Rural and Traditional Transitions Curriculum

The Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education (GCDSE), through the initiative, planning, and guidance of its Rural Transitions Workgroup; and with the help of its DD Act partner, the UAA Center for Human Development (CHD) has published this Introduction and first two units of Rural and Traditional Alaska Transitions Curriculum. These first two units, “Set-Netting” and “Cold Water Safety,” were written by Rain Van Den Berg and Robyn Chaney, with funding by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. More units, by other authors and based in other regions are forthcoming.

The GCDSE thanks our amazing first authors, who have set a high bar for the rest of the curriculum; the Dillingham City School District, for giving the project its first home and providing our contractor with staff advisors and other community contributors; our agency contributors to the early work on this project, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the network of Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation offices, and the Alaska Council on the Arts.

Special thanks is given to the following people, whose contributions to the first two units of the Rural and Traditional Transitions Curriculum made it possible: Judy Samuelsen, William Chaney, Triston Chaney, Dillon Chaney, Kelly McBride, Joetta Wolff, and Teresa Bunsen, Nova Chaney, Graelin Chaney, and Superintendent Jason Johnson. 

Traditional Alaskan Transition Skills Curriculum

If you have trouble accessing the information on this page because of a disability, please contact Janice Bullock (Human Resources Director) at janice.bullock@dlgsd.org or 907-842-5223. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the state ADA Coordinator (907-375-7716) or utilize the TTY number 711 for Alaska Relay or 1-800-770-8973.