There is a process within the special education program that directly links a child's educational program with their plans for the future. It is called a Transition Plan and is part of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Transition services are a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability designed to be used within a…

The purpose of this brief is to help families and educators understand the right of students with disabilities who need accessible educational materials to receive these materials in a timely manner. This right is based on provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as in the disability civil rights statutes…

Questions often arise about how accessible educational materials (AEM) might be included in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The two purposes of this article are to (1) help families and educators understand the importance of including AEM in the IEPs of students who require them, and (2) to discuss locations in the IEP where it may be…

This toolkit was created to make transition planning easier and offers easy-to-understand information about the purpose of transition planning, the goal and importance of age-appropriate assessments, and the required rules that are used by schools. It also includes information on the community partners that can provide youth with supports as…

Post-school transition is the movement of a child with disabilities from school to activities that occur after the completion of school. This paper provides information about: (1) post-school transition; (2) transition plan; (3) transition services; (4) transition planning; (5) vocational rehabilitation services; (6) services that are available…

This guide to family-directed transition planning is intended to help parents and students with disabilities take leading roles in the process of transition from school to post-school activities. First, a letter to families examines the challenge of change and the transition process. Section 2 examines regulations that affect transition planning,…

This guide is intended to help Ohio educators and parents involved in the transition of students with disabilities into the work place and community. It begins with some questions which may help to determine the student's own desires in the areas of employment, living skills, and community. Next, suggestions are provided to help the transition…

Intended for parents, the guide provides an introduction to learning disabilities, the programs and services available to the learning disabled child through the public schools, the rights of parent and child, as well as suggestions for helping and advocating for the child. The first chapter considers characteristics of learning disabilities,…

This issue of "Transition Summary" was developed to assist Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams in planning for successful transitions from high school into independent adulthood by students with disabilities. Definitions of transition services within federal law are first explored and legal implications for the IEP team are…

This booklet, on the transition of Maryland students with disabilities to life after high school, is designed to build informal partnerships for the transition planning process. It provides details about: (1) the goals and components of transition planning; (2) the participants in transition planning; (3) the timing for formal transition planning;…

Designed for parents of students, this booklet provides information and strategies for helping students with disabilities make a smooth transition to postsecondary education and training. The first part of the booklet addresses: building blocks for transition, transition services mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,…

This brief provides information to parents of students with disabilities on preparing students for reaching the age of majority and assuming responsibility for their education and life choices. It begins by reviewing regulations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that give states the authority to elect to transfer educational…

This manual is intended to assist families, teachers, and other personnel in helping disabled students make the transition from school to work and adult life. The first section provides an overview of the transition process and outlines a four-step transition model that consists of input and foundation, the actual transition process (which calls…

This book is intended to provide a comprehensive guide to the transition of students from special education programs into adulthood. The 13 chapters address the following specific issues, with sample sub-topics indicated in parentheses: (1) fundamentals of transition services (self-determination, importance of keeping records); (2) transitional…

Special education is now an established part of public education in the United States--by law and by custom. However, it is still widely misunderstood and continues to be dogged by controversies related to such things as categorization, grouping, assessment, placement, funding, instruction, and a variety of legal issues. The purpose of this…