Our community’s journey to achieve

successful high school transition through collaboration

How the Journey BeganLeaders with a Vision created a Mission for

others to followThe vision was for the community to prepare

students for adult lifeThe mission was to get members of our

organizations together for that common goal The leaders gave the members the latitude

and freedom to succeed

To improve employment outcomes for students with

disabilities through enhanced partnership between Columbia

Public Schools, service providers, and the business

community

Mission

Stray the courseThe focus of our effort wasn’t on duplicating

what others had done (although we did look at what other programs were doing)

The focus was on the needs of the students in our community and what resources were available to meet or address those needs

What We NeededThe ability to understand each otherStudents and teachersA local business willing to provide the

location for the programAgencies to provide supports to the students

as they prepared for and sought employmentSomebody to pay for all of it

STEP Partners

Students follow school and work place standards

Attendance & PunctualityProfessional appearanceDisplay appropriate interactions with peers, supervisors, and patients

Partners focus on successful outcomes for all with every effort

Setting the Bar High

The Speed of Trust (SMR Covey)

The more we build trust as partners, the more we can accomplish and the quicker we can accomplish it

In our community the group of partners continues to grow as we expand our efforts, but the core partners remain and form the basis of the trust relationship

EXAMPLES OF COLLABORATIONCommunity Transition Team

Seamless Transition through Enhanced Partnership (STEP)

University Hospital Program

School Based Enterprises

Common Curriculum

Parent/Youth Workshops

Resources/ Information

Agency Connections Futures Fair

Parent/ Business Mentors

Show MeCareers Grant

Professional Development/

Building Capacity

Transition Teams Elementary-High School

Disability Awareness Activities

Moberly Area Community College (MACC) Partnership

Lincoln University and other

campus visits

Work Experience Coordinator

The Results of Collaboration

The Results of Collaboration

The Results of Collaboration

The Results of Collaboration