Thank you for attending the 2025 Community Support Network Transition Institute, our annual conference on post-secondary transition covering topics ranging from employment options, social and recreational programs, systems navigation, self-advocacy, housing options and more.

• Please view session videos and other presenter materials below.
• Please also check out the video showcase on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11561384

Please note, these sessions were presented at the CSN Transition Institute, January 29-31, 2025 and are available for viewing only. They are the sole property of CSN Transition Institute at Westchester Institute for Human Development and should not be replicated or shared without express permission from the owner.

Consumer or Citizen? How Person-Centered Planning Can Shape Your Future

Presenters: Carol Blessing
Session Description: Imagine a world that works for everyone. This keynote presentation uses the fundamental principles of person-centered planning to set the contextual expectation that everyone has a right to be part of their community and recognized as a contributing member and citizen. We will explore what person-centered planning is and isn’t. Discover how you, regardless of the role you play in the disability arena, have the power to co-create inclusive communities.

A Glance into Self Direction

Presenters: Nichole Hastings
Session Description: This presentation will include an easy to understand glance into self direction, the definition of of the program, the team players how you set up the program and how you live with the program using the services from self advocates perspective and sharing personal use and stories of how it can work for a self advocate.

Healthcare Transition of Youth with Special Needs to the Adult Medical World

Presenters: Lynn Davidson
Session Description: Health care transition, the change in medical providers from pediatrics to adult oriented health care is a process that requires a lot of thought and planning for youth with special health care needs. It causes a lot of anxiety for parents and youth. During this presentation recommendations, strategies and tools will be discussed to improve planning and transfer to the adult medical world.

Maximizing Financial Resources & What is Working in Long Term Planning

Presenters: James Traylor
Session Description: The presentation will focus on maximizing benefits and services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Discover how to effectively combine private funds with government benefits to create a sustainable long term strategy for your child. The presentation will highlight common pitfalls and frequent mistakes to avoid. Rivent Partners Disability Planning is a private company and charges fees for individual plans.

The Hear Our Voices Self-Advocacy Organization: Empowering the Lived Experience

Presenters: Mariela Adams, Nichole Hastings and Brendan Klein
Session Description: Come learn about all the programs offered by the Hear Our Voices Organization at WIHD. All of our programs are designed and run by self-advocates. Come listen to our entire team talk about the many ways we want to engage self-advocates in New York State.

Supported Decision-Making (SDM) and Transition Planning

Presenters: Naomi Brickel
Session Description: This presentation will highlight Supported Decision-Making (SDM) as a crucial element in effective and meaningful transition planning and provide evidence and best practice approaches. It will explore SDM as an alternative to traditional 17-A guardianship, offering decision-making support for individuals with disabilities while retaining civil rights. The presentation will explain how SDM enables individuals to make their own decisions with support, thereby preserving their autonomy and self-determination. Additionally, it will provide details on the NYS SDM project, or SDMNY, which is a significant initiative promoting awareness and overseeing the SDM facilitation process in accordance with NYS law.

Connecting Disability Classifications with Focused Transition Services

Presenters: Joyce Hawk
Session Description: Just as every student is unique, each one of the thirteen disability classifications of students who are eligible for special education services, can have a unique transition services focus. This focus can help meet needs of a student that generally result from the impact of a specific disability category. Learn how to better identify supports to create pathways to successful transition for youth with disabilities.

Housing Issues and Options for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Presenters: Michael Beloff
Session Description: Choosing the correct housing option for adults with IDD involves a variety of considerations, both individual and financial. This workshop discusses different available housing models as well as how to finance and determine the supports needed for successful outcomes.

Empowering Self- Advocates to be Leaders

Presenters: Patti Colombo and Brendan Klein
Session Description: Do you or someone you know want to develop leadership skills? Come to learn how Volunteer New York! and WIHD are collaborating to offer a 10-month in-person leadership program for young adults ages 22-35 with developmental disabilities held in Westchester County. The program provides accommodations for various learning needs in a small group cohort and requires participants to apply and be accepted into the program. The program runs as a half-day, 1x month includes interactive leadership topics in goal setting, self-awareness, social awareness, self- management, communication, and teamwork.

