Transition
- Early Childhood Transitions - Transitioning to a school-based setting can be challenging. This page provides information and resources to help you feel empowered and make the transition as smooth as possible.
- Kindergarten & Elementary Transitions - Transitioning into kindergarten and into the elementary grades may pose new challenges for students and their parents and/or caregivers. This page provides information and resources to help you feel empowered and make the transition as smooth as possible.
- Middle & High School Transitions - Transitioning into middle and high school environments can be challenging This page provides information and resources to help you feel empowered and make the transition as smooth as possible.
- Life After High School - Planning for life after high school can be overwhelming. This page provides information and resources to help plan and find appropriate options and services.
Showing Results 1 - 50 of 427
Description: Employment is an important part of our identities. Individuals with disabilities, even the most significant disabilities, can work if they receive the appropriate supports. Sometimes, parents are fearful that if their child works, they will lose their Social Security or Medicaid Benefits. Work incentives can help your child earn a paycheck and keep their benefits. Check out PEATC's new resource: Work and Benefits – How Your Child Can Work and Keep Benefits to learn more...
Description: What is Consent? Consent means that you agree to something.You say YES.We consent to all kinds of things every day like scheduling appointments or whether to buy the new car that the salesman is showing us. But consent isn’t just saying YES.We need our consent to be “informed.” Informed consent means that when you say YES, you understand exactly what you are agreeing to and what the results may be. Informed consent is especially important in sexual matters.Your child needs...
Description: The I'm Determined Project provides 12 Self-Determination Checklists on various topics for educators and families. The checklists include: Self-Determination Educator Checklist Self-Determination Elementary Educator Checklist Self-Determination Elementary Parent Checklist Self-Determination Elementary Student Checklist Self-Determination Parent Checklist Self-Determination Student Checklist Self-Determination Elementary Parent Checklist - Spanish Exit Survey Parent Exit Survey Student Exit...
Description: Transiton POINTS: Across the entire lifespan - Families need realistic, actionable information with which they can make a wide range of decisions as their child grows up. The Arc of Northern Virginia’s Transition POINTS program (Providing Opportunities, Information, Networking and Transition Support) provides critical information on six key decision points in the lifetime of an individual with an intellectual disability. Six Transition Guides are provided: Early Intervention Special...
Description: Self Directed IEPs - A Parent Factsheet and Self-Directed IEPs - Your child's IEP (Individualized Education Program) is more than a plan for their education—it’s a roadmap to their future. Encouraging them to take a self-directed approach to their IEP can help them develop critical self-advocacy skills, build confidence, and ensure their voice is heard in planning for their goals after high school. PEATC offers a variety of resources to help families and youth navigate...
Description: Your Life Your Voice provides ways for pre-teens, teens, and young adults to get help via call, text and email. Their trained counselors are able to offer advice for real life situations and they can be reached 24/7 via phone at (800) 448-3000 or by texting VOICE to 20121. They also provide tips and tools on their website for a number of issues such as coping skills, transitioning to adulthood, anxiety, abuse, identity, depression and more. It includes information on a Your Life Your Voice...
Description: College Options for Students with Disabilities - College programs for students with disabilities are as unique as the students they support. Programs differ by awarded credentials, admission requirements, costs, and the levels or types of support, just to name a few. There are many different options for students with disabilities to access college. The three main categories of college options for students with disabilities are college accommodations, supported education programs, and Inclusive...
Description: Counseling on Educational and Training Options is one of the five pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) categories. Providing students with counseling on educational and training options after high school opens multiple pathways for future career and financial stability and success. Students should receive guidance on the full variety of options available to them, such as college, vocational programs, and apprenticeships. Providing students with education and training guidance helps...
Description: College Readiness for Neurodivergent Students shares the results from the 2024 survey of 50 leaders of U.S. college austism and neurodiversity support programs. There is a Summary of College Readiness Survey that is downloadable for free and an e-Book that costs $17.99.
Description: Videos from Youth with Disabilities (Partnership for People with Disabilities, VCU) - These Public Service Announcements can be used during the month of October, which is Disability History and Awareness Month, or anytime throughout the year. Topics include: Ways to Communicate I Want To Be Did You Know? Choice Inclusion Awareness Disability History Museum hosts a Library of virtual artifacts, Education curricula, and Museum exhibits. These programs are designed to foster research and study...
