Description: Effective transition planning requires collaboration across agencies, schools, and community organizations to ensure seamless support for youth with disabilities. This session will explore how resource mapping, a strategic process of identifying and coordinating available services, can enhance collaborative service delivery. Presenters will share real-world examples from ME and PA, highlighting successful models that connect students and families to education, workforce, and community services.

Participants will gain insight into building coordinated transition systems and learn actionable steps to implement resource mapping, strengthen cross-agency collaboration, and maximize supports.

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Description: The Transition Improvement Grant (TIG) is a Wisconsin-based project that provides direct support to school districts in installing and implementing evidence-based strategies to improve graduation rates for students with IEPs. This presentation will offer participants an overview of the Graduation Rate Improvement Planning tool, the coaching and technical assistance structure TIG provides, and the positive outcome changes seen in districts actively engaging in this work.

Participants will apply TIG's evidence-based practices to their own initiatives, refine planning processes, and gain actionable strategies for customizing coaching and TA in their context.

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Description: This session will focus on reframing data sharing conversations and how agency partners share relevant data for interagency planning and collaboration. Data examples will be shared and discussed. Time will be provided for participants to reflect on how they will use readily available data from their agency/state and how to build an interagency data sharing culture that embeds data conversations into their interagency planning and coordination.

Participants will learn the various data available for deep conversations and transition planning and how to locate existing data that can be shared without formal data sharing agreements and PII.

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Description: Discover how Virginia is building collaborative pathways to secondary-transition success through the efforts of DARS, the Department of Special Education and Instructional Services, and VCU’s State Transition Leadership Academy. This engaging session will share local strategies that enhance special education transition outcomes and coordination around Pre-ETS.

Participants will leave with actionable ideas to strengthen partnerships in their own communities.

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Description: Like a well-tended garden, successful transition requires strong roots, careful cultivation, and the right tools. This session will take a "back to basics" approach to foundational resources supporting students with disabilities transitioning to higher education, competitive integrated employment, and independent, civically engaged lives. We’ll explore resources, strengthen collaboration, and foster long-term success.

Participants will leave with tools to help every student grow and thrive.

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Description: This presentation will explore what is commonly thought of as AI, the benefits AI can have in transition services, and potential risks or consequences transition professionals should consider when using AI. Accessibility considerations will be reviewed, as will applications of the CRCC Code of Ethics for decision-making pertaining to AI. Finally, AI platforms and key reasons for professional responsibility when using AI will be discussed.

Participants will understand ethical principles in AI for Vocational Rehabilitation and Special Education; evaluate the impact of AI on counselor/ teacher-client Relationships; and apply ethical decision-making frameworks to AI integration.

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Description: Join YETI members for a dynamic session featuring new tools now available on the Youth Engagement Now website. Explore fresh resources to help youth, families, and professionals find and engage youth, build community, support leadership, and sustain meaningful engagement at local, state, and community levels. Walk away with tips, strategies, and real-world examples to power youth voice and drive lasting change.

Participants will explore new resources on the Youth Engagement Now website to enhance youth engagement strategies and support sustained leadership at local, state, and community levels.

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Description: Centers for Independent Living (CILs) play an important role in the interagency collaboratives supporting transition-age youth with disabilities though engagement is noticeably varied across states and local areas. In this session, we’ll cover foundational information relative to CILs and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), discuss barriers and facilitators to CIL involvement in transition service delivery, and share free resources to maximize CIL support at state and local levels.

Learn foundational information on the CIL and SILC role in supporting youth with disabilities, discuss barriers and facilitators to CIL involvement, and review recommendations for CIL collaboration.

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Description: This session provides a hands-on look at how Utah effectively coordinates adult and special education. Learn actionable steps for building collaborative teams, identifying students with disabilities, and putting specialized services into practice within adult education settings.

Participants will learn about Utah’s process of collaboration between Adult Ed and Special Ed. to improve student services and outcomes and have access to Utah’s Technical Assistance document.

