Many students with exceptionalities require support in order to move smoothly from public education programs into community programs, such as college, vocational training, sheltered workshops, residential facilities, and so on. Transition services for students with exceptionalities were mandated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and were to begin prior to the student's sixteenth birthday. IDEA 1997 added several new requirements that address transition: (1) beginning when the student is age 14, a statement of transition service needs that focus on the students existing program or courses must be written; (2) beginning at age 16, a plan for specific transition services, including interagency responsibilities, must be created; and (3) beginning at least one year before the student reaches the age of majority, he or she must be informed of his or her rights. The federal definition states that "transition services are a coordinated set of activities for a student, designed within an outcome oriented process, which promotes movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational training, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation." The following resources will help you explore the topic of transition.

Books Published by Houghton Mifflin Company

• Hunt, N., & Marshall, K. (1999). Exceptional Children and Youth (2^nd ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, - Chapter 14.
• Kirk, S.A., Gallagher, J.J. & Anastasiow, N.J. (2000). Educating Exceptional Children(9^th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 39-40(and throughout each chapter).
• Lerner, J. (2000). Learning disabilities: Theories, Diagnosis, and Teaching Strategies. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 316-321.
• Ysseldyke, J.E., Algozzine, B. & Thurlow, M.L. (2000). Critical issues in special education (3^rd ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, - Chapter 9.

Books Published by Other Companies

• Benz, M. R., & Lindstrom, L. E. (1997). Building school-to-work programs: Strategies for youth with special needs. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
• Berry, J. O., & Hardman, M. L. (1998). Lifespan perspectives on the family and disability. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
• Brolin, D. E. (1995). Career education: A functional life skills approach (3^rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
• Kravets, M., & Wax, I. F. (1998). K & W guide to colleges for the learning disabled 1998 (4^th ed.). Princeton.
• Patton, J. R., & Blalock, G. (1996). Transition and students with learning disabilities: Facilitating movement from school to adult life. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
• Rusch, F. R. (Ed.) (1990). Supported employment: Models, methods, and issues. Sycamore, IL: Sycamore Publishing.
• Rusch, F. R., & Chadsey-Rusch, J. G. (Eds.) (1998). Beyond high school: Transitions from school to work. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
• Rusch, F. R., DeStefano, L., Chadsey-Rusch, J., L. A. Phelps, & Szymanski, E. (Eds.) (1992). Transition from school to adult life: Models, linkages, and policy. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
• Scheiber, B., & Talpers, J. (1987). Unlocking potential: College and other choices for learning disabled people - A step by step guide. Bethesda, MD: Adler & Adler.
• Sitlington, P. L., Clark, G. M., & Kolstoe, O. P. (2000). Transition education & services for adolescents with disabilities (3^rd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
• Taylor, S., Bogdan, R., & Racino, J. A. (1991). Life in the community: Case studies of organizations supporting people with disabilities. Baltimore, MD: Borrkes.
• Turnbull, H. R. (1989). Disability and the family: A guide to decisions for adulthood. Baltimore, MD: Brookes.
• Wagner, M., Blackorby, J., Cameto, R., Hebbeler, K., & Newman, L. (1993). The secondary school program of students with disabilities: A report from the National Longitudinal Transition Study of Special Education Students. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
• Wehman, P. (Ed.) (1998). Developing transition plans. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
• Wehman, P., & Kregel, J. (Eds.) (1998). More than a job: Securing satisfying careers for people with disabilities. Baltimore, MD: Brookes.
• West, L. L., Corbey, S., Boyer-Stephens, A., Jones, B., Miller, R. J., & Sarkees-Wircenski, M. (1992). Integrating transition planning into the IEP process. Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.

Journals

• Alliance Newsletter
• Career Development for Exceptional Individuals
• Division on Career Development and Transition (CEC)
• Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Mainstream: Magazine of the Able-disabled
• National School to Work Learning and Information Center
• School-to-Work Transition
• Vocational Education Journal

Fact Sheet

• Transition services in the IEP -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/transum/ts8txt.htm
• Financial Aid (for students with disabilities) -- http://ericec.org/faq/finance.html

Web site Resources

• Ability Network Magazine -- http://www.ability.ns.ca/anet.html
• ADC Pathways to Employment (employment support) -- http://www.cowlitzarc.org/employment.htm
• The Disability Rights Activist -- http://www.disrights.org
• National Center for Research in Vocational Education -- http://vocserve.berkeley.edu/
• National Transition Alliance for Youth with Disabilities -- http://www.dssc.org/nta/
• President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities -- http://www50.pcepd.gov/pcepd/pubs/ek99/introduction.htm
• Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities -- http://www.dol.gov/dol/_sec/public/programs/ptfead/main.htm
• Post-secondary Internet Resources for Disabilities -- http://ericec.org/faq/postsecx.html
• Special Education Resources on the Internet (transition) -- http://www.hood.edu/seri/trans.htm
• Training Resource Network, Inc. -- http://www.trninc.com/
• National Transition Alliance for Youth with Disabilities -- http://www.dssc.org/nta/html/index_2.htm
• World Institute on Disability -- http://www.igc.apc.org/wid/

Online Resource Documents

• A student's guide to jobs -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/stuguide/st2book.htm
• Equity and excellence in school-to-work transitions of special populations -- http://vocserve.berkeley.edu/CenterFocus/cf6.html
• Life skills for students with mental retardation -- http://ericec.org/faq/mr-lifsk.html
• NTA transition practices framework: Categories, elements, practices -- http://www.dssc.org/nta/html/index_2.htm
• Options after high school for youth with disabilities -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/transum/ts7txt.htm
• Parents and the school-to-work transition of special needs youth -- http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed363798.html
• Serving youth with disabilities within school-to-work systems -- http://www.stw.ed.gov/factsht/bull0696.htm
• Technical Assistance Guide: Helping students with cognitive disabilities find and keep a job -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/stuguide/ta3.htm
• Transition planning: A team effort -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/transum/ts10.htm