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A Maryland State Department of Education Resource marylandpublicschools.org

Maryland’s Secondary Transition Planning Guide for Individuals with Disabilities

Young man and father working with a teacher to plan his future

The Maryland State Department of Education Secondary Transition Planning Guide for Individuals with Disabilities provides information to students, parents/guardians, educators, and community agencies about the transition process. Although every student will have individualized transition goals and outcomes, this guide provides “preliminary” information about the requirements of the transition process under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as well as recommended strategies and resources to acquire a positive outcome. 

This guide (accessed by clicking the link above) will provide details about the following topics: 

  • Transition Planning (leading to employment and postsecondary education outcomes, according to IDEA) 
  • Roles and Involvement of Partners 
  • Requirements for the Maryland High School Diploma and the Maryland High School Certificate of Program Completion 
  • Maryland Summary of Performance (formerly Maryland Exit Document)
  • Entitlement vs. Eligibility 
  • Age of Majority 
  • Maryland Adult Service Agencies 
    • Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) 
    • Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) 
    • Behavioral Health Administration (BHA)
    • Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation – Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning (DLLR) 
  • Benefits 
  • Postsecondary Education/Disability Support Services
  • Transportation/Travel Training 
  • Healthcare 
  • Community Access 
    • Recreation/Leisure 
    • Guardianship 
    • Social Security 
    • Financial Planning/Special Needs Trusts/Estate Planning 
  • Transition Process: Agency Linkage 

To access the Transition Planning Guide in 20 additional languages, click here and scroll down to “Secondary Transition Planning.”

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