Join us for an all-day conference planned by the High School to College Interest Group. 

The program will be held in the Marvin Library Learning Commons multipurpose room MRV235, located on the top floor. 

Free parking is available in the adjacent visitors lot; if the visitors lot is gated, participants may park in the student lot.  Since classes are not in session, no parking permit is required for student lots.

(Snow date is January 15)

Progam Agenda:  

8:30 am - 8:45 am

Registration

8:45 am - 9:00 am

Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Speakers: Pam Brehm-Bisaillon, Senior Transition VR Counselor, Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) and Kim Taylor, high school librarian and author of Once Upon a Sign.  

ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation) is an agency that can be an important source of guidance and support for students and young adults as they transition from the world of school to the world of post-secondary education and work. During this session, the ACCES-VR Senior Counselor for Transition and Youth Services will provide an overview of the agency, the application process, and the types of services that are available to help participants reach their vocational goals. Kim Taylor-DiLeva is a parent to a special needs child who recently graduated high school. She will speak from a parent perspective about the transition form high school to a college or workplace. 

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Speakers: Christina J. Hess Al-Junaid, MSW, Prevention Clinician, Schenectady Prevention Program, Northern Rivers Family of Services; Carolyn Malloch, Director of the Disability Resource Center, University at Albany; Carol Anne Germain, PhD, Informatics, and Sociology Librarian, Office of Access and Academic Enrichment Liaison, University at Albany. 

Academic libraries open up many opportunities for students, in particular students with special needs. The members of this panel will discuss their experiences with students transitioning from high school to college and available library assistance. The conversation includes a former student's insights of library resources and services; the Disability Resource Center's partnership initiatives with the University Libraries; and an overview of the services and resources libraries can provide.

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Speaker: Sally Lauletta, Transition Coordinator and Special Education Guidance Counselor, Questar III

This session will focus on the self-advocacy skills necessary for students to make a successful transition from high school to college. Topics will include helping students: recognize the difference between high school and college expectations; recognize the importance of registering and communicating with the offices for disability services; communicate with professors about their disability; develop time management skills; avail themselves fo college resources, such as tutoring and writing lab. We will also discuss the mandates of the IEP versus ADA. 

12:00 pm - 1:15 pm

Lunch (on your own)

1:15 pm - 2:15 pm

Speaker: DeAnne Martocci, Director of Center for Access and Assistive Technology, Hudson Valley Community College

Services at the college level. This session will discuss the challenges, freedom, and responsibilities of being a college student.  Topics will include the differences between high school and college, advocacy skills, assistive technology, support networks, and much more. Q & A time will be a part of this session.

2:15 pm - 3:00 pm

Speaker: Jane Bentley and Shawn Lemieux, Librarians, New York State Talking Book and Braille Library

The New York State Talking Book and Braille Library (NYS TBBL) is a free service for residents of the 55 counties in upstate New York who have no vision, low vision, or a physical reading disability. NYS TBBL services include free circulation of audio and braille materials through the US Postal Service, access to a digital talking book player and equipment accessories, and the ability to instantly download audio and ebraille titles through a program called Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD). 

The speakers will provide an overview of the library and discuss how your students may qualify for service. Learn more about the resources available through NYS TBBL and how the library can benefit your students as they transition from high school to college. 

3:00 pm- 3:45 pm

Speaker: Janine Kruiswijk, Executive Director, Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region

This session will focus on Neurodiversity in the Workplace and how to prepare students for employment.

3:45 pm - 4:30 pm

Tour of the Library (Optional)

The program will be held in the Marvin Library Learning Commons multipurpose room MRV235.  Free parking is available in the adjacent visitors lot; if the visitors lot is gated, participants may park in the student lot.  Since classes are not in session, no parking permit is required for student lots.