ERIC ED414660: Whose Future Is It Anyway? A Student-Directed Transition Planning Process.

312 Pages·1995·6.7 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 414 660
EC 305 886
AUTHOR
Wehmeyer, Michael; Kelchner, Kathy
Whose Future Is It Anyway? A Student-Directed Transition
TITLE
Planning Process.
INSTITUTION Arc, Arlington, TX.
Women's Educational Equity Act Program (ED), Washington, DC.
SPONS AGENCY
PUB DATE 1995-00-00
NOTE
311p.
CONTRACT
S083A30527
AVAILABLE FROM
Arc National Headquarters, 500 East Border Street, Suite
300, Arlington, TX 76010.
Guides
PUB TYPE
Books (010)
Non-Classroom (055)
EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
Communication Skills; *Developmental Disabilities; Goal
DESCRIPTORS
Orientation; Individualized Education Programs; Leadership;
*Mild Mental Retardation; Participative Decision Making;
*Personal Autonomy; Secondary Education; Self Advocacy;
*Self Determination; Self Evaluation (Individuals); Student
Educational Objectives; *Student Participation; Student
Rights; *Transitional Prpgrams
ABSTRACT
This docment consists of a large student manual and a small
17-page "Coach's Guide" that has the same main title. The program covered is
designed to help students with mild cognitive and developmental, disabilities
to participate in the transition planning process. It explores issues of
self-awareness and attempts to help students develop problem solving,
decision making, goal setting, and small-group communication skills. Both the
manual and coach's guide are organized by the program's 36 sessions. The
sessions are grouped topically, including sessions on self-awareness, making
decisions, utilizing community resources, setting goals and objectives,
communication skills, meetings, and leadership skills. Each session section
typically includes an action plan goal, introductory material, sample
problems or examples from the lives of people with disabilities, and
exercises to practice.
(DB)
********************************************************************************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
********************************************************************************
0
1/4o
Is It
Whose Future
Anyway.,
A STUDENT-DIRECTED TRANSITI ON PLANNI NG PROCESS
developed by
rnichael wehrneyer, Ph.D.
kathy kelc.hner, M.Ed.
T h
e
Arc
a national organization on mental retardation
The Arc National Headquarters
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL IN MICROFICHE,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND IN ELECTRONIC MEDIA FOR ERIC
500 East Border Street, S uite 300
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
COLLECTION SUBSCRIBERS ONLY,
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
Arlington, TX 76010
CENTER (ERIC)
document has been reproduced as
2/This
received from the person or organization
originating it.
Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
2
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
2A
Points of view or opinions stated in this
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI position or policy.
an COPY AVAILVIDIE
ANYMME2
WHOSE FUTURE IS IT
A STUDENT-DIRECTED TRANSITION PLANNING PROCESS
developed by
michael wehmeyer, PhD.
kathy kelchner, M.Ed.
T h e
Arc
The Arc National Headquarters
500 East Border Street, Suite 300
Arlington, TX 76010
This material was developed with funding from the U5.Department of
Education, Office of Secondary and Elementary Education through
the Women's Educational Equity Act Program, Grant #5083A30527.
@ 1995 The Arc National Headquarters. This material cannot be
reproduced or distributed without permission from the authors.
THE PROGRAM
Introduction
Whose Future Is It Allying)
Where does this lead? Well, on the way
Good question.
to your future, it leads to you taking
All you have to do is look around you.
control of your IEP or transition
planning meeting. Just think, today you
here? You?
Really, who's in
charge
don't know what one is and tomorrow
Oh, you are? Well, it's hard to tell.
you are leading one!
Mainly because you're letting those
Other peopte make all those school
Most stuff in schools is written for
decisions for you.
teachers. This is DIFFERENT. It really
Yeah, yeah... I understand. You're not
is. You'll have to believe me. HONEST.
This stuff, right here in your very own
letting them, they're just doing it. And
hands, is written for you to use. For you
besides, that's their job...isn't it?
I mean,
to tell you what you need to do.
they're paid to do that. Also, that's pretty
boring stuff.
You just put up with it and soon enough
With this stuff, everything you do leads
you will be done.
And, hey, who wants to go to a meeting
to one thing. You're going to take more
where they talk about all the things you do wrong?
so, it's not
control in your school planning meeting.
your fault or your problem
7777777 7777777 7777777
contra
You. In
charge.
In
Sorry, I fell asleep. All those excuses
and stuff.
Why? Good question. Because it's your
future. You knew I was going to say
You see, the problem here is that it's
that, didn't you? Oh yeah, and because
your future they're talking about. It's
it's important. Yeah, yeah, I know...it's
your future they are planning. It's your
boring, it's someone
future on the line here. I mean,
else's job, those meetings arc
shouldn't you be involved here?
long
Somewhere? Anywhere?
It's your future. Can you think of
anything more important to do one
All right. Just for kicks let's say that you
afternoon? Plan your own future.
want to do something about this. Where
Choose goals to work on. Tell people
do you start?
what you like to do, what you are good
Right here. Just turn the pages. Read or
at, what you don't like, what you are not
listen to the words. Do the activities.
good at.
