2015 Nevada Department of Education

Nevada Transition Conference

Youth in Transition... Expect Educate Employ Empower

Program
October 16 & 17, 2015 Texas Station Las Vegas, Nevada

What I can See in You, What you Can See In me

Kaiden Robinson Las Vegas Academy

Notes and General Information

Welcome to the Nevada Transition Conference!

Conference Agenda
Friday, October 16, 2015
11:00 AM
Registration Opens
1:30 PM 4:00 PM
Pre-Conference session

5:00 PM 6:45 PM
Dinner/Opening Keynote
7:00 PM 9:00 PM
Vendor Village

Saturday, October 17, 2015
8:00 AM 9:15 AM
Breakfast/ Keynote

9:30 AM 10:45 AM Breakout # 1
11:00 AM 12:15 PM

Breakout # 2

12:30 AM 2:00 PM

Lunch/Nevadas Got
Talent

2:00 PM 3:15 PM

Breakout # 3

3:30 PM 4:45 PM

Breakout # 4

5:00 PM 6:30 PM

Student Panel/Closing

Registration
The Nevada Transition Conference registration will
be located in the Conference Center in the main
foyer. Registration will be open on Friday afternoon and evening and on Saturday morning.
Conference App
This year, the Conference is accessible via our app
on your mobile device or our web-based version
on your laptop. Directions on how to download
the app and sign-in are available on our website
www.nevadateach.weebly.com.
Nevada Teach
Please look to Nevada Teach on the web, Facebook and Twitter for future continuing education
programs provided by The NDE in collaboration
with the NCED. These statewide learning opportunities focus on research-based school improvement efforts, successful and promising best practices as well as current issues and trends in the
education of children.

Continuing Education Credit

The Nevada Transition Conference will offer Continuing Education Credits from the Nevada Department of Education. Additionally, PDE Credit has been solicited from Clark County School
District. You may earn up to 1 CEU or 1 PDE if
you attend the entire conference plus either a
pre-conference session or completion of the online training. Please be sure to indicate your credit preference at registration.
CEU certificates will mailed after the conference.
Room Locations
The opening keynote, dinner, breakfast and Nevadas Got Talent Luncheon will all be held in the
Dallas Ballrooms (A, B, D, F & G). Please refer to
your Program-at-a-Glance on Pages 10 & 11 for
session locations. The conference center map is
located on the back cover of this program for further location details.
Meals
Dinner will be provided on Friday evening during
the opening keynote. A breakfast will be available on Saturday morning during the keynote presentation and a luncheon and refreshment break
will be provided on Saturday afternoon.
Evaluations
Evaluation forms for each session and the overall
conference are in your registration packet, please
take a moment at the end of the session to complete and turn in the evaluation. Evaluations may
also be completed on our website or via the Conference app. Please take time to complete each
form, as your feedback is important to us and
helps us plan future professional development opportunities.
Photographs/Videos
By registering for the Nevada Transition Conference, you have agreed to allow the Nevada Department of Education and/or Nevada Center for
Excellence in Disabilities to use your photograph
in related publications, website, or other agency
materials.

Collaborating Organizations
The Nevada Transition Conference is offered in collaboration
with the following organizations:

Nevada Department of Education

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The vision of the Nevada Department of Education is All

Nevadans ready for success
in the 21st Century.
Mission

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The Nevada Department of Educations mission

is to improve student achievement and educator
effectiveness by ensuring opportunities, facilitating learning, and promoting excellence.
State Education Goals: 2020
Elevate student achievement results for all
students
Improve the graduation rate including expanding the advanced diploma rate
Ensure college and career readiness when
students graduate from high school
Ensure Nevadas students are educated by
effective teachers and administrators
Support and expand innovative programs to
improve learning
Increase productivity and return on investment

Nevada Center for Excellence

in Disabilities
The NCED serves as Nevadas University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). The UCEDDs were
established and funded by the Developmental
Disabilities Rights Assistance and Rights Act (DD
Act). UCEDDs work to accomplish a shared vision
that foresees a nation in which all Americans,
including Americans with disabilities, participate
fully in their communities. Independence, productivity and community inclusion are key components of this vision.
The Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities
(NCED) creates a bridge between science and
practice by sharing research-based best practice evidence with communities. The NCEDs
mission is to work cooperatively with consumers
(people with disabilities, family members, etc.),
agencies and programs to assist Nevadans of
all ages with disabilities to be independent and
productive citizens, fully integrated into their
communities.

Strategies
Implement standards, programs, and assessments that prepare all students for college
and careers.
Facilitate high-impact instruction and leadership through measurement and support of
educator effectiveness and family engagement.
Evaluate and publicize school, district, and
state performance and assign rewards, technical assistance, and interventions.
Continually improve Departmental leadership and collaboration with all stakeholders.

