Exciting News!

We are pleased to share that we have been awarded the TPSID (Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant will provide approximately $2.2 million in funding over the next five years to support our staff, students, research, program expansion, and outreach efforts to other schools across Texas. Read more about it here.  

TWC - Texas Workforce Commission is a Texas state agency that offers programs to students/adults with disabilities including Special Education and 504 at no cost. I wanted to let you know about the programs they are currently offering for the 2020-2021 school year and summer of 2021. They are split into services for students 14-15 years old and services for students 16 and older. Please review them and see what they have to offer that might be of benefit to your son/daughter. It is always good to start learning pre-employment skills early! If your son/daughter is 13, you can see what they can do when they turn 14.

1. Career exploration counseling
2. Work-based learning experiences which may include in-school or after-school opportunities, or experiences outside the traditional school setting (including internships) that are provided in an integrated environment to the maximum extent possible
3. Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or post-secondary educational programs at institutions of higher education
4. Workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living
5. Instruction on self-advocacy, including peer mentoring

Orientations every Tuesday at 5:00pm and Thursday at 10:00am starting September 1^st. The link for the meeting is below along with the phone number and ID number they enter to access the meeting by phone. If you cannot attend on Tuesday or Thursday, call Natacha my cell 682-347-7445 or email Natacha.mendenhall@twc.state.tx.us. If students attend they will learn about why they should start career exploration so early, what the 5 areas of services we can provide and how to get signed up. The meeting also has a call in feature if you want to call in instead of downloading the app.

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

+1 737-222-7115  United States, Austin (Toll) 

Conference ID: 719 675 627#

-SEAL 5 week summer paid work experience with job trainer

-12 week Paid Work Experience with job trainer

-Unpaid Work Experience (if for some reason student does need or want to get paid) with job trainer

-Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT) Preparation courses to teach soft skills, job readiness etc

-UNT Summer Camps

-Stem Summer Camp

-Other Summer Camps that come available

-Vocational Evaluations/ Psychological Evaluations to help gain more information about student disability and build realistic vocational goals/ strategies for them to reach goals.

-Driving Evaluation/ Driver’s Training for disability needs through Texas Health Arlington if needed for a job

-ABA therapy or ASD supports

-College/Vocational training if deemed appropriate goal (based on household income)

-Job Placement or Supported Employment Services to help with long term employment for a student when they are close to graduating or graduated 

-Assistance with adaptive technology for job, wheelchairs etc/prosthesis. 

-Engage Program for neurodivergent students at the University of North Texas

For students 16 years old and older contact Patrick Jenke at richard.jenke@twc.state.tx.us for more information and to see what paperwork is required.

If Natacha Mendenhall or Patrick Jenke can’t answer your questions, email Karen Donegan, CISD Transition Specialist at karen.donegan@southlakecarroll.edu 

• Thursday, November 19, 2020 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Booster members and parents may remain on the Zoom from 1:00-1:15 p.m.