Secondary Transition Planning
What is Transition?
Transition as a process involves:
- Thinking about the future and finding out about interests, preferences, and strengths
- Setting goals for life after high school (employment, education and/or training, independent living, community participation, etc.)
- Designing the secondary school experience to include both academic and functional skills development to promote movement toward the student’s long range goals
- Developing employability and self-advocacy skills
- Creating linkages with community agencies and services, when needed
What Parents Need to Know
Have you wondered about life after high school for a youth with a disability? Transition laws provide a way to use the IEP to “work a plan” for moving into adult roles in life.
...click here to download "High School and Beyond" for more information (en Español)
When do we start? New Requirement - Age 14
Is it too early to think about transition when the student is in elementary or middle school?
No, many lifelong skills can begin to be taught in the elementary/middle school years. This is also a good time to explore the post high school options and services available in the community.
- Teach the child to set daily goals.
- Teach the child to be aware of their behavior and how it affects others.
- Teach self-management skills.
- Teach student how to ask for help.
- Allow student to make mistakes in order for him/her to learn (use it as a teachable moment).
- Teach the child to identify their own disability.
- Teach the child how their disability affects their learning.
- Help the child to start setting personal goals.
- Help the child to identify and understand necessary accommodations and modifications.
Agencies
- The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us - The Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
http://www.dars.state.tx.us - Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
http://www.dads.state.tx.us - Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us - Texas Education Agency (TEA)
http://www.tea.state.tx.us - Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us