Description: Visit Arkansas’ showcase of initiatives creating positive change for students with disabilities, families, and communities. Explore CIRCLES, the Self-Determined Learning Model/Goal Setting App, the Self-Determined Career Design Model, Career Councils in rural communities, and a five-university doctoral consortium, ELEVATE, that will help empower scholars to break down barriers students with disabilities and their families frequently encounter as they work to transition to positive outcomes.

Participants will learn and be able to discuss how the AR team became engaged in these collaborative efforts and how we align our work for to ensure seamless and positive transition for students.

Description: Step into The Greenhouse, a vibrant space where seeds of youth leadership, engagement, and mentoring are being nurtured and grown! This interactive resource-sharing session is blooming with effective practices, inspiring stories, and tools that support the flourishing of young leaders with disabilities.

Explore fresh ideas and time-tested strategies shared by YETI and PTIs dedicated to empowering youth and families.

1. PEAK Parent Center (CO PTI) – Quinna Phillips
2. Families Together, Inc. (KS PTI) – Brad Girard, Leia Holley
3. ECAC (NC PTI) – Aimee Combs, Beth Voll
4. SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (NJ/ CPIR) – Dawn Monaco, Johan Mora Valverde
5. MPACT (MO PTI) – Zach McCall
6. RIPIN (RI PTI) – Anne Fartura
7. Pathfinder Services of North Dakota – Holden Boully, Mistie Boully
8. Disability Rights of the Virgin Islands – Alexis Capps
9. Success, Engagement, Education, Determination (SEED) – Everett Deibler
10. Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities – Lisa Hickman, Michael Uher
11. The Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network (PYLN) – Erin Black

Description: Join us for a discussion on how SEAs can increase authentic family partnerships that align with state goals to improve youth outcomes. Grounding in agreed-upon definitions of family partnership, we explore aligning state team planning with actionable family partnerships. A discussion will identify impacts for teachers, families, and youth and how these partnerships can improve outcomes. We will explore challenges in establishing partnerships and learn from each other about successful strategies.

Participants will gain insight on aligning family partnerships with state goals to improve youth outcomes; discuss potential changes for families, teachers, and youth; and explore strategies for overcoming challenges.

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Description: Navigating American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) and State VR agency collaboration can be overwhelming. We will explore differences between Transition Services and Pre-ETS for students with disabilities, highlighting the unique contributions of both AIVRS and State VR. We will discuss developing effective partnerships with strategies for both in-person and remote service delivery and examine real-world examples of collaboration in serving Native students with disabilities.

Participants will identify benefits and barriers to collaboration and transition strategies for Tribal youth with disabilities and differentiate between roles and capabilities of AIVRS projects and State VR agencies.

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Description: Building capacity for supported decision-making (SDM) at the state and local level requires collaboration, and it is a goal that any interagency team can take on. In this session, we’ve got something for everyone, regardless of your level of previous exposure to the topic. We’ll provide a primer on SDM, facilitate an interactive walkthrough of some of our favorite (free) SDM resources, and engage in a group discussion of lessons learned in collaborative SDM efforts.

Participants will learn foundational content on supported decision-making, engage in an interactive walkthrough of free tools for building state and local capacity, and share lessons learned in SDM collaboration.

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Description: This session will provide information and examples on how CTE courses at the secondary and postsecondary levels can lead to competitive integrated employment for persons with an intellectual disability. The presenters will provide tangible examples from Arkansas and Florida, where students with an intellectual disability are excelling in CTE courses. Attendees will be able to take home innovative ideas on CTE activities that they can implement immediately to improve student outcomes.

Participants will learn how secondary CTE pathways lead to increased success in postsecondary CTE and about industry certifications earned by students with disabilities leading to competitive integrated employment.

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Description: This session will explore how collaborative strategies enhance secondary transition professional development and personnel preparation. We will discuss EBPs, state-level initiatives, and national competencies that equip transition specialists to fulfill their roles effectively. We will share state examples of collaboration in training, professional development, and certification efforts. Participants will gain actionable strategies for growing transition expertise to cultivate student outcomes.

Participants will understand EBPs and state-level initiatives, learn about national competencies for transition specialists, and share examples of statewide transition PD networks.

