ACT Now

ACT Now was developed by Northampton Community College in collaboration with the Bethlehem Area School District and the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20. The project was funded in part by grant # P116B040404 from the United States Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE).

NCC's Disability Services staff offers full-day training workshops and consultations to help educators and others deliver the ACT Now curriculum more effectively. Workshops are held at Northampton and can also be scheduled on-site by a contracting school district. The workshops are divided into two parts:

Part One

Participants will develop a thorough understanding of the transition experience regarding laws and accommodations and essential skills for students with disabilities.

Part Two

Participants will understand the components and benefits of the ACT Now curriculum, including the design and collaborative nature of a Transition Skills Development Team, transition curriculum modules and workshops, and delivery methods for transition skills development in students with disabilities, their families and their educators through a discussion based PowerPoint format.

Participants will examine sample materials and templates from the ACT Now curriculum.

For more information about upcoming workshops and registration, Contact actnow@northampton.edu or call Laraine Demshock, Coordinator of Disability Services at 610.861.5342.

The ACT Now curriculum has three components: six student modules, a parent module and an educator module.

The student modules increase knowledge about the differences between high school and college as well as the student's changing roles and responsibilities and requirements to access reasonable accommodations.

A presenter guide with script and directions is included for facilitating the activities and discussions. Power Point presentation slides and videos are also included for selected modules.

Module topics include:

1. Transition Planning - What is That Anyway?
2. Who Are You? Knowing your Strengths and Weaknesses
3. You and College: You Mean I Have To Do It?
4. What Do I Do Now? Self Identification & Documentation
5. How Do I "Do" College? Requesting Reasonable Accommodations
6. College 101

Sample Pages from Student Workbook:
Student Workbook Sample 1
Student Workbook Sample 2
Student Workbook Sample 3

Sample Pages from Curriculum Guide:
Curriculum Guide Sample 1
Curriculum Guide Sample 2
Curriculum Guide Sample 3

The parent module is designed to provide essential information to parents of students with disabilities via a two hour Power Point program. This information complements the student curriculum. Included is a presenter guide with script to accompany the Power Point presentation along with a supplemental booklet for parents.

Topics include:

• Differences between IDEA 2004 and ADAAA, services, and accommodations at the K-12 and post secondary levels
• Changing roles and responsibilities for students and their parents
• Documentation of disability requirements
• Expectations and realities of the college environment
• Essential student skills needed for successful transition to post secondary (self knowledge and self advocacy)

The educator module is designed to provide essential information to educators who work with secondary students with disabilities via a two hour Power Point presentation. Included in the materials is a presenter guide with script to accompany the Power Point presentation along with a supplemental booklet for educators.

Topics include:

• Differences between IDEA 2004 and ADAAA, services, and accommodations at the K-12 and post secondary levels
• Changing roles and responsibilities for students and their parents
• Documentation of disability requirements
• Expectations and realities of the college environment
• Essential Student Skills of self knowledge and self advocacy