Collaborating Organizations
The city of Las
Vegas Department of Parks
and Recreation
proudly supports the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA). Through the citys Adaptive Recreation Division, community-based therapeutic
recreation services provide opportunities for
individuals to become and to stay active in the
community. Individuals of all ages and ability levels will find a variety of recreational activities to
enrich their leisure time. The program has moved
to the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center
while the west side of Lorenzi Park is being renovated.
The Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to the fair, honest and professional treatment of all individuals and organizations with
which we serve. We fully support the ADA and
are dedicated to customer satisfaction.

Established in 1956, Clark County School District is the fifth

largest school district in the
country, educating almost 75
percent of all students in Nevada with more than
320,000 students enrolled in Kindergarten through
12th grade. The district encompasses 356 schools
and approximately 8,000 square miles in southern
Nevada and is a minority majority student district.
CCSD is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of seven members who represent different
geographic regions within the county. The mission of the Board is to ensure all students progress in school and graduate prepared to succeed and contribute in a global diverse society.

Nevada Governors Council on

Developmental Disabilities
The Nevada Governors Council
on Developmental Disabilities
(NGCDD) is authorized in accordance with Public Law 106-402 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights
Act (DD Act) and operates in partnership with
the State of Nevadas Protection and Advocacy
System (NDALC) and the University Centers for
Excellence in Disabilities (in Nevada, the Nevada
Center for Excellence in Disabilities) under the
Developmental Disabilities Network. The NGCDD is committed to the development of a coordinated array of component services, supports
and other assistance designed to achieve independence, productivity, integration and inclusion
into the community for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Nevada PEP is a nonprofit organization that provides information, services and training
to Nevada families of children
with disabilities. The mission of
Nevada PED is to increase the opportunities for
home, community and school success for children with disabilities, including those who are at
risk or who have serious emotional disturbances,
their families and their service providers, through
education, encouragement and empowerment
activities.

Collaborating Organizations
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public
research institution committed to rigorous educational programs and the highest standards of
a liberal education. We produce accomplished
graduates who are well prepared to enter the
work force or to continue their education in
graduate and professional programs. Our faculty,
students, and staff enthusiastically confront the
challenges of economic and cultural diversification, urban growth, social justice, and sustainability. Our commitment to our dynamic region
and State centrally influences our research and
educational programs, which improves our local
communities.

The Department of Employment, Training &

Rehabilitations (DETR)
Bureau of Vocational
Rehabilitation is a state
and federally funded program designed to help
people with disabilities become employed and
to help those already employed perform more
successfully through training, counseling and other support methods.
Vocational Rehabilitation staff begins with an assessment to determine your current abilities and
how you might benefit from available services.
You will work with a counselor to create an employment plan that best suits your needs. When
necessary, counselors may refer clients to other
agencies for resources. Vocational Rehabilitation
often collaborates with businesses to assess job
sites and implement tools that will improve an
employees ability to successfully perform duties.

The Washoe County School District

(WCSD) is focused on creating
an education system where all
students achieve academic success, develop personal and civic
responsibility, and achieve career
and college readiness for the 21st
century.
Envision WCSD 2020: Investing In Our Future
includes the guidelines by which WCSD ensures
that every child is able to develop and expand
the skills and assets needed for academic success. It will serve as the roadmap that directs all
of the work of WCSD through 2020 and further
our efforts toward achieving our goal of Every
Child, By Name And Face, To Graduation. Following the strategic plan through 2020, our District
will remain dedicated to engaging our parents
and guardians along with community partners
to foster strong and meaningful relationships to
increase student success.

Thank you!
We would like to thank the following individuals for their
time, energy and commitment in making the Nevada
Transition Conference possible.

Jessica Boles, NCED, University of Nevada, Reno

Brenda Graske, Bureau of Vocational
Rehabilitation
Mark Hinson, Nevada Department of Education
Kari Horn, Nevada Governors Council on
Developmental Disabilities
Bernard Preston, City of Las Vegas
Robin Renshaw, Nevada PEP
Ida Roberts, NCED, University of Nevada, Reno
Stephanie Simmons, Clark County School District
Anita Stockbauer, The University of Nevada, Las
Vegas
Rita Varney, Parent Representative
Kelly Wales, Washoe County School District

Vendors
Vendor Location: Prefunction Are. Please take
a moment to visit the vendor exhibits and learn
about the support materials and products they
have to offer. Participants who visit with our
vendors will receive tickets for an opportunity to
win a prize! Winners will be announced at the
keynote sessions and will also be posted at the
registration desk.

Vendors
Aspergers Training, Employment and Life Skills
6525 W. Warm Springs Road, #100
Las Vegas, NV 89118
Phone: 702-672-0699
www.atenv.org
Aspergers Training, Employment and Life Skills is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation formed to provide
vocational development services, extended employment programs and life skills training for individuals with Aspergers Syndrome (ASD) and other
high functioning disabilities. We increase meaningful employment opportunities for adults with
ASDs who live in Clark County, Nevada by providing them with specially designed job training, support and resources and by educating employers
about recruiting, hiring, supporting, and retaining
employees with autism.
Azulblue United by Autism
458 Eagle Glen Road
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Phone: 702-586-0737
http://www.azulblue.org
Azulblue is a non-profit 501(c)(3), that provides
support to families through activities such as workshops, soccer and basketball camps, teen groups,
guide references and many more. Azulblue offers
bilingual services.

