The Journey Webinar Gallery


Effective Practices: Supporting Youth In School, In the Community, and On the Job

Monday, February 27, 2022 at 2:30 PM

Presenter: Jenna Allen, MAT

The Ohio Employment First Transition Framework Effective Practices Tool provides research-based methods and strategies for teachers, job coaches, and other professionals who prepare youth to work in the community. It was recently updated to include additional support strategies and improve ease of use. This session will provide a brief overview of the tool, with a focus on how to select and evaluate effective practices for each individual student.

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to select effective support practices based on each student’s unique strengths and challenges.
  • Participants will be able to evaluate and improve their use of effective practices with students they support.

Webinar Resource Document


Autism and Trauma

Monday, January 30, 2023 at 2:30 PM

Presenter: Tom Galperin, LISW-S - TEACCH Certified Practitioner, Owner and Lead Consultant at Galperin Autism Consulting, LLC

In this session, Tom Galperin will discuss how persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder experience trauma. The presentation will provide concrete examples on how professionals can help individuals with ASD to understand and navigate traumatic experiences.

The presentation will cover:

  • Participants will obtain a basic understanding of diagnostic criteria of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
  • Participants will learn common sources of trauma for people with ASD.
  • Participants will learn tools to help persons with ASD who have experienced trauma.

Article: Intersection of Autism and Trauma

Article: Autism, Adverse Events, Trauma

Short Videos on The Resilience Model

Please complete a brief Session Survey and receive a certificate of attendance


Social Security Disability: What Professionals Need to Know

Monday, November 28, 2022 at 2:30 PM

Presenter: Theresa Busher, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist, Central/Southern Ohio; Kelly Draggoo, Public Affairs Specialist for Central and Southern Ohio

Please join us as Social Security Public Affairs Specialists Kelly Draggoo and Theresa Busher present on Social Security Disability: An Overview of SSI and SSDI - What Professionals Need to Know.

The presentation will cover:

  • The difference between SSI (Supplemental Security Income) vs SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance);
  • Eligibility factors of entitlement for both SSD and SSI;
  • Social Security’s definition of disability for those under and over age 18;
  • Applying for disability benefits and the national SSI 3rd Party VPAP Application Project;
  • And more.

Social Security Disability: What Professionals Need to Know Resources Document


Family Engagement: Building a Strong Foundation by Tom Capretta

Monday, October 24, 2022 at 2:30 PM

Presenter: Tom Capretta, BA, MPA, Family Engagement Project Coordinator with the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center

In this session, Thomas Capretta of the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center will guide participants through identifying the conditions that impact a family’s engagement in their child’s education and what we can do to maximize the way families are engaging and strategies to encourage additional forms of engagement. Participants will have an opportunity to work on applying this knowledge to real scenarios from their education programs while receiving feedback and collaborating with others.

Family Engagement: Building a Strong Foundation Resources Document


Pediatric to Adult Healthcare Transition

Monday, September 26, 2022 at 2:30 PM

Presenter: LaDonna Morales, MSW, LISW-S, Adolescent and Transition Medicine (ATM), Social Work Care Manager

In this session, LaDonna Morales of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, will discuss how to prepare individuals and their families for the transition from pediatric medical care to adult healthcare. Join us to learn more about how to prepare individuals and their families on how to become an adult in the medical setting, how to engage and work with pediatric providers during this transition, how to decide who will be on the adult medical team, and how this all ties into transition planning for youth.

Pediatric to Adult Healthcare Transition Resources


How to Decide?: Alternatives to Guardianship

Monday, August 29, 2022 at 2:30 PM

Presenter: Josh Young, Director of Operations, Ohio Network for Innovation

As youth with complex needs transition to adulthood, many families consider applying for legal guardianship to continue supporting their loved one. But guardianship is only one way that families and other allies can support people with disabilities to make decisions. Join us to learn more about the variety of options that people with disabilities use to help make decisions for their lives. We will also discuss how to ensure that decision making skill development is included in transition planning for youth.

How to Decide?: Alternatives to Guardianship Resources


Transition Planning for the Whole Person: An Individualized Journey

Monday, May 23, 2022

Presenter: Sarra Burnham and Britta Hough, DODD Community Life Engagement Project Managers

Transitioning to adult life requires planning for more than just postsecondary education and employment. All life domains need to be considered when developing the vision and support plan for a student’s desired adult life. Learn how Charting the LifeCourse can be used as a guide to look at all aspects of a student’s life and will discuss how to identify resources and supports to achieve desired outcomes.

Transition Planning for the Whole Person Resources


Exploring the Myth of “Hard-to-Reach Families”: Maximizing Family Partnership Through Intentional Communication

Monday April 25, 2022

Presenter: Tom Capretta, BA, MPA, Family Engagement Project Coordinator with the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center

Family Engagement must be intentional and inclusive to reach all of the families we work and serve. With that in mind, there are times where schools have trouble connecting with some families, leading educators to believe that thin that these families are “hard-to-reach” or not engaged in their child’s learning. This webinar discusses the “myth of hard-to-reach families”, as proposed by Dr. Karen Mapp and Dr. Soo Hong, and core beliefs to move past that myth.

Journey Family Engagement - Activity Responses

Myth of Hard to Reach Families Resources


Functional Behavior Assessment for Youth with Complex Needs – Beyond A-B-C

March 28, 2022

Presenter: Chris Filler, OCALI Special Projects Manager, Multi-System Initiatives, Co-Manager Multi-System Navigation Center

Youth with complex and intensive needs often present with distressed behaviors that are difficult to understand. A Functional Behavior Assessment or FBA is helpful to determine the root cause of these behaviors, however, the assessment must take into multiple factors. Join us for a discussion of the type of FBA that goes below the surface and beyond the typical Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence model. Resources to assist in this process will be introduced.

