10A • November 25, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
Teaching life skills for
smooth adult transitions
For Seaside Signal
HOW IT WORKS
By Katherine Lacaze
For Seaside Signal
Setting high
expectations
The statewide priorities for
implementing post-secondary
transition programs, accord-
ing to Catt, are to decrease
the number of students with
developmental and intellectu-
al disabilities who leave high
school without a diploma and
to increase employment train-
ing and vocational experiences
during school that lead to bet-
ter post-school outcomes.
“We need high expecta-
tions; we know high expec-
tations lead to greater out-
comes,” he said.
Currently, transition plan-
ning is required to begin for
each impacted student starting
at age 16. Services are offered
until the student turns 21,
“with the end result that it’s a
seamless transition to adult-
hood,” Catt said.
The initial process of devel-
oping a transition plan explores
the student’s post-secondary
goals — whether they include
JEREMY CATT
the military, further education
or entering the workforce —
and what transition services
and course study they need to
meet those goals.
“It’s a very comprehensive
process, and we take this part
of our IEPs very seriously,”
Catt said at the September dis-
trict board meeting. “It’s very
individualized on what the
student wants to do and what
they’re able to do.”
Measuring
program success
School districts are now
required to annually com-
plete interviews with all stu-
dents who received special
education services and left
secondary school after the
2014-15 school year to gauge
post-school outcomes. Survey
questions asked if the indi-
viduals are working and how
many hours; if they are con-
nected with outside agencies;
if they have a driver’s license;
if they are receiving appropri-
ate government benefits; and
more.
“Post-school
outcomes
measure how effective our
transition planning and ser-
eomediagroup.com
vices are in preparing students
for life after high school” and
“help us continue to build our
transition program,” Catt said.
The statewide priority for
engagement is 73 percent of
graduates; the district has a
response rate of 82 percent.
The state Department of
Education has identified a
variety of predictors of post-
high school success, including
work study experiences, paid
employment, a high school
diploma, occupational cours-
es, family expectations and
involvement, career aware-
ness, interagency collabora-
tion and self-determination.
“The question is, are we
doing these things and are we
doing them well?” Catt said.
Feedback from surveys
conducted in the spring
showed Seaside students with
intellectual and developmen-
tal disabilities who graduated
in 2015 were working and
generally had the services
they need. The district found,
however, a need to increase
the paid employment for
those students and “we are
always looking at ways to
improve” access to resources,
Catt said.
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of the natural (biological)
parents are permitted to
attend,” Arnoth said. “We
What says “Christmas” always have some form of
more than gifts and a tur- entertainment. This year the
key dinner? Plus a visit Astoria High School Choir
from Santa to boot? That’s will be singing carols. And
why the Foster Children’s of course Santa will make
Christmas Party to be held an appearance, and then we
in December in Seaside is so hand out gifts. Last year we
served 210 people turkey,
important.
Dan Arnoth, the chair- mashed potatoes with gravy,
man of the committee, a green vegetable, cake. It’s
sponsored by the Astoria Ki- a fun, happy, upbeat event.
The kids are always
wanis Club, has been
excited. Many of
involved with the
them are getting gifts
party for a long time.
they would otherwise
“Eighteen years ago
not receive. I have
I was asked to par-
four volunteers who
ticipate in a pot luck
will do the actual gift
dinner with the foster
children and the fos-
Dan
shopping. The wrap-
ter parents of Clat-
ping is done by the
Arnoth
sop County,” Arnoth
Astoria High School
said. “At the time there were Key Club and Seaside and
about 40 foster children in Napa Key Clubs, who all
the system and the event was serve as volunteers.”
held at the Seaside Ameri-
Arnoth explained that the
can Legion.” Since then, the bulk of the funds collect-
number of children in foster ed to make the dinner hap-
care have swelled.
