Lake Washington School District

Transition Academy

Mark Tornquist, Co-Coordinatormtornquist@lwsd.org

Richard Haines, Co-Coordinatorrihaines@lwsd.org

Located at the “Together Center” near Bella Botega425-861-3452

www.lwsd.org/school/ta

Academy at a Glance• Community based transition program• Students: 18 - 21 years old with developmental

disabilities– Currently 21; next fall 24-25 and growing

• Staff– 2 teachers– 5 para educators

• Focus: Preparation for life after the little yellow school bus stops coming– Functional application of academic, communication, social

and other skills in work and other community activities

Some of our faces

History• Prior to the Academy, kids either graduated or

stayed in high school through 21– Type and quality of program varied across district

• Task force 1999-2000: Mission, goals, and specifics• Doors opened in September 2004 with 12 students

and 3 staff• Location: In the heart of the community– Originally on Cleveland, – now at the Together Center in Redmond; just

South of the Bella Botega Shopping Center

Mission“Places to go, people to see, things to do”

Values• Individualized and student

centered • Parent (family) sensitive• Age appropriate• Community based and

inclusive • Activity based• Collaborative • Longitudinal • Reasonable Risk • Effective (outcome based)• Other thoughts: Natural

proportion and consequences

“The Curriculum:” Live, Work, and Play

Nuts and Bolts

Location, location, locationNow at the Together Center

Living out to eat/drink, grocery shopping, managing cell

phone, $$, time, behavior, etc.

Working unpaid internships and paid employment

Working work related behavior (the soft skills)

Playing working out, bowling, libraries, Game Stop, etc.

Round, round, round, I get around Metro and pedestrian safety

Personal Safety• Circles of Friends• Saying “NO!”• What if’s?• Pedestrian safety• Personal safety• We Can Stop Abuse• “Ms. Rebecca”

Our Partners

• Students• Parents• Staff: para eds, teachers,

related service staff• District Administration• Employers• Junior and senior highs• Colleges and universities

• King County DDD School to Work

• DVR• Provail: Our embedded SE

provider • Other SE Providers• Washington Initiative for

Supported Employment• Children’s Response Center

Friends of the Transition AcademyOur Advisory Team

• Mission: To sustain the Academy for the long haul

• Targets / Activities:– Quarterly meetings– Incorporate as nonprofit– Financial support for

students (scholarships)– Long term funding

• Volunteer Opportunities– Web Master for FTA or

Academy– Social Media Guru\– Business referrals for

internships and paid employment

– Legal expertise: Help with incorporation