See how well you are doing.
I didn't think so.
Oh, and that stuff about Other
People making your decisions. Well,
it's not like you replace them and make
I'm also an ear so I can listen.
all your decisions. I mean, it doesn't
In one way, I'm just you.
work that way in real life, no way, no
how. These Other People are folks
Kind of like talking to yourself. And no
who need to be helping you make one is going to think you're one taco
short of a combination plate for doing it!
decisions.
Teachers. Parents. Friends.
THE PURPOSE
We're not going to kick them out. They
control
probably want you to take more
You may ask yourself:
tire dof making all
anyway. They're
"Self, why should I do this?"
your decisions for you.
Good question. Why should you spend
So, why don't you
your time going through
JUST DO IT? JUST
THE PROGRAM?
your IEP. Yeah, right.
and
Well
mean, what is
I
Lead
JUMP IN
THE PURPOSE?
No work, no muss, no fuss, no sweat. It
ain't that easy. Nothing ever is. There's
MrtalLir are the real expert on
stuff you've got to learn, things you have
"5r4a1E.7!
to work out.
"srco-u- will get more from
So how about it. Are you with me? You
school if n52'c)1E7 help
choose. You can let someone else make
all those decisions for you or you can get
choose 5512'falE3r3EL own
with
and take more
goals.
THE PROGRAM
control.
'52'01E7 have the right to make
choices about "52'C)T.73EL
Good.
life.
Oh, what's that? Who am I?
X52' ©33 have the right to know
'52"CO1E3DEL rights.
szb If '5rfa33 don't let Other People
want to
know what
-45E-4:::YE7
A mouth, nothing more.
do after -452' C:k1E7 graduate,
Well, that's not entirely true.
how will they ever know?
Let's look at these more closely.
2
EXTRA!! NEWS FLASH!!
You are the real expert
You have the right to
on you!
make choices about your
life.
THE
PROGRAM
will
(UPI)
you
help
figure
and
out
people work
Most
(REM)
talk
about
what you
like
harder
when
they
choose
and don't
When
you
like.
their work or what they are
are done with THE PROGRAM
Choices
doing.
can
be
you will know what you do
about easy things like what
best, where you might need
to eat or what to wear and
and
some
you
what
help,
harder things like where to
should work on to get where
go to college or what job
you want to be.
You will
apply
make
to
To
for.
how
learn
tell
Othe
to
you have to know
choices,
People you
what
want
in
you
what
and
don't
like
You will learn
your life.
like, what you are good at
how
Leader
be
to
at
a
so good
and not
what
at,
meetings
about
You
you.
you want and what you need.
will learn how to speak up
for yourself.
You will get more from
school if you help
You have the right to
choose your own goals.
know your rights.
people
work
Most
(AP)
You will
learn about
(U2)
harder
things
for
they
your rights for transition
really
THE
PROGRAM
want.
and school planning.
You
will help you learn skills
learn
your
will
rights
speak up and tell
to
the
planning
about
meetings.
in your life
Other People
You will learn about your
what you want to do as an
rights
and
what
is
setting goals
By
adult.
available for you to meet
yourself
and
working
for
your goals as an adult.
By
toward those goals you will
learning
your
rights
you
probably
work
harder
and
can
more control
get
in
learn more.
your life.
3
important for you to lead your planning
FUN FACT: Did you know that there is a
meeting. Each part has a goal. You'll
law that gives you the right to the
learn more about goals later.
support you need to learn, if you need it?
This law is called the "Individuals with
The 6 parts are:
Disabilities Education Act," or just
Getting to know '52-CYT.7
1.
IDEA. You get these support services if
2. DIAKING DECISIONS
you have any disability that makes
3. NOW TO @ET VW WOOD IgIgn,
learning harder in some way. It is
NC. 404
important for you to know your rights
4. COALS, ORiECtiVel AnD EI-E
will let you
under IDEA.
THE PROGRAM
FUZLRE
learn some of these rights. From now
(Or: I thought you
COMMUNICATIN'
5.
on, when I'm talking about IDEA, I'm
said she said he said)
just going to call it 1119E3DEI
Thank you, Honorable Chairperson
6.
3LAJACIIXT.
In each of these 6 parts there are
things to do. Yeah, I have to admit it,
is written for you to use
THE PROGRAM
kind of like lessons.
on your own.
But, Iley !!!! don't leave now. It's not
But, that means that you have to make
like that. Not like those other lessons. I
sure that this happens.
mean, these are things "IrC)1E7 do.
In the end, you will win. You will end
To help -se-001E73ELS30131m3E".
up running your own planning meeting.
You will get to work on things that you
For '5rCYX3r3Eth. planning meeting.
chose.
How many lessons? Well, each section
A little work, but worth it!
has 6 lessons for a total of 01
lessons.
Each lesson can be done in 1. hour.
THE PLAN
C:) minutes.
of
OK. Now you know
31600 seconds.