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Description: This session will provide an overview of the different Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits available to individuals with disabilities including those specific to youth as well as work incentives available to students and youth that enable them to work without fear of losing their benefits. We will also discuss the safety nets available should a student/youth lose their benefits and provide participants with strategies for supporting improved financial capacity for students and youth.

Participants will gain knowledge of SSA benefits available to individuals with disabilities, work incentives that allow youth to preserve benefits, and strategies for improved financial capacity.

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Description: Join us as we explore how the Wisconsin Community on Transition is driving transformation at both the local and statewide levels! By leveraging data-driven decisions, incorporating evidence-based practices, and developing actionable plans, we're strengthening transition partnerships through an innovative online tool. Come discover how our process and this transformative tool are creating meaningful change across Wisconsin.

Participants will learn how the WI Community on Transition leverages data-driven decisions, EBPs, and action planning to strengthen transition efforts and learn about the Community Transition Innovation Plan (CTIP).

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Description: This presentation will share effective strategies to counteract negative impacts of chronic loneliness on mental health and feelings of belonging. Presenters will engage participants in hands-on activities and discussions aimed to identifying effective strategies to support connectedness and resilience among students and colleagues.

Participants will gain knowledge of strategies to increase feelings of social safety, practice these strategies during the session, and identify how they can use these strategies in work settings.

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Description: The Piloting a Universal Referral Form to Improve Interagency Collaboration table talk will present information on the pilot of a Universal Referral Form implemented in Utah to streamline the interagency referral process for educators and families. We will discuss the development of the form with multiple agencies and feedback from educators who have been piloting the form this school year. We will brainstorm ideas on how to improve this process as we roll out the universal referral form widely.
Participants will discuss the benefits and pitfalls of implementing a universal referral form with multiple agencies and gain insight into lessons learned in Utah’s pilot phase of this effort.

Description: Join us for a topically focused, interactive networking session with facilitated peer-to-peer learning. This session may extend content shared during a previous concurrent session or other networking opportunity or extend learning on an important topic which is not specifically addressed in the agenda elsewhere. Learn about new or existing resources from state and national colleagues and consider how a resource, process, or effort may be applicable to your entity’s strategic planning process.

Participants will engage in facilitated discussions and networking regarding data use and analyses, lessons learned, and successes achieved on statewide initiatives or state-to-local efforts.

Description: Join us for a topically focused, interactive networking session with facilitated peer-to-peer learning. This session may extend content shared during a previous concurrent session or other networking opportunity or extend learning on an important topic which is not specifically addressed in the agenda elsewhere. Learn about new or existing resources from state and national colleagues and consider how a resource, process, or effort may be applicable to your entity’s strategic planning process.

Participants will engage in facilitated discussions and networking regarding data use and analyses, lessons learned, and successes achieved on statewide initiatives or state-to-local efforts.

Description: Join us for a topically focused, interactive networking session with facilitated peer-to-peer learning. This session may extend content shared during a previous concurrent session or other networking opportunity or extend learning on an important topic which is not specifically addressed in the agenda elsewhere. Learn about new or existing resources from state and national colleagues and consider how a resource, process, or effort may be applicable to your entity’s strategic planning process.

Participants will engage in facilitated discussions and networking regarding data use and analyses, lessons learned, and successes achieved on statewide initiatives or state-to-local efforts.

Description: Join us for a topically focused, interactive networking session with facilitated peer-to-peer learning. This session may extend content shared during a previous concurrent session or other networking opportunity or extend learning on an important topic which is not specifically addressed in the agenda elsewhere. Learn about new or existing resources from state and national colleagues and consider how a resource, process, or effort may be applicable to your entity’s strategic planning process.

Participants will engage in facilitated discussions and networking regarding data use and analyses, lessons learned, and successes achieved on statewide initiatives or state-to-local efforts.

Description: Join us for a topically focused, interactive networking session with facilitated peer-to-peer learning. This session may extend content shared during a previous concurrent session or other networking opportunity or extend learning on an important topic which is not specifically addressed in the agenda elsewhere. Learn about new or existing resources from state and national colleagues and consider how a resource, process, or effort may be applicable to your entity’s strategic planning process.

Participants will engage in facilitated discussions and networking regarding data use and analyses, lessons learned, and successes achieved on statewide initiatives or state-to-local efforts.

