Youth and Transition
Friends on the accessible play structure at Camp Cricket
Youth and Transition Services Staff:
Dawn Petersen – Director of Youth and Transition Services
Mark Armstrong – Employment Coordinator
Kacey Yeager – Youth Transition Coordinator
** Internships, Clinical, and Volunteer experiences available. Contact Dawn Petersen at the address above.
Our Purpose
Teens enjoy each other's company at Teen Dance
The Youth and Transition Services Department is dedicated to creating and supporting life options for young people living with disabilities.
We believe that every child is born with inherent gifts and talents, and it is our mission to help each one explore what is possible and to succeed as a unique individual.
We believe that young people should be measured by their abilities, rather than defined by their disability. All children, teens and young adults deserve to be nurtured in an inclusive learning and social environment, and it is our responsibility to provide the support and means for their voices to be heard.
We believe that parents deserve both a helping hand with understanding their child’s disability from an Independent Living Philosophy, as well as the resources available in the community to assist their child. The Ability Center’s Youth and Transition Services Department provides various programs and opportunities to work with children and their families to walk with them as they transition into an adulthood that allows them to be successful and active participants within their community.
Who We Serve
Youth and Transition Services serve young people from birth to age 25.
Summer Programs:
Camp Cricket (click here to visit the Camp Cricket Page)
Recreation Camp - being introduced in the Summer of 2010
Recreation Camp will consist of a number of summer activities, many still being developed. The goal of this Camp Program is to introduce young people to many of the inclusive recreational opportunities offered by the community in the community. These programs are available to all age groups, with and without disabilities. The hours will be Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
One definite component will be Golfing at Crosswinds Golf Course, in Perrysburg on US-20. It is an opportunity for campers to learn about and play the game of golf, while developing social skills in the process.
Dance Camp - being introduced in the Summer of 2010
In collaboration with The Toledo Ballet, this program will explore creative movement and dance expression in a community-based, inclusive dance studio setting. This program will be available to all age groups, with and without disabilities.
Camp Storer
Camp Storer is an inclusive overnight experience for campers with disabilities, ages 13 to 22. The camp is held at Camp Storer in the beautiful Irish Hills of Southeast Michigan, with The Ability Center Camp Cricket Staff providing supports, adaptations, accommodations and personal care assistance for the campers in attendance. The campers have an opportunity to spend a week away from home and participate in activities such as horseback riding, climbing, swimming, canoeing, boating, nature walks, tie-dye, crafts and much, much more! It is an extremely beneficial independent preview for young people in transition with disabilities.
Other Summer Programs offered:
Independent Living Skills Simulation- see “Independent Living Program”
College Week- see “Youth Transition Program”
Summer Employment- see “Employment Program”
Pre-Transition Program
This is a program slated for development in the winter of 2010. Please stay tuned.
Youth Transition Program
The Youth and Transition Services Staff works with youth from birth through age 25. Before receiving Ability Center services, consumers meet with the Youth Transition Coordinator to complete the intake process and create an Independent Living Plan . The process is consumer-driven and the consumer individually chooses the programs, or aspects of the programs, that they would like to be involved in via The Ability Center’s support and services. The consumer then works with the staff to create personal, measurable short-term and long-term goals based on individual needs, goals and assessment. Consumers can work with the Coordinator to create goals for each of the programs mentioned within the Ability Center’s website, as well as to create referrals to other agencies, such as BVR (Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation), Lucas Country Board of DD, Assistance Dogs, etc., to receive additional services.
The Youth Transition Coordinator is active in attending IEP meetings (specifically to provide support for the Transition pages of the IEP), evaluation meetings, BVR appointments, etc. in order to assist youth with the transition process and advocate for the youth and their parents/guardian’s needs.
**Transition Workshops are held quarterly. Consumers and parents are able to attend the various workshops to learn more about services available in the community to assist youth with the transition process.
College-bound consumers are able to receive assistance in reaching disability services at the various colleges and can work with our staff member to create and reach goals based on their dreams and ambitions.
Summer College Program
This week long program allows consumers who are pursuing post-secondary education to work with the Youth Transition Coordinator to research schools that provide appropriate programs to meet their needs and interests. The week begins with consumers learning how to apply for scholarships, college applications and financial aid. They also learn about the purpose and role of the Disability Services Department located at the various colleges and universities. The consumers finalize the program with college visitations in the Ohio and Southern Michigan area.
Employment Program
The Employment Coordinator works with consumers ages 14 through 25, including Ticket To Work holders within this age range, who are interested in independent part-time or full-time employment and/or volunteer opportunities. They meet with the consumer to complete pre-employment needs such as employability skills training, interest inventories/surveys, employment compatibility surveys, placement assessments and job shadowing/career exploration opportunities. They will perform a formal job analysis to determine any task sequencing, modifications, accommodations, and/or supports that may be necessary to meet the consumer’s needs.
