10th Annual! Tools for Life: Secondary Transition and Technology Fair

A World of Technology

March 6+7, 2014 in Idaho Falls, Idaho

Planned by: Members of the Idaho Interagency Council on Secondary Transition (IICST). The IICST is made up of representatives from agencies thathave a federal mandate to improvethe outcomes of students with disabilities after high school.

Report CardWe asked the students the main thing they lea rned at the fair. Lis

ted below are a few of their responses:

I Learned…“How to be a better self advocate”

“You can do anything you set your heart to do"

“How technology can help me in college.”

“How I should keep track of my money.”

“I learned what to expect and how to prepare for college.”

“To take charge of your life and make good choices.”

“Disabilities don't stop your goals.”

“How to get work done”

Report prepared by The Idaho Assistive Technology Project Center on Disabilities and Human Development

10th Annual Tools for Life: Secondary Transition and Technology Fair took place in Idaho Falls, Idaho with the theme of, “A World of Technology.” The 2-day annual fair was a chance for transitioning students with disabilities to learn about resources and tools to help prepare them for school, work, and life after high-school. During the fair, students

learned about technology to help themaccomplish tasks, were taught self-advocacy skills, received resources like The Moving on

Binder, and had direct access to hundreds of professionals who specialize in helping students make the transition out of high school. The main goals of the fair are five-fold: *Students learn what they can do after high school*Students learn about assistive technology*Students learn how to get a job*Students learn about how to succeed in college*Students learn new things and make friends

Highlights

To kick off the fair, attendees received a welcome address from Richard Henderson, Director of Special Education for the State Department of Education and Rebecca Casper, Idaho Falls Mayor. Keynote addresses were given by Nicole Kelly and Ana Arathoon. Nicole is the current Miss Iowa, and gave a passionate speech about her life, trials, and successes. After her speech, Nicole spent hours hanging out and talking with the

student attendees who just adored her! Ana gave an informative speech about assistive technology and how it has helped her be successful in her career and in her pursuit of a Ph.D.

During lunch, a panel of Employers shared valuable life and employment

strategies with the students.

2nd Annual: It’s My Business Expo

This year’s Expo featured beautiful hand-made crafts, metal work and products created by local entrepreneurs who have a disability. The Expo was organized by the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, and showcased businesses in an effort to demonstrate the variety of employment opportunities available to the student attendees.

Reality Town

50 lucky students took part in an event sponsored by the Idaho Falls Community Transition Team titled Reality Town. The event taught students how to better

Idaho Falls Welcomed Tools fo

r Life!

manage money, and learn how to deal with independent living expenses.

Social

Tools for Life was a unique chance for students to make friends and socialize. 100 students took part in the pizza social and danced like crazy with glow-sticks in hand to the live music provided by The Country Boys.

Attendance

Tools for Life was attended by 154 students, 17 parents, 31 educators, 69 professionals, and 13 college students. All attendees benefited from the fair break-out sessions which were related to assistive technology, self-advocacy, employment, and post-secondary education. Many student attendees stayed overnight which gave them the chance to dance, laugh, swim, and build new friendships with their peers.

Students from Idaho Falls, Hillcrest, Bonneville, Blackfoot, Wood River, Snake River, Shelley, Renaissance, Pocatello, Pingree, Firth, Highland, Butte, Century, and other high schools were present.

Support

It takes the support of many organizations and individuals to put on the Tools for Life Fair. This year’s

fair expense totaled approximately $43,000.00. In addition to this figure, countless hours were spent in the planning, preparation, and execution of the fair by many

dedicated individuals. Fair sponsors and contributors included:

•••••••••••••••••

Idaho State Department of EducationIdaho Department of Health and WelfareIdaho Assistive Technology ProjectIdaho Council on Developmental DisabilitiesIdaho Parents UnlimitedIdaho ImpactIdaho Educational Services for the Deaf and BlindComputers for KidsKey Bank of IdahoMountain West BankIdaho Interagency Council on Secondary TransitionIdaho Division of Vocational RehabilitationDisability Rights IdahoCargill, Inc.The CivitansEastern Idaho Technical College FoundationIdaho Falls Community Transition Team

Breakout Sessions

Many exhibitors and agencies held informational booths at the fair and provided enlightening presentations. The conference sessions listed below provided attendees with a chance to learn about assistivetechnology, self-advocacy/determination, employment, and post-secondary education.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Keynote Nicole Kelly

Self-Determination – “Spend More Time with Nicole” Nicole Kelly Employment – “Undercover Boss” Shelli Ray, Nate Reese & Alan

Aamodt Employment – “Tools at Work: How I Get the Job Done” Assistive Technology Panel Self-Advocacy – “You're at Tools for Life! Now What?” Irene Jones & Beth Eloe-Reep

