Students Face Uncertain Paths After Special Education

From Education Week
Published online May 29, 2015
Written by Christina A. Samuels
Audience: Teachers, Special Education Specialists, Transition Teachers and Families

Students have experienced a structured and somewhat predictable path while receiving special education services in public school settings since IDEA has been enacted. What has not been historically smooth is the transition from education to vocational or post education life. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act hopes to add structure and substance to transition

2020 Federal Youth Transition Plan: A Federal Interagency Strategy

Key Points: I found this plan on the CEC Website. It is a plan to connect federal government agencies to work together to provide the best full coverage support for youth with disabilities to transition them into adulthood. (Agencies: Department of Labor- Office of Disability Employment, Department of Education - Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Social Security Administration). Below are the goals of this plan:
        1) Access health care services and integrated work-based experiences in high school
        2) Develop self-determination and engage in self-directed individualized    planning
        3) Be connected to programs, services, activities, information, and supports
        4) Develop leadership and advocacy skills
        5) Have involvement from families and other caring adults with high expectations
Intended Audience: Parents with Children who have disabilities, School Districts (Specifically Transition Services), Teachers, Agencies noted above, Lawmakers

Published: February 2015

URL: http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/docs/508_EDITED_RC_FEB26-accessible.pdf

Employers Learn to Embrace Disability Hiring

I found this article on Disability Scoop.  It was written on March 23, 2015 by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz. The article talks about how businesses are starting to hire people with developmental disabilities.  Some key points of the article  include stories of adults who are working jobs where they are not underemployed.  Many businesses with the support of the organization "Best Buddies" are hiring disabled workers and becoming examples to other businesses.  The intended audience for this article would be teachers of older disabled students and business owners.  This is an especially relevant article because we do need to think about how we can best serve the population of disabled adults.   Many times we discount what they can do and do not provide the opportunities for them to be successful.  One thing I did not know was that Walgreen's specifically hires adults with disabilities and that 21% of their work force is made up of disabled adults.  That is huge!!! It really makes me want to patronize their store more often!

In researching articles for my inquiry question I came across this article which has 5 key steps to best practices in successful transition planning that guarantee student success... I am looking at ways to have students lead their IEP meeting and how to better plan for transition
http://www.seenmagazine.us/articles/article-detail/articleid/1071/special-ed-transition-planning-five-keys-to-success.aspx

11/19/2010
student success
CARMEN CAVOLO

Transition Planning and the IEP

Transition Planning for Students with IEPs

http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/health/873-transition-planning-for-students-with-ieps.gs

I found this article regarding planning for Transition when a student has an IEP.  I have read the article and found that it covers many areas of consideration when planning for Transition i.e. when, who, outcomes and resources.  This is an area that I see under communicated and the importance needs to be recognized.