The Transition Project
Made possible by an ArcUS/Walmart Transition Grant with additional support from the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, the Danversbank Charitable Foundation, the City of Gloucester Community Development Block Grant Program, the Gordon Foundation, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and the Van Otterloo Family Foundation    

The Northeast Arc Transition project is open to students between the ages of 14-22, and their families, who want help with transition planning. Emphasis is on self-direction and the development of self advocacy skills. We use a person-centered planning model to help participants to develop a Life Plan that to assist them with their transition.

The Transition Project is currently serving over 59 students from 12 communities.

These are some of our highlights for the past year:

• Thanks to generous support from the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, we were able to provide job coaching and mentoring services for over 25 young people enrolled in the project. Additionally, we coordinated state wide trainings for  MRC vocational counselors who wanted to learn more about autism spectrum disorders and the impact it has on an individual looking for adult services.

• We have developed successful collaborations with area school districts to assist them in providing effective transition services for their students. Several of the school districts are actively involved with our Advisory Panel which meets regularly to guide the project.

• We have an active Self Advocacy Group with over 10 student members who meet regularly. They have engaged in activities such as panel discussions, community service projects, and a Red Cross First–Aid class.

• This spring several parents participated in a Sexuality Awareness Training conducted by an area public health professional. This fall  we developed the “Teen Zone”, an opportunity for our participants to openly discuss sexuality and relationships and learn about sexual health.

• We work closely with our Day Service Division to provide assessments, Employment Readiness, Training and Competitive Employment Supports for our participants. 

For more information:

Please contact Kathy Kelly (Director of Transition Services) at:
kkelly@ne-arc.org or 978-624-2342.

Visit these websites for transition Information:

www.do2learn.com

www.school2life.org

www.going-to-college.org

www.ncset.org

http://www.dlc-ma.org/manual/

http://labs.umassmed.edu/transitionsRTC/resources/publications.html

 

For more on Transition- to- Work, including vocational assessment, job coaches and other employment supports click here.