This mixed-methods study examined perspectives on factors that influence meaningful student and parent involvement in Individualized Education Program (IEP) transition planning. Survey data and open-ended qualitative interviews with urban high school students with a learning disability (LD; n = 16), their parents (n = 9), and their teachers (n =…

Post-secondary transition plans are a mandatory component of the individual education program (IEP) for all students aged 16 and over, that are eligible for special education services. This regulation has been in effect since the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990. IDEA has been reauthorized twice in the…

More learning-disabled students could succeed in higher education settings if several inhibiting factors--lack of training for college work, negative attitudes of college faculty, and lack of trained support personnel--were appropriately addressed by educating college faculty, administrative staff, and secondary education personnel about the needs…

A teacher in a school for students with moderate learning difficulties and a secondary school teacher exchanged teaching responsibilities, to identify potential problems for students and teachers when mainstreaming is carried out. Discussed are the impact of class size, teaching styles, knowledge-centered learning, scope of curriculum, scheduling,…

Recent research indicates that problems in the transition from school to employment are frequent among students with learning disabilities, particularly those in rural areas. While a systematic approach to transition appears to be beneficial, the best method for implementing such an approach is still in question. One hundred seventeen special…

An analysis of perceptions of parents and teachers who participated in the preparation of 21 individualized transition plans (ITP) indicates that while students had limited participation in their own ITP, parents were pleased with the ITP process. Parents, however, reported having little knowledge of community options or potential employer's…

The York County (Maine) Transition Project was designed to improve postsecondary education and employment opportunities for learning-disabled students. Three survey forms for evaluating the impact of the project comprise this document. The first survey is a six-page questionnaire targeted to practitioners. It gathers data on: (1) the project's…

Fourteen learning disabilities (LD) teachers and 17 counselors at 31 secondary schools completed a questionnaire concerning their roles in preparing students with learning disabilities for postsecondary education. The open-ended questionnaire covered the following topics: who has primary responsibility for providing transition services, what…

The study compared perceptions of high school and college faculty regarding the characteristics and preparatory needs of secondary learning disabled (LD) students. The analysis was based on a survey of 288 high school teachers (246 regular and 42 special education) and 82 college teachers. Separate factor analyses identified three academic factors…

A focus group with nine university professionals from two large Midwestern universities was conducted to investigate their perceptions regarding the unexpected impact of increasing numbers of students with learning disabilities attending college. Participants consisted of six faculty members, two directors of Offices of Student Disability…

Secondary level transition team members (administrators, special educators, and related service personnel) were surveyed regarding their perceptions of involvement by students with learning disabilities in transition planning and provision of services and activities that foster student involvement. Factor analysis of the 427 responses revealed…