Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

Shared in 2022, these resources from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services offers youth and families great tools for planning for key medical, housing, social, educational and other supports as youth enter young adulthood.

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  Virginia Supported Decision Making Agreement fill-in document

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  How to fill out the Virginia Supported Decision Making Agreement document

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  Virginia Supported Decision Making Discovery Tool

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  Virginia Supported Decision Making Relationship Map

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  Plain language authorization for education release of information

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  Plain language authorization for medical release of information

IEP Transition Planning In Virginia: Tips To Know For Youth With IEPs Who Are In Foster Care

A product of the WAZE to Adulthood project, developed by Formed Families Forward. This fact sheet offers tips and best practices for implementing strong transition planning for youth and young adults with disabilities who are also in foster care. Virginia-specific policies and resources are provided.

Being Involved in Person-Centered Planning for Students and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship or Adoptive Families

This fact sheet from FFF and the WAZE to Adulthood project, led by PEATC and supported by the US Rehabilitative Services Administration. It provides an overview of some common challenges to transition planning for this population and offers parents and caregivers suggestions and resources for supporting person-centered planning.

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  Fact Sheet

Supported Decision Making Library

From The Arc of Northern Virginia, a collection of resources on supported decision making, an array of services and procedures to support adults with disabilities into adulthood, often as an alternative to Guardianship.

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  Supported Decision Making resources

Ticket to Work program for adults

Do you receive disability cash benefits (SSDI or SSI) from Social Security?
Are you between 18 and 64 years old?
Are you looking to find meaningful and substantial work?
Are you ready to test your ability to work and replace your cash benefits with earnings?
If you answered YES to all of the above, Ticket to Work might be for you!

What’s Next? Planning Transitions Through and After High School webinar

Broadcast on May 14, 2021, this FFF webinar reviewed data on youth with special needs in  foster, adoptive and kinship families and their outcomes. Content includes a review of special education transition planning requirements and a number of post-secondary programs and other resources for youth and young adults with disabilities and who have been in foster care.

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  Webinar recording

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  Presentation slides

Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities online modules

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), through grant funding provided by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) and assistance provided by the Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) at James Madison University has developed five web-based training modules for parents, school professionals, and other community stakeholders that work with families whom have a child with a disability.   Parents and caregivers have certain goals in mind when their children go to school. Regardless of whether or not their children have disabilities, all parents want their children to learn, explore, and experience as much as they possibly can.  Parents strive for their children to complete their public education, obtain a diploma, and be fully prepared to move on toward their chosen path, whether that is immediate employment, higher education, or something else.  In order for children to achieve these goals, there are certain decisions that will have to be made along the way.  The modules created relate to the Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities curriculum and are designed to assist participants in understanding four things as they prepare to make these decisions:

• What are some of the keys to a child’s academic success?
• What decisions will need to be made regarding a child’s educational path?
• At what point should we be making these decisions?
• What information is needed so that we can make the most well informed decisions possible for a child?

There are a total of five modules that range in length from three to five minutes, which can be completed in a single viewing or broken up over time to meet individual time constraints.

The curriculum for these modules is also available in print and online.  A fully accessible online version is located at the following web link: Virginia Department of Education’s Special Education – Parents Section.  To obtain a printed copy of the curriculum or to ask questions about the module training opportunities, please contact Tracy Lee, Family Engagement Specialist, via email, at Tracy.Lee@doe.virginia.gov, or by phone, at (804) 225-3492.

So You’re 18

These resources from the Virginia State Bar help young adults and their families understand what rights and responsibilities occur at age 18 in the state.

A downloadable and hard copy Guide is available. There is also a So You’re 18 website.

In Virginia, 18 is the age of majority, when a person is no longer a legal minor and now has full legal responsibility. These resources help youth and families understand some of the rights and obligations as an adult and to help avoid some of the pitfalls facing young adults as you take on legal responsibilities.

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  Info about the Guide

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  Link to the So You're 18 website

Pathways to Success modules for families

From the Virginia I’m Determined project, the Pathways to Success is a series of online learning modules for parents and caregivers.

The Pathways to Success are set up for you, at your own pace, to learn about how to support your child in becoming more self-determined. If you are just beginning, you can follow the Parent Path in the order it has been created, and if you just want to learn more about a certain aspect, you can simply skip to that part and grab the information you need

Raising and Working with Children and Youth in Foster Care or Living with Kin: Your Guide to Resources in Virginia

This Guide from Virginia Family Special Education Connection offers families and professionals links to state- and local-specific resources for enrolling students, education, medical care, mental health, transitioning students to post-secondary settings, courts, and other areas.

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  Website resource

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  Flyer

My Life, My Community Long Term Care Waiver Info

From the Va Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), this site helps consumers understand and navigate long term care waivers for persons with developmental and other disabilities.

From the site:  Commonwealth’s system of services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities is undergoing significant transformation as Virginia redesigns its waiver system under the My Life, My Community initiative. The term My Life, My Community encompasses an overarching vision whereby people with developmental disabilities live, work, play and thrive in their communities, just as others do, with the support they need.

The site features a publication Navigating the Developmental Disability Waivers: A Guide for Self -Advocates, Families and Support Partners.

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  Navigating the Developmental Disability Waivers: A Guide for Self -Advocates, Families and Support Partners.

Factsheet on Profile of a Virginia Graduate from PEATC

This fact sheet from the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) provides families and students an overview of the 5 C’s of what skills a Virginia graduate should have.

Getting to Work: The Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act and Students with Disabilities webinar

This webinar offers timely information about the federal WIOA (Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act) provisions that apply to to school-age students with disabilities.

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  WIOA for students with disabilities webinar

Wilson Workforce Rehabilitation Center

Wilson Workforce Rehabilitation Center, in Fishersville, VA offers vocational evaluation and training services.

Center for Transition to Employment for Youth with Disabilities

Center for Transition to Employment for Youth with Disabilities is designed to research and spotlight the strategies and circumstances that produce optimal employment and career achievement for youth with disabilities in Virginia.

Center for Transition Innovations at VCU

Center for Transition Innovations at VCU is funded by the Virginia Department of Education and serves as a resource for educators and other stakeholders in the transition of youth with disabilities.

Securing a Future for Your Child with a Disability

Resource compiled by the Arc of Northern Virginia,  written for Northern Virginia but much is applicable in other areas of state.

Virginia’s I’m Determined project

Virginia’s I’m Determined project provides training modules and resources for teachers, parents and youth to promote self-determination of youth with disabilities.

Person Centered Planning

Person-Centered Planning is a Virginia resource to promote person-centered planning, training and other aspects of person-centeredness including self-direction. The Center for Person Centered Practices promotes ways for people to create and maintain positive change in their lives, organizations, and communities through the use of person centered skills and actions.

Virginia Department of Education’s Transfer of Rights for Students with Disabilities Upon Reaching Age of Majority in Virginia

Virginia Department of Education’s Transfer of Rights for Students with Disabilities Upon Reaching Age of Majority in Virginia, which includes information on educational power of attorney.