Postsecondary Transition

The 2021 Transition Training Institute was held virtually from June 21-23, 2021. 

The institute focused on programs and structures to support students in graduating and moving toward postsecondary goals. Various sessions focused on compliance, work-based learning, self-advocacy, employment, social/emotional intelligence and career readiness with an emphasis on students with special needs. 

2021 Virtual Transition Institute Materials

Transition Training Institute Videos 

• Disability as Possibility
• Introduction to Trauma Informed Care
• Check and Connect - Building a Bridge to the Future
• Work Based Learning Apprenticeship 2021

PowerPoint Slide Presentations 

• Disability as Possibility
  Keynote speaker, Hari Srinivasan, shares insights gathered through his personal experience of autism and discusses his research on the impact of labeling and expectations on life outcomes for students and youth with disabilities. 
• Walk, Talk and Navigate Compliance
  Presenters, Jeanne Rothermel, Julie Harris, Lynn Lynch, RPDC Compliance Consultants
  How can a well written transition plan with a coordinated set of activities assist students in reaching their postsecondary goals? 
• What is Thrive?
  Presenter, Michael Brunkhorst
  What are College Transition Programs (CTPs) in the state, particularly THRIVE? 
  • THRIVE Fact Sheet
• Using Community Resource Maps to Enhance the Transition Process
  Presenter, Susan Hekmat
  Digital maps aren't just for directions. Getting connected to the community while in high school, and continuing to build that network throughout life, is a driving force behind postsecondary success for individuals with disabilities.
• Virtual Services for Youth with Significant Challenges
  Presenter, Anna Azevedo
  Learn about techniques that have brought success in delivering virtual services to transition-aged students with significant challenges. Discuss a variety of methods for creative lessons and how this approach has shifted to increase engagement. 
• Walking the TAY Talk: Defining Youth Responsiveness
  Presenters, Dani Wilson, JJ Gossrau
  How does youth responsiveness relate to mental health and wellness for youth and young adults, and what steps can they take to become Youth Responsive?
  • Culturally Responsive Toolkit
• Introduction to Trauma Informed Care
  Presenter, Rachel Jones, LPC
  This session provided an overview of how to use a trauma informed lens with your work, what brain science teaches us about trauma and recovery and how to move your organization toward trauma informed care to support staff and citizens across the state. 
• Transition Partnership Planning Tool
  Presenter, Amy Bowen
  Utilized to serve as a conversation starter and guide for planning effective provision of pre-employment transition and transition services to students served by each high school building in Missouri. This session highlights the tool and the impact of productive planning and collaboration on student outcomes. 
• Transition Assessments
  Presenters, Jana Locke and Mary Beth Scherer
  Learn about formal and informal transition assessments. Several free resources for teachers and districts, along with sample reports and write-ups were highlighted.

The Missouri Interagency Transition Team (MITT) was formed in 2007 by the Office of Special Education at the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) to increase interagency collaboration at the state, regional, and local levels. This state transition team meets quarterly to address data-driven goals for improvement and collaboration with the shared vision of improving employment, independent living, and postsecondary education outcomes for Missouri students with disabilities. MITT provides a venue and mechanism to share information, network, and partner to coordinate professional development activities.

• Membership List 

Missouri Transition Liaisons are practicing teachers from across the state who devote time and energy to increasing the capacity of local level secondary special educators and districts. They work within their own districts to enhance transition practices and programs. Liaisons participate in regular trainings and meetings and disseminate information at the district and regional levels to develop a collaborative network of colleagues focused on issues related to secondary transition of youth with disabilities.

Missouri Transition Liaisons 2021- Last update 01/21  

Social-Emotional Learning for All (formerly Missouri Postsecondary Success (MPSS)) is a multi-year transition and College and Career Competency (CCC) improvement initiative that provides face-to-face professional development and online support to interdisciplinary high school teams. Teams learn to effectively teach and sustain the development of competencies which lead to success in both career and college settings. Teams analyze data, choose evidence-based instruction and work with stakeholders to provide ongoing supports to students as a part of the classroom experience. 

• Overview/description of SEL-A initiative 
• For additional resources or if you have questions, please contact your
  local Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC).

Early Warning Signs is a data-driven decision-making process allowing educators to identifying students at-risk by examining the underlying causes, match interventions to student needs, and monitor the progress of interventions. EWS examines five essential areas:

• adult advocates
• academic support
• classroom/social/behavioral issues
• personalized learning environment/Instructional practice
• necessary skills for graduation and postschool success

Using data indicators are most predictive of a given student outcome as a “warning sign” that a student is in trouble. This system allows educators to track interventions assigned to particular students and track the associations between interventions and outcome for students.

• Early Warning Indicators
• "How Early Warning Systems Can Help Your Students and School Succeed" (37-minute video presented by Dr. Robert Balfanz)

If you need additional resources or have questions, please contact your Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC).

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) offers no-cost transition services to Missouri public school students with disabilities, ages 16-21, who are eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. These services are designed to make an impactful difference for students with disabilities at an earlier age which leads to better coordination, enhanced communication, stronger collaboration, and increased successful post-school outcomes.

Pre-ETS is contracted by the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR).

Check & Connect is a model of sustained intervention for promoting students' engagement with school and learning. Demonstrated outcomes of Check & Connect implementation include 

• decrease in truancy;
• decrease in dropout rates;
• increase in accrual of credits;
• increase in school completion; and
• impact on literacy.

The Check & Connect model originated from a partnership of researchers, practitioners, parents, and students led by the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota.

If you need additional resources or have questions regarding the Check & Connect initiative and training, please contact your Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC).

• Check and Connect Initiative Overview
• Check and Connect: A Comprehensive Student Engagement Intervention - Administrator Overview
• Student Engagement Intervention handout

Vocational Rehabilitation
If you want to work but have a disability that keeps you from finding, keeping, or advancing in a job, VR may be able to help.

Introducing Vocational Rehabilitation Services MO: Simply Said - YouTube

A Transition Guide: To Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities

Missouri Connections
A comprehensive, online, career development and planning program that is provided free of charge to all Missouri citizens. Funded by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, this program supports the career development efforts of schools, community organizations, and adult job seeker programs. Missouri Connections helps individuals learn about their talents, skills, and interests and makes the connection between planning for continued education and the work world.

Missouri Parents Act (MPACT)
Missouri's Parent Training and Information Center, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education and the State of Missouri. The mission is to empower families to advocate for themselves so that children with special needs can reach their full potential in education and life - through support, training, and education.

Missouri Resource Guide - Three Steps to a Better Future
There are many resources available in Missouri to help you and your family move towards a healthier, more stable future. This guide will focus on helpful resources that support three major steps as you work towards a better future: Step 1: Meeting your basic needs; Step 2: Getting the support you need, and; Step 3: Preparing for your career.  

Missouri Resources By County

National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C)
Provides multiple training resources and presentations on postsecondary transition.