Thank you for attending the 2022 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/9200476

Please note, these sessions were presented at the CSN Transition Institute, January 19-21, 2022 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.

9:30-10:30 am EST: Opening Keynote

Keynote: ACTION! Effective transition practices in documentary film

Presenter: Dan Habib
Session Description: Award winning documentary film producer and parent-advocate Dan Habib will highlight evidence-based best practices for post-secondary transition, including student-led IEPs, work experiences during high school, and person-centered planning. Dan will share and discuss several of his short films documenting the experiences of youth with disabilities moving from high school to career and/or higher education, and discuss the strategies that were effective in their transition. Young people only get one chance to make the leap from high school into adult life, and it’s critical that the pieces are in place to get it right. This opening keynote session will set the tone for this year’s conference, and is for everyone who is invested in ensuring success. Dan is the Inclusive Communities Project Director at WIHD.

11:00am-12:00pm EST: Morning Breakout Sessions

Leadership and self-advocacy

Presenters: Brendan Klein & Mariela Adams
Session Description: Brendan and Mariela are part of the WIHD Community Support Network. They lead the Hear Our Voices Self-advocacy organization. Through their work, Brendan and Mariela provide self-advocates with educational meetings, a social community to make friendships, individualized training to effectively share their story and opportunities to connect with their community and involve themselves in policy advocacy. This presentation will explain the Hear Our Voices organization in detail and how to connect self-advocates to this exciting organization.

Health Care Transition: Building a Lifelong Partnership with WIHD

Presenters: Izel Obermeyer
Session Description: There is a distinct difference between pediatric and adult health care, and it is essential for individuals with disabilities and their families to understand how to navigate this transition. This presentation will share key elements of health care transition (HCT) for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with disabilities. The role of primary care in the support of AYA’s with disabilities and their families will be the focus of ensuring access to developmentally appropriate care. The WIHD model of services will be shared and a discussion will be lead around the benefits of building a partnership with service providers that can meet a wide array of health care needs in one convenient location. We will also share how WIHD’s family of physicians can play a key role in improving the quality-of-life of individuals with disabilities and their families when they embark on the journey of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.

What School Administrators Should Know about OPWDD

Presenters: Christopher Knight & Yvette Goorevitch
Session Description: School districts are the main point of contact for families with children with disabilities, and as such, can be the conduit between families and attaining OPWDD eligibility.  What do school districts need to know? What should they be communicating to families?  What types of services are available to families? and, when should this part of transition planning begin.

Five Important Things Parents Need to Know About Transition

Presenter: Laurie Levine
Description: Presenter will share with the participants what she has learned as a Transition Specialist working with parents of students with disabilities. During her presentation she will focus on these five important points that help ensure a successful transition. 1. How parents can help their children/young adults develop self advocacy skills. Helping their child understand their own transition goals – Student Directed IEP Process 2. How can parents take a proactive role in driving the transition process. 3. How to develop successful partnerships with schools. How to work effectively with school personnel- school’s responsibilities, importance of point person 4.How parents can realistically determine what their goals are for their child- 5.How to navigate adult service systems – OPWDD, ACCES, SSI,Medicaid – What are different roles of professionals.

Fostering Resilience: How You Can Help Your Students Be Successful

Presenters: Jennifer Scully
Session Description: Resilience, or the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, or stress, is a challenge facing everyone, but proves to be more difficult for students with learning challenge. Fortunately, resilience can be learned. Research shows that students who to develop secure attachments, healthy emotion regulation, and good interpersonal skills tend to develop a stronger inclination to be resilient. This workshop is designed to have participants diagnose gaps in resiliency with their students and formulate a plan to address those concerns.

