Transition Resources for Students with Specific Disabilities (page 3)

The transition suite has other stand-alone pages as well. We've tried not to list the same resources in different pages, so you may want to visit those other pages for foundational information about transition planning and services, Transition 101 especially, if you haven't done so already. The suite consists of:

• Transition 101
• Transition Resources for Parents
• Transition Resources for Students
• Transition Resources for Professionals
• Transition for Students with Specific Disabilities (you're here!)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

• Visit CHADD.
  www.help4adhd.org/en/about/wwk5
  CHADD is the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Through CHADD's National Resource Center on AD/HD, you have access to several transition-related publications for those with AD/HD. The link above drops you into the fact sheet page, where you can find (in English and in Spanish): Succeeding in College (#13), Legal Rights: Higher Education and the Workplace (#14), Succeeding in the Workplace (#16), and Managing Money (#17).
• Supports in college.
  www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1415
  College students with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders who participate in the Virginia Commonwealth University Supported Education Model tend to stay in school and progress in their educational programs, according to a study conducted by the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports. This brief describes the VCU Supported Education Model and results of the study.

Autism

• Issues in transition for students with autism.
  www.projectforum.org/docs/autism_secondary_transition.pdf
  This 9-page document describes the efforts of several state education agencies (SEAs) to address the needs of transition-aged students with autism, describes the major barriers to providing effective secondary transition services to this population, and generates policy recommendations.
• From the Autism Society of America.
  www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=livinghighschool
  Among other things, Life After High School lists activities the transition planning team should undertake beginning in junior high/middle school to prepare a student with autism for what's to come.

Blindness / Visual Impairment

• Supports in postsecondary education.
  www.heath.gwu.edu/PDFs/Students%20who%20are%20
  Blind%20or%20VI%20in%20Postsecondary%20Ed.pdf
  This 15-page guide from the HEATH Resource Center focuses on supporting students with visual impairments (including blindness) in postsecondary education.

Deaf-Blind

• Guide for students who are deaf-blind considering college.
  http://hknc.org/Publications.htm
  A useful tool for deaf-blind high school students, including those with Usher syndrome, and deaf-blind adults needing further education to enhance career opportunities.

Down Syndrome

• Helping students with Down syndrome prepare for life after high school.
  www.ndss.org/ndssmedia/pdf/transition.pdf
  The National Down Syndrome Society offers this 20-page brief.
• The transition from childhood to adulthood and all that comes with it.
  www.ndss.org/content.cfm?fuseaction=InfoRes.LifePlanarticle&article=227
  Siegfried M. Pueschel authors this lengthy discussion of what you can expect as children with Down syndrome move into and beyond adolescence: physical and sexual maturation, medical issues, the transition from school to employment, social maturation, developing independence, and involvement in recreational activities. At the link above, you'll also see additional transition-related topics on the left-menu bar.
• Additional resources at NDSS.
  NDSS--the National Down Syndrome Society--offers many other resources you might be interested in. Any of these strike your transition fancy?
  
  • Postsecondary education.
    www.ndss.org/content.cfm?fuseaction=InfoRes.SchEduarticle&article=223
  • Being 'N Sync with teens and young adults: A guide to relationships.
    www.ndss.org/content.cfm?fuseaction=InfoRes.SchEduarticle&article=224
  • Transition timeline.
    www.ndss.org/content.cfm?fuseaction=InfoRes.SchEduarticle&article=225
  • Making plans: A financial guide.
    www.ndss.org/content.cfm?fuseaction=InfoRes.LifePlanarticle&article=605

Special Health Care Needs

• What does health have to do with transition? Everything!
  www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=2967
  This Parent Brief provides information on the benefits of and strategies for including health in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics, on adolescents transitioning to adult health care.
  http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/98/6
  /1203?ijkey=f19a8e88edbad0a84421d76471b57faa31d16500
  This policy statement describes how the pediatrician can work closely with patients with special health care needs and their families as an advocate and educator to help them adapt positively to an adult-focused system of health care. Issues in health care transitions including independence and dependence, education and vocational issues, insurance issues and limitations, Social Security, and hospitalization are outlined.
• MUST VISIT: The Healthy and Ready to Work National Center!
  www.hrtw.org/index.html
  If you have special health care needs, or are working with a youth who does, HRTW is the place to come for this specialized transition information. HRTW focuses on understanding systems, access to quality health care, and increasing the involvement of youth. It also includes provider preparation plus tools and resources needed to make more informed choices. Categories under which information is organized are:
  
  
  • Systems and services.
    www.hrtw.org/systems/index.html
    This section of HRTW's website contains materials on using Title V to facilitate the development of HRTW/transition systems for children, youth, and young adults with special health care needs and their families.
  • Youth involvement.
    www.hrtw.org/youth/index.html
    This section of HRTW's website will connect you with all manner of youth materials, with the overarching purpose of making sure that youth are involved in their own decision making and transition plans.
  • Tools & solutions.
    www.hrtw.org/tools/index.html
    Here, you'll find web-based tools, resources, and strategies that can be used by youth and their families, health care providers, and state and local agencies to achieve successful transition from pediatric to adult health care.
  • Health care.
    www.hrtw.org/healthcare/index.html
    Health care is obviously a top priority for youth with special health care needs as they transition from pediatric to adult services. Choose this door in HRTW's website and walk into a giant library of resources on the subject.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Postsecondary ed options.
  www.heath.gwu.edu/PDFs/Brain%20Injury.pdf
  This 16-page guide looks at the characteristics of TBI and how these affect students in postsecondary educational settings. Suggestions are included for students, parents and family members, instructors, academic advisors, and disability support services personnel as to how to help students with TBI achieve goals in higher education.
• School to work.
  www.biausa.org/publications/schooltowork.htm
  This discussion of TBI and moving from adolescence to adulthood comes from the Brain Injury Association of America (BIA).
• Two more from the Brain Injury Association.
  Both of these resources deal with issues you might find helpful in transition planning when TBI is a factor.
  
  • Using Community Mental Health Centers
    www.biausa.org/publications/usingcommmental.htm
  • Employment After Brain Injury
    www.biausa.org/elements/BIAM/2004/employment.pdf