Suggestions presented for special education teachers evaluating or preparing mildly or moderately disabled students for integration into mainstreamed classes include: training students to understand the difference between the resource and mainstreamed classes (directions, group activities); meeting with the regular classroom teacher; and teaching…

The differences in school demands between elementary and junior high settings are identified, and a curriculum is offered to facilitate the transition for exceptional students. The curriculum outlines academic skills, self-management/study skills, and social/adaptive behavior skills. A sample lesson plan is included. (CL)

The Annual Performance Report (APR) for Grant Year July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003, was submitted to the U.S. Department of Education in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The OSEP designed the APR to serve as a state?s self-assessment and improvement planning…

The 10 papers in this book attempt to provide some creative approaches to assessment of individuals with disabilities as they transition from the school experience to the adult world. The papers are: (1) "For Whom the Test Is Scored: Assessments, the School Experience, and More" (Douglas Fisher and Caren L. Sax); (2) "Person-Centered Planning:…

This document reviews legislative changes in the Social Security Act State Title V programs to improve maternal and child health, including provision of rehabilitative services to children and adolescents eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and describes how state agencies are serving this population. An introductory section explains…

This paper highlights the public and private health insurance options for young people with disabilities or chronic health conditions including several recent Federal initiatives to increase access to health care for working adults with disabilities. Discussion of public health insurance eligibility and coverage focuses on aspects of Medicaid and…

This handbook for Missouri parents of young children with disabilities provides information on obtaining special education services from a local school district. A step-by-step guide for transitioning into preschool is provided. The steps include: (1) referral of the child to their local school; (2) holding a transition conference; (3) arranging…

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…

Offers suggestions for enabling and enhancing self-determination skills during the transition planning process for high school students with severe disabilities. Suggestions include an emphasis on student participation in transition planning, student decision making about goals and needed services, and student evaluation of the acceptability of…

A literature review identified characteristics of transition programs that were described in 33 refereed journal articles between 1986-1999. Results confirm that students with more severe learning and behavioral difficulties receive inadequate transition services; programs emphasize employment competencies over living skills; and there are few…

A survey of 1,450 special education administrators showed that most local education agencies (LEAs) offer vocational programs for handicapped youth, while transition-oriented services are not as frequently available, particularly in smaller LEAs. Community employment opportunities and the availability of adult services were related to availability…

This article reviews reform movements addressing the transition problems of high school students with disabilities, such as the work-study movement of the 1960s and legislative initiatives and programs of the 1980s. It discusses four considerations for the 1990s: (1) applying what we know; (2) changing the system; (3) building partnerships; and…

This case study describes a model for transition from early intervention programs to special education preschool programs. The model focuses on educating and empowering parents to become long-term, independent, informed advocates for their children, via a program involving workshops and individual family transition assistance provided by…

Describes the development and components of a referral database management system developed by the Arkansas Transition Project. The system enables individualized-education-plan team members to refer students with disabilities directly to adult agencies and to receive a monitoring report describing the agency response to the referral. The system is…

Presents results of a policy study of implementation of the transition mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Five "model sites" and four "representative sites" were identified and visited. Results of the cross-case analysis focus on factors supporting and posing challenges to implementation. (Author/DB)