Moving Out and Making It: Life After High School

Presenters: Catherine DeCarlo
Session Description: Chapel Haven Schleifer Center will present “Moving Out and Making It: Life After School,” a parent-led workshop with practical strategies on how to prepare your young adult for a successful transition into independence. The workshop facilitator will be Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo, Vice President, Admissions and Marketing at Chapel Haven Schleifer Center. Join our guest speakers and our adults as they discuss:• Practical ways that families can build independence, especially in the high school years.• Tips on how to work with your school district team on planning a successful transition• Things to think about as you look for the next step – attending a program

What is inclusive higher ed and what are your options in NY state

Presenters: Martha Mock & Beth A. Myers
Session Description: What is inclusive higher ed and what are your options in NY state: There are several post-secondary programs in New York state where students with IDD can have a fully inclusive college experience. Hear from the New York State Inclusive Higher Education Consortium about different options and how to start your college search. We will also discuss funding and financial aid options that can be utilized.

1:00-2:00pm EST: Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Getting There and Staying There: College Success for Students with LD and ADHD

Presenters: Jessica Eckert
Session Description: LD and ADHD students have often struggled with finding a college setting that is a cultural fit and an academic fit. With so many colleges understanding the need for programs to support neurodiversity in their students, there are an abundance of options now that didn’t exist a decade ago, but these programs vary widely in focus and execution. We will talk about the kinds of programs available, important questions to ask in the visiting stage, and how to advocate for the right kind of support. In addition, we will talk about the steps you can take now to ensure they are prepared for college life and academics.

Wellness and self-care: Learning to advocate for yourself in medical situations

Presenters: Claire Polin
Session Description: Claire is a young woman living a full life with Cerebral Palsy. Claire has had many medical interventions in her life and is passionate about sharing the lessons she has learned in her journey. In this presentation, Claire will explore self-advocacy in medical settings. She will give self-advocates concrete suggestions on how to make the best out of medical appointments, how to communicate with doctors and how to advocate for your rights as a patient while building positive relationships with your medical team.

Redefining The Trade School-The Center for Career Freedom

Presenter: Elizabeth Edgar & Ed Pinkowski
Description: The Center for Career Freedom is a charity nonprofit 501(c) (3). We are a Microsoft Certification Computer school teaching People with Disabilities. We have a 90% success rate. We are not a conventional classroom setting, we teach 1:1. Our students have a personal trainer. This method enables the student to work at their pace. We have found the student-centered learning method is exceptionally successful with students on the spectrum.

Inclusive Transition Partnerships

Presenters: Michael Voron, Jennifer Maryyanak & Kristine Bunyea
Session Description: Creating valuable transition experiences for students with disabilities is paramount to the work of special education departments. These programs are especially important as students near the end of their K-12 experience. Developing partnerships with organizations outside of the local education agency is critical to the success of these students. Existing vocational training programs, outside of BOCES, can be a tremendous resource to accomplish this goal. One example of a successful and innovative partnership is that between Greenburgh-North Castle UFSD and Westchester Community College Division of Workforce Development.

Considerations and support for transition planning for families with a genetic condition

Presenter: Alissa Terry, Dr. Joann Bodurtha, Lin Perry
Session Description: This session will overview unique transition needs in families with a genetic condition. We will overview existing resources for transition in this population such as the ACMG transition ACT sheets and the Regional Genetics Networks, the value of having a genetic diagnosis for care and transition planning, and feature a family story about transition in their young adult with a genetic condition.

The Benefits of a Neurodiverse Workforce

Presenters: Patrick Bardsley
Session Description: The advantages to hiring and retaining a neurodiverse workforce are significant and far-reaching. Hiring individuals with Autism and other related developmental disabilities provides authentic benefits by increasing diversity, stimulating the economy, filling vacant roles to an under-served group of workers, and so much more. We’ll discuss the benefits to: the employee & their family, the company, and economy/society.

Protecting and Empowering: Supported Decision Making, Guardianship and Advance Directives

Presenters: Janine Belfast
Session Description:This presentation will be an overview of Supported Decision Making which can help individuals make better life choices, and of legal instruments that provide support and protection from poor decision making.

