Community Support Network 2020-21 ‘Virtual’ Transition Institute
Thank you for attending the 2021 Community Support Network Transition Institute, our annual conference on post-secondary transition covering topics ranging from employment options, inclusive college programs, social and recreational programs, systems navigation, self-advocacy, and policy issues.
- Please view session videos and other presenter materials below.
- To view the agenda from the conference, please click here.
- Please also check out the video showcase on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7970433
Conference Materials and Recorded Sessions
Please note, these sessions were presented at the CSN Transition Institute, January 11-13, 2021 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.
Monday, January 11th
Navigating Sibling Relationships
Presenters: Danielle Roma, Daniel Barone and Kim Brennan
Session Description: In the session, parents and professionals will explore the dynamic and unique bond siblings share. We will discuss how sibling relationships evolve with age, how to best support children in developing autonomy within their relationship with their siblings, and how to facilitate deep connections between siblings.
Financial Planning Strategies
Presenters: Stuart Flaum
Session Description:In this session we will explore ways to develop a financial plan that seamlessly coordinates with transition planning and matures with the whole family. Discussion topics include: incorporating state and federal benefits into financial planning, managing the risk of loss or reduction in state and federal benefits, and how the crumbling of the medical model for identity along with the growth of self determination changes financial planning.
Tuesday, January 12th
What I’ve learned so far: My story of Self-Advocacy for OPWDD services
Presenters: Hannah Badain and Mariela Adams
Session Description: In this session, I will take the audience through my journey of self-advocacy as I tried to understand how to best support my independence and achieve my life goals. I will share the lessons I learned that have helped me navigate challenges and opportunities along the way.
Transition to College
Presenters: Carin Horowitz
Session Description: This session will guide attendees as they navigate the transition from high school special education to college disability services. Differences in applicable laws will be discussed, as will accommodations at college, questions to ask when you look for the right match, and support programs available in higher education.
Guardianship and Supported Decision Making
Presenters: Marna Solarsh and Janine Belfast
Session Description: Marna Solarsh, Special Needs Attorney, will examine the legal protections and issues to be addressed when considering guardianship, advance directives such as health care proxies, and other legal instruments.
What Does Transition Look Like?
Presenters: Lynn Giles-Harris, Rick Healy and Judy Harrington
Session Description: The presenters will describe the transition related work they do for and with students to prepare them to be career and college ready. They will explain the importance of collaboration in providing best practices and comprehensive opportunities for post high school success inclusive of community agencies. Additionally, they will discuss the ways in which they help students prepare to enter the world of work.
Introduction to Navigating Housing for People with Disabilities
Presenters: Michele Lawton, Sue Carr and Musa Klebnikov
Session Description: What is a Housing Navigator and how can they help you? What are your independent living housing options as an adult with I/DD or other disabilities? This is a broad view presentation on general options for independent living for people with disabilities including Certified and Non-Certified settings. This presentation will also describe how Housing Navigators can assist with access to services and interactions with the OPWDD, Care Coordination Organizations (CCO’s), Social Security Administration, Medicaid, Provider Agencies, and others.
Keys to Success for Transition Age Youth in Employment
Presenters: John Bryson
Session Description: The transition from school to adulthood is often one of the most stressful and challenging life stages for a student with autism and other disabilities. Educators and parents spend close to a decade, if not the entire life of a student, equipping them with the skills to live and work as independently as possible. There are several keys to success with employment that will help students achieve the outcomes they desire. During this session, a corporate inclusion consultant will discuss soft skills and other keys that contribute most to employment for youth, why they are an important part of being a good employee, and other tips for improving soft skills.
Health and Safety: Resources to Navigate the Adult World
Presenters: Marilyn Vitale
Session Description: Individuals entering adulthood must deal with their own health and safety needs in order to live more independently. For example, they should learn how to take responsibility for health and wellness activities, the transition from pediatric to adult health care and how to advocate for their own health. They should learn how to prepare for emergencies and how to stay safe in their home. There are many resources to help them, including materials and a website developed at WIHD. This discussion will highlight important health and safety considerations while reviewing these resources.
Can Self-Direction Enhance My Kids Life?
