Enhancing Transition Assessment Practices for Students with Disabilities

Next Steps NH Series Course 1: Transition Assessment Transition Assessment: Knowing the Options and How to Use Them 1

Making the Most of a G2M Muting & unmuting Using chat function Group activities Webcams

Learning Objectives In this session participants will: Define transition assessment, Learn about a variety of formal and informal transition assessments and procedures Map current transition assessment Determine actions for improving transition assessment practices. 3

Materials for Today Slides Jamerreo Transition Planning Worksheet Transition Assessment Mapping Tool Sample Instruments Handout Sample Transition Procedures 4

NSNH Essentials NSNH Essentials Next Steps NH offers training and coaching on embedding evidence-informed transition practices schools to increase the graduation rate of students with disabilities and students at-risk of dropping out and prepare them for college, career and adult life. transition practices in Training introduces and illustrates the practice. Coaching supports putting the training to use.

NSNH Essentials NSNH Essentials Transition practices Transition practices include: Enhanced transition planning, activities & opportunities, including RENEW Best practice Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) High level family-school engagement Evidence shows that embedding new practices requires multi-stage implementation.

Family Family Engagement Engagement Student Student- -Focused Focused Planning Planning Two-way communication Shared decision making Transition-related training opportunities Student Led IEPs RENEW Transition Assessment Transition- Focused Education Framework Student Student Development Development Program Structure Program Structure Leadership Teams Ongoing Strategic Planning Policy and Procedure Transition Competencies for Staff Transition Coordinator ELO Board Best Practice ELOs Self-Determination RENEW Interagency Interagency Collaboration Collaboration Community Services Colleges/Universities ELO Partners Adapted from Taxonomy for Transition Programming, Kohler, P.D. (1996) & NH CoP Template for Secondary Transition & NH Standards for Family /School Partnerships

NSNH Essentials NSNH Essentials Implementing practices with fidelity is a primary focus. The use of planning tools ensures fidelity. Not Not In Place Place In Partially Partially In Place In Place X In Place In Place Critical Component of Practice Critical Component of Practice Students Students- -at at- -risk and students with IEPs risk and students with IEPs participate meaningfully in the development of their post school goals. When implemented with fidelity these practices will increase the graduation rates of students with disabilities and students at-risk of dropping out and prepare them for college, career and adult life.

Putting the Pieces Together Putting the Pieces Together 2 2. INSTALLATION . INSTALLATION Develop action plans Participate in foundational trainings RENEW student mapping Pilot a high quality ELO, EI transition practices Offer parent education 1. EXPLORATION 1. EXPLORATION Develop & Meet w/ Project Teams (Leadership ELO FEG RENEW) Complete Fidelity tools SUSTAINABILITY Leadership, ELO, 4. FULL 4. FULL IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION Processes & procedures in place 3 3. INITIAL . INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION Implement action plans Identify & address challenges Scale up ELOs, RENEW & Transition Practices Integrate family-school partnership strategies RENEW,Family Engagement Teams & IMPLEMENTATION Program Structures System recalibrated to accommodate & support new initiatives (Based on Dean Fixen et al & SWIFT)

What were the outcomes of your last Indicator 13 monitoring visit, with respect to transition assessment? Who was involved in that process? Does your Next Steps action plan have any priorities that are related to transition assessment? What are they? PRE PRE- -WORK REVIEW WORK REVIEW 10

Rules Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 When child turns 16 Or younger if determined by IEP Team Appropriate measurable postsecondary goals based upon age appropriate transition assessments Goals in training/education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living skills Transition services (including courses of study) needed to reach goals NH RULES for the Education of Children With Disabilities: at age 14, or younger if determined by the IEP team, Anticipated Courses of Study section completed 11

Compliance to Best Practice Compliance=Indicator 13 Transition Assessment = Data about College, Career and Life Readiness Best practice = schoolwide practices inclusive of students in special ed and at-risk Targeted and intensive practices when needed 12

Defining Transition Assessment The ongoing ongoing process of collecting data on the individual s needs and and interests interests as they relate to the demands of current and future working, educational, living, and personal and social environments needs, , preferences preferences, , 13