City of Henderson Public Works,

Parks & Recreation
City Hall Annex
280 Water Street
Henderson, NV 89015
Phone: 702-267-4065
Whether in a Therapeutic Recreation program or
in inclusive recreation settings with those who do
not have disabilities, well find a way for you to get
the most out of every leisure activity. We believe
that involvement in leisure experiences is important to the quality of life for all individuals. Some
individuals with disabilities prefer to participate in
the traditional recreation programs we offer. To
include those with disabilities, Therapeutic Recreation and Inclusion Services provides support in
the form of adaptive equipment, program modification, additional staff training, support staff, and
other services to facilitate inclusion. Our staff will
assist in determining the most effective means of
inclusion support for individuals to participate in
any program.
City of Las Vegas Adaptive Recreation Unit
495 S. Main Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: 702-229-4902
www.lasvegasparksandrec.com
The Adaptive Recreation Unit offers a variety of
recreation programs to persons of varying abilities.
Clark County School District Student
Services Division
5708 Mountain Vista Street
Las Vegas, NV 89120
Phone: 702-799-0930
kisbell@interact.ccsd.net
jperez@interact.ccsd.net
Kim Bass and Jean Perez (both CCSD Transition
Specialists) will provide participants with an opportunity to share transition assessment results and
review additional assessments. Ideas and materials will also be available to review.

Vendors
DETR- Vocational Rehabilitation
3016 W. Charleston Blvd Suite 200
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: 702-486-5230
www.detr.state.nv.us

Easter Seals
6200 W. Oakey Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89146
Phone: 702-870-7050
www.easterseals.com/nevada

The Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitations (DETR) Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation is a state and federally funded program
designed to help people with disabilities become
employed and to help those already employed
perform more successfully through training, counseling and other support methods.

To create solutions that help people with disabilities become self-sufficient through education,
community partnerships and direct services. Enriching the entire community, Easter Seals Nevada
is the agency of choice for inclusive services for all
people wanting to lead more powerful and independent lives.

Dungarvin
3325 W. Craig Road, Suite A
Las Vegas, NV 89302
Phone: 702-222-2243
www.dungarvin.com

Family TIES of Nevada

6130 Elton Street, Suite #100
Las Vegas, NV 89107
Phone: 702-740-4200
Statewide Toll Free: 866-326-8437
www.familytiesnv.org

Dungarvin provides a variety of individually tailored services and supports under the Medicaid
Home and Community Based Waiver. Additionally, we provide services in several small homes
licensed as Intermediate Care Facilities/Mental
Retardation (ICF/MR) in Indiana. Other services
provided include day services, supported employment, case management, supported foster
care, childrens services, respite care, host homes
and supports for persons with traumatic brain injury and mental health needs in several states. Our
quality services are flexible and responsive to individual needs and choices, while maintaining the
fiscal integrity that ensures the long-term stability
and security every person expects and deserves.

Family TIES operates the Nevada Family-to-Family Health Information Center - helping families of
children and youth with special health care needs
and individuals with disabilities to navigate public and private systems including complex health
systems and insurance plans, public assistance
programs, and other services. Family TIES also provides information and referrals, Parent-to-parent
support and matching, and resources.
FEAT of Southern Nevada
7055 Windy Street Ste B
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: 702-368-3328
www.featsonv.org
Our mission is to provide information on treatment
resources for families with children diagnosed with
autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and related disorders. We provide support, encouragement, and guidance to parents and create an
opportunity for them to benefit from contact with
other parents with similar needs and concerns.

Vendors
Grant a Gift Autism Foundation
72 N. Pecos Rd., Unit C
Henderson, NV 89074
Phone: 702-564-2453
www.grantagiftfoundation.org
Grant a Gift Autism Foundation does not support
or endorse any provider delivering services to any
client and is not responsible for the providers professional services or activities performed with the
client. Any resources mentioned or discussed within Find My Way Navigation are intended as suggestions only and the client assumes all responsibility for verifying the suitability of such resources.
Institute of Educational Leadership
4301 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 100
Washington DC 20008
Phone: 202-822-8405 x 169
www.iel.org
For a half-century, the Institute for Educational
Leadership has championed the need for leaders at all levels to shake off their institutional constraints and work across boundaries to address the
needs of young people and their families. Bound
by no constituency, IEL serves as a catalyst that
helps policymakers, administrators, and practitioners at all levels to bridge bureaucratic silos and
undo gridlock to improve outcomes for all young
people and their families.
Kelderman Klassy Glass
Reno, NV
Phone: 775-530-3114
http://kkglassart.com
KK Glass is a microenterprise owned by Kailin Kelderman of Reno. Twenty-year-old KK has Down
syndrome and has been creating fused glass jewelry for seven years.

