September 1, 2025 • 15 mins
Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) are back for a brand new season and discuss the start of the new school year for families of students with disabilities. They emphasize the importance of letting the dust settle before reaching out to case managers or teachers to discuss long-term visions and vocational skills. They advise parents to check in with their respective DD coordinators and/or VR agencies to ensure their child's status and opportunities. They also highlight the significance of updated assessments and encourage families to look for local workshops and fairs. This and more, so join the conversation!
Episode Keywords:
Post-Secondary Transition, supported decision making, TerpsEXCEED program, new school year, transition coordinators, vocational skills, community work sites, DD coordinator, VR agencies, IEP meetings, transition fairs, guardianship, alternative to guardianship, ABLE accounts, transition resources.
Episode Links:
Oregon Transition podcast (site)
EXCEEDing Expectations (YouTube)
DD locator (site)
VR locator (site)
ThinkCollege (site)
Developmental Disabilities Agencies (page)
Vocational Rehabilitative Agency (page)
Maryland (specific) Links/Supports:
DORS (page)
DDA (page)
To download a copy of a transcript for this episode or any of our previous conversations, click here.
Also visit our Podcast webpage to find links to all of our other discussions; go to www.p2transition.com.
Additional information about post-secondary transition can be found at our website.
The Post-Secondary Transition Podcast Facebook page.
Visit our YouTube Channel to find additional video resources.
Intro/Outro music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.
Transition music by Joseph McDade from Transistor.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Patrick Cadigan (00:00):
Welcome back to the Post-Secondary Transition
podcast, where we haveconversations around the ins and
outs and everything in betweenof the transition process for
families of students withdisabilities. I am one of the
hosts. My name is PatrickCadigan.
Meghan Smallwood (00:13):
And my name is Meghan Smallwood.
Patrick Cadigan (00:15):
And we are both public school transition
coordinators. Now, before wejump in, because Meghan, remind
me, which season are we in?
Which season are we in?
Meghan Smallwood (00:26):
Oh my goodness, is this three?
Patrick Cadigan (00:29):
Is it three or four?
Meghan Smallwood (00:31):
Oh, I don't know.
Patrick Cadigan (00:34):
Man, I'm gonna have to go back and check.
Meghan Smallwood (00:35):
It's been a while. Which is a good thing.
Patrick Cadigan (00:36):
Yeah, it has all right. Before we begin our
newest season, we wanted to takea moment to thank both the
Oregon transition podcast andtheir host Sarah, Josh and Lon
for letting us use theirdiscussion around supported
decision making, and also thefriends over at EXCEEDing
Expectations, the new TerpEXCEEDpodcast. Their host, Adrian
(01:01):
Forsythe was gracious enough tolet us share out their
discussion around theTerpsEXCEED program, and that
discussion around essentiallythe nuts and bolts of that
program and where it came from.
So it was a very cooldiscussion. You'll find links to
those conversations in ourdiscussion feed labeled
(01:21):
Podshare, but you'll also findlinks to the individual shows in
our show notes, and we thankthem again. As we prepare to
dive into our newest season,offline, Meghan and I were
having a conversation. We said,What should we talk about?
Meghan, what should we talkabout?
Meghan Smallwood (01:45):
Well, we ended our last season with what to do
over the summer and how to wrapup the school year. So we
figured it made sense to startout the new season with talking
about those things we like tothink about at the beginning of
the new school year. It's a busytime for everybody. So we're not
going to bombard you with a ton,but just those little like key
(02:06):
points that you want to keep inmind. And I know when we come
back to the job, not that weever leave the job, but you
know, when we come back at thebeginning of a school year,
sometimes I feel like a privateinvestigator trying to, like,
you know, go down those rabbitholes, figuring out these bits
and pieces and help the familiescome to where you know the most
current updates and picture arefor transition, so...
Patrick Cadigan (02:28):
Yeah, and in our area, so for us, this was
Meghan Smallwood (02:29):
Yeah, our kids included, they get a little more
our first day of school. Now inthe surrounding areas, there's
still a couple of more days leftfor some of the kids, but yeah,
I'm already feeling that firstsummer than we do, and some
people in other places have beenback for weeks, so they probably
are well into this.
