Every high school student knows that at the end of their senior year they will have to transition to the next stage in their lives, be it college, an internship or a job. They and their parents have been planning for it since they were children.
Students with special needs have a particularly difficult time transitioning from high school to the adult world. In elementary and high school, they did not have to advocate for themselves. Their needs were addressed by their parents, general and special ed teachers.
Upon entering college, they have to acclimate to a whole new world, with a host of responsibilities they may not be prepared to shoulder. And for perhaps the first time in their lives, they have to advocate for themselves.
To address this issue for all students with special needs, 10 years ago, the government mandated that they must be provided with Transition Planning to help them cope with college or the workforce and reach their full potential. While this mandate applies to individuals with LD and/or dyslexia including , unfortunately, these individuals do not get the attention they deserve when it comes to Transition Planning.
Many consider specific learning disability a mild disability that does not need to be addressed, but these students encounter untold difficulties transitioning to adulthood and would benefit from Transition Planning as much, if not more than every other group with special needs.
What is Transition Planning?
Transition Planning helps students, parents, and educators:
1. Identify long-range goals.
2. Design the high school experience to ensure that students gain the skills and connections they need to achieve these goals.
3. Plan several aspects of the student’s future including education, employment, personal responsibility, relationships, home and family, leisure pursuits, community involvement, and physical and emotional health.
4. Identify post-high school services, supports, and programs before leaving high school.
Transition Planning team
A team effort increases the likelihood that a students with disabilities who is challenged with LD, international dyslexia or ADD will succeed. This team should include, but not be limited to, the student with learning disability, his or her parent or guardian, special education teacher and general education teacher, an LEA Representative and an individual who can interpret evaluation information, Other professionals and/or services may also be needed, i.e. vocational rehabilitation, MR/DD services, mental health, Social Security, employers, post-secondary educators, human services.
The benefits of a mentor for children with learning disabilities cannot be overstated.
Requirements
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 04) requires that in the first IEP which goes into effect when the student turns 16 years of age, his or her annual IEP must include a discussion about transition service needs (some states may mandate that the process start even earlier). A statement of those needs, based upon this transition assessment and future goals, must then be written into his IEP.
IDEA 04 mandates that the annual IEP meeting focuses on more specific planning and goal setting for the necessary transition services. Factors to be included are academic preparation, community experience, development of vocational and independent living objectives, and, if applicable, a functional vocational evaluation.
The agreed-upon plans must then be documented in the student’s IEP. The law also requires that a statement of the student’s transition goals and services be included in the transition plan. Schools must report to parents on the student’s progress toward meeting his transition goals.
Benefits of Transition Planning
Proper preparation and transition planning enables individuals with dyslexia and LD, students with dyslexia or ADD to acclimate more easily and successfully to the next stage in life, be it to college, a career or vocation. Therefore, it is essential for parents, educators, social workers, and ancillary professionals to familiarize themselves with the laws and procedures involved. With the cooperation of all concerned, these challenges can be overcome and a larger percentage of our population can become successful, participating and contributing members of our society.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
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