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Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss a summer checklist for families navigating the transition process. They talk updating DD (Developmental Disabilities) information, ensuring recent assessments/IEPs, connecting with other parents for advice, and researching community services. They emphasize the importance of creating a home folder for documents, understanding timelines with coordinators, and exploring volunteer opportunities to build work skills. All this and more! Join the conversation!

Episode Keywords:
summer schedule, transition topics, DDA coordinator, current request, agency choice letter, assessments, IEP reevaluation, parent networking, guardianship, volunteer opportunities, community resources, transition timeline, work skills, local businesses

Links:
Post Secondary Transition (site)
Transition Maze (blog)
Ep. 30 Exit Year (link)
Ep. 72 Business’s For All Fair (link)

Maryland (specific) Links/Supports:
Oh, What A Cake! (site)
Libs Grills (site)
Apple Spice (site)
Biggs and Featherbelle (site)
That Smoothie Place (site)
Zoe's Just Dezzerts (site)

Micro-business:
Leaders of the Pack (site)
Spencer's Groovy Tie Dye (site)
Moore Crunch (site)

Support the show

To download a copy of a transcript for this episode or any of our previous conversations, click here.
Also visit our Podcast webpage to find links to all of our other discussions; go to www.p2transition.com.
Additional information about post-secondary transition can be found at our website.
The Post-Secondary Transition Podcast Facebook page.
Visit our YouTube Channel to find additional video resources.
Intro/Outro music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.
Transition music by Joseph McDade from Transistor.

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Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) chat with Jamie Brodnax, a former Coordinator of Community Services who now runs her own Support Broker agency. They break down the differences between support brokers, CCSs, and administrators, and explore the broker’s role in self-directed services—from attending PCP meetings and budgeting to supporting families in setting goals and navigating policy changes. Jamie also shares tools she uses to stay organized, tips for handling staffing challenges, and why clear communication and early planning are key. Join the conversation!

Episode Keywords:
support broker, person-centered planning, DDA budget, self-direction, IEP meetings, staff hiring, activity planning, fiscal management agency, employee handbook, termination process, time management, organizational skills, self-advocacy, community resources, self-directed services, DDA, budgeting, compliance, day-to-day administrator, transition coordinator, newsletter, advocacy groups, fiscal management services, PCP meetings, family support

Links:
Acronyms/Definitions (page)

Maryland (specific) Links/Supports:
Achieving Independent Support Services (site)
DDA Connection (page)

Support the show

To download a copy of a transcript for this episode or any of our previous conversations, click here.
Also visit our Podcast webpage to find links to all of our other discussions; go to www.p2transition.com.
Additional information about post-secondary transition can be found at our website.
The Post-Secondary Transition Podcast Facebook page.
Visit our YouTube Channel to find additional video resources.
Intro/Outro music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.
Transition music by Joseph McDade from Transistor.

Send us a text

In this second installment, hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss the role of support broker with Jamie Brodnax. They talk about assisting families with person-centered planning (PCP) and self-direction, emphasizing the importance of understanding family needs, identifying goals, and managing funding. Jamie highlights the use of various tools to help keep her sane including apps and trackers. Jamie also addresses the challenges of staffing issues, advocating for clear employee handbooks and underscores the need for support brokers to be well-informed, organized, and able to connect families with resources to ensure individuals with disabilities can lead fulfilling lives. Join the conversation!

Episode Keywords:
support broker, person-centered planning, DDA budget, self-direction, IEP meetings, staff hiring, activity planning, fiscal management agency, employee handbook, termination process, time management, organizational skills, self-advocacy, community resources

Links:
Acronyms/Definitions (page)

Maryland (specific) Links/Supports:
Achieving Independent Support Services (site)
DDA Connection (page)

Support the show

To download a copy of a transcript for this episode or any of our previous conversations, click here.
Also visit our Podcast webpage to find links to all of our other discussions; go to www.p2transition.com.
Additional information about post-secondary transition can be found at our website.
The Post-Secondary Transition Podcast Facebook page.
Visit our YouTube Channel to find additional video resources.
Intro/Outro music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.
Transition music by Joseph McDade from Transistor.

Send us a text

In this first installment, hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss the role of Support Broker with Jamie Brodnax, who recently transitioned from Coordinator of Community Service (CCS) to running her own Support Broker agency. The team of three work to clarify the differences between support brokers, the CCS & day-to-day administrators. They emphasize the support broker's role in self-directed services, while Jamie explains some of the tasks her position asks for, including attending PCP meetings, budgeting, and creating newsletters to keep teams informed. They also talk about the importance of early planning and accurate information sharing, especially amidst frequent policy changes. Join the conversation!

Episode Keywords:
support broker, self-directed services, DDA, person-centered planning, budgeting, compliance, day-to-day administrator, transition coordinator, newsletter, advocacy groups, fiscal management services, IEP, PCP meetings, family support

Links:
Acronyms/Definitions (page)

Maryland (specific) Links/Supports:
Achieving Independent Support Services (site)
DDA Connection (page)

Support the show

To download a copy of a transcript for this episode or any of our previous conversations, click here.
Also visit our Podcast webpage to find links to all of our other discussions; go to www.p2transition.com.
Additional information about post-secondary transition can be found at our website.
The Post-Secondary Transition Podcast Facebook page.
Visit our YouTube Channel to find additional video resources.
Intro/Outro music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.
Transition music by Joseph McDade from Transistor.

