Transition Partnership School
A Cooperative Program of the Menomonie Public Schools and the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute
The Transition Partnership School (TPS) was initiated at the suggestion of the parents of Menomonie High School students with disabilities in the summer of 2003. These parents recognized the potential of the existing programs of the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) to increase the success of their children’s school-to-work transition.
The Partnership
The Menomonie School District (MSD) staff provides Individual Education Plan case management and instruction in independent living and other educational activities. SVRI provides residential services, assessment, assistive technology, benefits analysis, and work experience placement.
The Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has provided case management and financial support for vocational services that are provided. The Bremer Bank Foundation has provided funding to assure all families can afford to have their students involved in residential programming by providing needs based support for room and board expenses. Other agencies also providing services to TPS students include the Center for Independent Living of Western Wisconsin and Chippewa Valley Technical College.
The Students
Students enrolled in TPS have completed 4 years of high school and are using their extra school years as authorized by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These students have been recognized as having a disability and served through an Individual Education Plan during their educational careers. Students are primarily from Menomonie High School or nearby communities; enrollment is not restricted to Menomonie students.
Disabilities can include any diagnosis. Those presented during the first four years of TPS have included Asperger’s syndrome, cognitive limitations, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, and hemiplegia.
The Residence Experience
Living away from their traditional homes and family is a significant part of the TPS program. Students are able to make decisions and be held responsible for those decisions. Increasing levels of confidence have been noted in the students in the first weeks of TPS as they become comfortable with their decision making.
The students are generally assigned to a room with a roommate. This requires tolerance and effective communication to work well. Staff is available in the dorm to assist when problems occur. The staff and university students are also available to organize activities and promote involvement of all students. A campus has proven to offer numerous activities for the TPS students to engage in such as athletic events, the fitness center, free bowling and movie nights, and speakers.
Features
Independent Living Instruction
Life-centered curriculum is used to provide individualized instruction in independent living areas. Many of these exercises can be demonstrated or practiced in the daily activities of students. An example would be discussing what the students are eating for lunch. The instructor can assist the student to analyze how nutritious and cost effective these meals are. The lessons are taught by instructors of the MSD.
SVRI staff is involved in providing vocational assessment, work experiences, direct placement and vocational counseling. Work experience opportunities are developed on and off campus to provide an opportunity for students to try various types of work. Job placement services are also provided to place students into competitive employment situations providing both income and valuable jobsite lessons. Assistance finding employment for summer or after graduation from TPS is also provided.
Individual Education Plan Management
MSD staff work to maintain current IEPs that reflect activities of the student at TPS. Formal IEP sessions are often held twice within the school year. Goal reviewing sessions are held with each student weekly to assist the student to keep focused on priorities documented in the IEP.
Other Features
Numerous other services are coordinated or offered directly through TPS. Examples include driver’s education, assistive technology, counseling, health monitoring and progress sessions.
Contact Us:
Al Noll, EdS, CVE, LPC
Transition Partnership School Project Coordinator
Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute
University of Wisconsin - Stout
221 10th Avenue East, Room 116
Menomonie, WI 54751
715-232-2379 (voice)
715-232-5008 (fax)
nolla@uwstout.edu