4:00-5:00pm EST: Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Ask the Experts: Parent Q/A- Transition Planning with your school

Presenters: Debbie Goddard
Session Description: Join CSN staff members and our transition specialists in an open forum where you can ask questions about topics from the Transition Conference or ask other questions you may have about the transition process.

7:00-8:00pm EST: Evening Breakout Sessions

Independent Living: Accessing supports and services as an adult

Presenters: Hannah Badain
Session Description: Hannah is an independent young self-advocate. She lives on her own and has made a tremendous effort to educate herself on services available and self-direction. In this presentation, Hannah will share her journey to obtaining services after 21years old, her incredible resilience through her path to independence and concrete suggestions to other self-advocates looking to live an independent life.

Maximizing Benefits & Services and Financial Planning for the Future

Presenters: James Traylor
Session Description: Understanding how various Federal, State and Local benefits can be braided together to support independent living and maximize financial independence (through the eyes of a financial planner). Technical FAQ on benefit questions that stump most professionals.

It’s not just exercise; how yoga increases functioning and decreases anxiety

Presenter: Yael Sunshine
Description: Learn how yoga supports all five domains of functioning while reducing stress and anxiety.

Person Centered Planning – The Key to any Transition

Presenter: Kirsten Sanchirico & Ketrina Hazell
Session Description: There can be a lot of anxiety and questions about what comes next for families raising a children with disabilities as they transition out of the school system. This presentation would be helpful for families, educators, students and beyond because we will focus on what good transition planning should look like and the resources available to support you. Use this conversation to connect, gain resources and ask questions in a supportive environment.

Employment Services Post High School

Presenters: Jacie Fauer & Shari Lewitt
Session Description: Information session to learn about ACCES-VR and OPWDD Supported Employment services. Topics will include eligibility for these services, job development, and retention supports. We will also discuss ways to build transferable work skills and strategies to help prepare young adults for employment during this session.

Supporting Greater Transitions from High School to Adulthood with Predictors of Post-School Success

Presenters: Dr. Katie Brendli, Dr. Hassan Enayati & Dr. Leslie Shaw
Session Description: In our presentation, we hope to help bridge the gaps between research and practice by sharing information published in the current research literature on which in-school experiences (i.e., predictors) are associated with positive post-school outcomes in the areas of employment, education, and independent living. We will then share our recent research findings from Cornell’s Project ATTAIN (the Autism Transition to Adulthood Initiative), where we evaluate identified predictors of post-school success for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) receiving SSI compared to other disabilities, for youth with ASD with varying functional limitations receiving SSI, and how our findings generalize to all youth with ASD receiving SSI. Creating new knowledge regarding predictors of post-school success can foster increased self-sufficiency and economic independence in adulthood.

Successful Learning Center – designed to foster learning, social growth and intellectual curiosity

Presenters: Sheri Cappello
Session Description: The SLC believes that inclusivity is the foundation of our success, we welcome students of varying abilities. Students participate in a dynamic program which enriches their lives through education and social interaction. SLC students participate in a variety of courses specifically designed to foster intellectual curiosity, advocacy, and peer relationships.

8:30-9:30am EST: Morning Breakout Sessions

Ask the Experts: School Administrator Q/A- How to best work with students to hear their voice

Presenter: Mariela Adams
Session Description: Join Mariela Adams for a conversation about engagement of self-advocates. Mariela is part of the WIHD Community Support Network and a LEND Faculty member. As part of her role within the Hear Our Voices Organization, Mariela works closely with Self-advocates empowering them to tell their story in an effective way. Join her for an hour of conversation about working with self-advocates, engaging them in productive discussions about their life and exchanging concrete suggestions on how to incorporate their voices in their educational program. How can schools provide access to these teaching tools to develop a local speaker’s network supporting students on their path to self-advocacy?

