Community

Outreach Services
School and community-based training programs

By: Laura Stanton

Texas Workforce Commission
(https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/vocational-rehabilitation-youth-students)

 Youth & Student Services

 Post-secondary education and employment
 Pre-Employment Transition Services
 Receive core services, as needed, to help prepare for post-secondary education and employment opportunities:
 Vocational counseling, including counseling in job exploration and post-secondary training opportunities
 Counseling on opportunities for post-secondary education such as college, vocational schools, etc.
 Work-based learning experiences, including internships and on-the-job training
 Training in workplace and employer expectations
 Training in self-advocacy and social skills

 Other Services
 Services may be provided to help you achieve your education, training or employment goals, including (as needed):
 Referrals for hearing, visual and other examinations
 Assistance with medical appointments and treatment
 Rehabilitation devices, including hearing aids, wheelchairs, artificial limbs and braces
 Therapy to address a disability, including occupational or speech therapy and applied behavioral analysis
 Physical restoration
 Medical, psychological and vocational assessments
 Assistive technologies, including screen reader software, computer equipment and other items
 Job matching and placement services
 Transportation assistance
 Rehabilitation Teachers Services
 Vocational adjustment training
 Supported employment services
Texas Workforce Commission
Positives Negatives

 Pre-employment transition services  Apply for services

 Services based on individual needs  Must meet criteria

 Collaborate with family and schools  Not guaranteed services

 Core services provided

 Other services provided
 Medical Assistance
 Transportation
 Referrals
Abilene Independent School District
(https://www.abileneisd.org/departments/career-and-technical-education/work-based-learning/)

Career Preparation provides opportunities for students to participate in a learning

experience that combines classroom instruction with paid business and industry
employment experiences and supports strong partnerships among school, business, and
community stakeholders. Career Prep experiences occur in a paid or unpaid arrangement
and in a variety of instructional settings.

Practicum courses are designed to give students supervised practical application of

previously studied knowledge and skills. Practicum experiences occur in a paid or unpaid
arrangement and in a variety of instructional settings.

Internships are a method of instruction for individuals who, through written training

agreements between a school and mentors, receive instruction, including required academic
courses and related career and technical education instruction. The experience is planned
and supervised by the school and mentor so that each contributes to the education and
employability of the individual. PRO Internship experiences occur in an unpaid arrangement
and in a variety of instructional settings.
Abilene Independent School District
Positives
 Students exposed to different
opportunities
 Students have real-world
experiences
 Exposure to hands on
experiences
 Valuable life lessons
 Become productive members of
society
Negatives
 Limited to opportunities
available
 Limited to partnerships of the
school district
 Must uphold written agreement
between school and mentor
 Not guaranteed paid
SPEDTex
(https://www.spedtex.org/)

 Provides information and resources that can help you understand

your child’s disability, your rights, and responsibilities under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and facilitate
collaboration that supports the development and delivery of
services to children with disabilities in our state.
 Committed to providing families and educators with high-quality
resources to enable students with disabilities to achieve the highest
outcomes. The links below lead to information and resources
provided by SPEDTex toward achieving that goal.
SPEDTex
Positives Negatives

 Events and tips from experts  Statewide

 Customized reminders  Not local
 Resources at your fingertips  May be harder to access local
resources with a non-local source
 Focus group opportunities
 Webinars
 Resources for families and educators
 Available in English and Spanish
Texas Health and Human
Services
(https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/early-childhood-intervention-services)

 Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a statewide program

within the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
for families with children birth up to age 3, with
developmental delays, disabilities or certain medical
diagnoses that may impact development. ECI services
support families as they learn how to help their children
grow and learn.
Texas Health and Human
Services
Positives Negatives

 Services for early childhood  Only services through 36 months

 Services for medical conditions,  Must meet eligibility
auditory/visual impairment, or
 Undergo evaluation
developmental delay
 Strengths and needs identified  Must notice need

 Plan for services developed

 Family-centered services
 Services provided at home by licensed
or credentialed providers
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
(https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/special-education)

 In early 2018, TEA worked with stakeholders across Texas to develop

the Strategic Plan for Special Education in Texas. This plan was
informed by more than 7,000 voices and lays out an ambitious set of
activities aimed at dramatically improving special education programs in
Texas. They are committed to high expectations and strong systems
that achieve equitable outcomes for every student with a disability.
TEA
Positives Negatives

