Transition

TRANSITION TO ADULT LIFE
FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

PLEASE NOTE: The resources and organizations listed are not to be considered formal recommendations of the Township of Union School District nor are they intended to service all populations. Please contact the listed providers for additional information regarding programs, security, and answers to any other questions.

Information will be added to this Transition web page as it becomes available throughout the school year. Please check back regularly for updates. Many events are held annually around the same time and location, so we will leave all announcements on this site, even if the event/information has passed; this may provide awareness of similar events in the future.

If you need further assistance related to TRANSITION,
please contact your Case Manager or the Department of Special Services at (908) 851-6438.

NJ STATE (AND UNION COUNTY) RESOURCES
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Generally speaking, there are 3 NJ State Agencies that may assist our students. They are:

Division of Children and Families (DCF)
Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)

**FOR ALL STUDENTS UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE:

DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (DCF)/PERFORM CARE:
(877) 652-7624, http://www.nj.gov/dcf/families/csc/

To complete DCF/CSOC application:www.performcarenj.org/families/forms.aspx or you may call the number above to request paper application via mail; you can then return it to:

Perform Care New Jersey, Attention: DD Eligibility Unit, 300 Horizon Drive, Suite 306, Robbinsville, New Jersey 08691-1919.

**Please Note: If applying for the first time after age 18, you must first apply to the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), and if found eligible, they will forward the application to DCF.

DCF Services Offered to Eligible Children with Developmental Disabilities:

*Respite Services: Provides family caregivers with a short period of rest/relief by arranging alternate care-giving; it is usually provided by an agency that contracts with the Children's System of Care (CSOC) and may include after-school activities, weekend recreational activities, a short-term placement in a licensed setting, or in-home/self-directed respite.

*Assistive Technology Devices (ATD): These are used to increase, maintain, or improve an individual's functional capabilities and may include materials that make the environment more accessible, allowing the individual to compete in the workplace and enhance independence. Families must seek three competitive bids, and the device must be prescribed by a physician or therapist; individual must have received a denial from their insurance carrier, including Medicaid, and may receive no more than $11,000 for ATD over a 3-year period.

*Home and Vehicle Modifications: These are removable, structural modifications (such as ramps, grab-bars, etc...), and individuals may receive no more than $11,000 for home/vehicle modifications over a 3-year period.

**FOR STUDENTS OVER 18 YEARS OF AGE
(Services are only for adults who have a developmental disability):

DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DDD):
110 East 5th Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060, (908) 226-7800, www.state.nj.us/humanservices/ddd/home/

DDD Quick Guide for Families:
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/documents/quick-guide-for-families-english.pdf
This document has now been updated and provides condensed, easy-to-understand information from the policy manuals for both of the Division's Medicaid waiver programs, the Supports Program and Community Care Program. As before, printed copies can be requested through the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD), using their Quick Guide Request form here:
https://njcdd.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b9adb86fff1cb5fd6f5fa6e22&id=c10a315440

An Overview of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD):
Overview of DDD -PPPresentation-.pptx
Powerpoint Presentation given to the Transition Coordinator's Network on 10-21-2020
_____________________

DDD services offered to eligible adults may include: Assistive technology, behavior supports, career planning, cognitive rehabilitation, community-based supports, community inclusion services, day habilitation, environmental modifications, fiscal management services (Fiscal Intermediary), goods and services, interpreter services, natural supports training, occupational therapy, Personal Emergency Response System (PERS), physical therapy, prevocational training, respite, speech language & hearing therapy, support coordination, supported employment - individual and/or small group, supports brokerage, transportation, and vehicle modifications.

The Arc of NJ Family Institute, A Step by Step Process to DDD Eligibility:
https://www.thearcfamilyinstitute.org/resources/ddd-eligibility-go-bag.html

Archived Webinar: "DDD's System Reform: Understanding what it Means for Someone Entering DDD Services:" www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5SL7-puP58.

DDD-Supports Program Policy Manual (updated 3/2019):
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/documents/supports-program-policy-manual.pdf
(Please see page 194-195 for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DDD and DVRS)

The DDD Provider Search: https://irecord.dhs.state.nj.us/providersearch.

This website allows users to search for providers by name or services. You may filter your search results further by services, provider location, location type, etc., or use a combination of searches and filters to browse provider options.

Things to Be Aware When Transitioning from High School to Adult Life/Things to Consider When Choosing an Adult Service Provider: \Things to Be Aware When Transitioning From High School to Adult Life.docx

Understanding Self-Directed Services in NJ and the Role of the Supports Broker:
"...new resource developed by The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, in collaboration with the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities, the NJ Collaborative for Citizen Directed Supports, and people with disabilities and families.
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/documents/understanding-self-directed-services-and-role-of-supports-broker.pdf

PLEASE NOTE: IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Graduates Aging out of School System (for adults planning to receive services from DDD):
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/documents/graduates-timeline.pdf

**FOR STUDENTS WITHIN TWO YEARS OF GRADUATION
(Services are for adults who may be seeking
some additional vocational supports):

DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES (DVRS):
New Jersey Department of Labor, 921 Elizabeth Avenue, 3rd Floor, Elizabeth, NJ 07201,
(908) 965-3940
http://careerconnections.nj.gov/careerconnections/plan/foryou/disable/vocational_rehabilitation_services.shtml

If you wish to contact the Vocational Counselor at DVRS that has been assigned to our district, please contact Ms. Esther Phillip at the above telephone number or you may email her at [email protected].

ADDITIONAL TRANSITION-RELATED INFORMATION

LOCAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

PACER's National Parent Center on Transition and Employment:
Paving the Way: Parent Tips for Supporting Success in High School and Beyond
https://www.pacer.org/transition/learning-center/planning/supporting-your-teen.asp?utm_source=February+2019+NCC+Newsletter&utm_campaign=February+2019+NCC+newsletter&utm_medium=email

The Job Connection: https://www.ucc.edu/continuing-and-professional-education-and-workforce-development/center-for-economic-and-workforce-development/job-connections-newsletter/

Are you a teen looking for a summer job?
Check out the Youth Employment Pathways Progream (YEPP) Summer Initiative: \YEPP.pdf

COLLEGE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Colleges and Universities may offer supportive and individualized services to students with disabilities. For more information, including documentation guidelines, please contact each school of interest. Below is a list of schools within the State of NJ and their link to these services; please note, this is not a complete listing of schools within the State.

College Programs for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Scholarship Opportunities
https://www.thearcfamilyinstitute.org/spceial-campiangs/college-programs/college-programs.html

County College of Morris
https://www.ccm.edu/accessibility-services/

Drew University
https://www.drew.edu/center-academic-excellence/about-us/accessibility-resources/

Fairleigh Dickinson University
https://view2.fdu.edu/florham-campus/disability-support-services/

Kean Univerity
https://www.kean.edu/offices/disability-services

Monmouth University
https://www.monmouth.edu/disability-services/

Montclair University
https://www.montclair.edu/disability-resource-center/

New Jersey City University
https://www.njcu.edu/oss

Rutgers University
https://ods.rutgers.edu/

Seton Hall
https://www.shu.edu/disability-support-services/

The College of NJ
https://differingabilities.tcnj.edu/

Union County College
www.ucc.edu/administration/the-office-for-equal-opportunity/disability-services/