Patrick Cadigan (02:49):
Yeah, yeah. All right, so let's kind of along
the same lines of our previouslist. Let's keep it simple.
Meghan, what is one of the firstthings that a family as they are
walking back into this newschool year, what is the first
thing they can do?
Meghan Smallwood (03:04):
Well, I would say, let the dust settle a
little bit. Let's get through,you know, the first week or so.
Let everyone get acclimated. Iknow teachers appreciate that
while they're trying to sort outthe new routine and the new
students. But once things are alittle calmer, I would reach out
to your students case manager orteachers and just, you know,
talk about the plan for theyear, what your long term vision
(03:25):
is for your student, and justremind them of that. You know,
"Hey, they'll be graduating orexiting in a couple years.
Really want them to bepracticing those functional or
vocational skills." Check inabout what they might be doing
out in the community, what kindof work sites or vocational
opportunities, what life skillsare they working on? Just so you
(03:46):
have a sense. And then whenyou're talking to other people
in their lives, you know,whether it be a DDA coordinator
or, you know, DORS counselor, oranyone out in the vocational
world, you can tell them whatthey've been doing what they're
working on.
Patrick Cadigan (04:02):
Playing off of that, then is there things that
are happening at home that theycan mimic at school?
Meghan Smallwood (04:11):
Absolutely.
And I loved when I was aclassroom teacher to hear what
they were doing at home so Icould mimic that at school. So
So I appreciate the same that ifthey're doing something at
school, they can practice athome. Let's all be on the same
page, right? I loved finding outthat a student was, you know,
doing the laundry at home. AndI'm like, "Well, cool, we can do
(04:32):
that at school and work ongeneralizing it." So you
definitely, you know, keep intouch and find out what skills
they're doing at school so thatyou can work on that chore list
at home, for example, sweeping.
You know, that's a hard skillI've seen a lot of students
struggle with. If they have anopportunity at home to practice
(04:52):
sweeping or vacuuming, thatcould reinforce what they're
doing out at a work site,folding towels. You know, who
knew there were so manydifferent ways of. The towel. I
learned that when we went to thehotel as a work site. So having
them practice at home, and ifyou want to practice, but you're
not sure how to start, you canalways ask that case manager,
hey, do you have any like,visuals? Do you have any tips or
(05:14):
tricks of the trade that I canuse to work on it with them? You
know, just to be involved inthat vocational piece really
helps when you're thinking ofthe future and you have to go to
an agency or a provider, andit's like, you know that pitch,
you have to not sell yourstudent, but you can say what
they can do, and you know whatthey like. So this just really
(05:35):
helps to strengthen that.
Patrick Cadigan (05:37):
As you are mentioning agencies and
providers and things. What aresome of those things that
parents can be doing to check inwith their
agencies/coordinator/programs.
Meghan Smallwood (05:51):
It's called DDA in our area, but it can be
different. It's your DDcoordinator, wherever you may
live, but just checking in ifyou haven't heard from somebody,
or you don't know where you'reat in that line of the waiting
list, or you know your currentstatus, just check in with them.
Or check in if you have atransition coordinator from
(06:14):
school, find out what is goingon. Find out if they want to
meet, especially if your youngadult is between the ages of 18
and 21 you know, we knowtransitions really quickly
approaching. So you just want tomake sure you're not missing
anything. You can let them knowthat you'd like them to come to
your IEP meeting so they canhear updated information from
(06:36):
your team. And if you have an18th birthday, we're coming up
in the next year for your youngadult, you definitely want to
reach out and have them help youstart making that list of
milestones that might be comingup. And you have to think about
like Social Security orguardianship, or alternatives to
guardianship. We know,unfortunately, there's a big
(06:56):
turnover when it comes to a lotof these coordinators, so you
just want to make sure you havethe most current information.
Patrick Cadigan (07:02):
DD, or the DD agencies like that's only one
part of the pie. We also haveour VR agencies, or at least...
Meghan Smallwood (07:10):
Yeah.
Patrick Cadigan (07:10):
...our area.
It's referred to as DORS, theDepartment of Rehabilitative
Services. Is there anything theycan do with that?
