Overview:

The New Mexico Youth In Transition: Lifespan and Career Development website was created by the Statewide Transition Coordinating Council (STCC) to help collect, communicate and disseminate information and activity concerning initiatives that assist youth in transition. The site hopes to provide a road map to these collaborative statewide initiatives making it easier, for professionals and consumers alike, to better leverage the work of the transition efforts in New Mexico.

The web site will:

• Provide project details and contact information for all NM transition initiatives
• Highlight and connect collaborating partners and stakeholders
• Aggregate and manage local, state and national resources
• Create a reading room with coordinated exchange of text and multi-media materials
• Facilitate professional meetings, collaboratories and public forums
• Provide an interactive calendar to support initiatives' activity
• Publish reports of ongoing data collection and facilitate online research activities.
• Provide access to off and online educational and training activity

Project Director

Ginger Blalock
Phone: 505-400-3992
E-mail: blalock@unm.edu

For more than 17 years, UNM Professor Ginger Blalock of the College of Education Special Education Program has been teaching ways to guide youth with disabilities through the transition from high school to work and adulthood. More

Background

UNM Special Education Programs recently received an award from the New Mexico State Department of Education (NMSDE) Special Education Unit to help lead and coordinate several statewide school-to-career initiatives. The transition initiatives assists communities in working to ensure that all students with disabilities have a meaningful work, community access and needed supports.

Ultimately designed to help teens with exceptionalities pursue meaningful employment or continue their educations, the transition initiatives in New Mexico also boost secondary retention and postsecondary recruitment and help the state meet Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requirements.

The outcomes for students at risk of failing in school and life, especially those with disabilities, can be grim when they aren't provided careful relevant preparation. Data show that people with disabilities are disproportionately:

• unemployed or underemployed (65-75 percent)
• dependent on family or caregivers for living arrangements
• not participating in postsecondary education or training
• not participating in regular recreation/leisure experiences
• incarcerated

Youth who take part in a school-to-career transition program have better outcomes. Studies in New Mexico and around the country demonstrate that the single most important predictor of employment success after high school is having had a paid job while in high school.

The grant-supported initiatives look at the big picture - where these kids are headed as they reach adulthood. Teachers, administrators and counselors are asked to put teaching and learning in context so when kids ask, 'why do I have to learn this?' they have a meaningful response for the students.

Collaborating with Ginger Blalock and UNM are Sue Gronewold, transition director, NMSDE Special Education Unit; the state division of Vocational Rehabilitation; James Alarid, special education professor, New Mexico Highlands University; Marilyn D'Ottavio, transition services director, Albuquerque Public Schools; other school districts, the Center for Entrepreneurship, Parents Reaching Out, the Arc of New Mexico, State School to Work Office, Santa Fe's Executive Leadership Council, Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center and the former National Transition Alliance.

Numerous other stakeholders contribute time and effort, including students, advocacy organizations and community leaders. Two-year colleges also play a big role by specializing in diverse learners and career preparation.