Presenters: Karen Healy and Brendan Klein
Session Description: This session with give an overview of Self Direction: what you can use your budget dollars to pay for and advantages and challenges of SelfD. Brendan Klein will share his personal experiences of self directing and how he has come up with creative ways to use his budget.
Transitioning to College: Preparing for Success
Presenters: Lauren Griener and Robin Kaufman
Session Description: This session will focus on the transition to college and how to prepare your student for success, specifically around academics, self-advocacy, navigating college support services, independent living, executive functioning, socialization, and mental health. The format will be a Q & A, rather than a formal presentation, which we expect will result in a lively discussion. We invite participants to ask questions and bring up issues and concerns that impact their family members.
LIFEPlan CCO NY: Care Management Explained
Presenters: Joanna Wolff, Donna Marie Santoro and Tara Krisa
Session Description: This session explains how Care Management is the key to coordinating OPWDD supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Families and people with IDD benefit through connection to a care manager who is assigned to help them find, coordinate, and access services, including healthcare, social supports, disease and chronic condition care, and access to preventative care.
Putting the Function Into Executive Function: Tips and Tools for Student Success
Presenters: Leslie Josel
Session Description: Executive functioning skills are essential to how we learn and act. They’re the brain’s ability to filter and “screen out” incoming information (including our thoughts and reactions) that “get in the way” of our ability to self-regulate and complete tasks. When the brakes are not working we have difficulty attending to the “correct thing”, at the right time, intensity and flexibility. Leslie will break down the six core Executive Functions, explain how they control EVERYTHING we do, and detail specific scaffolding, strategies and systems to offer support. She’ll provide practical solutions to help conquer organization, time management, procrastination and focusing challenges.
Effective Transition Planning and Post Secondary Placement Considerations for Students with Significant Disabilities
Presenters: Stephanie Bellantoni and Debbie Goddard
Session Description: This guided discussion will include consideration of meaningful transition planning in the last year or two of high school, as well as important considerations for meaningful life planning and post-secondary placement for students with significant cognitive and developmental disabilities. Discussion leaders will support exploration of factors relevant to the exploration of post-secondary programs (including but not limited to day habilitation programs).
Wednesday, January 13th
Becoming a Sexual and Relationship Self Advocate
Presenters: Katherine MacLaughlin
Session Description: People with developmental disabilities are often left out of the conversation about sexuality, almost as if they are incapable of having thoughts, feelings, and needs. In reality, they, too, are sexual beings that need information and skills for making healthy decisions about sexuality and learning ways to stay safe as they navigate relationships. During this workshop, professionals, parents, and self-advocates will learn what is sexual self-advocacy, examine what knowledge and skills are needed to be a sexual self-advocate, and explore ways to support others in speaking up for what they want and need.
Think College New York! College Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Presenters: Martha Mock, Beth A Myers, Bud Buckhout, Nathan Bach and Kaine Robinson
Session Description: Come learn about college options for students with intellectual disabilities. We will discuss options in New York as well as how to conduct a college search (or help students conduct a college search) and other tools from our colleagues at UMass-Boston’s Think College website. We will also hear from a student who goes to Syracuse University and is part of InclusiveU. Before this session, if you would like to become more familiar with college options for students with intellectual disabilities in the U.S., watch the 25-min video Rethinking College https://thinkcollege.net/resources/rethinking-college.
Intro to Transition Planning
Presenters: Laura Petersen
Session Description: In this session you will hear an overview of the basics of transition planning. This session will cover the initial assessment, the IEP components, post-secondary planning and all the pieces that fall in between. This session will also cover graduation and diploma options available to students with IEPs. Participants will leave this session with a general understanding of the basics of transition planning.
What Housing Model is right for you?
Presenters: Michele Lawton, Sue Carr and Musa Klebnikov
Session Description: A discussion of Macro Concepts including community, group, and individual housing options for people with disabilities. We will illustrate ways to determine what housing model is right for you and discuss how decisions on housing and community can be made based on an individual’s needs, wants, and resources. We will discuss intentional communities as well as some examples of creative housing models. We will also discuss what is realistic based on today’s services and supports landscape in NYS which can involve many levels of government funding, Medicaid funding, State funding, private funding, and supports from provider agencies.