Post Secondary Program: Learning for Independence
Westminster, Maryland
Contact:
Harry T. Fogle, Ed.D.
Supervisor of Special Education
Carroll County Public School
55 N. Court Street
Westminster, MD 21157
Phone: 410-751-3033
Fax: 410-751-3003
Email: hfogle@carr.org
Website: www.ccps@ccpl.carr.lib.md.us
Mission
The mission of the Post Secondary Program is to provide opportunities for learning and the application that which is learned to real life situations. The Office of Special Education believes that every student deserves a special education which is directed toward the individual and unique needs of the learner.
Organization
Organization Type: Education Agency - Local
Geographical Area: Rural
Primary Setting: Community-based training site, Independent living facility, Community college, Competitive employment worksite, Supported employment worksite, Sheltered employment worksite
Funding: No special external funding source
Consumers
Target Population: Secondary education students with disabilities - Students between ages of 18-21 who have not yet terminated their education and who’s IEP calls for services as part of their transition plan
Disability Areas: All disabilities
NTA Framework Categories
Description
The Post Secondary Program is a Special Needs/Lifeskills Education Program focusing on work adjustment and community job placement, independent living, and other life skills necessary for functioning within the community. The program is for certificate students in the Carroll County Public Schools who have completed four years in the comprehensive high school or have reached the age of nineteen. These are special education students, who, for a variety of reasons, do not meet the stringent qualifications for a Maryland High School Diploma.
These students typically qualify for adult services upon exit of the public school program. The student’s IEP and transition plan determine their participation. The program is housed at the Carroll Community College Annex, South Center Street, Westminster. It is a cooperative effort between the Carroll County Public Schools-Offices of Special Education, Continuing and Alternative Education and Career and Technical Education; Carroll Community College-Continuing Education; Local adult service providers: TARGET, Inc., CHANGE, Inc.., the ARC of Carroll County; and the local office of Division of Rehabilitative Services.
Students participate in the Post Secondary Program for at least two years. Their fist year is primarily and instructional year. The second year and any subsequent years are spent in an employment situation that will hopefully become the student’s full time work site managed by the adult provider.
Students spend a portion of their day within the classroom setting. Classes are taught on a variety of subjects all preparing students for their future within the community including: Work Adjustment, Communication on the job, Residential Living Skills, Self-Determination, Adult Basic Education, Personal Fitness, Introduction to Computers, Introduction to the Internet, and Career Exploration. The classes are taught by a special education teacher, speech and language therapist, and representatives from the local adult service agencies.
A portion of the student’s day is also spent on a work experience either paid or unpaid. On the job, the student is supported by a job coach until they reach their independent comfort level or natural supports are built into the work setting. In this setting, the student gets to practice those skills taught within the classroom setting. Students are evaluated on job performance on a daily or weekly basis by the job coach and quarterly by the work supervisor.
The students also participate in a one-week residential living experience at a local, historic Bed and Breakfast Inn. This is the culminating activity of the Residential Living Skills class. They are provided a supervised residential experience to practice recreation planning and participation and home maintenance.
Evidence of Success
Success Story
Tori Eshelman, age 21, is another example of success with the Post Secondary Program of Carroll County Public Schools. Tori attended the Post Secondary Program (PSP) for two years and has recently exited the school system. She receives adult services from the ARC of Caroll County and continues to be employed at Burger King.
When Tori began in the PSP in September 1996, her program focuses on work adjustment, community job placement, independent living, and other life skills necessary for functioning within the community. Tori needed a lot of supervision to remain on task and complete her assignments within the classroom setting. On the job, constant job coach support was imperative.
During the Fall Semester of ‘96, Tori began volunteering at Westminster Nursing Home. Her job duties included sorting and wrapping silverware for the dietary department with support of a full-time job coach. In addition to Tori’s volunteer experience, her classroom instruction focused on developing her career interests. As the school year progressed, Tori began to build her career interests and skills and decided she wanted to work in a fast food restaurant. Taking all of Tori’s
needs into consideration, we were hesitant to consider competitive employment.
During Tori’s second year in the PSP, she applied and interviewed at Burger King with the assistance of the Post Secondary staff. She was offered the job as a dining room attendant with the understanding that we would provide full-time job coaching from the time she entered the restaurant to the time she boarded the bus to be transported home. The biggest challenge for Tori was stamina and tasks and interacting with the customers. The next challenge was learning the numerous tasks for which a dining room attendant is responsible for. The task included wiping tables and chairs, sweeping, mopping, filling ice bins and condiments, cleaning bathrooms and windows, and emptying trash. She was capable of learning one task at a time and that each task needed to be broken down into small steps. She needed constant physical and verbal prompting.
Tori’s employment situation is a success because it has always been a cooperative effort between the Post Secondary staff, the staff at Burger King, Tori’s parents, the staff at The Arc and Tori’s perseverance. The staff of Burger King should be commended for giving Tori the time she needed to learn each job duty. Tori’s parents were instrumental in her success by reinforcing skills at home such as tying knots on trash bags. Staff from The ARC of Carroll County provided job coaching support before Tori exited the school system, which was imperative for a smooth transition into the adult world. The job coaches from the PSP provided outstanding support and dedication.
Tori graduated from CCPS eight months ago, is receiving adult services from The ARC and continues to be employed at Burger King. The staff from The ARC recently reported that Tori needs a job coach on site, but that she has made tremendous progress and currently needs only occasional verbal prompting. Tori is so confident now and it really shows as she works at Burger King. Although Tori learned many new skills, she has taught all of us something even more valuable.