Brendan Klein, WIHD Coordinator of Self Advocacy & Community Engagement and Patti Colombo Manger of the RISE Integrated Volunteer Program co-facilitate the program. Ask questions to see if this is the right opportunity for you. Applications & referrals are open for the Sept 2025- June 2026 class. See link https://forms.gle/AUw4MeyrbhiEFR4h8

New York Housing Resource Center

Presenters: Carol Napierski and Seth Greenman
Session Description: This session features in -depth tour of the newly design New York Housing Resource Center website (NYHRC). NYHRC is an online resource library built specifically for people with Intellectual / Developmental Disabilities, and families / caregivers to easily find information about housing options in New York State. There are over 300 housing related resources presented in a variety of modalities from videos, podcasts, written materials. In addition, the website was designed with a number of accessibility features including easy to use search functions. Please join us for a tour of this state-of-the-art website!

The Americans with Disabilities Act at a glance

Presenters: Nichole Hastings and Tina Fitzgerald
Session Description: This presentation will include a glance and easy understanding of how the Americans with disabilities act of 1990, the history understanding key leaders that made the act happen how the act works today to help empower the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the Americans with disabilities act can do for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and how the act can help them with a full and impactful life and help them maintain their rights as individuals.

Presentation Skills Coaching Curriculum: Empowering the lived experience

Presenters: Mariela Adams and Nichole Hastings
Session Description: The Westchester Institute for Human Development has developed a ten-week Presentation Skills coaching curriculum for self-advocates. The curriculum seeks to empower the lived experience by giving self-advocates the skills they need to tell their own stories in a way that feels meaningful and relevant while also respecting their own boundaries. During this presentation, Mariela Adams, M.S. and Nichole Hastings, B.A., will provide details about the curriculum and share their experiences teaching this curriculum to two cohorts of post-secondary students with intellectual disability.

My Parents Want Me to Do Whaat?!

Presenters: Christy Chandler
Session Description: Chapel Haven Schleifer Center’s ASAT program invites you to a panel of students sharing the good, bad and in-between of their journeys with college, jobs, friends and life post-high school. They’ll address concerns they had with considering another “program” and how those worries were addressed through the admissions process and beyond. Students will share lessons and strategies that helped them prepare for the transition to greater independence as a young adult.

Unlocking Potential: A Guide to Best Buddies Programs for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

Presenters: Dani de la Riva and Allie Tearney
Session Description: Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and transition services. This session will highlight the Best Buddies services that are offered in New York with a particular emphasis on the Best Buddies Transition program.

Best Buddies Transitions is a free program that combines classroom-based employment training workshops, experiential learning opportunities, and corporate mentorships for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) ages 14-22. Through the course of this presentations the audience will learn how our program supports individuals with IDD to identify person-centered goals for their futures (whether that be in a job, in the community, or in a college setting), develop self- advocacy and leadership skills, exploring work interests and relevant employment opportunities, and engaging in critical
career readiness skills.

Supporting Families in the Residential Experience: Parent to Parent of NYS support groups

Presenters: Mariela Adams and Valerie Colavecchio-Dill
Session Description: Parent to Parent of NYS supports families whose children are referred to residential schools in New York State. This is a unique and challenging experience for families. While there are many professionals supporting students in this transition, very few organizations support the family members going through this difficult process. Parent to Parent of NYS has made a significant effort to support these families by creating support groups and resources that foster collaboration and good communication practices between schools and families. Come and learn about these important resources for families.

Employment and You!

Presenters: Marilee Boylan, Brendan Klein and Bin Feng
Session Description: Come join us to hear a Self-Advocate, a Parent and an Advocate to talk about Employment! We will talk about why there is state and national momentum for individuals with disabilities to think about employment before other types of day services and supports. Learn key methods and resources to help advocate for more opportunities for people with disabilities to gain employment experience and employment.

Building Work-Based Learning and Transition Skills Through Community

Presenters: Ray Barash and Haley Shibble
Session Description: This presentation will explore how community building plays a vital role in helping young people develop essential work-based learning (WBL) and transition skills. Attendees will learn about fostering a supportive environment where students can practice independence, enhance self-advocacy, and engage in peer-to-peer learning. We will highlight the connection between social-emotional learning (SEL) and WBL, showing how SEL skills are foundational to workplace success and lifelong independence. Through engaging discussions and interactive activities, participants will see how a sense of belonging empowers them to set and achieve goals, develop interpersonal skills, and transition confidently to the workplace or further education.

What’s Next? Planning Your Path After Graduation: Agency Based Day Programs and Prioritizing Employment.

Presenters: Jennifer Havrilla
Session Description: What a student will do and where they will go after graduation takes a lot of planning and research. There are many paths a student can take and understanding the options makes the decision process seem less daunting. In this session, we will discuss the kinds of day programs offered by provider agencies and how New York is an employment first state, establishing the New York Employment First Initiative to increase employment of New Yorkers with disabilities.