Description: Virginia's Collaborative Model for Pre-Employment Transition Services offers the resources necessary to enrich Pre-ETS initiatives in the state. We provide the tools for collaborating, communicating, and coordinating services with student teams to improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities. Explore resources spanning all five Pre-ETS categories, and join us in empowering every student's journey to success! The five Pre-ETS categories include: Job Exploration Counseling...
Description: Social Security - New 2024 Rules On Calculating SSI Benefits - Effective September 30, new rules are in place for how the Social Security Administration (SSA) decides the amount of your (or your family member’s) monthly SSI payment. Right now, SSA looks at all income and support a person receives. This includes income (from a job or other source), resources you have (there are specific limits and exceptions), and in-kind support and maintenance (ISM). ISM is the support you get for...
Description: Virginia Parent Transition Survey - This updated survey is a way for parents to describe their expectations for their child/youth’s future and their expectations. Completing this survey before or during a transition planning IEP meeting will provide important information that can lead to improved planning and better outcomes after leaving high school. Not all of the sections or choices may be relevant to your child/youth, so please complete those that best describe your concerns and...
Description: Inclusion Project Voting Infographic - When you turn 18, you have the right to vote in local, state, and federal elections. In a democracy like the United States, voting is how we choose our leaders. This infographic provides information on how you get ready to vote and why voting is important.
Description: Youth Engagement - Youth participation in planning, engaging, and assessing transition services empowers them, increases their self-determination, and gives them the skills and self-confidence needed for success in learning, working, and living. These resources are for students and youth as they prepare for adult living. There are also resources for the professionals and family members who serve as allies with young people. The content has been developed by both young adults with...
Description: The Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE's) Department of Special Populations has recently released Understanding the Special Permission Locally Awarded Verified Credit (SPLAVC) Accommodation for Students with Disabilities one-pager resource for families. In this resource, you will find answers to the following questions: What is the SPLAVC? To whom is the SPLAVC available? How do I know if my high school-aged youth is learning through an accommodated or...
Description: 9 Fascinating Facts: Transportation and Independent Living - Living independently in the community requires transportation skills. Prepare now by determining your needs, identifying your resources, and practicing your skills.
Description: New challenges kids face in middle school Middle-schoolers travel between classes on their own and store their books in lockers. Middle-schoolers usually have a different teacher for each subject. Students in middle school face more social pressure and often worry about their ability to fit in and make friends. New challenges kids face in high school There’s more homework and an emphasis on grades in high school. High-schoolers need to manage time well, stay organized, and take good notes....
Description: 6 steps to prepare your child for changes to routine in middle school - Moving up from grade school to middle school is a big transition — in more ways than one. The work is harder. The social scene is more complex. And often, the school building is much larger and harder to navigate. Kids with and without learning and thinking differences face new challenges. But the greatest adjustment may be to the changes in routine. For most kids, middle school is the first time they have to...
Description: Call PEATC (703-923-0010) for free and confidential help with your special education & disability questions. PEATC's help is now available in over 300 languages!
Description: Virginia’s 21st Century Workplace Readiness Skills are personal qualities, people skills, and professional traits that are necessary for employment success. To assess the student, for each skill description select the performance category that best describes the student’s performance level in the classroom and in work-based learning experiences in school and the community. After completing the rubric, analyze the results to determine the student’s strengths and areas of...
Description: Families play a crucial role in preparing their child for college and careers through valuable work-based learning (WBL) experiences. WBL facilitates supervised experiences for students with disabilities organized by schools and vocational rehabilitation agencies in real work settings. These experiences help students develop interests and skills for employment. Work-based learning experiences connect classroom learning and real-world work to improve students’ chances of securing...
Description: Student Rubric for IEP Participation - This rubric is simply a tool that can help you figure out what you already know and don’t know about the IEP process. The IEP process can get complicated, so this tool helps you know where you can focus your efforts so that you can be more involved in your education. It’s broken into 6 areas: IEP Awareness IEP Participation Knowledge of IEP Content Abilities and Disabilities Awareness Knowledge of Rights and Responsibilities Social and...