Send us a text

Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) work to broadly discuss transportation and travel training for students with disabilities, while recognizing its a tricky topic due to regional differences. They highlight the challenges families face in getting students to jobs and community activities, they explore school-provided travel training, public transportation options, and the importance of etiquette and safety on buses. They mention resources like the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) card and the potential roles of DD and VR agencies in providing transportation services. All this and more, so join the conversation!

Episode Keywords:
transportation, travel training, public school transition, community access, public transportation, travel etiquette, RTA card, DD agencies, VR agencies, driving assessment, adaptive driving, Eric's ID law, LISS funding, handicap parking, MVA accommodations

Links:
Travel Training (Link)

Maryland (specific) Links/Supports:
Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (site)
Rapid Ride (site)
Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Transportation Services Information (site)
Resources for Accommodations at the MVA
(Link 1)
(Link 2)
Eric’s ID Law (article)

Support the show

To download a copy of a transcript for this episode or any of our previous conversations, click here.
Also visit our Podcast webpage to find links to all of our other discussions; go to www.p2transition.com.
Additional information about post-secondary transition can be found at our website.
The Post-Secondary Transition Podcast Facebook page.
Visit our YouTube Channel to find additional video resources.
Intro/Outro music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.
Transition music by Joseph McDade from Transistor.

Send us a text

Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) share a resource page they put together for their Post Secondary Transition website: Transition Tools. A few of the page's highlights cover the ABLE account (a tax-advantaged savings account for disability-related expenses), Comprehensive Transition Program (designed for adults with intellectual disabilities), Digital Portfolios (showcasing student achievement) and more. Join the conversation!

Episode Keywords:
Transition tools, ABLE account, comprehensive transition program, digital portfolios, work programs, supported education model, transition fair, special needs trust, vocational skills, academic learning, practical work experience, collaborative supports, skill building

Links:
Transition Tools (page)
P2Transition Ep. 19 Work Programs (link)
P2Transition Ep. 36 Maria Paiewonsky & ThinkCollege (link)
P2Transition Ep. 38 Amy D'Agati & TerpsEXCEED (link)
P2Transition Ep. 39 Digital Portfolios (link)

Support the show

To download a copy of a transcript for this episode or any of our previous conversations, click here.
Also visit our Podcast webpage to find links to all of our other discussions; go to www.p2transition.com.
Additional information about post-secondary transition can be found at our website.
The Post-Secondary Transition Podcast Facebook page.
Visit our YouTube Channel to find additional video resources.
Intro/Outro music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.
Transition music by Joseph McDade from Transistor.

Send us a text

Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) have gone back and combined two previous discussions about Maryland's Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and, at the same time, cleaned up the audio a bit. We emphasize the importance of completing a DDA application by age 14, including necessary documentation. We cover how the application process involves assessment and determining the young adult's support needs. We work to explain the difference between entitlement and eligibility, the various waivers (Community Pathways, Community Supports), and the importance of a person-centered plan. We also highlight the role of the Coordinator of Community Services (CCS) and the need for timely submission of documents to ensure smooth transitions and support. Join the conversation!

Keywords:
Developmental Disabilities Administration, application, meaningful day, residential supports, IEP, psychological assessments, medical records, crisis resolution, crisis prevention, family supports waiver, Community First Choice, person-centered planning, day programs, self-directed options

Links:
What is Developmental Disability Agencies (page)
Find your Developmental Disability Agency (link)
Adult Agency Snapshot (page)

Maryland (specific) Links/Supports:
Person Centered Planning (site)
Developmental Disabilities Administration (site)
DDA Application Process (site)
Completing the DDA Application (parent resource page)
Family Supports Waiver (site)
LISS Supports (site)
Community First Choice (site)
Coordinator of Community Service (site)

Support the show

To download a copy of a transcript for this episode or any of our previous conversations, click here.
Also visit our Podcast webpage to find links to all of our other discussions; go to www.p2transition.com.
Additional information about post-secondary transition can be found at our website.
The Post-Secondary Transition Podcast Facebook page.
Visit our YouTube Channel to find additional video resources.
Intro/Outro music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.
Transition music by Joseph McDade from Transistor.

Send us a text

Hosts Meghan (Smallwood) and Patrick (Cadigan) discuss the eligibility categories for Developmental Disabilities (DD) agencies and what that means for families. They talk about the distinction between "Future Needs" and "Current Request" levels. They cover the "Supports Only" designation, and how that can require additional documentation. Additionally, they also touch on "Crisis Prevention" and "Crisis Resolution" for urgent needs, highlighting the importance of gathering comprehensive documentation to support these requests. Join the conversation!

Episode Keywords:
DD services, Developmental Disabilities Administration, eligibility, future needs, current request, choice letter, coordinator, supports only, crisis prevention, crisis resolution, documentation, appeal, transition process, resources.

Links:
Developmental Disabilities Agencies (page)
Episode 13 DDA Pt. 1 (page)
Episode 14 DDA Pt. 2 (page)
Episode 62 DD Agency Locator (page)

Maryland (specific) Links/Supports:
Developmental Disabilities Administration (site)
What is DDA? (page)
Completing the DDA application (page)

Support the show

To download a copy of a transcript for this episode or any of our previous conversations, click here.
Also visit our Podcast webpage to find links to all of our other discussions; go to www.p2transition.com.
Additional information about post-secondary transition can be found at our website.
The Post-Secondary Transition Podcast Facebook page.
Visit our YouTube Channel to find additional video resources.
Intro/Outro music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.
Transition music by Joseph McDade from Transistor.