pen comes from the sale of
“Over the years, it’s Christmas trees. “The big-
turned into a full-blown gest money comes from the
Christmas dinner, the kids Safeway in Astoria which
receive gifts, Santa shows begins selling Christmas
up,” Arnoth said. “We serve trees starting the day after
from anywhere to 117 to 125 Thanksgiving,” he said. The
kids, aged newborn to 18 tree sale is sponsored and
years. It’s a cooperative ef- undertaken by the Astoria
fort. We have sponsors from Kiwanis.” He said it costs
the Seaside and Warrenton over $5,000 to make the din-
Rotaries, the Warrenton Ki- ner happen. Donations are
wanis, and the Astoria Ki- always welcome. Donations
wanis. The Astoria Kiwanis can be made to the Asto-
Club is the major sponsor ria Kiwanis Club, P.O. Box
this year, but we also get 209, Astoria OR 97103.
donations from all the area
“I invite the principals of
Lions Clubs and Kiwanis all the schools to come and
Clubs in the area. And the see what we are doing,” Ar-
local high school Key Club noth said. “I want them to
members really help out.”
see how much the kids enjoy
This year the annual it and what a worthy project
event takes place Dec. 12 this is.” He said it’s the kids
in Seaside. Due to the confi- who keep him going. “When
dentiality and security of the you see the look on these
children in the foster system, kids’ faces and what they say
the exact location is not dis- when they sit on Santa’s knee
closed.
… well, that’s everything.”
“The party is for the kids,
Dan Arnoth can be
but their foster families are reached at danarnoth@
also invited. Also some chart.net.
By Eve Marx
Partnerships aid
student transition
New community partner-
ships will help the Seaside
School District better provide
students with intellectual and
developmental disabilities the
life skills to support a smooth
transition to adulthood.
For many years, the school
district has offered post-sec-
ondary transition services that
include individual educational
plans outlining the special ed-
ucation services a child iden-
tified with a disability will re-
ceive as part of his or her free
and appropriate education, ac-
cording to Jeremy Catt, direc-
tor of special services.
“Our focus is on college
and career readiness for all stu-
dents, including students with
disabilities,” he said. “The
goal is to have a plan for their
future as they leave school.”
This year, a main focus for
the post-secondary transition
program — which prepares
students to move from high
school to adult life utilizing
comprehensive planning and
coordinated activities — is to
include more collaboration
with outside agencies and
community participation, Catt
said.
“We want to continue this
development of partnerships,”
which provide for integrated
employment and job skills de-
velopment opportunities, he
added.
Those partnerships include
agencies such as Vocational
Rehabilitation, Youth Tran-
sition Program, Employment
First, Disability Rights Ore-
gon, Families and Commu-
nities Together and the local
transition network facilitator.
Making Christmas
more jolly for
local foster kids
Jeremy Catt believes
strengthening the
collaboration and
communication
among the network
that includes students,
their families,
community partners
and district staff
will result in better
outcomes.
A snapshot of what
this collaboration looks
like is:
• Students
with disabilities
participating in
paid employment
opportunities with
coaching, modeling
and support from
school staff or
representatives from
partnering agencies
• Working on job and
life skills development
at local businesses and
organizations based on
an assessment of the
students’ preferences,
interests and needs;
and receiving direct
instructions in the
community setting
in areas of social
communication,
resume development,
interviewing
skills, safety skill,
independent living
and recreation and
leisure, to name a few.
• The intended
mission of the
transition program,
Catt said, is that
“every student with a
disability will graduate
with the individual
skills needed to
gain competitive
employment and
develop appropriate
independent living
skills in preparation for
a full life.”
Top Brands. Factory-Direct Prices.
Free Coupon Book at Wine & Beer Haus or online,
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kiwanis
trees
will be
For sale
Nov. 29th
when you Get
Your Christmas
Tree Here, the
Proceeds go to
Kiwanis Club,
which puts
kids fi rst!
REGULAR HOURS: Monday-Saturday 10-8, Sunday 10-6
12 TH AVE. & HWY. 101, SEASIDE, OR • 503.717.1603