MnSCU Fall 2008 Disability Coordinators State Meeting and Northern Bridge Dinner

This fall, Mesabi Range Community and Technical College will partner with Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College to host the 2008 Fall MnSCU State Disability Coordinators meeting. We have chosen Friday, September 26th, as our meeting date and it will be held at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College http://www.fdltcc.edu/ (room to be announced). On Thursday, September 25th, we will be hosting another one of our Northern Bridge dinners (in Proctor, MN at Black Woods restuarant) and extend an open invitation to all of you to attend (www.northernbridge.blogspot.com).

For overnight travelers, we have 20 rooms on reserve for Thursday, September 25th at the American Inn in Proctor, MN (attached to the Black Woods restaurant where we hold our Northern Bridge dinners) and we could get a rate of $69.90 for a standard 2 queen room. The block of rooms is listed under MnSCU Dis Coord/Northern Bridge and are on hold until September 12. The contact number for the American Inn is 1-218-624-1026.

Photos from the Northern Bridge 2008 Conference Networking Dinners

Evaluations for the Northern Bridge 2008 Conference Networking Dinners

Results from Evaluations

Northern Bridge
Tools For Transition Dinners: Black Woods, Proctor, MN and Valentini's, Chisholm, MN


1. What was most beneficial about attending The Tools For Transition Dinner?
6 - C3 Information
19 - Tools for Transition Booklet
2 – Resources
16 – Networking with other professionals

2. How has this event assisted the individuals you work with during their transition to college?
2 – Materials to use in the transition process
3 – Connecting with resources
1 – Clarification on post-secondary requirements/services
1 – Awareness of how to work with students with disabilities
2 – Informing other educators about resources
4 – Sharing information with students
4 – Preparing students and parents for post secondary education
1 – C3 great to use for planning
3 – Good information
2 – Making connections with other service providers

3. Would you like to see these events continue? 27 - Yes No
Would you pay? 27 - Yes 1 – No 1 – Not sure
Keep costs low
Dues

4. What topics would you like to have addressed?
1 – How money affect students in transition
2 – Resources
1 – Transition grant writing, funding sources
1 – What can we do to follow up after students graduate
1 – Transitions earlier in students education that could facilitate mandated high school transition progress
1 – Formal interagency collaborative agreements
1 – Support for drop-outs who get a GED but don’t know where to go
1 – What affects at-risk students (suicide, alcohol, drugs)
1 – Changes in legislation regarding student support
2 – Anything transition related
2 – Information about placement roles in employment for students that graduate with a college degree
1 – Low IQ (<70) Kids sometimes slip through the cracks
1 – Some resources for DCD/CDM/CDS
1 – How to connect families to resources post high school
1 – Addressing concerns students and teachers face
1 – Students to share true stories and model projects/sharing stories
1 – Assessments for students with disabilities (what, where, cost)
1 – Funding issues for transitioning students
1 – Transition services available in the community/state
1 – Current rules & regulations for college students (reasonable accommodations)
1 – IEP transition

Comments:
2 – Great job
1 – Excellent job
2 – First time, great job
1 – Continue with current topics
1 – Would like to hear about other events/meetings
4 – Thanks for hard work, loved event
1 – Very informative

This program was made possible through a Center for Teaching and Learning grant with funding from the Office of the Chancellor, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Tools for College

Tools for College: A Guide for Students with Disabilities

Please copy/paste the link below to access the pdf of Tools for College.

http://www.mr.mnscu.edu/disability_services/Tools_for_College.pdf

Agenda for the Northern Bridge Spring 2008 Conference Networking Dinner

Black Woods Agenda

5:00-5:30 Social
5:30-5:45 Welcome and Introductions
5:45-6:15 Dinner
6:15-7:00 Jayne Spain, Department of Education
7:00-8:00 Tools for Transition Discussion

Valentini's Agenda

5:00-5:45 Social
5:45-6:45 Dinner
6:45-8:00 Tools for Transition

RSVP for the Northern Bridge Spring 2008 Conference Networking Dinner

The Northern Bridge Spring Conference Networking Dinner will be held on April 10, 2008 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Black Woods Restaurant in Proctor, Minnesota. We will be hosting another dinner on Thursday, April 17, 2008 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Valentini's Supper Club in Chisholm, Minnesota. If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, please feel free to contact Lindsay Grott at mailto:l.grott@mr.mnscu.edu, or 218-749-0319.

Please indicate which institution or agency from which you will be attending.

If you need accomodations, such as an interpreter, seat location or literature in an alternative format, please indicate that in your RSVP as well.

We hope to see you there!

Northern Bridge Dinner Evaluation Responses

Here is information about past Northern Bridge Dinners.

Past Topics of Conversation

Aspergers
What determines who receives transition services?
How do you energize parents to attend trainings?
Do you need a foreign language to go to college?
How do low functioning students do in college?
Describe placement exams or Accuplacer results.
Discuss student, school and parent expectations.
Describe the differences in services between high school and college.
Discuss changes in transition.
Discuss tips for student success.
Discuss skill building.
Discuss the financial aid process.

What did you find most beneficial about the dinner?

Networking, the group driven discussions, the Q & A sessions, finding out what is available for students at community and technical colleges, talking about current issues, learning about how to make transition successful, meeting new people, hearing about suggestions for best practices, meeting resources in our field, discussion about meeting workplace conditions, assistive technology discussion, hearing the concerns of others,and input from college professionals.

Changes/topics for future events?

Northern Bridge goes on the road to meet students and parents, invite students and parents, a universal IEP, a guest speaker, longer time for questions and answers, learn more about career programs (example MCIS), provide a list of accommodations that colleges will provide, post secondary admissions requirements, lists of contact people from the meetings, technology access, help with students transitioning straight to the workforce, discussion about veteran's services, brainstorm topics ahead of time and send in before dinner, specific disability focus, use website for further networking, more time for discussions, and learn about what is available for students who are not college bound.