There is a process within the special education program that directly links a child's educational program with their plans for the future. It is called a Transition Plan and is part of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Transition services are a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability designed to be used within a…

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) requires that an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for students with disabilities, age 16 years and older, include age appropriate transition assessment results aligned with measurable postsecondary goals. This section of the IEP is typically known as an Individual Transition Plan…

Transition planning is conceptually and empirically linked to successful postschool outcomes for adolescents with disabilities and has been legally mandated for more than two decades. Unfortunately, young adults with high-incidence disabilities, including learning disabilities (LD), emotional disabilities (ED), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity…

Effective transition planning requires school personnel to ascertain the preferences and interests of the student and to focus on services including instruction, related services, employment, and postschool living arrangements necessary to support postschool outcomes. While great strides have been made in meeting the needs of students with…

Golf is one of the most accessible and versatile physical activities and is a viable choice for young adults with disabilities to engage in the recommended levels of physical activity. Teaching golf to youth with disabilities requires more than making accommodations regarding equipment, technique, and rules in the physical education setting. For…

Because of the important role secondary special educators have in the transition to adulthood of adolescents with disabilities, it behooves educators to have an understanding of human development. The lifespan perspective on human development is particularly relevant to transition planning. Individuals with a lifespan perspective believe…

In rural areas, transition planning for young adults with disabilities presents considerable challenges, including linkage to employment upon completion of special education services. Two assessment programs, described in this article, work in concert to assist transition teachers and youth with disabilities in rural areas and include: (a)…

Education-Based Incarceration and Recidivism: The Ultimate Social Justice Crime Fighting Tool takes a penetrating look at the needs and challenges of society's disenfranchised jail populations. It is incumbent to encourage public awareness of the causes that underlie the destructive cycles plaguing these populations, including the abuse and…

This booklet introduces parents to "Tennessee's Early Intervention System" (TEIS). This system is funded through the Tennessee Department of Education. Through TEIS parents can get answers about their baby's growth and development and find the special services their child may need. Parents can also use this system to determine which…

A survey of 202 students with disabilities in Taiwan identified eight service categories: medical service, adult living service, working/living environment adaptation, professional guidance, psychological guidance, personal affairs, community learning, and continuing education. Results indicate that the overall need for services is far greater…

This article discusses the transition of students with disabilities to higher education, their needs and challenges, and introduces a tool that is being piloted to address areas of concern. The questionnaire is designed to determine the readiness skills of students who indicate their desire to transition from high school to college. (CR)

This article reviews the current literature on the assessment of students with disabilities with emphasis on evaluating student needs and preferences for transition services as required by federal legislation. Analyses of studies reported in 11 articles are summarized. The review indicates a lack of consensus on the most appropriate ways to assess…

This study analyzed data from a national survey of 1600 secondary school districts to determine the numbers and characteristics of handicapped youth as well as the types of programs offered by these districts related to the transition of youth from school to post school activities. Among the findings were: (1) access to traditional vocational…

This paper describes the problems that individuals with disabilities in South Africa have experienced in accessing educational and support services in the transition from school to work. It outlines needed changes, including making a paradigm shift, developing a new policy and legislative framework, building an inclusive education system and…

This manual is a guide for facilitating a 3-hour community interagency planning workshop on the transition of young children with disabilities and is comprised of a facilitator's manual, a participant's manual, and a preconference packet. The facilitator's manual provides a listing of necessary materials, a general workshop process checklist, a…