Participants: - Louisiana Rehabilitation Services - Acadiana Area Human Service District(OCDD) - Lafayette Business & Career Solutions Center - Families Helping Families - Exiting Pathways Program (LPSS) - Supported Employment vendors - Southwestern Independent Living Center - UL - Lafayette (Disability Services & Admissions) - ARC of Acadiana - LARC - Lafayette Parks & Recreation – Therapeutic Recreation - Affiliated Blind of LA - Airway Home Medical Equipment - DREAMS Foundation - 232-HELP - South Louisiana Community College (Disability Services & Admissions) - Autism Society of Acadiana - Medicaid Purchase Plan - Acadiana Therapeutic Riding Organization | LRS Mission Statement To assist persons with disabilities in their desire to obtain or maintain employment and/or to achieve independence in their communities by providing rehabilitation services and working cooperatively with business and other community resources.
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Purpose of Transition
- starts the student/parent thinking about the future
- identifies current and future needs, interests and preferences
- plans a course of study, to reach dreams and goals
- identifies supports and services needed for success
- ensures learning to the maximum extent appropriate within the
- general
- curriculum and environment

Lafayette Parish Core Team
- Reorganized in 2008
- LRS staff met with LPSS staff to discuss transition issues
- Recruited agencies and vendors to participate in discussion
- Found a need to work together with community partners to provide services to the students of Lafayette parish.

Partners
- Local School system (public and private)
- Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
- Acadiana Area Human Services District (OCDD)
- Families Helping Families
- Community Rehab Providers
- Career Solutions Center / Workforce Investment Board
- Department of Education
- Lafayette Consolidated Government – Therapeutic Recreation
- College / University / Vocational school personnel
- Other community partners

Transition Core Team
- Meets on a quarterly basis
- Networking and sharing information about updates and changes in services
- Facilitating referrals
- Planning Senior Linkage meetings for students
- Sponsoring activities (Resource Fair)

Agency Resource Fair
- Providing resources to students and parents regarding post secondary services
- Held in the Spring semester
- Planning starts in August
- Target Group changes every other year
- Vendor booths, student workshops, parent workshops
- Keynote speaker
- Bingo Card, Door prizes, UL Football team, Music
- Lunch/Refreshments (Pro Start & CBT Class)

Student Workshops - Work Readiness
- Mock Interview
- Recreation / Leisure
- Attitude
- How to Dress for Success
- UL and SLCC information

Parent Workshops
- Benefits Planning (Social Security)
- AAHSD/OCDD services
- Wills and Special Needs Trusts
- Job Placement services
Lafayette Transition
- 7 public high schools, 1 private
- Spoke to staff regarding eligibility criteria and looking for information in school records (IEP, counselor) regarding hidden disabilities
- Fall – coordinate with LPSS transition team to review Senior class list
- Schedule time to coordinate linkage meetings
- LPSS staff contacts teachers and parents
- Fall - IEP meetings held at schools for exiting seniors
- Spring – IEP meetings held for students waiting for testing scores
- Referral is taken if appropriate; appointment will be scheduled.
- Appointments can take place at LRS office and/or school
- Contact with guidance counselors

LRS SERVICES
- Career guidance and counseling
- Job placement
- Supported Employment
- On-The-Job Training (OJT)
- Work readiness Training
- Vo-Tech training
- Community College / University
- Books/Supplies
- Transportation
- Maintenance
- Equipment/Occupational Tools
- Assistive Technology
- Mental/Physical Restoration
- Business & Career Solutions Center
- Virtual One Stop
- Transition staff assist teachers and students to register for account
- Teachers allow classroom time for career exploration
- Field trip to center
- Services: Career exploration, research employers, work readiness skills, job listings

Future Goals
- Disability Job Fair workshops
- Teacher & Guidance Counselor resource fair
- Connect with Career Exploration day with school system
Through the collaborations of the core team meetings, we have been able to develop partnerships with other agencies to establish a common goal for our students of Lafayette Parish.

Contact Information
Sherry Moore, LRS Counselor (Lafayette) 337-262-5353 smoore1@lwc.la.gov Deborah Aymond, Regional Manager (Lafayette) 337-262-5353 daymond@lwc.la.gov Catherine Venable, LPSS Program Supervisor / Transition: 337-521-7222 cbvenable@lpssonline.com
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