The TEAM legislation seeks to establish a coordinated approach to investing public resources to improve opportunities for youth with disabilities transitioning to adulthood. It includes three bills that aim to reform IDEA transition services, create state infrastructure for transitions within disability services agencies, and promote systems change through grants for integrated employment and education outcomes. The goal is national systemic reform across education, vocational rehabilitation, Medicaid, and other agencies to prioritize self-direction, blending of funding, and full community integration for transition-age youth with disabilities.

1. Transition toward Excellence
Achievement & Mobility:
An Overview of the TEAM Legislation
Alliance for Full Participation
18 November 2011
Serena Lowe, Executive Director
Collaboration to Promote Self Determination

2. What is the CPSD?
 The Collaboration to Promote Self-
Determination (CPSD) seeks to promote
opportunities and eliminate barriers to
working and saving while ensuring the
preservation of long-term supports necessary
to achieving optimal self-sufficiency,
independence, and economic security.

3. CPSD’s Value Framework
Equality Choice Competence
Dignity of
Equity
Risk

4. What is True Integration?
MEANINGFUL INTERPERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS
Education Workplace Home Community

5. TEAM Legislation: Purpose
 To establish a coordinated, comprehensive approach to the
investment of public resources that expands and improves
the opportunities for youth with significant disabilities who
are transitioning into adulthood, to en-sure meaningful
postsecondary educational opportunities, employment in
integrated settings at a competitive wage, long-term career
development and growth, and inclusion in the community
setting through independent living and social engagement,
and for other purposes.

6. TEAM Act: Key Objectives
 Expanded Focus & Implementation of Transition
Strategies under IDEA
 Development of an Adult Transition Services division
under the auspice of each state’s I/DD Services Authority
 National Systemic Reform focused on improving
outcomes related to integrated employment and post-
secondary education.
 State Systems-Change to Ensure coordination of
resources across multiple agencies
 Professional Development & Training

7. Transition toward Excellence, Achievement & Mobility
TEAM
TEAM-Education Act: Reforms to Current IEP Process & Transition during School Years
Enhance IEP Process by Allow IDEA $$$ to be used Provide grant funding to
Elevate Transition
including state I/DD for contracting transition hire internal Transition
Measures in IDEA-2004 Coordinators @ LEAs
agencies services
TEAM-Empowerment Act: Creation of Transition Infrastructure within I/DD State System
Require Individual Provide transition brokers Require MOUs between
Establish Transition capacity
Transition Plans (ITPs) for to facilitate ITP process and state I/DD agency and other
in state I/DD agencies
citizens with I/DD support individual & state partners to coordinate
families
TEAM-Employment Act: Promotion of Systems-Change through
National Transition Initiative for Youth with Significant Disabilities
Transition outcomes focused on integrated employment,
Systemic Reform & Capacity Building Grants
post-secondary education and economic advancement

8. TEAM-Education Act (H.R. 602):
IDEA Reform
 Allows Part B Funds to be used to Contract out the Provision of
Transition Services by an LEA
 State block grants to fund the Creation of Transition
Coordinators
 Clarifies introduction of transition services from age 14 on into
IEP
 Must include services in conjunction with each of the 5
Guideposts to Success
 Invitation of State I/DD State Services Authority to participate in
IEP process from 14 on

9. TEAM-Empowerment Act (H.R. 603):
I/DD Services
 Mandates the creation of a transition services unit within
each State I/DD Services Authority
 Requires state I/DD Authority to manage the successful
development and completion of a young adult’s
Individual Transition Plan (thus taking the place of the
IEP) once the student exits the school system
 Allows I/DD beneficiaries to select a transition broker to
help navigate the various adult services programs in order
to help the individual and their family successful
accomplish the objectives of the ITP.

10. TEAM-Employment Act (H.R. 604):
VR Systems-Change Grants
 Provides grants to states to implement effective transition strategies
that lead to integrated employment at livable wages and/or
participation in a post-secondary education program.
 State VR Department must partner with I/DD Authorities, State
Education Agency (SEA), Workforce Investment Board, and State
Medicaid Agency to receive grant.
 Key themes of emphasis mirror Title III
 Self-direction through individual budgeting
 Blending and braiding of public resources
 Outcomes aimed at full integration (education, employment and
community living)
 Senate WIA Reauthorization draft included similar
systems-change initiative

11. Three Bills, One Singular Focus:
National Systemic Reform
 Promoting Employment First Principles through systems-
coordination at various levels of government (reaching all
major touch points in the transition process)
 Key themes of emphasis
 Self-direction through individual budgeting
 Blending and braiding of public resources
 Outcomes aimed at full integration (education, employment
and community living)

12. TEAM Political Strategy:
Legislative Momentum
 Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on
February 10, 2011
 Congressional Briefing hosted by CPSD in March 2011 with 82
participants
 Cosponsors (9-10): Reps. Gregg Harper (R-MS), Cathy McMorris
Rodgers (R-WA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Eliot Engel (NY), Maurice
Hinchey (D-NY), and Gerry Connelly (VA)
 Discussions underway about moving at least one of the three bills
through legislative process in 112th Congress.
 Working on solidifying Senate champions for companion bill.
 Over 25 national organizations in support of the legislation to
date.

13. THANK YOU
For more information:
Serena Lowe, Executive Director
Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination
202-548-2502 (Office) EWOLANERES@gmail.com