2017%2018'

Application'for'Admission'Applications Due Friday, November 4, 2016

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The University of Arizona College of Education

Program'Information'

In!2010!the!University!of!Arizona!College!of!Education!in!collaboration!with!Tucson!Unified!School!District’s!Community!Transition!Program!developed!a!unique!dualGenrollment!transition!option!for!students,!ages!18G21,!who!have!intellectual!disabilities!that!is!now!available!to!all!Pima!County.!Project!FOCUS!(Focusing!Opportunities!with!Community!and!University!Support)!is!a!twoGyear!program!designed!to!support!accessibility!to!the!University!of!Arizona’s!academic!offerings,!campus!environments!and!college!life!in!order!to!increase!each!student’s!selfGreliance,!community!engagement,!and!employability.'

To!accomplish!this!goal,!Project!FOCUS,!with!the!assistance!of!collaborating!partners,!provides!highly!trained!instructional!staff,!individualized!materials,!stateGofGtheGart!technology,!and!onGcampus!internships!and!career!training.!!!

Project(FOCUS(is(no(longer(restricted(to(just(students(from(Tucson(Unified(School(District.(Students(from(all(Pima(County(school(districts(can(now(apply.(

Project(FOCUS(was(originally(funded(by(a(5Ayear(model(demonstration(grant.((Currently,(the(staff(of(Project(FOCUS(are(developing(a(long(term(sustainable(financial(plan.((Applicants(should(be(advised(the(final(decision(of(the(continuation(of(Project(FOCUS(for(the(2017A2018(school(year(will(be(made(in(late(March(2017.(

Participants'Students!with!intellectual!disabilities,!ages!18G21,!currently!enrolled!in!a!Pima!County!school!district!and!who!meet!programmatic!criteria!will!have!the!opportunity!to!apply!for!Project!FOCUS!for!the!2017G2018!school!year.!'

Program'Structure'Project!FOCUS!provides!support!for!fully!inclusive!academic!opportunities!at!the!University!of!Arizona!for!students!with!intellectual!disabilities.!Each!student!in!Project!FOCUS!will!receive!instructional!support!to!attend!University!of!Arizona!courses!totaling!a!minimum!of!25!credits!over!2!years!resulting!with!a!Certificate!in!Service!Learning.!The!program!will!begin!one!week!prior!to!the!start!of!the!University!of!Arizona’s!2017G2018!fall!semester!and!will!follow!the!University!of!Arizona’s!academic!calendar.!!Student’s!academic!and!support!needs!will!be!individualized!through!Person!Centered!Planning!(PCP)!to!occur!prior!to!the!start!of!the!fall!semester.!!In!addition!to!coursework,!students!will!be!provided!with!instructional!and!peer!mentor!support!related!to!campus!life,!internships,!and!opportunities!to!increase!overall!independence.!!An!iPad!will!be!loaned!to!those!students!who!do!not!own!their!own!and!will!be!used!as!an!instructional!tool!by!the!student!while!attending!Project!FOCUS.!!

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The University of Arizona College of Education

Program'Costs'Vocational!Rehabilitation!(VR)!is!a!collaborating!partner!with!Project!FOCUS.!!All!accepted!students!must!apply!and!be!determined!eligible!for!VR!services!prior!to!beginning!the!program.!!Student!who!do!not!qualify!for!VR!services!are!not!eligible!to!participate!!All!students,!families!or!stakeholders!are!required!to!pay!the!$50!admission’s!application!fee!and!$25!CatCard!fee!to!the!University!of!Arizona.!!These!fees!are!not!covered!by!VR.!Some!courses!may!have!additional!fees!or!required!materials!that!are!also!the!responsibility!of!the!students,!family!or!stakeholders.!

Admission'Process'Project!FOCUS’s!admission!process!occurs!in!three!phases:!

Phase!One:! Application!Phase!Two:! Comprehensive!Review!Process!Phase!Three:! Selection!and!Enrollment!

Admission'Process'Phase'One:''Application'The!2017G2018!Project!FOCUS!Application!for!Admission!is!the!first!step!in!identifying!students!who!may!be!viable!candidates!for!Project!FOCUS.!The!application!includes!five!parts:!

1. a!student!information!form;2. basic!eligibility!checklist;3. general!skills!form;4. personal!essay;!and5. two!letters!of!recommendation!(one!personal!and!one!professional).

Applications!that!do!not!include!each!of!these!components!will!not!be!considered.!Optional!materials!may!also!be!submitted!(see!personal!essay!section).!

