Prime
Project Prime(Partners in Rehabilitation and Independence in Maine)funded by the US Department of Education focuses on providing information and training to parents and youth and young adults with disabilities and others so they can access and fully utilize vocational rehabilitation, Independent living and other transition services and supports.
Transition Supports
While youth with and without disabilities travel through their transition years there are many road blocks and challenges that arise. The following information is available to assist you in determining the appropriate supports available to youth with disabilities and how you can assist them in traveling through the system. For the full document, click here.
ODEP Releases Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services (PAS): A Toolkit for Youth Transitioning to Adulthood
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor, through its Youth Technical Assistance Center, recently announced the release of Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services (PAS): A Toolkit for Youth Transitioning to Adulthood, a guide designed to help transition-age youth with significant disabilities as well as their family and friends navigate the complex world of PAS.
Transitioning into adulthood can be awkward for nearly every young person. For transition-age youth with disabilities, issues surrounding managing PAS can be intensified by normal developmental concerns such as striking out on your own and navigating the road into adulthood. Accessing and maintaining long-term supports, such as PAS, has often been a significant barrier to employment youth and adults with disabilities. This new guide assists youth in strengthening some of the most fundamental skills essential for successfully managing their own PAS: effective communication, time-management, working with others, and establishing professional relationships. Such skills are key to not only enhancing independence, but also thriving in the workplace and growing professionally. Topics covered include
• Understanding the differences between job-related and personal PAS;
• Evaluating individual readiness to live independently and manage PAS;
• Establishing goals in transitioning to greater independence;
• Identifying individual PAS needs;
• Considering a service dog;
• Advertizing for, interviewing, and hiring personal assistants;
• Covering the costs of PAS;
• Managing and training assistants;
• Handling awkward moments with personal assistants;
• Recognizing abusive situations; and
• Firing personal assistants.
Whether moving from school or a home setting to work, college, or living on their own, transition-age youth and their families or friends would benefit from the information and guidance offered by the toolkit. Sample worksheets, questions, and charts provide readers clear, helpful examples of things to consider along the path to greater independence. And stories from real youth and their families give practical insight and guidance for youth with disabilities who want to manage their own PAS.
For more information or to download a Word or PDF version of the toolkit, please visit the ODEP's Youth Technical Assistance Center, the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability-Youth at http://www.ncwd-youth.info/PAS-Toolkit.
PACER Center provides information for young people with disabilities focusing on Social Security Benefits and Employment:
GOING TO WORK: A GUIDE TO SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (2009 EDITION)
This booklet from ICI provides basic information about Social Security disability and health benefit programs, discusses what happens to Social Security disability and health benefits when a young person goes to work, and explains how to maximize a young person's options when he or she goes to work. For more information go to
http://www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=211
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (NCWD/Youth) is your source for information about employment and youth with disabilities (NCWD, 2009). NCWD/Youth works to ensure that transition age youth are provided full access to high quality services in integrated settings to gain education, employment and independent living.
Visit the NCWD/Youth at http://www.ncwd-youth.info/
Governor Ceremonially Signs Bill to Increase Guardianship Standards. Click here to read letter.
Maine Transition Network has developed the “Transition Planning: A Resource Guide.” The guide is divided into four (4) distinct color coded sections. The guide contains introductory white pages designed for all who are developing a transition plan, the yellow pages with statewide agency contacts and information, the blue pages dedicated to young adults and their parents who experience mental health issues, the green pages for students with a developmental disability. Visit www.mainetransition.org to view this comprehensive transition guide.
Ticket to Work: Updated Fact Sheets
Two key documents relating to the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work (Ticket) program have recently been revised. The Overview document highlights the NEW Ticket program, outlining important changes as well as the 2009 payment system. The EN Resources document provides great contact information for both potential and approved Employment Networks, instructing them on where to go for help.
Check out the attached PDF and Large Print Word files to stay informed!
EN Resources SSA 63-026 LP.doc
JMG’s Opportunity Passport™ Program Assists Maine Youth In Meeting Financial Goals
Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG) offers the opportunity for young people in Maine between the ages of 14 - 23 to participate in Opportunity Passport™. Opportunity Passport™ is a program for youth who currently are in foster care or have been in foster care at some point since the age of 14.
Opportunity Passport™ program offers lessons in financial literacy and then provides an incentive for youth to save their money and purchase assets. These young people will have access to dollar for dollar matched savings up to $1,000 per year to be used for the purchase of approved assets such as a car, continued education, or housing.
For more information:
Opportunity Passport™ Youth Friendly Flier
For more information about Job’s for Maine’s Graduates, visit www.jmg.org
