News and Events
Upcoming Events
The Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) is sponsoring "Brewing Best Practices in Transition" on October 16-17, 2008 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. This two-day event will features sessions on writing transition IEP's, Indicator 13, effective transition curriculum, self-determination, transition assessment and many more topics. Contact Dr. Cindi Nixon at cnixon@fmarion.edu or Dr. Tom Holub at tholub@edgewood.edu for more information or click here for an electronic copy of the brochure and registration form!
New Tools and Resources
After the School Bus Stops Coming... It’s Not As Scary As You Fear! Entitlements to Eligibilities—for Young Adults with Disabilities - Elucidated and Explained by Sari R. Hornstein, Ph.D., email: sarihorn@aol.com.
This comprehensive article (PDF) was written by a parent who was overwhelmed by all of the different services and systems she faced as her son approached the transition from school to adult life. It provides an overview of adult services, descriptions of various employment and housing options in Maryland, and has many valuable resources linked throughout. This article is a wonderful resource for parents and professionals alike.
Campuses Widen the Mainstream: Program Welcomes Some with Cognitive Disabilities
Article (PDF) - The Boston Globe, December 10, 2007.
The PERC Self-Advocacy Checklist
We always say that students should know how to tell people what they need to be successful in the workplace and in education settings, but we seldom give students the chance to practice the skill of articulating their support needs with individuals with whom they are not familiar. This tool provides a means for students to monitor their progress towards achieving this goal by setting up a hierarchy of familiarity in three settings; the classroom, in their place of employment, and in a social or community setting. Students are asked to practice various self-advocacy skills (Introduce Self, Describe Strengths, Describe Disability, Describe Support needs, Present Documentation) in each of these settings and document mastery in each environment. Access The PERC Self-Advocacy Checklist (PDF).
Tips for Parents
Often when a young adult with intellectual disabilities expresses an interest in college, his or her parents start by asking the school what programs or services are available. However, there are a variety of ways that families can begin this conversation and help students explore the possibility of college without the involvement of the local school system. This tip sheet provides some simple suggestions that families can use to begin the conversation about college. Read Tips for Parents (PDF).
New DVD: Through the Same Door, Inclusion Includes College
Meet Micah Fialka-Feldman, a man who knows what he wants. This inspiring film documents the new movement of fully inclusive education by exploring Micah’s desire for a life without boundaries. As a high school student, Micah wanted the college experience and he got it. See how it’s done, learn how it works, and witness how Micah’s journey challenges us all to reexamine what we believe possible.
Recent Events
The PERC Spring Forum
The PERC Spring Forum will be held on Monday May 5th 2008 at North Point High School in Charles County. This forum is for personnel in college and community-based transition programs serving students with intellectual disabilities in Maryland. Please RSVP to Amy Dwyre at adwyre@transcen.org by 4/18/2008.
Presentation at the CEC 2008 Conference in Boston, Massachusetts - April, 2008
PERC Fall Forum - November 28, 2007
This fall the PERC Forum was held in conjunction with the MD State Transition Conference on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at Martin’s West 6817 Dogwood Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21244.
- Read MD State Transition Conference brochure (PDF).
- Read Summaries of PERC presentations at the conference.
- Access Meg Grigal and Amy Dwyre's presentation (PPT).
Training Session - Get a Job: Helping Your Students Find and Keep Great Work - November 6, 2007
This training session was led by Amy Dwyre from PERC/TransCen, Inc. in North Haven, CT.
- Read the description of the training session.
- Access the presentation (PPT).
The Michigan Symposium - THINK COLLEGE: Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities - November 5, 2007
Over 270 people attended the Symposium "THINK COLLEGE: Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities" sponsored by The Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI). The first ever Michigan event took place on November 5th, 2007 on the campus of The University of Michigan, Dearborn. The event was attended by over 270 people and was held in the Fairlane Center. This Symposium brought together leading experts, researchers, practitioners and consumers on postsecondary education (PSE) that provided an overview of PSE opportunities and discussed current trends, issues, and solutions for PSE initiatives.
- Read the Michigan Symposium Informational Brochure (PDF).
- Access more information on the event and conference presentations.
- Read an article in the Detriot Freepress about the event.
- Access Meg Grigal's presentation (PPT).
PERC Staff Presentation at the 2007 DCDT International Conference in Orlando, Florida - October 19, 2007
- Access presentation - Improving Transition Services for Students with Intellectual Disabilities in Postsecondary Settings Through a Self-Assessment Process (PPT).
- Visit DCDT for more information.