Tips for Students

TSLP Programs

Catch the Wave
A day of university orientation for high school students with disabilities who are considering post-secondary education.

Project Skills
A paid work experience program for high school students with disabilities. The work experience can last from 50-250 hours, with no overtime allowed. Students are paid minimum wage.

YLF
A unique career and leadership training program for high school students with disabilities to learn more about self advocacy skills, disability awareness and more.

Transition Tacklebox
Compilation of in-depth transition resources for SPED personnel and families.

South Dakota’s Guide to Post-Secondary Disability Documentation
This guide will assist all organizations, as well as parents and students, to determine their roles and to assist students with disabilities who enroll in post-secondary education to obtain needed documentation.

QuickBook of Transition Assessments
This guide will provide technical assistance to school districts and/or agencies that provide special education or special education and related services to youth with disabilities.

Technical Assistance Guide for Transition in the IEP
This guide will provide technical assistance for IEP team committee members, especially special education teachers, in developing and writing transition IEP's utilizing the newly adopted South Dakota IEP transition pages.

Tips for Students

What are you going to do with your life when you graduate? You may only be thinking about getting through high school & graduate. But you will soon be entering that ‘big world’ out there! Little scary, isn’t it?

Take a minute to answer the following questions:

What is your big vision for your life after high school?
Does your vision include going to college? If so, what kind of college?
If you are going to seek employment, what kind of job will you have?
Where will you live?
What will you do for fun?
What type of transportation will you use?
Do I understand my disability and know how to ask for the supports I am entitled to?
Do I know what my rights and responsibilities are?

Lots and lots of things to think about. The great thing is, is that federal law states by the time you are 16 years old, or younger if needed, the IEP team must address these questions with you and your family. Transition service and activities will be developed from your answers to these questions. Through your Individualized Education Program, or IEP, you can make sure your goals are written down, you know what you want to achieve, and you know how you can make it happen with the support of your IEP team.

What if you don’t know what you want to do in the future? You have no idea about what type of job you would like to have or if you want to go to college? Through various assessments, activities and discussions, the IEP will address this need and help you come up with a vision for your future.

One last questions before you leave ---

Who is the IEP meeting about & for????? If you answered ‘me’, you are correct! Your voice is the most important one to be heard during an IEP meeting. The IEP meeting is about YOU and your future. Members of your IEP team need to look at what YOU do well and the things YOU might need some help with. You NEED to tell you teachers, parents & other IEP team members what it is that you think YOU need to learn and do while in high school, so You can have a successful, enjoyable life as an adult!

So take charge, make sure your IEP meeting is fun, interesting, and includes your plans for the future!

Links:

Youth Leadership Forum

Project Skills

Become a NYLN Leader! Governing Board & Committees Applications Now Available

The 411 on Disability Disclosure

ACT Accommodations: http://www.act.org/aap/disab/index.html

Compass Assessment: http://www.act.org/compass/index.html