Suggested Timeline for Transition Planning

Following is a sample time line of tasks related to school-to-careers transition planning and suggested ranges when these tasks should begin for students with disabilities, parents, school, and adult services. Of course, each student’s needs during the transition process are different and this is meant to serve as a guide. All tasks will not apply to all students and some students will need highly individualized services not included in this planning tool. This list is not meant to be totally inclusive of all the school-to-careers transition associated tasks and more specifics can be determined at the individual IEP meetings

Early and Ongoing (Elementary)

__ Participate in career awareness opportunities and if appropriate functional
academics

__ Provide parents with information about how they can prepare their child for
transition and adult life

__ Emphasis study habits, time management, and organizational skills

__ Stress personal care skills at home, shopping patterns, eating out in
restaurants, money skills

__ Identify acceptable dress/behaviors

__ Have work chores at home

__ Introduce parents and students to concept of accommodations for persons with
disabilities

__ Become aware and use work processor/computer

__ Encourage students to attend their IEP meetings

Four-to-Five Years Before Leaving School (Ages 12-14)

__ Given opportunities to make choices/own decisions

__ Administer initial vocational assessment

__ Develop strategies to increase responsibilities/independence at home and community

__ Introduce and discuss transition process with parents, students, and clarity

__ Plan on transition services being incorporated into the IEP beginning at age 14

__ Learn and begin to use public transportation if available

__ Develop transition component of the IEP and update annually with linkage to individual career plan (ICP) if one exists

__ Begin job shadowing opportunities and continue each year with emphasis on career planning

__ Begin exploring future goals for transition areas. Stress job skill development training for students i.e. punctuality, neatness, getting along

__ Offer opportunities for students to lean about high school courses, activities and services

__ If available explain service learning opportunities in community and school

__ Begin to develop a transition file/portfolio

__ Encourage students to request appropriate accommodations in school, home, work and community environments

__ Obtain parental consent so the appropriate adult agencies representative can be involved, contacted, and information shared through transition years as needed

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Western Regional TPC

Transition Planning Website:

Suggested Timeline for Transition Planning