9:30-10:30am EST: Morning Breakout Sessions

From self advocacy to the law: How my disability impacted my professional journey

Presenters: Michael Gilberg & Robert Tudisco
Session Description: In this presentation three practicing special education attorneys share their experiences having three disabilities commonly seen in special education; Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and Dyslexia. They will share their experiences growing up with disabilities, their experiences in the education system, and how it informs their work.

Accessing Healthcare in Adulthood

Presenter: Sara Du Terroil
Session Description: This presentation will examine how self-advocates, legal guardians and loved ones can proactively navigate their health plans. We will look at rights of appeal, how to use them, and who can help. We will consider the basics of “parity” for mental and behavioral healthcare. Finally, we will look at some case studies concerning the ongoing need for specialist care in adulthood, how to keep good data, and how to partner with providers in order to demonstrate medical necessity of care.

Internship & Career Exploration with Inclusion

Presenters: Tina Dierna & Rebecca Hansen
Session Description: We provide opportunities to all students and bring the community to the school in a way that promotes inclusion and a safe space for all. The Internship & Career Center strengthens the districts mission by building and maintaining relationships with students, faculty, employers, and the community. We provide students with the necessary background to be successful and proactive members of our community. We support in identifying and achieving career goals through nurturing and encouragement to allow students to innovatively connect to the community.

Transition in the IEP – an introduction for parents and guardians

Presenter: Carin Horowitz
Description: This session will give parents an introduction to what transition should look like in their child’s IEP. I will include an overview of when transition begins and what information is needed to inform the transition plan in the IEP (assessment, both formal and informal). I will go through the sections of the IEP that speak directly to transition so that parents know where to look and what to look for in their child’s document. I will make suggestions on how parents can partner with their schools in transition planning.

Panel Discussion on Residential Transition Programs: what are they and how they can help your child

Presenters: Transition Program Administrators
Session Description: Residential Transitions Programs which focus on vocational and independently living skills, as well as some additional academic offerings make up a small, but important part of post-secondary options for students with disabilities. What are these programs and how can your child benefit from attending.

11:30am-12:30pm EST: Morning Breakout Sessions

Ask the Experts Parent Q/A – Self Direction and Benefits

Presenters: Karen Healy
Session Description: Join CSN staff members and our transition specialists in an open forum where you can ask questions about topics from the Transition Conference or ask other questions you may have about the transition process.

1:00-2:00 pm EST: Afternoon Breakout Sessions

What I learned in high school: The power of socially inclusive high schools

Presenters: Shana Belfast
Session Description: Shana is a neurodivergent young woman starting her college journey. Her presentation covers important content related to socially inclusive high schools. She gives specific guidance to school administrators on how to connect with high school students. Finally, Shana also shares her experience as a senior in high school during COVID and her personal struggles and victories during the pandemic.

Using a Mindfulness and Chakra Meditation Practice for Self Regulation

Presenters: Susan Varsames
Session Description: Learning mindfullness as mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment…..while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations……..Learning to use this as a self healing and self calming therapeutic technique.

10 Basic Financial Steps for Special Needs Caregivers

Presenters: Leizer Gewirtzman, CPA
Session Description: This workshop will discuss 10 basic steps to help caregivers get started in preparing for the financial future of their dependent with special needs. As a caregiver of a dependent with special needs the single most important issue on your mind, regardless of the age of the dependent, is what will happen to my dependent after I’m gone.There are some needs that will always be present and they must be carefully considered and planned for appropriately.This workshop addresses such critical issues as applying for government benefits for Social Security and Medicaid, creating a Special Needs Trust, the importance of a Will and considering a Letter of Intent. Taking these 10 basic steps now can help ensure the type of care and quality of life for a loved one’s well-being today and tomorrow.

