Lake Washington School District Transition Academy Mark Tornquist, Co-Coordinator...
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Transcript of Lake Washington School District Transition Academy Mark Tornquist, Co-Coordinator...
Lake Washington School District
Transition Academy
Mark Tornquist, [email protected]
Richard Haines, [email protected]
Located at the “Together Center” near Bella Botega425-861-3452
www.lwsd.org/school/ta
Academy at a Glance• Community based transition program• Students: 18 - 21 years old with developmental
disabilities– Currently 21; next fall 24-25 and growing
• Staff– 2 teachers– 5 para educators
• Focus: Preparation for life after the little yellow school bus stops coming– Functional application of academic, communication, social
and other skills in work and other community activities
Some of our faces
History• Prior to the Academy, kids either graduated or
stayed in high school through 21– Type and quality of program varied across district
• Task force 1999-2000: Mission, goals, and specifics• Doors opened in September 2004 with 12 students
and 3 staff• Location: In the heart of the community– Originally on Cleveland, – now at the Together Center in Redmond; just
South of the Bella Botega Shopping Center
Mission“Places to go, people to see, things to do”
Values• Individualized and student
centered • Parent (family) sensitive• Age appropriate• Community based and
inclusive • Activity based• Collaborative • Longitudinal • Reasonable Risk • Effective (outcome based)• Other thoughts: Natural
proportion and consequences
“The Curriculum:” Live, Work, and Play
Nuts and Bolts
Location, location, locationNow at the Together Center
Living out to eat/drink, grocery shopping, managing cell
phone, $$, time, behavior, etc.
Working unpaid internships and paid employment
Working work related behavior (the soft skills)
Playing working out, bowling, libraries, Game Stop, etc.
Round, round, round, I get around Metro and pedestrian safety
Personal Safety• Circles of Friends• Saying “NO!”• What if’s?• Pedestrian safety• Personal safety• We Can Stop Abuse• “Ms. Rebecca”
Our Partners
• Students• Parents• Staff: para eds, teachers,
related service staff• District Administration• Employers• Junior and senior highs• Colleges and universities
• King County DDD School to Work
• DVR• Provail: Our embedded SE
provider • Other SE Providers• Washington Initiative for
Supported Employment• Children’s Response Center
Friends of the Transition AcademyOur Advisory Team
• Mission: To sustain the Academy for the long haul
• Targets / Activities:– Quarterly meetings– Incorporate as nonprofit– Financial support for
students (scholarships)– Long term funding
• Volunteer Opportunities– Web Master for FTA or
Academy– Social Media Guru\– Business referrals for
internships and paid employment
– Legal expertise: Help with incorporation