FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Monday, June 25, 2007

For More Information Contact:

Jonathan Burman or Tom Dunn at (518) 474-1201

Internet:  http://www.nysed.gov

State Education Department awards $41 million to transition students with disabilities to college and work

         The State Education Department has awarded 60 Model Transition Project grants totaling an anticipated $41 million over the next 3 1/2 years that will benefit students with disabilities at approximately 150 high schools. 

        These awards will create partnerships among high schools, Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), local vocational rehabilitation providers, independent living centers, colleges and universities, and the business community.   Cornell University and The University of Buffalo will join the State Education Department in this initiative.

      Acting State Education Commissioner Kathy Ahearn said, “These Transition Project grants will lead to future jobs for students with disabilities.”

      The 60 awards are distributed across New York State among urban, suburban and rural districts.  Each high school may receive up to $200,000 per year, depending upon the size of the project.  The attached list provides information on each of the awards, some representing large individual schools and others involving joint applications from several smaller schools.             

      The projects will work with high school students to improve the services available through the vocational rehabilitation system to help students move into post-secondary education and other job training opportunities that lead to employment.

     These programs will offer a coordinated set of activities based on individual students' needs, taking into account students' strengths and employment interests. They all include Transition goal related activities, instruction, related services, community experiences, and development of employment and other post school adult living objectives.

     ‘Transition Services’ are a coordinated set of activities resulting in the improvement of academic and functional achievement of students with disabilities thereby facilitating their movement from school to post school activities.

     Activities planned and submitted by participating schools are all evidence based and  include: courses designed to provide assistance and information to disabled youngsters regarding gaining and retaining employment, after school employment internships and work experiences whereby staff "shadow" the students providing appropriate guidance and instruction, work place visitations to varying employment settings, instructional activities by local employers to allow students to experience everyday work obligations.

     Each participating school planned the project along with local community partners such as the local YMCA, Independent Living Centers, community rehabilitation providers, colleges and universities, community centers, and various retail community businesses offering employment in professions ranging from funeral directorship to managing the local bowling alley.

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MODEL TRANSITION PROGRAM (MTP)

Award Winners

June 2007

METRO

URBAN/SUBURBAN

RURAL