Building Capacity:

Using the Institute Model

Paula Kohler and Catherine Fowler, NSTTACKim Nickerson, Oklahoma State Department of

EducationBrook Knapp, Arkansas Department of Education

National SecondaryTransition TechnicalAssistance Center

Mission –Three Components

• Generate knowledge

• Build capacity

• Disseminate information

Levels of Effort

• Some resources available to all states

• Work with “selected states” to build their capacity

• Work with selected local sites within selected states

nsttac’s Model for Extending Transition Research

Effective Transition Practices

Increase Capacity to Implement Effective Transition Practices

Facilitate Implementation of Effective Transition

Practices

Data Collection

Professional Development

Policy Analysis and

Change

Technical Assistance

A Self-Determination Model

Modify Our Goals

Reflect on How and What We are Doing

Determine Our Strengths and Needs

Set Goals

Develop Plans and Implement

Identify and Seek Support

Assess Our Progress

nsttac’s Self-Determination Model:Levels of Focus

State Region or District

School

Review data

Determine needs

Build capacity

Measure progress

Our Process

• Reflection

• Identification of strengths and needs

• Planning

• Increased capacity

• Improved practices

State &

Local Focus

Oklahoma Transition Institute (OTI)

NSTTAC Forum

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 through Friday, May 4, 2007

Kim Nickerson, Project Coordinator,State Personnel Development Grant

How did we get here?

• External individuals proposed a plan years ago.

• Developed a plan at a Summit in 2005.

• Development of the Oklahoma Transition Council—lots of key players

• Learning from Dr. James Alarid, Dr. Ginger Blalock, and Dr. Paula Kohler

• Support from the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Department of Rehabilitation, and Department of Career and Technology Education.

How did we plan our Institute?

• Consideration of Transition Taxonomy.

• Numerous Council meetings.

• Regional teams arranged in CareerTech areas, organized by Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors.

• Team registration—not individual.

• Facilitator Training.

What did we do at the Institute?

• Keynote/overview by Dr. Kohler and Dr. Blalock.

• Team meetings.

• Breakout sessions.

• Keynote presentation about Oklahoma forms.

• Student panel

• Student-led IEP

• Facilitator debrief.

What plans did teams develop?

• Basic

– Goal: Recruit members to build an effective transition council.

– Goal: Increase information sharing among IEP team members.

– Goal: Increase local capacity and to increase team members.

What plans did teams develop?• Intermediate

– Goal: Students will advocate, provide input and fully participate in their IEP process.

– Goal: Foster more parent and student involvement and participation in transition planning through incentives.

• Specific Goal-Related Activities:– Informational meeting–invite local agencies,

support staff.

– Student and parent transition guide.

– Transition reception.

What plans did teams develop?

• Advanced– Goal: Connect school personnel at different levels

(age 0 to 21) with local transition agencies, individuals, or programs.

• Specific Goal-Related Activities:– Provide parents, communities, schools with timeline

of services and supports, timeframe May 2007, responsible person ‘Team’.

– Cross training of personnel from different agencies on for the core special education team, timeframe ongoing May 2006 to May 2007, responsible person ‘Team’.

– Meet with core groups, timeframe May 17, 2006, responsible person ‘Team’.

What did we do after the Institute?

• Regional Meetings

– One day at eight CareerTech locations across the state.

– Videoconference keynote.

– Pre-recorded Info briefs instead of breakouts.

– Facilitated team meetings by Council members.

• Revisited previous team plan, identified accomplishments, and continued to further develop.

What have we learned?• Plan, plan, plan!

– We are purchasing USB drives for each team leader.– All tools will be on the USB drive.– Teams will save their plans on the drives and submit to

us as they present.

• Start out slowly with easy-to-use team planning tools.

• Have enough space for each team to meet.

• Teams need resources and supports—from Council members and financial/material.

What have we learned?

• Teams are at different developmental levels.

• Not many teams integrated taxonomy areas into plans.

• Pulling it off is a team effort.

• Integrate the planning and programs into the work you do (e.g., SPDG).

What are we doing now?

• Second Annual Institute.

• Teams will attend and present at Council meetings.

• Council members will be assigned teams to support.

• Teams will attend and present at Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council meetings.

• In-depth training and support will be provided for two teams each year (SPDG).

• Financial support will be provided for two teams each summer (SPDG).

Contact Information

Kim Nickerson, Project Coordinator

State Personnel Development Grant

Oklahoma State Department of Education

Special Education Services

2500 North Lincoln Boulevard, Room 412

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

(405) 521-4869

<Kim_Nickerson@sde.state.ok.us>

Arkansas Transition Summit

NSTTAC ForumWednesday, May 2, 2007 through

Friday, May 4, 2007

Brook Knapp, State Transition Coordinator

Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Unit

Began in 2006• First summit in 2006

• Partners– ADE, Special Education, Transition Staff– DCDT– Arkansas Interagency Transition Partnership

(AITP)• ARS• DSB

• Committee of partners

Second Transition Summit - 2007• Same Partners plus Computer Automation

Systems

• Major change: Worked with NSTTAC

• Team format

• Chose focus areas from Transition Taxonomy– Student Development– Transition Assessment

• Used tool designed by NSTTAC

Team Facilitators

• Consultants for the Hearing Impaired

• Consultants for the Visually Impaired

• Other ADE, Special Education employees

• NSTTAC trained facilitators

• Facilitators are key players

Agenda

• General Sessions– NSTTAC helped with speakers

• James Martin, Ph.D. – Transition Assessment• Martin Agran, Ph.D. – Life Skills Instruction• Paula Kohler, Ph.D. – Structured Work Programs

• Breakout Sessions– Solicited local teachers and agency personnel

to present on structured work programs and life skills instruction

Report-out Session

• Very powerful

• Don’t omit

• Gives everyone a chance to share

• Gives everyone a chance to hear what others have planned

Youth Panel

• Videotaped Interviews with youth with disabilities– Some in high school– Some out of college

• After video opened floor for questions

Team Plans

• Transition Fairs

• Resource Directories

• Building the team

Follow-up

• Transition Staff following up with team leaders

• Follow-up meeting for team leaders

2008 AR Transition Summit

• Moved to larger venue

• More teams able to attend

• Began planning the week after the 2007 Summit

Lessons Learned

• Need rooms for every team

• RFPs for presenters

• RFPs for program artwork

• Formed sub-committees

Contact Info

Brook Knapp, State Transition Coordinator

950 Hogan Lane, Suite 5

Conway, AR 72034

501/329-7400

bknapp@conwaycorp.net