Special Education Guide

  • Special Education Career Paths
    • Behaviorist
    • Early Intervention Specialist
    • Educational Diagnostician
    • Instructional Assistant
    • Special Education Administrator
    • Special Education Teacher
  • Teacher Certification
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • District of Columbia
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Master’s in Special Education Programs
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • District of Columbia
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming

Find us on:

  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • About This Site
  • Read Our Blog

How to Help Students and Families with Transition Planning

March 22, 2016 by Helen Pastore

FIND SCHOOLS
1
2
3
4
Sponsored Content

Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)

Sponsored School(s)

All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed as "Featured School(s)" or "Sponsored Content" are advertisers that compensate us for placement on this site. The resources, editorial content, and school evaluations published on this site are developed independent of the schools that advertise here.
Grand Canyon University Logo
Grand Canyon University
Featured Program: B.S. in Elementary Education / Special Education and M.Ed. in Special Education
Request Info
Purdue University Logo
Purdue University
Featured Program: Online MSEd in Special Education
Request Info
Arizona State University Logo
Arizona State University
Featured Program: Special Education, MEd
Request Info
George Mason University Logo
George Mason University
Featured Program: Master's and Graduate Certificate Programs in Special Education
Request Info
Liberty University Logo
Liberty University
Featured Program: (B.Ed.) in Special Education, M.A.T. in Special Education, and Doctoral Curriculum and Instruction – Special Education
Request Info
Arcadia University Logo
Arcadia University
Featured Program: Online Graduate Certificate in Autism
Request Info
Regis University Logo
Regis University
Featured Program: Earn your M.Ed in Special Education Licensure, MAE in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education and more at Regis University. Build your skills to teach students with the greatest needs.
Request Info

The newest special education teachers learn that the year in which a student turns 14 years of age, the IEP must include provisions related to transition. By age 16, the Transition IEP establishes a pattern of preparation for post-school plans. This may involve preparation for college, training or work. Many parents are unaware of available services, thinking that seven years is a long time away. As a teacher, you can help parents remember how quickly the past seven years have passed and that their child will need assistance to transition from school to adult life. Planning is not a one-time event and deserves time and attention to assure the smoothest possible transition for your student when leaving the school system. While this list is not comprehensive, perhaps these ideas will help you as an educator in your role at this pivotal time of planning in the lives of your students.

Organize a Portfolio of Resources

Check with your liaison for a list of local agencies, programs and contacts for services. The more you know what is available in your town, county and state, the more you will be prepared to engage your students and their families in identifying appropriate services.

Never Too Early

With so many issues that have faced your students since the onset of their special needs, your families may have been preoccupied with just getting through each day. For any number of reasons, some families do not seek information in the early school years. So if you have colleagues who are teaching younger students, share your information about resources and services that might be helpful to students and their families. Many high school special educators are flabbergasted that students and parents have not applied for Social Security Income or are unaware of services (some of which have multi-year waiting lists just to get an application processed!) that could support the students’ needs. Think of it this way, parents often ask their children without special needs, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” So why not have the same long-range thinking for students who need extra support? Likewise, for students moving in to the high school age group, the question needs to be addressed all the more because time passes quickly.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

Paperwork

Aside from IEP, 504 and other legal documents that your students need each year, you can help your students and their families by creating a checklist of the types of personal documents that your students may wish to keep at the ready. Consider the convenience of students having a folder or notebook that contains such items as letters of reference, a copy of the diploma, vocational assessments, contacts for relationships with agency personnel currently engaged, summary of health history and medical providers, copy of birth and passport records, emergency and family contacts, school records that include transcripts and summaries of performance, a video resume or vocational skills demonstration, copies of recent IEPs and other relevant information, such as copies of trusts, guardianship and other authorizations. Centralizing information related to school and post-school planning will be very helpful to your students and their families.

Develop Your Own Team

Get to know the service providers at your own school or district. Perhaps you do not have a student who currently needs physical therapy; introduce yourself and learn about the roles of your specialists. This will prepare you for future students, build rapport within your school and district, and support your multi-disciplinary perspective. These specialists have insights into transition planning that you may not encounter otherwise. Talk with your school administration and liaisons to learn what their understandings and vision are for your students. Make it a point to meet or communicate with other district staff, such as job coaches and program supervisors, who focus on transition planning as well. Teachers who make this kind of effort are in a better position to garner the latest information for their students.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

Professional Development

Certainly take trainings that directly relate to your older students. However, there may be additional opportunities to develop your general knowledge as you meet folks who conduct trainings in your school district. They may be able to introduce you to other professionals with similar goals to yours. Join your professional organization(s) and participate in their programs – the more you know and the more contacts you have, the better you can serve your students. Be a lifelong learner!

You already have an awareness of these and other ideas to serve your students. Think about how effectively you communicate your knowledge and how you can use it more efficiently in the classroom.

About Author: Helen Pastore

Helen Pastore is a teacher of students with complex learning needs at Oak Park School in Sarasota, Florida. She currently teaches post-high school students who are preparing to exit the public school system. Helen earned her BS in Education from Northeastern University in 1976 and a Master of Arts in Autism Spectrum Disorders & Severe Intellectual Disabilities from the University of South Florida in 2013. She holds Florida certification in ESE K-12, K-6, Reading Endorsement, ASD and Severe/Profound Endorsements. Having been named the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Chapter 296 Teacher of the Year in 2012, the Florida Federation of the Council for Exceptional Children awarded Helen the Marjorie Crick Teacher of the Year in 2013. CEC bestowed its highest honor for professional achievement in 2015 in naming Helen as its Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year. She serves on the Board of Directors of the CEC Sunset Chapter 296.

Filed Under: Blog

Our site does not feature every educational option available on the market. We encourage you to perform your own independent research before making any education decisions. Many listings are from partners who compensate us, which may influence which programs we write about. Learn more about us


Copyright © 2013-2023 Special Education Guide. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Related Pages

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Form
  • Disability Profiles
  • Early Identification (birth to 2 years)
  • #4 (no title)
  • Special Education Master’s Degrees
  • PRE-K – 12
  • Privacy Policy
  • Request Information
  • School Listing
  • School Offers
  • Search Schools
  • Special Education Dictionary
  • Special Ed Teacher Certification
  • Terms of Use
  • Thank You
  • Masters Degrees
  • Teacher Certification
  • Career Paths
  • Early Intervention
  • Pre-K to 12
  • Disability Profiles

Recent Articles

  • Is Special Education Teaching Right for You?
  • Give Students with Print Disabilities Access to Free Ebooks
  • How to Help Students and Families with Transition Planning
  • Closing the Gap: Moving Mountains Without Lowering Expectations
  • 9 Tips for Special Education Teachers Becoming Administrators