Call for Papers: Arizona Transition Conference 2008

CALL FOR PAPERS

Arizona’s Eighth Annual Transition Conference

“Transforming Visions to Realities”

September 22 – 23, 2008
Radisson Fort McDowell Resort
10438 North Fort McDowell Road
Scottsdale/Fountain Hills, AZ 85264
(480) 836-5300 / (800) 333-3333

Arizona’s Eighth Annual Transition Conference, “Transforming Visions to Realities” will focus on seven (7) strands related to facilitating successful transition for youth with disabilities. The following strands include suggested areas of focus, but are not exhaustive lists.

Strand # 1: Community Partnerships

Sessions may focus on:
• Post-School Results
• Rural Issues
• Charter School Issues
• Migrant/Homeless Issues
• Employer Perspectives
• Development of Local/Community-Based Secondary Transition Planning Teams/ Councils
• Community of Practice Model
• Post-Secondary Education/Training

Strand # 2: Family Voice

Sessions may focus on:
• Cultural Diversity/Cultural Expectations
• Parent Perspectives
• Parent Involvement
• Family Support and Parent Information

Strand # 3: Legal Implications

• Attorneys may present on transition related issues

Strand # 4: Secure Care

Sessions may focus on:
• Post-School Results
• Transition Focused IEPs
• Innovative Transition Programming in Facilities
• Secure Care Transition to Community
• Merging Two Worlds Curriculum
• Mentoring Youth in Secure Care Facilities
• Vocational Training
• Vocational Assessment and Diagnostic Strategies

Strand # 5: Accessing Community Resources/ Medical and Social Empowerment

Sessions may focus on:
• Agency Access: Division of Developmental Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation, Behavioral Health (DHS), Social Security Administration, Departments of Labor and Commerce, Arizona Department of Education, etc.
• College/University Services
• Career Exploration
• Trade Schools
• Community Based Resources
• Housing
• Transportation
• Health Care
• Behavioral Health Strategies
• Benefits
• Guardianship
• Advocacy

Strand # 6: Youth/Young Adult Empowerment

Sessions may focus on:
• Transition Experiences/ Post-School Experience (Youth Panels)
• Cultural Diversity
• Leadership
• Self-Advocacy/Self-Determination
• Empowerment Programs

Strand # 7: Assistive/Instructional Technology

Sessions may focus on:
• High School/ Secondary Accommodations
• Job Accommodations
• College and University Accommodations
• Universal Design for Learning
Proposal Review Process

Proposals must describe the associated strand and target population. Sessions must be strategy/intervention oriented, have active participation of the group, time for reflection and sharing, and relevant handouts. Description of sessions must be precise and accurate. Please plan the session for one hour in length. Times will be confirmed upon notification of acceptance of proposal.

The Conference Planning Committee and ADE/ ESS staff will review proposals. Each proposal will be evaluated by three to five reviewers and scored using the following criteria:
1. The degree to which the proposal addresses the descriptions and/or issues in the identified conference strand. (1 – 8 points)
2. Clear identification of what the participants will know and be able to do as a result of their attendance at the session. (1 – 10 points)
3. Relevance of the content to the participants, to the needs of youth and young adults with disabilities, to the field of special education, to secondary transition, and to post-school transition outcomes. (1 – 8 points)
4. The degree to which content and process are aligned with the intended outcomes, as well as consistency with quality staff development design. (1 – 5 points)
5. Appropriate research that supports the topic. (1 – 5 points)
6. The degree to which the proposal is complete and in the required format. (1 – 8 points)
7. Up to six additional points will be added to the proposal score if the presenter includes district, school-based, agency-based, or organization-based personnel who have implemented the content or skills and can show positive results.

Proposal Format:

Please provide contact names and information for each presenter:
Contact Name(s):
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Position:
School/Agency/Organization:
Name(s) and Title(s) of Presenter(s):
Strand #:
Target Audience:
Participant Outcomes:
Title of Session:
Description of session (200 words or less):

Presenter Accommodations (please describe needs in your proposal):
• Room Format: primarily interactive or lecture based
• Presenter Accommodations: special needs, table set-up, room preference, etc.
• Overhead Projector (for transparencies)
• Easel
• Microphones (note the number needed, including audience participation if applicable)
• Flip Chart/Markers
• Screen
• PowerPoint Equipment (laptop, Proxima- for projection)
• Podium

Conference Registration Fee & Multiple Presenters

Up to two presenters can be exempt from paying the conference registration fee. If there are additional presenters beyond two, the registration fee payment will be required of each additional person.

The deadline for proposals is Friday, March 28th, 2008, at 5:00pm. Notification will be made no later than April 18th, 2008. Forward proposals via email to:

Jeannette Zemeida
 (602) 542-3855
Jeannette.Zemeida@azed.gov

For questions regarding format or content please contact:

Cynthia Bryant
(602) 542-3005
Cynthia.Bryant@azed.gov