As parents, we all dream of seeing our children thrive after high school. For students with disabilities, statistics show a significant increase in positive outcomes when they have a strong transition plan in place as they prepare to enter their post-high school life. But let’s face it, wading through confusing legalese, education jargon, and a slew acronyms in IEPs can feel overwhelming, and that’s before you ever begin to think about postsecondary goals and transition services. You just want to understand what your child needs and how to advocate for them, right? I understand your challenges firsthand. Helping my own son navigate his path (even with years of previous experience as a special education teacher and administrator) really gave me a different perspective about the challenges many families face as they try to work through such complicated processes and systems.
But here’s the good news: There’s help available, and you don’t have to go it alone. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates schools consider your child’s postsecondary needs while they are still in high school so that they are more prepared to enter the “real world” after graduation. In Florida (check your state’s laws), schools are required to consider your child’s future as early as 7th grade and must develop measurable postsecondary goals for the IEP that is in place when your child turns 14 or enters 9th grade (whichever comes first). Doing this well means ditching the generic “go to college” goals and focusing on clear, achievable actions with the supports needed to get there. Unfortunately, whether it is lack of knowledge/professional development, time constraints, or any other number of factors, many IEP teams are not prepared to do this well, and that is where your knowledge about your child’s rights can make all the difference!
Think of transition planning as a personalized roadmap for your child’s success. What are their passions? Do they dream of college or maybe starting their own business? Do their goals include being able to live with minimal support and engaging in independent living activities such as managing their own finances, preparing meals, and using public transportation? Transition services are the tools that pave the way for those dreams. These can include:
- Exploring career options: Helping your child discover their hidden talents and explore potential careers that excite them.
- Job training: Equipping them with the skills they need to excel in their chosen field.
- Independent living skills: Mastering the essentials like budgeting, time management, and daily routines.
- Planning for further education: Navigating the college application process or finding the perfect vocational training program.
Remember, you’re part of a team! It’s you, your child, the school, and any support agencies you and your child feel will be an important part of their postsecondary goals (think Vocational Rehab, Division of Blind Services, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, etc.). Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Be your child’s biggest cheerleader and advocate.
Open communication is key. Talk to your child about their aspirations. You never know what hidden talents those conversations might unlock. Embrace their evolving interests – after all, life plans can change, just like a GPS reroutes us when there’s a detour. Standardized transition surveys are a starting point, but don’t let them limit your child’s potential. There are so many ways to explore postsecondary goals and limiting those conversations now can have life long impacts. We all know that many factors that impact our children’s adult lives are outside of our control as parents. We can’t guarantee our children’s success in their educational or career endeavors but we can put them on a path that sets them up for success, if we know what questions to ask and what supports we should expect as part of the transition planning process.
Feeling overwhelmed? No worries! With nearly 20 years in special education and career development, I’m here to answer your questions, help you find resources in your area, and be your partner in this crucial transition. You can reach me on any of the social media programs linked in the header or footer of this article, or send me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my ever-growing list of High School Transition Resources and feel free to request anything you’d like to see me add in the future. This site is dedicated to us and our children, and I’m here to lend my expertise as both a parent and an educator who has navigated these systems. So, let’s hear about the challenges you and your child are facing. Let’s work together to empower our children and turn their dreams into reality!
P.S. Stay tuned for a future post where we’ll tackle those vague postsecondary goals and rewrite them into clear action plans for success!