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Don’t Get Too Comfortable…Change is On the Way!
Parenting a child with a disability? Here’s a word…and a concept…you need to know: Transition!
What’s Transition?
We often association transition with high school students, but transition really just means moving from one life stage to another. Transition includes moving from/to:
- Birth to Three
- Early Childhood/Preschool
- Elementary School
- Middle school
- High school
- Adult life in the community, after public school
- Retirement
What Do Parents Need to Know?
No sooner do we get our kids settled in – to Kindergarten, middle school, high school – and before we can take a breath, here comes the next transition! What’s a parent to do? Regardless of the change you are facing here are some steps you can take to make the transition as smooth as possible:
- Educate yourself about where you & your child are headed.
- What options are available?
- For example: Is Head Start an option in place of PPCD? Do kindergartners attend a full-day or half-day program? What elective class choices are offered for junior high/high school? What post-secondary options are available?
- What does a typical day in that environment look like?
- For example: Does the campus use single teacher classrooms or do they team-teach? Do the students move to other classrooms during the day or do they stay in one classroom the full day? When/where is lunch? What about opportunities for physical activities?
- What skills and abilities are needed to be successful in that environment?
- It can be helpful to look at the TEKS [Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills] to determine what typical children will learn in a specific grade placement. You can find them at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/ .
- As you consider the skills and abilities typical children demonstrate in that environment, think about your own child. It’s easy to think “my child could never do those things.” Instead, look for ways to adapt the environment, the supports and services your child receives, or other ways your child could be successful there in his/her own way. Think creatively!
- What will it take for your child to be successful in that environment?
- What modifications will help? Is assistive technology necessary? Are the buildings accessible for your child? What supports and services do you anticipate needing? What can your child work on right now to better prepare him/her?
- Who are the “powers that be” - The decision-Makers?
- Who will participate in decision-making for your child? Who will provide direct services to your child there? Identify those people by name and job title. Make an appointment and begin getting to know these people before your child gets there. Help them begin getting to know your child and where he/she is headed; they will be much more invested in helping to make those plans happen once you get there.
- Make a plan. Steven Covey says to "begin with the end in mind." A successful transition depends on careful planning and the help of many. Make sure that everyone involved in your child’s current placement is included in the planning and that you all have the same “end in mind.”
- Make the transition and start looking forward to the next one. It’s right around the corner!
Additional Resources:
Health & Ready to Work National Resource Center – This website has tools, resources, and strategies on Health Care and Transition, as well as a variety of Transition Planning Manuals.
Texas Project FIRST is an activity of the Texas Continuing Improvement Process (TCIP) under the auspices of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Region 9 Education Service Center, and is focused on helping to fulfill the goals of TEA and the Parent Training Committee
TEA Parent Information Line 1-800-252-9668
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