Nevada Career Information System

500 East Third Street
Carson City, NV 89713
Phone: 775-684-0477
https://nvcis.intocareers.org/materials/portal/
home.html
The Nevada Career Information System (NCIS)
is the Department of Employment, Training and
Rehabilitations (DETRs ) comprehensive career
guidance system. NCIS is available to all Nevada
residents and organizations free of charge via the
Internet and presents current workforce and educational information in a user-friendly format. The
information and exploration tools contained in
the NCIS are designed to help Nevadans make informed career choices. Participants will receive a
basic overview of the NCIS content and exploration tools presented by Kelly Smith, NCIS Program
Officer.
Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law Center
2820 W. Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89107
Phone: 702-257-8150
www.ndalc.org
The Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law Center is
a private, statewide non-profit organization that
serves as Nevadas federally mandated protection and advocacy system for human, legal, and
service rights for individuals with disabilities.
Nevada PEP
2101 S. Jones Blvd Suite 120
Las Vegas, NV 89146
Phone: 702-388-8899
www.nvpep.org
Nevada PEP is a nonprofit organization that provides information, services and training to Nevada
families of children with disabilities, including those
who are at risk or who have serious emotional disturbances and their service providers.

Vendors
Nevada Volunteers
639 Isbell Road Suite 220
Reno, NV 89509
Phone: 775-825-1900
www.nevadavolunteers.org
Nevada Volunteers is the Governors commission
that selects and administers AmeriCorps* State
programs in Nevada. Nevada Volunteers also
serve as Nevadas primary resource center for volunteer and service efforts. Please visit nevadavolunteers.org to find information about post high
school opportunities in national service programs
such as AmeriCorps and NCCC and information
about volunteering as a career development tool.

State of Nevada-Desert Regional Center

5550 W. Flamingo Suite B5
Las Vegas, NV 89143
Phone: 702-486-7850
Desert Regional Center is a State of Nevada
Agency that provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Nevada Talking Book Services

100 N. Stewart Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: 775-684-3354
Statewide Toll Free: 800-922-9334
http://nsla.nv.gov/Library/Talking_Books/Nevada_Talking_Book_Services/
We provide a totally free library service where we
send out recorded books and specialized play
back equipment all completely free of charge to
anyone with a documented disability that would
make reading standard print difficult or impossible. Some of the disabilities that may qualify someone to use our program may be anything physical
such as a visual, motor, or muscular disorder that
may make reading standard print difficult or impossible. Also certain cognitive or learning disorders may qualify someone to use us as well.
Social Security Administration
1250 South Buffalo Drive Suite 150
Las Vegas, NV 89117
Phone: 866-613-9963 ex 13416
The United States Social Security Administration is
an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security,
a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors benefits.

Program at a Glance
Friday, October 16, 2015
11:00 AM

Registration Opens (Convention Center Foyer)

1:30 PM
4:00 PM

Pre-Conference Session

5:00 PM
6:45 PM

Dinner/Keynote- Dr. Cinda Johnson and Linea Johnson (Dallas ABDF&G)

7:00 PM
9:00 PM

Vendor Village (Prefunction Area)

Program at a Glance
Saturday, October 17, 2015
8:00 AM
9:15 AM

Breakfast Keynote- Janice John, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, Sherry Manning, Nevada Governors Council on Developmental Disabilities, & Caroline MaGee, Ruth Allison, Lougeania Bost, and June Gothberg, NTACT-NV Intensive Technical
Assistance.
Amaryllis

9:30 AM
10:45 AM

Dallas E

Houston 1

Houston 2

Houston 3

Dallas C

Dallas H

The Future is
Theirs: Using A
Youth-Driven
Approach
to Career
Development
and TransitionMindy Larson
& LeighAnn
Pemelton

The Hidden
Curriculum
Stephen Hinkle

Nevada Career Information System

Exploration
Tools
Kelly Smith

Ensuring Students Graduate

with a Standard
Diploma
Conrad Courtney, John Austin
& Mindy Pretner

Why Volunteering and National Service

Matter to YOU!
Peggy
Cullinane

Transitioning to
College with a
Plan
Danielle
Moreggi,
Sharnee Walker
& Catie Rojas

Social Media in
the Classroom
for Struggling
Learners Its
Not Just Facebook!
Robbin Vasquez

Think College
Nevada:
Postsecondary
Education for
Students with
Intellectual
Disabilities
Mary Bryant &
Josh Baker

Assistive Technology for All!