Meghan Smallwood (07:16):
Yeah, again, you want to check in, because if
you haven't been accessing themor using any of their services.
Sometimes the case might close.
So you want to make sure you'reup to date and current, and you
want to find out what kind ofopportunities might be out there
for your young adult that theycould access outside the school
day. You know, the more we canreinforce preparatory vocational
opportunities for the future,the better. So it's just good to
(07:38):
check in with them and let themknow that you're still here and
still interested. I know in ourarea, we have different levels.
You know, we might have the preemployment transition services,
and then we might have thevocational rehabilitation
services. So that's aconversation, too. If they're
getting older and you want tohave an application completed
for vocational rehabilitation,that's definitely something to
(08:01):
check in with them about.
Patrick Cadigan (08:04):
And one of the things that's come up a couple
of times if, by some off chance,you do not have a transition
coordinator, or if it's just oneof those things that right now,
it is top of mind for you. Therewill be a link in the show notes
to two resources that we havefound and we have recommended in
the past, one is to help youfind a DDA agency in your area,
(08:26):
and then the other one is tofind that VR agency in your
area. Two resources, super easyto use, super helpful. Give it a
look in the show notes.
Meghan Smallwood (08:36):
Yeah. And you know, like Patrick said, If you
are fortunate enough to have atransition specialist in your
school or county. Definitelywant to check in with them and
ask to meet and see what ifanything needs to be done right
now, they're an important pieceof the puzzle. I know for our
families. I know families thatare really still struggling to
get through the wholeapplication process for those
(08:57):
DDA services and could use anextra hand or someone to kind of
collaborate with and figure outhow to move forward with it.
Another thing I wanted tomention, too, I know we've
talked about this before, but Iknow with our agencies here,
they really like those updatedassessments before the student
leaves the school system. Sothat's something that we always,
(09:19):
you know, try to get parents tokeep in mind, what was the last
time that your child wasassessed cognitively? Because I
know that impacts whetherthey're eligible for DD services
or not. So that's anotherconversation to have with that
school team as the year starts,when was the last set of
assessments completed? Can Ihave a copy and put it in my
home file if you don't, and ifthey haven't been assessed in a
(09:42):
while, and there's a reevaluation coming up, check in
and see if that's on the tablefor consideration.
Patrick Cadigan (09:48):
The other thing that I'm going to throw out
there, and I know that this is abig deal for us as we are
transitioning into the beginningof the school year, is to throw
out to families to look out. Foranything that's coming up,
workshops or fairs like in ourarea, in in specific, our school
(10:08):
system, we have already startedto plan out our Transition Fair,
which is coming up in October.
Meghan Smallwood (10:14):
Yeah, and we have a lot of offerings for
parents in our county. We do alot of virtual things to make it
easier to access, but definitelycheck around your area in terms
of what's being offered andbesides just your area. If you
go out, and I know we have aplethora of it on our website,
but if you look at some of thedifferent agencies or providers
or organizations, for example,think college is one that I know
(10:38):
I just recently saw there arewebinars all the time, offering
information about them and justreaching out with panels and
informational sessions aboutwhat it is and what it means and
what it could look like. So justgo out and do a little research
and sign up for newsletters.
That's what I did when I firststarted my role as a transition
specialist. I went to a bunch ofdifferent organizations and just
(11:01):
signed up for the newsletters,and I get mentioning of
conferences and workshops allthe time. So it doesn't even
just have to be your localcounty, especially if you have a
county where you don't have atransition specialist creating
these things for you. Theinformation can be found out
there.
Patrick Cadigan (11:20):
It's really funny, because we just finished
our first day. And of course,you walk into the building, or,
you know, for me, I'm walkinginto the building and I'm super
excited. The kids are superexcited. You know, there's new
friends, there's old friends.
Everybody is reconnecting. But Iwill say that sometimes there's
a little bit of sadness too.
Like just today, I found outthat there was two students that
(11:43):
I worked with last year who hada very special place in my
heart, and they have both sincemoved on. So when it comes to
planning ahead, Meghan, whatwill we say for our families who
are like who are planning thosebig changes? Is there anything
that they can do?
