Ten current and past COE ducks attend important training for youth with disabilities

group of COE faculty past and present using their hands to form an O

Current and past University of Oregon College of Education ducks attend the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: the Collaborative’s State Capacity Building Institute. 

Forty-five state teams consisting of youth and young adults special education, vocational personnel, family representatives and other state personnel (e.g., CTE, DD) who intersect with secondary transition planning for students and youth with disabilities gathered for their annual concentrated programmatic planning time. The ultimate goal of this event is to increase the post-school outcomes of students and youth with disabilities and ensure they have access to career pathways of their choice and are active members of their community. This was the 17th Capacity Building Institute. The University of Oregon has led and been members of secondary transition focused-TA centers since 2004. The Ducks are represented well in the field of secondary transition. The teams hopes to continue to move the work forward to improve the post-school outcomes of youth and young adults with disabilities across this nation.

The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) is a Technical Assistance Center co-funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). 

Their purpose is to provide information, tools, and supports to assist multiple stakeholders in delivering effective services and instruction for secondary students and out of school youth with disabilities. So that ALL students and youth with disabilities experience increased: enrollment in postsecondary education, graduation, credential attainment, competitive integrated employment, and community engagement. NTACT:C also addresses the “Know-Do” gap through: current research findings, translating research findings for implementation and engaging stakeholders.

Representing the College of Education (L to R):

  • Anya Sheftel, PhD, Counseling Psychology, now at Washington State University
  • James Sinclair, PhD, Special Education Graduate, now Assistant Professor at Arkansas Sate University
  • Charlotte Alverson, PhD, Special Education Graduate,  SSET at UO
  • Deanne Unruh, PhD, Educational Policy & Management Graduate, now SSET at UO
  • Marcus Poppen, PhD, Special Education Graduate, now at Associate Professor at Eastern Washington University
  • Caroline MaGee, MS, Education,  UO Administrator License, SSET at UO
  • David Guardino, PhD, Special Education Graduate, now at the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs
  • Kyle Reardon, PhD, Special Education Graduate, SSET at UO
  • Dawn Rowe, PhD, former Research Associate at UO, now Quillen Chair of Excellence, Professor, East Tennessee State University

Not included in photo:

  • Valerie Mazzotti, former Research Associate at UO, now Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor, University of Kansas
  • Josi Rodriguez, SSET Administrative Assistant