Participants from five states (Colorado, Minnesota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin) met to establish a national network to promote state and community-based models of comprehensive coordinated planning and service delivery to adults who survived pediatric disorders in their childhood. Results of state caucuses, which discussed and listed…

In response to Virginia's House Joint Resolution 436, the State's Department of Education recommends that: (1) the present entrance age be maintained until 1995, when voluntary programs for at-risk 4-year-olds become available; (2) the discretionary period (October 31-December 31) be discontinued when voluntary programs for at-risk 4-year-olds…

The handbook was developed by the 3-year Valley Transitional School Project, serving Augusta, Staunton, and Waynesboro schools, all located in Augusta County, Virginia. The purpose of the project was to develop and validate a model which would assist school youth with severe disabilities to make the transition from school to employment, in the…

This document brings together descriptions of education-to-work transition services for individuals with disabilities, as presented at a 1994 conference. The document begins with a discussion of the National Transition Network, focusing on its historical background and state-level technical assistance. "Transition from School to Adult Life…

This article describes results of a series of focus group interviews conducted with post-secondary students with disabilities about the importance of self-determination in their success in those settings. Participants attended community college and/or state universities in Virginia and were between the ages of 18 and 48. They indicated that…

In the summer of 2008, the Commonwealth of Virginia was awarded a $1.1 million grant from the U. S. Department of Education. The College Access Challenge Grant Program (CACGP) is coordinated through the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). The focus of the grant is to increase student access to postsecondary education,…

This document describes the Virginia Department of Correctional Education's (DCE) Transition Program, which assists juvenile offenders in making the transition from one school program to another. The student is moved from the community to a detention home school, then to the Department of Youth and Family Services Reception and Diagnostic Center,…

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…

This final report discusses activities and outcomes of "Caring for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: A Continuing Education Program for Nurses (CFIT Nurses)," a Virginia program designed to develop and implement a model of training to ensure that nurse practitioners and registered nurses have the information and skills needed to be…

This study surveyed 214 secondary teachers of students with mild disabilities in Virginia concerning their perceptions of level of knowledge, involvement and importance of transition planning, and service-delivery activities. Findings suggest that teachers have gaps in knowledge and involvement in transition planning and service delivery.…

The rising number of individuals returning to communities from prison and jail represents one of the defining issues of time. Individuals reentering society face myriad challenges, not the least of which is securing viable employment; in addition, each individual has a unique set of experiences, needs and resources. This project stems from the…

This study was commissioned by the Virginia State Legislature to provide baseline data on the post-school outcomes for youth with disabilities in Virginia. The study was conducted by an interdisciplinary team including individuals representing five state agencies, local education agencies, parents, and researchers. The study involved an analysis…

The goal of Project VAST (Virginia's Approach to Services for Transitioning) is to develop, implement, and evaluate a model at both state and local levels which ensures that students with disabilities who move through Virginia's public school programs and into the community will receive transitional services focusing on career preparation,…

If the lives of adults with disabilities are any measure of the impact of decades of special education, there are serious problems that must addressed. The employment rate among adults with disabilities, for instance, remains low. If a group of students choose paid employment as a goal for adult life, would not those same students want their…

Changes in administrative procedures can help schools achieve their goals. Principals must cultivate the necessary networking and empowerment by providing staff members with training, time to review their philosophies, and access to student data. These approaches helped a Virginia high school adopt total quality management and block scheduling.…