Self-Determination Synthesis Project Exemplar Sites

The purpose of the exemplar site component of the Self-Determination Synthesis Project is to examine best practices in self-determination for students with disabilities that are being implemented in the field. Nominations for exemplar sites were solicited from nearly 200 experts, including researchers, self-advocates, and practitioners, in the fields of self-determination, transition, and special education. The following sites participated in a week-long, intensive qualitative study to determine the factors that led to positive self-determination outcomes for their students. Click on a site name below to see a summary of the program. The location of the program and name of the coordinator are also listed below.

Fountain-Fort Carson High School Transition Program
Fountain, Colorado (Wanda Hughes)

The LEAD Group, Cheyenne Mountain High School
Colorado Springs, Colorado (Al Pocock and Stan Lambros)

Blue Valley Schools
Overland Park, Kansas (Wynne Begun)

James B. Conant High School
Hoffman Estates, Illinois (Joann Hartmann)

Advocacy and Empowerment for Minorities Program
University of Illinois at Chicago (with Chicago Public Schools)
Chicago, Illinois (Teresa Garate-Serafini)

Circles of Support Project Monroe County BOCES #1 and #2
Rochester, New York (Gaie Sarley)