Vickie Essner

CTE: Career
Readiness, Accessibility and
Accountability,
How?
Randi Hunewill

Which Cohort?
What Assessment? Shift
Instruction?
Lisa Ford &
Darrin Hardman

10:45 AM
11:00 AM

11:00 AM
12:15 PM

Break, Vendor time

How Families of
Students with Disabilities Can Assist
in Career Development
Curtis Richards

Engaging
Males of Color:
Strategies from
Research &
Practice
Loujeania Bost

12:30 PM
2:00 PM

10

Application,
Exploration
and Tools
Jean Perez &
Kim Bass

Nevadas Got Talent Luncheon (Dallas ABDF&G)

Moving from Research to Practical
Application in
Dropout
Prevention
Loujeania Bost

2:00 PM
3:15 PM

Beyond
Traditional Job
Development
Denise
Bissonnette

Cant Ask,
Afraid to Tell:
Helping Youth
Navigate
Disability
Disclosure
Decisions
Curtis Richards

Beyond Barriers: Uncovering

Gifts & Assets
Denise
Bissonnette

Navigating
Secondary
Transition: A
Young Adult
and Parent
Perspective
Jennifer Kane,
Sarah Smith,
Grace Ueber,
Kelly Ueber,
Kirsten Schroeder & Robin
Kincaid

Program at a Glance (Continued)

Saturday, October 17, 2015
3:15 PM
3:30 PM

3:30 PM
4:45 PM

4:45 PM
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:30 PM

Break, Vendor time

Amaryllis

Dallas E

Life After High

School
Stephen Hinkle

Working
Together to Increase Success
for Youth with
Disabilities
Ruth Allison,
June Gothberg
& Caroline
MaGee

Houston 1

Houston 2

Houston 3

Promoting
How to Use
Graduation
Pre-Employment
and School
Transition SerAchievement
vices (PETS) to
for Youth with
Gain CompetiDisabilities
tive, Integrated
Robin RenEmployment
shaw, Kelly UeKelly Wales,
ber, Kenneth
Franny Harden,
Taycher & Alex
Mary Nevin &
Cherup
Brandi
Richmond

Dallas C

Dallas H

Helping Educators Understand

What Skills College Students
Should Have to
be Prepared
for College
Joan Steinman
& Susan Trist

Training People
for Successful
Hospitality
Careers in Las
Vegas
Anna Puljic

Refreshment Break (Foyer)

Student Panel/Closing- Linea Jonhson, Denzel Vaughn, Mark Douglas, Sarah Schroeder

11

Program
Friday, October 16, 2015
5:00 PM 6:45 PM
Welcome
Dinner/Keynote Address Dallas ABDF&G
Perfect Chaos
Dr. Cinda Johnson & Linea
Johnson
Dr. Cinda Johnson is a professor and the director of
the graduate special education program at Seattle
University. She is also the
director for the Center for Change in Transition
Services. Dr. Johnson is a national leader in the
area of transition from high school to posthigh
school for young people with disabilities. She has
a particular interest in and passion for supporting
children, adolescents, and young people with
mental health conditions in assuring that they
are provided the best opportunity to be successful after leaving high school. Dr. Johnson is the
co-author of Perfect Chaos: A Daughters Journey with Bipolar, A Mothers Struggle to Save Her.
Linea Johnson is a national mental health advocate, speaker, and writer and the co-author
of Perfect Chaos: A Daughters Journey with
Bipolar, A Mothers Struggle to Save Her. She
currently works as a research assistant at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the very hospital
where she was initially hospitalized. Her experience includes work with a mental health team in
rural Kerala, India, and as an intern at the World
Health Organization in the mental health policy
department in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition
to her writing and speaking engagements, Ms.
Johnson is the associate producer of the world
mental health documentary, Hidden Pictures.

12

7:00 PM 9:00 PM
Vendor Village Prefunction Area
Please use this time to visit the vendor exhibits
and learn about the support materials and products they have to offer. Participants who visit with
our vendors will receive tickets for an opportunity
to win a prize! Winners will be announced at the
keynote sessions and will also be posted at the
registration desk (for a complete list of vendors,
please see page 5 7 of the program).

Conference Etiquette
Please.....
* Be on time for sessions.
* Turn your cell phone OFF or to Silent.
* Try to exit quietly if you must leave a session.
* Do not sit on floors or move chairs into full
sessions, this may violate fire code regulations.

Program
Saturday, October 17, 2015
8:00 AM 9:15 AM
Breakfast and Keynote Address Dallas
ABDF&G
State Updates: Nevada Governors Council,
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act & National Technical Assistance Center on Transition
Sherry Manning, Janice John, Caroline MaGee,
Ruth Allison, Loujeania Bost, & June Gothberg
This keynote address will provide overviews and
updates initatives in Nevada for Persons with Disabilities. Mrs. Manning will give a brief overview
of the Nevada Governors Council on Developmental Disabilities (NGCDD) and their Consumer
Leadership Fund. Information will be provided
about the Governors Taskforce on Integrated
Employment. A brief history and update will be
provided on the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act.
With the passage of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (WIOA), 7/22/14, Congress
has reauthorized the Workforce Investment Act
of 1998 (WIA), including the Rehabilitation Act
through 2020. What does this mean for people
with disabilities? Highlights include; A larger
role for public vocational rehabilitation (VR)
as people with disabilities make the transition
from school to adult life. Efforts to limit the use
of sub-minimum wage. Required agreements
between VR systems and state Medicaid systems,
and state intellectual and developmental disability agencies. Definition of customized employment and supported employment. Definition
of competitive integrated employment as an
optimal outcome. Enhanced roles for the general
workforce system and One-Stop Career Centers
in meeting the needs of people with disabilities.
Changes in performance measures.
Finally, Nevada has been chosen to receive
technical assistance from the National Technical
Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT). NTACT
staff will provide a brief overview of the center, its

partners, and NTACTs intensive technical assistance partnership with Nevada.

