the path ahead€¦ · program notes the path ahead! 2016 lancaster-lebanon youth transition summit...
TRANSCRIPT
THE PATH AHEADYouth Transition is changing the role of a student in the schoolenvironment to becoming an adult who participates in the community.This participation includes holding down a job, getting a post secondaryeducation, living independently, socializing with friends, getting marriedand raising a family and being a productive member of your community.
YOUTH TRANSITION SUMMITThursday, June 30, 2016
Winter Center - Millersville UniversityMillersville, PA
Resources - Panel DiscussionsPrograms - Networking
Information Sharing
PROGRAM NOTES
The Path Ahead!2016
Lancaster-
Lebanon
Youth Transition Summit
Today’s event is especially for youth withdisabilities transitioning from High Schoolto living as adult members of theircommunity. This includes a job, buildingrelationships, going to college, livingindependently and being a part of theircommunity.
This first annual Summit will include:
● Information and resources on ABLEAccounts, Benefits Counseling, 211,Housing, Transportation and morewith presenters from localresources' and services providers.
● Keynote Addresses - David DeNotaris and Steve Suroviec
● Breakout sessions and paneldiscussions
● Local resources and exhibitsfeaturing information for youth intransition and their families
● An opportunity to network andmeet new people
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SPEAK AT THE SUMMIT
David De NotarisKeynote Speaker
Mr. De Notaris is theExecutive Director ofthe PennsylvaniaOffice of VocationalRehabilitation. He is anationally knownspeaker, radio host,world championathlete and he alsohappens to be blind.
Stephen H. SuroviecSpeaker
Mr. Suroviec is theSpecial Advisor to theSecretary, PADepartment of HumanServices. He is theformer ExecutiveDirector of The Arc ofPennsylvania and thePA Office ofVocationalRehabilitation.
Maureen WestcottPresenter
Ms. Westcott is theexecutive director ofThe Arc of LancasterCounty. The Arcprovides advocacy,navigation andtrainings on disabilityrelated topics such asfunding, employment,guardianship, etc.
A collaborative initiative presented by the partners’ network
of the Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources |
Berks-Lancaster-Lebanon Service Area.
Matthew SeeleySpeaker
Mr. Seeley is theExecutive Director ofthe PennsylvaniaStatewideIndependent LivingCouncil. He is anattorney and a formerassistant districtattorney.
Melissa HawkinsModerator / speaker
Ms. Hawkins is theExecutive Director ofthe DisabilityEmpowermentCenter - the Centerfor IndependentLiving in Lancasterand LebanonCounties.
Today’s schedule of events8:30 am … Registration at the front entrance to the Winter Center - continental breakfast snacks in the Murley Room and you can visit with resources exhibits and displays along the halls of the Winter Center.
9:00 am … Welcome to the Youth Transition Summit. Join Melissa Hawkins, Executive Director, Disability Empowerment Center in Clair Performance Hall.
9:10 am … David De Notaris, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, will start the Summit with the opening “keynote remarks.”
9:25 am … Matthew Seeley, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council, “Let’s Start the Summit!”
9:40 am … BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Engage with these professionals in one of these informational breakout sessions.
(1) EMPLOYMENT (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) - Denise Verchimak, Director of theBureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in Room 202, second floor.
(2) BENEFITS COUNSELING (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance - WIPA), Jenni Kistler, WIPA Program Manager, Goodwill – Keystone Area in Biemesderfer Conference Hall.
10:15 am … Take a break and visit with area resources providers in the resources exhibits and displays area.
10:30 am … BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Engage with these professionals in one of these informational breakout sessions.
(3) ABLE Accounts, Maureen Westcott, Executive Director, The Arc of Lancaster County in Room202 - second floor.
(4) PA 2-1-1 EAST - is a free, confidential, non-emergency, comprehensive information and referralservice that connects callers with the health and human services they need. Toni Gainer, Director, PA2-1-1 East in Biemesderfer Conference Hall.
(5) EDUCATION “Charting a New Path: Post-Secondary Education Today” in Clair Performance Hall.Shirley Keith Knox, Deputy Administrator for Intellectual Disabilities and Early Intervention Servicesat the Dauphin County Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities Program - Dr. Ann Marie Licata,Director of the Pennsylvania Inclusive Higher Education Consortium - Sherri Landis, ExecutiveDirector, D.R.E.A.M. Partnership - Flavel Rogers, advocate and parent - Christopher Rogers,Millersville student enrolled in Career & Life Studies program.
11:15 am … Take a break and visit with area resources’ providers in the resources exhibits and displays area.
