Transition Webinar Series

HANDOUT (coming soon!)

Children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) often experience complex physical, developmental, behavioral, and emotional challenges that require ongoing healthcare support. However, transitioning from pediatric to adult oral healthcare presents significant barriers due to gaps in healthcare infrastructure, limited provider training, and restrictive policies that fail to support integrated care models.

A well-planned and coordinated dental transition is essential for promoting health equity, enhancing quality of life, ensuring continued access to services, and optimizing healthcare resources. Effective transitions require collaboration among pediatric and general dentists, specialists, and caregivers, as well as improved care coordination and policy adaptations that address the unique needs of transitioning youth.

This webinar will explore practices for dental transitions, highlight strategies to strengthen communication between providers, and discuss ways to support the evolving needs of children and youth with I/DD. Participants will gain valuable insights into advocating for smoother transitions and promoting a more inclusive and supportive healthcare system.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the goals, and elements of health care transition for improving oral health outcomes
• Understand the factors and barriers on dental transition for children and youth with I/DD
• Increase awareness on importance of interdisciplinary team collaboration on dental transitions
  

Speakers:
Abidin Hakan Tuncer, DDS DMD MPH FSCD FICD; LEND Dentistry Discipline Director; Associate Clinical Professor, Director of Special Needs Program, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Children's Hospital Colorado & University of Colorado, School of Dental Medicine 

Kate Trieschman, DMD MPH; LEND Dentistry Discipline Adjunct Faculty, LEND Fellow in Dentistry

Intended audience: Parents, caregivers, and family members of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities; individuals with I/DD; healthcare providers

Webinar: (to be posted following the event)



Questions may be directed to [email protected].

   

HANDOUT (coming soon!)

In this webinar, we will describe Transition Clinic in Developmental Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado. We will also describe other transition program models around the state and country. We will review the evidence-based practices for transition to adulthood and provide resources for helping individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and their supporters prepare for, or move forward with, transition from pediatric to adult medical care. 

Learning objectives: 

• Define transition to adulthood for medical care
• Access three resources for transition to adulthood
• Describe Transition Clinic
  

Speakers:

Jessica Solomon Sanders, MD - Assistant Professor, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician and Neurologist, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Sanders practices in Developmental Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado and has an Adults with IDD consultation clinic at the CU Memory Disorders Clinic – Central Park, Denver, Colorado. 

Melissa Magallanes MD, MS - Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellow, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Pediatrics| Department of Pediatrics

Intended audience: Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families, service providers, psychologists, medical providers

Webinar: (will be posted after the event) 

Thursday, April 24, 2025
10:00 - 11:30 a.m. (MT)

During this webinar, we will discuss how daily living skills - which are the tasks that individuals do every day to take care of themselves at home, school, and the community - have an impact on one's ability to achieve goals in adulthood. We will review the development, evaluation, and refinement of the Surviving and Thriving in the Real World (STRW) intervention that targets age-appropriate daily living skills in autistic adolescents. Finally, we will discuss how to assess and then develop a treatment plan for building daily living skills in autistic children, adolescents, and young adults. 

Learning objectives:

• Understand the importance of daily living skills (DLS) and their relationship to achieving a successful adult outcome
• Discuss the development and evaluation of the Surviving and Thriving in the Real World (STRW) intervention for autistic adolescents
• Understand how to assess for age-appropriate DLS in autistic children and teens
• Describe a range of evidence-based strategies that can be used to build DLS in autistic children and teens

 Speaker:  Amie Duncan, Ph.D. - Clinical Psychologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Intended audience: Psychologists, service providers, individuals with autism and their families, and all others who are interested

HANDOUT

During this webinar, you will learn about a curriculum designed to educate and empower transition-age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their parents and/or guardians about advocating for and creating high expectations in employment. 

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the story behind the training “A Brighter Future:  Navigating the World of Disability and Employment”
• Learn six important topics to understand when approaching youth transition to adulthood
• Learn about resources and how to access this training
• Get connected to future opportunities to voice your ideas on training and information that can support youth transitioning to adulthood 

Intended audience: Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families, service providers, employers, and all others who are interested. 

Presenters:

• Tiffany Cron, PhD, Director of Colorado Office of Employment First 
• Melanie Honsbruch, CWIC, Curriculum Developer/Trainer, Colorado Office of Employment First 

Archived Webinar: 

 

 

Presentation Slides

Innovative Employment Methods & Quality of Life

Gamifying employment and other activities for people with neurodevelopmental disabilities

Gamification Resource Page

Gamification Webinar References

Webinar Description
During this webinar you will get to dive into employment methods and learning strategies that support people with disabilities both within and outside of employment, while leading to increased health outcomes and overall quality of life. Additionally, you will experience a demonstration of how applying typical elements of game playing, a process known as gamification, may help provide successful outcomes in employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Learning Objectives 

1. Explore innovative employment methods.
2. Understand the connection between employment and health outcomes.
3. Experience an innovative employment method through a Gamification demonstration.

