Life’s Pathways

• Transition is more than getting a job after high school – Transition planning is meant to ultimately help many students get jobs, but it is also about helping students prepare for and select postsecondary education and training … and to improve their personal, social and daily living skills—key elements of adulthood.
• Every aspect of the transition planning process should be built around the student’s strengths and interests – Transition is different for every single student, so Transition Planning and Services must be tailored to the student’s particular goals for employment, postsecondary education and training, etc.
• Transition is all about teamwork – Transition planning is most successful when it is a team effort. The team generally includes the student and his family; the student’s teachers and other school staff; medical personnel and therapists; and other professionals who are providing the student with services now or may provide services in the future. Engaging the student and his family early and often in the team process is a key task for educators.
• The importance of self-determination and self-advocacy – When students know what they need, can share that information with others and are able to act on their own behalf, they are more likely to have a successful transition to adulthood.

Transition can include a variety of pathways to College, Career or life in the community. Let’s address how preparing for college will make the transition to this environment more meaningful.