This article considers ways in which opportunities for children with special educational needs in England and Wales are being affected by current developments in post-compulsory education. The development of a Lifelong Learning Partnership by the Milton Keynes Council is used to illustrate how major developments affect local authorities.…

A feasibility study examined ways in which Britain's Further Education Unit's (FEU's) work regarding the learning disabled could be enhanced by involvement in the program at the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD). The study recommended the following: (1) the United…

The paper examines ways to enhance the transition of handicapped students from special preschools to public school kindergartens. The importance of careful planning, evaluation, and modification for individual needs is stressed. The effects of larger class size in kindergartens include requirements for students to obey group instructions, work…

In 1992, a multiagency model of transition planning was developed and implemented to meet the identified needs of Michigan students who are deaf-blind. This article outlines the project's activities, accomplishments, challenges, and goals for the future. (Author/DB)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates transition services to prepare students with disabilities to live and work in the community as adults; the School-to-Work (STW) Opportunities Act requires that all students, including those with disabilities, have access to all STW activities. This paper overviews collaborative…

This booklet focuses on the role of interagency agreements in facilitating the transition of young children and their families from early intervention services to preschool services as children turn 3 years of age. Interagency agreements can be viewed as an "invisible brace" supporting families and staff as they consider many issues in moving from…

A model designed to ease the transition for handicapped students from Head Start programs to public school settings is described. The model could also be adapted for transition from any private preschool to the public school setting for special needs children. The need for increased understanding between public school and Head Start program…

A study of transition coordinators (n=39) to determine how state departments of education were addressing policy issues related to the transition mandate in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act revealed that coordinators are facing three major challenges: (1) productive interagency collaboration; (2) assisting local agencies in…

This article examines factors influencing the provision of high-quality services to individuals who are deaf-blind. Various definitions of this population and the unique challenges in serving them are addressed, as are transitional services, gaps in services, the importance of interagency collaboration, and components of a successful service…

A study investigated effects of training related to using the Sequenced Transition to Education in the Public Schools model (STEPS) on the development of community-wide transition systems. Seven teams composed of public schools, Head Start, and early intervention representatives were trained. Change occurred as a result of the training. (Author/CR)

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,…

Participants from four teams attempting to write an interagency agreement on the transition of children with disabilities from early intervention programs to early childhood special education were interviewed at three points in time, spanning 5 months. Results indicate that writing an interagency agreement was a complex, multidimensional, and…

Intended to assist special educators as they help students in the transition from school to work, this article describes vocational education and vocational rehabilitation programs. Issues discussed include the referral process, eligibility, range of services and curricula available, preparation of students for entry into vocational education and…

This qualitative study examines the perspectives of special education/resource teachers in Winnipeg on current transition services to prepare high school students with disabilities for adulthood. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews with 6 teachers responsible for coordinating transition services. The main themes emerging from…

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,…