a parents perspective on transition services/processes for children with special health care needs...
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A Parent’s Perspective on Transition
Services/Processes for Children with Special Health Care Needs and Family
Members
What are Transitions?
A “Transition” is any time a student moves from one placement into another. From Birth to 3 into Pre-School From Pre-School into Kindergarten From Kindergarten into Elementary School From Elementary School into Middle School From Middle School into High School From High School into College or Post Secondary
Education From College/Post Secondary Education into Adult
Living
Birth to Three
Focuses on the family and how they interact with the child
Services primarily in the child’s home Services focus on training the parents
on how/what to do with the child Individual Family Support Plan (IFSP) In the natural environment and
individualized Encourages playtime for development
Family Concerns Moving from Birth-3 into Pre-School Pre-school more focused on the child and not
on the family Going outside of the home to “school” Receiving quality services Receiving enough services Trusting the staff Letting go of the routine and control they are
accustomed
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Service coordinator contacts all appropriate
“potential” receiving agencies that family wants invited to a face-to-face transition planning meeting, including one or more of the following:
School system Early Head Start/Head Start Child care, private schools and other community
settings Other agencies for support needed by family
Begin talking about the transition way before it is to occur. Conduct transition planning with parent. Add plan to
the IFSP
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Continued
Provide packet of information on the child to potential receiving agencies with parental consent.
Provide training for parents regarding transition process and future service options. Involve interagency partners in this training.
Conduct 90 day face-to-face meeting with all appropriate receiving programs to discuss:
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Continued
Updating of transition plan by interagency partners with family to address:
Activities which will prepare the child and family for the transition and
Strategies for sharing information among sending and receiving agencies.
Develop an IEP to meet the child’s needs Child’s program options from 3rd birth date
through remainder of school year
Pre-School/Head Start
Less focused on the family, more on the child Move from an IFSP (at age 3) to an
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Moving into a creative curriculum Attending school with other children (both
students with and without disabilities) Focused play to learn new skills Group interactions
Transitioning into Kindergarten-Family Concerns Kindergarten not so focused on the family Parents fear how their child will interact with
other children Not as much individualized attention to the
family-focused on the child Moving from home into school Parents will begin to see the developmental
differences between their child and others.
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Provide parents with information on programs and/or
services including enrollment requirements and registration
Provide transition related training to prepare staff To follow appropriate procedures and To support children and families in the transition
process Provide training for parents regarding transition
process and future options. Include interagency partners in the training.
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Continued
Plan activities to prepare child for the next step.
Arrange visits to the new classroom for children, families and staff from the sending program.
Coordinate with other agencies to transfer relevant records to next placement
Release demographic information/screening evaluation to the new class
Kindergarten/Head Start
Beginning to move from “play” to more academic activities. Activities that will enable the student to read
and write. Vocabulary building activities. Listening activities.
Beginning to see more structured activities that require the student to be still and pay attention.
More student focused.
Transitioning from Kindergarten/Head Start-Family Concerns More focus on the child and much less on the family. Noticeable gaps are beginning in achievement and
development. IEP becoming more focused on academic skills. More demands are being placed on the child in the
classroom Going to the bathroom independently Sitting still and listening Writing and reading activities Will he/she be able to keep up?!
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Begin talking about “Elementary School” early in the
school year. Discuss the change in structure with the student and
the parents. Encourage parents to increase their participation in
“homework” with the child in the evenings Have a set time for home work If the child has no homework, have them practice
reading or writing Develop a positive attitude toward school
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Continued
Invite a first grade teacher to the child’s end of year IEP so he/she can explain the expectations to the parents
Have a first grade teacher come to the classroom and explain the expectations to the students
Let the students spend some time in the first grade classroom the last week of school
Have a back to school night for parents and students before school begins to meet the teachers and learn expectations
Elementary School
Very student focused with little family involvement
Higher expectations Socially Academically Behaviorally
More interaction with a variety of ages of children
Greater demands on the student
Family Concerns about Elementary School The achievement gap widens Will my child be able to keep up with his/her peers? Will I be informed if my child falls behind? Will my child fit in with the other students? Will my child be able to remember the rules? Who will help me if there is a problem? Will my child receive the services he/she needs? What about all of the tests the students are required
to take? What about the bus ride???
