by Elizabeth Klein

Created on: February 25, 2009   Last Updated: March 04, 2009

When a child gets too old for Special Education services within the school system, it is vitally important to help him or her transition to the next level of his young adult life. The young adult must find himself and become a productive member of society. All stakeholders involved with the child must develop a new Individualized Education Plan or IEP to include vocational training options, internships, externships, trade schools or options to attend a College to further his education.

All children graduating high school or aging out, need specific goals and an action plan to help him or her achieve those goals. With the positive support of his vocational or transitional counselor, his parents, the IEP team, which consists of the School Psychologist, Social Worker, Related Services provider, Special Education Teacher, General Education Teacher and District Representative, the options can be presented to the student. He or she is invited to the IEP team as the young adult learning independence and responsibility. Even if his goals are developed in incremental steps, they should include current level of performance and indicators such as test scores and vocational assessments.

Every child deserves an honest review of his strengths, weaknesses and desires. There are programs available on a state and city level that offer Special Education students free assessments and training. Your school has a list of available options depending on availability, specific requirements for entrance and accessibility to the student. The student must be ready and willing to attend and be an integral part of the assessment, evaluation, training and transition process.

Parents can help by having honest conversations and being available for IEP team meetings and site visits to vocational sites. It is very important for the parent to know exactly where the site is and to research exactly what skills the child will be receiving in order to become employable. Not all training programs offer paid internships or direct job offers, but many employers recruit from such internships and training programs. Students are genuinely surprised and excited to discover their strengths and positive contributions toward the world of career, once exposed to training options.

Finally, all parents should be encouraged to ask a range of questions about continuation of services. Some school districts offer the option of support beyond graduation other than vocational support. Students may attend tutoring at the their home school and continue to participate in state competency assessments giving them the option for a local or Regents diploma in New York State. Other states often have similar options. Working closely with the IEP Team, school counselors and teachers, your child's services toward the graduation years and afterwards are extensive, in order to support the child who will eventually transition to an independent life. When goals are developed together with the student, a bright future is possible, in spite of cognitive, emotional or physical challenges.

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