Meghan Smallwood (12:00):
Yeah, I know sometimes I encounter families
who are like, Well, when Iretire, we're gonna move here.
But you're right. I've heard ofstudents who the families moved
over the summer, or they'reanticipating a move coming up. I
just want families to know ifyou are planning on moving, even
if it's like a quick turnaroundbecause of whatever you want to
look right away at that new newstate that you will be moving
(12:22):
to, you want to check in rightaway about their equivalent of
the Division of RehabilitationServices and their DDA, or, you
know, their DDA services thatthey have. You want to find out
what kind of services areoffered in that area if they
have a wait list, because manyplaces do so if you're moving
before 21 you definitely want toget them on that list as soon as
(12:45):
possible. And you also want tofind out what's going on in the
school setting. How does itcompare to where they were? Do
they go out to work? Do theytake the students in the
community? You know, what kindof work programs exist in the
school and out in the communitywith the nonprofits? So just do
a lot of research. I know youalready have a lot to think
about if you're moving, but justlike you would look at the
(13:08):
schools, you want to look at theDDA side of things.
Patrick Cadigan (13:10):
One of the things that I've always found
interesting when we've had thosebroader conversations,
especially with friends fromdifferent areas, is those those
little differences.
Meghan Smallwood (13:18):
Yeah, and you know, it's fascinating, and I
know that's why we like to reachout to different places. You
know, we talked to Oregon, ourfriends in Oregon. We've talked
to people in New Jersey. It'salways fascinating to find out
how it compares and how itdiffers. So just be aware.
Patrick Cadigan (13:33):
All right, so we promised in the beginning
that we were not going tooverload you, and we meant it.
Meghan Smallwood (13:38):
Yep.
Patrick Cadigan (13:39):
This is a good starting point for the beginning
of the year, so we're going togo ahead and we're going to
leave it at that, but not toworry, because we are still
going to have more conversationscoming up in the new season, and
we look forward to talking withyou guys some more.
Meghan Smallwood (13:54):
Definitely.
This is just the start ofanother great season. .
Patrick Cadigan (13:57):
Fantastic. All right then, well, we are out and
we will talk soon. Ourdiscussions are everywhere.
Apple, Spotify, YouTube, musicand others. So hit that follow
button and you won't miss out,please. If you haven't already
done so, consider leaving areview, preferably 5-star. It
helps you spread the word and ithelps us, because we know you're
(14:17):
listening. Links to theinformation from our
conversations are always in ourshow notes. Our YouTube channel
contains curated videos thatrevolve around transition,
including playlists forguardianship, alternatives to
guardianship ABLE accounts andmore to come. And then finally,
check out our website,www.postsecondarytransition.com,
(14:38):
full of information and links tomore resources. Thanks so much
for your time spent with us, andwe look forward to talking again
soon.
Welcome back to the Post-Secondary Transition
podcast, where we haveconversations around the ins and
outs and everything in betweenof the transition process for
families of students withdisabilities. I am one of the
hosts. My name is PatrickCadigan.
Meghan Smallwood (00:13):
And my name is Meghan Smallwood.
Patrick Cadigan (00:15):
And we are both public school transition
coordinators. Now, before wejump in, because Meghan, remind
me, which season are we in?
Which season are we in?
Meghan Smallwood (00:26):
Oh my goodness, is this three?
Patrick Cadigan (00:29):
Is it three or four?
Meghan Smallwood (00:31):
Oh, I don't know.
Patrick Cadigan (00:34):
Man, I'm gonna have to go back and check.
Meghan Smallwood (00:35):
It's been a while. Which is a good thing.
Patrick Cadigan (00:36):
Yeah, it has all right. Before we begin our
newest season, we wanted to takea moment to thank both the
Oregon transition podcast andtheir host Sarah, Josh and Lon
for letting us use theirdiscussion around supported
decision making, and also thefriends over at EXCEEDing
Expectations, the new TerpEXCEEDpodcast. Their host, Adrian
(01:01):
Forsythe was gracious enough tolet us share out their
discussion around theTerpsEXCEED program, and that
discussion around essentiallythe nuts and bolts of that
program and where it came from.