Once the consumer has been placed in a customized position, the coordinator works with the consumer’s Job Coach (if applicable) and the employer to conduct follow-up, ensuring the consumer has the appropriate supports needed to be successful in employment. The Employment Coordinator also work with consumers during the summer months in order to coordinate, facilitate, and support employment opportunities such as part-time employment, volunteer experiences, and job-shadowing/career explorations opportunities.
The Ability Center utilizes a number of trained Job Coaches to provide on the job training and guidance for consumers who may need additional support in making the transition into employment.
Independent Living Program
The Youth and Transition Services Staff work with consumers to measure their self-determination in order to create individual goals that are completely catered to the consumer’s personal and unique goals, desires, and needs.
They also teach Independent Living Skills Classes offered throughout the year. The classes have been designed to meet the needs of young adults with disabilities who are making the transition from school to adulthood. The classes assist the young adult consumers with learning the skills necessary to live as independently as possible, according to their own definition, within their community. We are currently creating a schedule of training sessions to be offered in the winter of 2010. The sessions will include one on one and small group training, as well as a broader schedule to assist with alleviating our waiting list. Please stay tuned.
Independent Living Classes include:
There are 15 various classes offered in the ACT Independent Living Skills/Transition Curriculum:
1. Social Skills
2. Sex Education
3. Personal Hygiene
4. Transportation
5. Cooking Skills
6. Home Economics
7. Meal Planning/Preparation
8. Home Care
9. Budgeting
10. Banking
11. Computer Skills Training
12. Interview Skills
13. Resume Training
14. Application Process
15. Job Search and Placement
Those consumers taking the Independent Living Skills Classes have an opportunity to participate in the Independent Living Skills Simulation during the summer months. There are two sessions offered each summer with different consumers participating in each session. The Independent Living Skills Simulation allows students who have been taking the Independent Living Skills Classes to put what they have learned in the classes into practice. The consumers participate in a preparation orientation over a several day period in which they review the skills acquired throughout the period of the classes. The consumers are then given the expectations and guidelines for the simulation, we well as a budget that they are required to manage (possibly with supervision and support). The consumer then participates overnight experience for three nights in which they complete a simulation created to assess what they have learned in their classes, what skills they are able to effectively and independently transfer, and what skills they still need to improve in or acquire. The consumers are exposed to a wide variety of activities including, but not limited to, creating and managing a budget, utilizing public transportation, shopping for and preparing meals, etc.
The Youth and Transition staff also collaborates with other employees and various organizations to hold activities for ACT consumers throughout the year such as dances, a Holiday Party, quarterly transition nights, bowling tournaments, etc.
Recreation Program
Our staff works with consumers and various organizations to provide inclusive Recreation experiences. These experiences are community-based opportunities based on individual consumer need, desires and goals. It is our goal to expand the individual and community-based programs offered to consumers in the winter of 2010.
The Youth and Transition Services Department currently facilitates these specific Recreation-based programs in collaboration with various community partners:
The I-LIVE Program (Independent Living, Inclusion, Vocational Experience), an Art-based program held at the Ability Center and Lourdes College. The program is specifically honed to individual interests, talents and strengths. The program is designed for individuals with disabilities interested in growing as an artist. The individuals work on independent art projects, as well as community-based projects requested by community members and organizations. The I-LIVE group has been responsible for designing and painting a mural for the Wolf Creek YMCA day-care center, and recently completed projects with The Salvation Army and Cafe Scramblers. The program connects artists with disabilities with experienced mentors in the field of the arts, and allows them opportunities to display their work through various shows throughout the year, as well as displays in public facilities.
The CP Sports Program, which collaborates with the University of Toledo Recreation Program, provides individuals with disabilities the experience in inclusive competitive practices and games in sports such as football and bocce ball, as well as other inclusive recreation opportunities in a leisurely environment.
ACT's Project GAIN Golf Team
The GAIN™ Program, (Golf: Accessible Inclusive Networks), an inclusive and adaptive golf program, intended to make golf fun and accessible for everyone, regardless of disability. The program provides adaptive equipment to consumers while they participate in learning the game of Golf.
The First Tee Program, an extension of the GAIN™ Program, is an inclusive golf program for young, first-time golfers. This program teaches children and youth the game of golf while also incorporating lessons designed to assist with the development of social skills. We have also begun implementing the program in grade schools, with Glendale-Feilbach piloting our first year.
Mentor Program
This is a program slated for development in the winter of 2010. Please stay tuned.
For more information, contact:
Dawn M. Petersen, Director of Youth and Transition Services
The Ability Center of Greater Toledo
5605 Monroe Street, Sylvania, OH 43560
866.885.5733 or 419.885.5733 ext.233