Why Is Transition Planning Important for Special Education Students?
While everyone experiences transitions at different times in their lives, planning for transitions has a different meaning for students who receive special education services. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) transition plan, required by law for students with a disability, defines the move from the public school setting to adult life with personalized goals based on the student's strengths, desires, and dreams for a fulfilling life. The services include assessment of the child by a team which results in goal-setting in four areas:
Training
Education
Employment
Independent Living Skills if necessary
While all students need guidance in order to make the leap from high school to adult life, students with disabilities may need even more help. The needs of the student, relevant goals, and a plan of action to address the goals must be documented in the IEP/ARD document. Parents are informed on the student's progress toward achieving those goals. The IEP/ARD committee must address transition by the time the student turns 14. The IEP transition plan supports the effort to help the student function as independently as possible as an adult as well as increases the likelihood of students pursuing post-secondary education.
It is never too early for school staff and parents to discuss transition planning for two reasons. First, school staff can share important information about community resources that may be available to students and their families. Second, accessing many of those community resources involves application processes and waiting lists (sometimes with years-long waiting periods) so it is beneficial to families to know about these resources as early in the student's educational career as possible.