Category Archives: 6-22

Transition Planning Timeline

Posted on by

Click here for a printed version

One of the goals of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is to include transition planning services for all special education students at age 16. Transition planning is mandated through IDEA 2004 which serves to help students begin the process of preparing for post-school activities including, postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment and adult services. A timeline will help you stay focused on achieving each step.

The law states transition planning should begin no later than 16 years old or before. It is recommended transition planning should begin by age 14 since services are different in the adult services world including long waiting list depending on where you live and what services are available.

14 Years Old
  • Transition planning should begin no later than when your child is 14.4- It is the law in most states.
  • Begin to research agencies who provide services for individuals with disabilities
  • IEP meeting should focus on the student’s needs, interest in preparation for adulthood
  • Research various aspects of transition services
  • Begin to explore recreation activities
15 Years Old
  • Develop a vision statement
  • Transition goals should be part of the IEP
  • Begin to discuss home services
  • Attend information fairs that offer information on future planning including residential, guardianship and employment
  • Start planning an independence plan at home where possible
16 Years Old
  • Transition goals at the IEP meetings should be updated.
  • Confirm how long students will attend high school- 4 years or until age 21
  • Start the process of getting referrals to your state agency
  • Begin researching adult services and programs. Some waitlist can last for years
  • Initiate application to adult service agencies
17 Years Old
  • Confirm a graduation date
  • Update transition goals in the IEP
  • Begin to invite adult service providers to IEP
  • Begin to investigate guardianship information and the process
18 Years Old
  • Adult eligibility should be completed
  • Apply for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and Medicaid.
  • Visit adult providers programs
  • Attend job fairs if appropriate
  • Establish legal guardianship if necessary
  • Explore future planning
18-21 Years Old
  • Refine vision statement
  • Revise and update IEP goals
  • Invite transition coordinator your child’s IEP meeting
  • Explore and obtain necessary funding for adult programs
  • Ensure there is a plan for medical/health coverage
  • Confirm all support services are in place.

Below is a free transition printable planning checklist. Feel free to download the PDF.

transition-planning

transition-planning-checklist

4 Things You Must to Make Standards-Based Instruction Meaningful

Posted on by

Standards-based instruction can be tough for students with significant disabilities. Here are 4 tips to help make it meaningful for our students.

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been thinking a lot these past few weeks about standards-based instruction.  I’ve been working on a presentation to help teachers teach based on the standards.  Most (if not all) states require standards-based instruction be identified in the IEP.  In addition, we evaluate our students based on the grade-level standards, even the students taking the alternate assessment.  So, how do we keep what we teach relevant to the lives of most of our students? How do we make our teaching meaningful and functional for students who are not college bound.  For those students who will need significant support after school, how do we help them use science and social studies information daily? Click here to read the rest of the story

 

First Week Activities in Special Education

Posted on by

Source: Breezy Special Ed

How do you start the first week in a special education class? I’ve been asked this question a lot lately, and understandably why! I think every teacher, no matter how long they have been teaching, has some sort of nightmares or sleepless nights about the first day/weeks (am I right?!). Click here for the rest of the article

Transition Planning

Posted on by
IDEA Regulations and Transition Services

The term “transition services” means a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that:

  • Is designed to be within a results-oriented process, that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with the disability to facilitate the child’s movement from school to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation
  • Is based on the individual child’s needs, taking into account the child’s strengths, preferences, and interest.
  • Includes instruction , related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and if appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluations.
What is the Transition Process?

The transition process is designed to help students with disabilities move smoothly from school to adult life.

Resources on Transition Planning

Center for Parent Information and Resources– Webpage includes information on IDEA’s requirement on transition and how to include the student in the transition process.

Disability’s.gov’s Guide to Student Transition Planning– Topical links on secondary education and transition, transitioning to adult health care and options for life after high school.

National Association of Special Education Teachers– Great webpage on a variety of topics relating to transition planning including, overview of transition services, types of services covered, recordkeeping, employment planning, travel training, assistive technology and residential placement options.

National Parent Center on Transition and Employment– Website includes information on middle and high school transitioning planning including, IDEA, IEP, college planning and several worksheets on preparing for employment and transition planning.

Understood– article on understanding the transition process.

WrightsLaw– This page contains loads of information on transitioning planning including articles on IEP and transition planning, legal requirement for transition components of the IEP and IDEA 2004.

Happy Holidays!

Posted on by

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS2015

Special Needs Resource Blog will take a break during the holidays and will return Monday, January 4, 2016 with new information, tools and resources to post including more downloadable free tools and templates Monday thru Thursday. I am excited and look forward to sharing more resources with you in the new year.
Thanks to all of you for following my blog this year. Wishing you and your families joy and peace all through the holidays and throughout the new year. May the spirit of the holidays be with you throughout the new year.  🙂   🙂

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Posted on by

thanksgiving

Dyspraxia Resources

Posted on by

 

October is Dyspraxia Month. Developmental Dyspraxia also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) , is a neurological disorder that affects fine and gross motor skills and organization. A child may have difficulty in sing scissors, riding a bike or learning and recalling information.

 

dyspraxia

Medical Sites- The following sites include information on causes, treatment, test and diagnoses of Dyspraxia:

Medical News Today
NCBI Resources
Understood
WebMD
Wikipedia

Organizations

Dyspraxia Foundation, UK
Dyspraxia Foundation, USA

 

YouTube Videos

Developmental Disability Awareness Month

Posted on by

March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month.

Facts
  • In 2010, 5.2 percent of school-aged children were reported to have a disability
  • 15.2 million Adults (6.3 percent experience some kind of cognitive disability.
  • According to the CDC, one in six or about 15 percent of children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities.

 

The Term “developmental disability” means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that:
  1. Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairment.
  2. Is manifested before the individual attains age 22
  3. Is likely to continue indefinitely.
  4. Results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity:
          1. Self-care
          2. Receptive and expressive language
          3. Learning
          4. Mobility
          5. Self Direction
          6. Capacity for independent living
          7. Economic self-sufficiency
          8. Reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or genetic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.
Infants and children- An individual from birth to age 9, inclusive who has substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition, may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting 3 or more of the criteria described in clause 4.

CDC- Learn the Signs. Act early

History of the developmental Disabilities Act

Test how much you know about developmental disabilities.

Click on the link below an print out the word search.

developmental disability game pic

disability test

 

 

Happy Holidays

Posted on by

The Special Needs Blog wishes you and yours a happy holiday!

happy holidays

Autism Teacher Blogs

Posted on by

The following are blogs created by teachers on teaching children with autism. Though scanning many of the blogs, I found that most were not current and decided not to include outdated blogs on this list.

The Autism Teacher– A blog about teaching students with autism. last update is in August, but still very useful information.

The Autism Helper– A website that includes a blog with resources, tips and materials.

The Autism Adventures of Room 83– A blog for teachers by teachers

Teach. Love. Autism- A diary of the life of a teacher in a autistic support classroom with middle schoolers.