What is transition?
Transition is the passage from one stage to another and is a lifelong process.
Transition occurs when a student moves from home to school, from grade
to grade, from school to school, from community to school, or from school
to community. Transition planning takes into consideration all major aspects
of each student’s life experiences and assists in determining appropriate
educational resources and programming. The crossover from youth to
adulthood carries expectations of independent living, employment, and
recreational pursuits. Transition planning is essential if students are to be
empowered to improve the quality of their independent lives.
Although transition planning occurs for all students during their years in
school, it is essential that individualized and collaborative transition plans
be developed for those students requiring additional supports to achieve their
potential. Transition planning for students with special needs is a process
that involves the co-operation, collaboration, and participation of students,
parent(s)/guardian(s), educators, and other professionals to ensure that an
individualized transition plan is developed to support the student through
key transition stages. It is an ongoing process from the early years to adult
life. Depending on the needs of the student, a variety of agencies and
individuals collaborate and take responsibility for the development and
implementation of the individualized transition plan. This systematic formal
transition planning is necessary at key transition stages for any student for
whom an individualized program plan (IPP) has been developed, as well as
for those students who do not have an IPP, but whose special needs related to
transitioning must be addressed.