The Virginia Dept. of Education’s “I’m Determined” division has become a model for many states across the US working to improve their post-high school outcomes for students who have IEPs. I went to the annual “I’m Determined” summit in mid-June thinking it was about transition and high school IEP goals. I came away with a much bigger picture. Transition out of high school is only one small part of self-determination. The I’m Determined model begins the IEP process in elementary school. Students participate in their IEP meetings then, with a goal of active full participation by middle school AND leading their IEP meetings by high school. The Web site offers many great resources, most of them available online in English and Spanish. Various resources are available for students, parents, and educators. The Summit offered separate sessions for students and parents, to fully empower students to develop their self-advocacy skills. I encourage families in SC to use these tools to help their students. And encourage our teachers to use them, also, as much as possible, to begin supporting students to be their own advocate. I’m Determined imdetermined.org/ from the Virginia Dept. of Education Website: “The Im Determined project, a state directed project funded by the Virginia Department of Education, focuses on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior beginning at the elementary level and continuing through the students educational career. The self-determined student knows how to set and achieve goals and has a greater understanding of personal strengths and how to get support for areas of need.”
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 03:31:05 +0000
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