Tara Klein The Pleasantville SEPTA New York Who am I and why am I - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

presented by:

Tara Klein

The Pleasantville SEPTA New York

Who am I… and why am I here? …

Long story short…

 Parent of four “young

men”: 20, 18, and twins 16.

 COPAA SEAT Training:

Advocate for children.

 Transition Consultant with

Arc of Westchester

 Co-Founder of the

Pleasantville SEPTA….

~Todays Focus~

How PTA’s can redefine the community dialog. Building a framework for inclusive student

programs, both recreational and vocational.

Identifying the local community resources that

support your vision: what makes you unique?

Engaging the school district in your vision. Celebrating community partnerships

for student success: outcomes!

What is a SEPTA…

Special Education Parent Teacher Association

…and why start one?

National & Statewide support, Not-for-Profit Tax status, Insurance, and a seat at the table.

…

~Pleasantville SEPTA~

 Chartered in 2006, we currently have well over 300

members only half of which live in the community. Some do not even have children in the district or with disabilities.

 SEPTA is not building specific, but community based,

supporting a wide range of students and families with diverse needs and disabilities throughout the school district.

 Our SEPTA partnerships with school staff and the Chamber

• f Commerce create new and exciting community based
• pportunities for all!

~Our SEPTA Goals~

 Parent education, advocacy & a network of support.  Opportunity to create new recreation and vocational

programs for all students.

 Engage the school district in a meaningful dialog about

programs, services and outcomes.

 Create community education opportunities that would

change perceptions and break barriers. See handouts…

Today’s discussion: Vocational Partnerships.

Where do we start?

Taking the pulse of the Community

 Who are the community leaders/organizations that share

your vision of inclusion? Form Partnerships.

 Where are there natural opportunities, needs, energy?

Can you tap into these?

 How does your community view people with disabilities?  Why would other organizations want to partner with you?

What do you have to offer?

 How can those natural partners work with

your organization to educate the community, create opportunities and celebrate this vision?

Going to the source:

The Chamber of Commerce

Jobs ~ Education ~ Advisors ~ Allies Who are the local business leaders that want to get involved in vocational programs, community education, mentoring and school advocacy efforts? What can you do for them? Find the balance …

~Our Partners in Community Outreach ~

 Film, Social Media and Public Resources:

Partnering with community based organizations that can support our efforts to educate the community, and make resources available to a broad audience.

 Enhancing Recreation & Afterschool

Programs: Collaboration with community partners like the public library, the schools and the media arts center have created diverse and rich social and extended learning opportunities for all students.

 CISP/VIP:

The natural supports available through the ECHO peers support community based inclusion

• pportunities for disabled students interested in

participating in diverse summer camps, after school experiences and athletic programs.

~Our Partners in Community Education ~

 Jacob Burns Film Center:

SEPTA has collaborated with the Burns on several occasions to bring important films about disabilities to the community. Films like “Rachel is” and “Autism Everyday” were screened to over 500 people. Fall of 2010: focus on Mental Health issues. 2011: collaborative classes.

 The Mt. Pleasant Library:

SEPTA was asked by the Library to help define and establish a unique new book collection for parents. Five year development commitment.

 PCTV76.org:

All of our SEPTA events are videotaped and available online though the local cable access channel.

~Our Internship Partnerships ~

 Extended Learning:

BOCES, Community College and Successful Learning Center Continuing Education programs at Pace University.

 Culinary Arts:

The Cupcake shop, The Corner Pizza Shop, The Iron Horse Grill, and Taylored Menus Catering.

 Early Childhood Education:

Pre-school programs, elementary and middle school recreation programs and the Media Arts Lab.

 Health & Human Services:

Both the police and fire department mentor disabled students.

 Digital Media Arts:

Our Community TV Studio and our Media Arts Lab both take interns.

Engaging the Schools

What’s missing and how can these new Partnerships fill the void? …

School Partnerships :: Driving the Discussion

Internships: SEPTA collaborated with our HS guidance team to enrich an outdated internship model, create a handbook/data collection materials and define the ‘C of C’ merchants that wanted to get involved. Grants: How can parent organizations partner with local

• rganizations to develop unique programs using grants?

Enhanced Education: Working with parent feedback, how can parent

• rganizations support school staff education efforts?

See handouts…

School Partnerships :: Improving Communication

 SEPTA Pays for all of our special education teachers to be

members in our organization.

 Teachers attend all of our parent education events for free.  Teachers and administrators are included on all member e-

mail distributions.

 SEPTA offers grants for innovative projects, supports staff

development efforts and awards outstanding teacher performance each year.

School Partnerships :: Community Service Peers

Success of our SEPTA programs & sustainability is ECHO/Community Service!

 Although the our School District does not require community

service, a full 1/3rd of the HS student population participate.

 Each student is required to complete 20 hours of service per year

to be part of this after school club.

 All students benefit from the Natural Peer Supports.  Peer mentors are trained by school staff on diverse disabilities.  All peers mentors are SEPTA members: insurance coverage.

230 students x 20hrs = 4,600 hours of service time EACH YEAR!

Putting the Pieces Together

Using businesses, collaboration and peer support to enhance the community inclusion experiences for students with disabilities.

Outcomes 1 :: Stronger Business Ties

Spring 2011 brought about the creation of our Chamber of Commerce/School Administrator Business Advisory Council

• Brings depth and purpose to the existing internship program
• Connects Business leaders to schools as Teacher mentors
• Shares the needs of the business community with the demands of

the teachers who deliver instruction to special needs students.

• Goal: Transition internship responsibility from SEPTA to our

school and community partners.

Outcomes 2:: Grant Vocational Programs

Parent organizations can explore innovative funding and capitalize on their unique partnerships to enrich the

• pportunities available for students?

“Digital Media Arts” Vocational Project

 Research shows that students on the spectrum excel in visual media

technology.

 Can SEPTA’s partners align to define a new HS program?  Autism Speaks Grants: Seeking alternative

funding sources that can inspire schools and partners to collaborate.

Outcomes 3 :: Summer Voc. Programs

Working in conjunction with our Chamber of Commerce the ISP Staff and SEPTA collaborated to create a unique

Community Summer Vocational Camp.

 The “home” school district’s were responsible for funding all IEP

programming from 9 to 12am.

 Parent’s paid out-of-pocket (through a donation to SEPTA) for

afternoon internship, recreation and travel training .

 SEPTA offered scholarships to families who could not financially

contribute to the program.

 Summer 2011: Continuing Education classes on the Pace Pleasantville

Campus through SLC.

Film: Community Partnerships …

Schools Internships Partners

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

• Henry Ford