What can Transition Services offer my Child?

 

RISD Transition Services teaches students the skills necessary to obtain long-term, competitive employment.  Transition Services works with potential employers to develop opportunities that maximize each student’s employment potential.

 

Every student comes to Transition Services with the goal of gaining and retaining competitive, long-term employment.  Through training, volunteering, and internships, transition students become skilled, dependable employees for local businesses.  Each student will have a job coach available to assist with the job-specific training.

 

Some industries in which transition students have successfully retained employment include:

  • Animal care

  • Child care

  • Food service

  • Grocery

  • Hospital/Healthcare

  • Hotel

  • Janitorial

  • Office/Clerical

  • Retail

  • Self-employment

 

 

What are the responsibilities of Transition Services?

 

Planning/Scheduling

  •  Facilitate Person Centered Plans.

  • Teach student self-advocacy skills.

  • Work with student and family to access support in the community.

  • Monitor student progress.

 

Vocational/Employment Skills

  • Network for job leads.

  • Teach skills needed to achieve employment, including job searching, resume writing, completing applications and interviewing.

  • Provide job coaching and instruction.

  • Assist in job evaluation and record keeping.

  • Coordinate with employers to promote student involvement.

 

Adult Living

  • Provide instruction of daily living skills as related to employment.

  • Be a resource to encourage independence.

  • Assist with the development of instructional aids to teach self-help, including self advocacy, budgeting, time management and safety.

 

Transportation

  • Provide safety instruction.

  • Teach the planning and scheduling process of DART routes.

  • Provide travel training on DART.

 

 

 

What are the responsibilities of the parent of a Transition Student?

 

Planning/Scheduling

  • Participate in Person Centered Plan meetings and updates.

  • Support/assist your student with their responsibilities.

  • Maintain communication.

  • Monitor the progress of your student.

 

Vocational/Employment Skills

  • Network for job leads.

  • Assist and reinforce job search and work skills.

  • Be aware of your student’s work situation and relevant issues.

  • Support your student’s goal of employment.

 

Adult Living

  •  Provide opportunities for student to apply daily living skills.

  •  Allow your student to learn the value of natural consequences.

  • Work with Transition Services to reinforce skills and encourage independence.

 

Transportation

  • Support your student as they learn to access their own transportation.

  • Provide transportation.

 

 

 

What responsibilities will my child have as a Transition Student?

 

Planning/Scheduling

  • Participate in Person Centered Plans by self-advocating.

  • Follow through with scheduled activities and commitments.

  • Communicate changes in schedules.

  • Monitor their own progress.

 

Vocational/Employment Skills

  • Develop and update resume.

  • Participate in the job search by completing applications, interviewing, and follow up on job prospects.

  • Fulfill the job responsibilities of employment.

 

Adult Living

  • Wear a watch, carry a wallet, a Texas ID and an emergency card.

  • Plan for expenses and make purchases in the community.

  • Plan for weather conditions.

  • Dress appropriately for employment and community activities.

  • Display age-appropriate behavior in the community.

 

Transportation

  • Follow safety rules.

  • Be aware of times, locations, and transportation information for scheduled activities.

  • Carry transportation schedules, DART Disability Card or Para transit ID card.

  • Inform parents and transition staff of any changes in transportation schedules.

 

 

 

How is Transition Services different from High School?

 

Transition activities are designed to promote independence and outcome of competitive employment in the community.  These activities can represent a significant change from what students have experienced in high school.

 

Schedule

 

In high school, students follow predictable schedules all day everyday.  Transition activities vary, and may not last an entire day.  Each student’s transition schedule is different, based upon his or her specific vocational plan.  Where high school, be design, has very little free time, a transition schedule in flexible.  Learning to manage this time productively is an important skill.

 

Instruction

 

In high school, instructional activities are classroom-based, while transition students learn skills and then practice their independence in a community setting.  Due to the nature of transition activities, there may be time that the students are alone.  Their progress is monitored by a network of concerned people (parents, teachers and involved community members). In high school, instruction is focused on earning academic credits in a functional manner.  Transition instruction focuses on skills necessary to achieve employment.

 

Transportation

 

In high school, the district provides transportation from home to school.  In the Transition Program, the student’s mode of transportation is determined by the family and transition staff working to facilitate independence and skill-building.  RISD employees may not drive any student in their car.  The goal is for the student to access community activities independently.

 

 

 

 

What connections does transition services support in the community?

 

Transition staff can provide information regarding involvement in community activities.  Instead of social activities being centered at the high school, they will now occur in the community.  A healthy and active social life is dependent upon continued planning by students and parents.  Transition Services can support students in various opportunities of their choice:

  • ARC of Dallas

  • Community Recreation Centers

  • Circle of Friends

  • Special Olympics

  • Y Connection

  • Activities at the student’s place of worship

 

In addition, Richland community College is a valuable resource for transition students.  The Office of Disability Services works with the transition staff to help parents and students learn how to access continuing education courses.  Transition Services supports vocational-based, continuing education classes, the Richland Career Center, and the Fitness Center.

 

Transition Services will also connect students and families to adult service providers based upon student choice and need, including:

  • Dallas Metrocare Services

  • Department of Assistive Rehabilitation Services

  • Health and Human Services Commission (Formerly Texas Department of Human Services)