Self-Determination for Students Workshop at RHS

(October 9, 2008) The Riverhead Central School District is beginning its second year of The Model Transition Program Grant (MTP), which was awarded to the District during the 2006/07 school year. As part of this $700,000 special education grant, the district was able to present two parent, faculty and student workshops this fall.

On Thursday October 2nd, Mr. Andy Shanahan and Ms. Helen Fallon, who are affiliated with the University of Buffalo, presented a workshop entitled “Self-Determination, Empowering Students to Lead Self-Directed Lives.” Forty-three students from the High School and the Star Academy attended this workshop.

“it was a good presentation. I liked that the presenters came and taught us to speak up and ask questions when dealing with colleges and employers,” stated Julia Montez, a high school senior.

The next presentation will take place on Thursday, October 16th, and is entitled “Self Advocacy.”

According to one of the presenters, Andy Shanahan, “Self-determined people know what they want and use their self-advocacy skills to get it.”

This is just one of many efforts financed by the “Model Transition Program” (MTP). The grant has given the District the ability to introduce and infuse transitional activities and practices it has identified as critical to improving post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities. The transitional activities that have become available with the grant include new collaborations and partnerships with local adult service agencies; more effective transitional planning provided by a district Transitional Coordinator (Elva Beyer); collaborations with two local college/universities to better prepare students with disabilities for college life; the development of local internships, which will be managed by our existing school-to-work coordinator, that can be offered to students as young as 15; and improved communication of important information about transitional planning and services to our students and their parents/guardians. The district has identified 260 students with disabilities, who, over time, will benefit from the activities of the Model Transition Program Grant.

“This grant will assist our students as they leave school or ‘age out’ of our program,” explained Ms. Elizabeth Chappell, the Special Education/Pupil Personnel Services Director. “The MTP Coordinator and the alliances with organizations like Maryhaven and the Cody Center will make a big difference to these students.”