9:30 AM 10:45 AM
Breakout sessions
The Future is Theirs: Using A Youth-Driven Approach to Career Development and TransitionDallas E
Mindy Larson & LeighAnn Pemelton
As students prepare for transition out of high
school, they need opportunities to identify their
interests, skills and values, to explore career and
postsecondary options, and to develop skills for
planning and managing their own career development. At the same time, its critical that
students take ownership of their future by setting
goals that are meaningful to them, making informed decisions, and learning to self-advocate.
Learn about and discuss ways to put students in
the drivers seat in this session, which combines
lessons from a national research and demonstration project with the local experience of Spring
Creek High Schools Transition Team.
The Hidden Curriculum- Houston 1
Stephen Hinkle
Explore the knowledge it takes to succeed in
the social realm of school, the parts that get
almost no teaching time! Learn the knowledge
a student needs to navigate the complex world
of recreation, leisure, visual and performing
arts, school spirit, student government, parties,
manners, etiquette, friendship, and more. If you
thought communication skills alone are enough
to get an A+ in the social side of school and in
the community, you will be sadly mistaken big
time! Plus, you will get to learn social skills firsthand from a person with autism who had to overcome many challenges in this realm!

13

Program
Nevada Career Information System Exploration
Tools- Houston 2

Why Volunteering and National Service Matter to

YOU!- Dallas C

Kelly Smith

Peggy Cullinane

The Nevada Career Information System (NCIS)

is an online career guidance system. NCIS contains career, education and workforce information, as well as many exploration tools. The
Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation provides the NCIS to Nevada residents
FREE of charge. Please join Kelly Smith, Program
Officer, who will provide an overview of the Career Development exploration tools available in
NCIS. Bring the results of your assessments for an
interpretation of those results. For those educators
wanting PDE credit (Clark County School District
only), this session is for you! And dont forget to
stop by the NCIS vendor booth for materials and
an overview of more career information found
on NCIS.

This session will provide an overview of the value, opportunities, and benefits of considering a
national service opportunity as part of a transition
plan. AmeriCorps includes three major paths for
service, each of which will be described. Volunteering as a community volunteer also offers
significant benefits for career exploration and
skill development. The session will include ways
to find and engage in community volunteering
and how to add that experience as part of a
job-seeking resume.

Ensuring Students Graduate with a Standard Diploma- Houston 3

Conrad Courtney, John Austin & Mindy Pretner
The Clark County School District embarked on
a new mentoring program to help increase the
number of students with disabilities graduating
with a Standard Diploma. Licensed personnel
with special education and counseling backgrounds were assigned to high schools across the
district. Through proficiency data and transcript
review of credit status, students were identified
who needed assistance to meet graduation requirements. Graduation Specialists implemented
strategies to help students stay in school, retrieve
credits, pass the proficiency/alternate exams,
transition back into school, or assist with enrollment status. The data in the short time period
since the programs implementation has been
wonderful! Come learn about our strategies to
help students obtain a Standard Diploma.

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Transitioning to College with a Plan- Dallas H

(Parent Focus Session)
Dr. Danielle Moreggi, Sharnee Walker & Catie
Rojas
Parents undergo a transition too when their
student leaves high school to venture off to post
secondary education. This session will address
ways for parents to adjust their support, and show
how to assist students who will be attending college. It will teach them to back up, and demonstrate ways can they be supportive.

11:00 AM 12:15 PM
Breakout sessions
How Families of Students with Disabilities Can Assist in Career Development- Amaryllis
(Parent Focus Session)
Curtis Richards
Family members and other caring adults play a
vital, yet unrecognized role in helping students
with disabilities explore careers, build social skills,
and be successful in employment. This session
will focus on promising strategies that families of
youth with disabilities can use to help their youth
prepare for and keep a job. The session will also

