[DSM-Iowa] FW: New FAQ for the Young Adult Transition Program

Sat Aug 15 23:20:21 UTC 2020

Good Evening Federation Family::

I wanted to share this for those who may not have seen it yet since I know
questions have been coming up regarding the new Young Adult Transition
program at the Iowa Department for the Blind. Please see below and feel free
to reach out to the contacts listed if there are any further questions.

Scott Van Gorp, President
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
Phone: 515-720-5282
 <mailto:svangorp at nfbi.org> Email

 <http://www.nfbi.org/> Website 

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Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of members and
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day
we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

From: Iowa Department for the Blind <IADB at public.govdelivery.com> 
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2020 4:27 PM
Subject: New FAQ for the Young Adult Transition Program

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2229942-l> here

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Iowa Department for the Blind Logo

<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVy
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2/br/82402229942-l> Young Adult Transition (4+) Program Frequently Asked
Questions

A number of questions and misinformation have been raised about the Young
Adult Transition (4+)Program so we thought we would take some of the most
commonly asked questions and answer them in a
<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVy
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2/br/82402229942-l> Frequently Asked Questions Document. Last Updated August
13, 2020.  

Q: Is this program for high schoolers?

It is designed for students who have completed the academic requirements to
graduate from high school, but still have Individualized Education Plan
(IEP) goals to achieve. 

Q: What is the age range for students in the Four Plus Program?

Students will generally range from 17-21 years of age. 

Q: Why is this program needed?

Four Plus programs already exist throughout the state of Iowa serving
students with all types of disabilities. Many of these are run by school
districts and community colleges. These programs have little to no
experience working with blind students. Very often, this results in lowered
expectations and no provision of the adjustment to blindness skills blind
students need to be independent. The Braille School (IESBVI) has created a
program on the campus of the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs.
There are more students in need than can be served by this program.
Additionally this program is not conveniently located for students outside
the western part of the state. The IESBVI program also does not use
structured discovery in its skills training, whereas the YATP does. As an
added bonus, the costs associated with this program are considered
Pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) expenditures. The Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires that 15% of our federal grant
be spent each year on pre-ETS services. 

Q:So why do these students not go directly into the adult
adjustment-to-blindness orientation center?

It would be ideal if all students exiting high school had the self-care and
personal management skills needed to attend our adult orientation center or
go directly to college and employment. However, we are finding a number of
students we serve who don't yet meet the basic requirements of the center.
In the past, some students have started the center without these skills and
it has caused the student not to be successful and/or it has taken
significant staff time away from other center students. YATP students need
extra assistance in areas such as preparing meals, managing money, and
personal care. IDB will have previously worked with these students while in
high school, and most will have participated in our summer LEAP program.
Students who leave high school ready to go directly into the adult
orientation center will continue to do so as we want students to be
independent and self-sufficient as soon as possible! 

Q: Will blindness be the primary disability?

Yes, our focus is on helping all students gain the blindness skills they
need to achieve their employment goals. As we do in all of our programs, we
will adapt our teaching strategies and techniques to best serve the unique
learning needs of each student. Because the majority of the students served
by this program have disabilities in addition to blindness, We will work
with school districts, service providers, and other partners to help the
student obtain any tools or techniques to overcome other barriers that
student may be facing. 

Q:Will there be a nurse or psychologist working in the four plus program?

No. While we do not administer medication, we provide training and support
to students learning to administer their own medication. 

Q:What is the structure of the four plus program?

The Four Plus Program will run throughout the school year. Students may
continue in the program more than one year if IEP goals have not been met,
however, the objective is for the student to graduate and move on to the
center, post-secondary education, or employment as soon as possible. The
program provides intensive training with lots of hands on practice combined
with a positive attitude toward blindness that we anticipate will result in
a rate of progress not previously thought possible. 

Q: So what does a typical day look like?

During the day, students will work on activities related to achieving their
IEP goals. This will be done in cane travel, communications (braille and
technology), and careers classes. Students will work on home management and
daily living skills with instructors in the evening times cooking meals and
cleaning up the kitchens and their room areas. 

Q: Will there be business classes and confidence-building activities?

Yes 

Q:How will going out for dinner and eating on the weekends be covered?

There will be staff present to work with students during evenings and
weekends. 

Q:Will students receive maintenance to cover their expenses, and, if so, how
will budgeting be handled?

Yes, and instructors will work with students on budgeting and handling this
money. 

Q: Will this interfere with the adult orientation students work spaces, such
as in the kitchen and industrial arts areas?

No, YATP students will cook primarily in one of the apartments on the 5th
floor. Also with the recent addition of two new kitchens into the Home Ec
area, , there is now enough room to allow other programs to use some kitchen
space without disrupting the center. The YATP students will not be taking
industrial arts as a regular class. YATP classes will be held in other
spaces in the apartment and 2nd floor and there is enough space for
everyone. 

Q: What is the student to staff ratio?

During the first year, we have kept the program intentionally small. This
will allow us to get staff hired and trained, refine curriculum, and
implement other steps to improve and expand the program. There will be 7
staff to 5 students. In future years, we intend to grow the program to ten
or more students and keep the staffing level around 8.

This need has existed for many years. We are excited to have the opportunity
to provide a 4+ program with IDB's positive attitude, high expectations, and
non-visual training. While there have been many challenges created by the
enactment of WIOA, meeting this long-felt need is a real opportunity. We are
very excited to be able to empower the young people to be gainfully employed
and live independently. If you have further questions, please contact Helen
Stevens at (515) 829-7411  <mailto:Helen.Stevens at blind.state.ia.us>
Helen.Stevens at blind.state.ia.us or Emily Wharton at (515) 802-7313
Emily.Wharton at blind.state.ia.us.

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Phone: 515-281-1333
E-mail:  <mailto:information at blind.state.ia.us>
information at blind.state.ia.us

Iowa Department for the Blind
524 Fourth Street
Des Moines, IA 50309-2364

Stay Connected with the Iowa Department for the Blind:

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