Module 10

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides guidelines regarding when services should be provided. Transition services may be provided to special education students beginning at age 14 or younger, when appropriate, but must be provided by age 16. According to the IDEA act, transition planning isn’t mandated until the age of 16. There has obviously been a need to begin services prior to that age and we now begin transitional planning around the age of 14 ½. The article I read discusses a rural community in Louisiana and how they began transitional services in middle school. The first year they began by inviting parents to participate in the planning process. Then they developed a unit to develop problem-solving skills, career awareness, an interest in future planning, and knowledge of community resources.  Parents were again invited to become involved in the process. As the group dove deeper into the process, they decided to bring people in to speak on specific careers to develop an interest and provide information on that career. Students created projects on a particular career, they role-played job interviews, participated in career focused field trips, and a career awareness week. The success of the program was hinged upon the participation of the parents to support their children in the quest for career readiness skills.

     I found the article informative, but not entirely surprising in the results. Students are typically more likely to be successful in most endeavors of their education when their parents are involved and engaged and supportive. I think it was beneficial to begin that type of career readiness programs early on by bringing guest speakers in and taking more career based field trips to encourage interest in specific careers.

Citation:

Carr, S. C., & Ratcliff, E. (1994). Partners for Transition: Preparing Students for the Future.