Center on Transition Innovations

The FINAL live Q&A call for Indicator 14 is Tuesday, August 18, at 3:30 PM!

If you're responsible for overseeing or collecting Indicator 14 data in your division, you don’t want to miss these upcoming Q&A calls we're hosting with the Virginia Department of Education.

Sign up for this Virtual Q&A session, where we’ll walk you through the process and best practices for gathering postsecondary outcomes data.

Register now to reserve your seat and stay ahead of the September 30, 2026, deadline:

Tuesday, August 18 at 3:30 PM:
https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/zuYbJAkaTm-3kAe4F4FILw #/registration

If you haven't already, sign up for our next webcast on Independent Living and Housing Considerations when Transition Planning, presented by Kendel St. John, M.Ed., on June 10, 2026, at 2 PM!

Join to discover practical housing and independent living options for youth with disabilities in Virginia, along with funding supports such as Medicaid waivers, Section 8, and State Rental Assistance Programs (SRAP).

Kendel will be exploring the real options along the continuum, from independent living to group homes, and how to plan early with a case manager.

Register today to save your seat (link in comments)

"Independent living" sounds massive. It’s a lot more than just getting your own keys; it’s about knowing how to manage your time, take care of your health, navigate your community, and make your own choices.

For young adults with disabilities, mastering these skills is the ultimate game-changer.

Our free, self-paced course, Get Ready for Independent Living, is designed to help students build the confidence they need to thrive on their own terms.

Why enroll today?

💰 100% Free: No hidden costs, ever.

⏳ Completely Flexible: Go through the modules at your own pace.

🧠 Practical Skills: Real-world tools you can actually use today.

Whether you're a student prepping for the future, a parent supporting the transition, or an educator looking for excellent classroom resources, this course is for you.

👉 Start the journey here: https://centerontransition.org/courses/getreadyindependentliving/

This week’s is to support students with disabilities to build independence by practicing small, real-life decisions at home. Here’s a simple way parents can support this skill over the summer:

🔘 Offer Two Meaningful Choices: Start by offering choices that impact the student’s day, like: “Do you want to make a sandwich or a salad for lunch?” or “Would you rather fold towels or sweep the porch today?”
🔘 Talk Through the Options: Briefly discuss the pros and cons of each choice together. This helps build critical thinking and shows that their opinion matters.

🔘 Support the Follow-Through: Once a choice is made, encourage the student to carry it out independently, offering light support as needed.

🔘 Reflect on the Outcome: Afterward, ask: “How did that go?” or “Would you make the same choice again?” Reflection builds confidence for future decisions.

Check out this upcoming opportunity by T/VCU T/TAC!

Transition does not start in high school. For elementary and middle
school practitioners, transition is about building the conditions for
later success: skills, expectations, language, and systems that travel
with the student over time.

Join us for a time of learning and collaboration.
https://cvent.me/aRYWW3

Beyond just sharing information, teaching independence is about giving students the tools and confidence to thrive on their own.

This week's resource is our Get Ready for Independent Living: Facilitator's Guide, a roadmap to successfully implementing our free online course for students with disabilities.

What's inside:
☑️ Step-by-step lesson overviews and implementation strategies
☑️ Evidence-based best practices for disability-focused instruction
☑️ Everything you need to transform knowledge into real-world skills
Whether you're a seasoned educator or new to transition planning, this guide meets you where you are and helps you create meaningful learning experiences for your students.

Download the guide here: https://centerontransition.org/resources/publications/download.cfm?id=1215

"Independent living is not doing things by yourself; it is being in control of how things are done." -Judy Heumann, the late author and disability rights activist.

Having independence and autonomy is a human need, and true independence comes from having a say in our lives.

This week, remember that the work you do to ensure everyone has the support they need to confidently steer their own course is worthwhile work.

Wishing you all a great week! ☀️

Welcome to June! ☀️ A new month means a fresh focus at our center, and we're excited to announce this month's theme: Independent Living.

True independence isn't about doing absolutely everything by yourself; it’s about having the right tools, skills, and support to steer your own ship. Whether you're a young adult preparing for the future, a family member navigating transition planning, or an educator looking for resources, we have an amazing lineup for you this month.

Resources we will be sharing this June:

📘 Get Ready for Independent Living: Facilitator's Guide – A comprehensive tool designed for mentors and educators to help teach vital independence skills.

💻 Independent Living and Housing Considerations when Transition Planning (Webcast) – A deep dive into finding the right housing options and planning for the big move.

✨ Spotlight Virginians Success Story – Get inspired by powerful, real-life stories of independence from individuals thriving right here in our community.

🏥 Medicaid Waivers in Virginia (Webcast) – Demystifying the waiver system to help you unlock crucial funding and support services.

We’ll be dropping these resources throughout the month, so make sure to turn on notifications for our page!

📣 NEW WEBCAST ANNOUNCEMENT: Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) in Virginia

June 17, 2026 | 2:00pm - 2:45pm Eastern

Presented By:
Jaclyn Camden, M.Ed., NCC,
-Director of ACE-IT in College
-Project Director for Transition RRTC
-Assistant Director of CTI

Jan Shea, MSW
-Program Coordinator at ACE-IT in College
-Transition Technology Training Associate

This webcast provides an overview of inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs and a look at current initiatives happening across Virginia. It features an inside look at a current program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of IPSE and actionable next steps to continue their learning about IPSE in Virginia.

Register to join (link in comments)!