PLANNING FOR COLLEGEA I N NFORMATION SESSION FORSTUDENTS

PLANNING FOR COLLEGEA: I N NFORMATION SESSION FORSTUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES October 21, 2015

AGENDA • Self Determination ● • College Options & Application Considerations ● • Charlotte Heim, MA OTR/L Occupational Therapist, Transition Specialist Alice Beth Fitz. Patrick, MHS/MVTHS Guidance College Disability Services – ● Andrew Cioffi Assistant Director for the office of Disabilities, Suffolk University ● Questions?

PLAN FOR LIFE AFTER HIGHSCHOOL

SELFDETERMINATION CENTRAL TO SUCCESS! • Self-determination is a mix of skills that empower a student to make choices and take control of their life according to their own interests, needs, and abilities. • Self-advocacy is the process of speaking for yourself and knowledge of your rights, wishes, needs, and strengths.

SELFDETERMINATION ADVOCACY / • • • Knowing your strengths and challenges (in and out of school). Knowing your interests (in and out of school). Knowing what kinds of support you might need and who could provide that support Making your own choices and decisions. Knowing your rights and responsibilities Planning for your future.

SELFDETERMINATION ADVOCACY / • Can you talk about your strengths? • Can you identify your disability and talk about accommodations that help you to succeed? • Students read your I. E. P. or 504 Plan. • Have a voice in the development of your I. E. P. /504 Accommodation Plan.

SKILLS FOR INDEPENDENCE Everyday skills impact success. ● Set your own alarm clock. ● Navigate through your community. ● Do your own laundry/cook a simple meal. ● Take responsibility for health/medication. ● Manage time. ● Know what strategies work and use study strategies.

PARENTSG / UARDIANS • Review the IEP/504 together with your student. Encourage and support the student’s participation in their meeting. • Talk about accommodations with your student. Think about reducing down to accommodations that are more similar to accommodations in college. • How independent is your student at home? Are there responsibilities/skills that he/she can take on right now? • Campus Tours – Start early and talk with the Office of Disability.

OPTIONS FOR CONTINUING YOUR EDUCATION • Part-time Enrollment in College • Certificate Programs • Technical, Trade, or Vocational Schools • Associate Degree Programs ●Typically 2 years enrolled full-time ●Community Colleges • Bachelor Degree Programs ●Typically 4 years enrolled full-time ●Public and Private College/University

MASS TRANSFERPROGRAM • Provide community college students who complete associate degrees and enroll in linked Mass. Transfer programs with the full transfer of credit, guaranteed admission, and a tuition discount (each based on final GPA) • Provide any student in the Massachusetts public higher education system who completes the Mass. Transfer Block with the benefit of satisfying the general education/distribution/core requirements at any other public higher education institution (with the receiving institution able to add no more than six additional credits of two courses) • http: //www. mass. edu/masstransfer/

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS • 112 Credits, minimum • Required Courses ● 4 years English, 4 years Math ● 3 years Social Studies, 3 years Science, 4 years Wellness*, 1 year Fine Art* ● 4 years in an Approved CTE Program for MVTHS Students • Special exceptions for transfer students • 2 years of Wellness, No Fine Art Requirement • 60 Hours of Community Service (minimum)

MCAS GRADUATION REQUIREMENT Important! Discuss your MCAS status and options with your Educational Team Leader (ETL)! • Luella Benn, MHS, lbenn@medford. k 12. ma. us • Jhum Sarcar, MHS, jsarcar@medford. k 12. ma. us • Kimberly Clinton, MVTHS, kclinton@medford. k 12. ma. us • MCAS ELA, Math, and Science ● ELA and Math: 240+; Science: 220+ ● Education Proficiency Plan (EPP) • ELA and Math scores between 220 -240

Guidance Department Takes the Lead • Amelia Jensen, ajensen@medford. k 12. ma. us ● Director of Guidance K-12 • Jason Nascimento, jnascimento@medford. k 12. ma. us ● MHS Students with last names A - D • Wendy Horne, whorne@medford. k 12. ma. us ● MHS Students with last names E - L • Krista Normandin, knormandin@medford. k 12. ma. us ● MHS Students with last names M - Q • Victoria Glasser, vglasser@medford. k 12. ma. us ● MHS Students with last names R - Z • Alice Beth Fitz. Patrick, abfitzpatrick@medford. k 12. ma. us ● MVTHS Students • Timothy Klein, tklein@medford. k 12. ma. us ● School & Community Partnership Counselor • Lisa Berube, lberube@medford. k 12. ma. us ● MVTHS Co-op Coordinator/Career Counselor

THECOLLEGEC - AREERRESEARCHPROCESS • www. medfordhighguidance. com • connection. naviance. com ● A web-based tool for the college application process at MHS/MVTHS • masscis. intocareers. org • mynextmove. org

APPLYING FOR SAT/ACT ACCOMMODATIONS • Parents must request accommodations • Takes at least 6 -8 weeks for processing request • Testing within 3 years • Current IEP or 504 • SSD Form needed by counselors • Most Typical Accommodation is Extended Time and Small Group Testing

MEFA FINANCIAL AIDSEMINAR • Wednesday, November 4, 2015 • 7: 00 PM • Caron Theater, Medford High School • Presented by MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) • www. mefa. org • www. fafsa. ed. gov

NEXTUP! Andrew Cioffi, Assistant Director Office of Disability Suffolk University