Independent Living Program - Florida's Center for Child Welfare

nature and severity of the disability is such that education in regularclasses with supplementary aids and services cannot be achievedsatisfactorily.MedicareMedicare is the federal program that provides health care coverageto Americans who are 65 or older, or who have a disability, no matterwhat their income. Adults with disabilities may be eligible for Medicareif they became disabled before age 18 and have a parent who paid intoSocial Security is either disabled or retired.MedicaidMedicaid is a jointly-funded, Federal-State health insurance programfor certain low-income people. It covers children, the aged, people withdisabilities, and people who are eligible to receive federally assistedincome maintenance payments. Almost all youth in foster care areeligible for Medicaid and Florida now covers youth until age 21.Out of Home CareChildren and youth who are under the jurisdiction of the dependencycourt and who are removed from the home of their parents orguardians are placed in Out of Home Care. Placement may be ina foster home, group home, shelter, with a relative caregiver or anon-relative caregiver. Youth over the age of 16 may participate inSubsidized Independent Living.Road to Independence Program (RTI)A federally supported state program that provides a monthly stipendto former foster youth who attend school full time (or part time ifdisabled) in order to help them pay their living expenses while inschool.Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, amended in 1998, prohibits anyrecipient of federal funds from discriminating against persons withdisabilities. Section 504 requires that all children with disabilitiesbe provided a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) in the leastrestrictive environment.Special Diploma, Option I (Florida)A type of diploma for students with a disability who are not able tomeet all requirements for a standard high school diploma. Studentsmust meet district credit requirements and master the Sunshine StateStandards for Special Diploma.Special Diploma, Option II (Florida)A type of diploma for certain students with a disability who are notable to meet all requirements for a standard high school diploma. Anindividual employment and training plan is developed by the IEP team.It lists specific competencies related to job preparation skills and adultliving skills for the individual student. The student must master allcompetencies included in the plan and be successfully employed for atleast one semester. Districts may offer Option 2, but are not required todo so.Special education servicesSpecially designed instruction for a student with a disability. Specialeducation adapts lesson delivery, content and instructional methods tothe student’s needs and provides services such as instruction in Braille,additional individualized practice or social skills training.Standard Diploma (Florida)The type of diploma earned by most Florida high school students. Thestate legislature and the local school district set the requirements.Other diploma options include a college-ready, vocational diploma andan international baccalaureate diploma. Students are required to earnat least 24 credits in a set of required and elective courses, have a 2.0Grade Point Average, and pass the high school graduation test.Supported EmploymentSupported employment includes sites where most co-workers do nothave disabilities and those who do have regular contact with those whodon’t.Surrogate ParentA surrogate parent makes education related decisions for childrenunder the age of 18 who do not have a parent, relative or legalguardian to make those decisions.System of CareWhen a judge determines that a child has been abused, abandoned orneglected that child is said to be in the state’s system of care. This termapplies to children who live at home under the supervision of DCF, livein out of home placements or in subsidized independent living.Ticket to WorkThe Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is the centerpiece ofnew legislation enacted under the Ticket to Work and Work IncentivesImprovement Act of 1999. It is a nationwide initiative designed toassist people with the training and support they need to go to workby increasing their choices. SSA beneficiaries with disabilities can findemployment, vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other support servicesfrom public and private providers.Transition ServicesA set of coordinated activities designed to help a student move fromschool to post-school activities. These may include independent living,work or continued education after high school, instruction, relatedservices, community experiences, work toward post-school goals, and,if appropriate, daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation, allbased on the student’s needs and preferences.Transitional IEPAn IEP that addresses the student’s need for transition planning andservices. The student’s IEP must address these issues by the student’s16th birthday, or younger if deemed necessary by the student’s IEPteam. This IEP deals with issues related to making the transition toadult life after high school, including diploma decisions.41Glossary