Curricular Implications of Transition Life Skills Instruction as an Integral Part of Transition Education

1997 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 294-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Patton ◽  
Mary E. Cronin ◽  
Veda Jairrels
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
School System ◽  
Life Skills ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Transition Planning ◽  
Proactive Approach ◽  
Federal Mandate ◽  
Approach To Teaching ◽  
Transition Education

The importance of systematic and comprehensive transition planning is promoted by a significant number of professionals in the field of special education and underscored by federal mandate. Sometimes lost in the multifaceted process of transition are the curricular features that ensure that important knowledge is covered and requisite skills are taught. The key point embedded in the transition planning process is that areas of need will be addressed before the student exits from the school system. This process functions on a reactive basis: Needs are identified, transition goals are developed, and action is taken. A well-grounded understanding of students' transition needs can lead to a more proactive approach to teaching the life skills that are critical to functioning successfully in adulthood. A variety of ways to teach transition-related topics are discussed, and examples are provided. However, the option most appropriate for certain students will depend on the settings in which they receive their education.

Transition Planning: Voices of Chinese and Vietnamese Parents of Youth With Autism and Intellectual Disabilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lusa Lo ◽  
Oanh Bui
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Transition Planning ◽  
Family Engagement ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Youth With Disabilities ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Lack Of Information

Lack of family engagement in transition planning continues to be a challenge in special education. This study examined the experiences of Chinese and Vietnamese families of youth with disabilities toward transition planning. Results suggested that participants were eager to be engaged in the transition planning and valued the importance of transition planning activities. They wanted to ensure that their youth were equipped with skills, so they could lead a successful and independent adult life. However, schools provided little to no information regarding the transition planning process. This lack of information prevented them from being actively involved. Implications for future research and practice to enhance partnership between schools and diverse families in the development of transition planning are discussed.

States Decrease Their Required Secondary Transition Planning Age: Federal Policy Must Change

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-118
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Suk ◽  
James E. Martin ◽  
Amber E. McConnell ◽  
Tiffany L. Biles
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Transition Planning ◽  
Special Education Law ◽  
Education Law ◽  
Disabilities Education Act ◽  
Federal Mandate ◽  
Transition Models ◽  
Education Act ◽  
The U.S

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act 2004 mandates transition planning for students with disabilities begin by the age of 16 years. Currently, no study exists describing when states and territories require transition planning to begin; we conducted a methodical review to determine this age. We found over half (52%) the U.S. states and territories (29 of 56) require transition planning begin prior to the federal age 16 mandate. To argue the age 16 federal mandate is too old and needs to be lowered to at least age 14, we review special education law, provide a summary of influential position statements, cite relevant data-based studies, and provide an overview of research-based transition models.

EXPERIENCES, FRUSTRATIONS, AND BARRIERS, OF IPAD USAGE IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION: LIFE SKILLS CLASSROOM FROM EDUCATORS PERSPECTIVE

2018 ◽  
pp. 61-67
Author(s):  
D. J. Sullivan ◽  
S. Labby ◽  
A. Koptelov ◽  
S. L. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Life Skills ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Educational Tool ◽  
Special Educator ◽  
Communications Systems ◽  
Communication Device ◽  
Communication Devices

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine the barriers that special educator teachers encounter when using iPads within the Life Skills classroom. The research investigates the experiences, frustrations, and barriers through educators’ perceptions of iPad implementation. The influence of these issues suggests why iPad usage is not a device that special education classrooms are using in a widespread daily manner. Exploration of iPads as an educational tool and as a communication device is also discussed, along with considerations of other communications systems such as Picture Exchange Communication Systems and Alternative and Augmented Communication Devices is considered. Recommendations for further possible research are also discussed.

