Transition

Transition Services, as mandated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004, include a coordinated set of activities for a child (age 14+) with a disability that

• is designed to be within a results-oriented process that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child's movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living or community participation;
• is based on the individual child's needs, taking into account the child's strengths, preferences and interests; and
• includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives and, when appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation. 

Transition activities include:

• Staff development/training in best practices
• Informational parent meetings and workshops
• Parent support and assistance
• Coordination with city and state agencies
• Linkages to adult services
• Consultation during individual transition planning meetings
• Dissemination of information regarding new programs within each borough
• Participation at professional forums with agency representatives
• Representation at borough councils (MR & MH) and committees
• Advocacy for needed services from city and state agencies as well as service providers
• Preparation for supported or competitive employment through work-based learning and school-based career and technology education programs and courses

Collaborations

District 75 collaborates with various state and city governmental agencies, non-profit agencies and service providers to facilitate a seamless transition for students and their families. These include affiliations with state and city agencies such as

• NYS Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID);
• NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH);
• NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities (OMRDD).

Family Support

The District 75 Parent Support Office supports families by offering the following resources:

• compilation and distribution of Transition resource materials to parent coordinators
• distributing schedules of Transition workshops, conferences and fairs for parents/caregivers on school, borough, and citywide levels
• facilitating Transition seminars, topic-specific training, and regularly scheduled visits to schools