Defining Transition Assessment Assessment data serve as the common thread thread in the transition process Forms the basis for defining goals and basis for defining goals and services services to be included in the Individualized Education Program (CEC-DCDT, 1997) common 14

Purpose of Transition Assessment Make informed choices Take charge of the transition process Understand the skills needed for post- school environments 15

Transition Assessment Informs us about future: Employment Independent Living Education/ Training 16

Transition Assessment Gathers Transition Assessment Gathers information about: information about: Self-Determination Skills Independent Living Skills Vocational Interests & Skills Career Exploration Skills Academic Skills 17

What Assessment Should I Choose? 1. What is the student s intended plan? What are the Post-Secondary Goals? 4. What is the best way to gather the needed information? 3. Does the student have all the information needed to fully understand his/her goals? 2. Does the student have the skill, knowledge and behavior needed to reach his or her goals? 18

What is the students intended plan? What are their Post-Secondary Goals? What are they interested in? ACTIVITY: PART 1 ACTIVITY: PART 1 19

TYPES OF TRANSITION ASSESSMENTS TYPES OF TRANSITION ASSESSMENTS Formal and Informal 20

Types of Transition Assessments Types of Transition Assessments Formal: Formal: To learn about a wide variety of skill levels in various areas (e.g., vocational, academic, social) Published tests: scores that compare students to others A starting point 21

Types of Formal Assessments Types of Formal Assessments Learning style inventories Academic achievement tests Adaptive behavior scales Aptitude tests Interest inventories 22

Types of Transition Assessments Types of Transition Assessments Informal: Informal: Observing the student in various academic and work experiences Talking with the student about likes and dislikes Setting up experiences to allow the student to try something that that may be of interest Often teacher-made Often does not result in a score 23

Types of Informal Assessments Types of Informal Assessments Observation: Observation: watching or listening to an individual s behavior and recording relevant information Interviews/ Questionnaires: Interviews/ Questionnaires: structured or unstructured conversations through question- and-answer format Environmental Analysis: Environmental Analysis: carefully examining the environment in which an activity normally occurs Curriculum based assessments: Curriculum based assessments: task-analysis, portfolio assessments, work sample analysis, criterion-referenced tests (Test, Aspel, & Everson, 2006 - Transition Methods for Youth with Disabilities) 24

How do you help students determine if they have the skill, knowledge and behavior needed to reach his or her goals? How do you help students determine if the have all the information needed to fully understand goals? ACTIVITY: PART 2 ACTIVITY: PART 2 25

Compilations of Assessments Next Steps NH website: Nextstep-nh.org NSTTAC Transition Assessment Toolkit http://transitionta.org/sites/default/files/Transitio nAssessmentToolkit.pdf Transition Coalition Assessment Reviews http://transitioncoalition.org/tc-assessment- reviews/?cat_ID=48 26

Self Self- -Determination Assessments Determination Assessments 27

AIR Self AIR Self- -Determination Assessment Determination Assessment Formal Self Formal Self- -Determination Assessment Determination Assessment Parent, Teacher Version, and Student Version Available at: www.ou.edu/zarrow/sdetermination.html Cost: free 28

AIR Self-Determination Assessment 1 2 3 4 5 Almost Always Almost Never Never Sometimes Always THINGS MY CHILD DOES 1. My child knows what (s)he needs, likes, and is good at. 1 2 3 4 5 2. My child sets his or her own goals to satisfy wants or needs. (S)he thinks about his or her own abilities when setting goals. 1 2 3 4 5 29

Im I m Determined Determined Informal Transition Assessment Informal Transition Assessment Virginia Department of Education Self- Determination Project website Self-determination Student Checklist http://www.imdetermined.org/files_resource s/109/selfdeterminationcheckliststudentself- assessment.pdf Free LOTS of other GREAT STUFF to assist student and team in self-directed future planning. 30

