The number of children being identified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been increasing, and with this increase, the number of adolescents needing post-secondary transition services has increased. Many adolescents with ASD have needs related to employment, and educators are in need of effective employment related interventions for…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how 7th-12th grade teachers described their active and passive transfer of the social capital elements of social structure and individual actions to at-risk youths during the reentry process into the general classroom in a Southwestern school district. The theoretical foundation of…

This qualitative study investigated the action steps, barriers, and results of the college preparation interventions of bridge programs, appointing additional guidance counselors ,involving parents, aligning curriculum, and promoting achievement. This research was exploratory in nature because the researcher explained how college preparation…

The focus of this pragmatic qualitative research study was to better understand the collaborative experiences and perceptions of secondary transition practitioners as they work on employment preparation for students with disabilities (SWD). Although there is a plethora of research around collaborative secondary transition efforts over the past few…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn from the perspectives of adult secondary learners (ASLs) and transition navigators (TNs) regarding how K--12 adult education programs serve ASLs as they prepare to transition to community college. In this study, ASLs are defined as adult students working towards their high school diploma or…

The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the impact of teacher transition on established secondary school music programs. Through semi-structured interviews, I explored outcomes of teacher transition through the lens of the Social Identity Theory. The sample consisted of: (1) a large Southeastern Florida suburban music program where…

For school districts to adequately prepare students with disabilities for successful post-graduation life, it is essential to understand if various variables predict postsecondary outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between gender, race/ethnicity, participation in career technical education (CTE) programs, diploma…

Over the years, providing services that support a smooth transition from school to adult life for students with intellectual disabilities (ID) increasingly has gained attention in the United States. However, the same level of importance placed on postschool outcomes of secondary students with ID has not yet been achieved in Saudi Arabia, in spite…

Transitioning from high school to the real world is a difficult issue for students with disabilities. Special education students may get lost not knowing what their future holds. Special education teachers are most times challenged in the process of linking transition plans to academic Individual education plan(IEP) goals. The problem addressed by…

The purpose of this research study was to examine and analyze the perceptions of students with mild-moderate disabilities, teachers, and parents regarding the students' experiences related to their secondary transition plan. More specifically, the qualitative single-case study sought to identify areas of alignment and divergence of these three key…

This research focused on young adults who have disabilities and their transition and career planning for post-secondary life. The study sought to identify best practices in transition planning, transition planning services, and to determine the types of resources and support needed by young adults who have disabilities. For youth who have…

This study examined transition services provided to students with disabilities in their secondary environments and whether or not these services prepared students with disabilities to post-secondary transition. Fifty students with varying disabilities from seven southeastern high schools participated in this study. Quantitative and qualitative…

While assessments of general social proficiency constructs are numerous in the ASD literature, and in the special education literature more broadly, investigations of the latent structure(s) of "vocational-specific" social proficiency constructs have yet to receive serious empirical investigation. Furthermore, trends in this literature…

The literature review in this doctoral project addresses secondary school transition. The definition of secondary school transition is defined, and the literature review goes over the disproportionate outcomes in post-secondary education and employment when special education students and general education students are compared. Current research is…

This three-article dissertation analyzes the question of how to best prepare students transitioning from secondary education to post-secondary life. The first article examines the theories of self-determination, the self-advocacy skills needed for its success, and how the two relate to students with learning disabilities. The second article…