Youth to Adult Transition Initiative
| AZ-Sonoran UCEDD | |||
| Program Type | UCEDD | Fiscal Year | 2020 |
| Contact | Susan Voirol, MSW | ||
| [email protected] | |||
| Phone | 520-549-7145 | ||
| Project Description | |||
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Increasing transition planning, employment skills training, and independent living skills are crucial for young PWDD in Arizona to achieve a successful transition to adulthood. Arizona Department of Education (ADE), in its post-school outcomes survey (IDEA Part B Indicator 14), found that of 2013-2014 exited respondents who were on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), only 36% reported that they had secured competitive employment a year after exiting high school. For respondents with an intellectual disability, the rate of those in competitive employment is much lower at 19% and the rate of those who are considered not engaged, e.g. individuals who are neither employed nor pursing employment/training, is an astounding 50%. One of the most persistent impediments to successful transitions has been the pervasive low expectation for youth accomplishment. Evidence-based predictors of in-school and post-school success for secondary students with a disability in the areas of employment, education, and independent living identified in a systematic literature review conducted by the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTAC) in 2009 include career awareness, community experiences, parent expectations, self-advocacy/self-determination, self-care/independent living skills, social skills, transition programs, and work study. Our vision is that young people with developmental and other disabilities moving to adult living will be knowledgeable about the full range of choices available to them for successful adult living. Increasing transition planning, employment skills training, and independent living skills are crucial for young people with disabilities in Arizona to achieve a successful transition to adulthood. The Sonoran UCEDD is committed to working with youth, their families, professionals and the greater community to create successful transitions to adulthood for youth with disabilities through advocacy, education, collaboration, and training, person-centered planning and practices, and developing model community service programs. Our efforts to improve systemic transition outcomes focus on: Heightening expectations that families, educators, and the community have for youth with disabilities in achieving their goals through outreach and messaging; Developing new and expanding existing model employment training opportunities; Promoting the use of person-centered planning throughout transition planning; and Contributing to new knowledge on barriers to and effective interventions for successful transition outcomes. Staff and faculty provide technical assistance to several statewide initiatives and serve on transition related committees, coalitions, task forces: AZ Community of Practice on Transition - staff serve on the statewide CoP as well as on local CoPs in southern Arizona and the Greater Phoenix area. |
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