Transition Plan’s What are they, where do I get one?

What is a Transition Plan? A Transition plan is not a document, it is a cumulative plan that when complete will help a child make the transition out of school and into the future.

Where do I get one? School, family and community all have a role in helping complete this GOAL! is a great place to help you get idea’s and help to build a plan for success. This process begins when I child turns 14 years of age for the school in Virginia (IDEA is 16) You can start looking and thinking about this process earlier. Looking at what your child enjoys doing, what their needs are, how well they function in certain environment’s (noise, number of people, supports available to them, if they need help with living skills).

Role of the School If not going to college, child is vocational sound See resource for this step Age of Majority ( Transfer of Rights) Excerpt taken from: TRANSFER OF RIGHTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES UPON REACHING THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN VIRGINIA Technical Assistance Resource Document Revised May 2012 As found at: 4. In addition, a competent adult student may appoint or designate, in writing, a competent adult of his or her choice to make educational decisions through a power of attorney, signed by the adult student before a Notary Public. (See Appendix B; the sample Power of Attorney form)

IDEA Mandates 7 areas of focus for Transition Plans: 1.Functional Assessment 2.Daily living skills 3.Post-school adult living 4.Employment 5.Community experiences 6.Related Services 7.Instruction

Role of Community College or other education after High school Vocational education Integrated employment ( including supported employment) Continuing and adult education Adult services Independent living or community participation

Role of Family You can help start a portfolio of what interest you child has, hobbies, goals, awards, activities they have participated in try to include photo’s. (This is can also help people that help in decision making processes to get to know your child even if they are not present.) The role of the Micro-boards, could this be the missing key?

Where to start Transition age based slide resource Learning self-advocacy skills Working on Daily living skills Were do I want to live after school? Using resources and community experiences to find things that I enjoy. (this is a great way to begin to looking at fields of interest for future possible employment) Document and portfolio hobbies.

How do I stay on track Continue to use slide and other resources to help make sure you are utilizing as many services and community supports that relate to your individualized plan as possible Utilize graphic organizers to keep track of goals (both short term and long term.) Continue to work on self-advocacy skills Continue to work on Daily living skills Try to narrow down a set of skill you are working on, or a field of interest tha t will allow you as many job opportunities as possible. Being vocational sound means more than being able to do a specific job at a specific place.

My goal is… Steps at school I need to take to reach my goal Steps at home I need to take to reach my goal Step Who can help me? Step Who can help me? Step Who can help me? This goal is important to me because…. : Adapted from the 2 Main-Idea Footprints and 2 Main Idea Box Frame (© 2004 Edwin Ellis) free downloads located at: VDOE I’m Determined Projectwww.graphicorganizers.com/downloads.htm

Thank You Partnership for people with Disabilities Center for Family Involvement Joan Brunner, Tidewater Network Coordinator Center for Family Involvement Partnership for People with Disabilities Virginia Commonwealth University P.O. Box E. Franklin Street, 10th Floor Richmond, VA (cell)

Resources A Life For Me Virginia Department of Education Versability Ace-it in college Department of Education (DOE) website for transition planning