Description: Self-determination, looked at through the lenses of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Competence is feeling like you have the skills needed to complete a goal. Autonomy is the ability to control what happens to you in any given situation. Relatedness is feeling a sense of belonging.
Description: Student Self-Evaluation Matrix - QIAT-PS has also developed a set of student quality indicators for assistive technology with an accompanying Student Self-Evaluation Matrix tool for students to rate themselves on their AT skills. The tool is useful to both students struggling to manage AT in higher education settings and for K-12 programs to assist students in enhancing self-awareness and problem solving with AT for better transition outcomes. (QIAT-PS = Quality Indicators for...
Description: Transition services is a term used to describe a set of services provided by schools and State vocational rehabilitation agencies. Both are designed improve post-school outcomes for students and youth with disabilities. The specific transition services VR and schools provide are a little different and designed to work together. The information below is about VR Transition Services, which focus on services related to employment. Transition services provided by State vocational rehabilitation (VR)...
Description: Do you support students as they transition to school or work environments? Do you support students as they transition to school or work environments? The following list of webshops and resources can help you learn more about: The transition process for students, especially those who use assistive technology (AT), from high school to postsecondary institutions such as 2 and 4 year colleges, How to design transition plans that can lead to positive post-school outcomes for students with...
Description: A transition guide to help you or someone you love transition to self-determination across all areas of their life. This includes a list of questions to consider from ages 10-22.
Description: Information on potential Postsecondary Training Options for students with disabilities: Postsecondary Training Options: FastForward Career Training Program Postsecondary Training Options: United States Military Postsecondary Training Options: Registered Apprenticeships
Description: Age of Majority: Rights and Responsibilities - When a person reaches the age of majority they have legally become an adult. The Code of Virginia states “a person shall be an adult, shall be of full age, and shall reach the age of majority when he becomes 18 years of age” (Age of Majority, 1972). Until the age of majority, a person is considered a minor, and their parents or legal guardians are responsible for their rights and responsibilities. Some of these rights and...
Description: A Resource Guide for Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability - This guide is designed to introduce inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE), or college options for students with intellectual disability (ID). This guide has everything you need to know about IPSE in an easy-to-read format, with helpful tips, information, and resources from the Think College website. Learn about what IPSE is, how colleges include students with ID, and how to find and apply...
Description: An issue in the Impact series that focuses on the brothers and sisters of children, teens, and adults with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities (IDD) – what we know about them, their roles and needs across the lifespan, their feelings about themselves and their siblings, and how to support them. Siblings of people with IDD are frequently involved in their brother’s or sister’s life longer than anyone else in their family. They have unique experiences,...
Description: Level Up Virginia (LUV) is a statewide initiative led by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Their mission is to increase postsecondary readiness, enrollment and completion for all students in the Commonwealth. They are committed to making college access information easily understandable and accessible for students of all backgrounds. Timeline: What Level Are You On? (Infographic) Prepare - Students with Disabilities...
Description: Ever since it was first published, Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities: A Manual for High Schools, Colleges, and Graduate Programs has served as a vital resource in the chemistry classroom and laboratory to students with disabilities as well as their parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators. In a changing time of technology, rapid access to information, accessibility tools for individuals with disabilities, and publishing, Edition 4.1 is being published...
Description: Return to School Webinars sponsored by CBIRT, a center under the Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon, conducts research and training to improve the lives of children and adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). CBIRT’s research focuses on developing interventions to improve outcomes related to education, employability, and quality of life. Our training activities promote the use of best practices among educators and other professionals who serve individuals...
Description: These Project Briefs are from VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC). They provide input from families about the pathway to integrated employment. Project Brief 1: The Voice of Families: Exploring Perspectives on the Pathways to Integrated Employment. (2020). Project Brief 2: Meaningful Work for Individuals with IDD: Insights from Families. (2020). Project Brief 3: Barriers to Employment for Individuals with IDD: Insights from Families. (2020). Project Brief 4: Supporting...
Description: The Elements of I'm Determined comprise the essentials necessary for increasing self-determination skills. These skills, abilities, and beliefs are grounded in self-determination research. A poster, that is a simple reminder of the Elements and their definitions, is available to download.
