As a compliment to the strategic planning aspects of Utah’s Transition Institute, the Utah State Board of Education is offering schools, families and other stakeholders an opportunity to receive virtual training and technical support on Building Meaningful Lives for students with disabilities. The goal of the Transition Institute’s training component is to build capacity in local districts and create a statewide community of practice around inclusion and employment for transition-aged youth.  Site-based teams have an opportunity to participate in a series of facilitated conversations and guided practice to implement the tools and strategies presented in our Building Meaningful Lives webinars.  Participating teams will engage with families to profile their students and develop instructional plans focusing on critical life skills that set students on pathways to post-school success.  Site-based teams will have a chance to work with districts from across the state to share insights and strategies, brainstorm challenges and celebrate successes.  

 

Site-based teams will identify a student and will work with the student and family to complete a Positive Personal Profile and Life Skills Assessment.  Through a series of facilitated zoom meetings with SME’s (Sara Murphy/Laura Owens), the teams will determine meaningful goals and implementation ideas for community settings. Each team will identify goals, instructional activities and potential teaching/learning environments, volunteer settings and/or public resources to use for instructional purposes. The SME’s will provide resources and share suggestions on how to address challenges and logistical issues.  

 

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Download Click here for more information. Click here for stipend information for attending.
Download Click here for stipend information for attending.

Registration is through MIDAS #60202. Other agencies can register by clicking here
 (Links to an external site.). 

 

PRESENTERS:

Sara Murphy
Sara is the Director of WorkLink, TransCen’s San Francisco-based employment program for job seekers with disabilities. Sara is also a key contributor to the training and technical team where she works with employers, school districts, parent groups, and service providers. She also provides field support for many of TransCen’s federal and state initiatives. Currently, she is a subject matter expert for ODEP’s Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program, where she provides technical assistance and consultation to state agencies and providers in capacity building in effective practice, system/provider transformation, school-to-work transition and employer engagement. For the past 30 years, Sara’s focus has been on school-to-work transition and employment for individuals with disabilities. She has extensive experience in direct service, policy and program development, and system transformation.
When asked what her passion is and what she can’t stop talking about, Sara will respond: “My work. My work. My work.” She also loves music, traveling to exotic locales, cooking/baking, taking her dog to the beach, and reading the New York Times on Sunday mornings.

Laura Owens
Laura, the President of TransCen, has over 30 years of experience, with a strong background as a national leader in the disability employment field. Laura is currently a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Exceptional Education Department where she teaches courses focusing on high school inclusion and transition from school to work. She is also the founder and President of Creative Employment Opportunities, Inc. (CEO), in Milwaukee, which she founded in 1991. Prior to joining TransCen, Laura served as the Executive Director of APSE (the Association of People Supporting Employment First), a national organization focusing on the advancement of integrated employment for citizens with disabilities. She is an internationally known speaker having presented to businesses, organizations, schools, and at conferences in Israel, Ireland, Croatia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Chile, and Portugal.
A woman with seemingly limitless energy, Laura is passionate about her work and loves helping individuals with disabilities obtain and maintain employment. Working with individuals with disabilities is what she enjoys the most – and then she’s eager to support others in learning how to help individuals with disabilities pursue their dreams – from teachers to employment consultants to employers.