This project study focused on the inconsistencies in transition planning for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by teachers serving as transition education designees (TEDs) in a specific local region of a southern state. Guided by Schlossberg's transition theory, the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the perceptions…

When young adults with disabilities (YAWD) age out of the system, they face what has colloquially been termed "the cliff," which symbolizes the sudden drop in services that occur as they transition out of high school; needs previously met at school are left unaddressed. Multiple options have been suggested to meet these needs, including…

The purpose of this dissertation in practice was to increase post-school success by ensuring parental/guardian education and partnerships with post school agencies and programs. Study participants consisted of the parents or guardians of 18-22 year old students with moderate to severe disabilities enrolled in the Supportive Transition Exploration…

The transition to adulthood for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is known for its unique challenges, such as limited or non-existent services after high school and poor outcomes faced in adulthood. Given these challenges, it is important to further explore the transition planning experiences of caregivers and…

To bridge the practice gap between academic nurse training programs and workforce entry, hospital administrators have implemented nurse residency programs, designed to foster the experiential learning required for the development of new graduate nurse competency. These structured orientations to professional practice have varied in content design…

Youth with Usher syndrome (USH) can experience unique challenges in postsecondary preparation. Currently, there is a paucity of research addressing the postsecondary preparation experiences of youth with USH. The purpose of this study was to learn from college students with USH about their lived experiences of preparing for postsecondary…

Few students with disabilities applied for postsecondary education disability services and, as a result, had lower graduation rates from four-year colleges than their non-disabled peers. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive study was to discover the perceptions of Tennessee public high school case managers regarding IEP transition…

This project study focused on the writing and implementation of the transition plan that gives students with disabilities the proper guidelines and tools to help them in life after high school. Guided by the human capital theory in education, the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of how high school special education teachers…

Students with special learning needs (SSLN) have many issues when attempting to access quality education that would prepare them for post-secondary pursuits. Upon investigation, two themes stand out (1) persistent devaluing of the potential of the SSLN, and (2) the absence of the caregiver's voice in their son or daughter's educational plan. To…

Young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) accomplish outcomes in the areas of employment, continued education, and independent living at rates much lower than their peers without disabilities (Newman et al., 2011). Limited reliable and independent transportation is one barrier youth with IDD face in accessing these…

The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that a transition plan be in place for students with disabilities by the time they turn 16. This plan aims to facilitate the child's movement from high school "to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including…

At the researcher's local level, comprehensive transition planning on the part of secondary special education teachers has historically been lacking. There have been several cases that went to litigation over transition planning issues. The district received a citation from the Connecticut State Department of Education for the school year…

Students with disabilities in the United States continue to encounter less than favorable success in employment and education after high school. Only 35% of students with disabilities graduating from high school have workforce skills. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate high school special educators' perceptions of the…

The diagnosis of individuals on the autism spectrum (AS) has received international attention in recent years. This is partly due to the potentially distressing and challenging barriers individuals and their families face as well as a rise in prevalence rates (Weiss & Rohland, 2014). Research has indicated an increase in individuals on the AS,…

Transition planning for students in special education is mandated by IDEA law. However as with many areas of special education, its implementation varies from school district to school district and even differs among different case managers and students within a district. Furthermore, little is known about the effectiveness of transition planning…