Admission'Process'Phase'Two:'Comprehensive'Review'

The!Comprehensive!Review!is!the!second!phase!designed!to!gain!practical!information!that!supports!a!candidate’s!potential!for!success!in!Project!FOCUS.!This!2Gstep!process!begins!with!an!observation!of!the!student!in!their!current!educational!setting.!The!specific!location!for!the!educational!setting!observation!is!determined!by!the!student’s!IEP!team!and!may!be!take!place!in!the!high!school!classroom,!high!school!campus,!community,!volunteer!or!work!settings.!

The!second!step!will!be!conducted!at!the!University!of!Arizona!and!will!follow!a!specific,!planned!sequence!for!each!candidate!and!parent/stakeholder.!Students!will!be!supported!and!assessed!within!activities!in!academic!and!nonGacademic!settings.!!While!the!student!is!engaged!in!the!activities,!a!parent/family/stakeholder!interview!will!be!conducted!by!a!panel!comprised!of!members!of!the!FOCUS!team!and!will!include!specific!questions!designed!to!ensure!that!the!student’s!success!will!be!supported!through!a!shared!philosophy!of!inclusive!academic!environments!and!an!understanding!of!the!demands!of!higher!education!with!the!final!goal!of!integrated!employment!at!minimum!wage!or!better.!

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The University of Arizona College of Education

Admission'Process'Phase'Three:'Selection'and'Enrollment'

All'candidates'will'be'notified'by'phone'and'in'writing'of'their'final'selection'status'on'or'

before'Wednesday,'December'21,'2016.!Once!a!candidate!has!been!selected!for!Project!FOCUS,!a!person!centered!planning!meeting!will!be!scheduled!and!conducted!in!order!to!prepare!for!coursework,!learning!objectives,!necessary!supports,!instructional!strategies!and!materials!that!may!be!needed.!!This!process!will!also!identify!academic!and!career!interests!that!will!directly!lead!to!the!selection!of!courses.!

The'application'must'be'submitted'no'later'than'4:00'p.m.'Friday,'November'4,'

2016'and'will'include'the'following'content:'

1. student!information2. basic!eligibility3. personal!essay4. personal!letter!of!recommendation5. two!professional!letters!of!recommendation

Completed'applications'can'be'sent'by'email,'dropped'off'or'mailed'to'the'following'address:'

Dr.!Stephanie!MacFarland!Director,!Teacher!Preparation!in!Severe!and!Multiple!Disabilities!Director,!Project!FOCUS!Dept.!of!Disability!and!Psychoeducational!Studies!P.O.!Box!210069!College!of!Education,!Office!435!The!University!of!Arizona!Tucson,!AZ!85721G0069!

szm@email.arizona.edu!Phone:!(520)!621G5165!FAX:!!(520)!621G3821!

For'more'information'about'the'application'process,'please'email'Colleen'Middleton'at'

coco@email.arizona.edu''or'call'(520)'440%6938.'

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The University of Arizona College of Education

1. Student!Information

Referral'

Student'Information'

Person!Making!Referral! If!other!than!student,!relationship!to!student.!

Cell!Phone!Number! Work!Phone!

Home!Phone! Best!Number!to!Call!

EGmail!Address!#1!

EGmail!Address!#2!

Student’s!Name! Current!High!School/School!District!

Date!of!Birth! Own!Guardian!(yes/no)?!

Cell!Number! Home!Phone!Number!

Current!Mailing!Address!(Street,!City,!State,!Zip)!

EGmail!Address!

!

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The University of Arizona College of Education !

Parent/Guardian/Stakeholder'Information'

!

'

Release'of'Information'

If'the'student'is'own'guardian:'

By!signing,!I!agree!that!members!of!the!Project!FOCUS!Selection!Team!can!have!access!to!my!student!records,!all!content!of!this!application,!and!may!speak!with!family!members,!stakeholders,!school!and!agency!personnel!as!a!part!of!my!application!review.!

!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! student!signature! ! ! ! ! ! ! date!

If'the'student'is'not'own'guardian:'

By!signing,!I!agree!that!members!of!the!Project!FOCUS!Selection!Team!can!have!access!to!my!daughter/son’s!student!records,!all!content!of!this!application,!and!may!speak!with!family!members,!stakeholders,!school!and!agency!personnel!as!a!part!of!daughter/son’s!application!review.!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! parent/guardian!signature! ! ! ! ! ! date!

!

Name! Relationship!to!Student!

Current!Mailing!Address!(Street,!City,!State,!Zip)!

Cell!Phone! Work!Phone!

Home!Phone! Best!Number!to!Call!

EGmail!Address!#1!!

