Re:IPADDUnite - Transition Week

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I am new at this. However, my son is 13 yrs old in 7th grade. I am

wondering what should we start doing to prepare for transition before his next

IEP

meeting? He will be 14 in November and in 8th grade at the beginning of the

08/09 school year. Is there any type of transition assessment to determine

how and what we should be including in the planning?

I apologize if I didn't use the correct format for my questions. I usually

just lurk and don't post questions.

Thank you,

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

Hi -

Your questions are right on target. I would recommend a couple of

things: 1) ask your son's case coordinator what school will be doing and

what types of assessments they will be conducting or have been

conducted. The IDEA 2004 requires schools to develop post-school goals

based on age-appropriate transition assessments and to take into account

the student's strengths, preferences and interests. These assessments

should help you, your son and your entire IEP team learn more about his

strengths, preferences and interests related to life after high school.

2) You could start observing and thinking about your son...does he have

a passion, does he function better in certain environments, e.g., few

people, a lot of people, quiet, or needs a level of sound in the

environment. What do see as his strengths? Are there certain

accommodations that allow him to do the things he is interested in? How

about social skills? Keep a log or journal of your thoughts and

observations and you will be better prepared to assist him and the IEP

Team. The answers to these questions can have implications his choices

in work, further education or training and community living. During

this time in our children's lives we want to strike a balance in looking

at their needs and also their individual strengths, preferences and

interests.

There are a variety of appropriate assessments to look at. A

person-centered plan, student and/or parent interview, and observation

are all acceptable in addition to interest inventories, social skills

inventories, independent living skills inventories, career inventories

and a host of others. Choices about what and how many should be based

on his needs, what you currently know, and your satisfaction that what

has been done is supplying good information.

One interest survey I like (and have available) is a career cluster

interest survey. It is good for anyone but I think especially for

younger students who are just starting this process and may be unsure of

where their strengths and interests lie. This type of survey can help

an individual learn if a cluster area may best encompass their

strengths, preferences and interests, e.g., helping professions,

community service professions, medical professions, information

technology and more. Each of these encompasses a wide range of work and

career options from volunteering to job carving to entry level to degree

requirements. It gives the IEP team a starting place in assisting the

student on his transition journey and finding out what types of skills

he already has, what types of skills he needs to build, fine-tuning and

honing in on his strengths, preferences, interests and support needs,

and what it will take to continually move toward his goals.

I could send you some assessment information off-line or I am wondering

if I could send resources at the end of the week to be uploaded for

everyone to access from this group. Laurie...what are your thoughts on

that?

I hope I have done this correctly and you receive this post :-)! Sue

Walter

________________________________

From: IPADDUnite [mailto:IPADDUnite ] On

Behalf Of emcommunic@...

Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:02 AM

IPADDUnite

Subject: Re:IPADDUnite - Transition Week

Hi Sue,

I am new at this. However, my son is 13 yrs old in 7th grade. I am

wondering what should we start doing to prepare for transition before

his next IEP

meeting? He will be 14 in November and in 8th grade at the beginning of

the

08/09 school year. Is there any type of transition assessment to

determine

how and what we should be including in the planning?

I apologize if I didn't use the correct format for my questions. I

usually

just lurk and don't post questions.

Thank you,

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

<http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I'd like you to start from the beginning. You have that circular chart you

give out, with a window that pops up showing what needs to be done at 14 yrs

old. You know which one I mean? At 14 you need to think about a job at the

middle school...

Thanks,

TERI

Teri L. Steinberg

Autism Training & Advocacy

(847) 831-4540

---------------------------------

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

[Guest guest]

Hi Teri -

I am not exactly sure what your questions means. The transition wheel

is a guide that parents, students and schools can use as a " cheat sheet "

to think about different pieces of the transition " puzzle. " The wheel

provides recommendations that make sense for many students during the

different ages of transition time - 14 year olds, 15 years olds, etc. up

to 19 through 21 year olds. The individual student should always be the

focus of planning though and each topic doesn't necessarily have to

happen at a certain age, (e.g., exploring transportation needs at age

14...maybe it will work better for some students to discuss this at 15

or 16) and every topic might not necessary be applicable to every

student, (e.g., obtaining a functional vocational evaluation...not every

student will need this or want to pursue this). The wheel is a gadget

that we can use to provide ideas, guide us as we try not to get lost in

the process, and even serve as a kind of checklist for transition

planning.

I am not sure that answers your question. Please continue this

conversation if I am not on the right track with your thinking/question.

Sue

________________________________

From: IPADDUnite [mailto:IPADDUnite ] On

Behalf Of teri steinberg

Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 10:54 AM

IPADDUnite

Subject: Re:IPADDUnite - Transition Week

Hi Sue,

I'd like you to start from the beginning. You have that circular chart

you give out, with a window that pops up showing what needs to be done

at 14 yrs old. You know which one I mean? At 14 you need to think about

a job at the middle school...

Thanks,

TERI

Teri L. Steinberg

Autism Training & Advocacy

(847) 831-4540

---------------------------------

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.