 Latest data regarding special education  Not local organization

provided
 May be difficult to find information
 Information to support stakeholders to
resolve special education disputes  Most information may be provided
through school or 3rd party
 Information and resources to help families
 Support families through programs
 Partnership with Educational Service
Centers
 Multiple languages
YMCA of Abilene
(https://www.abileneymca.org)

 The YMCA of Abilene enriches kids, adults, families and

communities through well-being and fitness, preschool and
afterschool, camps, family time, swim lessons, youth sports,
and other activities for people of all ages and abilities. We're
more than a local health and fitness club with a pool and
gym. At the Y, we help build a healthy spirit, mind and body
for all with core values of caring, honesty, respect and
responsibility at the heart of everything we do.
YMCA of Abilene
Positives Negatives

 Local  Annual membership

 Family oriented  Join fee
 Provides a place of belonging  Charged services
 Variety of classes for all ages
 Financial assistance available
including scholarships
 Team sports options
 Build relationships
American Sign Language
(ASL)
(https://www.abilenetx.gov/1098/ASL-American-Sign-Language-Class)
 American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, natural language that
has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, with grammar
that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands
and face. It is the primary language of many North Americans who are
deaf and hard of hearing and is used by some hearing people as well.
Parents are often the source of a child’s early acquisition of language,
but for children who are deaf, additional people may be models for
language attainment.
ASL
Positives Negatives

 American Sign Language (ASL) class  Fee for classes

 Available for anyone  Additional fee for book
 Ages 8+  Must register
 Taught by Deaf Instructor  Only on Thursdays
 Instructor is a standing member of the
Advisory Board for Citizens with
Disabilities
 Classes offered in the evenings

 Local
Practical Academics and
Living Skills (PALS)
(https://www.abileneisd.org/bowie-elementary/programs-services/pals/)

 PALS stands for Practical Academics and Living Skills, and are self-
contained classrooms for students with special needs. The PALS
Programs are set up to help students on their specific ability level.
Students may receive Special Education services and be placed in the
PALS program based on assessments and individual need. PALS
students are taught based on their specific needs in order to meet state
standards and academic goals. Other services provided to our
students who qualify for more support include Speech Therapy,
Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy.
PALS
Positives Negatives

 Self-contained classrooms which offer  Only available at certain schools within

more one-on-one services the district
 Specific ability levels for students  Must qualify for services
 Based on assessments and individual  Self-contain program – no inclusion
needs
 Taught based on specific needs to
meet state standards and academic
goals
 Other services provided
Regional Day School
Program for the Deaf
(https://www.abileneisd.org/departments/special-education/regional-day-school-program-for-the-deaf/)

 The Abilene Regional Day School Program for the Deaf

supports and assists parents of children who have hearing
loss. They work closely with professionals serving these
students. Their goal is to create a network that meets the
needs of these students so that after graduation, they can
enroll in post-secondary education or be employed in a
competitive job and, become self-sufficient members of
society.
Regional Day School
Program for the Deaf
Positives Negatives
 Provides support and assistance to parents  Students restricted to their school
 Work closely with professionals serving these district
students
 Only available at certain schools within
 Creates a network that meets the needs of the district
students
 Services limited to students/families
 Promotes success for students’ future after
graduation with hearing disabilities
 Promotes all forms of communication
 Specialized staff
 Serves students from 0-22 yrs old
 Sign language classes offered for parents,
staff and community annually
Texas Parent to Parent
(TxP2P)
(https://www.txp2p.org/resources/statewide-resources/special-education)

 Texas Parent to Parent (TxP2P) is committed to improving the lives of

Texas children and adults with disabilities, chronic and mental health
conditions and other health care needs. TxP2P empowers families to
be strong advocates through parent-to-parent support, resource
referral, and education. In addition, TxP2P educates professionals
about the unique needs of our children with the goal of improving care
and opportunities for our children. Lastly, TxP2P is dedicated to
championing the efforts of a diverse set of parent support groups and
advocacy on behalf of our children’s well-being.
TxP2P
Positives Negatives

 Connects parents with children with  Organization base not local

disabilities
 Volunteers
 Volunteers are parents
 Flat fee
 Personal support network
 Form lifelong relationships
 Build a strong community of support
 Trained network facilitators