EGmail!Address!#2!

!

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The University of Arizona College of Education !

!

2. Project!FOCUS!Eligibility!Checklist!!All'of'the'following'items'are'required'for'basic'eligibility.'As'the'referring'party,'please'check'

all'that'apply.'Any'deliberate'misrepresentation'of'information'can'result'in'a'student’s'

ineligibly'for'Project'FOCUS.'

! Student!is!currently!enrolled!in!a!high!school!in!Pima!County.!

! Student!is!18!years!old!on!or!before!the!first!day!of!the!University!of!Arizona’s!academic!

year,!August!21,!2017!

! Student!has!documentation!of!an!Intellectual!Disability.!

! Student!has!a!continued!need!to!fulfill!high!school!graduation!requirements!in!core!credit!

areas.!

! Student!and!family/guardian!or!stakeholder’s!goal!is!integrated!competitive!employment.!

! Student!demonstrates!a!willingness!to!change!behaviors,!learn!new!skills,!and!become!

independent.!

! Student!demonstrates!a!desire!to!attend!University!of!Arizona!classes!and!to!be!on!campus!

full!time.!

! Student!is!medically!stable.!

! Student!has!had!minimal!or!no!absences!during!the!two!most!recent!semesters.!!

! Student!has!not!demonstrated!aggressive!behaviors!towards!others!during!the!two!most!

recent!semesters.!

! Student!is!able!to!attend!to!tasks.!! Student!is!able!to!be!in!quiet!University!of!Arizona!environments,!including!classrooms,!for!

up!to!two!hours!without!being!loud!or!disruptive.!

! Student!is!able!to!demonstrate!or!express!interests!consistent!with!University!of!Arizona!

academic!courses.!

! Student!is!able!to!begin!Project!FOCUS!on!August!16,!2017,!one!week!prior!to!the!start!of!the!University!of!Arizona’s!fall!academic!calendar.!

!

!

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The University of Arizona College of Education !

!

! If!accepted!into!Project!FOCUS,!the!student,!family!or!stakeholders!are!able!to!provide!the!

$50!admission’s!application!fee,!a!$25!CatCard!fee!to!the!University!of!Arizona,!and!any!

additional!costs!related!to!coursework!(e.g.,!tickets!to!required!events,!shoes!for!jazz!class,!

supplies!for!art!class,!etc.),!required!shoes,!pants!and!shirts!for!internship.!!

! Student,!family,!or!stakeholders!will!apply!for!VR!services!in!order!to!participate!in!the!

program!be!considered!for!financial!support!for!tuition!and!fees!

! In!the!event!that!the!student!does!not!qualify!for!VR!services!they!will!not!be!able!to!participate!in!Project!FOCUS.!

!

If'any'of'the'items'above'are'not'checked,'please'explain'below:'

!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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The University of Arizona College of Education !

General!Skills!

Transportation'

Although'students'are'not'required'to'be'independent'in'community'travel'in'order'to'be'

eligible'for'Project'FOCUS,'increasing'independent'travel'is'an'area'of'emphasis'for'students'

to'become'integrated'within'campus'life'and'the'community.''Family'or'stakeholders'are'

expected'to'be'supportive'of'this'process.'Please'check'all'that'currently'apply'to'the'

student’s'current'transportation'status:''

'

! I!use!public!transportation!independently!(Sun!Tran).!

! I!am!willing!to!learn!how!to!use!public!transportation!independently!(Sun!Tran).!

! I!use!doorGtoGdoor!or!paratransit!systems!(e.g.,!HandiGCar,!Sun!Van,!taxi).!!

! I!can!independently!make!my!own!reservations!for!doorGtoGdoor!or!paratransit!systems.!!

! I!need!assistance!in!making!reservation!for!doorGtoGdoor!or!paratransit!systems.!

! I!have!a!family!member!or!others!who!provide!ongoing!private!transportation!for!me.!

! In!order!to!become!more!independent,!I!would!like!to!explore!options!other!than!private!

transportation.!!

! I!have!a!current!SunGo!Identification!card.!

! I!have!a!state!issued!identification!card.!

! I!can!currently!cross!intersections!with!pedestrian!signals!safely!and!unassisted.!

! I!want!to!learn!how!to!independently!cross!intersections!with!pedestrian!signals.!!

! I!can!currently!cross!intersections!that!do!not!have!pedestrian!signs!safely!and!unassisted.!

! I!want!to!learn!how!to!independently!cross!intersections!without!pedestrian!signals.!!

! I!can!currently!move!independently!and!safely!in!a!parking!lot!or!garage.!

