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…

The transition from school to adulthood is a pivotal time in the lives of all students. For a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), change of any kind can be challenging, and a transition as momentous as this can seem especially daunting. Thoughtful planning, sound information, and open communication will help parents support young adults…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "The Census Effect." Contents include: (1) The 2020 Census is Here -- Schools…

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…

The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to summarize relevant research and Internet resources to update families, special education professionals, and researchers on what is currently known related to assistive technology and secondary transition procedures. Information is provided on the following topics: (1) assistive technology and…

Updated to include recent research and reflections from students, transition specialists, and families, this new edition of "7 Steps for Success" continues to be the leading resource for preparing students with disabilities for postsecondary education. From an examination of the differences in support at the secondary and postsecondary…

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…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) "Help Wanted": New Report Finds Nearly Two Thirds of All Job Openings Will Require Postsecondary Education…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) From Gathering Storm to Category 5: Five Years After "Rising Above the Gathering Storm", U.S. Competitive…

Designed for parents and professionals facing development of transition programs in their own communities, this guide offers in Section 1 an overview of noncollegiate educational options after high school for students with disabilities who need additional time and training to prepare for adulthood. It covers employment, postsecondary education and…

This fact sheet summarizes information about the education-related services provided by federal/state-funded Vocational Rehabilitation Services and describes how to gain access to them. In a question/answer format, the guide discusses how to find the local vocational rehabilitation office, how to contact the office, procedures involved in…

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 annotated listing of program offerings for the out-of-school adult with learning disabilities is intended as a national reference guide. The 26 programs listed represent those available for learning-disabled adults who may never attend or do not succeed in traditional college programming. The programs focus primarily on basic education,…