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Each year have a “move up” day where the students
and the parents can meet the new teachers Begin planning for the progression early in the school
year Keep the lines of communication open between the
school and parents Encourage parent involvement in the school
Parent volunteers Read in the classroom Tutor students Playground duty Lunchroom duty
Middle School
Very student focused Greater academic expectations Greater social expectations A different teacher for each class Begin thinking about “real life” Focus on becoming more independent Requiring more independent assignments Begin making presentations to the class
Parents Transition Concerns for Middle School Social Issues
Smoking Drinking Dating
Level of Support from teachers Level of Communication between school and home Opportunities for the parent to participate in school
activities Extracurricular Activities Keeping up with school work
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Begin discussions of Middle School expectations well
in advance Have a “Move Up” activity for both parents and
students Both can go through the student’s schedule Both can meet the teachers Both can attend meetings and have their concerns
addressed Hold 5th grade IEP meetings at the Middle School Keep lines of communication open between school
and home
High School
Focused on Student Responsibilities Motivation Initiation Study Skills High Expectations
Very academically focused Rigorous curriculum Focused on test scores Encourages independent thinking Focused on Adult Life Encouraging participation in vocational activities
Age 16 transition planning on the IEP
Parents Transition Concerns for High School Keeping up with the curriculum Credits needed to graduate Scoring well on tests:
ACT SAT Vocational-End of Course Exams WESTEST
Social Issues Peer influences Alcohol/drugs Dating Driving
Having skills to do well upon graduation
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Meetings for parents and students to discuss:
Credits needed for graduation Scheduling Curriculum Testing procedures Expectations Peer influences and social issues Code of Conduct Progress reports
Encourage parents to contact their student’s counselor if/when they have questions or concerns
Encourage continued communication between school and home
Post Secondary Education/Activities
Instruction College Level
Community College Business College Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational School Vocational Rehabilitation
Trade School Related Services Community Experiences Development of Employment Other post-secondary adult living objectives
Acquisition of daily living skills Functional vocational evaluation
Parents Concerns for Post Secondary Education/Activities Where will this occur? Can my young adult live independently? Will they be able to succeed in their chosen
activity? Who will assist them if necessary? How can we receive financial assistance? What happens if they do not succeed? What accommodations or modifications can
be made for them in the workplace?
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Begin planning early! Involve ALL of the necessary players
Vocational Rehabilitation/Vocational School School Counselors Teachers Community Agencies
Social Security Housing Adult Services
How Can WE Make This Transition Easier on ALL Concerned? Continued
Develop a plan where everyone knows their responsibilities
Encourage the parents and student to visit the next placement Have questions ready to ask
General Questions Questions specific to student’s needs Questions specific to parent’s needs
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO REVISE THE PLAN!!!!
Parent-Educator Resource Centers (PERCs)
At any time in any of the transitions if you need: Training Information Support A friendly earContact your local PERC 38 across the state Staffed with a parent of a student with a
disability and an educator
RESOURCES
WV Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources: http://www.wvearlychildhood.org/links.asp
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center: http://www.peatc.org/
National Center of Secondary Transition: http://ncset.org/
Job Accommodation Network: http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/
Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST): https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps12/best/benefits/
RESOURCES Continued
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities: http://www.nichcy.org/
Parent Education Resources: http://www.parent-education.com/
West Virginia Disability Resources: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/comm/westvirginia.html
ConXtions: www.wvabe.org PACER Center: http://www.pacer.org/
THANK YOU!!
Betsy Peterson, Parent Coordinator
Office of Special Education
Building 6, Room 304
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305
304-558-2696
1-800-642-8541
bpeterso@access.k12.wv.us
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