! I!want!to!learn!how!to!be!independent!in!successfully!following!routes!within!the!

University!of!Arizona!campus!(e.g.!classes,!student!union,!rec!center,!library)!

!

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The University of Arizona College of Education !

Employment'

Please'check'all'that'apply.'

'

! I!currently!or!have!had!a!paid!job.!

Employer'#1:! ! ! ! ! ! ! Hours!per!week! ! !

Supervisor!! ! ! ! ! ! ! Phone!#! ! ! !

My!primary!responsibilities!are! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! I!currently!or!have!volunteered!at!one!or!more!community!agencies:!

Site'#1!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Hours!per!week! ! !

Supervisor!! ! ! ! ! ! ! phone!#! ! ! !

My!primary!responsibilities!are! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Site'#2! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Hours!per!week! ! !

Supervisor!! ! ! ! ! ! ! phone!#! ! ! !

My!primary!responsibilities!are! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

!

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The University of Arizona College of Education !

Personal'Care'

Although!students!are!not!required!to!be!independent!in!all!aspects!of!their!life!in!order!to!be!eligible!for!Project!FOCUS,!increasing!overall!independence!is!an!area!of!emphasis!for!students!to!become!integrated!within!campus!life.!!Please!check!all!that!apply:!

! I!take!medication!and!am!able!to!do!so!without!supervision!or!support!of!any!kind.!

! I!take!medication!but!need!support!(describe!support!needed).!

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! I!am!able!to!use!the!bathroom!independently!(including!knowing!when!to!access!the!restroom).!

! I!need!support!in!the!bathroom!(describe!support!needed).!

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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! I!am!able!to!manage!stress!or!navigate!stimulating!environments!on!my!own.!

! I!need!support!to!manage!stress!or!navigate!stimulating!environments!(describe!supports!needed).!

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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The University of Arizona College of Education !

!Communication'

Students!may!use!one!or!more!forms!of!effective!communication!when!interacting!with!new!

people.!Effective!communication!is!an!essential!skill!for!selfGdetermination.!Please!check!all!

methods!you!are!currently!using!to!communicate!successfully.!!

! verbal!(list!languages)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! written!

! sign!language!

! augmentative!communication!device!including!mobile!technology!(please!list!all!devices!

that!are!currently!being!used!successfully)!! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! pictures,!photos,!or!drawings!(describe)! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! pointing!

! facial!expression,!body!language!(please!describe)! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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! behavior!(please!describe)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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The University of Arizona College of Education !

Personal'Essay!Please!write!and!attach!a!personal!essay!that!answers!each!of!the!following!questions:!

a. How!will!attending!the!University!of!Arizona!fulfill!a!dream!or!goal!I!have!for!myself!(or!

that!my!family!has!for!me)?!

b. How!will!attending!the!University!of!Arizona!encourage!me!(or!my!daughter/son)!to!

achieve!greater!levels!of!independence?!

c. How!will!attending!the!University!of!Arizona!improve!my!(or!my!daughter/son’s)!quality!of!

life?!

d. How!will!attending!the!University!of!Arizona!provide!me!(or!my!daughter/son)!with!

greater!employment!opportunities?!

Students!are!encouraged!to!submit!an!essay!through!their!own!writing,!drawings,!pictures,!

photos!or!other!alternative!means!of!written!expression.!When!necessary,!essays!can!also!be!written!by!family!members!or!other!stakeholders.!!!

Optional'(encouraged'but'not'required)'

Up!to!10!photos!of!the!student!engaged!in!instructional!activities,!school!or!community!events,!current!or!past,!can!be!included.!

• A!Student!Portfolio!in!print!or!digital!format!can!be!included.!

• A!video,!2!minute!maximum,!can!be!included.!

Letters'of'Recommendation'

All!applications!must!include!a!personal!and!a!professional!letter!of!recommendation.!!!! Personal!Letter!of!Recommendation:!A!personal!letter!of!recommendation!can!be!written!

by!a!friend,!family!member,!neighbor!or!any!other!person!who!has!a!primary!personal!

relationship!with!the!applicant.!The!letter!should!specifically!address!the!student’s!

character,!skills,!and!potential.!!

! Professional!Letter!of!Recommendation:!A!professional!letter!of!recommendation!can!be!

written!by!a!teacher,!employer,!coach!or!any!other!person!who!has!a!primary!professional!

relationship!with!the!applicant.!The!letter!should!specifically!address!the!student’s!

character,!skills,!and!potential.!

Please'limit'letters'of'recommendation'to'a'single'page.''Letters'must'be'dated'and'signed.'