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WELCOME

Welcome to Young Adults in Transition (YAiT)! The Alabama State Department of Education

(ALSDE), Special Education Services (SES) is thrilled that you will be joining other groups across

the state in assisting to develop leadership, self-advocacy, self-determination and other essential

transition skills in students with and without disabilities. Research demonstrates that training in

these skills prior to graduation from high school increases a student’s post-school success

(Wehmeyer and Schwartz, 1997; Wehmeyer & Kelchner, 1995; and Wehmeyer & Palmer, 2003).

YAiT first began during the 2006-2007 school year with a group of five students, who named the

group YAiT. Since that time, groups have been formed throughout the state. We are glad to

welcome you.

In an effort to reach more students and teach them the importance of leadership and self-

advocacy, we are encouraging schools systems throughout our state to develop YAiT groups.

This facilitator’s manual will provide some materials for you to use within your group. Many of the

materials were developed by students in the statewide YAiT group. One request that the Alabama

State Department of Education (ALSDE) has made is that all newly formed groups register (these

forms are found in the YAiT Quick Start Manual) so that we can keep up with all of the YAiT

groups in our state. If you are receiving this manual, we have received your start-up paperwork.

It is critical that we remember to value our high school students with disabilities and to

acknowledge in our day to day practice that it is the student’s life we are impacting, his/her hopes

and dreams. As teachers, we must do everything we can to ensure that they are given the

opportunities to learn about themselves and to take control of their lives. Once given the

opportunity, students will surprise you with what they can do and how much enjoyment they

actually find in planning for their own lives.

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Vision of YAiT

The vision of YAiT is to guide students with disabilities down the right trail to their futures, by bringing the students together with people who have something in common, to learn about self-determination, disability awareness, and self-advocacy.

Identified Goals of YAiT (Developed by Students)

Prepare ourselves for life after high school so we can be successful in the real world.

Learn about ourselves, our abilities and our strengths. We do not need to be embarrassed about our disabilities or afraid to speak out.

Make new friends with whom we have things in common.

Become a voice for others who don’t know or who don’t speak up for themselves.

Inform teachers and make them aware of our concerns.

Apply what we learn through YAiT back at our schools and in planning for our IEP meetings.

Discover and practice our leadership skills.

Use our abilities to go where we want to go.

Things One Learns at YAiT (Identified by Students)

To speak up for yourself

Learn about our rights

Teamwork and how to work with others

To say what you want in your IEP

To set goals and learn how to handle obstacles

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Topics to Teach and Discuss During YAiT

Disability

It is important for students to understand what disability is and why there are such things

as labels. In order for students to be successful, they need to understand what their

disability is and how it affects their learning and day to day activities.

Special Education and IEP

Telling students what special education is and about the different types of services

available allows them to identify what will be most helpful to them. Also, learning about

their IEPs, how they are developed, and the input they themselves should have into their

IEP will help students feel more ownership towards their educational goals.

Transition

It is important for students to understand that transition is an on-going process of

planning for the future. Accessing these services while students are still in school

provides them with the supports and services they need to be prepared for life post-high

school.

Self-determination

In order to fully participate in planning for their futures, students need to have the skills

needed to successfully identify their interests and preferences, make decisions, set

goals, and solve problems. Explicit instruction in self-determination and self-advocacy

helps students to be better prepared to participate in the transition planning process.

Leadership

Being a good leader requires learned skills, but mostly it requires practice. Providing

students with opportunities to have leadership roles will enable them to feel more

comfortable in leadership roles.

Self-advocacy

After students leave high school, they will have to become their own advocates. It is

essential to work with students to teach them how to speak up for what they want and

need.

Knowing Yourself

There is no greater tool in life than knowing who you are, what you want, and how to get

it! Students must understand their strengths and weakness so that they can be equipped

to choose jobs and activities that match their abilities.

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YAiT Membership

Students High School age

Anyone with a disability

Anyone who needs help in school

Someone who is interested in participating and will take the group seriously

Teachers and parents who want to learn about transition services and activities

Facilitators School staff willing to invest the time and energy into the group

Someone who can facilitate and allow the students to take leadership roles

YAiT Meeting Schedule

Each group can determine what meeting schedule will work for them

Consider meeting when other school clubs meet

The group can meet before or after school

Suggested Activities and Events

Games

Field trips

Guest Speakers

Volunteering for community service

Leadership, self-determination, and self-advocacy training

Rules for YAiT

See the next page for a poster version of the rules for YAiT.

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Rules for YAiT

Be on time and show up for

meetings

No making fun of each other

Keep the confidences of others

(what happens in group stays in

group)

Show respect for members and

visitors

Commit to participate in the

group

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Forms

Student Registration Form

Student should complete this form

to provide the YAiT Facilitator with

contact information on the student

and the parent

Used to keep a record of group

members

YAiT Agreement for Participation Form

Students should sign the form

agreeing to commit to participate in

the group

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Student Registration Form

Student Name Phone Number

Parent/Guardian Name Phone Number

Address

Email

School Name

School District

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YAiT

Young Adults in Transition

Agreement for Participation

I. We agree to participate in YAiT to the best of our ability.

II. We promise to try our best to attend all of the meetings and functions.

III. We will be ready to participate and be the best advocates and leaders we can be.

IV. We are committed to improving the lives of young adults with disabilities through leadership and advocacy.

V. We recognize our strengths and gifts and we will try to use them to make our world a friendlier place for people with disabilities.

Student Name Date

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Student Name Date

Agreement for Participation, page 2

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Resources for YAiT

I’m Determined Curriculum

http://www.dev-imdetermined.org.php54-2.dfw1-

2.websitetestlink.com/#sthash.fR5SfrPg.dpbs

A variety of resources for Educators, Youth, and Parents

Youthhood.Org

http://www.youthhood.org/index.asp

Website with resources for youth regarding transition

Zarrow Center at University of Oklahoma

http://www.ou.edu/content/education/centers-and-partnerships/zarrow/trasition-

education-materials.html

Resources links include Me! Lessons for Teaching Self-Awareness and Self-Advocacy,

Student-Directed Transition Planning Lesson Materials, IEP Team Education Module to

Increase Student Involvement, It’s Not Easy, and Whose Future Is It Anyway? 2nd

Edition: A Student-Directed Transition Planning Process.

http://www.ou.edu/content/education/centers-and-

partnerships/zarrow/choicemaker-curriculum.html

The ChoiceMaker Curriculum, which is designed to teach students the self-

determination skills needed to be successful in adult life.

Advertising Your YAiT Group

On the next two pages is a brochure that can be printed and distributed around the

school, or given to certain individuals. The brochure explains what YAiT is and what

might take place at a meeting.

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