Students with Disabilities Transition Center (SDTC)

The Students with Disabilities Transition Center (SDTC) is a pilot program, whose aim is to identify and assist approximately 40 Southern Westchester BOCES students with disabilities, ages 14 - 21, achieve their objectives for adult community life. The program encourages students to think about their future and develop skills to communicate their ideas with parents and teachers. Outcomes from this program are that the students will develop more independence, self-esteem, and skills needed for a productive and fulfilling future. Special attention is paid to developing non-traditional community resources and in establishing a team effort with families, schools, government services, and the general community to reach transition goals. Information, training, and technical assistance is available for parents, students, teachers, and others in areas, such as, implementing person-centered planning, benefits and entitlements, assistive technology, reasonable accommodation, personal assistance services, community resources, and housing options. Workshops to improve the outcomes for young adults with disabilities are also offered.

Age Time Line

• 14 Years Old - Level One Career Assessment
• 15 Years Old - Establish Transition Plan (Central Registry, VESID registration, OMRDD registration)
• 16 Years Old - VESID certification for graduates at 18
• 17 Years Old - DMV issued ID SSI/Medicaid and guardianship
• 18 Years Old - Selective Services registration (males)
• 19 Years Old - VESID certification for graduates at 21 Identification of follow-up agencies
• 20 Years Old - Active involvement of follow-up agencies
• 21 Years Old - Active involvement of follow-up agencies

Documentation Required

• Birth Certificate
• Social Security Number
• Release Forms for educational, psychological, and medical records
• Immigration Papers (when needed)

Supplemental Documentation

• Guardianship Papers
• SSI/Medicaid Acceptance Letter
• VESID Certification Letter
• Working Papers (local school district)

Key Tasks in Developing a Transition Plan

The school is responsible for developing a transition plan which will structure and coordinate the final years of schooling. The transition plan developed will include the areas of employment, housing, benefits, medical services, and leisure services, as well as any other areas the student, the parents, and/or the school feel are important for the student to become a member of the community. This process depends upon communication between the student, the parent, and the school for the purpose of preparing the student for all the future options available after graduation from the public school system. The parent and the school should continually monitor, evaluate and review the current school placement to be sure it is preparing the student with the skills he/she will need for adult life and the strategies to effectively live with his/her disability.

WILC's SDTC program works with PTA's, SEPTA's, and other parent groups to provide information regarding partnerships with schools and how to implement transition planning. A Transition Hotline, which furnishes advocacy information and technical assistance, is available as part of SDTC's outreach to parents, teachers, and others. The Hotline number is (914) 682-3926 ext. 119 or ext. 122.

General Advice for Parents

• Be informed and prepared to be an advocate for your child.
• Begin the process of establishing legal guardianship.
• Contact the local Developmental Disabilities Service Office (DDSO) and the Central Registry to verify that your child has been registered:
  • DDSO Westchester: (914) 631-8188
  • DDSO Putnam: (914) 279-2905
  • Central Registry Westchester: (914) 285-5256
  • Central Registry Putnam: (914) 225-2700.

Questions For Parents To Ask

It is wise for parents of a child with a disability to question and evaluate the advice, the assessments, the conclusions, the recommended services, and the suggested programs that professionals offer their child. Knowledge and suggested practices are always changing and parents who keep up with new alternatives, theories, and practices, can sometimes help the professionals. The goal is a partnership with everyone working for the benefit of the child. The following are some questions for a parent who is raising a child with a developmental disability to keep in mind.

• Is my child preparing for the transition from the protected, regular life of school to a more varied demanding adult life? How?
• Can my child function without help or will he/she reqire special arrangements?
• What options, in the areas of housing, social/recreation, continuing education, employment, transportation, and support services, are available and suitable for my child's future?
• What services can assist my child in leading as normal a life as possible?
• Which agencies can help me and my child to make these decision? Does my child have a way to make choices and participate in decision making?
• Is there access to participation in community life, even in a treatment prgram or total care facility, for my child?
• When and where do I apply for Social Security and Medicaid for my child?
• Is there an appropriate respite program?
• Where can I find support groups or other parent with similar problems?
• Why is it important to obtain legal guardianship? How do I become my child's legal guardian?

Outcomes To Be Looked For

• The school will establish and implement an agreed upon transition plan that coordinates resources and assigns specific responsibilities to prepare the student for employment, housing, social, recreation, and community access.
• The school will have referred the student and his or her family to the appropriate agencies for receipt of agreed upon services (employment, housing, medical, counseling, etc.).

For more information about WILC's SDTC program and/or transition plans, contact WILC's Transition Coordinator at (914) 682-3926 (Voice), (914) 682-0926 (TDD), (914) 682-8518 (FAX), or E-mail at: info@wilc.org.