Legal Issues in Early Childhood Special Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 104420732110231
Author(s):  
Susan Larson Etscheidt ◽  
Stephanie L. Schmitz ◽  
Andi M. Edmister
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Due Process ◽  
Transition Planning ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Early Childhood Special Education ◽  
Educational Planning ◽  
Professional Collaboration ◽  
Education Act

Family and professional collaboration is beneficial to students, families, and educators. The importance of such collaboration was recognized for families of students with disabilities, resulting in provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which ensure parental participation in educational planning. Despite the benefits of family and professional collaboration and IDEA mandate, many parents disagree with the educational planning decisions provided to their children and request due process hearings. Parents perceive a lack of opportunity to provide input and/or to disagree with schools’ perspectives. Parents of early childhood students report significant concerns about their child’s readiness for the transition to kindergarten and their limited role in transition planning as their children prepared to enter preschool programs. The purpose of this article was to examine the issues identified in parental complaints in early childhood special education (ECSE) through a qualitative content analysis of recent court cases. The results revealed six themes related to current issues in ECSE programs. We conclude with several recommendations for state policy makers to improve services in ECSE based on the DEC Recommended Practices.

Teacher Knowledge in Transition Planning: Does Locale Matter?

2021 ◽  
pp. 875687052110279
Author(s):  
Malarie E. Deardorff ◽  
Corey Peltier ◽  
Belkis Choiseul-Praslin ◽  
Kendra Williams-Diehm ◽  
Melissa Wicker
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Teacher Knowledge ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Transition Planning ◽  
Individualized Education Program ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Transition Plans ◽  
Education Act

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act mandates transition planning to occur in conjunction with the individualized education program for secondary age students with disabilities beginning by age 16, or earlier. To fulfill this mandate, teachers must possess a depth of content and pedagogical knowledge related to the transition planning process. However, the majority of special educators do not receive coursework dedicated to transition in their undergraduate programming. Furthermore, teachers in under-resourced and underserved rural districts may have inequitable professional development opportunities to bolster their transition planning knowledge. This lack of transition-related education potentially leads to inadequate and noncompliant transition plans for students with disabilities. The current study examined differences in teachers’ knowledge based on locale: rural ( n = 75), suburban ( n = 48), and urban ( n = 64) from one southern state. Determining whether differences are identified by locale can inform the allocation of resources to provide high-quality, evidence-aligned professional development models to improve teacher knowledge in underserved and under-resourced rural locales. In addition, identifying gaps in teacher knowledge will inform pre-service and in-service teacher preparation. We provide an avenue of needed future research to improve transition-planning processes for students with disabilities.

Supporting Service Dogs in the Classroom

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 313-318
Author(s):  
Julia J. Davidson ◽  
Therese M. Cumming ◽  
Iva Strnadová
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Legal Responsibility ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Service Dogs ◽  
Service Dog ◽  
Support Students ◽  
The U.S

With the rising use of service dogs to support students with disabilities, it is important that teachers are knowledgeable about how they can be incorporated into their classroom. A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court has highlighted the legal responsibility of schools to allow access to the service dogs of students. However, information focusing on the preparation of teachers for this possibility is lacking. This article provides both general and special education teachers with guidelines for including service dogs in their classroom. Background information regarding service dogs is included in addition to practical considerations concerning students, the classroom, the service dog, and planning process.

On Leadership: Planning for equity

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 60-61
Author(s):  
Joshua P. Starr
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
Curriculum Development ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
School System ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Hiring Practices ◽  
School Based ◽  
Improvement Planning ◽  
System Leaders

Every year, school-based teams all over the country engage in the ritual known as improvement planning. In theory, the process is designed to identify low-performing students and specify plans for raising their achievement. In practice, though, improvement planning tends to be an empty exercise in compliance, in which school teams aim to do little more than fill out the required paperwork. If school system leaders are truly committed to providing all students with equitable learning opportunities, argues Joshua Starr, they need to focus the improvement planning process on things that actually matter to student achievement, such as budgeting decisions, hiring practices, curriculum development, professional learning, discipline reform, and community engagement.

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