11:45 am … It’s time for a networking, get-to-know-someone buffet lunch in the Murley Room. Then, network and getinformation from the exhibitors in the Resources’ exhibits and displays area.
12:30 pm … Reconvene in Biemesderfer Conference Hall for some compelling “after lunch “keynote comments” byStephen H. Suroviec - Special Advisor to the Secretary PA Department of Human Services.
12:50 pm … Take a break and visit with area resources’ providers in the resources exhibits and displays area before the afternoon BREAK OUT SESSIONS BEGIN.
1:15 pm … BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Engage with these professionals in one of these informational breakout sessions.
(6) HOUSING PANEL In Clair Performance Hall - Nathan Roth, Housing Resource Center Director,Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership (LHOP) - Laurie Kleynen, Director of ResidentialServices, Excentia - Shirley Keith-Knox, Deputy Director, Intellectual Disabilities and EarlyIntervention Services at Dauphin MH/ID Program - Kathy McCarthy, Regional Housing Coordinator,Self-Determination Housing Project of Pennsylvania, Inc.
(7) TRANSPORTATION PANEL in room TBD - Marchal Simmons, Assistant Director of Shared RideServices, Red Rose Transit - Theresa L. Giurintano, Executive Director of Lebanon Transit - MarcySimpson, Director of Paratransit Services, Lebanon Transit - In Biemesderfer Conference Hall.
1:50 pm … SUMMIT END NOTES / COMMENTS - In Biemesderfer Conference Hall.- Jan Bechtel
2:00 pm … Everyone is invited to remain for a free screening of the film, I GO HOME. In Biemesderfer Conference Hall.
special invitationAt the conclusion of today’s Summit at 2:00 pm, you are invited to a special screening of the
WITF-produced film in the theatre,
“I GO HOME.”“Imagine living somewhere you didn’t choose, with someone you didn’t choose to live with.Being told you can’t love – or leave. For decades that was reality for people with intellectualdisability. In some cases – it’s still areality today. It’s a history that mustbe remembered... a story that mustbe told.” - witf.org
Ralph Trainer, Executive Director,Abilities In Motion, has vividmemories of his visits to PennhurstState School as he and his familyvisited his cousin.
Mr. Trainer will share some of thosememories and introduce the film atthe conclusion of the Summit.
“Contrary to myth, Pennhurst was not a place where
evil people wrought intentionally evil schemes. But
that makes the meaning even more relevant and the
danger even more real: the neglect rising to the level of abuse
described in the groundbreaking Pennhurst litigation excerpted
below was perpetrated by our own society, in our own backyard,
within our own lifetimes. As a former Special Assistant to
Pennhurst's Superintendent has said, ‘Pennhurst was a mistake
from day one, but it was a mistake made by all of us, following the
dictates of the best minds of its time.’
Against the backdrop of the state's neglect, countless
unremarked acts of kindness from workers and families
added bits of humanity to institutional life. It is, no doubt,
the resilience of Pennhurst's residents themselves that is the most
inspiring part of the institution's story.”
SOURCE: The Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance
Website - www.preservepennhurst.org
Presenters/ Speakers / PanelistsDavid De Notaris is theExecutive Director of the PennsylvaniaOffice of Vocational Rehabilitation(OVR). David leads an amazing teamof over 1100 dedicated professionals,investing approximately $200M instate & federal resources to assistindividuals with disabilities inachieving competitive integratedemployment. Last year, OVR assistedover 5,000 employers and helped8,800 customers find jobs, returning$54M in state and federal taxes. Davidbelieves that access equals success:when we can help individuals accessthe same information as theirclassmates, neighbors, colleaguesand peers, they can get the sameeducation, training opportunities andjobs!
Toni Gainer is the director ofPA211 East, a program of the UnitedWay of Lancaster County. 2-1-1 is aneasy to remember number that quicklyconnects people with critical servicesand volunteer opportunities in theirlocal community. 2-1-1 is a free,confidential telephone number that isavailable 24 hours a day, seven daysper week. Professionally trainedspecialists provide information andassistance by connecting individualsto the most appropriate servicesavailable in their community. PA211East currently serves Lancaster,Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northamptonand Schuylkill Counties.
Theresa L. Giurintano isthe Executive Director of LebanonTransit, a regional public transitprovider, offering transportationservices to the residents of LebanonCounty, Commuter Service to DauphinCounty and Saturday service toLancaster County. Theresa wasresponsible for guiding LebanonTransit through the process oftransitioning from a rural to smallurban transit property. Theresa is a
Certified Community TransportationManager and is active in severalorganizations and groups whosepurpose is to advance the cause,goals and funding of her chosen field.
