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 resource paper provides information about postsecondary programs for young adults with substantial learning disabilities and other special needs. The introductory section outlines characteristics of the population and components of successful educational programs. Subsequent sections include guidelines for recognizing the young person's…

Six papers address issues in the transition from school to work for mentally retarded and developmentally disabled young adults. The first presents a three-stage vocational transition model emphasizing functional curricula, integrated services, community-based instruction, involvement of parents and adult services representatives, and a diversity…

Written for practitioners rather than policymakers, this document is intended for those who seek to relate educational and training opportunities to local and individual needs; use fresh approaches to integrated services for young people trapped by unemployment, social and economic change, and poor living conditions; and achieve high quality…

This checklist for use with students who have disabilities outlines essential steps in the transition from secondary education to employment, postsecondary education, and independent living environments. The checklist is presented in a sequential approach covering grades 8 through 12, or ages 13-14 through 17-21. Grade 8 activities focus on…

This monograph, written for vocational counselors and teachers, addresses employability for youth from both career counseling and guidance and transitional education perspectives. The section on employability counseling focuses on the ingredients of employability, youth employment conditions, classes of employment and unemployment, and…

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…

Part of a series that provides practical resources to transition personnel on topics essential to the process of preparing individuals with disabilities for adulthood, this manual focuses on transition issues related to students with visual impairments. Chapter 1 discusses the nature of visual impairment and reactions to visual impairment. Chapter…

This school-version technical manual provides an overview of the "Transition Behavior Scale-Second Edition School Version" (TBS-2 SV), an assessment that was developed to be a direct observation screening measure of behavior characteristics most predictive of behavior in society in general and employment specifically. Those students (ages 12-18)…

Issues are discussed in the transition of students with learning disabilities from high school to employment or postsecondary education, focusing on the importance of providing instructional and counseling services to help students become self-sufficient, independent thinkers who can self-advocate and be responsible for their actions. (Author/JDD)

This monograph presents information on critical issues in the transition of handicapped youth from the school setting to the work environment. The articles discuss the needs of handicapped youth, professional and parental competencies, employability, job settings, and legislation. Titles and authors are as follows: "Career Education for…

This technical manual provides an overview of the "Transition Behavior Scale-Second Edition Self-Report Version" (TBS-2 S-RV), an assessment that provides the means by which student behavior, which is predictive of employment and societal transition behavior, can be documented. Those students (ages 12-18) most likely to have problems in employment…

This guide was developed to provide an overview of the major elements of the transition planning process from school to the adult system of supports and services for youth with developmental disabilities and their families. The workbook format is intended to enable families to be proactive at each stage of the planning process. Initial sections…

This manual provides educators with goals, objectives, and intervention strategies for behavior problems identified by the "Transition Behavior Scale-Second Edition," an assessment of the behaviors of students (ages 12-18) which will interfere with successful transition to independent living and employment. The areas evaluated by the scale (work…

The handbook was developed as part of a 2-year grant which developed a rural transition model for handicapped students. It provides special education personnel with suggested guidelines for transitioning handicapped students into post-secondary employment and independent living environments. Part I provides an introduction to the transitional…