DOCUMENT RESUME ED 423 640 AUTHOR Browning, Philip; Rabren
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 423 640 EC 306 715 AUTHOR Browning, Philip; Rabren, Karen TITLE Transition V & VI in Alabama: A Profile of Commitment. State Conference Proceedings. INSTITUTION Auburn Univ., AL. Dept. of Rehabilitation and Special Education. PUB DATE 1997-01-00 NOTE 202p.; Proceedings of the Annual Statewide Conference on Transition (5th, Auburn, Alabama, February 8-10, 1995) and Proceedings of the Annual Statewide Conference on Transition (6th, Auburn, Alabama, February 28-March 1, 1996). AVAILABLE FROM Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education, College of Education, 1228 Haley Center, Auburn University, AL 36849-5226 ($6). PUB TYPE Collected Works Proceedings (021) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC09 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Agency Cooperation; *Career Development; Coordination; Daily Living Skills; *Disabilities; *Education Work Relationship; Family Involvement; High Schools; School Business Relationship; *Self Determination; State Programs; Student Empowerment; Supported Employment; *Transitional Programs IDENTIFIERS *Alabama ABSTRACT This publication provides information on the Alabama Transition Initiative for students with disabilities, including papers presented at two statewide transition conferences. Conference papers include: (1) "Pell City School System's Community Transition Team Model" (Deloris Frasier); (2) "Alabama's MH/MR Service Coordinators in Transition" (Billy. Ray Stokes);(3) "Auburn's High School Caf Business" (Ginger Hughes); (4) "Futures Unlimited: Person Centered Planning, Personal Growth, and Life Outcomes" (Linda M. Nutt and Vicki Hicks Turnage); (5) "Tassel Transition Model: Teaching All Students Skills for Employment and Life" (Jill Solow); (6) "Transition with Help from Alabama's JTPA Program" (Mickey Humphries and others); (7) "Business Education Linkages" (Lloyd W. Tindall); (8) "Self-Determination Preconference Workshop" (Jamey Sproull);(9) "Promoting Self-Determined Behavior Using the Life Centered Career Education Curriculum" (Michael Wehmeyer);(10) "Service Coordination: What It Is and How You Can Make It Work" (Linda Nutt and others);(11) "Greater Birmingham's Summer Youth Employment and Training Program" (Gary Edwards and others); (12) "Family Involvement in Supported Employment" (Daniel Lustig);(13) "Red Level's Print Shop" (Sharon Dye);(14) "Madison County's Technical Center for World of Work"(P. J. Cormier); (15) "How To Win Friends and Influence Your Community" (Susan Ellis and Charlotte Bell); (16) "Partnership in Action: Vocational Rehabilitation, Special Education, Vocational Education Collaboration in the High School" (Robin A. Groves and others); (17) "Important Considerations for Community-based Instruction" (DaLee Chambers); and (18)"Alabama and the LCCE Curriculum" (Larry Minor). (Individual papers include references.) (CR) 1 4 1 U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office or Educahonai Research and Improvement EDU IONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND CENTER (ERIC) DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS Thts documenthas been reproduced as BEEN GRANTED BY recewedfromthe Charlton or Orgarniatton ongmanng .1 0 Mnw changeshave been madeto trnproye 12A^CilgYN reproduchon ()Imlay PomIsof utew or opintons stated tr.thtsclOCu- men1 do not neCeseanly represent official OERI pOsihonor pohcy TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 The Aktbama Vision for Citizens with Disabilities All citizens in Alabama, including individuals with disabilities, will exit secondary education capable of achieving independence, productivity. inclusion, respect, and happiness in the community, All Alabama citizens have competencies, capabilities, and personal goals that are recognized, supported, and encouraged. As contributing, dignified, and valued citizens of Alabama, individuals with disabilities will exercise meaningful personal choices as a family member, employee, citizen, volunteer consumer, and friend. All human service systems in Alabama will provide consistent and timely services, supports, and other assistance to individuals with disabilities in a manner that demonstrates respect for individual dignity, personal preferences, and cultural differences. All Alabama citizens, including individuals with disabilities, will have access to opportunities and necessary support for full participanon in interdependent personal relationships,work, living, and community lg`e. The rmeragency Alabama 7)-anstsion Task Force, 1994 -3 Transition V and VIin Alabama A Profile of Commitment Philip Browning, Ph.D Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education College of Education Auburn University and Karen Rabren, Ph.D. Training Specialist Alabama Transition Initiative Special Education Services State Department of Education copies available through: Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education College of Education 1228 Haley Center Auburn University, AL 36849-5226 AtObamalransitiOn.:#041014r.pqsktopress their appreciation or the jointfundink:hicli:aS,./..elp.4tOial,*:th4 annual conference possible We wishiiii:ihdiik the follifikthntribUtors- Special EducationSeryices.