Transition Education and Services for Students with Disabilities Patricia L. Sitlington Gary M. Clark

Students and Families- Key Participants in Transition Education C H A P T E R T H R E E

Students as Participants  Elementary and Middle School Years  Adolescence  Demographics Characteristics  Student Outcomes

Children and Youth with Disabilities

Visual Impairments  Refer to both blindness and low vision  Decision to be placed in public schools depends on student needs, not level of vision impairment.

Deafness and Hearing Impairments  Key factors in life adjustment:  Communication skills  Social acceptance  Keys to successful transition planning:  Help students recognize strengths & interests  Help them to become good self-advocates

Orthopedic or Chronic Health Impairments  Defined by limitations in activities of life  Unless a physical disability or health condition interferes with functioning in a regular classroom, there is no reason to identify or attempt to serve the student.

Other Health Impairments  Considerable debate continues about the causes of ADD and ADHD  Schools must follow state and federal regulations in determining eligibility or accommodations for these students.

Speech or Language Impairments  Make up more than 25% of all students receiving special education or related services  Second highest of the disability populations  Functional communication should be the focus of transition goals

Specific Learning Disabilities  Largest disability group in high schools  Defined by a discrepancy between what a student should be able to do and what he or she is actually doing.

Emotional Disturbance  Definitions revolve around two issues:  Inability to establish appropriate relationships  Demonstration of behavior the fails to meet or exceeds expectations  ED classified as mild, moderate or severe  Transition from school to work or adult life is especially difficult for these adolescents.

Mental Retardation  Three characteristics  IQ of two or more standard deviations below the mean of 100  Two or more types of adaptive behavior deficit  These characteristics manifest themselves before age 18

Traumatic Brain Injury  TBI refers to an acquired brain injury caused by some external physical force, resulting in total or partial impairments in one or more areas.

Autism  Autism is highly individual in its manifestations  Autism Spectrum Disorder is a general term that refers to the range of conditions that represent the area of autism

Severe and/or Multiple Disabilities  With intensive and extensive instruction, many persons with multiple disabilities are able to live semi-independent or interdependent lives.

Families as Participants  Early Childhood  Childhood  Adolescence  Adulthood

Variations in Student and Family Characteristics

Geographic Variables  Urban Issues  Multicultural Populations  Language Barriers  Cultural and Value Differences  Size and Complexity  Survival Behavior  Rural Issues

Cultural and Ethnic Variables  Family boundaries  Quality of life  Importance of social status  Importance of religion  Meaning of work  Decision-making style  Belief in change  Work routines/expectations

Socioeconomic Variables  Health  Family productivity  Physical environment  Emotional well-being  Family interactions

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