Academy for Community Transition

Welcome to the Bethel School District transition resource center and home of the Academy for Community Transition!

We help students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. We work with students, their support systems at home, and community agencies to develop individualized transition plans that meet each student's unique needs. We provide a variety of services, including:

• Transition assessments to identify each student's strengths, interests, and needs
• Development of transition goals and objectives
• Coordination of transition services from school to post-school settings
• Advocacy for students and their families
• Support for students and their families as they navigate the transition process

We are committed to helping students achieve their post-school goals and live full lives, maximizing their independence and autonomy! Transition is a service – not a place. Transition services happen from birth! As students enter middle school and later, the focus shifts to maximizing independence and achieving gainful, meaningful employment. If you have any questions about how you can bring transition services and activities to your student of ANY age, please contact us at transition@bethelsd.org or call (253) 800 - 2333.

See a copy of our brochure HERE

As part of the effort to help our students transition to a more independent adulthood, we work on a variety of skills and goal areas to maximize participation and minimize vulnerability. These include:

Independent Living Skills

• Self-Advocacy

• Self-Care
• Mobility
• Community Connections
• Community Resources
• Financial Literacy
• Health/Fitness

Training & Education 

• Outside agencies
• Requesting ADA Accommodations

Employment Skills

• Soft skills
• Employability
• Career exploration
• Career shadowing & practice
• Time management

All in conjunction with the needs identified for more individualized skills! We help each student to actualize their post-school goals, where everyone is headed in a unique and personal direction. 

If you would like to report an error on this site, or suggest an update, please contact transition@bethelsd.org. 

Curriculum & Goals of the Transition Program

Each student comes to the Transition Program with individualized goals, but all goals should be focused on “what comes next.” We do not focus heavily on academics, but appreciate the time & place for goals of that nature. Students with transition plans heavily focused on classroom academics should consider placement at their high school, or independently accessing post-secondary education (like the local community or technical colleges). 

Individualized Goals

• Self-care
• Living arrangement
• Use of technology
• Leisure activities
• Recreation activities
• Organizing & Shopping
• Understanding their disability

Finances

• Money concepts
• Debit/Credit concepts
• Paychecks & Wages
• Bill Pay

Employment

• Employment Soft-Skills
• Preference assessments
• Work shadowing
• Rights & responsibilities
• Resume & work history
• References

Citizenship

• Voting
• Community involvement
• State agencies (DSHS, DDA, DVR, SSI, and more)
• Local agencies (Pierce County, job vendors, social clubs & services, and more)

Extras

• Health & fitness activities
• Emergency contacts & responding to emergencies
• Protecting self & being less vulnerable
• Physical, mental, and sexual health & general well-being
• When/How to seek medical care
• Community access, symbols, contacts, and more!

This is not an exhaustive list of topics, and each student’s experience will vary based on their individual needs! For more information, please contact transition@bethelsd.org or call us at (253) 800 - 2333. 
 

Internships & Employment Skills

The Transition Program has cultivated many community partnerships in the region. These partnerships have led to a wide variety of vocational (job) experiences for our students! We proudly partner with… 

• Goodwill
• ACE Hardware
• Bethel Educational Service Center
• Bethel Hope Early Learning Center
• Bethel Transportation
• Burlington Coat Factory
• Grocery Outlet
• Lemay Car Museum
• McLendons
• Morse Wildlife
• Paradise Lanes
• Safeway
• Saint Leo's
• Special Diet Food Bank
• Tacoma Musical Playhouse
• Top Side
• Walmart

Partners are listed alphabetically. If you are interested in partnering with the Transition Program, or to suggest an edit to this list, please email transition@bethelsd.org or call us at (253) 800 - 2333.
 

Student Resources

Students attending the Transition Program receive all services at their assigned locations. All student resources remain available to students attending the Transition Program. If you need assistance or help with something, let your case manager know as soon as possible. See a list of district-wide resources below. 