Description: In the series of four videos, you can explore Student Involvement in the IEP process utilizing three of the I’m Determined Tools: The One-Pager, Good Day Plan, and Goal Plan. These videos provide instructions on how to use these tools to increase student involvement in the IEP process. Hear from Determinators and Youth Leaders who have used these tools and who have participated in their IEPs. Modules include: Session 1 - Overview Session 2 - The One-Pager Session 3 - The Good Day Plan...
Description: Tools & Resources for Families - As family members, you are an important part of your student’s success no matter their age. Explore resources and events that will help you support your child along their journey. Parent Path to Success Critical Decision Points Good Day Plan Parent Summit MOVE Program And much more ...
Description: Age 18 is considered an adult in most states. This means you can make choices in your life about your education, where you live, what doctor you see, what to do with your money, and many other things. This document lists some things you should think about as you become an adult.
Description: Moms In Motion (Moms)/At Home Your Way (AHYW) is a Consumer-DirectedServices where the person using them is allowed to select, hire, fire, and train their particular caregiver(s). More Service Facilitation provider for Virginia Medicaid waivers: CCC PlusA Virginia Medicaid waiver program that provides services to elders and people with physical disabilities in the community (as opposed to in a nursing home) to prevent the premature institutionalization of these groups. Services available...
Description: Learning to Drive with Neurodevelopmental Differences - Experts at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP )recommend that families answer the following questions before their adolescent or young adult with neurodevelopmental differences begins the learning-to-drive process: Do you feel your child consistently demonstrates good judgment and maturity at school, around peers, and at home? Is your child receptive to constructive criticism and instruction? Does your child...
Description: Higher Education Leaders Make College Possible for Students with Intellectual Disability - College is possible for students with intellectual disability! A wide range of colleges and universities, including research institutions, teaching colleges and universities, and community and technical colleges, have opened their doors to college students with intellectual disability (ID) by creating inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs. These programs are highly valued as an active...
Description: Project NEXT: A Cognitive Support Technology Randomized Clinical Trial for Postsecondary Students with Traumatic Brain Injuries - Pursuing postsecondary education is a cognitively demanding activity and the decided majority of postsecondary students with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) report difficulties with the academic demands of their studies (Rumrill et al., 2019). A targeted approach like cognitive support technology (CST) is a logical framework for helping students with...
Description: Spotlight Virginians: Student Success Stories invites you to follow along the journey of several young adults with disabilities as they share their stories of successful transition outcomes. Highlighting successful postschool outcomes of young adults with disabilities is a way to raise expectations and showcase what's possible. Whether that's postsecondary education or training, independent living, or employment, each of these students has a unique journey that we all can learn from. Note:...
Description: Employment Checklist for Students (Ages 14-22) with Disabilities (PEATC - Getting a job is an exciting experience that takes planning. There are important documents you may need before you can get a job. There are skills you will need to prepare you for employment, and actions that you may need to take to be successful. This checklist can help you prepare for employment. This list does not include every item needed and some of these may not apply to you since your employment goals are...
Description: OSERS released a series of blogs on secondary transition to highlight tools and resources necessary for successful secondary transition experiences.
Description: PYD’s Mentoring Program has served youth with disabilities since 1985. Its goal is to help young people with disabilities meet their full potential for personal development and independence by matching them with a caring adult mentor. Matches work on goals relating to building positive and healthy relationships, community involvement, self-esteem, independent living skills, and educational/career skills. We currently offer a few forms of mentoring: one-to-one mentoring and our virtual...
Description: Virginia's CTE Resource Center - Each year, the CTE Resource Center assists the VDOE in developing curriculum-related publications that address specific courses or programs, encourage collaboration between career/technical and academic disciplines, foster collaboration between career and technical education at the secondary and postsecondary levels, correlate with national standards and industry certification requirements, and enhance comprehensive school-improvement efforts. Staff...
Description: Planning Your Future: A Guide To Transition - This go-at-your-own-pace guide is for you to learn about the education and civil rights laws that protect them in K-12, higher education, and workforce settings, how to be a strong self-advocate during transition planning, and various opportunities for additional support that may be available. If you are a high school student, college student, or new employee with a disability, this resource contains information that is helpful to you.