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Why Behaviors Occur: A Quick Reference to Assist in Planning


Charting the LifeCourse Tools for Transition Assessment and Planning

February 28, 2022

Presenter: Jenna Allen, OCALI Transition to Adulthood Consultant and LifeCourse Ambassador

Charting the LifeCourse is a simple and effective framework to help individuals and families of all abilities and all ages develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live. Discover how the information surfaced using these tools can inform transition assessment and assessment planning.

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Using our MAP to Guide Transition-Aged Students in their Journey to Achieve Post-School Outcomes

January 24 27, 2021

Presenters: Kitty Kromer, Transition Coordinator, Columbiana County ESC; Sarah Trout, MRC, CRC, Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

Follow the journey of one multi-agency county-based team as they collaborate to empower youth and young adults with disabilities in their transition from school to adulthood. The presenters will share highlights of the services and programs from middle school through age 22 available in the county’s schools and programs.

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What Educators Need (and Want) to Know About Medications

November 29, 2021

Presenters: Dr. Sara Dugan, PHARM.D., BCPP, BCPS, Associate Professor Psychiatry, Northeast Ohio Medical University

Many youth today are using medications to assist in their ability to function more successfully in the home, school and community. While medications can be a positive support for learning and participating in school activities, side effects can occur that range from mild discomfort to very serious. It is important for educators to understand the intended positive outcomes of medication use, as well as the unintended side effects that can occur. Dr. Sara Dugan offers insights into frequently prescribed medications and what teachers should be aware of as they teach and support students using these medications.

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Creating the Perfect Storm: Developing Meaningful Vocational Experiences for Youth with Complex Needs

October 25, 2021

Presenters: Kathy Kleiser and Josh Welhener, Transition Coordinators with the Greene County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Developing vocational experiences for students with developmental disabilities, including youth with complex needs, requires attention and planning to a variety of important areas. Explore the importance of starting early, the relationship between work experiences and self-determination, and making the experiences intentional and authentic leading to paid employment. Gain insights into the important of collaborating with families and community agencies for successful employment outcomes.

Download the Worksheet

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Practices to Enhance Family Engagement

September 27, 2021

Families and caregivers play an integral role in every students transition to adulthood. Research shows when educators and other professionals use a variety of tools and strategies to inform, prepare, and engage families, our students have better adult life outcomes. In this Journey webinar, Tom Capretta from The Ohio State University Statewide Family Engagement Center discusses the research around family engagement, how to implement these into your professional work, and tools to refresh your agency’s family engagement activities.

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Get Acquainted with OCALI Resources

August 30, 2021

“It’s the best kept secret.” “Wonderful resources that are practical and research and evidenced-based.”

That’s how a few people describe OCALI’s resources. Whether you’re an avid user or looking to learn more, take a tour of the OCALI website to learn about various resources and tools for professionals and family members, many of which are free. Uncover information that will support your needs and assist transition youth with complex needs and their families.

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”What I Wish I Knew Then”: Parent Perspective Following High School

May 17, 2021

Parents of young adults with complex support needs offer insights and considerations after experiencing life after high school. This panel discussion is an authentic dialogue providing educators, SSAs, OOD counselors, families and others awareness of what was most helpful during the school years and what else might have been more helpful in order to prepare for the future.

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Trauma and Youth with Complex Needs

April 19, 2021

Youth with complex support needs often experience high levels of trauma that may not be easily recognized. This webinar will review the source of trauma that many youth with complex needs will encounter, potential impact of the trauma and resources to assist to support the youth and family.

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Assistive Technology and Youth with Complex Support Needs: Resources and Considerations

March 22, 2021

Ever wonder if the students you support could benefit from AT? Do you have a student who uses AT currently or used AT in the past and it no longer seems to provide the needed support? This webinar will provide an overview of AT with a focus on transition age students with the most complex needs. Resources will be provided to expand your knowledge on how to consider, assess, and implement AT. Participants will also learn about a free AT virtual training program and other opportunities provided specifically for Ohio county board of developmental disability staff by the AT&AEM Center, funded by the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.

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Targeting Meaningful Curriculum for Transition Age Youth with Complex Needs

February 22, 2021

Academic and transition skills can come together to weave a strong foundation for transition age youth. The key in weaving the strongest foundations lies in the design of meaningful and individualized curriculum. Prior to and during transition years in school, it is important to provide equitable access to content knowledge that is presented in life-applied lessons and activities while weaving in transition skills.

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Supporting Positive Behavior: The Ziggurat Model

January 11, 2021

Learn about the Ziggurat Model and how using this approach can facilitate a team to create proactive, positive supports to address challenging behaviors for youth with complex support needs.

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Self-Determination and Youth with Complex Support Needs

November 30, 2020

A discussion of considerations for addressing self-determination of youth with complex support needs. A brief review of resources to begin to address self determination skills will also be provided during the webinar.

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Transition Assessment and Transition Planning for Youth with Lifelong Needs

October 26, 2020

A brief overview of tools and processes to assist a youth, family and multiagency team gather meaningful information about the youth as well as the youth’s goals and support needs for the future.

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Moving Towards Self-Reliance: Technology and Practice

September 28, 2020

A brief review of several everyday technology resources and evidence based instructional practices that support transition age youth to gain more skill and engage in more independent activities

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The Journey - Resource Sharing Webinar Four

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The Journey - Resource Sharing Webinar Three

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The Journey - Resource Sharing Webinar Two

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The Journey - Resource Sharing Webinar One

Discovering a Vision provides a number of resources and tools that CBDD School Staff and partners can use in working with students and families to establish a vision for the journey into adulthood

Presented by Keith Banner, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Community Life Engagement Project Manager