Competitive Integrated Employment: Customizing Employment Opportunities

Presenter: Laura Owens
Session Description: Customized employment is a strategy that provides individuals with disabilities with the tools to gain employment, with options for employment beyond “off the shelf” jobs. This approach to employment offers individuals previously thought to be unemployable, opportunities to obtain integrated employment. Using an individualized processes, customized employment identifies job seeker passions and interests, and build opportunities to develop employment opportunities that are tailored to the individual and valuable to the employer. Customized Employment identifies a job seeker’s passions and talents as well as the needs of the business. Using these strategies, we are able to match job seekers with business to create unique opportunities for both. This session will discuss the components and essential elements of customized employment using the Competitive Integrated Employment Toolkit developed with NTACT, and provide examples of how CE successes.

Transition Planning Reflected in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Document

Presenter: Dr. Stephanie Wozniak, Kit Casey, John McCabe
Description: All students with IEPs are required to have transition plans reflected on their Individualized Education Program (IEP) documents beginning in the year in which they turn 15 years old. This session will provide a brief overview of each of these transition sections of the IEP and how they align to map a comprehensive transition plan for students.

How to be prepared for employment before graduating high school

Presenters: John Keating
Session Description: In a neurotypical learning environment such as a high school has its challenges for young adults with disabilities to get the proper education. Despite all the people involved and all the services provided there is still a gap between graduation and employment success. Having worked with this population for 15 plus years in many different states the consistency of problems is worldwide and so is the solution. My presentation will involve how to better use school services and the importance of family involvement at the precise grade level when it’s needed.

What’s it like to be in college? Hear from a panel of students in inclusive programs in NY

Presenters: Martha Mock & Beth A. Myers
Session Description: What’s it like to be in college? Hear from a panel of students in inclusive programs in NY: Thinking about applying to an inclusive post-secondary program? Hear directly from students currently enrolled in InclusiveU, Hostos Community College, and more.

4:00-5:00 pm EST: Keynote

The Disability Road Map and Self Advocates Panel Discussion

Presenter: Samuel Habib
Session Description: Samuel, who was featured in his father Dan’s seminal 2008 film “Including Samuel,” is now a 22-year-old college student, leading the advocacy charge for his own life. He is in college and working towards a career as a multi-media storyteller, yet he still faces challenges due to his rare GNAO1 neurodevelopmental disorder, including periodic seizures, movement disorders, hospitalizations, fatigue and the inaccessible homes of his extended family and friends. Samuel will share a short preview of the Disability Road Map (working title), the new work-in-progress film he is co-directing with his father Dan, and facilitate a panel of local self-advocates discussing their own advocacy for inclusion and full adult lives. This session is a must for young adults as they consider their own futures, and also for adults – family members, teachers, and professionals in the field – to hear directly about what has worked, and what could be most effective. Samuel is a Multi-Media Production Assistant and Presenter at WIHD.

7:00-8:00 pm EST: Evening Breakout Sessions

Barriers to full time employment for people with disabilities

Presenters: Adam Danos
Session Description: Adam is a young man living with Autism. Adam is an active self-advocate trying to gain meaningful full-time employment. His presentation explores barriers for employment as well as Adam’s perspective on best practices when employing individuals with disabilities.

Ask the Experts Parent Q/A: Transition to 2 and 4 year colleges

Presenters: Joyce Hawk
Session Description: Join CSN staff members and our transition specialists in an open forum where you can ask questions about topics from the Transition Conference or ask other questions you may have about the transition process.

Supplemental Security Income Basics

Presenter: Debie Goddard
Description: This workshop will offer some tips and tricks to the application process. When and how to apply, the eligibility requirements and how to best make the process less stressful.

ACCES-VR: Assisting individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living

Presenters: Debra Ehrenberg
Session Description: This presentation will provide information on ACCES-VR((ADULT CAREER & CONTINUING EDUCATION SERVICES) including but not limited to application process, eligibility criteria, examples of services, Pre-Employment Transition Services.

