By recognizing the importance of early transitions for young children with handicaps and viewing transition as a lifelong process, professionals can guide parents in developing skills that can be applied to subsequent transitions throughout the child's life. Described are steps in the transition process, parents' transition skills, and expected…

The article outlines a guide to help special educators, parents, and adult service providers assist learning-disabled individuals in exploring employment and postsecondary options and enhance the transition planning process. Steps include developing an employability profile, identifying occupational areas to explore, and conducting exploration…

The article describes a process for use in high-school transition programs to promote student independence within the context of vocational training. Strategies described include: evaluating student independence in community-based settings, teaching student adaptability, and transferring control of student independence to work-related stimuli. A…

Parents of 25 infants/toddlers with handicaps were surveyed to gain perspectives on easing the transition from home-based infant programs to preschool programs. Analysis of the results led to 4 major recommendations and a series of steps that infant program staff can follow to facilitate transition to preschool program options. (JDD)

This article presents a series of steps to help sending and receiving teachers of children with disabilities who are making the transition from preschool to kindergarten. The steps help teachers plan for transition, develop and implement child preparation activities, and integrate preparation activities with existing curricular goals and teaching…

This program for reintegrating students with disabilities into the mainstream involves data-based decisions during the following phases: long-range planning, assessing the less restrictive setting, approximating new placement routines, assessing student readiness, the transition, followup, and evaluation. A checklist for assessing the less…

Four exemplary programs that effectively plan and coordinate transitions between early intervention programs and preschool/elementary programs are described. They include Project BEST (Building Effective School Transitions), Projects STEPS (Sequenced Transition to Education in the Public School), Project TEEM (Transitioning into the Elementary…

This article describes programing modifications and transition techniques for educators planning for the reentry of a child with a head injury. Discussion addresses: gathering information about the child; preparing school staff; preparing the student for the return; providing homebound instruction; modifying schedules to alleviate physical…

Critical elements and best practices in school-to-work transition programs for disabled youth are identified. Noted are local factors, individual student choice, shared resources, vocational rehabilitation counselors in the schools, and school-business linkages. Best practices include individualized transition planning, community-based…

Principles of planning for the transition of students with special needs into postsecondary educational programs include incorporation of postsecondary objectives into the secondary school individualized education program, use of the team approach, comprehensive program planning, interagency collaboration, and identification of resources and…

This article examines vocational programing for students with disabilities in the context of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Trends are identified in transition, technology and worksite modification, and employment of people with disabilities. The new law's requirements concerning employment, public accommodations, transportation, state and…

Services of two school districts to exceptional students in transition are reviewed. The Great Falls (Montana) model involves a five-year individualized education program, maximum integration, and three phases of paid employment. The Natrona County (Wyoming) program is based on such crucial services as vocational evaluation, community living…

Teachers in Tennessee are using the Classroom Ecological Inventory (CEI) to prepare students with mild disabilities for moves into mainstream settings. The CEI was field tested as part of the Peabody Reintegration Project and involves observation of the regular classroom, regular teacher interview, comparison of the special and regular classrooms,…

Job performance of disabled students can be monitored through: (1) student job reports (which emphasize self-analysis of on-the-job performance) and (2) job support groups (which focus on problem solving for employment situations). Both activities help students perceive the connection between work experience and school and help teachers intervene…

This article describes an intraschool consultation model for meeting the transition needs of elementary school special education students moving on to secondary school. Model components include providing staff with a communication vehicle and implementing pretransition programs. A checklist of modified methods of instruction and evaluation that…