Transition professional development (PD) has been identified as a way to improve transition services; however, there is a dearth of literature on transition-focused PD. To learn more about the essential features of effective PD, 73 published articles were evaluated in the area of PD in both secondary transition and special education. Articles were…

This paper discusses creating story boards to help students with disabilities to develop effective career plans. It describes storyboarding as a technique for project planning which requires active involvement of both hemispheres of the brain. A group of 6-8 people, including students, teachers, counselors, and vocational rehabilitation…

The "All Means All School-to-Work Project" was a 3-year federally-funded collaborative between the Institute on Community Integration and the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning. The Project was dedicated to finding out what works for all learners when it comes to access, benefit, participation and choice within school-to-work…

The study determined the extent to which multidisciplinary teams that include vocational educators are utilized to provide services for mentally handicapped and learning disabled students. Questionnaires were completed by 222 principals or special education directors. Results indicate that vocational educators have limited involvement in the…

Vitality in planning, interest in individual students' concern about high school, and meaningful rituals explain the effectiveness of a Columbus, Ohio, transition program. The combined efforts of many professionals result in a stable entering class that feels welcome; has fewer first-day absences, lost students, and schedule changes; and is better…

These materials present information on implementing a collaborative team model in the delivery of transition services to students with disabilities. The materials provide charts and forms outlining strategies to be used by a local interagency transition team to assess its existing level of collaboration, to conceptualize its jointly endorsed…

This booklet provides information designed for individuals who are involved in the transition planning process both for persons with deaf-blindness and for persons with other disabilities. The purpose of the guide is to introduce common misperceptions encountered during transition planning, components of transition planning, and the transition…

A British year-seven pupil developed school attendance problems and was referred to home teaching along with a gradually phased reintegration to school. The program was unsuccessful until parental involvement in facilitating the girl's return to school was emphasized. This article examines the participants' search for a scapegoat and the role of…

Urges transition teams to have stronger interaction with school counselors, who possess expertise in assessment and planning for success in post-school domain. A Transition Intervention Model for School Counselors is provided that offers possible systemic alternatives that facilitate access to counselor expertise within transition-team structures.…

This article describes a collaborative project of New Mexico's State Vocational Education Division, Department of Special Education, and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the University of New Mexico to develop a transition to work process for students with disabilities at three rural sites. The article describes administrative support,…

A study involving 28 Virginian parents of adolescents with disabilities found they identified the quality of their relationship with service providers as the key factor affecting their participation in transition planning. A model is presented that illustrates the potential positive or negative cycle that occurs as families and professionals…

The Teaching Research Transition Planning Project (Oregon) is implementing and evaluating the development of school/community teams to facilitate transition of handicapped students into the community. Preliminary evaluation results support the value of an outside stimulus to encourage collaboration, locally generated plans, and policy decision…

Guidelines for helping special educators contribute to transition planning for students with disabilities include understanding the legislative mandate, identifying relevant persons and resources at the school district level, investigating alternative approaches to transition planning, promoting family participation, using various assessment…

This article outlines six values that should form the basis of transdisciplinary team alliance in planning transition from school to integrated employment for students with severe disabilities. The values are organized into principles of shared responsibility, and recommendations are provided for their implementation. (JDD)

A study of eight students with moderate to severe disabilities investigated the nature of their involvement in transition planning during their final year of high school. Teachers and parents made little investment in preparing students for their transition planning meetings, and none were active participants with designated roles. (Contains…