Yes She Can: Promoting Independence at Work

Presenters: Amanda Becker-Torres
Session Description: We plan to present on the benefits of vocational training in a real-world setting for transition-aged people with developmental disabilities. We provide intensive training sessions to young women with autism at our Girl Again store, which sells second-hand American Girl dolls and accessories. Because this is a functioning business, the trainees have opportunities to learn about and participate in all areas of store operations including: processing donations, researching and pricing merchandise, customer service, conducting transactions, social media for the business, etc. We also provide virtual group classes to our trainees to reinforce the concepts that they practice in the store. These classes also allow us to discuss topics that can be difficult for people on the spectrum to grasp, such as understanding and coping with social dynamics in the workplace, being flexible in uncertain situations, and accepting critical feedback. Our services are meant to work in conjunction, not competition, with supported employment programs at adult services agencies. Oftentimes, these agencies do not have the capacity to practice real-world vocational skills on a consistent basis while conducting job development for their participants. Yes She Can, Inc. serves to help trainees solidify these skills while their supported employment providers perform their job search.

Preparing for Inclusive Higher Ed for Students with IDDs

Presenter: Samantha Viscovich & Lorraine Termini
Session Description: We will discuss what students, their families and professionals should work on in high school to best prepare students with IDDs for inclusive higher education programs. We will also discuss what services/supports parents can expect in an inclusive higher program and how to prepare to let go.

Transition Thought Exchange: Developing and Implementing a Project SEARCH model

Presenters: Yvette Goorevitch
Session Description: The presentation will describe the development and implementation of Project SEARCH models in a variety of communities. Project SEARCH is a replication model originally developed in the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital leading to entry level employment for persons with developmental disabilities. Strategies for planning, development and collaborative implementation with host sites, adult community based agencies, and school districts with be described. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear from Project SEARCH self advocates about the impact of the experience on their long term person centered plans.

8:30-9:30am EST: Morning Breakout Sessions

Ask The Experts: Parent Q/A on Graduation Options, CDOS, SKILS Credentials, Safety Net, and Appeal Process

Presenter: Joyce Hawk & Debbie Goddard
Session Description: Join CSN staff members and our transition specialists in an open forum where you can ask questions about topics from the Transition Conference or ask other questions you may have about the transition process.

9:30-10:30 am EST: Morning Breakout Sessions

Self Help Strategies and Fostering Independence

Presenter: Jeremy Antar
Session Description: Attendees will be introduced to strategies to cope with stress and promote both wellness and independence. This will include a segment on emotional self-regulation during which strategies for identifying and labeling emotions, separating oneself from one’s emotions, and acceptance of emotions will be taught. Managing stress and promoting wellness through the bolstering of one’s resilience will also be addressed. In this section, cognitive reframing will be taught and demonstrated as a skill for how to improve resilience. Strategies such as identifying one’s narratives and exercises for adapting a personal narrative will be taught. Tools for wellness such as mindfulness will be demonstrated and the purposeful relaxation activities will be identified. Responsibility and independence will be promoted through a section on locus of control, creating one’s identity, and developing habits that reinforce that desired identity.

My Journey to Wellness and Independence

Presenters: Jesse Millman
Session Description: Jesse is an inspiring young man living with Autism. In this presentation, Jesse will share his journey from a self-contained classroom until middle school to a regular high school diploma and a college education. Jesse has built an impressive work ethic and relies on his daily habits and routines to fuel his success. His presentation will cover the meaning of self-advocacy and how to work with medical providers. The presentation will share Jesse’s personal story of independence. Jesse will take the audience in the journey from a self-contained classroom as a child to his life now as a college student with a job and a passion for fitness. 

