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…

To coordinate the planning and delivery of transition services for disabled students in Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools (MCPS), TransCen, Inc., a private not-for-profit corporation, was developed. TransCen's efforts concentrate on four areas: coordination with MCPS, liaison with the business community, program enhancement and technical…

This book represents the second of two volumes that is designed to update readers on some of the more recent developments in the field of dual diagnosis, as applied to those with intellectual disabilities. While the last few decades have boasted newer and better advances in the field, particularly in terms of assessment devices and treatment…

ACT's Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS[R]) is designed to guide and support schools, districts, and states in their efforts to improve students' readiness for life after high school. EPAS provides a longitudinal approach to educational and career planning, assessment, instructional support, and evaluation. EPAS components are…

In 2005, the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) helped more children, more parents and more educators than ever before. Through their programs, information services, and policy initiatives, they raised awareness, mobilized advocates, and took action to help ensure that learning disabilities are identified and addressed early and…

Maryland Career Clusters are a resource for high schools as they reorganize into smaller learning communities. Instruction is organized around career themes, providing more students the opportunity to explore career choices while still in high school and enroll in pathway programs that enable them to successfully transition from high school to…

Transition planning for young people with special educational needs is a crucial but often overlooked element of social inclusion. While there is now considerable official guidance on how to manage the school leaving process for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, little is known about how to make effective transitions…

In preparation for the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), this policy update presents key aspects of the statutory language of Title I of the WIA and describes its potential implications for youth with disabilities as they prepare for the transition to employment and adult life as described in Sections 126-129 of…

This bimonthly newsletter provides information about the progress of the Honor States Grant Program, a governor-led effort to improve college- and work-ready graduation rates. This issue explores science, technology, engineering, and math education (STEM), a priority for governors as they try to enhance workforce competitiveness in a global…

This final report describes achievements and activities of a 3-year federally supported project by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to develop and deliver semester-long courses for professionals charged with providing transition services to students with disabilities. The project developed four courses and delivered them using…

This policy paper explains the educational rights available to certain students with disabilities and chronic conditions under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It describes the federal law and regulations, eligibility criteria, complaint procedures available to enforce the law, and ways that state Title V agencies can collaborate…

Profiles an Introduction to Geography course that integrates first year experience (FYE) materials into the curriculum. FYE programs are designed to aid students in the transition to college, develop study skills, increase awareness of useful resources, help students understand the community of the university, and encourage critical thinking. (MJP)

Describes the Transition Leadership program at Kent State University, a doctoral program that builds upon students' experiences as teachers, coordinators, counselors, and program developers. The program uses in-depth study and intensive field work to instill values and competencies which cross special education, rehabilitation, and vocational…

Describes the "sister school" partnership between the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, Connecticut and nearby Braeburn, a public K-5 school. The reciprocal program, which allows several students from each school to spend time in the others' classes, emphasizes the commonalities of all students while still being aware of…

This article describes positive behavior support as it is applied in the context of early intervention and as children progress into elementary school. Variables that contribute to effective interventions are discussed, as are issues that must be considered in order to construct optimally beneficial transitions for children with behavioral…