May 2023 Meeting Summary

The DC Secondary Transition Community of Practice May meeting focused on engaging families and youth in secondary transition planning through breakout room discussions led by local experts: Maria Blaeuer (Advocates for Justice and Education), Renee Davis (Parent Advocate), Karla Reid-Witt (Decoding Dyslexia), Catherine Rinehart Mello (Supporting Families Community of Practice & Family Support Council), Rhonda White (Quality Trust), and Alison Whyte (DC Developmental Disabilities Council). Thank you to all of our speakers! We also want to thank the I'm Determined staff member, Kendal Swartzentruber, and the I’m Determined participants who came to ground us in the experience of families and youth at the start of our meeting.

Next Steps:

• Give us feedback on the May Community of Practice meeting.
• Mark your Calendar: Our next meeting will take place on Friday, June 16th from 10:00-11:30 am. Participants are welcome to participate either in person at OSSE or via Zoom. Our theme will be: Looking Back and Forward Planning. Register here if you have not already done so.

Meeting Resources:

• May 2023 Slide Deck
• May CoP Announcements and Resources Padlet

Community Announcement Highlights

Visit our Announcements and Resources Padlet for more information about the announcements below. 

Professionals-Focused Opportunities:

• Advocates for Justice and Education’s Lunch and Learn with Quality Trust: Alternatives to Guardianship [June 5th]

Youth and Family Focused Opportunities:

• PAVE’s Parent Summit [June 3rd]
• Spirit Club Demo Class [June 8th]
• Department of Disability Services Provider Fair [July 19th]

DC Secondary Transition Community of Practice Website

Access Community of Practice updates and past meeting materials here. 

Questions or Suggestions?

Please contact Julie Holt (julie.holt@schooltalkdc.org) or Chelsea Kovacs (chelsea.kovacs@schooltalkdc.org).

Mission Statement

The DC Secondary Transition Community of Practice supports DC youth with disabilities as they transition into a self-directed life. We are a city-wide, cross section of stakeholders who come together to strengthen our individual and collective ability for action.