Independent Independent Living Skills Living Skills Assessments Assessments 31

Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale Formal Transition Assessment Formal Transition Assessment Norm-referenced Assessment Use the search functions at: http://www.pearsonassess.ca/ Ages birth to 90 Range of options, starting at: $117.00 32

Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale Domain & Index Domain & Index Subdomain Subdomain Communication Receptive Expressive Written Personal Domestic Community Interpersonal Relationships Play and Leisure Time Coping Skills Fine Gross Internalizing Externalizing Other Daily Living Skills Socialization Motor Skills Maladaptive Behavior Index (Optional) 33

The Life Skills The Life Skills Inventory Independent Independent Living Skills Assessment Tool Living Skills Assessment Tool Inventory Identify if individual is prepared with the appropriate life skills to live independently. 15 different categories; 4 levels of accomplishment; requirements for moving on to the next level. http://www.sped.sbcsc.k12.in.us/PDF%20F iles/tassessments/Independent%20Living/Li fe%20Skills%20Inventory_Independent% 20Living.pdf FREE!! 34

Casey Life Skills Casey Life Skills Web based and FREE!!! Spanish or English, with numerous supplemental assessments Youth and caregiver formats Automatically scored and sent to you Can obtain class summaries Provides different levels of questions for students across functioning levels http://lifeskills.casey.org/ 35

Teacher Teacher- -made Independent Living Skills made Independent Living Skills Survey Survey Informal Transition Assessment Informal Transition Assessment Teacher-made Questionnaire or survey Free Interviews and Questionnaires Observation Ecological Surveys Curriculum- based Assessment Functional Assessment 36

Teacher-made Independent Living Skills Survey Informal Assessment of Independent Living Skills Date: ____________________ Student:_____________________________ Area Outcome Which one means having fun? Questions Response Leisure Work School Live Outcome Which one is about having a job? Leisure Work School Live Outcome Which one is about learning? Leisure Work School Live Outcome Which one is about where you will live? Leisure Work School Live 37

Vocational/ Career Exploration Vocational/ Career Exploration Assessments Assessments 38

Brigance Transition Skills Inventory Brigance Transition Skills Inventory Formal Transition Assessment Middle and high school students TSI Kit $259.00 Transition Skills Inventory $199.00 TSI Record Books 10-Pack $35.00 www.curriculumassociates.com 39

Brigance Transition Skills Inventory Formal Transition Assessment Pre-employment/functional writing Career awareness Job-seeking Post-secondary opportunities Functional reading Speaking and listening Math Money and finance Technology Housing Food and clothing Health Travel and transportation Community resources 40

YES! YES! (Your Employment Selections) (Your Employment Selections) Informal Transition Assessment Informal Transition Assessment Reading free, video based job preference program Videos for 120 jobs Accessed by characteristics or job choices Matched to training and qualifications Can access from CD ($395) or web ($20 per person for 3 months) www.yesjobsearch.com 41

Common Informal Common Informal Transition Assessments used in NH Transition Assessments used in NH Extended Learning Opportunities & Work- Based Learning Student Reflection Employer/Community Member Reflections Student Centered Mapping Intensive First stage of RENEW 42

What else do you want to do? ACTIVITY PART 3 ACTIVITY PART 3 43

Transition Assessment HOW TO USE IT HOW TO USE IT 44

How to Use It The Common Thread Transition-Focused IEPs Summarized in present level sections. Used when writing Measurable postsecondary goals, transition services and annual goal Orient new staff with this training @Nextsteps-nh.org under resources) Seek further training at The Iris Center or Transition Coalition (free!) 45

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How to Use It Develop departmental procedures Program Development Work-based learning opportunities Guest interviewers, Information interviewing, Job shadows/trials, interactive career fairs Use transition data to build personalized alternative learning pathways that include ELOs 47

Action Planning Select an aspiration, one that is achievable. ACTIVITY PART 4 ACTIVITY PART 4 48

Post-test! 49

Thank You! The contents of this presentation were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, H323A120003. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Corinne Weidenthal. This product is public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint is not necessary, the citation should be: NH State Personnel Development Grant Next Steps NH (2012-2017). New Hampshire Department of Education, Concord.