By: Kelley Challen, Ed.M., CAS
Director of Transition Companies, NESCA
- Knowledgeable Clinicians with Specialised Coaching
Our workforce of transition specialists brings a long time of expertise supporting teenagers and younger adults with a variety of wants, from gentle to advanced. As Director of Transition Companies, I’ve intently educated and supervised every of our specialists. Collectively, we’ve multidisciplinary experience spanning steering counseling, faculty psychology, particular schooling, occupational remedy, and vocational rehabilitation counseling. This breadth of information permits us to deeply perceive every scholar’s wants as they relate to postsecondary residing, studying, coaching, and dealing. Moreover, our workforce collaborates with NESCA’s neuropsychologists and different knowledgeable clinicians, making certain each evaluation is thorough, individualized, and aligned with finest practices. - Complete, Individualized Strategy
We imagine transition planning needs to be as distinctive as every scholar we serve. Evaluation at NESCA all the time begins with a radical consumption and document assessment to construct a whole image of the scholar’s identified talents and areas of want—and an understanding of what have to be uncovered by means of the analysis course of. We mix formal and casual instruments, purposeful evaluations, and enter from college students, households, colleges, and different suppliers. We additionally provide situational assessments in class, house, and neighborhood environments. This complete strategy ensures we uncover significant targets and develop actionable methods to assist postsecondary success. - Clear, Complete Suggestions
Transition assessments lay the inspiration for efficient transition planning and IEP companies. NESCA’s evaluations clearly establish measurable postsecondary targets within the required areas of residing, studying and/or coaching, and employment. We take the time to uncover college students’ strengths, preferences, and pursuits whereas offering tailor-made suggestions for the instruction, companies, neighborhood experiences, and progress monitoring wanted to progress towards their targets. Our experience extends to important areas, equivalent to planning for age of majority, course of examine, and commencement timelines, and we all the time totally adhere to particular schooling tips as unbiased evaluators. - A Tradition of Collaboration and Help
Collaboration is on the coronary heart of NESCA’s strategy. Our clinicians meet frequently to share insights and techniques, making certain each analysis displays our collective experience. We additionally preserve sturdy connections with colleges, businesses, and neighborhood sources, offering households with actionable plans and ongoing steering. Transition planning requires teamwork, and we wish to be energetic members of our college students’ groups. We’re right here to assist colleges and households, whether or not by means of workforce conferences, follow-up evaluations, ongoing teaching, or consultations at key factors in a scholar’s journey. - Empowering Youth, Households, and Faculties
At NESCA, we prioritize the scholar’s voice. We empower college students to foster self-determination, independence, and confidence as they put together for the longer term. We additionally acknowledge the important roles of households and educators within the course of, making certain their views are included and valued. NESCA’s transition assessments present not only a roadmap however the instruments, understanding, and collaboration wanted to maneuver ahead with function.
In regards to the Writer
Kelley Challen, Ed.M., CAS, is an knowledgeable transition specialist and nationwide speaker with over 20 years of expertise supporting youth and
younger adults with various developmental and studying talents. Since 2013, she has served as Director of Transition Companies at NESCA, providing individualized transition assessments, planning, session, teaching, and program improvement. She makes a speciality of working with college students with advanced profiles who might not interact with conventional testing instruments or packages. Ms. Challen holds a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Hispanic Research from The Faculty of William and Mary, together with a Grasp’s and Certificates of Superior Graduate Research in Threat and Prevention Counseling from the Harvard Graduate College of Training. She is a member of CEC, DCDT, and COPAA, believing it’s very important for all IEP individuals to have correct details about transition planning. Ms. Challen has additionally been actively concerned within the MA DESE IEP Enchancment Undertaking, mentored candidates in UMass Boston’s Transition Management Program, and co-authored a chapter in Know-how Instruments for College students with Autism.
To schedule an appointment with considered one of NESCA’s transition specialists, please full our on-line consumption type.
NESCA is a pediatric neuropsychology observe and integrative remedy middle with workplaces in Newton, Plainville, and Hingham, Massachusetts; Londonderry, New Hampshire; the better Burlington, Vermont area; and Brooklyn, NY (teaching companies solely) serving shoppers from infancy by means of younger maturity and their households. For extra info, please electronic mail data@nesca-newton.com or name 617-658-9800.
