1. YUMA COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE IN
TRANSITION (YCOPT)
Working together for a better community

2. A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE ON
TRANSITION
Specific Purpose:
 Provide guidance to anyone working with
transitioning students to better create “linkages” to
services and supports
 Introduce parents and individuals with disabilities to
what they can expect during the transition process

3. WHAT IS A COMMUNITY OF
PRACTICE
 State and local stakeholders come together around the
shared interest of improving school and post-school
outcomes for youth
 Together, the “community of practice” address issues
such as:
 meaningful youth involvement and success
 increasing post-secondary education options
 improving employment outcomes
 outreach to the child welfare system
 Improve work with juvenile justice
 collaborate and partner with the
mental health systems
 addressing community needs
(like accessible transportation)

4. YCOPT MEMBERS
 Yuma Union School District
 Rehabilitation Services Administration/Vocational
Rehabilitation
 Division of Developmental Disabilities
 Raising Special Kids
 S.M.I.L.E
 Cenpatico
 Goodwill
 Achieve
 Arizona Western College
 ABRiO Care
 RISE

5. Yuma Union High School District #70
Special Education Services
Enabling all Students to Reach Their
Full Potential
The Yuma Union High School District
offers a full continuum of services for
students in grades 9-12, living in the
district, who qualify for special
education. We provide special
education services based on the needs
of each individual student.

6. 6
To be eligible for Special Education services, a
student:
1.has been evaluated and is found to qualify for
one of the 14 categories of a disability
And
2.has been determined by a multi-disciplinary
team that special education and related services
are required
IDEA 2004 CFR 34 300.301, ARS 15-761(2)
Special Education Eligibility

7. 7
• coordinated set of activities, including a course of study,
that are designed to be a results-oriented process
• plan that is focused on improving the academic and
functional achievement of the student
• plan that is intentionally designed to facilitate the
student’s movement from school to post-school
activities
• plan with outcomes based on individual needs, taking
into account the student’s strengths, preferences, and
interests
]
IDEA 2004 CFR 300.43

8. Rehabilitation Services Administration
Vocational Rehabilitation
Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration
works with individuals with disabilities to
achieve their goals for employment and
independence.

9. Eligibility Requirements:
An individual:
◦ has a physical, mental or emotional impairment that
results in a substantial barrier to employment
◦ is able to benefit in terms of an employment
outcome
◦ wants to work and requires VR services to prepare
for, secure, retain or regain employment
Rehabilitation Act Section 7(20)(B)

10.  Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is
developed based on the disability-related needs
of the individual for his/her specific vocational
goal
 Vocational Counseling & Guidance
 Assessments
 Career Exploration
 Information about Community Resources
 Work Readiness Activities
 On-the-Job Training
 Community College or University Education
 Vocational or Technical Training

11.  Contact local Yuma VR office (928)247-8880
and sign up for an orientation
 Visit our website for program information and
watch the youth video www.azdes.gov/RSA
 Ask your transition teacher/casemanager to
refer you to VR

12. Individuals with developmental
disabilities are valued members of
their communities and are involved
and participating in their
communities based on their
own choices
12

13. Meets diagnostic and functional criteria for age
in one of the following categories:
- Intellectual Disability
- Cerebral Palsy
- Epilepsy
- Autism
13

14. • Work directly with the individuals and their families
• Help identify individual needs, resources and strengths
• Work with identified team members to develop an
Individual Support Plan (ISP)
• Assist in obtaining supports and services
• Monitor services and supports
• Provide information regarding community resources
14

15.  Individual Supported Employment
 Group Supported Employment
 Center- Based Employment
 Employment Support Aide
 Transportation to Employment

16. Employment
Services for
Individuals
with Disabilities
Recognizing the ABILITY
within a disABILITY
Reinventing Lives
through Employment
Our Mission: Empower the
individuals we serve to live their lives
to their greatest potential.
Our Vision: We lead in the
development and delivery of
innovative programs designed to
strengthen and build stronger
communities.

17. Contracts & Services - Federal
 AbilityOne: Janitorial, Grounds, Inventory & Inventory
Management.
 Department of Homeland Security (Border Patrol) Yuma,
Wellton,
 Blythe, Ajo, I-8/Hwy 78/ Hwy 95 checkpoints
 Yuma Proving Grounds (Y.P.G)
 Customs & Border Protection- Air Operations
 Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
 Housing for 154 individuals with Severe Mental Illness
 Transitional Housing
 Permanent Housing
 Department of Commerce
 Shelter Plus Care (Yuma & La Paz County)

18.  Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) throughout AZ
 Center Based Employment (CBE)
 Group Supportive Employment
 Individual Supported Employment
 Employment Support Aide
 Transportation
 Day Treatment & Training Adult Program
 Cooperative School Program
 Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Yuma, La Paz,
Mohave Counties
 Work Adjustment Training
 Supported Employment
 Job Development & Placement
 Department of Rehabilitation: California Vocational
Rehabilitation
 On the Job Training
 Work Adjustment Training
Contracts & Services - State
Arizona Department of Economics Security (DES):

19. ACHIEVE Provides the
Following Services:
 Custodial
 Bulk Mailing
 Grounds Maintenance
 Document Archiving/Imaging
 Secured Document Destruction
 Laundry Services
 Kitting/Fulfillment/Assembly
 Car Wash/Detail
 Vending Machine Services

20.  Provide opportunities for
individuals with disabilities to
open doors to new skills and life
experiences.
 Provide attendant care, respite,
and habilitation services.
 Develop care plans based upon the
individuals needs with the family.
 Trained staff.
 Licensed by the State.ABRiO means to “Open.”

