Project Description:
Montana Transition Training, Information and Resource Center (MT-TIRC)
The University of Montana?s Rural Institute Transition Projects was awarded a three-year grant by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities to develop a statewide transition training, information and resource center for youth with developmental disabilities. The project began on November 1, 2007.
MT-TIRC expands the current resources and services of the Transition Projects in response to needs identified by young people with developmental disabilities, their families, schools, and providers such as the Montana Developmental Disabilities Program; the Montana Advocacy Program; Parents, Let?s Unite for Kids (PLUK); and the Office of Public Instruction. These key stakeholders have repeatedly stated they need information about how to best prepare youth for adult life while they are still in school; guidance about what adult agencies do and how to access their services; help navigating the adult system; and information, innovative ideas, and technical assistance to create unique, individualized and inclusive adult lives for young people with developmental disabilities.
MT-TIRC will:
? Work intensively with at least ten youth per year, their families, schools and Developmental Disabilities (DD) providers to develop and demonstrate a replicable, strengths-based, consumer-driven approach to transition planning.
? Provide information about services for young adults, how to access them, and how to blend funds and resources together to create the supports they want and need.
? Increase awareness of ALL options for adult living, especially paid community employment or self-employment, post-secondary education, home ownership, and inclusive community membership (recreation, leisure, civic opportunities, etc.).
? Support youth with developmental disabilities to represent themselves in a strengths-based manner, describe their own abilities and support needs, and advocate for needed accommodations at their IEP meetings through the use of representational Portfolios.
? Expand the existing Transition Projects Web site to include an accessible, youth-designed section of transition considerations, resources, planning guides, and tools.
? Increase the quarterly Web-based training by 100%, for a total of 8 sessions annually.
? Increase the production of Transition E-News newsletters from 4 to 8 per year.
? Work collaboratively with PLUK and DD child and family services providers to increase outreach to families and youth with transition information and resources.
? Provide technical assistance and outreach in the area of transition-to-employment.
? Connect youth and successful adults with developmental disabilities.
