Resources for Older Students

Transition Planning

The process of selecting a path after high school is called Transition Planning.

Planning for additional education, transition to the work force, or some other path is a mandated part of the IEP process. The 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act sets the age for transition planning at 16, although New York State provides for transition planning to begin at 15.

A detailed report from Advocates for Children, titled Transitioning to Nowhere reveals the poor job of transition planning in New York City and makes recommendations as to how transition planning can be effectively implemented.

One good discussion of transition planning appears in The Guide to Effective College Planning, prepared by the Western New York Collegiate Consortium. This booklet also includes information about college selection, but the early sections give helpful information about steps that come before the actual college application process. The Consortium describes itself as a group of education professionals and others who are directly involved in working with students with disabilities. It was originally formed to address the needs of students with disabilities on Western New York college campuses, and has expanded its focus to include the preparation of students with disabilities for the transition from high school to college.