Polk County Public Schools, Parents
Look for upcoming events in August 2009
The transition from being a student in high school to becoming an adult in the community must be made in order for each person to meet his personal goals. Common goals include pursuing vocational training or further academic education, getting a job, and living independently. For students with disabilities, these choices may be more complex than for others and may require a great deal of planning. Planning the transition from school to adult life begins, at the latest, in high school.
The student and his family are expected to take an active role in preparing the student to take responsibility for his own life once school is finished. After a student leaves school, he will need to organize his own life and navigate his way through a maze of adult service providers. This can be a daunting task, one for which the student and his family need to be prepared.
The full collaboration of the student, family, educators and community service providers is needed for successful transition. The planning process helps to ensure that students participate in making decisions related to life beyond high school.
Administration on Developmental Disabilities
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add
Agency for Health Care Administration
www.fdhc.state.fl.us
Agency for Persons with Disabilities
www.apd.myflorida.com
ARC Florida
www.arcflorida.org
Children's Medical Services
www.cms-kids.com
Children's Mental Health
http://www.myflorida.com/cf_web
Council for Exceptional Children
www.cec.sped.org
Division of Community and Workforce
www.fldoe.org/workforce
Division on Career Development and Transition
www.dcdt.org
ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education
http://www.eric.ed.gov/
Family Network on Disabilities (FND)
www.fndfl.org
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology
www.FAAST.org
Florida Alliance for Information and Referral Services
www.flairs.org
Florida Dept of Education
www.fldoe.org
Florida Dept. of Education and Blind Services
http://dbs.myflorida.com
Florida Dept. of Education, Division of Community Colleges
http://www.50states.com/cc/florida.htm
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC)
http://www.fddc.org/
Florida Diagnostic And Learning Resources Systems(FDLRS)
http://www.polk-fl.net/districtinfo/departments/learning/ese/fdlrs.htm
Florida DOE , Bureau of Exceptional Students and Services
www.fldoe.org
Florida Federation Division on Career Development and Transition
www.coe.ufl.edu
Florida Independent Living Council
http://flailc.org
For Your Information Transition
http://www.fyitransition.org/
Health and Human Services (Agency for Persons with Disabilities)
www.apd.myflorida.com
Health and Human Services, Fl Dept. of Children and Families, Mental Health
www.dcf.state.fl.us/mentalhealth/
Information on Colleges, vocational/technical schools and career planning
www.facts.org
NAMI (National Alliance for Mentally Ill) -Florida
www.namifl.org
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
www.ncset.org
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
www.nichcy.org
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS)
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers
Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep
Project 10: The Transition Education Network
www.project10.info
Social Security Administration
http://www.ssa.gov/atlanta/southeast/fl/florida.htm
The Able Trust
www.abletrust.org
Vocational Rehabilitation
www.rehabworks.org
Workforce Florida
www.workforceflorida.com
Workforce Innovations
www.floridajobs.org