Staying Connected After School Tool-Kit
A Resource for High School Teachers to support students with intellectual disability in year 11 and 12, to transition from school .
This toolkit was developed through the Social Connections Project, funded through a Western Australian Department of Communities Grant (2023-2025). It aims to reduce social isolation and increase well-being and social connection in the community when students finish high school.
Background
Many young people with disability in the Year 11 -12 cohort face a friendship-cliff when they find themselves at the end of school. Schools provide a facilitated environment of learning and social engagement with peers for up to 35 hours a week, and not all students with disability go straight on to Tertiary education or work. Established friendships can be lost with this change, and many young people find it hard to know how to develop new friendships and keep existing ones going, which can lead to becoming socially isolated at home.
The Social Connections Project focused on this transition and covered issues such as:
- how making and keeping friends can be hard, and ideas to help with this transition
- how to develop healthy and trusting relationships; and how to meet new people
- how to use public transport to get around and meet friends
- how to connect with the local council and find community activities
*If you have any problems accessing or using these resources, please get in touch: ddwa@ddwa.org.au
What is in the Tool-Kit?
- a Teacher Facilitators Guide
- a Student Workbook
- two PowerPoints (in PDF) covering Session One and Two
- a PowerPoint (in PDF) presentation for students with complex communication needs
- a PowerPoint Presentation Template that can be used by Council staff to talk to students in their local area about how they can be involved with activities and services run by their council.
The PowerPoints are in Easy Read format and involve watching videos, group discussions and interactive activities. You can find the link to the videos mentioned in the sections below, as well as links embedded in the PowerPoints.
There is also a separate My Social Connections Toolkit for students, which can be completed at home or at school with support. This is a booklet that aims to help identify activities that young people would like to do once they have finished school.
What is Easy Read?
Easy Read materials are documents that use simple language, images and formatting to make information easier to understand for many people in the community.
Tool-Kit Resources
Download Teachers Guide (PDF)
This booklet takes you through the workshop sessions and guides you through the content and activities.
Suggested pre-workshop preparation
Research the local council of where the school is located. It might be beneficial to display a logo of the council to the students (this is for PowerPoint 2). There is a blank slide where you can add in the logo.
- Alternatively, you could get in contact with your local council and arrange for them to come in and visit the students and provide them with an overview of what is available to them in the community.
- We have a template PowerPoint on our website that the local councils can use to guide their presentation (coming soon)
Resources Needed for each workshop session
- Facilitators guide PowerPoint
- Student workbooks – one per student
- Butcher’s paper
- Coloured pens/textas
- White board markers
- Whiteboard
Download Session One PowerPoint (PDF).
Topics covered:
- How to keep friends from school
- How to make new friends when you leave school
- What we can do with our friends
Links to videos used in session One.
Making and Keeping Friends can be Hard
Getting to Know New People
Download Session Two PowerPoint (PDF).
Topics covered:
- How we can fill our days after we leave school with hobbies, work, or more learning.
- How we can plan and use public transport to meet up with our friends.
- What activities and groups are available in our communities
Link to video used in session Two.
Catching public transport to meet a friend
Download PowerPoint (PDF) Presentation for students with Complex Communication Needs
Topics covered:
- How to keep friends from school
- How to make new friends after school
- What we can do with our friends
Download Student Workbook - (Easy Read)
This workbook is designed to be used by students within the sessions.
Download My Social Connections Tool-Kit - (Easy Read)
This Toolkit can be completed at home or at school with support. It aims to help identify activities that the young person would like to do once they have finished school.
Download PowerPoint Presentation for Local Councils
This PowerPoint can be used by Council staff to talk to students in their local area about how they can be involved with activities and services run by their council.
DDWA Services
Information, Guidance and Support
We provide information to people with disability, family members, carers and supporters, across Life Transition Stages to help you to Self-Advocate and Navigate Systems including:
- getting a diagnosis
- navigating disability services and the NDIS
- starting school and negotiating the school journey
- making friends
- turning 18
- getting a job
- staying safe and healthy
- starting a relationship
We also provide information and guidance to support you to self-advocate in any area where laws have an impact on the person with disability's life, such as information about State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) in respect to Guardianship and Administration matters, Child Protection, Enduring Power of Attorney, Advanced Health Directives and preparing for illness/death of a parent.
For a full list of the areas we cover, see our Focus Areas Page Here.
Cost – This is a free service.
Side by Side Peer Community
Side by Side began as a project in 2012 for families experiencing behaviour which could be seen as challenging. The project connects families experiencing challenging behaviour with other families though a supported peer group, an active online community and in person events. Side by Side is a safe place to receive support and help each other.
For information and how to join, contact:
Bronwyn Pike: bronwyn.pike@ddwa.org.au, or
Maggie Visser: maggie.visser@ddwa.org.au
Website: ddwa.org.au/services/family-peer-support-side-by-side
Independent Support Coordination
DDWA are a registered NDIS provider for support coordination.
We can support you to fully understand and implement the funded supports and services in your NDIS plan.
This service is currently at FULL CAPACITY.
More DDWA Resources
Working Together, therapy in the early years
Kick Starting Your Child's Career Journey
