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Program for Students with Exceptionalities
 
Creating Individualized Transitions for Youth
 
CITY Connections
is an innovative service delivery model
for students with disabilities, age 18-21
who have completed their high school education and
who are entitled to programming until age 21.
 

CITY Connections

at East, West 1, West 2, South at the Ludwig House, North and CCAC
offers an age-appropriate, community-based, community-focused
learning and working environment.
 
 
Preparing students to live, work, connect and contribute in the community
 
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Program for Students with Exceptionalities
 

CITY Connections (Creating Individualized Transitions for Youth)

Preparing students to live, work, connect, and contribute in the community
 
     CITY Connections at East, West 1, West 2, South at the Ludwig House, North and CCAC is a program that has been established to provide a unique opportunity for young adults, age 18-21, with moderate disabilities, to continue their educational program in an urban community-based, community-focused learning and working environment outside of a traditional high school campus. The movement to a college campus or an apartment setting creates a more natural, age appropriate setting with access to real work and real life in the community. It creates and mirrors the movement of their same age peers, from more traditional high school based instruction and settings to more realistic goals and programming focused on real life outcomes. Students are involved in an innovative and life centered transition curriculum to address and develop the skills they need to succeed in the community, in independent living settings and on the job. Inspired by the success of the LifeLinks Project of the State College Dream Team, the CITY Connections can serve as an urban model for other large districts nationwide. Students here will be given an opportunity to practice “decision-making, problem-solving, and independence in controlled, supportive environments, before the supports are removed.” (Fisher and Sax, 1999) Real life issues encountered in the community, on an urban college campus and on the job create the real life transition curriculum.
 
     The issues and resolutions to be addressed in Pittsburgh Public School’s CITY Connections are useful as a model demonstration project for other professionals in urban settings seeking leadership for exemplary service delivery for students age 18-21 who have completed their high school education and who are entitled to programming until age 21.
 
     As a transition program, students in the CITY Connections (Creating Individualized Transitions for Youth) are given increased experience in the world of work; their families are supported in creating the linkages with community agencies that will be a resource to them when they enter adult life; and students continue their education in the “real world”. Like all college age students their daily schedule includes work, classes, studying and leisure time. Students in this innovative educational program will be better prepared to take their place as participating members of their community.
 
     During the 2005-2006 school year CITY Connections was fortunate to be chosen by ACHIEVA as partner in a transition grant from the Ludwig Family Foundation. As a result of this generous grant, students from the CITY Connections Program have the opportunity to “practice” staying away from home at an apartment supervised by awake overnight ACHIEVA staff. Two same sex students stay for two week periods, returning home for the weekends. The purpose of this component is for students to more fully experience and mirror life as a young adult and to extend and intensify the instruction they receive during the typical school day.
 
 
     STAFFING
 
     The CITY Connections staff at each site supports 10-14 students. Staff at each site includes:
  • A team from the Pittsburgh Public Schools Program for Students with Exceptionalities supports the CITY Connections staff. This team includes the district Director of Special Education, the Assistant Director of Special Education, and the District Transition Facilitator.
  • The Transition Coordinator and the Instructional Coordinator together are responsible for the overall design and implementation of the program.
  • A special education teacher who is responsible for the implementation of the students’ IEPs, instruction in the community, and coordination and supervision of the paraprofessional(s).
  • One or two paraprofessional(s) who work under the direction of the teacher, the transition coordinator and the instructional coordinator in supporting the students at the site, and in the community.
  • The district Travel Trainers work with individual students to teach them travel routes and safety in the community.
  • Staff members from Life’sWork, and other community agencies, develop job sites and act as job coaches for students on site at their work placements.

Contacts

Susan Wetzel, CITY Connections Transition Coordinator 412-728-3041
Gayle Bair, CITY Connections Instructional Coordinator 412-728-3301
 

Please click below to view the brochure

 

Please click below to view the Powerpoint presentation

City Connection Overview