Part of a series on the transition of students with disabilities from school to adult roles, this guide focuses on the transition to postsecondary education. It presents a model, the Opportunities in Postsecondary Education through Networking (OPEN) model, to assist students, parents, and school personnel in the decision-making, planning, and…

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 brief for parents discusses the transition of students with disabilities from the structured environment of school to the post-school world and transition requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997. It begins by explaining the importance of transition planning and decision-making and the need for…

This report to Congress examines issues in the transition of students with disabilities into postsecondary education or employment. Major findings are: (1) most IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) youth complete high school, but data on transitions are limited; (2) problems impeding the transition of IDEA youth into postsecondary…

This manual, accompanied by a 22-minute videotape recording, provides information for constructing an Individualized Transition Plan as a component of Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings for secondary students with disabilities. The video, based on an actual IEP meeting with a student and his parents, illustrates a meeting that focuses…

This document presents North Dakota standards and guidelines for planning early childhood special education programs for children with disabilities. The first section offers program guidelines covering eligibility of students, approval of services, the service delivery system, transition, and size of enrollment/caseload. The next section discusses…

This fact sheet summarizes promising secondary education practices that special educators can employ to help improve the post-school outcomes of students with exceptional learning needs. These practices are organized into the following five categories: student-focused planning, student development, interagency collaboration, family involvement,…

This fact sheet describes the role of the transition specialist, an individual who plans, coordinates, delivers, and evaluates transition educational services at the school or system level, in conjunction with other educators, families, students, and representatives of community organizations. It summarizes the competencies for transition…

Developed by the Connecticut Birth to Three Natural Environments Task Force, this guidebook is intended to assist the early childhood community to strengthen and support families whose children have disabilities by meeting their children's needs in everyday typical routines and environments in the home and the community. It begins by providing a…

The National Capacity Building Institute 2001 meetings on transition to postsecondary education for people with disabilities included nationally recognized speakers, discussion groups focusing on current issues, and commentary from consumer/professionals. This document is a record of the proceedings and outcomes. Papers presented include: (1)…

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…

This guide is designed to provide teachers in King County, Washington, with a single resource for much of the information needed to help students with disabilities transition from school to adult life and to make informed employment decisions. It begins by providing an overview of federal and state regulations that affect students with…

This guide, part of a series designed to provide practical resources on topics critical to the process of preparing individuals with disabilities for adulthood, focuses on infusing real-life topics into existing elementary and secondary curricula. Chapter 1, "Teaching Real-Life Content," discusses the basic concepts and rationale for teaching life…

If the lives of adults with disabilities are any measure of the impact of decades of special education, there are serious problems that must addressed. The employment rate among adults with disabilities, for instance, remains low. If a group of students choose paid employment as a goal for adult life, would not those same students want their…

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…