Project Description

The transition from secondary education to meaningful participation in adult life for individuals with significant disabilities continues to be a serious national problem. Part of the problem stems from the way in which traditional transition planning focuses on fitting youth into "what is available" in the adult service system rather than on accessing a wide array of community resources to implement a positive, productive vision for the future that expresses individual interests and abilities.

"Microboards" are an innovative and promising alternative for assisting individuals with disabilities to identify personal goals and for making funding resources more flexible and individualized in order to reach those goals. A Microboardconsists of a focal individual and a small group of supportive adults who meet periodically to plan and make decisions about directing funding and arranging supports for the focal individual.

This four-year demonstration project is working to establishing 36 pilot microboards for transitioning youth, twelve in each of three regions of New Hampshire. This effort includes working with schools and adult service organizations to insure that funding resources in the three regions can be made available to implement plans developed by the microboards. The project will evaluate the transition process and outcomes for participants with microboards and a comparison group of 36 individuals involved in a more traditional transition process. Anticipated outcomes for participants include increases in satisfaction with life goals and progress towards goals, completion of high school, post-secondary education, employment, and increased community participation.

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Research and Published Materials

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Project Staff and Contacts

Heidi Cloutier, Project Director
Phone (603) 628-6837
E-mail heidi.cloutier@unh.edu
University of New Hampshire
Institute on Disability
340 Commercial Street, 2nd Floor
Manchester, NH 03101

JoAnne Malloy, Benefits Specialist
Phone (603) 628-6837
E-mail: jmmalloy@aol.com
University of New Hampshire
Institute on Disability
340 Commercial Street, 2nd Floor
Manchester, NH 03101

Patty Cotton, Innovation Facilitators Director
Phone (603) 692-0948
E-mail: pjcotton@unh.edu
Innovation Facilitators
C/O UNH Browne Center for Innovative Learning
340 Dame Road, Durham, NH 03824

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Workshops and Assistance

Building a Future: Experiences of Transition Planning in NH

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Academic Opportunities

SPECS: Specific Planning Encourages Creative Solutions - Trainings given by Patty Cotton & Leslie Boggis

Methods, Models & Tools for Facilitating Person Centered Planning- Instructed by Patty Cotton and Pam McPhee

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Resources and Links

NH Microboards - www.nhmicroboards.org

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