Volume: 3 Issue: 26 Date: May 30, 2006

In This ISSUE:

1) The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC)

2) Your Employment Selections (YES)
3) Fact Sheet Summarizes Medicaid and SCHIP Eligibility Rules for Immigrants
4) Students in special education win right to take part in graduation

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1) The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) - is a national Technical Assistance and Dissemination Center funded from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010 by the U. S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). NSTTAC's purpose is to assist states in building their capacity to support and improve transition planning, services, and outcomes for youth with disabilities. Toward this goal, NSTTAC will:

* Assist State Education Agencies to collect data on Part B State Performance Plans Indicator 13 and use these data to improve transition services;

Indicator 13: Percent of youth aged 16 and above with an IEP
that includes coordinated, measurable, annual IEP goals and
transition services that will reasonably enable the child to
meet the post-secondary goals. [20 U.S.C. 1416(a)(3)(B)]

* Generate knowledge that provides a foundation for improving transition services;

* Provide capacity building resources to states and local educational agencies; and

* Disseminate information about effective transition education and services.

For more information, telephone 704-687-8606 or visit the website at http://www.nsttac.org


2) Your Employment Selections (YES) - is a job preference and career exploration program for youth and adults with disabilities. The program shows 2 to 4 minutes of video for 120 jobs and is completed at a computer by the participant and facilitator. The YES program is designed to provide participants who have disabilities with information about community jobs, present realistic video from actual job settings, increase choice-making opportunities, and assist with transition planning. The goal is to make youth and adults with disabilities active participants in planning their careers. YES directly addresses the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirement to identify youth's preferences and interests (3 CFR Part B). To view a sampler of the program or to get more information, call TRISPED Projects, Utah State University, toll free at 1-877-722-3991 or visit our website at http://www.yesjobsearch.com


3) Fact Sheet Summarizes Medicaid and SCHIP Eligibility Rules for Immigrants - A new fact sheet from the Foundation's KCMU provides an overview of the current rules on immigrants' eligibility for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. It is available at http://cme.kff.org/Key=10600.TV.G.C.NvJLrV


4) Students in special education win right to take part in graduation - Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill Monday that requires school districts to allow students in special education to participate in graduation at the end of 12th grade, even if their individual education plans keep them in school until age 21. Students will receive something akin to a certificate of completion in lieu of a diploma. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dAxcezkekNwPuZIOAC or http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06124/687157-57.stm