A Transition Guide to Post Secondary Education and Employment

From theu Guide's Preface:  This Guide was created to assist students and youth with disabilities to achieve their post-school and career goals, Congress enacted two key statutes that address the provision of transition services: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The IDEA is administered by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), and Titles I, III and VI, section 509, and chapter 2 of Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act are administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). OSEP and RSA, both components of OSERS, provide oversight and guidance regarding the administration and provision of transition services by State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies.

Both the IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act make clear that transition services require a coordinated set of activities for a student with a disability within an outcome-oriented process. This process promotes movement from school to post-school activities, such as postsecondary education, and includes vocational training, and competitive integrated employment. Active student involvement, family engagement, and cooperative implementation of transition activities, as well as coordination and collaboration between the VR agency, the SEA, and the LEAs are essential to the creation of a process that results in no undue delay or disruption in service delivery. The student’s transition from school to post-school activities is a shared responsibility.

This transition guide addresses the following topics to facilitate a seamless transition from school to post-school activities:

• Transition planning: opportunities and programs;

• Transition services and requirements, as authorized by IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act;

• Education and employment options for students and youth with disabilities after leaving secondary school; and

• Supporting decisions made by students and youth with disabilities.

This guide also includes "real life" examples, a sample flow chart of the transition process, and a glossar