For Parents - Post School Options
Preparing for Post Schooling Options
The Modbury Special School Pathways Unit located within 3 classrooms at Modbury High School is designed to deliver a functional curriculum for students in years 8-12 using aspects of the Australian Curriculum and a modified SACE program. The primary focus for the Pathways unit is to prepare students for daily living independence, work skills, self-management, risk taking, participation and social skills. The Pathways Unit strives to provide a range of different programs and activities to cater for the diverse needs of our students.
When students graduate from Modbury Pathways Unit there will be several post school pathway options available to them. Conversations between Teachers and home during Negotiated Education Plan (NEP) meetings need to begin as soon as students are in Year 10. Thinking about post schooling options early will help set realistic and achievable post schooling outcomes.
Transitioning from School
The transition from school to the wider world can be an exciting time for students and families but it can also be a very daunting one. Our students have often been at Modbury Special School for their entire school life and the idea of change and the unknown can be a very scary thought for both students and families. We have identified a process that can help guide you when exploring post school options.
What are the Pathway options for my child when he/she leaves School?
There are 5 main post school options/pathways:
1. Day Options (Recreation/social)
2. Supported Employment at an Australian Disability Enterprise
3. A combination of Day Options and Supported Employment
5. TAFE / Further Study *
(* Additional consideration according to individual needs and abilities is required)
Day options are programs designed to engage people with disabilities in recreation, leisure and developmental activities. Programs usually encourage independence, develop life and social skills and can offer tailored support and training based on individual need. Day options are for people that are unable to work in supported work fulltime or have a combination of work and day options.
Who organizes Day Option Placement for my Child?
There are many separate Day Option Providers in South Australia and often vary in the services they provide. The school and classroom teachers are happy to support families and students through this process but it is ultimately the responsibility of families to identify the most suitable provider based on their needs.
Please follow the link below to search for Day Option Providers in your area
http://www.mysupportadvisor.sa.gov.au
We also encourage families to attend the Disability and Ageing Expo held each year in September at the Adelaide Showgrounds.
In Term 4, once a couple of Day option Providers have been identified, Year 12 students will be supported to attend a transition day at each provider to see if it will meet the needs of the student.
*Please note that the amount of
2. Supported Employment at an Australian Disability Enterprise
Supported Employment refers to industries offering flexible work options for adults with disabilities. Employees work in a supportive and safe environment and are provided with workplace training to find the most suitable work role based on ability. Work roles can vary from packaging, horticulture, manufacturing, hospitality and more.
* Supported Employment wages are below the minimum wage and are designed not to adversely affect the disability Support Pension. This may change or alter when the NDIA is rolled out.
Who organizes work experience Placements for my child?
Year 11 and 12 senior students that are looking at having a post schooling option in the supported work environment will be involved in a work experience program throughout the final 2 years of school. This is organized by the school and the Disability Enterprise. Students attend work experience one day per week and use school transport.
In the past several years Modbury Pathways Unit and Bedford Industries have had a close relationship. Many students that have participated in our work experience program have obtained full time employment.
https://bedfordgroup.com.au/my-future/work-experience
3. Combination of Day Options and Supported Employment
Students that wish to spread their time between Day Options and supported employment. This option is useful for students that have some capacity to work but not full time. It is also an option for students that have not received 5 days of day option funding per week.
Open Employment refers to students that have the capacity to work in the open employment sector. There are many organizations that exist in helping provide students with disabilities the necessary skills to search for suitable employment, offer education and training, on-the-job support, work trials and personal development. Students need to be able to show they are capable of some self-management skills, appropriate interpersonal skills responsible decision making, work ethic and some literacy and numeracy skills
Please follow the link to access a range of employment service providers.
http://disabilityemployment.org.au/provider-search/sa/
http://www.barkuma.com.au/employment/open-employment
Transition Centers
Students that have been identified as having an open employment pathway are encouraged to complete some of their Year 11 and 12 SACE schooling at a specialized DECD site. This provides students with a more tailored focus in developing the skills required when entering the open employment sector.
DECD Statewide Transition centers
http://old.decd.sa.gov.au/transitioncentres/
*Funding for these courses is negotiated between individual families and Modbury Special School.
Students wishing to undertake further study and obtain TAFE certificates in a chosen area.
TAFESA
http://www.tafesa.edu.au/services/disability-support
*Please note that Modbury Pathways provides a Modified SACE program. This does NOT attract an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) and cannot be used to enter University
How do I know what Post School Pathway my child will choose?
Families work collaboratively with classroom teachers and the Deputy Principal to organise the most suitable post schooling pathway option based on student’s individual needs, abilities and interests. This should be discussed and recorded at NEP meetings as early as Year 10 and should be represented in students PLP (Personal Learning Plan). The Research Project in Year 12 will be used to form a Transition Plan for each student.
At the end of Year 11 or the beginning of Year 12 it is up to families to contact and or register with Disability SA. Explain that your child is in the final year of school and will need to have an assessment to determine the level of support once they leave school.
Your child will be allocated a regional office based on your home address and a Disability coordinator will be allocated to you.
The disability coordinator from Disability SA will then make a time to meet with you to undertake the Vineland Assessment. This is a needs based assessment and can be used to purchase a range of support including Day Option services.
Level of support = Level of funding
http://www.come-over.to/FAS/VinelandTest.htm
This process can take anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months. If you wish to undertake this assessment with the support of a classroom teacher, please let the school know.
Will my Centrelink benefits change when my child turns 16 or 18 years old?
Yes, a number of benefits and allowances change. Please contact Centrelink and/or make a time to see the Modbury Special School Social worker about these benefits and allowances prior to them turning 16 and then 18.
Past School Leavers experiences (A families Perspective)
Helpful Links
Centrelink
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/disability-support-pension
NDIA
https://myplace.ndis.gov.au/ndisstorefront/about-us/our-sites/sa.1.html
https://bedfordgroup.com.au/my-community/ndis-support
Day Option Providers
http://www.mysupportadvisor.sa.gov.au
Supported Employment Agencies
http://www.barkuma.com.au/employment/supported-employment
https://bedfordgroup.com.au/my-future/employment
Open Employment
http://www.communitybridgingservices.org.au
