Transition
State of New Jersey DOE - Transition
Transition from School to Adult Life - OverviewTransition is a formal process of long-range cooperative planning that will assist students with disabilities to successfully move from school into the adult world. High quality transition planning and services will enable students with disabilities to pursue their desired postsecondary goals. The following resources are intended to assist schools, families, students, and others in understanding what to do for successful transition to happen, and how to do it. For additional assistance with transition issues, please contact Mr. Bob Haugh (Robert.Haugh@doe.state.nj.us) or Mr. Bill Freeman (Bill.Freeman@doe.state.nj.us).
Supports Program & Community Care Program Policies & Procedures Manual - A Quick Guide for Families
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/assets/documents/quick-guide-for-families-english.pdf
The Supports Program and Community Care Program were developed by the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), which provides public funding for certain services that assist eligible New Jersey adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, age 21 and older, to live as independently as possible. What is the Purpose of this Guide? This guide summarizes the information in DDD’s Supports Program and Community Care Program Policies and Procedures Manuals – the rules that govern program eligibility and process – in a comprehensive, yet uncomplicated format for individuals and families. This guide is based on information contained in DDD’s Supports Program and Community Care Program Policies and Procedures Manuals. It is not intended to nor does it replace these policy manuals.
The complete policy manuals are available on the DDD website: www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/documents/supports-program-policy-manual.pdf www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/documents/community-care-program-policy-manual.pdf
The Supports Program and Community Care Program policy manuals are the final and definitive source for all policies and procedures related to these two programs.
For questions, please email: DDD.FeeForService@dhs.nj.gov, 800.832.9173
Or visit: NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd
The Arc of NJ Family Institute IEP GO BAG
https://www.thearcfamilyinstitute.org/resources/iepgobag.html
-What You Need When You're Preparing to Meet-Accommodations & Modifications-Self-Determination/Self-Advocacy-Transition-Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973...and much more!
The Arc of NJ Family Institute GO BAGS
https://www.thearcfamilyinstitute.org/resources/go-bags.html
What's In Your Go Bag?
The Go Bag was created to help you be the best ADVOCATE you can be for your loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability. A Go Bag is a simple collection of necessary resources about a specific topic. The topics will vary but the message is the same. Be Prepared!GO BAGS TOPICS:
Early Intervention, DDD Eligibility, Special Needs Trust, Support Coordination Assistive Technology, IEP's, Guardianship, Healthcare, ABLE Accounts, DVRS, Post Secondary, Public Policy, Respite
DDD, Division of Developmental Disabilities
http://nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/home/
The Division within the Department of Human Service, coordinated and provides services for people with Autism, Mental Retardation, Cerbral Palsy, Spina Bifida, and Traumatic Brain Injuries. DDD provides evaluation, functional and guardianship services to eligible persons. Services include residential services, family support, contracted day programs, work opportunities, social supervision and guardianship and referral services.
DDD 2019 Timeline for Graduates Aging of the School System
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/documents/graduates-timeline.pdf
This timeline applies to students who have exhausted their educational entitlement by turning 21 years of age within the 2019/2020 school year.
DDD/CTC Webinar - Overview of the Division of Developmental Disability
Presented to CTC by Jennifer Joyce, Director, Employment & Transition to 21
Who does DDD Serve? Eligibility Process. When do Services Begin? Individualized Budgets. Etc.
The NJ CAT
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/individuals/applyservices/assessment/
What is the NJ CAT?
The Division uses a standard assessment to determine eligibility and to help Support Coordinators and providers understand what services are needed. This information is gathered using the New Jersey Comprehensive Assessment Tool (NJCAT). The NJCAT evaluates the need for support in three main areas: self-care, behavioral, and medical. The results also establish the individual’s tier, which determines the annual budgets that will be available for services.