So it was a very cooldiscussion. You'll find links to
those conversations in ourdiscussion feed labeled
(01:21):
Podshare, but you'll also findlinks to the individual shows in
our show notes, and we thankthem again. As we prepare to
dive into our newest season,offline, Meghan and I were
having a conversation. We said,What should we talk about?
Meghan, what should we talkabout?
Meghan Smallwood (01:45):
Well, we ended our last season with what to do
over the summer and how to wrapup the school year. So we
figured it made sense to startout the new season with talking
about those things we like tothink about at the beginning of
the new school year. It's a busytime for everybody. So we're not
going to bombard you with a ton,but just those little like key
(02:06):
points that you want to keep inmind. And I know when we come
back to the job, not that weever leave the job, but you
know, when we come back at thebeginning of a school year,
sometimes I feel like a privateinvestigator trying to, like,
you know, go down those rabbitholes, figuring out these bits
and pieces and help the familiescome to where you know the most
current updates and picture arefor transition, so...
Patrick Cadigan (02:28):
Yeah, and in our area, so for us, this was
Meghan Smallwood (02:29):
Yeah, our kids included, they get a little more
our first day of school. Now inthe surrounding areas, there's
still a couple of more days leftfor some of the kids, but yeah,
I'm already feeling that firstsummer than we do, and some
people in other places have beenback for weeks, so they probably
are well into this.
Patrick Cadigan (02:49):
Yeah, yeah. All right, so let's kind of along
the same lines of our previouslist. Let's keep it simple.
Meghan, what is one of the firstthings that a family as they are
walking back into this newschool year, what is the first
thing they can do?
Meghan Smallwood (03:04):
Well, I would say, let the dust settle a
little bit. Let's get through,you know, the first week or so.
Let everyone get acclimated. Iknow teachers appreciate that
while they're trying to sort outthe new routine and the new
students. But once things are alittle calmer, I would reach out
to your students case manager orteachers and just, you know,
talk about the plan for theyear, what your long term vision
(03:25):
is for your student, and justremind them of that. You know,
"Hey, they'll be graduating orexiting in a couple years.
Really want them to bepracticing those functional or
vocational skills." Check inabout what they might be doing
out in the community, what kindof work sites or vocational
opportunities, what life skillsare they working on? Just so you
(03:46):
have a sense. And then whenyou're talking to other people
in their lives, you know,whether it be a DDA coordinator
or, you know, DORS counselor, oranyone out in the vocational
world, you can tell them whatthey've been doing what they're
working on.
Patrick Cadigan (04:02):
Playing off of that, then is there things that
are happening at home that theycan mimic at school?
Meghan Smallwood (04:11):
Absolutely.
And I loved when I was aclassroom teacher to hear what
they were doing at home so Icould mimic that at school. So
So I appreciate the same that ifthey're doing something at
school, they can practice athome. Let's all be on the same
page, right? I loved finding outthat a student was, you know,
doing the laundry at home. AndI'm like, "Well, cool, we can do
(04:32):
that at school and work ongeneralizing it." So you
definitely, you know, keep intouch and find out what skills
they're doing at school so thatyou can work on that chore list
at home, for example, sweeping.
You know, that's a hard skillI've seen a lot of students
struggle with. If they have anopportunity at home to practice
(04:52):
sweeping or vacuuming, thatcould reinforce what they're
doing out at a work site,folding towels. You know, who
knew there were so manydifferent ways of. The towel. I
learned that when we went to thehotel as a work site. So having
them practice at home, and ifyou want to practice, but you're
not sure how to start, you canalways ask that case manager,
hey, do you have any like,visuals? Do you have any tips or
(05:14):
tricks of the trade that I canuse to work on it with them? You
know, just to be involved inthat vocational piece really
helps when you're thinking ofthe future and you have to go to
an agency or a provider, andit's like, you know that pitch,
you have to not sell yourstudent, but you can say what
they can do, and you know whatthey like. So this just really
(05:35):
helps to strengthen that.
Patrick Cadigan (05:37):
As you are mentioning agencies and
providers and things. What aresome of those things that
parents can be doing to check inwith their
agencies/coordinator/programs.