21.  Pre-match providers welcome. We
will hire and train your friend or
family member to provide services
to your loved one.
 Staff fingerprinted and background
checked.
 Training includes: CPR, First Aid,
Article 9, and the DCW
(approximately 60 hours).
 Habilitation training.
Level 1 Fingerprint
Clearance Required

22.  Habilitation – teaching of daily
living skills.
 PECS – picture exchange
communication system.
 Social Stories – using stories to
shape behavior.
 Respite – at home or in the
community.
 DDD Provider.
Communication is key!
Location:
183 E 24th Street, Ste 7
Yuma, Arizona
Phone:
(928) 314-9961
Teri Rademacher
Area Supervisor
Monica Medina
Staffing Coordinator

25. R 3, 370 of those jobs were found in Yuma County

26. twitter.com/yumagoodwill * 8,879 of these were served in Yuma
*

27. Supporting families of
children with disabilities or
special health needs in
Arizona
What is Raising Special
Kids?

28. Mission Statement
• To improve the lives of children with
disabilities and special health needs by
providing parents with information,
training and support.
• We do this so parents
can become effective
advocates and
encourage their
children to successfully
navigate through
today’s world.
28
28

29. Our Services
• We work hard to keep our
services at no cost to families
• Available in English and Spanish
• Support families of
diverse culture, structure
and background

30. Comprehensive Family
Resource Center
• Serving all of Arizona with staff in
Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson
• 501(c)(3) Nonprofit organization
• Founded in 1979
• Serve families with children with the full
range of disabilities and special health
care needs
• Staffed by family members of children
with disabilities and special health care
needs

32. Vocational Computer Training
Information Access/ Technology
Self-Advocacy/Self Empowerment
Mobility and Transportation
Community/Social Participation
Home Modification/Emergencies Repairs
www.smile-az.org

33. SMILE Independent Living Center provides the
catalyst for community change and life altering
experiences and thereby empowers individuals with
significant disabilities, throughout Yuma and La Paz
Counties:
To function independently
To live safely and with dignity
To enjoy full access to one’s communities

35. Mission
The AccessABILITY Resource Services
office works in partnership with students
with disabilities, faculty and staff to remove
barriers in the educational process through
design and accommodation. We recognize
disability as an aspect of diversity and
promote a culture of inclusion for all
diverse groups.

37. Disability Part of the Diverse
Campus
O Recognizing the value of individuals with
disabilities and their place on the tapestry
of our campus is an important part of
building an inclusive campus.

38. Sources and Forms of Documentation
Acceptable sources of documentation for substantiating a student’s disability and
request for particular accommodations can take a variety of forms:
O Primary Documentation: Student’s Self-report
O The student is a vital source of information regarding how he or she may be “limited by impairment.” A student’s
narrative of his or her experience of disability, barriers, and effective and ineffective accommodations is an important
tool which, when structured by interview or questionnaire and interpreted, may be sufficient for establishing disability
and a need for accommodation.
O Secondary Documentation: Observation and Interaction
O The impressions and conclusions formed by higher education disability professionals during interviews and
conversations with students or in evaluating the effectiveness of previously implemented or provisional
accommodations are important forms of documentation. Experienced disability professionals should feel comfortable
using their observations of students’ language, performance and strategies as an appropriate tool in validating student
narrative and self-report.
O Tertiary documentation: Information From External or Third Parties
O Documentation from external sources may include educational or medical records, reports and assessments created
by health care providers, school psychologists, teachers, or the educational system. This information is inclusive of
documents that reflect education and accommodation history, such as Individual Education Program (IEP), Summary
Of Performance (SOP), and teacher observations. External documentation will vary in its relevance and value
depending on the original context, credentials of the evaluator, the level of detail provided, and the
comprehensiveness of the narrative. However, all forms of documentation are meaningful and should be mined for
pertinent information.
O http://ahead.org/resources/documentation_guidance

40. » Since July 2005, Cenpatico has provided services to
behavioral health recipients through a contract with
the Arizona Department of Health Services/Division
of Behavioral Health Services (ADHS/DBHS).
» We currently serve as the Regional Behavioral Health
Authority (RBHA) for the counties of:
˃Gila, Pinal, Yuma, La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham and
Greenlee.

41. » People who have Medicaid through the Arizona
Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
» People who have been designated as someone with a
Serious Mental Illness
» People who have substance use disorders (funding
limited)
» Anyone is eligible for Crisis Services

42. » You can contact our Customer Care Representatives at 866-495-
6738.
» If you have an urgent need, please call the Nursewise Crisis Line at
866-495-6735.
» You can also call for assistance:
Maria Chavoya
928.210.2033
mchavoya@cenpatico.com
2755 S. 4th Avenue, Bldg. 3, Ste. 103
Yuma, AZ 85364
“Together we can inspire hope for a better life”

43. » You can find a list of providers by going to our
website: http://www.cenpaticoaz.com/find-
provider/
» Other Resources.
» http://www.cenpaticoaz.com/
» http://www.cenpaticoaz.com/find-provider/
» http://www.cenpaticoaz.com/participants/me
mber_handbook/