program (ACT) were the invited speakers at the September Parents In Transition meeting. Even though they had to contend with some acoustical difficulties we were able to gain plenty of valuable information.
Beginning at age fourteen a transition plan will become part of your student’s IEP. The student’s transition service needs should be identified and included in the plan. The course of studies should reflect these needs. At sixteen the transition plan should include a statement of transition services, including when appropriate, how outside agencies will be involved in providing or paying for transition services.
Cindy Anderson reinforced the willingness of the Anchorage School District (ASD) to work with parents in answering questions, solving problems and keeping the lines of communication open. See page two for names and telephone numbers of the Department Chairs and Teacher Consultants for each middle school and high school.
The ACE and ACT Programs are established to provide transition from high school to community based post secondary education.
Mark Knight explained the ACE program goal is for each student to become a self-sufficient, self-determined, independent adult. This program operates as a parent, teacher, student, and employer partnership that prepares students to live as independently as possible in the community. It also teaches students how to get a job and how to keep it. ACE teaches basic work and social skills that can be used on any job to improve employee performance. Instruction includes job awareness, job search, social interaction, problem-solving, health and hygiene, transportation, leisure skills and other related social and occupational areas. To get into the program the home high school must make a referral after discussing with the parents and student to determine if the ACE program will meet the students needs.
The ACT program provides a coordinated approach based upon skill development by providing instruction and experiences in the community. ACT provides a variety of experiences and activities so when students exit the school system, they have acquired a wide range of necessary skills and have made numerous community connections to insure a successful transition.
We appreciate Cindy Anderson and Mark Knight for being our guest speakers and answering the many questions from the group. We also thank Kathy Broom, Steve Fleischman, David & Jo Maas for refreshments, decorations and door prizes.
Parents in Transition
October 2, 2003 • 7pm • king career center, ROOM 1
2650 E Northern lights blvd
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME and Adult Public Assistance
Come and bring your questions about SSI and APA benefits that your young adult is entitled to. Shirley Burkhart from APA and a guest speaker (TBA!) with SSI information will explain the basics of these two valuable programs.
As always, the young adults are encouraged to attend and participate in the meeting.
Call Demma Requa at 742-3874 for information
Middle School Special Education Contacts
School |
Dept. Chair |
|
Teacher Consutant |
|
| Central | Wally Towne | 742-5129 | Vicky Eastman | 742-3942 |
| Clark | Cris Leonard | 742-4721 | Kris Selman | 742-3945 |
| Gruening | Nancy Brown | 742-3625 | Betsy Kruth | 742-3897 |
| Hanshew | Denise Helkinn | 349-1561 | Phyllis Seeba | 742-3941 |
| Mears | Karin Sikora | 349-3332 | Phyllis Seeba | 742-3941 |
| Romig | Jane Johnson | 274-0541 | Vicky Eastman | 742-3942 |
| Wendler | Karen Lower | 742-7336 | Vicky Eastman | 742-3942 |
| Goldenview | Denise Aune | 742-8251 | Phyllis Seeba | 742-3941 |
| Mirror Lake | Carol Vorst | 742-3340 | Betsy Kruth | 742-3897 |
High School Special Education Contacts
School |
Dept. Chair |
|
Teacher Consutant |
|
| Bartlett | Dennis Hall | 742-1844 | Kris Selman | 742-3945 |
| Chugiak | Bob Ellers | 742-3057 | Betsy Kruth | 742-3897 |
| Dimond | Travis Durnford | 742-7076 | Phyllis Seeba | 742-3491 |
| East | Jan Dolan | 742-2204 | Vicky Eastman | 742-3942 |
| Service | Dave Kohler | 742-8120 | Phyllis Seeba | 742-3491 |
| West | Mike Welch | 274-2502 | Vicky Eastman | 742-3942 |
| ACE/ACT | Mark Knight | 742-3950 | ||
| Secondary Sp.Ed. Coordinator |
Cindy Anderson | 742-3993 |
Training Oportunities
Here are some training and workshop opportunities that should be of interest for you and your family:
Understanding Guardianship and Advocacy.
This is sponsored by the Alaska State Association for Guardianship & Advocacy. It will be held on October 6th, at Providence Alaska Medical Center. For more information call 907-333-9480, you will need to register.
Self-Determination, Empowerment, & Change.
Brought to you by Partners In Policymaking Project and Anchorage School District’s Special Education Parent Resource Center. These workshops will be held at College Gate Elementary, free for parents, foster parents and family members. Childcare is available by calling Janet @ 742-3872 for arrangements.
The workshops will be:
- October 2 Working Toward Dignity and Choice: The Language of Disability.
- October 9 Parents & Policymakers: Strange Bedfellows.
- October 16 Working for the Future: What’s in the Crystal Ball.
To register contact Kelly Donnelly @ 264-6252 or by e-mail at ankad@uaa.alaska.edu or Janet Lacy at 742-3872.
Did you know that with the changes in state government that the Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (DMHDD) has been renamed and grouped in with seniors and is now named Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS), they are located at 3601 C Street, Suite 878. The telephone number is 907 269-3600.
Challenge Alaska would like to remind you that if you are interested in Trading Places - Huli Aku Huli Mai the deadline for your application is November 21st, 2003, for more information call Jennifer Ertel, Challenge Alaska 907 344-7399.
Now it’s time to say “good bye” to Jo Maas, Project Coordinator for Dream Based Transition Alliance. You will be missed tremendously!!!!! Jo has been working very hard to keep us going!!! I would like to introduce myself, Demma Requa. I will be in the office and would love to hear from you. Stop by and see me or call @ 742-3874. We are located in the Special Education Parent Resource Center in the Boniface Mall.
BYE!! BYE!! JO
THE VERY BEST TO YOU IN THE FUTURE!!!
Dream Based Transition Aliance/Parents in Transition
5530 E Northern Lights Blvd, Suite 8 In the Special Education Parents Resource Center
Anchorage, AK 99508 • 742-3874 • dbta@customcpu.com
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