-State.ipepartment of Education Alabama DePa Career/Technidaf;'EdUcation;:::State::DePartment of Education A#abamai.a.perelOpmentai DeOartMent-Of'..MentakHealtNMental:::Retardation College ofEduCa-tiOil',.:]-Auburri'ri.O.n.iteritr,..: Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution and employer In Commemoration of Donn E. Brolin (1936-1996) on behalf of Alabama's transition stakeholders P "Dr. Brolin presenting a keynote address at Transition I" ii5 A Letter from Phil Dear Alabama Stakeholders: As you well know, our Mission is to enhance the qualityof life for Alabama's youth and young adults with disabilities, along with their parents andother family members. One important strategy for helping us in this endeavor is toincrease the quantity and quality of transition- related activities throughout the state, and herein lies the purposeof our annual event. First, it provides us with the opportunity to generate newideas for improving existing transition programs, strategies, techniques andpolicies. And second, it serves as a forum through which we can continue to expandand strengthen the network for all transition stakeholders. If I was writing this letter to those present at the firstconference held in 1991, it would be addressed to approximately 200 people who attended. Well, I ainhappy to inform you that the mailing list has increased considerably since then. In otherwords, this letter is going out to over 1,000 stakeholders who attendedTransition V and VI. And, my reading is that the next letter will be mailed to over 600 people who participatedin Transition VII. I am indeed confident that our Mission can be well served through such asizable number of caring and committed stakeholders. You will note that Dr. Rabren and I begin these proceedingswith the Section we call 'News Update.' The fact is there have been many strategicadvancements in transition in our state over the past several years. One of the mostsigncant ones is the award of the 5-year state systems change grant known as theAlabama Transition Initiative(ATI). Be sure to learn about this most exciting and promising happening, aswell as Alabama's Occupational Diploma, A77's Information Center, A77's FamilyCoalition in Transition, A77's Student TracIdng System, the Department of Rehabilitation Service'sSupported Employment Program, and Auburn's Master's Program in Transition and DistanceLearning Program in Transition. Also, we elected to provide you with a window to the pastregarding Alabama's annual transition conference. You will find, for example, suchthings as pictures of our keynote speakers since Transition I, as well as a Table of Contentsfor each of the previous four proceedings. As for Transition V and VI, I think that most of youfound them to be substantial in their own right. Consider, for example, we had such national celebrities asMitchell Levitz, co-author of Count us In: Growing Up with Down'sSyndrome, and Heather Whitestone, former Miss Alabama and Miss America. Joining them were nine nationallyrecognized leadersDr. Gary Clark, Dr. Michael Wehmeyer, Dr. Gary Meers, Dr. LloydTindall, Dr. Mary Cronin, Dr. James Patton, Dr. Rachel Wise, Mr. Cary Griffin, and Mr.Derrick Dufresne. Most definitely, these prominent advocates and leadershave played a significant role in helping us to advance our Mission. I want to remind you once again,however, that in my view the strength of the conference comes from Alabama's ownstakeholders, for it is through their presentations that we learn first-hand what is happening in local communitiesthroughout the state. It is through their presencethat we learn of the many exciting ideas, curriculums, strategies, and programs. I wish to close by noting that Dr. Donn Brolin was oneof our very special guests when we first began in 1991 (see page i). I knew Donn well for he and I were peersin our doctoral program and remained friends and colleaguesthrough the years. Alabama's stakeholders also know him well, for over 1,000 copies of his 'Life CenteredCareer Education' (LCCE) curriculum is used throughout the state. I dedicated my new book to himand noted: "Ile centered his career life on the life career of youth and young adults with disabilities." May his legacy be a continued source of strength and guidance as wecontinue our journey. Phil iv 7 Table of Contents The Alabama Vision for Citizens with Disabilities inside cover An Alabama Tribute to Donn E. Brolin A Letter from Phil A NEWSIODATE Alabama's Transition