The Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind have a multicultural population of students. Efforts to serve the needs of these students include instruction in English as a Second Language, the Spanish Club, the Native American Club, vocational programing such as the Work Education Program, and preparation for transition. (JDD)

Shows how the philosophies of middle school education and special education overlap and complement one another, focusing on six concepts: learner-centered instruction, bridging or transitioning emphasis, interdisciplinary teams, advisory programs, block scheduling, and exploratory courses. Continued collaboration between special and middle-level…

The transition of children between the two programs of Public Law 99-457, serving children aged birth through two and age three through five, can impact on state administration and local agency administration of the programs. Recommendations are provided for facilitating the family's and child's transition and ensuring continuity in services.…

This review explored the literature on programs for students with learning disabilities incorporating self-advocacy components into secondary-to-post-secondary transition programs. An evaluation of self-advocacy components is presented to determine to what extent such self-advocacy skills as knowing one's rights, effective communication skills,…

Satisfaction with pay, promotions, coworkers, supervision and work conditions of 236 workers with disabilities was examined. Analysis indicated strong dissatisfaction with pay and mild dissatisfaction with promotions. Participants in transition programs which incorporated best practices were more satisfied with their work and with the social…

Examined Head Start children's conceptions of and expectations for future schooling, determined whether participation in a Transition Demonstration could affect these, and explored how these are related to children's academic achievement. Found two major themes in conceptions of school: play and the cognitive or learning environment. Expectations…

Reviewed and analyzed findings from transition literature that identified secondary transition outcomes for students with disabilities, focusing on 11 socially valued outcomes. By comparing programming efforts to valued outcomes, the study was able to evaluate the accomplishments and shortcomings over 20 years of intervention research.…

This study examined the activities of employment specialists and nontraditional support providers in a supported employment program for transition-age youth with significant disabilities. Results are detailed for employment characteristics, types of supports needed or desired, identifying and arranging sources of support, support providers, and…

Survey responses from 665 11th graders identified 10 leading causes of student anxiety during high school-to-college transition. Eleventh graders (N=40) participated in an intervention program to address the identified causes. Results indicate an overall reduction in student anxiety following the intervention program. (Author/MKA)

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…

This article proposes a conceptual model concerning mental retardation and family well-being during the transition from late adolescence into young adulthood. It suggests that success in residential, vocational, and social realms will influence family well-being directly, while individual characteristics, environment and culture, and family…

Occupational social skills are defined and their importance is highlighted. Four ways to develop appropriate training are offered: adapting commercial general social skills programs, adopting commercial social skills programs with an occupational focus, developing a program based on SCANS, and developing a program based on ecological assessment.…

Examined the practices teachers employ to help children and families make the transition to school, and the links between school, teacher, and classroom characteristics and transition practices. Discusses findings on factors influencing transition practice, including teacher experience and training, teacher race or ethnicity, class size, and the…

A study investigated the experiences of 22 families of children (age 3) with disabilities as they entered, participated in, and exited the transition process. The shift in service delivery models was often problematic, families were given a limited choice of preschool programs, and few programs offered inclusive service models. (Contains…

A study compared the effects of two interventions (high-probability requests and preferred item as a distractor) on the success of classroom transitions of two 6-year-olds with behavior problems in inclusive classrooms. Results indicated that both interventions were effective in increasing successful transitions and were found to be socially…