Melissa Hawkins is theExecutive Director of the DisabilityEmpowerment Center since April of2013. Having worked in the not-for-profit field for over 12 years, she hasbeen working in the disability field forten years. She attended ThePennsylvania State University whereshe graduated with her Bachelor’sdegree in Applied Behavioral Science.She then attended Virginia TechUniversity where she graduate with adual Master’s of Science in HumanResources and Adult Learning. Shealso earned a Certification inLeadership Studies from TempleUniversity.
Shirley Keith Knox isthe Deputy Administrator forIntellectual Disabilities and EarlyIntervention Services at the DauphinCounty Mental Health and IntellectualDisabilities Program. She isresponsible for the management ofservices to individuals enrolled in theintellectual disabilities system andinfants and toddlers eligible for earlyintervention services.
Jenni Kistler is the ProgramManager for the Goodwill KeystoneArea Work Incentives Planning andAssistance Program (WIPA) programand a Certified Work IncentivesCoordinator (CWIC). She beganworking for Goodwill Keystone Area inSeptember of 2010 and became theWIPA program manager in 2013. TheGoodwill Keystone Area WIPAprogram is funded by a grant fromSocial Security and covers 35counties in Pennsylvania.
Laurie Kleynen is Director ofResidential Services for Excentia,Lancaster, PA. Laurie began workingtowards a career in the field of intellectualdisabilities in 1981, while still in highschool. Working direct care with childrenin York County through ProspectusAssociates, Inc. (PAI), Laurie continuedto work all through high school and whileattending college full time at York Collegemajoring in Therapeutic Recreation.Laurie began working in LancasterCounty in 1990 and in 1991 headed upthe Residential program, which has nowmore than doubled in size with a widearray of services. Recently Excentiastarted an exciting and innovativetransitional apartment program inconjunction with Lancaster CountyBHDS.
Sherri Landis is the ExecutiveDirector of The D.R.E.A.M. Partnership.Prior to her joining DREAM, Sherri wasthe Executive Director of thePennsylvania School Bus Associationand worked as a lobbyist for the law firmof Tive, Hetrick & Pierce. The mission ofthe DREAM Partnership is to develop aselection of post-secondary educationalopportunities, including dormitoryoptions, which lead to independent livingand employment opportunities forstudents with intellectual disabilities inPennsylvania.
Dr. Ann Marie Licata is theDirector of the Pennsylvania InclusiveHigher Education Consortium, developedas a result of Millersville University’ssuccessful receipt of a competitivefederal Transition and PostsecondaryPrograms for Students with IntellectualDisability (TPSID) grant.
Kathy McCarthy is theRegional Housing Coordinator(Region 9) for Self-DeterminationHousing Project of Pennsylvania(SDHP). She has more than 20 yearsof professional experience, havingworked in Chester Countygovernment administering funding forprograms and activities that benefitlow-income and other disadvantagedpopulations, with a focus on housingaffordability and diversity.
Christopher Rogers isChristopher is a 2nd year studentenrolled in Career & Life Studies atMillersville University. He graduatedfrom Hempfield High School.
Flavel Rogers is anadvocate and parent. She hasworked in the health field throughouther career and is currently withSoutheast Lancaster Health Servicesin Lancaster.
Nathan Roth is the Directorof the Housing Equality & EquityInstitute at the Lancaster HousingOpportunity Partnership. TheInstitute ensures civil rights andempowerment in housing throughoutour region by cultivating relationshipsbetween neighbors, communitybenefit organizations, andgovernments. Prior to this work,Nathan oversaw multifamily realestate for a housing developer andmanager, and also investigateddiscrimination in housing on behalf ofthe local and Federal governments.
Matthew Seeley is theExecutive Director for the Pennsyl-vania Statewide Independent LivingCouncil. He has been involved in theIndependent Living movement for
the past 12 years. After a life-changing car accident andsubsequent rehabilitation in anursing home, Matthew graduatedMagna Cum Laude from DeSalesUniversity in Center ValleyPennsylvania in 2004, with a degreein Political Science. During thisperiod, Seeley also was appointedas the PASILC representative to thePennsylvania Rehabilitation Councilwhere his advocacacy helpsindividuals with disabilities get backto work through the services of theOffice of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Marchel Simmons is theAssistant Director of Shared RideServices shared-ride (paratransit)program - Rose Transit Authority’sAccess program - for senior citizensand persons with disabilities inLancaster County. This door-to-doortransportation service, known as RedRose Access, is available to thosewho are unable to use Red RoseTransit Authority’s fixed-route bussystem. Red Rose Access providesdoor-to-door shared ride service forpersons with disabilities, seniorcitizens, and others throughoutLancaster County.
