Allies, Inc. will host its 6th Annual Transition Conference on October 23, 2007

July 27, 2007

Hello!

Allies, Inc. will host its 6th Annual Transition Conference on October 23,

2007. Last year's conference was a tremendous success with 200 participants

in attendance. This year an audience upwards of 300 attendees is

anticipated. Opening remarks will be delivered by state dignitaries in

addition to an afternoon keynote performance provided by Dr. Fowlin.

This year's one day conference will be held at the Pines Manor in Edison,

New Jersey and will include various workshops such as teaching sexuality to

students with intellectual disabilities, preparing the college bound

student, navigating the adult service system, educating our students about

gang activity, and job development for high school age students. The

conference will also provide attendees with tools to assist with the unique

needs of Blind and Visually Impaired students during transition as well as

provide methods for transitioning students with physical and developmental

disabilities.

Participants will include families, Child Study Team members, Teachers,

Transition Coordinators, School Psychologists, Employment Specialists, DVR

counselors, mental health advocates, and a host of others with a vested

interest in students' progress during their transition process.

I've attached the Conference Brochure for you to review and share with your

groups. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me,

Thanks! Hope to see you there!

PS: Look for the Conference information Online in August 2007 at

www.alliesnj.org ! If you would like a hardcopy of the brochure please

contact me at the information below!

Jiras

Program Development Coordinator

Allies, Inc.

1262 Whitehorse-Hamilton Sq Road

Building A, Suite 101

Hamilton, NJ 08690

(P) - (609) 689-0136 X145

July 27, 2007

Afternoon Workshops:

Morning Workshops:

2:15 PM - 3:30 PM

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

7. Financial Literacy for Students with Disabilities: The Success of Savings

(SOS) Program

Emad Samad, Director of Strategy and Development, Allies, Inc.

Jiras, Program Development Coordinator, Allies, Inc.

Success of Savings is a financial literacy program for people with

disabilities that underscores the relationship between personal finance and

work by emphasizing the importance of saving. As an incentive of attending

financial literacy coursework, participants receive a dollar for dollar

match in a savings account of their own. Join the presenters of this

workshop to discover a new and emerging program in the field.

8. Job Development for the High School Age Student

Dan Baker, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Medicine

and

Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)

This workshop will introduce educators to strategies useful in locating and

establishing work sites to provide vocational training for students with

disabilities by creating partnerships with community businesses. When

students in high school participate in school-sponsored paid or unpaid work

experiences in the community, they gain invaluable knowledge about their

preferences, interests, talents, and

Discussion of residential, employment, and educational options for students

after graduation. This information is essential for all students with

disabilities, their families, and educators accessing services in New

Jersey.

12. Utilizing your One Stop Career Center

Mizin, Workforce Manager, NJ Department of Labor & Workforce

Development

Presenter will discuss the highlights of the programs delivered through New

Jersey's network of One Stop Career Centers which include: unemployment

insurance (wage replacement), the labor exchange, vocational training

through the Workforce Investment Act, and the supports available to job

seekers and employers.

1. Teaching Sexuality to Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Casparian, Ph.D., Director of Educational Programs, HiTOPS

This interactive workshop will model strategies and approaches that help

students with disabilities learn about sexuality. Effective strategies and

lesson plans will be shared and participants will be able to evaluate

curricula ideas for their use in the classroom. This workshop is for

professionals working with teens ages 11-18 with special needs.

2. Educating Our Students about Gang Activity in New Jersey

Dan Bergin, Detective, New Jersey State Police, Street Gang North Unit

The gang problem in NJ has increased dramatically, and no area of the State

is immune. These groups are becoming increasingly violent and better funded.

For example, the street gang known as the Bloods has been involved with

murder, aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, witness intimidation, firearms

trafficking, and car thefts, but their main source of income is the

distribution of narcotics. During today's presentation, attendees will be

provided with an in depth analysis of the State's most violent street gangs,

known as " supergangs, " which will provide the attendees with the knowledge

to help their students (1) be safe, and (2) be aware of gang activity.

collaboration from all stakeholders. Youth

need to think about what they want to do for the rest of their lives, and

parents play a vital role in this process. Parents are the experts of their

youth --- parents know what makes them happy and more important, they know

what strengths they have that could translate to a job and career that makes

sense for them. This presentation will focus on strategies for parents so

they can be effective partners as the transition team works toward job

development and placement for youth with disabilities.

