Services and supports from agencies and providers
assistive technology related resources
such as devices, tools and apps on smartphones or tablets
accommodations that provide adjustments to make it possible to perform job duties
as well as informal supports from people in a person's life
all help you to be successful at school
and work and live independently if they choose to.
Using various supports in combination can help you live your best life.
Listen to the different ways these young people were supported
to be successful during their journey to adulthood
Through Focus Beyond
I received regularly scheduled speech therapy sessions
social work meetings
specialized instruction that supported my success in PSEO coursework
and a lot of help of planning for my future and career goals.
After high school I went to a Transition Program.
At STEP I practiced cooking
grocery shopping
interviewing skills.
I had to do, like, the garbage
and communication skills.
The principal of STEP told me about Project Search.
I was excited to do Project Search.
I wanted to do it myself.
I first got engaged with Voc Rehab Services
during my senior year of high school
and I met with my first VRS counselor that I had during the fall of that year.
I got introduced to VRS in ninth grade
when they came to my school once a week to visit with me.
VRS helped me explore class options and job opportunities.
I think my case manager thought I would be a good fit for VRS
because she knew that I wanted to
get a job eventually
and even pursue post-secondary education after high school.
So I did utilize State Services For The Blind.
They assisted with career preparation
college preparation
when it came to my transition.
In addition to that I also had intervenor services.
You know, there's that extra visual and auditory support should you need it.
They taught me about the job system
about different type of jobs and how to be successful in the job.
That's what I kind of really took from Transition Plus.
My job coach helped me use Metro Mobility
when I was in PRI program.
Help me schedule the rides
help me
you know, be on time for the rides.
Helped me really get to work on time or how to get to work on time
without being late.
I did like a career assessment to kind of find out what my interests were
how to make a professional resumé.
How to interview.
Job searching and being a part of the workforce.
My job coach helped me with the online application
and prepped me for my interview and I went to my interview by myself.
Sammy in particular has the CDCS designation for her grouping.
We take care of the expenses and do everything for her
and work through ACCRA who’s the payroll service.
So then when we got all that taken care of
we realized there were funds that are available through
Minnesota Supplemental Aid.
She has her Social Security Disability.
She does have SNAP to help her with her food needs.
The important piece now is that she just received her first paycheck yesterday.
So now we'll Now we'll start reporting
to the proper organizations that she's now receiving income
so we can adjust out what Social Security will pay her, what her SNAP will be.
She gets a reduction in her Internet
that's available to people for special needs.
She just received a grant to help pay for her utilities
which should cover her through the rest of the summer.
It's based on her income.
There's so many things out there that people just realize
I mean, she's got a significant amount of assistance
which allows her to live on her own.
My family was a huge support for me when I was in high school.
I was so fortunate to have a family that was with me through the struggles.
I could talk to my parents and they would be involved and come with me.
And my parents were like the protective mama bears and papa bears
and any information and discussions that needed to be happening
and education that needed to be given
to the school or the teachers they were with me.
A lot of teachers said, "Oh, it's fine they don't they don't need that."
Or, "It doesn't matter."
But when my parents were able to join me in advocating
it really was helpful.
It’s so important for parents to support their kid’s dreams because
because they know them better than anybody else
and they can work to make it happen.
Just looking at people's strengths and
making sure that they can find joy in life and use their strengths.
Follow their interests just like everybody else.
And live life to the fullest.
In this video
you learned about the services and support that the young people got from schools.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
State Services For The Blind
Waivers
Providers and Family.
After my motorcycle accident and losing use of my right arm
Vocational Rehabilitation Services helped me obtain voice activated software
and a new computer that would work with that software.
Hey, thanks VRS.
There are other kinds of services too.
Medical assistance home and community based waivers
allow people with disabilities to live in their own homes.
They do this by providing services needed to support people in their homes
their workplaces and in their communities.
There are other kinds of waiver programs
designed to help people with disabilities too.
Some people with disabilities might not need extra assistance to plan for
and be successful during their transition into adulthood.
Others might need one or two of the supports
and others might need most of them.
Any of those options is fine.
Just know that support is available.
If you need more information
you can find out about services and supports
at disabilityhubMN.org.