Academy trains local educators to help disabled enter workforce

"We've had some really amazing plans developed and then implemented when the participants return to their schools."

More than 60 people from Middle Tennessee with an interest in special education will attend the Tennessee Transition Academy on the Peabody campus June 20-23.

Participants in the four-day event will explore effective ways to help students with disabilities -- physical and learning both -- successfully transition to work from high school. The event will include people with an interest in special education including transition teachers, school administrators, vocational rehabilitation counselors and parents. This year's attendees will include a high school student with special needs who is interested in advocating for young people with disabilities.

The Tennessee Transition Academy was developed in 1997 in response to community needs to provide for those with disabilities after they graduate from high school. A number of methods are used during the academy to present information in an efficient manner. "The academy will alternate between those of us on staff -- Carolyn Hughes, Steve Johnson and myself -- presenting information sessions, hands-on activities, videos, role-play, etc., and speakers who have expert knowledge in an area related to transition," said Susan Copeland, assistant coordinator for the academy who earned her Ph.D. in education and human development from Peabody College in May.

Scheduled to speak at this year's academy are representatives from the Social Security Administration, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation, the Tennessee Justice Center, Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the U.S. Department of Labor. Private entities participating include People First, Arc of Tennessee, Independent Support Coordination and Education Edge.

The Peer Buddy Project, which also will provide a speaker, was started in 1995 by a federal grant written by Hughes, an associate professor of special education at Vanderbilt and director of the Middle Tennessee Transition Academy. According to Copeland, the Peer Buddy Project is now a part of every comprehensive public high school in Nashville, and the program is spreading to other area schools such as those in Cookeville, Tenn.

"The Peer Buddy Project is a course open to all high school students in Nashville in which they spend one period a day working with students in the Life Skills classes," said Copeland.

Students enrolled in Life Skills typically have severe learning disabilities. Participants in the Peer Buddy Project work with the Life Skills students on academics and work skills.

"Sometimes they just hang out and be friends," said Copeland.

The four-day academy will begin with fieldwork in the Hillsboro Village area near campus. Copeland described the activity as "on-site job analyses." Each academy attendee will observe an employee working in an entry-level position and study the activities associated with the job. Copeland said the purpose of the exercise is to provide practice in assessing jobs in which students with disabilities might choose to work. Businesses participating in this exercise include the Peabody Post Office, the Education Library, the Education Credit Union and area restaurants and retail stores.

On June 22, the participants will meet with people from their district to develop plans to proceed with the transition process. Each group will present its plan to the entire academy.

"We've had some really amazing plans developed and then implemented when the participants return to their schools," Copeland said. Later this year, a survey will be conducted to determine which plans were most successful.

The event is sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Education through the Division of Special Education and the Office of Training and Development.