Regional Center for Independent Living

1
Regional Center for Independent Living
Community Partnership Program

• Youth Transition
• Y.I.E.L.D.
• Program

2
The Future

• We will not tolerate another generation of young
  people with disabilities going through segregated
  education, segregated society, being dependent on
  their parents and public aid. We can make a
  difference in their future.
• Ed Roberts

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Current Partners

• What Independent Living Skill training sessions
• Who Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES Model
  Transition Program
• Contact Lesley C. Owens-Pelton, MS Ed, CAS, JD.
• Model Transition Program, Team Leader
• Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES
• 111 Drumlin Court Newark, NY, 14513
• P 315-332-7315 F 315-332-7343
• lcowensp_at_wflboces.org

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RCIL Mission Statement

• To empower people with disabilities to self
  advocate, to live independently, and to enhance
  the quality of community life.
• We seek to overcome the barriers faced by people
  with disabilities who chose to live independently
  in their chosen community.

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Services Provided by RCIL

• Benefits Advisement
• Accessibility Coordination
• Independent Living Skills Training
• Educational Advocacy
• Assistive Technology through TRAID Project
• OMRDD Waiver Application Assistance
• Information Referral
• Transition Planning
• Family Support Sessions

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Benefits Advisement

• Provide information and support to persons
  navigating benefit options. This includes Social
  Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental
  Security Income (SSI), SSD and SSI Work
  Incentives such as Plan to Achieve Self Support
  (PASS), 1619B Extended Medicaid coverage, Food
  Stamps, and Public Assistance.

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Accessibility Coordination

• Assisting people with disabilities who want to
  make changes in their environment to make it
  accessible to their needs. Increased focus on
  easier, low-cost ways to provide ramps and other
  environmental modifications. This service is also
  provided to businesses within the community.

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Independent Living Skills Training

• Offering workshops, 11 meetings, and group
  sessions discussing Independent Living (IL)
  skills and available community based services.

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Educational Advocacy

• Assisting students, educators and family members
  in a variety of processes relating to the
  educational experience including
• Individual Education Plan (IEP) Meetings and
  individual advocacy,
• Obtaining necessary Assistive Technology
  evaluations and equipment.

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Educational Advocacy II

• Assisting students in exploration of post
  secondary educational opportunities of their
  choosing.
• Assisting with College / Trade School Application
  process.
• Assisting student in obtaining appropriate
  accommodation on the college campus.

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Assistive Technology / TRAID

• RCIL staff member will work with student,
  educators, OT /PT professionals in their
  completion of evaluations and to explore options
  to obtain appropriate AT materials and items.
• Equipment Loan Closet program provides students
  and others the opportunity to test equipment
  before purchase. Such items include computer
  programs, walkers, switches.

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Waiver Application Assistance

• Information on the eligibility criteria of the
  Waivers Application process can be provided to
  the students upon request / referral.
• RCIL staff are available to assist students with
  the application process if they are interested
  and eligible for the OMRDD Waiver program.

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Information and Referral

• The RCIL Youth Transition program staff consists
  of six members. All having experience with
  barriers faced by person with a disability as
  100 of the Youth Transition Team at RCIL are
  persons with a disability. We will provide
  information on requested topics, assist you
  personally in your exploration of topics, or make
  referrals to appropriate community
• based service providers.

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Transition Planning

• Transition is described as a change, shift or
  alteration. Human beings experience many
  transitions throughout our life spans. Planning
  for an expected transition can increase the
  likelihood of success in the transition.
• Unexpected transitions are also a reality. The
  planning process for these situations occurs
  after the actual event causing the transition to
• be necessary. Both situations require
  planning.

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Family Support Sessions

• In addition to the supports and services provided
  to students of Wayne Finger Lakes B.O.C.E.S.
  RCIL can also provide support services to
  educators, administrators, and parents / family
  members of the students we serve. Group and 11
  sessions can be scheduled with a variety of
  professional providers and RCIL / CDR
  department staff.

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Recreational / Social Activities

• RCILs partner agency, The Center for Disability
  Rights, Inc. (CDR) having offices in Rochester,
  Geneva, Albany, and Washington, D.C. operates a
  Drop In Center in Rochester for persons over
  eighteen who are interested in social,
  recreational, and advocacy events.
• Monthly activity calendars can be provided via
  mail, email, or phone line.

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Transition from High School

• Whats Next???
• What are the interest areas of each individual
  student?
• College? - What are the options?
• Employment? What are the options?
• Independent Living? What are the option?
• Financial / Benefits? What are the options?

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Transition from High School

• A college degree is an investment in YOU
• Increased Employment options
• Increased Earnings potential
• Pride in YOUR accomplishment

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Exploration

• RCIL Youth Transition Team will assist each
  referred student on an individual basis at
  intake.
• Exploring interests, discussion plans and dreams.
• Getting to know each student and their
  aspirations

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Discussions

• Future discussions can take place in
• 11 meetings with YT staff and student
• Group sessions with YT staff and students
• Group sessions with YT staff and many
  combinations of attendees requested by the
  student.
• At School
• In the community
• RCIL office location

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Take Action

• Planning for the future is necessary in all of
  our lives. But it doesnt stop there.
• RCIL Youth Transition team members are here to
  assist students in transition planning, we will
  not to do it for you.
• Personal investment in any situation is paramount
  to achievement.
• Thus, All planning is student driven and based on
  student interest.

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Y.I.E.L.D.

• Youth for Integration through Education,
  Leadership and Discovery.
• The entire Youth Transition program at RCIL is
  based on our belief that people with disabilities
  are more likely to become leaders and to
  participate in mainstream workforce development
  activities if they have a strong sense of their
  disability culture and pride.

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Contact Information

• The Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL)
  Youth Transition Program staff can be reached at
  
• 34 Castle Street Geneva, NY 14456
• (315) 789 1800 (V/TTY)
• 497 State Street Rochester, NY 14608 (585) 442
  6470 (V/TTY)
• kclark_at_rcil.org