Red de Apoyo Comunitario: Guia para la Transicion de Estudiantes en Educacion Especial a la edad Adulta

Presenters: Mariele Adams
Session Description: En esta presentation vamos a describir los servicios que ofrecemos en la Red de Apoyo Comunitario en WIHD. La presentacion tambien ofrecera una guia general para ayudar la transicion de estudiantes en educacion especial a la edad adulta y explicara en detalles conceptos importantes en este proceso.

Virtual Reality (VR) Workforce Training

Presenters: C.J. O’Brien
Session Description: Virtual Reality training utilizes immersive virtual reality technology to create realistic active learning environments. This tool allows individuals to practice skills and scenarios in a safe space, increasing engagement and retention of workplace skills. By simulating real-world tasks, workers can develop skills with minimal resources, liability or repercussion. Workers can try-out careers to learn more about their own interests, strengths and weaknesses before going out in real life. This training involves a fee for service.

中文讲座 – 克服亚裔残障社区的过渡性挑战 Overcoming Transitional Challenges in Asian American Community

Presenters: Adela Lin-Kravitz
Session Description: 本次演讲将概述后中学阶段的过渡过程，重点讨论发展性残障人士及其家庭在这一关键阶段面临的独特挑战。演讲将深入探讨亚裔残障社区所遇到的障碍，尤其是与语言、文化差异、社会经济因素以及移民身份相关的难题。通过理解这些交叉性问题，与会者将获得关于如何促进更具包容性的社区和工作环境的深刻见解。目标听众：演讲的目标听众为讲中文的残障人士及其家庭成员和照护者。The presentation will give an overview of post-secondary transition process, challenges faced individuals and their families at the crossroads, barriers encountered by Asian disability community that are tied to  language, cultural, social-economical, and immigration status. Understanding this intersectionality will help create a more inclusive community and work environment.

The targeted audience will be Chinese speaking individuals with developmental disabilities, their family members and caretakers.

Innovative Solutions for Managing Anxiety

Presenters: Yael Sunshine
Session Description: Discover innovative, practical solutions for managing anxiety in neurodivergent individuals and their families. This workshop explores the power of balancing the body with customized sensory activities designed to reduce stress, regulate emotions, and enhance focus. Parents and teens will learn how these simple yet effective tools can support learning, strengthen relationships, and build confidence, all while making transitions—both big and small—smoother and more manageable. Walk away with actionable strategies to create a more balanced, resilient, and thriving family dynamic.

The Pleasantville Lab School Experience

Presenters: Kristen Weiss and Kristine Bunyea
Session Description: The Pleasantville Lab School, located at Westchester Community College, offers a distinctive, inclusive dual enrollment program for students with disabilities. Through a person-centered approach, the Lab School helps students create personalized career plans, ensuring their education aligns with their unique strengths and goals. Students also have the opportunity to enroll in college classes, fostering both academic and personal growth.

Social integration is key, with students engaging in a range of activities alongside college peers, fostering independence, confidence, and communication skills. The Lab School also offers real-world work experiences, preparing students for meaningful employment by partnering with local businesses and organizations.

With an emphasis on individual success, support systems, and community involvement, the Pleasantville Lab School continues to empower students to achieve independence and thrive in both academic and professional settings. Join us in shaping brighter futures for students with disabilities!

Training Towards Independent Travel

Presenters: Stephanie Rozanski and Lisa Kornegay
Session Description: This session will give an overview of a structured travel training program for people ages 14-plus with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Attendees will learn the stages of training and how to teach some of the critical skills required to travel by public transit, with a special focus on traveling with strangers. We will also share information on the services YAI provides to those who want to learn independent travel in New York City.

Bee-yond the Maze: Navigating Transition Planning with Abilibee

Presenters: Marcy Handler
Session Description: Join us to discover how Abilibee, a new app free to users, transforms the complex journey (starting from early intervention) to adult services. Whether you’re a parent seeking options or an educator supporting students’ transitions, learn how this innovative platform provides critical resources and answers to questions you didn’t even know you had. Empowered with practical tools and information, Abilibee helps you navigate, advocate, and stay organized on this journey.

First Steps in the Transition Planning Process

Presenters: Joyce Hawk
Session Description: Did you know schools are required to conduct an assessment with students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) beginning at age 12, to determine career-related skills, talents and interests? In this session participants will learn what an initial assessment entails and how to provide information about their child’s strengths and abilities to assist in the development of their long-term future goals that are documented in the IEP at age 15.

Life Vision: The Ride Ahead! Conference Closing Session

Presenters: Dan Habib, Samuel Habib and Michele “Sheli” Reynolds