THE PURPOSE
Next, you need to know
THE PROGRAM.
about how you are going to do
THE
Now, you can do something that takes
What, you ask, is
less than one hour, can't you? I mean,
THE PLAN
PROGRAM.
for
that's not asking MO much to figure out
THE PROGRAM?
'5E-CYIE33EL future, is it?
I mean,
Good Question.
you're going to spread this thing out
over a long time. Total time, about I
has 6 parts. Each part
THE PROGRAM
measly week.
has a different subject. Each subject is
4
Your teacher, of course!
days.
I mean, that is her job. To get you ready
2910CII minutes.
to leave school and be a huge success in
1414,COC3,0 seconds.
life.
I'll tell you why you need to ask your
See, how can you pass on this once in a
teacher to lend a hand as you go through
lifetime chance?
You see, there are a lot
THE PROGRAM.
of things about your school, your
When you finish each part you will have
transition planning, and your IEP that
in your very own hands some
you don't know about but your teacher
information you can use at your very
does.
own planning meeting. That's the only
And I don't
"test" in
THE PROGRAM.
Oh sure, you'll learn. But, you need a
really consider that much of a test.
guide...a coach.
Do you?
There is a Coach's Guide that comes
This explains to
with
I didn't think so.
THE PROGRAM.
your teacher how you are going to learn
how to take more control over your
education program. It lets your teacher
GETTING STARTED
know where she can help and what she
needs to do to make sure that you get the
OK. Are you with me? Great. One
most out of
more thing you need to do and we'll get
THE PROGRAM.
started.
So, right now, go find your teacher and
give her the copy of the Coach's Guide.
You see, even though you are going to
Ask her nicely if she will be your coach.
be learning how to lead your IEP
When you're done, we'll get started.
meeting, you will still need someone to
lend you a hand.
.N.t).h.t)
fifififi
i)fifi
Someone who has been around.
Finished? Good.
orneone who knows the ropes.
Time to start.
5orneone who wants you to do well
when you graduate.
Turn the page...will you?
5 orneone who wants you to get out of
her hair and not be in school forever.
Who is this mystery someone????
r
5
THE PROGRAM
Session 1
THE MEETINGS
You will learn about the planning meetings where
WHOSE FUTURE GOAL 1:
people make decisions about your school program.
OK, we were talking about planning
meetings.
See if you agree with this
If you have been to one, think back on
what happened. You can use the space
sentence.
next to The Thinker to jot down some of
your thoughts, if you want.
my transition planning
"Before I
LEAD
meeting, I should know what it is."
Who was there?
Agree? I thought so! Did you know that
every year there are planning meetings
where people make decisions about your
school program?
What did they talk about?
Maybe you did, maybe you didn't. Have
If not, don't
you been to one?
worry....soon you will
one!
LEAD
INE, 00110T: Every now and then you
Who was the leader of the meeting?
will see this symbol.
This
naked guy is called "THE THINKER".
He's a statue sitting on a rock in an
But, when
ocean somewhere overseas.
Did you say anything?
he shows up, sittin'
and thinkin',
it
means you can take a break and think
too. Don't just skip over the parts where
he shows up.
Better thinking than
So, when he shows up,
writing, right?
What did you feel about the meeting?
slow down, stop and take a minute to
really think about the question.
6
Don't see what they call your meeting on
this list? OK, write this space:
What do you think?
Were you in
name of my planning meeting:
In
control?
charge?
I don't know about you, but a lot of
young people your age have said they
felt pretty bad about the meeting they
MOM EV: Every now and then you
went to. They felt like Other People
csoloo"
talked about them. About things they
didn't do well. Like math, or English.
will see this symbol:
This
They also said they were bored. And
called a "clapper" and you know what it
ernbarrctssed. And glad when it was
is used for...when a movie or television
over. Sound familiar?
show is being filmed, they snap the
clapper down when it is time for the.
It doesn't have to be that way. HONEST.
actors to begin. When you see it in THE
But first, you have to learn what these
it will mean that there is some
PROGRAM
meetings are all about. So you can take
action you will be asked to do.
Charge. Take
Control.
clioloo°
So, you ask, what are these meetings?
Good Question.
Don't know what they call
your meeting? That's OK. But you
First you need to know what they call
need to go find out. Right now. Here is
your meetings. Ever heard of any of
where your coach comes in. Not your
these? Check
one if you recognize
gym coach...the teacher you gave the
it.
Coach's Guide for
to.
THE PROGRAM
Yeah, that person. They will tell you
what you need to know.
3E3EXIF (Individualized
Education Program)
meeting
See you in a minute....
J,fii,
(Admission,
O 43.3E11.312e-
Got it?
Review, Dismissal) meeting
PrJr3P, (Individualized
Transition Planning)
Good. What's it called?
meeting
What a long, boring name. Anyway,
O
write it in the space where it said "name
3ED3E7111 (Pupil Evaluation
of my planning meeting." That way you
Team)
will remember it later.
I -a
7