Partners: San Juan USD - Transition Program
Students take field trips to American River College and Sierra College to learn about career-oriented offerings and services available to students with disabilities. Counselors from Alta Regional Center, Department of Rehabilitation and Children's Mental Health attend transition IEP meetings (per student need).
Transition staff participate in meetings of local groups including the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce. Members of these groups have served as guest speakers, field trip hosts, and "judges" for student entrepreneurship presentations, and have provided job leads for students. Umpqua Bank and the City of Citrus Heights have provided funding for individual student entrepreneurship units. The WorkAbility programs hosts Employer Advisory breakfasts and lunches to obtain employer input on the program and solidify ongoing employer relationships. Each year transition staff survey the needs of Regional Center-eligible students who will be "aging out" of school, and Regional Center's adult agency vendors use the survey data to offer programming that will meet the students' needs. We have a "Transition Partnership Program" (TPP) with the Department of Rehabilitation that provides job-related support to eligible students both before and after graduation. Sacramento Regional Transit's Mobility Training Fare Assistance Program provides free travel training for eligible students with significant disabilities who use public transportation to get to work.
Parents participate in creating the transition plan during the IEP meeting. Parents are invited to transition-related trainings that are offered to staff on topics including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits Planning, Student-led IEPs, and employment issues for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mental Health issues. Parents of students in the age 18-22 Community Transition Program participate in trainings on topics including independent and supported living program options, day program and work program options, and community resources and recreation.
The District provides foreign language and sign language interpreters to parents as needed. The Districts produces a written guide to local community transition agencies and distributes it to parents at IEP meetings. (The guide has been translated into Spanish.) The District hosts parent/student orientation meetings on specialty programs including TPP and Project Search. Each year the transition staff presents a "transition information night" at the special education parents' group, the Community Advisory Council (CAC). The transition program's website includes links to past issues of the "WorkAbility Works" newsletter, which includes information, stories and photos about transition services in the District.
Last updated: 11/18/2011