School
The NEXT STEPS program contracts with school districts to provide transition services for students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) to experience NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Adult Day Services
prior to aging out of school programs.
For students with IDD transitioning to DDD Services, the day after graduation should not seem drastically different than the day before. Therefore, the Next STEPS program addresses a gap in services between ages 18-21 for students with IDD and their families by providing necessary support to gradually navigate a new service system.
LEE Services contracts with School Districts to provide Transition Services to Students ages 18 through 21 with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities.
Next STEPS is a community-based Supplemental Transition Education Program for
Students (STEPS) with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), designed to meet
the student's individualized education program (IEP) transition goals
and provide linkages to post-school options.
A smooth transition for students (IDD) existing the education system at age 21 is more
likely to occur if representatives from adult services are involved in the transition process.
The Next STEPS program provides a coordinated set of activities
within a results-oriented format that focus on improving the functional academics and
achievement of students to support the transition from school to adult-life.
Funding for Next STEPS is through a contractual relationship with school districts students. Program activities include, but are not be limited to the following:
PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING SKILLS
COMMUNITY & INDEPENDENT LIVING
SOCIAL INTERACTION
RECREATION & LEISURE ACTIVITES
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION