This column provides brief summaries of transition-related articles published in 2008 in other professional journals. The 70 articles included descriptive, experimental, and qualitative research as well as program descriptions, conceptual papers, and practitioner pieces. All areas of Kohler's (1996) Kohler, P. D. (1996). "Preparing youth with…

A literature review was conducted to identify evidence-based practices in secondary transition using quality indicator checklists for experimental research. Practices were categorized by the Taxonomy for Transition Programming. Overall, 32 secondary transition evidence-based practices were identified. Two practices had a strong level of evidence,…

Young adults with disabilities often depend on linkages and supports from adult agencies to achieve high-quality adult outcomes. However, interagency collaboration has emerged as a major area of difficulty and a critical area in need of improvement for school districts throughout the United States. Based on the input of research participants from…

Describes an attempt to evaluate the Transition Systems Change Initiative despite geographically dispersed program sites and different program goals, activities, and impacts. The design focused on common impacts and unique accomplishments of the projects by making maximum use of existing data. Project directors were involved in planning,…

The survey of 107 researchers, program developers, and state directors of special education attempted to identify research questions generally agreed upon as important. Questions concerning social skills and families were most highly rated. Questions submitted by respondents tended to be about transition model program research, program evaluation,…

The article describes Project LINK, at William Paterson College of New Jersey, which provides training services to mildly handicapped young adults, links local education agencies and postsecondary service provider agencies, and aims to integrate interagency and college-based components into a broad transition model. (DB)

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,…

Issues relevant to the school-to-community transition of deaf adolescents were identified and subsequently prioritized by 339 deafness professionals. Issues receiving highest priority were related to joint planning efforts among schools, departments of vocational rehabilitation, and families; training of independent living skills; and development…

A survey of 29 federally funded agencies engaged in transition education Inter-Agency Agreements (IAAs) found that planning activities are important in forging IAAs, implementation of IAAs depends upon local initiatives, and collection of information about service overlap and service gaps was considered to be an important activity. (JDD)

The core of the education system must be transformed to make it supportive of exceptional students in transition. Attempts to improve the system by adding on programs rather than instituting core changes have not been effective. A "teaming" process that promotes school-community and interagency collaboration and infuses transition into the core of…

A planning procedure was developed to increase opportunities for secondary special education students to be referred to and receive appropriate community services after graduation. The procedure requires interagency cooperation and focuses on vocational placement, postsecondary education, living arrangements, mobility, and financial planning.…

This article describes service outcomes for people with disabilities, achieved by local Oregon communities during the past five years as they have implemented a community capacity building model called the Community Transition Team Model. Principles of successful programs included active participation of diverse stakeholders, change viewed as a…

Case studies of 6 students with moderate/severe mental retardation investigated the impact of the federal transition mandate on student outcomes. Data revealed that high school programs have become more community-based, employment oriented, and age-appropriate with an increased emphasis on establishing linkages with adult service providers.…

Describes a multilevel interagency transition-planning process which includes three levels: a community-based team, school-level team, and individual-level team. Evaluation data are discussed that indicate consumer satisfaction with the Teaching All Students Skills for Employment and Life Transition planning process. Three case studies are used to…

This study identified the nature and frequency of contacts that case managers had with families and adult service providers for 90 young adults with developmental disabilities during school-to-community transition. Frequency of contacts was examined by participants' gender, type of disability, and placement outcomes. (JDD)