Intended audience: Individuals with I/DD and their families, service providers, employers and all others who are interested

Speakers:

Joseph Samour, JFK Partners LEND Trainee - Rehabilitation Counseling

Brian Dean, MA, CRC, Program Developer/Trainer - Colorado Office of Employment First

Tiffany Cron, PhD, Curriculum Developer/Trainer/Data Lead - Colorado Office of Employment First

Webinar:

Presentation Slides - Inclusive Higher Education

This webinar will discuss the role of inclusive higher education during critical transition years after high school for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Inclusive higher education offers students a supportive academic environment to prepare for employment and independent living after graduation. A recent program evaluation comparing campus participation and educational outcomes of students living on and off-campus will be presented. Additionally, Tracy Murphy, Executive Director of IN!, will discuss pending legislation to expand inclusive higher education opportunities in Colorado. College is possible for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities! 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Recognize inclusive higher education as a postsecondary option for young adults with IDD
2. Learn about pending legislation to expand inclusive higher education in Colorado 
   

Intended audience: Individuals with IDD and their families, educators, policy makers, researchers

Speakers:
Aryn Taylor, PhD, CRC, Grant Writer/Program Evaluator, Colorado Office of Employment First

Tracy Murphy, Executive Director, The Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education (IN!)

Presentation Slides

Internet Safety Resources

Considering the importance of technology in the daily lives of youth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, this webinar will explore factors and practical strategies related to digital citizenship, technology access, and internet safety for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Further, based upon data analyzed during this exploration, the presenters will make the case for individual and systems-level investment in digital citizenship to support full participation.

Participants will:

1. Understand the importance of digital citizenship for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 
   
2. Explore common accessibility-related barriers that prevent successful technology usage.
3. Implement strategies that help to ensure safe Internet usage.

Target Audiences: Self-Advocates, Families, Educators

Senate Bill 16-196 created a 5-year pilot program to establish inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Arapahoe Community College. SB 16-196 came about through the collaborative effort of parents of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other committed stakeholders who formed a nonprofit, IN! Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education. The leadership of IN! was inspired by a movement across the country to create opportunities in institutions of higher education (both two- and four-year programs) for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to experience and gain from inclusive higher education programs. The 2020-21 academic year is the final year of the pilot program. 

Learning objectives:

• Understand Colorado's pilot higher education initiative
• Describe strategies, barriers and successes of inclusion in the university programs participating in the pilot

Presenters: 

• Christina Ruffatti, MA, CRC; Go On and Learn (GOAL) Program, University of Northern Colorado
• Christi Kasa, PhD; Office of Inclusive Services, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
• Julie Harmon, Office of Inclusive Services, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
• Jennifer Woegens, MS; Disability Access Services, Arapahoe Community College
• Tracy Murphy, Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education (IN!)
• Beth Leon, MBA; Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education (IN!)

Colorado Inclusive Higher Education PPT

Archived Webinar:

The Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF) team will present on the importance of having high expectations of employment for young adults with disabilities. The presentation will review the building blocks of the transition planning process, discuss the importance of a strong postsecondary vision for employment and how we can best prepare young adults for success. Additionally, the COEF team will raise awareness about how connecting to community resources such as benefits counseling and developing community partnerships to support young adults achieve their goals of employment are also essential to the process of achieving postsecondary success. The intended audience for this webinar includes: professionals, families, youth and all those interested. 

At the end of this session, participants will: Understand the basics of the transition planning process Gain understanding about the importance of high expectations at a young age Learn about early employment experiences and key points on how benefits counseling is an important step Understand the state system and resources that can support young adults. 

Speakers:
Melanie Honsbruch, CPWIC; Teresa Nguyen, MPH; and Jennifer Stewart, MPP Colorado Office of Employment First 

Handouts:

Transition Age Youth- High Expectations for Employment- 3-10-21

Benefits Counseling

Transition Tools for Youth and Families

Archived Webinar: Runtime - 1 hr 15 mins

Many individuals with ASD and their families have questions regarding gender identity, sexuality, and intimacy. While gender and sexuality are common topics to explore in adolescence, there are a number of misconceptions regarding how to best support teens with ASD in navigating these changes. This webinar will provide information about strategies for caregivers and professionals to support teens in these areas with consideration of the unique learning needs of teens with ASD.

The intended audience for this webinar includes: families, caregivers, community care providers, and school-based providers

Learning objectives:

• Discuss common misconceptions around sexual development and intimacy in adolescents with ASD
• Explore core components of relationships and sexuality for adolescents with ASD including gender identity, dating, social safety, and sex education.
• Learn skill building strategies for promoting health sexual development in adolescents with ASD

Speakers:

• Lindsey DeVries, PhD, Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
• Caitlin Middleton, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Handout: Sexuality in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Archived Webinar: Runtime: 1hr 36m

 

This webinar will discuss the meaning and process of transition to adult healthcare, as well as health disparities, and hope for the future.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define transition, and define transfer; understand the differences of each process.
2. Discuss healthcare disparities patients with I/DD experience as they age.
3. Review research about healthcare for adults with IDD.
4. Outline the process of an ideal healthcare transition (wait a minute, there is no ideal! It should all be tailored to each patient and family’s unique situation and timeline.)
5. Understand the perspective of a patient/family who has undergone transition from pediatric to adult healthcare.

Speaker: Jessica Soloman Sanders, MD, Developmental Pediatrics

Handout

https://www.gottransition.org

8 Common Principles of Transition - Child Neurology Foundation

Archived Webinar: Runtime: 1 hr 26 mins