Polk County Public Schools, Parents
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. In fact, transition planning is required by law to begin once a student reaches the age of 14 (or younger when appropriate). This transition planning becomes formalized in school as part of the student’s Transition IEP. Students’ needs, interests and preferences must be considered in the planning and students are therefore strongly encouraged to take part in the Transition IEP meetings
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 areas of education, medical, employment, social, and daily living needs.
A coordinated set of activities, providing experiences within the community and school, is planned to meet the individual needs of each student. These activities are documented on the student’s Transition IEP. This ensures a continuation of instruction to assist in the development of daily living skills and practical vocational skills for those students who need them.
When appropriate for the individual students, the Transition IEP team will also identify needed transition services in the following areas:
Besides all the other information included on a regular IEP, the Transition IEP includes a statement of whether a student is working toward a standard (regular) diploma or a special diploma. A special diploma may be obtained by students with disabilities who are not able to meet the regular Sunshine State Standards. Students must meet the Special Diploma Sunshine State Standards in order to obtain a Special Diploma.
The Transition IEP also includes a statement, at least one year before the student turns 18, that the student and parent have been informed of the rights that will transfer to the student upon reaching the age of 18.
If the student does not attend the IEP Meeting, the teacher must have the student’s transition planning notes to continue the meeting. If neither the student or his notes are available, the meeting must be reconvened.
A guide to diploma options
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/hs_options_ese.pdf
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
AHEAD (Association of Higher Education and Disability
www.ahead.org
APSE (Association of Persons in Supported Employment
www.apse.org
ARC Florida
www.arcflorida.org
Assistive Technology Educational Network (ATEN)
www.aten.scps.k12.fl.us
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 Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities
http://autism.fsu.edu/
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 Inclusion Network
http://www.floridainclusionnetwork.com/page265.aspx
Florida Independent Living Council
http://flailc.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
Information on transition services and the law
http://www.wrightslaw.com
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
Social Security Administration
http://www.ssa.gov/atlanta/southeast/fl/florida.htm
TASH (formerly The Association for the Severely Handicapped)
www.tash.org
The Able Trust
www.abletrust.org
The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities
www.advocacycenter.org
The transition center at the University of Florida and Project CONNECT
www.thetransitioncenter.org
Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Project
http://tip.fmhi.usf.edu
University of Central Florida
www.ucf-card.org
University of Florida
www.card.ufl.edu
University of Miami
www.umcard.org
University of South Florida
http://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/
Vocational Rehabilitation
www.rehabworks.org
Workforce Florida
www.workforceflorida.com
Workforce Innovations
www.floridajobs.org