Twenty job coaches and 20 employers were surveyed and 43 individuals with mental retardation were interviewed, all in the same "transition community," about social integration and outcomes in employment settings. There was agreement with the conceptual framework of social integration, but significant differences on the outcome and…

Interviewed parents and staff of Stepping Stones, a project to transition severely disabled children from home-based intervention program to preschool, to identify concerns and information needs. Found that parents were unsure about educational objectives for non-disabled children at the preschool and were therefore uncertain about what to expect…

Results of follow-up studies conducted on 67 high-school students with behavior disorders (BD) who graduated in 1985 and 22 graduates with BD who graduated in 1993, after passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), were compared to investigate the effects of transition requirements. The class of 1993 demonstrated better…

This article is written by two British people with learning disabilities and their health care team. It is about their wish to move into homes in the community after years in hospitals. They explain the service experiences they have had and what they are looking forward to in the future. (CR)

This article is designed to increase awareness of teachers and other school personnel to the difficulties of many foster children, specifically, the problems these youngsters have while they are in school and once they have left. Recommended actions to improve the education of foster children are listed, along with transition strategies. (Contains…

Investigates the academic effectiveness of a prekindergarten program in a suburban, predominantly Caucasian upper middle class school system. Matched children who spent an extra year in prekindergarten with youngsters who proceeded directly to regular kindergarten. Using achievement test scores and other measures, found no significant differences…

Explores the period between the end of high school and the beginning of college. Focuses on transition programs for undergraduate students of traditional age with disabilities and examines legislative impetus; state activities; model transition programs; transition results; and implications for campus student services staff, such as campus…

This article addresses assessment in transition services for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. The legislative foundation, purposes, and uses of transition assessment in the middle and high school years are discussed in relation to transition planning. Competencies needed by…

This paper describes the drama component of Project Access, a transitional 4-week summer program for students (ages 15 to 18) with disabilities at Howard County Community College (Maryland). Emphasis is on development of self-advocacy skills through a variety of exercises and performance activities. Participating students have demonstrated growth…

Examined demographic, cognitive, achievement, perceptual, visual-motor, and behavioral characteristics of three groups of children at end of first year in either transitional prekindergarten program or regular kindergarten program following retention or promotion recommendations. Retained children differed from promoted peers, being younger and…

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…

Discusses the maturationist, behaviorist, and cognitive interactionist views of transitional programs. Research on transitional programs and possible effects of such programs on kindergarten and first grade classes is discussed. (BG)

An occupational therapy-based independent living skills program at a California high school was designed to help disabled adolescents assume adult roles. Based on occupational science principles, the program's themes include occupation and occupational role, environment, independence, and adaptation. (SK)

The support of home and parents is a major factor in the school-to-work transition of special needs students. Survey research describes parent expectations of these students as minimal. Suggestions are offered for enhancing support for parents and their special needs students. (Author/MSE)

A nationally representative sample of youths with disabilities who recently exited high school was studied to determine their level of participation in postsecondary educational programs. The results show that disabled individuals participate at only one-quarter the rate of their nondisabled counterparts. (Author/MLW)