Comprehensive Transition Guide from OSERS--Bring It to Your Next Transition Meeting

The U.S. Department of Education in January 2017, just released a very comprehensive guide to transition services. Download Postsecondary-transition-guide-2017-3. Transition planning is one of the most vital functions of having an IEP for all students. An IEP is not an ends in itself, it is a means to an ends--called adult life. Too often schools take a very narrow and parochial view of their responsibilities to transitioning students. Trips to the grocery store several times a week and preparing meals the remainder of the week are too often the beginning and end of transition programming. I firmly believe that students need to master functional schools, but it cannot be one size fits most, and there has to be more content if a student is going to make a meaningful transition to adult life. Parents need to read this guide prior to their next transition meeting and bring it to the meeting to move the discussion towards outcomes and programs that the school will never offer, without significant advocacy from a parent, advocate or attorney. This guide will provide both the legal and conceptual framework needed to solidly ground those arguments. Good luck and keep advocating.