Transition Planning for Students with Special Needs: A Guide for Parents and Educators

Transition planning is the process of helping students with special needs prepare for life after high school. This includes planning for post-secondary education, employment, and independent living. Transition planning is an important part of special education, and it is essential for ensuring that students with disabilities have a successful future.

There are many different aspects to transition planning. Some of the key elements include:

• Identifying the student’s strengths and weaknesses
• Setting goals for the student
• Developing a plan to achieve those goals
• Monitoring the student’s progress
• Making adjustments to the plan as needed

Transition planning should be a collaborative process that involves the student, the parents, the teachers, and other professionals. It is important to get input from all stakeholders to ensure that the plan is tailored to the individual needs of the student.

There are a number of different resources available to help with transition planning. These include:

• The Individualized Education Program (IEP): The IEP is a legal document that outlines the student’s educational goals and services. The IEP should include a transition plan that outlines the student’s goals for post-secondary education, employment, and independent living.
• The Transition Planning Toolkit: This toolkit from the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities provides information and resources on transition planning.
• The Transition Planning Guide for Parents: This guide from the American Institutes for Research provides parents with information on how to help their child with special needs transition to adulthood.

Transition planning is an important part of special education. By providing students with the supports they need, we can help them achieve their goals and live successful lives.