Program
offer ideas on how educators and other transition
professionals can frame employment preparation for youth with disabilities as a collective effort
that requires energy and support from families.
Engaging Males of Color: Strategies from Research & Practice- Dallas E
Loujeania Bost
National, state, and local efforts to improve graduation rates in the United States are beginning to
show quantifiable progress, including progress for
youth with disabilities. Data from the U.S. Department of Education reflect that for the first time
in history, the nation has achieved an 8% high
school graduation rate for the second year in a
row. There have been notable improvements in
graduation rates among students of color and
students with disabilities, but if the nation is to
achieve its goal of a 90% graduation rate by the
class of 2020, it is with those same groups of youth
that some of the greatest challenges remain.
This session examines the problem of high school
dropout rates among males with disabilities
through the lens of three ethnicities- American
Indian, African American, and Latino, including
root causes and risk factors, consideration of
conditions that protect against dropout, and suggestions for existing programs and strategies that
help these young men to stay in school.
Beyond Traditional Job Development- Houston 1
Denise Bissonnette
Considered a cornerstone of her work in the
employment field, this highly acclaimed, one-ofa-kind, presentation offers a practical, innovative
and proactive approach to job development,
challenging the employment professional to look
beyond traditional methods in assisting individuals with barriers to employment to bring their
gifts to the world of work. Equipping participants
with the eyes and mind of the entrepreneurial
job developer, Denise introduces six compelling
questions with which to view the business world

and to uncover the hidden opportunities in their

local communities. Chock-full of real-life examples, this workshop serves to expand and redefine the meaning of true job development and to
empower people with the tools and thinking to
practice the art of job creation!
Application, Exploration and Tools- Houston 2
Jean Perez & Kim Bass
This session will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about selected Informal Transition Assessments focusing on Self-Determination,
Vocational Interests and IndependentLiving
as well as how to use assessment results to help
students transition into life after high school. Materials and ideas for use in the classroom will be
made available. Participants will be encouraged
to use their construction skills to gain understanding of how assessments build better-prepared
students. Selfies will be encouraged.
Social Media in the Classroom for Struggling
Learners Its Not Just Facebook! - Houston 3
Robbin Vasquez
21st Century Learning levels the playing field for
special education students and struggling learners. During this fast paced session, we will explore
different types of social media and how to use
global technology supports as well as assistive
technology supports to empower students. Ideas
explored will increase motivation to read, write,
use their supports and be more independent!
See examples of students with all types of disabilities using social media and leave with a resource
list of ways to use social media in your classroom.
#MOTIVATE!!

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Program
Think College Nevada: Postsecondary Education
for Students with Intellectual Disabilities- Dallas C

2:00 PM 3:15 PM
Breakout sessions

Mary Bryant & Josh Baker

Moving from Research to Practical Application in

Dropout Prevention- Amaryllis

Think College Nevada is a statewide project with

a mission to provide inclusive postsecondary education opportunities to students with intellectual
disabilities (ID) in Nevada. The project is led by
the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities
at UNR. Both UNR (Path to Independence) and
UNLV (FOCUS) currently have inclusive programs.
Each program has three components: inclusive
academic and social experiences, independent
living, and employment. This session will feature
data about why postsecondary education for
students with ID is successfully lifting people with
ID out of poverty, current program elements and
future plans in Nevada.
Assistive Technology for All! - Dallas H
Vickie Essner
This session will discuss What Assistive Technology
is, what recommendations should be made for
Assestive Technology and when, PC Technology/
Mobile Technology, and Apps, Apps, and more
Apps.

12:30 PM 2:00 PM
Nevadas Got Talent Luncheon
Dallas ABDF&G
Nevada is known for a state that showcases
performing arts talent from all over the world.
The Nevadas Got Talent Luncheon will showcase
some of our talented preforming arts students
and young adults with disabilities.

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Loujeania Bost
For society as a whole, helping youth stay in and
complete high school is a worthwhile objective.
To enable schools across America to achieve this
objective, practical recommendations and strategies based upon the best research evidence
available are necessary. Research has identified
interventions and recommendations that when
implemented with fidelity, can change the trajectory of school completion for all youth, especially those with disabilities. In this session, the
presenter will discuss updated research confirming these interventions and recommendations
that promote school completion for students with
disabilities, along with local strategies for implementation.
Cant Ask, Afraid to Tell: Helping Youth Navigate
Disability Disclosure Decisions- Dallas E
Curtis Richards
As youth transition from high school to post-secondary or work settings, they go from a world
where they are entitled to the accommodations
laid out in their IEP to places where they are eligible for what they actively request. Youth must
know what to ask for, when to ask for it and from
whom in each setting. The focus of this session is
to share strategies for supporting youth as they
make the personal decision about when, where,
how, and with whom to share their disability in
school, work, and social settings. In this session,
participants will receive free copies and get
familiar with using the 411 on Disability Disclosure
workbooks and cyber-disclosure supplement.
Participants will also leave with strategies for
helping youth to understand their disability better
and how to talk about it, understand their rights
and responsibilities, and decide whether or not to
disclose their disability in various situations.

