Transition Services for Students with Disabilities
A webinar, entitled Standard Diploma Credit Accommodations for Students with Disabilities, has been added to the list of resources explaining alternatives for these students in meeting the requirements for a Standard Diploma, when the Modified Standard Diploma is no longer an option. Direct questions about credit accommodations to spedinstruction@doe.virginia.gov.
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VDOE's Transition Services website provides support, information and resources designed to improve the outcomes of students with disabilities in transition from middle / secondary education to postsecondary education and employment.
The key to successful transition is careful planning. Students must be actively involved in the planning process.
- Fast Facts: Secondary Transition: Why it is important to plan early (PDF)
What is Transition?
Transition is the process students and their families use to think about life after high school, to identify their desired outcomes, and to plan their community and school experiences to assure that the students acquire the knowledge and skills to achieve their goals.
Why is Transition Important?
Steven Covey says to "begin with the end in mind." That idea is the heart of transition planning. If the "end" we have in mind is "educated employees," then the transition planning is the "beginning." It sets the education course for middle and secondary students with disabilities that leads to access to adult services, postsecondary education and the world of work. The idea of transition is simple, but actually carrying out the process can be daunting as we try to weave together the appropriate combination of educational and social services. The legislators who developed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA PL 101-476) included transition components in the legislation with the goal of preparing students with disabilities to access the supports and services they need to become as independent as possible.
How Do We Do Transition?
The transition planning process should enable the student to move successfully from school to postsecondary education and training, employment, independent living, and community participation based on the student's preferences, interests, and abilities.
- To secondary education
- Transition: School to Work by Nancy B. Mizelle from LDOnline
- GED Program (General Educational Development)
- To postsecondary education, school to work and community life
- Transition Planning: A Team Effort, is a publication of the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities, by Sharon deFur, Ed.D., School of Education, College of William and Mary that provides ideas and information on how students, families, school personnel, service providers, and others can work together to help students make a smooth transition. In particular, this document focuses on creative transition planning and services that use all the resources that exist in communities, not just the agencies that have traditionally been involved.
- Virtual Learning
- From special education to adult services
- School To Work Transition Services (PDF)– Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
- Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
- Access Autism from the The Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Policy to Practice Guidebook
- OLMSTEAD Act
- Money Follows the Person – Virginia launches community-living choice website for individuals with disabilities. Virginia is one of 31 states participating in a five-year, $1.75 billion Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration project designed to create a system of long-term services and supports that assist individuals to transition from certain long-term care institutions into the community. This project supports Virginia's Olmstead initiative and complements the efforts of the recently awarded Systems Transformation Grant that aims to improve the infrastructure for community-based long-term supports. Virginia's MFP project, administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services, will make more than $28 million in federal Medicaid funds available to support Virginia's individuals with disabilities. For more details and the most current information on the MFP project, please visit http://www.olmsteadva.com/mfp.
- One Community
- Work World
- New York State – Vocational Rehabilitation Services for High School Students
- From special education to post secondary
How Do We Know We Are Doing It Right?
- Helping Students Become Self Determined
- Virginia Intercommunity Transition Council (VITC) Fact Sheets
- Regulations & Legal Requirements
- Virginia's Transition Requirements Checklist - School Division Self-Assessment and Technical Assistance Document (Word)
- Guidance for the Development of Postsecondary Goals (Word)
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