College-based Transition Services Affinity Group
AFFINITY GROUP CO-FACILITATORS
Maria Paiewonsky, Ed.D.
Program Manager/Transition Specialist for Think College
maria.paiewonsky@umb.edu
Mary Hauff
Parent Advocate, Co-Leader of the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium
hauff004@umn.edu
Ashley Luce
Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI)
ashley.luce@umb.edu
Featured Resources
Welcome to the Think College ‘College-based Transition Services’ Affinity Group.
The purpose of this affinity group is to support members whose work involves supporting transition-aged students with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are or who would like to include college in their transition services. The group will be guided by members’ priority topics which will be determined through a survey and group check-ins at the online meetings.
Through this affinity group, we anticipate that members will:
- Have a professional community where they can share successes but also get help addressing challenges related to college-based transition services (CBTS).
- Review administrative as well as training and technical assistance materials that are available and often customized for CBTS.
- Establish professional connections with others who are expanding this model of transition services.
PAST MEETINGS
Continuum of Supports
Date: April 13, 2023
Summary: The group discussed school-college partnerships and the efforts they use to encourage schools to use IDEA funds to invest in college-based transition services. Attendees also discussed supports for students in matriculation and non-matriculation tracks.
Supporting Transfer Opportunities for Dually Enrolled Students with Intellectual Disability and Autism
Date: February 9, 2023
Summary: Two guests shared thoughts on transfer experiences. Lyndsey Nunes shared her collaborative work to support CBTS students to move from a 2 year college to a 4 year college and Maximo Pimentel shared his story transferring from CBTS to a 2 year college and degree to a 4 year university.
Transition to College
Date: December 8, 2022
Summary: Guest speakers, Mary and Jean Hauff, shared their experiences with transition-to-college activities that included: person-centered planning, taking inclusive general education classes in high school, multiple work experiences, comprehensive college search, and building self-determination.
Funding Discussion
Date: October 13, 2022
Summary: The group discussed a wide range of funding options for CBTS. Topics ranged from legislative updates supporting college-based transition services as well as successes and challenges faced to support inclusive dual enrollment services.
Funding for CBTS
Date: June 9, 2022
Summary: The group held an informal discussion of the challenges and successes they have had to financially support college-based transition services. This included some success using memorandums of understanding between college and school partners, and between college partners and VR. Members also shared challenges that present when working with stakeholders related to scope of work and value of IPSE. Recommendations include, raising program awareness, connecting with VR agencies early, and collaborating with school district transition coordinators to support students who wish to pursue higher education.
Student Selection and Preparation for College
Date: April 14, 2022
Summary: This meeting focused on student recruitment and onboarding strategies as they relate to college-based transition services. The group reviewed a recruitment study from Texas that specifically looked at what efforts public institutes of higher education in Texas are making to recruit students with ID.
Panel of School Partners Involved in College-Based Transition Services
Date: February 10, 2022
Summary: This meeting focused on the perspectives of three transition specialists in MA who have been school partners with local colleges to provide college-based transition services to students with ID. Panelists shared what they have experienced as positives of this model of services, as well as some ongoing issues they address.