Planning the Recipe for Success: High School to College Transition Conference

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Transition conference for high school students with disabilities bound for college, educating on differences between high school and college, accommodations, self-advocacy, and debunking common myths. The conference aims to prepare students and parents for a successful transition to college life.

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Planning the Recipe for Planning the Recipe for Success: High School to Success: High School to College Transition College Transition Conference Conference CARRIE ELIZABETH BLAKESLEY SNYDER, MSW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY

What is Recipe for Success? Transition conference for high school students with disabilities who are college bound Educates students, parents, and high school staff about the differences between high school and college Accommodations Requesting accommodations DSS vs resource room Discusses self-advocacy

Why host a transition conference? Students (and parents) often come to college with unrealistic expectations Thinking IEPs carry over Assuming someone else will set up their accommodations They ve been told NOT to identify as having a disability (some schools even declassify students prior to graduation) Traditional college fairs are not geared toward disability Students may not feel comfortable asking disability related questions Representatives may not have answers if questions are asked Some students have been told that college isn t a realistic goal

Timeline Pick date (and snow date) (1 year before) Monthly meetings start (7 months before) Determine workshops (6-7 months before) Determine subcommittees (7 months before) Email Save the Date to potential participants (5-6 months before) Finalize schedule (3 months before) Book rooms (2-3 months before depending on your institution s policies)

Timeline, contd Book catering (2-3 months before depending on your institution s policies) Email registration materials (2-3 months before) Prepare evaluations (1 month before) Close registration (1 week before) Setup (1 day before) Send thank you emails/notes (2-3 weeks after) Post PowerPoints/send conference evaluations (4-6 weeks after due to technical difficulties)** **See Lessons Learned slide

Timeline contd Subcommittees start meeting (6 months before) Recruit students for panel Registration Giveaways Secure donations for snacks Recruit presenters Recruit exhibitors Recruit volunteers Registration table Room hosts Exhibitor hosts/floaters Snack distribution Determine schedule

Partners Local colleges Public Private 2 year 4year Service providers Voc-rehab Independent Living Centers High Schools Transition Counselors

Small Group Discussion: Potential Partners In small groups, discuss potential colleges, service providers/agencies from your area with which you could partner

The Recipe for Recipe for Success A Recipe for College Success Take a college bound student Marinate in strong academic preparation Season with family and school support Gradually add advanced planning over several years Blend with knowledge of available resources & supports Mold into a successful, well-educated individual It s ALL in the PLANNING!!!!!

Blend with knowledge of available resources and supports At our conference, this consists of: Exhibitors Workshops Student Panel

Recipe for Success Recipe for Success - -Sample Conference Schedule Sample Conference Schedule 8:30-11:30 8:30 9:15 9:15 9:30 9:30 9:35 9:35 10:20 Assistive Technology Lab Room 1 Disability Services Room 2 ACCES-VR/NYSCB Room 3 College Admissions Room 4 Exhibitor Fair Conference Check in Welcome Move to session 1 Session 1

Recipe for Success Recipe for Success - -Sample Conference Schedule Sample Conference Schedule cont d cont d 10:20 10:30 10:30 11:15 Assistive Technology Lab Room 1 Self-Advocacy/Wellness Room 2 Life as a College Student Room 3 Financial Aid Room 4 11:15 11:20 Move to final session 11:20 12:05 Student Panel Discussion Snacks and move to session 2 Session 2

Exhibitors Are already set up when participants arrive and available throughout the morning Include partners and not-for-profit service providers Give students and families an opportunity to interact with admissions representatives and service providers and talk about disability related issues without feeling self-conscious

Who were our exhibitors? ACCESS-VR College of St. Rose Disability Rights New York Hudson Valley Community College Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, Inc. NYS Commission for the Blind Northeast Career Planning Supported Education Program Schenectady County Community College Siena College SUNY Cobleskill University at Albany

Workshops ACCES-VR/NYSCB (NYS Voc-Rehab agencies) Assistive Technology College Admissions Financial Aid Life As a College Student Self-advocacy and Wellness Understanding Disability Services in College -See Workshop Descriptions Handout -PowerPoints Available at: UAlbany DRC New/Prospective Students [click on Recipe for Success (+)]

Student Panel All current college students Cross-disability From various types of colleges: 2 year and 4 year Private and public Commuters and students living on campus Begins with introductions and a starter question, then open it up Allows student attendees to ask questions anonymously

Sample Student Panel Questions, contd Starter question: Biggest difference between high school and college? (Some answers ) How accommodations are provided Workload and time management Downtime between classes Parties

Sample Student Panel Questions Student submitted questions: What do you do if professors don t want to accommodate you? How do you balance working on or off campus and classes? Do you tell people about your (invisible) disability? What was the hardest adjustment as a student with a disability? How did you choose a college? What about clubs? Where do you go for help?

Small Group Discussion: Potential Workshops In small groups, discuss potential workshops which you could offer

Assessment Evaluations given at the end of each session Students given ticket for each eval turned in Before student panel, tickets drawn for prizes of donated giveaways Overall conference evaluation sent to school contacts via email after conference (see Lessons Learned slide) Evaluations included in handouts

Assessment, contd Some results: Assistive Tech and Self-Advocacy and Wellness 100% strongly agree/agree on all questions Students enjoyed hands on with AT Disability Services 97% strongly agree/agree on all except one question 74% strongly agree/agree vs. 26% disagree/strongly disagree for typical day for commuter/residential student Student College Life 90%+ strongly agree/agree on all Requests to be more interactive

Assessment, contd More results: ACCES-VR/NYSCB (VOC Rehab) 85%+ strongly agree/agree on all Admissions 80%+ strongly agree/agree on all Student Panel 78% strongly agree/agree on all except one question 75% strongly agree/agree vs 25% disagree/strongly disagree for a student on the panel with a similar disability to mine Financial Aid 75% strongly agree/agree on all except one question 70% strongly agree/agree vs 30% disagree/strongly disagree for I know what TAP stands for how it is affected if my disability prevents me from attending full-time

Lessons Learned Schools operate around times they can get buses Snow dates are a MUST in upstate New York! Students need bribes (giveaways) to complete evals Giveaways also help with participation Waiting until after the conference to send out conference evals was not a good idea only 4/15 school districts responded The student panel worked better as a stand alone session The more, the merrier and too many cooks don t spoil the broth