Youth Transition and Future Planning

Presenters: Stacey Kantrowitz & Sarah Trowers
Session Description: This presentation will provide participants with information regarding the parent/school partnership during youth transition as well as services related to future planning. This presentation will provide participants with information regarding the parent/school partnership and available support services during youth transition as well as the myriad of available services related to future planning: Day Habilitation Services: Day Habilitation Without Walls, Positive Adult Community Experience (PACE) Program, Seniors Program, Sunrise Court, Nyack Studio Arts, Lifelong Experiences and Academic Program (LEAP), After the Day Respite Services, and the Pre-Vocational Work Program. Community Living Services: Provides homes for individuals geared towards independence and an empowering path to a world of opportunity for the people we support. Community Employment Services: Serving youth and adults across a broad range of disabilities beginning at age 14: Vocational Assessments, Job Exploration Counseling, Work Readiness Training, Self-Advocacy, Community-Based Assessments, Work-Based Learning Experiences, Counseling on Post-Secondary Educational Options, Wage-Reimbursed Internships, the Employment Training Program, Job Development Services, Long-Term Supported Employment Services, Educational Coaching, Tutoring, Travel Training, Benefits, Advisement, Communication Coaching Supports (Pragmatic Language Therapy), and various vocational training programs such as Commercial Cleaning, IT help desk, and Medical Billing and Coding. Article 16 Clinic: Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Social Work. Care Management: A support service that is focused on “wellness”, available to adults eligible to receive Medicaid. Care Management assists participants to live safely and as independently as possible, work to ensure a continuity of care, and help link participants with appropriate services and resources. PROS: A “person centered” recovery-oriented service, assisting individuals diagnosed with a mental illness to work towards greater independence and improved quality of life in the areas of everyday living, learning, working, socializing through recovery.

Transitioning Life Skills into Community Service Skills that Promote Job Exploration and Job Readiness Skills

Presenters: Patti Colombo
Session Description: High School work experience programs and adult Day Services are struggling to resume their volunteer and work experience sites post Covid-19 pandemic shutdown due to ongoing CDC guidelines limiting opportunities in the community. Learn how to convert Life Skills into Community Service Skills that lead to job exploration and job readiness skills, and how to re-build your community connections.  Hear from Volunteer New York! on the current landscape of volunteerism in the Lower Hudson Valley area and the volunteer needs of our nonprofit community including community-based, remote and virtual opportunities. Volunteer New York! Readiness thru Integrated Service Engagement (RISE) program (https://www.volunteernewyork.org/RISE) is an advocate for community inclusion through the power of volunteerism and believes that Everyone Can Serve. Our mission is to help engage those who want to volunteer to CONNECT. SERVE. GROW.

Pre-Employment Transitional Services

Presenters: Dwayne Moore & Shaileen Brighton-Ortiz
Session Description: We will be providing an overview of ACCES-VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) Services. This presentation will touch briefly on the goal development process facilitated by ACCES-VR. Attendees will be provided with an overview of Ability Beyond’s work with high school students utilizing Pre-Employment Transitional (Pre-ETS) Services. Attendees will review a full list of (Pre-ETS) Services that we are currently authorized to provide. This will be followed with a discussion regarding how services are delivered to students.

Introduction to Housing Options

Presenters: Michele Lawton & Helen (Musa) Klebnikov
Session Description: 101 on options for housing

Supports in Inclusive Post-Secondary Education

Presenter: Briana Shults
Description: Supports in Inclusive PSE: InclusiveU staff will present on the various supports students with intellectual and developmental disability receive in college including academic advising, person-centered planning, campus and residential mentors, job readiness guidance and more.

11:30am-12:30 pm EST: Plenary

Plenary: Legislative Town Hall

Presenter: Roundtable with Elected Officials: Learn about disability legislation and work with your lawmakers!
Session Description: This year’s Legislative Town Hall general session will include members of the NYS Assembly and Senate Westchester delegation and once again highlight the crisis in the OPWDD system and the resulting impacts on their most vulnerable constituents. This year each representative will be invited to provide feedback, including any of their own actions and/or commitments, either within their own district, or as part of a larger NYS effort on the priority issues affecting our loved ones. If you are or have a loved one in the OPWDD system, don’t miss this! Encourage your own representatives to participate. No time is more important than now to educate and advocate on behalf of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the people we elect to serve us.