LINC-Pinellas Scans Lab
Largo, Florida
Contact:
Karlton Ballard
Project Manager
LINC-Pinellas SCANS Lab
Pinellas County Schools
301 4th Street S.W.
P.O. Box 2942
Largo, Florida 33779-2492
Phone: 813-588-6540
Fax: 813-558-6202
Mission
The mission of the LINC-Pinellas project is to facilitate systems change resulting in collaborative, innovative, person-centered transition outcomes for students with disabilities. Utilizing interagency networks and resources for school to community transition, an effective continuum of transition services will be realized for all persons with disabilities.
Organization
Organization Type: Education Agency - School
Geographical Area: Urban area
Primary Setting: Offsite School location
Funding: External funding source - Federal School-to-Work Implementation Grant; State Transition Systems Change Grant
Consumers:
Target Population - Secondary education students With disabilities; Teachers or faculty - Secondary education, Postsecondary education; Community service providers; Parents; Business people or employer; Teachers or trainers
Disability Areas: Hearing impairment, Mental retardation (Mild, Moderate), Orthopedic impairment, Mullet-disabled, Severe emotional disturbance/emotional disability/behavior disorder, Specific learning disability, Speech impairment, Visual impairment, Traumatic brain injury
NTA Framework Categories
Description
LINC-Pinellas is one of six Florida Blueprint for School to Community Transition projects funded collaboratively by the Federal Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services and the State Department of Education and Labor. Utilizing interagency networks, LINC-Pinellas was designed to facilitate systems change resulting in meaningful, person-centered transition outcomes for students, families, school systems, and the community. The ongoing goal of the LINC project is to develop a continuum of transitional services, resources, and information that are accessible to students with disabilities.
In order to address the goals of the Florida Blueprint, the LINC project has developed an innovative vocational technology classroom called the "SCANS Lab" (Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills). The lab is located at Abilities of Florida, Inc., and adult service provider located in Clearwater, FL. Abilities is a partner agency in the grant and serves as the off-site location of the lab. Secondary ESE students from four targeted high schools are transported to Abilities to attend a one semester career exploration course.
Each student enrolled in the SCANS Lab receives comprehensive career assessment and vocational skills testing that assist in making decisions concerning post secondary training or immediate employment after high school. A SCANS Lab curriculum has been developed that provides students with practice in the five SCANS competencies, career exploration, workplace orientation and experience and guided transition planning, which are integral pieces of the school-to-work theme that encompasses the SCANS experience. The networked technology lab allows students to learn the computer skills necessary to compete in the job market of the 21st century.
The semester culminates with a student facilitated transition planning meeting that parents, case managers, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Technician, SCANS Lab teacher and agency representatives attend. The student’s assessment, interests, strengths and weaknesses are discussed, and various options for training and/or postsecondary education are presented for the student and parents to consider.
The Vocational Rehabilitation Technician provides follow-up services to students and parents. Students exit the SCANS Lab with a transition plan, and are better prepared to make the transition from school to community.
Evidence of Success