This webinar discusses transition planning for students with developmental disorders like autism to avoid poor outcomes after high school graduation. Jennifer Kaut explains that students with autism especially are at high risk of unemployment or underemployment after school. Successful transition requires thorough assessment of student strengths and needs, and developing a detailed multi-year roadmap by 9th grade. Vocational rehabilitation programs and applied behavior analysis can now provide more support through initiatives like WIOA that prioritize transition services for students with disabilities. The goal is to create collaborative plans that bridge the gap between school and post-secondary life.

1. SPEDCHAT WEBINAR SERIES
Transition Planning
How To Avoid the "Black-Hole" Between
Graduation and Adulthood

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3. Jennifer Kaut, M.Ed., BCBA
State Autism and Developmental Disorders Specialist
Texas Workforce Solutions | Rehabilitation Services Division
JenniferKaut is the State Autism and Developmental Disorders Specialist for Texas Workforce
Solutions, Vocational Rehabilitation Services. She provides staff consultation and training and
collaborates with stakeholders (employers, school districts, public universities, legislative staff and
other state agencies). Jennifer published the first DARS state policy on Applied Behavior Analysis. This
enables intervention for consumers who have challenging behaviors or social skill deficits that create
barriers in transitioning from school to post-secondary opportunities or obtaining and maintaining
employment. Jennifer has published 4 additional state policies that created the first-ever, Autism
Endorsement for Employment Specialists (earned through UNT) an Autism Premium and Vocational
Assessment for Developmental Disorders. In addition to working with the state of Texas, Jennifer is
the Founder and Executive Director of Inspire BehaviorTherapy.Inspire Behavior was founded in
2008 and employs Board Certified Behavior Analysts who provide treatment for children and adults
with developmental disorders.
Professionally, Jennifer has expertise treating Developmental Disorders, but she gained the most
insight from her role as a mom. Her oldest son came into her life when he was 7 years old. Kevin has
DiGeorge Syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. Today, Kevin is a 21-year-old man who has been
able to live on his own and learn to drive after receiving intensive supports during his transition to
employment. He has been successfully employed at Home Depot for the past 4 years, but a month ago
obtained a full time position as a mail clerk for the Texas Workforce Commission.Creating successful
transition strategies is her passion.

4. SPEDCHAT WEBINAR SERIES
What is Transition?

5. Should be a seamless Bridge

7. IF the Bridge to Transition Crumbles…
Students can
fall into the
“Black Hole”…..

8. Who is at Risk?
Students with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder….
(Learning Disorders, AD/HD, Autism and Intellectual Developmental
Disorders)
But who is the MOST at Risk?
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

9. Students with Autism
Only 55.1 percent of young adults with autism held paying jobs
during their first six years out of high school, the lowest
percentage among the disability categories examined.
9 out of 10 people with Autism are either unemployed or
underemployed
40% of those with Autism that do attempt college, less
than half will NOT complete it.
regardless of their IQ or education level

10. SPEDCHAT WEBINAR SERIES
Successful Transition Starts With A…

11. Successful Transition
 Is purposely driven with clear and concise objectives
 Contains a specific and detailed roadmap that
should be established by 9th grade.

12. Successful Transition
Step 1:
1. A baseline of the student’s strengths and deficits
must be determined. In order to obtain this
baseline, a thorough transition assessment should
be conducted.

13. Successful Transition
Transition Resources

14. Successful Transition
Step 2:
1. A working “road map” is established per the
results of the transition assessment/s. The “road
map” is adjusted year by year as progress is made
or new deficits are discovered.

15. Example of a Road Map: Autism
• 9th grade: severe generalized anxiety, cognitive
inflexibility and inability to engage people
• 10th grade: progress was made with overall anxiety
in the school setting, but had not generalized in
others
Kevin

16. Example of a Road Map: ASD
• 11th grade: inability to self advocate, inability to
identify his strengths and weakness, sudden increase
in cognitive inflexibly and still working on social anxiety
• 12th grade: peer social engagement , literalism and
work stamina
Kevin

17. SPEDCHAT WEBINAR SERIES
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

18. Vocational Rehabilitation
• Is a federal program
• Is available in all states
• Can be accessed if the student’s
disability is a barrier to post secondary
options

19. Historically ….
During the graduation ARD, students and parents
were handled a brochure and told they could access
VR services, but there was no collaboration between
the school and this agency existed.
This contributes to the “Black Hole”

20. SPEDCHAT WEBINAR SERIES
Specialized Services for Developmental Disorders

21. Specialized Services
Examples:
• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Statewide team of specially trained VR Counselors
• Autism endorsement for Employment Specialists
that can be earned through the University of North
Texas

22. Specialized Services
More Examples:
• If they earn the endorsement it enables Employment
Specialists to receive a premium for working with
Autism clients (of all ages, not just with students)
• New assessment called the “Environmental Work
Assessment” (EWA) is designed to identify variables
that effect the client’s ability to function at his or her

23. SPEDCHAT WEBINAR SERIES
WIOA Makes Transition a Priority

24. WIOA
• Stands for the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act
• These new federal regulations contained in
WIOA, requires that all VR programs spend at
least 15 % of their federal dollars on PRE-
Employment Services for students ages 10-22
who have a disability

25. WIOA
• This establishes transition as a priority when before,
accessing students while still in school, were not.
• Provides Pre-Employment Services opportunities
that had not existed before or were not commonly
accessed.
• Creates the opportunity to bridge the gap between
transitioning from school to post secondary options

26. WIOA
• Provides the opportunity for a much needed collaboration
between schools and VR.
• While VR can not duplicate school services, we can fill in
service gaps when the school cannot.
• In Texas, are few examples of what we can provide: in home
support, pay for driving lessons, treatments such as Applied
Behavior Analysis and help obtaining their first job.

27. To learn more about Accelify find us online at www.accelify.com and on social media.
For additional information, contact: natalie@accelify.com
Thank you.
Transition Planning
How To Avoid the "Black-Hole" Between
Graduation and Adulthood
@AccelifyLLCfacebook.com/Accelify linkedin.com/company/accelify-llc