Why Does the NJ CAT Need to Be Completed? The NJ CAT ensures that all individuals seeking Division-funded services have their support needs assessed through a single, standardized format. In the fee-for-service system, results of the NJ CAT establish the tier in which an individual is assigned. The tier is associated with a corresponding individualized budget. The tier also determines the reimbursement rate that a provider will receive for that individual for particular services.
NJ CAT Resources
The New Jersey Comprehensive Assessment tool (NJ CAT): A Guide for Caregivers
Checklist for the New Jersey Comprehensive Assessment Tool (NJCAT) Checklist
Disability Rights New Jersey's Bulletin On - The NJCAT: Reassessments and Your Rights
Tips for Completing The New Jersey Comprehensive Assessment Tool
NJ CAT Helpdesk: DDD.FeeForService@dhs.state.nj.us
DDD RECIPES for Adulthood - Webinar
RECIPES Presentation Webinar Link
RECIPES for Adulthood: Addressing the Seven Main Areas in Life that Lead to Success, Meaning, and Fulfilment. There are seven main areas in everyone’s life that need to be addressed in order to experience a successful, meaningful, and fulfilling life. The same is true for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This webinar will provide an overview of each area (Relationships, Employment, Chores, Individual Health & Wellbeing, Place to Live, Education, and Social Life) and steps students, families, and school personnel can take to prepare for each of these areas as a student moves toward adulthood.
Understanding Self-Directed Services in New Jersey
and the Role of the Supports Broker
This document is intended to serve as a guide for people with disabilities, families, Support Coordinators, and Supports Brokerage providers interested in learning more about Self-Direction in New Jersey and the role of the Supports Broker in supported self-direction. This guide is meant to supplement information provided in the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Supports Program and Community Care Program policy manuals.April 2021. 24 page guide.
DVRS - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
The mission of the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) is to enable eligible individuals with disabilities to achieve an employment outcome consistent with their strengths, priorities, needs, abilities and capabilities.
What services does DVRS provide?
Any individual with a physical, mental, cognitive, or other form of disability that has a substantial impediment to employment may qualify for services through the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS).
Transition Tool Kit - Autism Speaks
The guiding principle that we used in developing this kit is that all individuals with autsm, regardless of the level of support needed, should be able to live a life filled with purpose, dignity, choices and happiness. This kit will provide you with suggestions and options for you to consider as you set out on this journey toward finding your child's own unique path to adulthood.
Transition Tool Kit Sections
Introduction
Self-Advocacy
Developing Independent Living Skills
Planning for Transition
Legal Matters to Consider
Community Living
Employment and Other Options
Postsecondary Educational Opportunities
Housing and Residential Supports
Health
Technology
Conclusion
Resources
SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc.
The mission of SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc. is to serve as lifelong advocates for people with developmental disabilities who cannot acquire needed services independently. We will work with persons with developmental disabilities, their families, and other service providers to achieve a secure life for those we serve. Our organization resolves to preserve the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities and to expand their opportunities and life choices.
New Jersey Courts - Guardianship Information & Forms
The Boggs Center
The Boggs Center is New Jersey’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and is part of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pediatrics. Since its inception in 1983, The Center has emphasized a community based, lifespan approach to meeting the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.Some examples of The Boggs Center Resources:
Transition to Adulthood for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Timeline for Parents: http://rwjms.rutgers.edu/departments_institutes/boggscenter/TransitionTimeline.html
Guide for Families
Selecting & Evaluating Support Coordination Agencies
http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/products/SelectingandEvaluatingSupportCoordinationAgency.html
Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series
https://rwjms.rutgers.edu/boggscenter/dd_lecture/index.html
The Boggs Center’s Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series is a community and continuing education program provided for professionals, policymakers, individuals with disabilities, and family members to enhance their knowledge and skills in innovative approaches and state of the art practices for people with developmental disabilities.
Boggs Cast
https://theboggscenter.podbean.com/
BoggsCast is a podcast from The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities where faculty and staff explore best practice, showcase success stories, and help listeners envision possibilities for innovation through interviews with state and national experts.
