Preparing students for the world of work through student-driven transition

Successful transition into the world of work can be greatly enhanced through proactive planning that begins before entrance into high school. Veteran transition coordinator Pat McPartland, tracked special needs graduates and discovered that many were unemployed or underemployed because that lacked quality transition training. Responding to this crisis, she developed a student-driven approach to address seven key transitional areas that include: instruction, related services, community experiences, development of employment, post high school adult living, daily living skills and functional assessment. Teachers learn to write relevant transitional IEP goals based on pre-IEP assessments completed by students and parents. Flow charts and checklists that start in the eighth grade are revised on an annual basis to address present levels of performance (PLOPS) in accord with IDEA mandates. A must have guide for transitional school to work planning.

Spiralbound book, 132 pgs., 2005. Includes a Win/Mac CD with printable PDF.