The transition from adolescence to adulthood can be difficult for many students, particularly those with mild disabilities. It's an unfortunate reality that students with disabilities continue to perform lower in terms of post-school outcomes in comparison to their peers without disabilities. The issue of improving post-school outcomes for…

The purpose of this research study was to examine and analyze the perceptions of students with mild-moderate disabilities, teachers, and parents regarding the students' experiences related to their secondary transition plan. More specifically, the qualitative single-case study sought to identify areas of alignment and divergence of these three key…

Clinical Question: Should speech-language pathologists (SLPs) perform a formal standardized speech and language assessment and/or an informal speech and language sample to determine communication skills of students with mild ID during postsecondary transition? Method: Literature Review Study Sources: ASHA, ASHA Perspectives, Google Scholar,…

Students with disabilities, especially those with non-apparent conditions, are entering universities in growing numbers. Yet more and more students are going off to college unprepared to manage their disabilities, in part because their high schools are overburdened, understaffed, and uninformed to identify and support them. A recent survey of…

We first conducted a synthesis of literature to identify essential transition teacher competencies to guide curriculum development for a personnel preparation program. The synthesis yielded a list of 67 competencies needed by transition teachers. Using the 67 competencies, we next created an electronic survey in which respondents were asked to…

A nationwide push for students with disabilities to receive instruction in the general education classroom has stemmed, in part, from current legislation and high stakes testing. Student GPA continues to be a major factor in admission standards for postsecondary schools and initial employment opportunities. The focus on receiving instruction in…

Students with disabilities are less likely than their peers to access or succeed in postsecondary education settings. In one county, students with disabilities are taught within inclusive high school environments where deficits in reading skills, self-determination attributes, and study skills are not included in the curriculum. In place of these…

Students with learning disabilities (LD) are most often educated in the general education classroom, where it seems clear that a significant lack of attention to the concept of transition also exists. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), for example, does not specifically address students' postschool success or transition outcomes. One challenge…

The present qualitative study examined the experiences of nine students with mild disabilities during their first year in an inclusive middle school in a Midwestern state of the United States (US). Data were gathered through interviews with students, teachers, and parents; classroom observations; and document analysis. Following the data analysis,…

The article describes the Community Vocational Training program, a transition program that trains and places high school seniors with mild handicaps in permanent employment and postsecondary schools. Considered are theoretical foundations, recruitment, on the job experiences, the employment skills workshop, staff roles, and outcomes. (DB)

The article proposes a transition program for mildly handicapped students which stresses appropriate placement and ongoing support systems. Following intensive remedial academic instruction in junior high school, students would be tracked into either the traditional high school program (with ongoing support) or an alternative program designed to…

Intervention with mildly handicapped adolescents is considered in terms of: the need for cooperative relationships among home, school, and community; successful procedures for creating effective communication; interventions for parents to use in the home; and programs to help mildly handicapped adolescents make the transition from school to…

Presents the Competitive Employment through Vocational Experiences (CETVE) model of transition from school to work for youth with mild disabilities. Discusses identification and screening of participants, placement in work experience, training, and follow-up. Also covers such issues as interagency cooperation, transportation, liability, and…

The article describes Project LINK, at William Paterson College of New Jersey, which provides training services to mildly handicapped young adults, links local education agencies and postsecondary service provider agencies, and aims to integrate interagency and college-based components into a broad transition model. (DB)

Using a Delphi approach, 10 experts identified 186 practices from the fields of transition and dropout prevention that would be effective with high-risk students, including those with mild disabilities. Rating these practices indicates that many prevention practices are important and feasible to implement. (SLD)