There’s a lot to think about in planning for transition. The Parent Information Center on Special
Education has developed a Tool Kit to help families in the transition planning process.
It is important to note that transition is not a one time event. Transition is a process. It is the process of assisting youth to move from high school to the adult world (O’Leary, 2003). It is a process that all families experience. It also includes the evolving and accepting of role and responsibility changes, and is often an emotional time for all parents. Transition planning can provide a framework to assist families in working through the transition process and thinking about the resources or support that they and their youth will need to be successful and reach their goals.
It’s also important to know that there is no one size fits all method to transition planning. There are a variety of ways to “get from here to there”. It’s like getting to the grocery store. I may prefer the highway because it’s quicker, but you may not like all the traffic. There might be construction and you discover an alternate route, which then becomes your primary route. We both get to our destination; we just took different paths.
That being said, this Tool Kit also does not hold all the answers. It is a collection of ideas and best practices. We have tried to not only provide you with information on best practice strategies and what is required under special education laws, but also with resources and examples to bring all the information to life. How you use this Tool Kit will depend on both you and your teen’s personality and needs. It’s like learning; we all do it differently. Because different youth may be at different places in the transition process, you do not have to start at the beginning of this tool kit. You need to start where you and your teen are in the process.
What's in the Tool Kit?
This Tool Kit is broken into Key Components – broad areas for transition planning. By clicking the links you can download these Key Components. Or, download the entire Tool Kit.
- Thinking about the Future (PDF) – This section discusses strategies and tools to help youth determine and set goals for life after high school.
- Making a Plan (PDF) – This section discusses strategies and tools to help create a Person-Centered Plan.
- Writing the Transition Plan in the IEP (PDF) – When we talk about the transition plan in the IEP we are referring to the transition planning components of an IEP required under IDEA 2004 and the NH Rules. This section will discuss those components as well as strategies and tools to write a transition plan in the IEP.
- What Else Do I Need to Know? (PDF) – This section discusses other aspects of planning for transition that families need to consider and provides resources and tools.
- Review and Revise (PDF) - This section discusses the process for reviewing a plan, whether it is a Person-Centered Planning model or the transition plan in the IEP.
- Give Youth an Opportunity to Get Involved! (PDF)– This section discusses strategies and tools to support youth involvement in the transition planning and IEP process.
In each section you will find Important Details, information you need to know regarding the special education process and laws that impact transition. Also included are Transition Planning Tips to help in planning along with resources and places to find more information about strategies or topics discussed.
The Tool Kit will introduce you to Sarah and Ryan. In each section, you will find How This Can Work, examples of how the strategies discussed have worked for these youth. You will follow them through their transition planning process and can view Sarah’s IEP and Transition Plan (PDF) and Ryan’s IEP and Transition Plan (PDF) as well as other resources in the Appendices (PDF).
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