Parents and the Transition Process…..
Effective transition planning plays an important role in the success of your child’s future. Listed below are helpful tips in helping parents engage in the transition process.
Talk to the IEP team about his or her future and work with the team about his or her interests and strengths
Share your hopes for your child’s future and work with the team to begin planning for realizable path for the future
Begin thinking about what your child’s future might look like:
- What will he do to support himself?
- Where will she live?
- What education/training beyond high school might she need?
- What will he need to know and be able to achieve these things?
Involve your child. Your child has specific ideas for his future
Take the time to listen to his/her idea
Set realistic goals. Take your child’s ideas, abilities, and interests into consideration
Help your student set realistic goals for education/training/ postsecondary employment goals, and independent living
Encourage Independence
Gather information about services that are available to your child upon graduation from high school (Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) and Department of Development Disabilities (DDD)
Build Self esteem and have confidence in your child
Expect him/her to achieve with appropriate supports
Encourage friendship with peers
Provide real experiences- Provide opportunities for your child to participate in activities such as recreation and youth organizations
Encourage good grooming and good work habits
Encourage your child to accept constructive criticism
Resourceful Website for Parents:
- Access Transition: The Alliance for Technology Access provides information to assist teens and their families in understanding their rights and how to begin planning.
- Creating a Path to Employment: Tips for parents with children with disabilities addresses simple ways parents can help their child begin the transition process.
- Postsecondary Transition, Ohio: Is a helpful guide for beginning the transition process.
- Students with Disabilities Preparing for Education: Know your Rights and Responsibilities: A pamphlet provided by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education, explains the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing to attend postsecondary schools.