Post Secondary Transition Services
Post-secondary transition is a multi-year, multi-step process for youth beginning at the age of 14. Through the use of assessment and ongoing data collection, IEP teams work collaboratively to identify post-secondary goals and outcomes for students with disabilities. The three primary categories teams should consider for each student include post-secondary training and education, post-secondary employment, and independent living. The individual is a critical component in helping guide the IEP team into anticipated outcomes. Use this site to find general information and resources in helping obtain identified outcomes. Your team’s special education case manager and district’s Transition Coordinator can provide additional assistance and resources as needed during the planning process.
Transition Planning Resources
PA Secondary Transition
PA211: Get Connected. Get help.
Post Secondary Education and Training
Post-secondary education and training refers to any education preparation required for an individual in a post-high school setting. There are many options for students with varying levels of support. Often, teams identify an employment outcome. The employment outcome will help drive decisions about the types of education and training required. Please see below for topics to consider when teams plan post-secondary education and training outcomes.
- Transitioning to College with an IEP- this presentation reviews general expectations and topics to consider when making the transition from high school to a collegiate experience.
- Differences Between IDEA IEP’s, 504 Plans, and College Accommodations
- Requesting Accommodations General Process
Alternatives to 2 or 4 year college experiences
Life and career studies completion programs- these programs are often designed for individuals that would require modifications or significant adaptations to the standard college curriculum. Typically, these programs are reserved for individuals with the disability category of Intellectual Disability or Autism with identified needs in adaptive and functional levels. Speak to your special education case manager for more information about appropriate programs that may be available to your student.
Autism specific programs
Some colleges have created programs and support services specifically geared towards individuals with Autism enrolled in a college program. This attachment is a non-exhaustive list of some of those programs.
Post Secondary Employment
In March 2016, Governor Wolf signed the “Employment First” policy into office. The policy prioritized increasing competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with a disability. The policy further established an increased effort in funding, initiatives, hiring, and retention of all people with disabilities within the labor force (PA General Assembly, 2018).
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) is a life-long government agency helping individuals gain and maintain employment. Support is available to students in assisting them in obtaining employment outcomes. OVR recommends that students register for OVR two years before receiving their diplomas. Get started on the process:
OVR Overview
DASD Work Experience Program
Students who are eligible through an evaluation process can participate in the DASD Work Experience Program. The work program supports our DASD students in preparing and increasing students’ vocational skills to enter competitive work experiences post-secondary. Students receive direct, explicit teaching from a special education teacher in pre-vocational training classes. They then are asked to generalize their skills out into the local community while accompanied by a DASD employee known as a Job Coach. Review our community partners who support our students and initiatives for our work program.
DASD Work Program Community Partners!
These companies participate in our student work program that supports students in our Transition Program, which serves our 18-21 student population in developing independent living and vocational skills. We are very proud of our student work program and are thankful to our community partners for supporting our students in strengthening their vocational skills and helping prepare them for future employment!
Independent Living
There are several solutions for people with disabilities when considering supportive living options. Teams should identify the level of support needed and discuss the living options most appropriate. Families should consider funding options, including but not limited to government-funded waiver options and privately established special needs trusts. Community agencies are required when seeking independent living support and funding. Review the resources below as it pertains to independent living solutions.
Resources for Independent Living
Community Agencies
- Chester County Mental Health/ Intellectual Development Disabilities (MH/DD) Office
- Process- call the office and request an intake process to begin to determine eligibility. If found eligible, a service provider can be selected.
- MH/IDD Website
- The ARC of Chester County
- This organization specializes as resources for families for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- The Arc- Chester County Website
Funding Considerations
Funding is necessary to help secure financial means to provide independent living services to individuals with disabilities. Families should consider supplemental social security information such as SSI, waiver options for funding, and special needs trust.
Transition Program
DASD Transition Program aims to establish a continuation of educational experiences for qualified students with disabilities ages 18-21. Our Transition Program focuses on all areas of transitional preparation, including post-secondary education, employment, independent living, recreation and leisure, community engagement, and community navigation. Experiences occur in both authenticated and contrived situations. Students generalize their acquired daily living skills at our Transition home, a three-bedroom house located adjacent to Downingtown West High School. In addition, students partner with local community organizations to participate in our DASD Work Experience Program. Students have ongoing instruction and related services regarding their transition plans, travel training opportunities, and community outreach efforts.
The goal of the Transition Program is to prepare students for identified transition outcomes. The program mirrors adult living solutions to ease students into transitioning to their subsequent placement. Staff work closely with community agencies, adult service providers, and transition teams to help identify, plan, and execute transition plans for students when they leave the school system and enter adult servicing. Upon completing the program, students will have obtained the acquired skills to meet the outcomes identified in their individualized transition plans, established connections with community agencies, and networking relationships with community supports to take the following steps in education, employment, and independent living.