Bringing All The Pieces Together: Navigating a Complex System

This session focuses on the importance of knowledge, skills and practices that promote a seamless transition from school to adult life. A comprehensive review of the current features of successful transition will be discussed. These include the importance of a strong IEP, measurable post-secondary goals, and instruction in self-determination, career planning and development. This session connects the various systems to help improve outcomes for students approaching graduation. Stacey Hoaglund, the presenter on this topic, has a great deal of first hand experience in the field of autism and transition.  Prior to having her two children, the younger of whom has autism, and both who are adults today, she worked in the budget office of the 6^th largest school district in the United States. After her time there, she worked as the confidential assistant to two school principals where part of her responsibilities involved the review and revisions of budgetary reports. 

When her younger son was showing the early signs of autism, Stacey responded quickly and began the process of advocating for his needs.  Thus began her journey of creating an intensive intervention program, finding school programs to meet his needs and setting a course for best outcomes. 

A few short years after his diagnosis, Stacey began working for Family Network on Disabilities as a parent advocate.  She also facilitated an autism support group with the Autism Society of Broward, and later went on to become its president.  Upon the request of countless parents and teachers alike, Stacey has authored a book which is a collection of sample IEP goals called Go for the Goal: A Parent’s Guide to Creating Meaningful IEP Goals.  And most recently, Stacey has become the editor of The Autism Notebook Magazine, which is a free publication to the community and covers a vast array of topics reaching across the spectrum and age groups (birth to adulthood) in each publication.

Through her own personal experience and by the countless lessons she has learned by the many children and adults she has had the fortune to assist, Stacey believes that kids and adults with autism have limitless possibility.  She is one that feels that age is no factor against potential and she works with parents and adults on the spectrum to attain personal quality of life.

This session presents effective practices for building collaborative relationships between community, school and home.  Methods for facilitating active, engaged participation in transition planning, including the development of detailed post school outcome statements, as well as the importance of teaching self advocacy, will be explored.  The session will target planning for the future by connecting the supports for students under IDEA to those offered through the Rehabilitation Act.    This workshop connects the various systems together to improve outcomes for students transitioning. 

 The learning objectives will include:

1. Increase understanding of transition planning requirements under IDEA
2. Increase understanding of the programs and services under the Rehab Act
3. Increase advocacy skills of participants to coordinate services between IDEA and Rehab Act
4. Identify diploma options and their impact on post secondary plans
5. Gain knowledge of the importance of self-advocacy and its use in navigating the complex adult service system

Attendees will leave this session better prepared to access services, identify job placement options that are in line with the personal interests of the individual and advocate for services necessary to improve individual quality of life.