To report you or your student absent, call (253) 800 - 2333 and press option 1.

To contact us with any other support questions, email transition@bethelsd.org or call us at (253) 800 - 2333. Find more staff-specific connections with the Transition program on the Contact page.

District-Wide Resources

Resources for Families, Guardians & Supportive Adults

The Academy for Community Transition Staff understands that transition can be an intimidating prospect. Changing from a system of entitlement (school) to a system of eligibility (adult services) can be like learning to speak a new language, navigating new systems with different requirements and options. It is our goal to connect you with the right information, people, organizations & more that can help with navigating these changes. 

DDA Eligibility

If you think you or your student may be DDA eligible please apply as soon as possible. The application process can take several months or longer depending on many factors. Please do not delay.

Find out more information here.

SSI and Disability

If you think you or your student may be eligible for Social Security Disability, learn more about the federal program here.

To learn about disability benefits in Washington State, click here.

Guardianship and Less-Restrictive Alternatives

All individuals become their own legal guardian at the age of 18 unless a court order identifies another adult to accept that responsibility. 

• No one is “automatically in need of a guardian” in the eyes of the law. 
• With that in mind, no one “automatically” receives the unlimited right to make decisions on behalf of another adult, no matter their disability status or relationship prior to age 18.

Unless court-ordered legal guardianship/conservatorship or one of the less restrictive legal alternatives are in place on their 18th birthday, parents/guardians lose the automatic right to make all decisions without their student’s input.

We cannot provide you legal advice, but we can point you towards resources that will. Do not delay seeking information about guardianship or its alternatives if you feel this will be an important safety precaution for you or your student.

Informative Links

Revised Code of Washington (RCW): 11.130
Washington State Courts: Guardianship Portal
WashingtonLawHelp.org
Informing Families (Washington)
The Arc of Washington (Guardianship - Recorded Webinar)
Pierce County Coalition for Developmental Disabilities (PC2)
 

Teacher Partners

Transition is a service – not a place! Transition services are required in Washington State from the IEP year the student turns 16; however, they should be considered at EVERY age level. Afterall, each school pathway leads to one place – life after school! Transition is keeping our eye on the prize: Maximizing independence into adulthood.

Transition services can and should be occurring at all locations at all age groups. For now, you can get assistance with transition programming, site ideas, and Transition & High School & Beyond Plan (HSBP) requirements by emailing transition@bethelsd.org.

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Are you working with Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors? Are they being considered for ongoing services (up to age 22) at the Transition Program? Determine what type of placement is appropriate:

1. Graduation and Enter Workforce (Exit Option)
2. Graduation and Enter Post-Secondary Education (Exit Option)
3. Transition Program (Placement Option)

There are various needs met and enrollment requirements/limitations for each of the options. You should be working with the district’s Special Services Department to determine best placement. Do not proceed with a placement decision without consulting an LEA representing Special Services prior to the IEP. If you need more information about who to invite, please contact transition@bethelsd.org or call (253) 800 - 2333.  

Transition Program Goal Considerations

If you would like to report an error on this page, or suggest an update, please contact transition@bethelsd.org. 

Program Contacts

Bethel School District: Transition Program
(253) 800 - 2333
transition@bethelsd.org

Kristi Struna
Director of Special Services - Community Based Program & ESA
kstruna@bethelsd.org
253-800-2300

Cameron Brophy
Special Education Teacher
(253) 800-2337

Christa Johnson
Special Education Teacher
(253) 800-2332

Desiree Martin
Special Education Teacher
253-800-2300

TerriLea Parsons
Special Education Teacher
(253) 800-2331

Nep Scheirer
Special Education TOSA
(253) 800-2330

Academy for Community Transition Schedule
AM Session - 8:00-11:00
PM Session - 11:30-2:30

Late Start Mondays 
AM Session  - 9:00-11:30
PM Session  - 12:00-2:30