Public Meeting Notice  Subcommittee: 14-22+ years of Age (Education and Employment)

Overview   of Subcommittee: 14-22+ years of Age (Education and Employment)

Information on the meeting for Subcommittee: Subcommittee:  14-22+ years of Age (Education and Employment)

Meeting Minutes

Open DOCX file, 25.35 KB,  Meeting Minutes (English, DOCX 25.35 KB)

Agenda

1. Introductions and Approval of Remote Participation 
2. Approval of 9/5/18 Minutes  
3. Strategic Planning Session for future work;
   -Higher education
   -Employment training
   -Employment Opportunities
   -Prevalence of Autism of individuals 21 years or younger who will become adults in the coming decades
    
   SECTION 29 of the Omnibus Law.  The commission on autism, established under section 217 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, shall investigate and study the higher education opportunities, employment training opportunities and employment opportunities available to persons with autism spectrum disorder and shall make recommendations in regard thereto.  The commission shall determine the current status of such higher education opportunities, employment training opportunities and employment opportunities including, but not limited to, vocational training programs for teen-aged and young adult persons with autism spectrum disorder and shall make recommendations for providing appropriate higher education, employment training and employment opportunities for the population of residents in the commonwealth who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.  Additionally, the commission shall review the rise in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder diagnoses among children in the past 30 years and shall make estimates of the number of children, aged 21 or younger, with autism spectrum disorder who will become adults in the coming decades and the resulting need for employment training and employment opportunities for those individuals and shall recommend a plan-of-action for the commonwealth in regard thereto. The commission shall file its report with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities on or before June 30, 2015.
    
4. Training
   • Need subcommittee members to work on survey questions for the FCSN training for providers
   • Need subcommittee members to review and provide feedback on draft DDS training
5. Review of Recommendations
   • MRC, DDS, and their respective employment providers will commit to strengthening their data collection processes to include retention data of one year for all individuals they serve with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
   • Additional and on-going trainings, (with specialized consideration for any cultural, linguistic, and/or socio-economic needs) for MRC, DDS and their providers to support adult individuals with ASD, including those who present with more challenging behaviors, to enable these individuals to work and be in their community with the proper supports.
   • ESE and DDS will identify best practices for educational and family supports(with specialized consideration for any cultural, linguistic, and/or socio-economic needs) for transitioned aged youth with autism, including those who are behaviorally challenging and those who have co-occurring diagnoses through;
     • Expanding the ESE/DDS residential prevention program;
     • Developing specialized curriculums to address the need for comprehensive sexual education;
     • Strengthening linkages among state agencies and their community partners; and
     • Exploring the possibility of implementing a “checklist” for the special education transition planning process to ensure the unique transition needs of the student are addressed.    
6. Future Meetings - Frequency and dates