Self-Advocacy – “Self-Advocacy Guide to Guardianships” Angie Eandi

Lunch with Employment Panel

Self Determination – “Reality Town” Idaho Falls Community Transition Team

Employment– “I Want a Job I will Absolutely Love: Able to Work (dot) Idaho (dot) gov” Monique Johns AT/ IT – “Tools for Individuals with Visual Impairments” Aileen Zaken & Kathy Griffin

Self-Advocacy– “Giving Students a VOICE – A Community Based Program” MarthaFae Frymire Self-Advocacy – “Basics of Financial Literacy: Common “Cents” for Independence” Trina Balanoff

Post-Secondary Transition – “Is College for Me??” Ann Flannery & Todd DeVries Employment – “How do We Prepare Youth to Work Through Work

Experiences – Especially in Rural Areas?” Part I Ellen Condon

Afternoon Break

Employment – “Transition from School to Work” Therese Valrela AT/ IT – “Assistive Technology Resources for the Classroom” Ed Chilgren

Self-Determination – “V.O.I.C.E. @ Wood River High School” Wood River HS Students of V.O.I.C.E.

Employment – “How do We Prepare Youth to Work Through Work Experiences – Especially in Rural Areas?” Part II

Ellen Condon

Tools for Life: Secondary Transition and Technology Fair January 13 and 14, 2005 Double Tree Riverside Boise, Idaho

Thursday, March 6, 2014 Continued Self-Advocacy – “Go Vote!” Mel Leviton & Shilo Blackburn

AT/IT – “WYNN 7 - Taking Reading and Writing to the Next Level” Steve Boyle Post-Secondary Transition – “Apples + Oranges: The Differences Between High School and

College” Marita DeBoard

AT/IT – “iOS Apps for Living with Vision Loss” Laine Amoureux Employment – “Visual Resumes: A Tool to Help You Get a Job” Ellen Condon

Pizza Social

Social Event: Fun with the Country Boys

Employment – ““FEAR FACTOR”…Can I Work and Still Keep my Social Security Benefits?” Scott Hoover

Post-Secondary Transition – “Planning for a Healthy Transition” Jennifer Zielinski

Self-Advocacy – “Legal Planning for Life After Age 18!” Char Quade

Parent Evening Break

Information Speed Tables

Visit each presenter table for 10 minutes to obtain information and handouts on a variety of important topics.

Lisa Thompson, Alan Harrison, Lana Gonzales, Jennifer Zielinski, Louise Bryan, Louise Krantz, Chip Krantz, Char Quade, Isaac Baldry and Kade

Vilbig

Tools for Life: Secondary Transition and Technology Fair January 13 and 14, 2005 Double Tree Riverside Boise, Idaho

Friday, March 7, 2014

Keynote

Ana Arathoon Giron

Self-Determination – “In Charge of My Own Life” Isaac Baldry AT/IT – “Technology Tools for Better Communication Access for the Deaf and Hard of

Hearing” Valerie Sturm

AT/IT – “Assistive Technology for School and Work” Ana Arathoon Giron Self-Determination – “My Voice, My Independence” Blaine Co. V.O.I.C.E. II Students

AT/IT – “Victor Reader Stream, and Stratus for Reading in the Classroom” Karl Smith

Lunch and Complete Surveys

AT/IT - “Hands Free Note Taking” Mike Mann AT/IT – “It Should Not Hurt to Work” Janice Seargent

Self-Determination – “Celebrating Your Passion with Your Senior Project” Blaine County School District Transition Panel

Employment – “America’s Got Talent: So Do You!” Department of Labor: Disability Resource Coordinators

Self-Determination – “Helping Individuals on the Spectrum” Kade Vilbig Post Secondary Transition – “Transition Planning for People with Disabilities: An Online

Training” Trina Balanoff

AT/IT – “There’s an App for That!” Doug Ricks, Todd DeVries

AT/IT – “Assistive Technology at Home” April Mills Employment - “What Job is Right For Me? Considerations for Selecting a Vocational Goal for

IDVR Assistance (that fits within my willingness, interests, abilities and other factors)” Shelli Ray, Nate Reese & Alan

Aamodt Self-Advocacy – “Advocacy into Adulthood” Lana Gonzales

Employment – “FEAR FACTOR…Can I Work and Still Keep my Social Security Benefits?” Scott Hoover AT/IT – “User Constructed Assistive Technology” Randy Geile

AT/IT – “Integrated Study Tools” Doug Ricks, Todd DeVries

Measuring Success A survey was generated and distributed to students and adults with more than a 60 percent rate of completion. The completion rate would have been even higher, but some student attendees were unable to come on the second day of the Fair. Also, many of the Fair exhibitors did not take part in the survey as they were busy tending to their booths. The survey asked general-to-specific questions rating the overall success of the Fair. Adult and student Responses to the survey are listed below.

Student Response

Student Response

A group of presenters distributing information and having fun!

Adult Response

Tools for Life 2015 Tools for Life is tentatively scheduled to be held the first week of March 2015 in North Idaho.

Thank you Idaho Falls!