Transition:
· Is mandatory by age 16. Starting earlier is better!
· Based on individual need.
· A successful transition plan is built around self-advocacy, student-led decisions, individual age-appropriate assessments, and will include goals and services within the IEP. This will take affect the year the student becomes 16, or earlier if appropriate.
· Transition provides support and guidance for successful adult outcomes in areas “related to training, education, employment, and where appropriate, independent-living skills (Transition Guide, 2017).”
Transition planning is your student’s right. The IDEA (2004) directs your student’s services and mandates the transition process encompass certain aspects. This will be provided in a specific section added to your student’s IEP along with agency resources and post-secondary goals and services. The transition plan will be discussed in your student’s annual IEP and your school team will help your family plan the steps to make your student’s Training/Education, Employment, and Independent Living goals a reality.
Employment Opportunities are in the Community. There are many types of employment available for your student. If your student has a goal in mind there may be ways to access this in your community and placement may be available. If your student has an interest in cars, food service or retail for example, community-based work experiences may be the best choice during high school. Students benefit from increased vocational opportunities and finding the best fit for your student will be beneficial long-term. Meaningful employment “Help[s] students acquire jobs at higher wages after they graduate…” (Transition, 2012) .
Guardianship: Your child’s case manager will be able to discuss “Transfer of Rights” with you and your student as they near adulthood. Minimal Guardianship is recommended, but each individual family will need to work with the student to decide this. Medical, financial, and conservatorship questions are important family discussions to begin having now. Supported -decision making may be the best choice for your student. Best-practice and the ADA language currently recommend authentic person-first planning in these situations (Jameson, 2015). Legal assistance for questions and referrals is available at low-to no cost though the County of Ventura Court System.