Program
Beyond Barriers: Uncovering Gifts & AssetsHouston 1
Denise Bissonnette
In this highly participative session, Denise shares
some of her most popular tools and activities taken from her celebrated curriculum, Cultivating
True Livelihood. There are limitless ways to use
these tools but they are particularly useful as a
means to uncover a persons gifts and strengths
(whether or not they have ever worked), to
identify a persons work preferences and key
values, to get around what sometimes appear
as unrealistic expectations, and to capitalize
on a persons passions and interests when brainstorming vocational possibilities. Delivered in a
train the trainer style, Denise takes participants
through the exercises, encouraging them to put
the techniques into practice in their own work
settings, whether in private coaching session or in
a group or classroom settings. These tools have
proven effective with those new to the world of
work, the seasoned professional, and individuals
with a wide range of employment barriers.
Navigating Secondary Transition: A Young Adult
and Parent Perspective- Houston 2
(Parent Focus Session)
Jennifer Kane, Sarah Smith, Grace Ueber, Kelly
Ueber, Kirsten Schroeder & Robin Kincaid
Hear from a panel comprised of recently transitioned young adults and parents from across
Nevada. Panelists will exchange their views and
experiences through an interactive dialogue with
the facilitator and audience.
CTE: Career Readiness, Accessibility and Accountability, How?- Dallas C
Randi Hunewill
Transitioning students into career and technical
programs and making them accessible to all.
This includes an entire sequence that includes

career certifications, state assessment, work experience and career guidance counseling. Can
all students benefit and how?
Which Cohort? What Assessment? Shift Instruction?- Dallas H
Lisa Ford & Darrin Hardman
This session will focus the high stakes summative
assessments required during high school and
provide a glimpse into the instructional shifts that
need to occur to prepare students for college
and careers.

3:30 PM 4:45 PM
Breakout sessions
Life After High School- Amaryllis
Stephen Hinkle
Learn the best method of planning for life after
high school. Go into the post-high school world
of college, independent living skills, career planning, and an adult life worth living. Learn methods of planning and the various options.
Working Together to Increase Success for Youth
with Disabilities- Dallas E
Ruth Allison, June Gothberg & Caroline MaGee
In this hands-on session, participants will have an
opportunity to determine the degree to which
their program is implementing evidence-based
and promising practices that are likely to lead to
more positive post-school outcomes for students
with disabilities. Additionally, participants will expand their knowledge of SMART goals and learn
how they can individually and collaboratively
create SMART goals that can be implemented
within their transition programs.

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Program
Promoting Graduation and School Achievement
for Youth with Disabilities- Houston 2
(Parent Focus Session)

Training People for Successful Hospitality Careers

in Las Vegas- Dallas H
Anna Puljic

Robin Renshaw, Kelly Ueber, Kenneth Taycher &

Alex Cherup
Why do students drop out of high school? Join
the discussion and learn helpful information for
parents, professionals and students to use in supporting attendance and graduation from high
school. We will review the warning signs of potentially dropping out of school and what strategies,
including IEP development, can be used to help
youth remain in school. Utilizing group activities
we will creatively discuss the importance of keeping high expectations for students with disabilities
to prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.
How to use Pre-Employment Transition Services
(PETS) to Gain Competitive, Integrated Employment- Houston 3
Kelly Wales, Franny Harden, Mary Nevin & Brandi
Richmond
Pre-Employment Transition Services, PETS can
provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to aide transition aged-youth with disabilities
in gaining competitive, integrated employment.
This session will provide you with the tools needed
to support your students in gaining employment.
Helping Educators Understand What Skills College
Students Should Have to be Prepared for CollegeDallas C
Dr. Joan Steinman & Susan Trist
In this session, the professionals from post secondary schools in NV will be offering the insight
on the skills needed, and tips on how the secondary educators can train their students to be
prepared. Timelines, and understanding what
their documentation says will only be some of the
valuable information presented.

18

Since 1993, the nonprofit Culinary Academy of

Las Vegas has trained more than 40,000 people for jobs on the Las Vegas Strip with excellent
starting wages, career growth, and health and
retirement benefits. The Academy is dedicated
to its vision of reducing poverty and eliminating
unemployment by providing employability and
vocational skills to youth, adults, and displaced
workers. Learn how this internationally recognized
model for workplace education and vocational
training helps people gain the skills to become
self-sufficient.

5:00 PM 6:30 PM
Closing/Student Panel Dallas ABDF&G
Linea Johnson, Denzel Vaughn, Clark County
School District, Mark Douglas, Lander School District, & Sarah Schroeder, Washoe County School
District
Facilitated by Linea Johnson, this student panel
session will feature 3 students with disabilities who
attend or have graduated from schools throughout Nevada. These students will share their stories
of becoming leaders in their own lives including
the barriers they have encountered and overcame to be successful in their transition from high
school to the post-secondary world.

Student Art Submissions

Thank you to the following individuals for submitting artwork for our program cover! Submissions are on display at the conference.
Kaiden Robinson Las Vegas Academy
Antwan Robinson-Royal Las Vegas Academy
David Aron Zilly Coronado High School
Richard Muhammad-Henry Odyssey Charter School
Samia McKellar Las Vegas Academy
Austin Collins Pahrump Valley High School
Tristin Kemp Variety School
Billy Owens III Dayton High School
Katelynne Bow Coronado High School
Alexander Castaneda Laughlin High School
Dylan Richmond Del Sol High School
Lenora LeFevre Spring Creek High School
Joseph Gonzales Sunrise Mountain High School

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Notes

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