Description: Join us for a topically focused, interactive networking session with facilitated peer-to-peer learning. This session may extend content shared during a previous concurrent session or other networking opportunity or extend learning on an important topic which is not specifically addressed in the agenda elsewhere. Learn about new or existing resources from state and national colleagues and consider how a resource, process, or effort may be applicable to your entity’s strategic planning process.

Participants will engage in facilitated discussions and networking regarding data use and analyses, lessons learned, and successes achieved on statewide initiatives or state-to-local efforts.

Description: Join us for a topically focused, interactive networking session with facilitated peer-to-peer learning. This session may extend content shared during a previous concurrent session or other networking opportunity or extend learning on an important topic which is not specifically addressed in the agenda elsewhere. Learn about new or existing resources from state and national colleagues and consider how a resource, process, or effort may be applicable to your entity’s strategic planning process.

Participants will engage in facilitated discussions and networking regarding data use and analyses, lessons learned, and successes achieved on statewide initiatives or state-to-local efforts.

Description: Join us for a topically focused, interactive networking session with facilitated peer-to-peer learning. This session may extend content shared during a previous concurrent session or other networking opportunity or extend learning on an important topic which is not specifically addressed in the agenda elsewhere. Learn about new or existing resources from state and national colleagues and consider how a resource, process, or effort may be applicable to your entity’s strategic planning process.

Participants will engage in facilitated discussions and networking regarding data use and analyses, lessons learned, and successes achieved on statewide initiatives or state-to-local efforts.

Description: This session explores creative, community-centered, and non-traditional approaches to engaging families in secondary transition. Learn practical strategies that leverage family and community strengths to foster meaningful collaboration.

Participants will gain insight into innovative ways to engage families in transition planning beyond traditional methods.

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Description: In this engaging presentation, members from the Maryland and Kansas state teams will share local and state initiatives to build capacity and align efforts that enhance transition outcomes for youth with disabilities. Presenters will highlight strategies to engage families, educators, and employment support providers, while fostering cross-system collaboration. Examples will showcase how stakeholder engagement drives meaningful improvements in secondary transition planning and services.
Participants will gain insight on stakeholder engagement strategies and cross-system collaboration to improve secondary transition outcomes for youth with disabilities.

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Description: Learn more about the NTACT:C Quality Indicators of State Systems of Professional Development Tool (QI for PD) and receive a printed copy of the tool. Structured around five key elements of PD, the tool can help state transition teams identify areas to develop or improve a statewide system of PD. Information from a current pilot in which five states are using the QI for State Systems PD tool and using the information to inform their statewide transition planning efforts will be addressed.

Participants will learn about a tool for cross-agency implementation of a statewide system of professional development, obtain a copy of the QI for PD tool, and discuss key elements of statewide systems of PD.

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Description: Learn how Kentucky’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Department of Education continue to intentionally build deep connections and collaborate at the state and local levels to improve outcomes for youth with disabilities. Kentucky will share how these agencies have moved from “checking the box” collaboration towards integrated and systematic collaboration through intentional planning and data-based decision making.

Participants will increase knowledge of strategies to increase collaboration at the state and local levels and approaches to sharing and analyzing state-level data for data-based decision-making.

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Description: This session will present a mixed methods study conducted in Utah analyzing five years of the post school outcomes survey results. We will discuss the study’s innovative methodology and results that will inform transition supports and services in the future. Finally, we will facilitate a discussion of the implications for these findings for Utah and the field at large. We will discuss positive outcomes and areas for improvement.

Participants will gain insight on in-school experiences that students report having a positive impact on their post school success as well as experiences that may interfere with positive post school outcomes.

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Description: For more than 25 years, the NJ DOE has sponsored regional Dare to Dream student leadership conferences for students with disabilities, parents, and educators. These events, typically held on college campuses throughout NJ, feature student keynote speakers and breakout sessions run by students that focus on self-advocacy and student leadership. This session will feature information about the production of the Dare to Dream conferences and video of student keynote speeches from prior conferences.

Participants will learn how to replicate these successful events in their own State and will be inspired by viewing the students’ speeches from prior Dare to Dream conferences.