Transition Support Services & Career Exploration

Transition Support is a state and federal mandate for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), age 14 and up, while enrolled in school. The outcomes identified in the annual transition planning process become the framework for the goals and activities in your child's IEP. Transition services for students in special education are specifically designed to assist students with disabilities in transitioning from the school system into the adult world; whether it be to continue education or find employment. 

Research has shown us that there are several predictors of post-school success, one of them being an active participant of a Transition Program while in high school. The other top two predictors are students having good self-determination skills (Choice Making, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Goal Setting and Attainment, Self-Regulation, Self-Awareness, Self- Efficacy, and Self Advocacy) and having paid employment and/or work experience before leaving high school. 

Career Exploration provides a multitude of resources for students to independently (or with support) identify their interests, and comprehend their identified interests and the careers that align with them. In essence, Career Exploration assists students by helping them identify and research a job that they will like going to every day. We all want that, don't we? It also provides them the support to map out their road to reach their career goals; interviewing professionals in that field, job shadows and internships, identifying the education and/or certification needed, and the job outlook.  In Southold, conversations and activities about careers, things we enjoy doing; and don't, things we are good at; and need help with or need to improve, as well as setting goals for ourselves start as early as kindergarten and continue through 12th grade for all students!