Preparing students for adult life

It is very important for teachers to teach social skills, independent functioning skills and functional academics in order to prepare our students for adult life. Learning how to get along with others does not always come easy for students with ASD and other developmental disorders. Learning the concepts of telling time and counting money are very important skills that may not get the attention needed as our students get older.

http://www.linguisystems.com/
Linguisystems offers a vareity of language and communication based materials that can be used to assist our students with transition. Some titles include:
Autism & PDD adolescent social skills lessons (Reese & Challenner, 2001)--a series of books that include social stories on health and hygiene, secondary schools, interacting and vocational skills.
Autism & PDD safety (Reese & Challenner, 2002)-- a book that includes social stories regarding safety.
That's life! Reading comprehension (Whiskeyman, Truman, Johnson, Bowers, LoGiudice, Stonz & Conger, 1998)--includes high interest, low reading level stories appropriate for our older students.

http://www.mayerjohnson.com/
Mayer-Johnson publishes books and materials which can be used for our non-readers. They use "Boardmaker" symbols, picture icons that correspond to words to assist our students. These icons can be used with augmented and/or assistive technology or used as a low tech device to help our students communicate.
More social skills stories: Very personal picture stories for readers and nonreaders K-12 (Johnson, 1996)--a book that includes social stories and work sheets regarding personal hygiene and inappropriate behaviors.
From the classroom to the workplace volume 1 (Pritchard & Stone, 1997)-- This book includes lessons and worksheets on employment at grocery stores, retail stores and housekeeping.
From the classroom to the workplace volume 2 (Pritchard & Stone, 1997)-- A continuation of volume 1 that includes lessons on restaurant and office/clerical employment.

Bruinicks, R.H., Guilman, C.J., Anderson, J.L. & Morreau, L.E. (1991). Adaptive living skills curriculum: Personal living skills. Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishing
Bruinicks, Guilman, Anderson and Morreau's book on living skills provides special educators with lesson plans on social manners, eating skills and basic personal hygiene, just to name a few. This book is an invaluable source for teachers involved in the transition process.

Vocational Education and Training

Vocational education and training is an important part of transitioning to adulthood, as it offers an alternative for those young adults who are not college bound. It also offers opportunities for adults who have sustained injuries to be retrained for employment.
Although Vocational Rehabilitation is mandated by the federal government (ADA), each state runs their own department of vocational rehabilitaion, education and training.
The following are links to websites that young adults with disabilities, their families and support staff may find useful.


http://www.disabilitytraining.com/index.html
Program Development Associates offers materials for students, families and service providers to help young adults with disabilities acquire appropriate training and job skills


http://www.rehabworks.org/
This link is an employment resource for businesses and people with disabilities in Florida.


http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=500
DisabilityInfo.gov provides quick and easy access to comprehensive information about disability programs, services, laws and benefits. It includes important information on vocational education and training.


http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/afi/afi360/455095_v1_-_Tab_3_VR_Fact_Sheet_Revised.html
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL 93-112), as amended, provides funding to states to provide comprehensive Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs for individuals with disabilities. Every state has a VR system and the goal of services delivered through this system is to assist individuals with disabilities to obtain and/or maintain employment. This link offers adults with disabilities and their families information on the services each state is required to deliver.


http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/index.html
The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) oversees grant programs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to obtain employment and live more independently through the provision of such supports as counseling, medical and psychological services, job training and other individualized services.

transition and employment

Transitioning from school to employment is a very difficult hurdle for adults with disabilities and their families. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates the need for employers to provide accomodations and modifications at the workplace. Voc Rehab provides job coaches to assist adults with disabilities find employment and job training.
The following are links to websites that address the issue of transitioning to employment:

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/
Cornell University houses an Employees and Disabilities Institute. Their website includes important links to federal publications on housing, SSI and other topics important to transition.

http://www.opm.gov/disability/
This site helps users with or without disabilities, better understand how to hire and retain persons with disabilities.

http://dol.gov/odep
This is a link to the Office of Disability Employment Policy

http://www.fyitransition.org/
The University of South Florida hosts this website giving students with disabilities and their families information about transitioning to employment