Compared control group and two career interventions designed to enhance career maturity of Puerto Rican women in special college admissions program. Found no significant differences between two experimental treatments in terms of career maturity or locus of control. Findings suggest such interventions can facilitate positive changes in career…

A Career Portfolio approach which documents the competencies of a student with disabilities is explained. The portfolio can be used as the basis for informal vocational assessment, for development of annual and short-term objectives, for vocational counseling, and as a tool to take to job interviews. (DB)

Addresses the feasibility of developing rural community transition councils to improve transition services for students with disabilities. Describes the role of local transition councils in relation to the context of rural communities and transition services. Includes suggestions for enhancing community cohesiveness and community capacity to…

Discusses principles of rural transitional programs for disabled students and strategies for prevocational training such as career visitors, career field trips, career day fair, career bulletin boards, career learning centers, and career aptitude inventories. Discusses strategies for supplementing school programs with community and home-based…

Examined the out-of-school time of children between the ages of four and seven who were enrolled in Head Start and school transition programs. Found that watching television, playing, and spending time with friends were children's major activities during their out-of-school time. (MDM)

Ways that 17 Massachusetts schools and 16 adult agencies promoted natural supports in employment of people with severe disabilities are discussed, along with the barriers they experienced. Results indicate wide use of some practices and confusion about the concept of natural supports and the role of service providers in facilitating involvement.…

Teacher-parent collaborative consultation can be useful in planning appropriate vocational programs for adolescents with disabilities. Such consultation can involve informing parents of vocational opportunities, planning vocational assessment and collecting vocational information, developing vocational components of individualized education plans,…

Participants in a fast-paced mathematics course and qualified nonparticipants were surveyed 10 years later with respect to undergraduate record, graduate experience, attitudes toward mathematics/science, and self-esteem. In general, participation was associated with stronger undergraduate records for all students and with more advanced graduate…

Services of two school districts to exceptional students in transition are reviewed. The Great Falls (Montana) model involves a five-year individualized education program, maximum integration, and three phases of paid employment. The Natrona County (Wyoming) program is based on such crucial services as vocational evaluation, community living…

This study assessed the effects of a Brevard County (Florida) high school-based vocational training and community-based on-the-job training program called Brevard's Exceptional Students in Transition (BEST). Results indicated positive improvements in vocational skills and behaviors of participants in the BEST program. (JDD)

This paper reviews issues related to transition services to meet the postsecondary needs of individuals with disabilities. It focuses on follow-up and outcome studies, identification and analysis of best practices in transition, policy research, and analyses of applications for federally funded model demonstration projects. (JDD)

Five strategies to support young adults with disabilities who are making the transition into adulthood include (1) encouraging parents to have early expectations for community life; (2) helping parents realize the importance of their role; (3) helping parents honor their children's choices; (4) involving social support networks; and (5) addressing…

Research pointing to the need for routine support and followup for families with infants leaving Neonatal Intensive Care Units is described. A discharge planning process is then recommended, involving assessing the infant's needs, family functioning, family needs, and cultural considerations and linking families with community services. (JDD)

Pedagogical alternatives for preparing student to make the transition from school to work are examined and synthesized into six key components of successful transition programs. Four desired outcomes of program participation include connecting theory and practice, developing maturity, gaining personal awareness, and attaining professional insight.…

Specific self-determination skills have been identified as being related to the successful transition of students with learning disabilities to postsecondary education. This study developed and validated a model program which was effective in teaching secondary students the self-determination skills of self-advocacy and self-awareness. (DB)