6. Preparing the College Bound Student

Elaine Daidone, M. Ed., C.R.C., Counselor for Students with Disabilities,

Middlesex County College

This workshop will focus on the transitional issues for students with

disabilities attending college. The session will review the differences

between high school and college, relevant legal information and a range of

support services available.

3. Work Incentives: The Social Security Administration's Secret Toolbox

Greg Makely, NJWINS Project Director,

The Family Resource Network/Epilepsy

Foundation of New Jersey

Do work and social security benefits mix? Come find out! Many SSI & SSDI

Beneficiaries are afraid to explore the possibility of working due to fear

of losing benefits. The Social Security Administration has created a number

of tools to allow beneficiaries the time they need while receiving benefits

to test their work capacity. These tools are called Work Incentives and this

workshop will provide an overview as they pertain to both SSI and SSDI cash

and health care benefits. So, come find out how you can work without losing

your benefits for as long as you need them.

4. The Monday Morning Network:

A Disability Advocacy Organization

, Monday Morning Co-Facilitator,

Progressive Center for Independent Living

, Independent Living Specialist,

Progressive Center for Independent Living

Monday Morning is a grass-roots organization of advocates concerned with the

issues affecting the disability community. In this session facilitators will

cover the origins of the project, the mission, projects and activities the

Mercer County Monday Morning Network has engaged in as well as how

individuals may get involved in their county.

5. The Parent's Role in Job Development

and Placement

Alice Hunnicutt, Transition Project Director,

SPAN

Debbie Charette, of COSAC

Transition from school to adult life is an exciting time for students as

they look forward to graduating; it can also be a time of anxiety and

apprehension for their parents. Effective transition for youth with

disabilities requires

future adult life. While many schools and school districts endeavor to offer

community-based vocational training, establishing work sites in the

community can be challenging, and businesses often do not immediately see

the benefit in partnering with educators to create the workforce of the

future.

9. Transition Services for Blind and Visually

Impaired Students

Florence Blume, Program Development

Specialist 1, NJ Commission for the Blind

and Visually Impaired

In this workshop you will learn all about the services provided by the New

Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, including the

eligibility criteria. The emphasis will be on transitioning youth from high

school to work or college. In addition, you will better understand the

differences between visually impaired and legally blind. There also will be

time for your questions.

10. The Transition Education Center

(TEC) for At Risk Students

anne Evanko, Manager

Charlotte Berger, TEACH/TEC and

Compliance Coordinator

Program Support & Professional Development,

NJ Department of Children & Families,

Office of Education

Participants in this workshop will leave with an idea of the programs,

resources and services available to individuals with disabilities through

the New Jersey Departments of Children & Families and Human Services.

Particular emphasis will be given to educational programming.

11. What Happens When the School Bus

No Longer Comes? Services and Supports

Your Child May be Entitled To

Krystal Odell, CEO, Allies, Inc.

Lorraine D'Sylva-Lee, Director of Transition,

Family Resource Network

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Keynote Presentation:

Dr. Fowlin

" You Don't Know Me Until You Know Me "

A one-person show that deals with the issues of race, discrimination,

violence prevention, personal identity, suicide, gender equity, homophobia,

and the emotional pain felt by special education children. In a gripping,

fast paced, 75 minute performance, Fowlin slips in and out of nine

characters, both male and female, who " share their stories. " The characters

share their stories in an often humorous, but at times, heartbreaking

manner.

Mykee has been an actor since the age of eleven. He received his BA in

Psychology from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri where he also

spent much of his time in the Speech and Drama department. In the spring of

2001, he received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Rutgers.

He plans to combine both his interests into a profession that will be geared

toward the adolescent population. He has worked extensively with teenagers

across the United States. His work has included peer mediation, diversity

workshops, violence prevention, and gender sensitivity training.

He transcends " normal " groupings and stereotypes, and lives out his mission

of unity. He is an intense and dynamic young man that has and will continue

to change the lives of teens. He currently resides in town, New

Jersey.

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Allies, Inc. will host its 6th Annual Transition Conference on October 23, 2007

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