Meghan Smallwood (05:51):
It's called DDA in our area, but it can be
different. It's your DDcoordinator, wherever you may
live, but just checking in ifyou haven't heard from somebody,
or you don't know where you'reat in that line of the waiting
list, or you know your currentstatus, just check in with them.
Or check in if you have atransition coordinator from
(06:14):
school, find out what is goingon. Find out if they want to
meet, especially if your youngadult is between the ages of 18
and 21 you know, we knowtransitions really quickly
approaching. So you just want tomake sure you're not missing
anything. You can let them knowthat you'd like them to come to
your IEP meeting so they canhear updated information from
(06:36):
your team. And if you have an18th birthday, we're coming up
in the next year for your youngadult, you definitely want to
reach out and have them help youstart making that list of
milestones that might be comingup. And you have to think about
like Social Security orguardianship, or alternatives to
guardianship. We know,unfortunately, there's a big
(06:56):
turnover when it comes to a lotof these coordinators, so you
just want to make sure you havethe most current information.
Patrick Cadigan (07:02):
DD, or the DD agencies like that's only one
part of the pie. We also haveour VR agencies, or at least...
Meghan Smallwood (07:10):
Yeah.
Patrick Cadigan (07:10):
...our area.
It's referred to as DORS, theDepartment of Rehabilitative
Services. Is there anything theycan do with that?
Meghan Smallwood (07:16):
Yeah, again, you want to check in, because if
you haven't been accessing themor using any of their services.
Sometimes the case might close.
So you want to make sure you'reup to date and current, and you
want to find out what kind ofopportunities might be out there
for your young adult that theycould access outside the school
day. You know, the more we canreinforce preparatory vocational
opportunities for the future,the better. So it's just good to
(07:38):
check in with them and let themknow that you're still here and
still interested. I know in ourarea, we have different levels.
You know, we might have the preemployment transition services,
and then we might have thevocational rehabilitation
services. So that's aconversation, too. If they're
getting older and you want tohave an application completed
for vocational rehabilitation,that's definitely something to
(08:01):
check in with them about.
Patrick Cadigan (08:04):
And one of the things that's come up a couple
of times if, by some off chance,you do not have a transition
coordinator, or if it's just oneof those things that right now,
it is top of mind for you. Therewill be a link in the show notes
to two resources that we havefound and we have recommended in
the past, one is to help youfind a DDA agency in your area,
(08:26):
and then the other one is tofind that VR agency in your
area. Two resources, super easyto use, super helpful. Give it a
look in the show notes.
Meghan Smallwood (08:36):
Yeah. And you know, like Patrick said, If you
are fortunate enough to have atransition specialist in your
school or county. Definitelywant to check in with them and
ask to meet and see what ifanything needs to be done right
now, they're an important pieceof the puzzle. I know for our
families. I know families thatare really still struggling to
get through the wholeapplication process for those
(08:57):
DDA services and could use anextra hand or someone to kind of
collaborate with and figure outhow to move forward with it.
Another thing I wanted tomention, too, I know we've
talked about this before, but Iknow with our agencies here,
they really like those updatedassessments before the student
leaves the school system. Sothat's something that we always,
(09:19):
you know, try to get parents tokeep in mind, what was the last
time that your child wasassessed cognitively? Because I
know that impacts whetherthey're eligible for DD services
or not. So that's anotherconversation to have with that
school team as the year starts,when was the last set of
assessments completed? Can Ihave a copy and put it in my
home file if you don't, and ifthey haven't been assessed in a
(09:42):
while, and there's a reevaluation coming up, check in
and see if that's on the tablefor consideration.
Patrick Cadigan (09:48):
The other thing that I'm going to throw out
there, and I know that this is abig deal for us as we are
transitioning into the beginningof the school year, is to throw
out to families to look out. Foranything that's coming up,
workshops or fairs like in ourarea, in in specific, our school
(10:08):
system, we have already startedto plan out our Transition Fair,
which is coming up in October.
