Transition
The Georgia Strategic Plan and Federal Indicators for Students with Disabilities
Goal 1 – Increase high school graduation rate, decrease drop-out rate, and increase post-secondary enrollment rate.
SPP 1 – Increase the percentage of students with disabilities who earn a regular high school diploma
SPP 2 – Decrease the percentage of students with disabilities who drop out of school
SPP 14 – Increase the percentage of students with disabilities who transition to employment or post-secondary education
What is TRANSITION?
The successful transition of students with disabilities from school to post-school environments requires support from multiple sources so the student and his or her family can make choices, develop connections, and access services.
Here are some additional state and federal resources that support post-secondary transition for students with disabilities.
Georgia Department of Education Special Education Services and Supports – Transition information for Georgia students with disabilities.
National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center – NSTTAC is a national technical assistance and dissemination center funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP, CFDA# 84.326J11001) from January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2014.
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition – Creates a venue for participants to learn from each other about how to ensure that ALL youth with disabilities, including youth with intellectual disabilities, have the opportunity to prepare for and participate in postsecondary education.
TRANSITION COUNCILS
Many regions in Georgia have active Interagency Transition Councils. The purpose of ITCs is to coordinate post-secondary services for K-12 students via community, agency, and business stakeholders. Parents and students may request support of local ITCs by contacting them.
Coastal Georgia Transition Council
Southeast Coastal Interagency Transition Council
Georgia Interagency Transition Councils
COLLEGE RESOURCES
Georgia public schools provide educational opportunities for all students with disabilities to receive a high school diploma.
Students with disabilities have available supports to transition into their community and pursue employment or college.
Here are some resources for students and parents regarding college enrollment for individuals with disabilities:
Georgia Department of Education – Graduation, Testing, and College Planning information
Rights and Responsibilities for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities – The Office of Civil Rights has available a guidance document to outline expectations of college students with disabilities and educational institutions.
College Board – Guidance for students to apply for accommodations with the PSAT, SAT, and AP exams.
College Planning Simplified – This free website offers current step-by-step procedures for navigating college enrollment.
Princeton Review – This guide to college admissions offers a blog specific to students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
Assistive Technology can be the tool that allows for success! It can be as simple as a keyboard with larger keys to a communication device. Consider all tools and resources when planning for the transition from school to the adult community for your son/daughter with special needs.
Georgia Project for Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology Industry Association
EDUCATION RESOURCES
Georgia Department of Education
Educational Resources Information Center
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
National Dropout Prevention Centers
Office of Special Education Program
EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
The resources below offer a variety of types of employment possibilities for your son/daughter with special needs. Knowing all the possibilities allows you and your son/daughter with special needs to plan for the desired employment outcome.
Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD)
Job Accommodation Network – US Department of Labor
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCES
Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia
National Council on Independent Living
LEGAL RESOURCES
Academy of Special Needs Planners
PARENT RESOURCES
Georgia Learning Resource Systems
Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership
PARENT TRAINING & INFORMATION CENTER
PTI’s were established under IDEA 2004 and is under the oversight of the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Georgia’s PTI is Parent to Parent of Georgia which serves families from birth through 26 with a full range of disabilities.
PERSON CENTER PLANNING RESOURCES
The principle of person centered planning is to put the individual in the center of all that is needed for success and happiness! The dreams and needs of the individual are the prime focus that drives the supports to achieve them!
Person Centered Planning: MAPS and PATHS to the Future
Making Action Plans Student Centered Transitional Planning
A National Gateway to Self-Determination
Georgia State University, Center for Leadership in Disability – Stacey Ramirez sramirez@gsu.edu, Director of Individual & Family Supports
Parent to Parent of Georgia – Karen Burns karenb@p2pga.org , Training Services Supervisor
POST SECONDARY EDUCATION RESOURCES
Keep an open mind to the possibilities of post secondary education for your son or daughter with special needs. Education has focused on least restrictive environment and with this focus our children with special needs have become more aware of the possibility of post secondary opportunities. Traditional college with supports might be all he or she needs. However there are many more options now that offer a variety of non-traditional educational opportunities! Do some research and allow yourself and your son/daughter to DREAM….
Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC)
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
The George Washington University Heath Resource Center
RESOURCES FOR SEARCHING GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
The Foundation Center – Atlanta
Georgia Student Finance Commission
STATE & NATIONAL RESOURCES
Georgia Crisis & Access Line (SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY)
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental
Center for Medicaid & Medicare
National Secondary transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC)