Section 5: Treatment and Intervention
178 Transition and the Transition IEP
As your child approaches the high school years, it will become increasingly important for you to begin thinking about the transition process. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA, Public Law 108-446) states that persons with disabilities will be provided an appropriate education through age 21.
Additionally, it is important to note that by 14 years of age, a transition plan for post high school must be included in your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).The goal of the transition plan is to provide a seamless transition from the high school setting to whatever setting is most appropriate for your child.
In planning for that transition, it can help to begin by focusing on your child’s goals and plans for adulthood and then thinking backward to what specific skills must be taught. Remember to consider employment goals for the child in this process.
When considering employment goals, use your child’s interests as a guide to inform you. If the plan is vocational training, start by focusing on your child’s skills and interests, and then turn those interests into potential work skills. For example, if a child repeatedly shows interest in computer time during free time, future programming may address typing speed, text formatting, and data entry.
A child who has interests in food preparation may need to practice using schedules to prepare foods and complete kitchen tasks (dishwasher, cleaning counter). A chart with some potential skill areas is included at the end of this article as references for additional information.
Remember, your child can receive educational services through age 21, but by age 14 a transition plan should begin being discussed.
| Interests | Vocational Training |
| Computer | Computer processing, data management |
| Cooking | Culinary training |
| Reading | Library services |
| Nature/bugs/plants | Landscape/lawn services |
| Animals | Work at a kennel/animal shelter |
| Taking things apart | Repair/maintenance services |
Reference:
Creating Quality and Compliant Transition IEPs from Indiana Department of Education. Available at: https://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/specialed/transition-ieps-charter-school-training.pdf
HANDS in Autism. (Winter 2009). The transition process.