This study analyzed a program to involve six institutionalized adults with mild mental retardation in their transition to community living. The program involved interviewing to determine their community living lifestyle preferences, identifying strongest preferences, and teaching subjects to obtain preference availability information from group…

Survey of 40 state directors of special education identified skills and expertise necessary for personnel in special education transition programs. Tables list required and desired teacher competencies. Recommends that teacher preparation programs include a range of skills and information much broader than current traditional special education…

This paper presents the position of the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Career Development that education for career development and transition should be provided to all elementary-aged students. Information supporting the position covers career development stages, desired educational outcomes, and principles of elementary-level…

Social interactions of 10 severely disabled junior high school students were recorded during school arrival, lunch, and vocational training. Teacher perceptions and parent attitudes were also measured. Results portray subjects as more involved in task-related than nontask interactions, interacting more with teachers than with peers, and dependent…

Results of a national survey completed by principals of 101 schools provide a comprehensive analysis of current trends in transition programs for adjudicated youth with disabilities in alternative school settings, effectiveness of transition program components, and obstacles to successful transitions. Although progress is being constrained by…

Respondents from 49 state education agencies completed a survey describing state-level implementation of transition services for youth with disabilities. All states used technical assistance and cross-disciplinary training as their primary systems-change strategies and the majority of states viewed these strategies as effective. Relatively few…

Describes a partnership between the Squamish Nation of British Columbia and Capilano College, a Vancouver community college, in which the Squamish Nation participated fully in developing and overseeing a college transition program. The program assisted students by providing an initial skill assessment, developmental instruction, and ongoing…

Transition stress is intensified for students entering not just a new school, but a new country. Educators can help adolescent immigrants by providing access to information, supporting English language and academic development (via newcomer schools and sheltered English content programs), and promoting access to postsecondary education. (MLH)

Discusses a model of effective transition services for youth with emotional and behavioral disorders. Project RENEW provides comprehensive case coordination for these students' ongoing education, employment, and community adjustment. Outcome data indicate that interagency collaboration improved on a pretest-posttest measure of agency…

Analyzed parents' observations and perceptions of the transition process of their children into kindergarten. Found that even though most parents (two-thirds) reported satisfactory transitions, 47% of responses contained negative features, reflecting difficulties during transition. Parents found ongoing communication, agreed-upon performance…

Discusses development of microcomputer applications for teacher preparation and describes how transition-related curricula can be enhanced through multimedia Web-based technologies. An online module using case-method instruction is described which is designed to help teachers confront issues related to student transition to the postsecondary…

A follow-up study of 164 individuals with learning disabilities to obtain adult adjustment information found that 43% enrolled in postsecondary education/job training, few were involved in the community, 30% were in independent living, and most had good personal and social relationships. There were concerns about lack of knowledge of health…

This article addresses transition needs of individuals with learning disabilities in such areas as maintaining a home, becoming appropriately involved in the community (including recreation and leisure activities), and experiencing satisfactory personal and social relationships. It reviews research on adult adjustment, highlights existing…

Drawing on transition literature of a general nature and specific to language disorders and learning disabilities, this article challenges the efficacy of the existing special education paradigm and contends that changes in institutional policies and practices are needed. The article also discusses roles played by participants in the transition…

Describes Mozambique's recent experiment in bilingual education that utilized two Bantu languages in transitional programs for lower primary schooling. The program offered an alternative to exclusive Portuguese, a foreign language for 98% of Mozambicans. Evaluations suggest students benefited greatly from use of the mother tongue in terms of…