Marcy Simpson is Directorof Paratransit Services with LebanonTransit; a position she’s had sincejoining the agency in 2010. Shesupervises ten drivers and three staffmembers. Lebanon TransitParatransit provides approximately225 trips a day. Marcy currentlyserves on the Age Wave SteeringCommittee, 50+ Committee,Lebanon County Council on HumanServices and Berks-Lancaster-Lebanon LINK to Aging and DisabilityResources, she also served as Vice
Chair of the Lebanon County Area onAging.
Steven H. Suroviec is theSpecial Advisor to the PA Secretary ofHuman Services where his focus is onpromoting and increasing employmentoutcomes for people with a disability.Within DHS, Steve is working with theOffice of Developmental Programs andOffice of Long-Term Living to increaseemployment outcomes for theirprogram participants. He also co-chairsthe Governor’s Employment Firstexecutive order interagency workgroup.Steve’s past professional experienceincludes leadership roles at the PAOffice of Developmental Programs, PAOffice of Vocational Rehabilitation, andThe Arc of Pennsylvania.
Denise Verchimak isDirector of the Bureau of VocationalRehabilitation Services. She isresponsible for the management of 15District Offices statewide providingrehabilitative services to individualswith disabilities to further our agencygoal of assisting our customers toobtain employment and independence.
Maureen Westcott isExecutive Director of The Arc ofLancaster County. Prior to that she wasPolicy Advocate for The Arc of PA.Maureen lives in Lititz and has childrenand grandchildren in Lititz, Oxford PA,and Baltimore MD.
Jan Bechtel is Interim Directorof the Career & Life Studies Program atMillersville University.
Presenters/ Speakers / Panelists
notes
PA 2-1-1 is a statewide collaborative for health andhuman service information for Pennsylvanians. Thiseasy-to-remember 2-1-1 phone number will link PA
residents with human services throughout Pennsylvania.
T.W. Ponessa &Associates isdedicated to
providingguidance and
nurturance for thesafety, well-being,and permanency
for children,adults, families,
and communities.
Lancaster Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 is aneducation service agency dedicated to deliveringirresistible services to schools and communities
across the state and beyond.
The Disability Empowerment Center is the Center forIndependent Living serving Lancaster and LebanonCounties. DEC is a private, nonprofit, nonresidentialorganization run by and for people with disabilities.
Empowering people with Intellectual andDevelopmental Disabilities to lead full,
independent lives of their choice throughadvocacy, family support, and programs.
Independent LivingServices, a division of
Accessing Independence, isa nonprofit organization
committed to helping peoplewith disabilities, includingveterans and the elderly,
lead more independent andfulfilling lives.
Goodwill provides a variety of services to youthincluding benefits counseling, work basedlearning and employment services including
discovery and customized employment services.
InfobilitySharing Information on Disability Issues.
Millersville University is both a top-notch universityand a vital part of the Central Pennsylvania townof Millersville and its surrounding communities.
Millersville University of Pennsylvania is one of themost highly regarded universities in the northeast
region of the United States.
Career & Life Studies
Lindy and Philip Malin have been marketing theiradorable and inspiring pet images worldwide forover 25 years. The Malins use these images to
help children and adults overcome innerobstacles and redirect self limiting thoughts.
Excentia provides comprehensive services that are warm,caring and respectful. Services are available from
childhood through adulthood and are utilized as needed.Excentia is recognized as a center of excellence for allservices offered. Visit www.ourexcentia.org for more
information.
Please be sure to visit withthese resources and information
providers while you’re here today
The Lebanon CountyLibraries providequality resourcesand services for all
ages. As therecipients of a
FINRA grant, we arefocusing on financial
literacy for youngadults transitioning toindependent living.
The Self Determination Housing Project ofPA., Inc. Is a statewide non-profit organization
that works to expand housing options forpeople with disabilities in Pennsylvania.
Self-Determination Housing Projectof Pennsylvania, Inc.
PENNSYLVANIA LINKTO AGING AND DISABILITY
RESOURCESAging and Disability Resource
Centers (ADRC) are a nationwideeffort to take a seamless approachin the way we assist seniors andadults with disabilities who need
help with activities of daily living. TheADRC in Pennsylvania is known asthe Link. The Path Ahead YouthTransition Summit is a specialproject of the Berks-Lancaster-
Lebanon Service Area.
TOLL FREE HELPLINE: 1-800-753-8827
The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR,provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons
with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment.OVR provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities,both directly and through a network of approved vendors.
Services are provided on an individualized basis.
Adult Enrichment is anonprofit program under
Accessing Independence, aUDS Foundation entity, that
provides important socialand educational
opportunities to individuals18 and older with physicalor intellectual disabilities.