Meghan Smallwood (10:14):
Yeah, and we have a lot of offerings for
parents in our county. We do alot of virtual things to make it
easier to access, but definitelycheck around your area in terms
of what's being offered andbesides just your area. If you
go out, and I know we have aplethora of it on our website,
but if you look at some of thedifferent agencies or providers
or organizations, for example,think college is one that I know
(10:38):
I just recently saw there arewebinars all the time, offering
information about them and justreaching out with panels and
informational sessions aboutwhat it is and what it means and
what it could look like. So justgo out and do a little research
and sign up for newsletters.
That's what I did when I firststarted my role as a transition
specialist. I went to a bunch ofdifferent organizations and just
(11:01):
signed up for the newsletters,and I get mentioning of
conferences and workshops allthe time. So it doesn't even
just have to be your localcounty, especially if you have a
county where you don't have atransition specialist creating
these things for you. Theinformation can be found out
there.
Patrick Cadigan (11:20):
It's really funny, because we just finished
our first day. And of course,you walk into the building, or,
you know, for me, I'm walkinginto the building and I'm super
excited. The kids are superexcited. You know, there's new
friends, there's old friends.
Everybody is reconnecting. But Iwill say that sometimes there's
a little bit of sadness too.
Like just today, I found outthat there was two students that
(11:43):
I worked with last year who hada very special place in my
heart, and they have both sincemoved on. So when it comes to
planning ahead, Meghan, whatwill we say for our families who
are like who are planning thosebig changes? Is there anything
that they can do?
Meghan Smallwood (12:00):
Yeah, I know sometimes I encounter families
who are like, Well, when Iretire, we're gonna move here.
But you're right. I've heard ofstudents who the families moved
over the summer, or they'reanticipating a move coming up. I
just want families to know ifyou are planning on moving, even
if it's like a quick turnaroundbecause of whatever you want to
look right away at that new newstate that you will be moving
(12:22):
to, you want to check in rightaway about their equivalent of
the Division of RehabilitationServices and their DDA, or, you
know, their DDA services thatthey have. You want to find out
what kind of services areoffered in that area if they
have a wait list, because manyplaces do so if you're moving
before 21 you definitely want toget them on that list as soon as
(12:45):
possible. And you also want tofind out what's going on in the
school setting. How does itcompare to where they were? Do
they go out to work? Do theytake the students in the
community? You know, what kindof work programs exist in the
school and out in the communitywith the nonprofits? So just do
a lot of research. I know youalready have a lot to think
about if you're moving, but justlike you would look at the
(13:08):
schools, you want to look at theDDA side of things.
Patrick Cadigan (13:10):
One of the things that I've always found
interesting when we've had thosebroader conversations,
especially with friends fromdifferent areas, is those those
little differences.
Meghan Smallwood (13:18):
Yeah, and you know, it's fascinating, and I
know that's why we like to reachout to different places. You
know, we talked to Oregon, ourfriends in Oregon. We've talked
to people in New Jersey. It'salways fascinating to find out
how it compares and how itdiffers. So just be aware.
Patrick Cadigan (13:33):
All right, so we promised in the beginning
that we were not going tooverload you, and we meant it.
Meghan Smallwood (13:38):
Yep.
Patrick Cadigan (13:39):
This is a good starting point for the beginning
of the year, so we're going togo ahead and we're going to
leave it at that, but not toworry, because we are still
going to have more conversationscoming up in the new season, and
we look forward to talking withyou guys some more.
Meghan Smallwood (13:54):
Definitely.
This is just the start ofanother great season. .
Patrick Cadigan (13:57):
Fantastic. All right then, well, we are out and
we will talk soon. Ourdiscussions are everywhere.
Apple, Spotify, YouTube, musicand others. So hit that follow
button and you won't miss out,please. If you haven't already
done so, consider leaving areview, preferably 5-star. It
helps you spread the word and ithelps us, because we know you're
(14:17):
listening. Links to theinformation from our
conversations are always in ourshow notes. Our YouTube channel
contains curated videos thatrevolve around transition,
including playlists forguardianship, alternatives to
guardianship ABLE accounts andmore to come. And then finally,
check out our website,www.postsecondarytransition.com,
(14:38):
full of information and links tomore resources. Thanks so much
for your time spent with us, andwe look forward to talking again
soon.
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