Planning for Adult Life
Planning for Adult Life is a statewide project funded by the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to assist young adults (between the ages of 16-21) with developmental disabilities and their families in charting a life course for adulthood. We offer a variety of resources including Informational sessions, webinars, and resource guides/materials that address the following core areas:
Postsecondary Education/Employment
Housing Legal/Financial Planning
Entitlement Programs and Eligibility
Self-Direction
Health/Behavioral Health
Building/Maintaining Community Ties
Friendships Planning/Visioning a Life Course
Planning the Transition from School to Adult Life
http://www.asah.org/pdf/asah_transition.pdf
This booklet prepared by ASAH in coordination with Hinkle, Fingles & Prior Attorneys at Law, provides help to parents and students as they navigate the transition from school to adult life.
Social Security
https://www.ssa.gov/disability/
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.
SSI - How to Apply for Benefits
Social Security has provided financial protection for our nation's people for over 80 years. Chances are, you either receive Social Security benefits or know someone who does. With retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, Social Security is one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in our nation's history. We are passionate about supporting our customers by delivering financial support, providing superior customer service, and ensuring the safety and security of your information — helping you secure today and tomorrow.
NJWINS - NJ Work Incentives Network Support
The Family Resource Network’s New Jersey Work Incentives Network Support (NJWINS) program assists Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries to start, continue or increase work efforts while maintaining benefits for as long as they are needed.
PACERS's National Parent Center on Transition & Employment
Quality information on Transition in a format that is useful to families, youth, and professionals that includes:
Middle & High School Transition Planning
Benefit Programs & Supports
Postsecondary Education
Independent & Community Living
Employment
Center on Technology and Disability
http://ctdinstitute.org/library/transition
CTD Library on Transition
The Center on Technology and Disability (CTD) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The Center is designed to increase the capacity of families and providers to advocate for, acquire, and implement effective assistive and instructional technology (AT/IT) practices, devices, and services. Research-based technologies, used appropriately, have great potential to help infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities participate fully in daily routines; have increased access to the general educational curriculum; improve their functional outcomes and educational results; and meet college- and career-ready standards.
CTD has established a robust online Open Institute, through which we provide information resources, personal and professional development (PPD) activities, and universal and targeted technical assistance. The Institute comprises a Library of multi-media, multi-lingual resources; a Café that offers both topical and audience-specific discussions; and a Learning Center that makes available leading experts in the field. The Learning Center provides structured learning modules, short-term and long-term PPD events, and technical assistance tools and strategies.
SHA - Supportive Housing Association of NJ
The Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey (SHA) unites its diverse coalition of members engaging development, resources, and information to sustain supportive housing systems within New Jersey. Since 1998, our statewide mission seeks to enhance lives and accessibility to enable independent living within our communitie
ABLE National Resource Center
The ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC) is the leading, comprehensive source of objective, independent information about federal- and state-related ABLE programs and activities, including guidance on tax-advantaged ABLE savings accounts. Our mission is to educate, promote and support the positive impact ABLE can make on the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities and their families. ABLE NRC is a collaborative that brings together the investment, support and resources of some of the country’s largest and most influential national disability organizations in an effort to accelerate the design and availability of ABLE accounts to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.
NJ ABLE
There's no limit to what people with disabilities can do. Now, that includes saving, too. With NJ ABLE, you can save for qualified disability expenses without losing your eligibility for certain assistance programs, like SSI and Medicaid.
Your Place or Mine - A Handbook for Homeownership
This is a book about possibilities. It is designed to challenge many of the misconceptions society has about people with disabilities and their ability to own or control a place they can call home. Home ownership for any citizen brings pride, a sense of belonging, the potential for economic gain and control over our living space. Home ownership isn't easy. But with the right planning, many obstacles can be overcome and people can achieve their dream of having their own home.
The information on this website is based on recommendations of Celebrate the Children (CTC) staff and families. This information is not endorsed by CTC. It is reliable but at times may not be 100% accurate. CTC is not liable for actions or information given from these agencies.