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Wisconsin Community on Transition (WiCoT)

The Wisconsin Community on Transition (WiCoT) was created to make informed decisions regarding transition issues and sustain transition practices that build capacity and lead to positive post-school outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The team provides professional development opportunities and serve as liaisons that enhance the ability to collaborate and inform practices statewide. WiCoT is dedicated to serving youth, families, educators, and transition partners throughout Wisconsin.

The WiCoT promotes the following mission, vision, and purpose:

Mission: Inform local County Communities on Transition (CCoTs) and key partners to consistently implement transition best practices in schools and communities. 

Vision: Establish and model-linked interagency systems that support individuals with disabilities to make informed decisions throughout their transition to adulthood. 

Purpose: Through interagency collaboration, promote successful transitions from school to adulthood for youth with disabilities and their families.

The WiCoT is currently focusing on the following action plan strategies:

  1. Provide five virtual professional learning and networking opportunities for CCoTs.
  2. Provide professional learning to the field/transition partners statewide on the impact of CCoTs and the WiCoT.
  3. Develop intentional connections to current CCoTs (including WiCoT members, and WSPEI , TMG, DVR, and ADRC staff,  etc..)
  4. Support CCoT Pilot Projects through strategic planning utilizing the online CTIP tool.
  5. Deepen opportunities to capture youth and family voices in CCoTs and transition planning.
black woman sitting and talking at others around her at a table

The Wisconsin Community on Transition brings together state and local level leaders who are dedicated to improving transition services and outcomes for youth with disabilities across Wisconsin.

The following members currently serve on the team. If you are interested in joining the WiCoT Team, please review the informational flyer for more details.

Co-Facilitators

Core Team Members

The WiCoT Core Team serves as the statewide leadership group responsible for guiding the vision, mission, purpose, and implementation of the WiCoT Action Plan. Core Team members work collaboratively to develop an action plan, including action steps, progress monitoring and workgroup responsibilities.  The Core Team is also responsible for hosting 4 CCoT Networking Meetings, reviewing statewide data, and preparing recommendations for feedback from local level CCoTs. Members also serve as ambassadors by sharing information with their organizations and gathering input from partners across the state. 

Commitment 

  • Attend five 5-hour in-person meetings each year.  
  • Attend three 1-hour virtual Business Team meetings each year.  
  • Participate in the annual full-day in-person WiCoT Retreat.  
  • Participate in workgroups and activities between meetings as needed.  
  • Plan and facilitate CCoT Network Meetings 

Core Team members are also members of the WiCoT Business Team.  

Business Team Members

The WiCoT Business Team is a statewide network of partners who provide expertise, feedback, and collaboration to strengthen transition outcomes for youth across Wisconsin. Members help shape statewide priorities by sharing ideas, identifying emerging needs, serving as statewide liaisons for key transition practices, and connecting the work of WiCoT with local CCoTs and partner organizations. Members are strongly encouraged to participate in workgroups aligned with their interests and expertise to carry out the work of the WiCoT Action Plan. 

Commitment 

  • Attend three 1-hour virtual Business Team meetings each year.  
  • Participate in the annual full-day in-person WiCoT Retreat.  
  • Contribute to workgroups as interests and availability allow. 
  • Shannon Aylesworth – University of Wisconsin Milwaukee-Accessibility Resource Center
  • Michelle LaBas-Bowen – Burlington Area School District 
  • Darla Burton-CESA 3-Regional Career Pathway Coordinator
  • Leanna Cernohous-School District of Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan
  • Wendy Christianson – Stevens Point Area School District 
  • Jeremy Gundlach-Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
  • Rachel Kramer-Department of Health Services-Medicaid Services Bureau of Policy Oversight Section, Community Integration and Innovation Services
  • Colleen Larsen-Wisconsin Technical College System
  • Shane McDonough – Green Bay Area Public School District 
  • Robert Meyer-Department of Health Services, Long Term Care Professional
  • Nelsinia Ramos-Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training & Support, Inc.
  • Brenda Johansen-University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, College of Community Engagement and Professions
  • Melissa Skenandore-Department of Health Services-Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs
  • Christine Zastrow – Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired 

Wisconsin Community on Transition

To learn more about the WiCoT or how to participate please email or call Pam Jenson at (608) 921-1400.

Call Pam Jenson
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