The landscape of higher education necessitates that strategies be in place to meet the needs of an ever changing student population. Since 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill has spurred an increased enrollment of student veterans that is forecasted to rise. Students who are veterans have unique experiences related to their service, age, and work-life…

College and career readiness for all students includes supporting the needs of students with disabilities. Ensuring students with disabilities are college and career ready goes beyond academics and must include self-determination skill development. As schools adapt to the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and multi-tiered…

Since 1990, transition planning has been a requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students receiving services under IDEA must have an individualized education program (IEP) with goals aligned to grade-level content standards. In addition, the IEP must ensure the student has the supports necessary, including…

The third edition of the National Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Neglected or Delinquent Children and Youth's (NDTAC's) "Transition Toolkit" provides updated information on existing policies, practices, strategies, and resources for transition that build on field experience and research. The "Toolkit" offers…

After decades, the concept of "how to change the status quo of deaf education" continues to dazzle and frustrate us intellectually and academically. We want deaf and hard of hearing students to achieve academically and to thrive in the world as adults. Yet, too often, test scores and post-school outcomes remain unacceptably low. Our…

To meet the high-stakes requirements of IDEA's Indicator 13, professionals need proven and practical ways to support successful transitions for young adults with significant disabilities. Now there's a single guidebook to help them meet that critical goal--straight from David Test, one of today's most highly respected authorities on transitions to…

Since the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), there has been a growing focus on improving the quality of programs for children with disabilities and measuring the results/outcomes of those programs. Across the country, IDEA Part C Programs for Infants and Toddlers and IDEA Part B, Section 619 Preschool…

Empowering students with disabilities to remain physically active after graduation is often a struggle for physical educators. One reason for this is that physical educators are often left out of the transition-planning process. In order to be seen as a key member of the special education team, physical educators need to use the same instructional…

A Delphi panel of 76 education, corrections, and social services professionals elicited the most effective transition services and strategies for adjudicated youth with disabilities. High-priority areas include family involvement, social/living skills, interagency collaboration, basic academic skills, evaluation, formal plan, community support,…

Occupational social skills are defined and their importance is highlighted. Four ways to develop appropriate training are offered: adapting commercial general social skills programs, adopting commercial social skills programs with an occupational focus, developing a program based on SCANS, and developing a program based on ecological assessment.…

Employment is one of the biggest contributors to quality of life for people with disabilities--and that means well-planned work experiences should be an integral part of transition preparation for every secondary and postsecondary school aged youth. Make that happen with this practical guide, developed to help educators, transition specialists,…

Discusses life skills instruction in the transition education of adolescents with disabilities. The relationship of life skills instruction to the transition process, curricular issues related to students with special needs, models for teaching life skills, options for covering life skills in the curriculum, and cultural considerations are…

This article is designed to increase awareness of teachers and other school personnel to the difficulties of many foster children, specifically, the problems these youngsters have while they are in school and once they have left. Recommended actions to improve the education of foster children are listed, along with transition strategies. (Contains…

At a policy forum on transition, 30 participants addressed special education, rehabilitation, and the School-to-Work Initiative. Recommendations were made in the following areas: considering transition as a pre-kindergarten through age 16 issue, promoting schools' responsibility for all students, cultivating leadership, working effectively with…

This article traces the history of transition programs for adolescents with disabilities and the role that transition plays within current reform efforts. Best practices are discussed and strategies for school programs are provided, including individualized planning, involvement of family and support networks, a focus on community outcomes, and…